Homejourney Budget Travel Guide to Europe: Save More in 2025

If you are looking for a practical Budget Travel Guide to Europe Budget : for Saving Money, a realistic daily budget for Singapore travellers is about €60–€100 for backpackers and €120–€180 for mid-range in most of Europe, if you book early, use budget transport and mix in self-catered meals.[3]

This cluster article fits under Homejourney’s main Europe budget pillar guide Homejourney's Europe Budget Travel Guide: Save Money Tips 2025 and focuses on tactical, money-saving strategies for Singaporeans and international visitors who want to see more of Europe without overspending, while still feeling safe and in control of their travel finances.

Why Visit Europe on a Budget (From a Singapore Perspective)

Europe offers dense history, iconic architecture and world-class museums in a relatively compact area, which makes it ideal for budget Europe itineraries that bundle multiple countries into a single trip.[2][3]

From Singapore, many travellers combine a first-timer route (London–Paris–Amsterdam) with cheaper destinations like Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Portugal to stretch their budget further.[1][2]

With the strong Singapore dollar relative to some Eastern and Southeastern European currencies, you can enjoy full meals for under €8–€10 and hostel beds from about €12–€20 in many second-tier cities.[2][3]

Best Time to Visit Europe on a Budget

For cheap Europe travel, target the shoulder seasons of April–May and September–early November.

Cheaper flights from Singapore: Airfares to hubs like London, Paris or Frankfurt often drop outside June–August and year-end peaks. Start monitoring prices 3–6 months ahead.
Lower accommodation costs: Hostel dorms that can be €40–€75 in peak summer in major cities fall closer to €20–€40 in shoulder seasons.[3]
Better value at attractions: Fewer crowds mean easier access to free walking tours and off-peak discounts on some passes.

How Much to Budget: Daily Costs & Money-Saving Benchmarks

Nomadic Matt’s updated 2025 guide suggests these typical daily budgets for Europe, which align well with what Singapore travellers report on the ground:[3]

Backpacker Europe: €50–€120 per day depending on region (around €50 in Eastern Europe, €70 in Central, €100 in Western, €120+ in Scandinavia).[3]
Mid-range: €70–€230 per day (around €70 in Eastern Europe, €130 in Central, €185 in Western, €230 in Scandinavia).[3]

For many Singaporeans flying a long way, a comfortable, realistic target is:

Budget / backpacker Europe: €70–€90 per day (mix dorms and budget hotels, cook sometimes, take buses and low-cost flights).
Mid-range: €120–€160 per day (private rooms, paid attractions, occasional nicer meals).

Accommodation alone typically ranges from €20–€40 for dorms in most cities to €50–€100 for budget hotels (higher in summer and in hotspots like Paris or Rome).[3]

Getting to Europe from Singapore (and Choosing Budget-Friendly Gateways)

From Singapore, it is usually cheapest to fly into major hubs like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt or Istanbul, then connect by budget airline or train to your starting city.

Use multi-city searches (e.g. Singapore–Istanbul–Budapest–Singapore) to avoid expensive backtracking.
Consider open-jaw tickets (fly into one city, out of another) so your route is linear and transport costs drop.
For extreme savings, watch for sale fares into secondary hubs like Milan, Zurich or Vienna, then continue on low-cost carriers or buses.[5][6]

Homejourney recommends comparing flight prices in both SGD and EUR and tracking exchange rate trends to decide when to pay in foreign currency versus charging in SGD with your card’s FX rate.

Cheapest Countries and Regions in Europe for Budget Travellers

To maximise save money Europe strategies, build your route around cheaper regions first, then add 1–2 expensive cities as “treats”.[1][2]

Budget-Friendly Regions

Eastern Europe: Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria offer rich history, medieval towns and hearty cuisine at a fraction of Western Europe’s cost.[1][2]
The Balkans: Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina combine mountains, beaches and historic towns with very low accommodation and food prices.[1][2]
Affordable Western Europe: Portugal stands out thanks to reasonable prices in Lisbon and Porto while still delivering classic Western European charm.[1]

As a rough rule, a Singapore backpacker who spends €120 per day in Paris might only need about €50–€70 per day in Eastern Europe if staying in dorms, using public transport and eating at local spots.[2][3]

Cheap Ways to Travel Around Europe

Your transport choices between cities can make or break a backpacker Europe budget.

Intercity buses: Often the cheapest option for flexible travellers, with extensive networks and promo fares across Europe.[5][6]
Budget airlines: Ideal for long hops if you travel light; watch for luggage and seat fees and fly into secondary airports.[5]
Trains and passes: Great for comfort and scenic routes. Rail passes make sense if you are doing many medium-distance trips in Western Europe in a short time.[3][8]

Singapore-style insider tip: treat long overnight bus or train legs like your “hotel” for the night. Plan a few strategic overnights and you can cut 2–3 nights of accommodation over a two-week trip, freeing budget for better meals or key experiences.

Practical Money-Saving Tips (Without Compromising Safety)

Homejourney focuses on user safety and trustworthy information, so the following cheap Europe travel tactics balance savings with security.

1. Book Smart Accommodation

Choose location over luxury: A clean, safe hostel or budget hotel near a metro station usually beats a cheaper room far out that forces you to spend more on transport.
Use mixed strategies: In expensive cities, stay slightly outside the tourist core (e.g. Paris’ 11th or 12th arrondissements) to save, as long as public transport is good.
Check reviews for security: Prioritise properties with strong reviews on cleanliness, lockers, 24/7 reception and female-only dorm options where needed.

2. Eat Like a (Budget-Conscious) Local

Self-cater one meal a day: Many European supermarkets offer ready-made salads, sandwiches and hot meals far cheaper than restaurants.[7]
Look for lunch specials: In cities like Lisbon, Madrid or Budapest, weekday set lunches can be substantially cheaper than dinner menus.
Tap water awareness: Unlike Singapore, tap water is not always free in restaurants; check local norms and refill at public fountains where safe.

For deeper food-specific savings, see Homejourney’s dedicated guide: Best Budget Food & Restaurants in Europe Best Budget Food & Restaurants in Europe: Money-Saving Guide | Homejourney .

3. Maximise Free and Low-Cost Attractions

Free walking tours: Most major cities offer tip-based walking tours; they are a top value activity recommended by many budget experts.[4]
Museum free days: Major museums in cities like Paris, Rome or Madrid often have monthly or weekly free-entry slots.
City passes: Evaluate city cards only if you will use enough included attractions and transport to justify the cost.