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Europe is generally not a cheap place to backpack around. And yet it is also a backpacker's paradise as backpacking has long been part of the European culture. It is important to remember that Europe is a continent of many countries and so costs and tips vary considerably from place to place.

Africa is another large destination that is more expensive than one may anticipate, but it is also possible to travel on a budget. The tips for how to travel in Africa on a budget are different from how to travel in Europe on a budget. Likewise, New Zealand is also expensive, but it is also possible to travel around New Zealand on a budget (with yet different tips).

Choose Cheaper Countries

One of the ways to save money in Europe is to travel to the cheaper countries in Europe. Of course, many people want to see the main attractions like London and Paris, but these are also very expensive cities. Europe has scores of very historic and interesting cities around Europe that are much cheaper.

  • Avoid: Switzerland, Nordic Countries, the UK (particularly London), and Some Western Countries
  • Visit: Eastern Europe, Balkans, Baltic Countries

Prague and Budapest are examples of two of Europe's most stunning cities and the two are much cheaper than their counterparts in Western Europe (in some respects they are even more spectacular).

In general, the most expensive countries to visit are the Nordic countries, Switzerland, Great Britain, and Ireland. Even the cost of trains and buses in these countries can be very expensive. In general, the cheaper countries in Europe are the eastern countries and the Balkans. It is common for Western Europeans to go to the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, or Poland to party because it is so much cheaper.

Related: How To Make Ends Meet And Make It Work Being A Digital Nomad (While Traveling The World)

Stay In Hostels In Europe

Europe has a very developed collection of hostels that range from everything from boutique hostels to more Spartan hybrid bred hostel/hotels and everything in between. Many of these hostels can be quite expensive, but some can offer very good deals.

  • Tip: Look For Hostel Deals (Like Half-Board)
  • Season: Hostels Are Cheaper Off-Peak
  • Example: From $18.00 For A Dorm, Breakfast, Dinner, and Beer At Greg&Tom In Kraków, Poland

One example of a hostel offering a fantastic deal is Greg & Tom Hostel in Kraków. Their three hostels (called Beer House, Home, and Party Hostels) have all the great hostel vibes, superb locations, activities, and half board. Imagine paying $18.00 for a bed and having an excellent breakfast, (very good) dinner, unlimited beer for an hour, and sometimes even a shot included for no extra money!

Transportation In Europe

Transportation in Europe can both be very cheap and very expensive.

Firstly, Europe has many budget airlines that offer crazy-low airfares ($8.00 one-way tickets from Scotland to Portugal is one example). But to take advantage of these low fares it is important to have limited baggage that one can carry onboard without checking in.

  • Baggage: Limit Baggage To Airline's Carry-On Limits
  • Cheap European Bus: Flixbus

Other options include buses - some of these are very cheap and one of the largest bus companies is Flixbus. It is worth checking with them.

  • Trains: Book With National Train Websites
  • Great European Train Company: RegioJet

Trains can be as cheap and sometimes cheaper than buses. Instead of just using a large booking site like Rome2rio.com (that comes up in a Google search), it is important to use local booking sites when booking trains.

For example, when booking trains in Poland use the local Polish website - like Polishtrains.eu. One great train company to check is RegioJet.com - for example, they have excellent trains from Vienna to Budapest for at little as $11.00.

Related: Wondering How To Get Paid To Travel? Here Are Some Good Ways To Start

Alternative Forms Of Accommodation And Transportation

One of the popular ways to get cheap rides around Europe is to take a Blah Blah Car. This is a ride-sharing platform where one can get a cheap ride with someone already driving from one city to another. Basically, the driver looks for passengers to join them to cover the cost of fuel.

  • Blah Blah Car: A Popular Ride-Sharing Platform In Europe

Couchsurfing is a platform that pairs up hosts and travelers for the purpose of cultural exchange and free accommodation. The traveler is hosted by a person in the city for free and both enjoy a free cultural exchange and often enjoy the time in the city together. Everyone is different, so the experiences vary wildly - perhaps the host just wants to practice their English.