Easiest Ways to Travel Around Europe
plane
bus
train
subway
taxi
boat
bike
foot
There are many ways to travel around Europe. There are planes, buses, trains, subways, taxis, boats, bikes, and foot. Each and every mode of transportation is useful, but it is important to know where and when is the best time to use each one. Each mode of transportation has its pros and cons, but if you are looking for details on each one and which will save you the most money read on. These are the easiest ways to travel around Europe on a budget.
Plane
While in Europe
Ryan air (All Europe)
Ryan air is the best airline to use to travel around Europe. This is because it is an amazing budget friendly and reliable option for travelers. Traveling by plane is a lot faster than traveling by train, bus, or foot if you are going long distances. Also, it is not a whole lot more expensive. I would recommend using planes for the majority of your trip if you are on a time restraint or if you don’t want to waste extended periods of time traveling from place to place in Europe.
*Just make sure you don’t go over the baggage limit and print out your boarding pass before hand or you will be charged extra for your flight. Ryanair and other budget friendly airlines stay cheap because they charge extra for small inconvenient things. Make sure you plan ahead and don’t forget to pre-print and weigh your bag so you do not get charged extra fees.
Getting to Europe (From USA)
wowair (America and Europe)
I know this is outdated, but I had to share my love for WOW air even though it is now out of business. Wow air is an amazing budget friendly option to travel to Europe from the USA. This option is a great option for budget travelers because it is very cheap, but it does have extra fees if you aren’t careful.
For example: The baggage limit is 5kg, so make sure you do not have a bigger bag or else you will have to check it and pay large extra fee. There are also not any entertainment activities for free on board. Wow air does not offer free TVs, drinks, or food while on bored. TVs are not even available, but there is an option for food and drink for purchase on your flight. (for the flights I took). This shouldn’t bring you down though because the seats are clean, the staff is nice, and people around you are usually nice (judge accordingly) It was approximately 400$ to get to Europe (LAX to Amsterdam) with Wow Air in 2016. It is not available anymore. ☹ RIP
Norwegian Air is very similar to wow air when it comes to international travel from USA to Europe. I personally have never flown with them, but my friend used them for her flight from LA to Amsterdam.
Norwegian air is similar to WOW as it charges for extra baggage, does not offer free food or drink and does not have free entertainment on bored (according to my friend who took a flight) Another downside to both of these airlines is that they only take off out of big cities in USA (LA, San Francisco, NYC, Boston, etc). If you are close to one of those cities I would recommend driving or taking a one way flight to them and buying a ticket out of there. By doing this I saved at least $400.
Tips for plane travel
- Travel light
- You actually DO need to travel light for most small plane options in Europe (unless you want to pay an extra 20+ Euros for your bag. The usual travel restrictions limit you to one 5kg-10kg (22lb) bag. Just bring a backpacking backpack. That’s all you really need. If you need a list of what to pack check out my list of THINGS TO PACK WHILE BACKPACKING.
- Bring your own snacks/drinks
- The budget airlines to Europe from USA do not have free drinks / food or even entertainment on board. Make sure you bring enough to entertain / feed yourself for the 10+ hour flight. The planes will have food and drinks for purchase, but you know how expensive and non-appealing airline food can be!
- Buy your tickets ahead of time
- You usually will not have luck when buying international plane tickets at the last minute. You will end up paying a lot more and adding a lot of stress to your trip. You may have better luck when doing this while country jumping in Europe, but it is always good to plan ahead so you don’t waste time on your trip planning when you could be enjoying your vacation.
- Fly out of big cities
- In order to get the best price for your trip you have to fly out of the big cities in Europe if you are traveling in Europe. If you are traveling in America the cheap airlines are only available out of large cities in America (Los Angeles, San Francisco, NYC, Boston, etc). If you live close to one of these cities I would buy a one way ticket to them and your international ticket out of a big city to save money. Doing this saved me hundreds of dollars on my trip.
- Bring something to entertain you on your 10+ hour plane ride
- I personally bring a journal everywhere I travel to. This is what usually keeps me entertained while on long distance trips. I can write about my travels that I already went through or write down what I want to do in the future along with thousands of other topics. Bring something to keep you entertained.
Bus
Megabus (All European)
Megabus is a bus service that travels all around Europe. It is very cheap, and all the buses I took using this service were exceptional. They all had reasonable storage, charging stations, WIFI, and reclining seats. I cannot speak for all of the buses when I say they have all of these perks, but every single one I rode did.
Buses are going to be the cheapest option for you if your only goal is to save money while traveling. Buses will help you travel Europe on the cheapest budget, but they will also take the most time. For example, when I was in Europe I was able to get from Amsterdam to Paris for 1 Euro with this bus service. Prices go up as bus tickets are sold, so the faster you are the cheaper the ticket – and sometimes very last minute tickets will be the cheapest. These buses usually take a lot longer than driving and sometimes even double the amount of time time of a train, so plan accordingly. If you want you can get an overnight bus and sleep on the bus while getting to your destination. This way you will be traveling and saving time in your sleep.
