How Much Spending Money to Take to Europe for 1, 2 or 4 Weeks (2024)

Once you’ve got an idea about the type of trip you’re planning, it’s time to start calculating actual daily costs. And for that, it’s best to break your trip out into each main area where you’ll be spending money.

The Costs of Accommodation in Europe

How Much Spending Money to Take to Europe for 1, 2 or 4 Weeks (1)

Accommodation costs are one of the most variable costs across Europe. The cost of a hotel in Bucharest will be vastly cheaper than one in Paris.

Then, of course, prices vary depending on whether you choose to slum it in a dorm room or live like Marie Antoinette in a palatial hotel.

You’ll even face variations in price depending on when you book for - including which season and what day of the week (midweek bookings are typically cheaper).

As a rough estimate, you could be looking at:

  • Budget: €15–30 for a bed in a dorm room for one night
  • Mid-range: €80–150 for a double room in a small hotel for one night
  • Luxury: €200 or more for a stay at a high-end hotel for one night

The Costs of Food in Europe

How Much Spending Money to Take to Europe for 1, 2 or 4 Weeks (2)

Europe is a gastronomical delight. There’s paella in Valencia, pizza in Italy, or the traditional Turkish kahvalti breakfast with all the bells and whistles.

There’s a particular pleasure reserved for eating out in Europe. But the costs can add up quickly - depending, of course, on where you go.

Eastern European restaurants and cafes are often markedly cheaper than Western European joints, but then you could just as easily eat like the ancient Romans in suave luxury venues and pay for the privilege.

Think of it this way: In Italy, you can attend the fanciest establishment and spend €100 or more on a three-course meal or you could nip round the corner and pick up a slice of pizza for €5.

On average, it’s a good idea to budget about €25–90 a day for food, accounting for the fact that your hotel might provide a free breakfast.

When costing out your meals, considering the following as a rough guide to prices:

  • Budget: €9–15 for fast food
  • Mid-range: €20–25 for a restaurant meal
  • Luxury: €35 or more for a fancy meal

The Costs of Transport in Europe

How Much Spending Money to Take to Europe for 1, 2 or 4 Weeks (3)

Thankfully, most cities in Europe are fairly walkable, making it easy to avoid transport expenses. And when you do want to go further afield, public transport is organised and easy.

Most European cities offer different transport passes for a certain length of days (often 1-day, 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day passes).

To get an idea of inner-city public transport costs in Europe, you might be looking at:

  • Paris Metro: €2.50 for a single trip or a carnet of 10 tickets for €22.50.
  • Amsterdam tram: Ranging from €4.50 to €9 a day, depending on the period of validity.
  • Barcelona metro: €2.40 for a single trip.

Taxis can make inner-city travel easier, especially if you’re carting around wheeled luggage on rough cobblestone roads.

The average cost for a 30-minute ride can be roughly €50 though the price drops considerably if you ride with Uber or are in Eastern European countries.

For long-distance journeys, you might be keen to hire a car. Prices are drastically different depending on the country but in a city like Paris, expect to pay €45 a day for an economy-sized car or €60+ per day for larger cars.

Finally, the expansive railway network across Europe and the prevalence of high-speed trains makes it easy to cross the continent without a car. But these costs can add up quickly. It’s not uncommon to pay over €100 for a ticket.

Bundle your train travel into a Eurail pass to save money; there are many passes to cover a specific number of journeys or as many journeys as you like

The Costs of Sightseeing in Europe

How Much Spending Money to Take to Europe for 1, 2 or 4 Weeks (4)

You’re going to want to get out and see as much as possible on your Euro-venture and it would hurt to have to miss out on a single activity because of lack of funds. So budget generously for all your sightseeing ambitions.

We’ve provided the costs of some of Europe’s most popular attractions to give you an idea of prices:

How Much Spending Money to Take to Europe for 1, 2 or 4 Weeks (2024)

FAQs

How much money should I bring to Europe for 2 weeks? ›

Here is an overview of what two weeks in Europe on a high budget may look like: Accommodation: 200 Euros per night for 14 nights = 2,800 Euros. Food: 80 Euros per day for 14 days = 1,120 Euros. Transportation: 30 Euros per day for 14 days = 420 Euros.

Is $100 a day enough for Europe? ›

It all depends on where you're going and what you plan to do during your trip. As you can see from our travel costs table above, some European cities are cheaper or more expensive than others. As a general rule, though, it's a good idea to budget at least $100 a day for your vacation.

