I Traveled Europe for 3 Weeks on $800

Let me show you where every dollar went:

Flights: $180

This was my biggest single expense, but still incredibly reasonable for transatlantic travel.

What I did:

• Set up Google Flights price alerts 8 weeks before my ideal departure date
• Searched for flights to Eastern European cities (Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Prague)
• Found a roundtrip ticket to Krakow for $150
• Flew budget airlines (in my case, a combination of Ryanair connections)
• Booked on a Tuesday afternoon (prices tend to drop mid-week)

Pro tip: Flying into cities like Krakow, Warsaw, or Budapest is typically 50-60% cheaper than landing in Paris, London, or Rome. Eastern European airports are well-connected and modern – you’re not sacrificing quality.

Emergency fund: I kept an additional $100 on my credit card for absolute emergencies, but I didn’t need to touch it. This isn’t included in my $800 total.

Accommodation: $252 (21 nights = $12/night)

Yes, you read that right. Twelve dollars per night on average.

The breakdown by city:

• Krakow: $10/night × 5 nights = $50
• Prague: $15/night × 4 nights = $60
• Budapest: $12/night × 5 nights = $60
• Bucharest & Brașov: $8/night × 4 nights = $32
• Sofia: $10/night × 3 nights = $30

How I found these prices:

• Used Hostelworld exclusively and booked 2-3 weeks in advance
• Stayed in 8-12 bed dorm rooms (yes, I’m that person)
• Prioritized hostels with free breakfast – this was HUGE
• Read reviews carefully for cleanliness and safety
• Avoided booking during weekends when prices spike

What you get for $8-15/night:

• A bed with clean sheets and a locker
• Free WiFi
• Free breakfast (usually coffee, bread, cereal, eggs, fruit)
• Common areas to meet other travelers
• Kitchen facilities
• Often better locations than budget hotels

Real talk about dorm rooms: I know they’re not for everyone. But here’s what I learned – you’re barely in your room anyway. I was out exploring from 8am to 10pm most days. The hostel was just a place to sleep and shower. Plus, I met some of my favorite people in hostel common rooms at midnight, swapping travel stories.

If dorms really aren’t your thing, private rooms in these same hostels run $25-35/night, which would bring your accommodation budget to around $525-735 for the trip – still very doable.

Transportation: $95

I didn’t take a single flight between cities. Everything was buses and trains.

City-to-city transport:

• Krakow → Prague: FlixBus, $18 (5 hours overnight)
• Prague → Budapest: RegioJet train, $25 (7 hours, comfortable seats)
• Budapest → Bucharest: FlixBus, $22 (14 hours overnight – saved a night’s accommodation!)
• Bucharest → Brașov: Local train, $5 (2.5 hours through stunning scenery)
• Brașov → Sofia: Bus, $20 (7 hours)

Local transport in cities: ~$5 total

• I walked everywhere possible (averaged 15,000+ steps per day)
• Bought occasional tram/metro day passes when needed ($1-2)
• Old Town areas are super walkable in these cities

Money-saving transport hacks:

• Overnight buses save you a night of accommodation
• Book buses/trains at least 1 week in advance for best prices
• Use Rome2Rio to compare all transport options
• Regional trains are cheaper than high-speed ones
• Your feet are free – embrace walking

Food: $168 (21 days = $8/day)

This is where people think I suffered. I didn’t.

My daily food strategy:

• Breakfast: Free at every hostel (saved me $3-5/day = $63-105 total)
• Lunch: Grocery store picnics, street food, local bakeries ($3-5)
• Dinner: Restaurants away from tourist areas ($5-8)
• Snacks/drinks: Supermarket runs, occasional beer at local spots ($2-3)

Real meals I ate:

• Pierogi with sour cream in Krakow: $3.50
• Traditional goulash in Budapest: $4
• Kebab in Sofia: $2.50
• Trdelník (pastry) in Prague: $2
• Pizza margherita in Bucharest: $3
• Langos (Hungarian fried bread): $2
• Beer at local pubs: $1-2

The golden rule: Never eat within 100 meters of a main tourist square. Walk 5-10 minutes away and prices drop by 50-70%.

How I found cheap eats:

• Asked hostel staff for recommendations
• Followed locals to lunch spots during work hours
• Used Google Maps to find high-rated places with $-$$ pricing
• Hit up local markets (Naschmarkt in Budapest was incredible)
• Bought wine and cheese for evening picnics ($5 for both)

What I avoided:

• Sit-down breakfast/brunch spots ($10-15)
• Restaurants with menus in multiple languages near attractions
• Hotel restaurants
• Coffee chains (local cafes = $1.50 vs Starbucks = $5)

Activities & Sightseeing: $85

This might surprise you, but so much in Europe is FREE.

What I paid for:

• Museum entry fees: ~$30 total (discounts with student ID)
• Day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow: $15
• Széchenyi Thermal Baths in Budapest: $20 (worth every penny)
• Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) in Romania: $10
• Day trip to Rila Monastery from Sofia: $10

What was FREE:

• Free walking tours in every city (tipped $3-5 each to guides)
• Prague Castle grounds (free to walk around)
• Charles Bridge at sunrise
• Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest
• All the Old Towns (Krakow, Prague, Sofia)
• Hiking in the Carpathian Mountains near Brașov
• Parliament building exteriors
• Street performances and festivals
• Church visits (most are free or $1-2 donation)
• Cemetery visits (Vyšehrad Cemetery in Prague is stunning)

The free walking tour hack: These tours are incredible value. You learn history, get oriented in the city, and discover hidden gems. I always tipped $5 per tour because the guides are working for tips, and it’s still way cheaper than paid tours.

Miscellaneous: $20

The little things that add up:

• European SIM card with 10GB data (bought in Poland): $15
• Public restroom fees (Europe charges for bathrooms): $3
• Laundry (did it once mid-trip): $2