Monbus (Spain)
Monbus is a bus service that can be used to get around Spain. It is very similar to Megabus but only available in Spain.
I used this train getting from Barcelona to Pamplona in Spain. The seats were very comfortable, it had WIFI, and storage. The only downside is it did not have any bathrooms so plan accordingly before you get on board. This service is decently priced for traveling around Spain.
Train
Trenitalia (All of Europe)
Trenitalia is the train service I used the entire time I traveled around Europe. This is a budget friendly, easy, and reliable option to get around while traveling Europe. When you arrive to various train stations you can buy tickets at the station, but it will save you time and money to plan ahead and buy through the Trenitalia website. This way you know you will get to where you want to go and tickets won’t be sold out. This will also save you time because you will know what time you train leaves, instead of just winging it and going to the train station hoping there is a train soon to your desired destination.
I would recommend just buying one way tickets while traveling by train. It will be cheaper this way, and it will give you a lot more freedom. I would not recommend getting a package bundle to use the train an unlimited amount for a few countries unless you are only planning on traveling only in those countries. If you are looking to just stay in a few countries for a long time it may be worth it, but if you plan on going to many destinations it will end up hurting you more than helping you. EX: Don’t get the Eurail Pass.
Eurail.com pass
The Eurail pass is only a good idea if you plan on just staying in a few countries. If you plan on extreme exploring all of Germany / Spain or something of that degree, the Eurail pass could be a great idea because it is one price for however many trains you take. I did not use it because I didn’t stay in once place that long, but if that is your plan this is the pass for you.
It is also good if you want to travel for a very long time. Options range from 10 days unlimited to unlimited for 33 countries. They also offer discounts for families/groups/children. I never used them, and I do not think it is good for budget travel, but if you are someone who just wants to not think too much this is for you!
Tips for bus / train travel
- Consider upgrading your ticket class.
- Usually if you aren’t going too far I wouldn’t waste the money on upgrading your seat, but some trains/ buses don’t assign seats unless you buy a higher class ticket so you may have to stand / not sit by your friends unless you buy a more expensive seat. If you want to avoid spending extra money and want to sit by your friends just get to the train station a little earlier or travel during non-peak hours.
- Have your ticket handy
- The conductor / checkers will randomly come down the line to check to make sure you are in the right seat / have a ticket every so often. Make sure you have easy access to your ticket to show if random checks happen on your trip.
- Make sure you get on the right train/ bus
- Don’t be like me and get on the wrong train and end up in a country you didn’t plan on going to. Ask the locals or workers if your ticket is for that correct bus so you get to your correct destination. This can be especially difficult with trains because there are so may options in a small space and they come and go so fast. Make sure you validate your ticket and make sure you are getting onto the correct train if you are not checked as you get on the train.
- Travel light
- I guess you don’t HAVE to travel light on trains – trains don’t check your bag weight or limit where you can put your bag, but it is a lot easier if you just have one bag…Plus you will end up having to pay extra on planes later unless you plan on doing all your travel on other modes of transportation.
- Little Security
- There isn’t a whole lot of security at train stations. Sometimes there is a small security check before you go on board, but for the most part you will not have to account for extra time when traveling by train.
- Look for discounts
- Sometimes children, students or seniors can get discounts on trains. Check for this before you buy.
Subway
There are subways in almost every major city in Europe (and the world – Excluding America..). Subways are useful because they will get you to parts of the city in a flash so you won’t waste so much time and energy walking everywhere you want to go. They can be confusing, but most of them are clearly marked so you can follow them.
My favorite thing about subways is that they are almost always color coded, so if you cannot memorize a stop name because it is not in your native language you can remember parts of it and the color. This will help you remember where to go and how to get back. It has saved me several times when I wasn’t paying complete attention. You can also use your GPS on your phone to track the general direction of where you are headed just in case you accidentally get on the wrong train. Subways are pretty self-explanatory, but here are my top recommendations.
Tips for subway travel
- Buy bulk passes
- If you are planning on staying in a city for a few days, it is usually a good idea to buy in bulk. If you are traveling with a friend around the city you can also share with them and save money. Some stations will let you buy a pack of 10 or more one way passes and you can use them all yourself or share with a friend. Plan according for your needs and plans for the city you are traveling in.
- Watch where you are going
- As I said above most subway stations are color coded, so if you don’t know the language you can always remember the colors. Some even light up to show you which stop you are at so it is almost impossible to get lost once you are on the right train.
- Use your phone (No international data care required)
- You do not need an international data plan to use your phone in an emergency. I do not ever get international texting or WIFI or anything like that because I don’t want to be attached to my phone. I will post at the end of the day or call people when I get to WIFI. I don’t like social media that much, and I definitely do not like it when I travel. That being said, you can still use your phone if you do not have an international data plan. Your phone will still pick up your location when you are moving so you can make sure you are going to the right destination based on your location on the map. You can also download maps to your phone while you are in WIFI and use a real map when you are traveling. No need to pay for international data!