What is a good amount of money to take to Europe? ›

A good rule of thumb is to carry $50-$100 a day in the local currency while travelling. Remember, though, that cash may not be the best option to pay for travel expenses. Credit cards offer great rewards, lower transaction fees, and can help you get a better exchange rate.

How much money do I need for 3 weeks in Europe? ›

Deals directly to your inbox

So, how much money do you really need for 3 weeks in Europe? While it varies depending on your travel style and destination, a budget of around $2,000 - $5,000 USD should cover your expenses. Of course, this is just a rough estimate - the more you can save, the better!

Is it better to use cash or card in Europe? ›

Key Takeaways. European travelers should always have some cash on hand; getting it from an ATM abroad is usually the easiest, most advantageous way. If you need cash from an ATM, it's usually better to use a debit card, because credit cards often charge a high interest rate for a cash advance.

How much should a 2 month trip to Europe cost? ›

(1) Do you mean only “travelling” to Europe or the cost of transport to Europe plus spending 2 months there. (2) You can do it for $10,000 or perhaps for as little as $6,000, depending on where you go, what accommodations you book, the sights you see, the meals you eat, etc.

How much to budget for food per day in Europe? ›

How much does a European vacation cost?
ExpenseEstimated cost
Local transportation$0 to $30 per day, depending on whether you walk, drive, or use public transportation
Food & drink$25 to $100 per day, depending on whether you are cooking or eating out
Attractions$0 to $100 per day
Spending money$0 to $100 per day
2 more rows

Can I use my debit card in Europe? ›

For credit cards, Visa and MasterCard are universal, while American Express and Discover are less common. US debit cards with a Visa or MasterCard logo will work in any European ATM. Go "contactless." Get comfortable using contactless pay options.

Should I exchange money before I travel to Europe? ›

Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip.

Some tourists feel like they must have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.

What credit cards are accepted in Europe? ›

When Europeans buy something with plastic, they insert their card, then type in their PIN. Despite some differences between European and US cards, there's little to worry about. US-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards, along with familiar payment apps, typically work fine in Europe.

How many euros should I take to Europe for 1 week? ›

This is so entirely dependent on your own travel preferences that it's tough to estimate but we recommend putting aside roughly €700 to €1700 for spending money for one week in Europe.

Do you tip in Europe? ›

Restaurant tips are more modest in Europe than in America. Servers are paid a living wage, and tips are considered a small bonus — to reward great service or for simplicity in rounding the total bill to a convenient number. In many countries, 5 percent is adequate and 10 percent is considered a nice tip.

How much does a 1 month trip to Europe cost? ›

While it is definitely possible to do a month-long Europe trip on a tight budget, it isn't exactly cheap – unless you do hostels, don't take taxis/ubers, and don't eat out. Even then, it'll still most likely be over $1,000 USD and closer to $2,000 USD.

What is the best month to go to Europe? ›

Although Europe is a year-round travel destination, the best time to visit Europe is during the summer months of June to September. This is the time when the sun is high, the beaches are warm and the weather is sunny.

How much does 15 days in Europe cost? ›

Europe Packages
Europe PackagesDay/NightPrice
European Gems - Summer (Guided Tour) Package15 Days/14 Nights₹3,07,430
Northern Gems and Poland End Riga - Summer (Guided Tour) Package15 Days/14 Nights₹2,78,468
Splendid Spain Getaway Package15 Days/14 Nights₹3,18,459
Splendid Spain Getaway Package15 Days/14 Nights₹3,18,459
1 more row

How much should I budget for backpacking Europe for 2 weeks? ›

In the same continent, as you can see, you can live different travel experiences. But in most places, you can save a lot of money on accommodation and food if you do a work exchange - which I'll talk about later in this article. So for 2 weeks in Europe, a budget traveler may spend around 1,120 Euros.

How much money do you need for 2 weeks in Italy? ›

A two week trip to Italy on average costs around $2,536 (€2,332) for one person and $5,073 (€4,663) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing. Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tish Haag

Last Updated:

Views: 5641

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tish Haag

Birthday: 1999-11-18

Address: 30256 Tara Expressway, Kutchburgh, VT 92892-0078

Phone: +4215847628708

Job: Internal Consulting Engineer

Hobby: Roller skating, Roller skating, Kayaking, Flying, Graffiti, Ghost hunting, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.