Taxi
Are you fancy? Then Taxis are for you! I personally do not like to use Taxis unless its super late at night and I have no idea what I am doing …OR if the subway station closed and it is my only option. Taxis are not a budget friendly option while traveling, but it is a lot faster than any other mode of transportation in a city. Taxis are accustomed for just you not for an entire bus full of people so it is a lot more convenient and will save you a lot of time. Unfortunately you will pay the price. Sometimes it is worth it because it will save you a lot of time.
Tips for taxis travel
- Convenient
- Taxis are the most convenient option while traveling. They are usually very easy to catch and will bring you straight to your destination. There will be no extra walking from the train station or searching to see if you made it to the right place. The driver will bring you to your destination exactly and you can immediately go on your way.
- Have cash
- Most cities I have been to take credit card, but unfortunately not all of them do. In the smaller cities a lot of the taxis only take cash so make sure you are prepared for that if you are in a small city.
- Not a Budget Friendly option
- Taxis are not known to be a good option if you are wanting to travel on a budget, so plan accordingly. They are convenient, but you will pay the price.
- Use ride share apps
- In some cities you can use ride share options such as Uber or Lyft to get around. This makes it easier because they are usually cheaper, and the taxi drivers cannot scam you out of money this way. The price is on the app and they must honor that. I would recommend using these apps if you are traveling and it is an option.
Boats and ferries
I have only ever used boat travel in Greece (excluding boat taxis in Venice and Istanbul), but I will give you my recommendations for that. Boats are useful if and only if it is your only option. Boats will take the longest amount of time to get you to your destination, but in my opinion are the most fun option.
I have taken a boat from Mykonos, Greece to Athens, Greece. This trip is about 5 hours long and leaves sometimes only once a day, so make sure you plan ahead so you don’t get stuck on an island. The boats are always very clean and never completely crowded (in my experience) because they are so big. You can buy a seat outside, inside or upgrade to get a fancy seat. All options are available, but I recommend just paying for a cheap seat and then walking around and enjoying the boat. They have food for purchase, bathrooms, outside seating and more. Boats are great!
Tips for boating travel
- Plan ahead
- Sometimes boats will only take specific trips once a day so you much be prepared and on time for your boat so you do not miss it.
- Buy a basic seat
- Odds are the boat will not be completely booked up on your trip. The basic seats will give you storage and a nice place to sit, but you are not forced to stay there the entire time. You can walk around and enjoy everything the boat has to offer.
- Bring snacks
- There are snacks and drinks available for purchase on the boats, but they will be overpriced for convenience. I would recommend buying something on the island before you leave to eat for lunch or a snack on your boat trip to save money.
Bike
Biking is one of my favorite ways to travel around Europe or any new city. Biking is one of the best options because it is almost as convenient as walking, but it is a lot faster and easier to cover a lot more land in a shorter period of time. Bikes can be found in a lot of cities around the world. They are cheap and can be rented for a few hours to an entire day while traveling around cities in Europe.
Tips to bike travel
- Bring water
- If you are planning on biking all day do not forget to bring water so you do not get dehydrated. Also don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
- Start Early
- Sometimes bikes are booked up by mid day if you are in a small city. Make sure you get up and start early so you can get a chance to explore the city by bike.
- Don’t wipe out
- Be careful and don’t go crazy while riding your bike. You don’t want to have to go to the hospital. Take it down a notch and just enjoy your day and ride a bike safely. If you do get hurt though make sure you have the safety equipment needed until you can reach a professional.
Foot
Traveling by foot is the cheapest option you have because it is FREE. Traveling by foot will also help you see the most of the city you are in and give you the best experiences. Once you have taken your planes, subways, boats, and taxis and are finally in the heart of the city you want to explore you finally can by foot. This is my favorite option probably mostly because you are at your location and can finally start traveling and doing what you want to do at your desired destination in Europe.
Tips to traveling by foot
- Walking tours
- Most major cities in Europe will offer free walking tours to get to know the city you are in. They are always very informative, and I have learned more on these tours than I have ever learned on my own. I guarantee I still would not know a lot if it wasn’t for these tours around Europe and the world.
- Plan ahead to avoid backtracking
- Plan out where you want to go so you knock out a few destinations that are close at a time instead of missing one and having to go all the way back after you are already all the way across town. Map out the city in advance so you can get to where you want to go with little setbacks.
- Wear good shoes
- The last thing you want is for your shoe to break while walking around the city. I recommend wearing tennis shoes that are supportive. I have walked miles and the entirety of cities in flip flops, but I do not think I would do that again. If you need to check what else you should pack check out MY BACKPACKING PACKING LIST.
There you have it. These are the easiest ways to travel around Europe. Traveling around Europe is surprisingly easy and cheap. There are so many options to get around including: Plane, train, bus, boat, subway, taxis, bike and by foot. Every traveling option is important to consider and convenient for certain type of trips. Make sure to figure out which option is best for you and have an amazing trip. Traveling around Europe is very fun and the convenience of public transportation options makes it even that much more enjoyably. If you have any further questions on how to travel around Europe feel free to contact me! I hope you have a wonderful trip!
