This is not your typical travel blog showing you hacks on how to save or make money while traveling. This is a budgeted plan for traveling Europe. I will show you where to go where to stay, how to travel, and an outline fo what sights to see. A little over a year from now, I plan to head to Europe for two weeks after I graduate from college celebration and last hurrah before I go to work my big kid job. This will be my own travel plans, sights I’m seeing, and where I’m staying. This will be a general estimation of how much the trip is going to cost so you too can plan for your own European excursion.
My trip is going to be for about two weeks starting June 22nd and coming back on July 5th. I’ll be starting in southern Europe where the weather is a bit nicer and ending in Dublin for the 4th of July.
The first major cost will be buying the plane tickets so I definitely recommend buying as far in advance as possible. I’m personally estimating at least $1,400 in air fair just to go to and from the United States to Europe.
DAY ONE ATHENS:
The first stop and day one of this trip is Athens! I found a great Air BnB right in the city center the apartment is located 50m from the Acropolis metro station and 150m from the Acropolis museum. This apartment is extremely affordable costing only about $40 a night so $20 a person for two people. To get to this apartment you will take the X95 shuttle from the airport which is 6 euros this shuttle will drop you in Syntagma Square, from there you can either walk the 10 to 15 minutes to the Acropolis Museum and on to your Ari BnB or you can catch a bus, tram, or subway all of which will cost you 2 euros. I personally would recommend the walk it allows you to get accustomed to the city so you are better able to find your way around. Once you are settled into your apartment I suggest you walk around to get familiar with the neighborhood and maybe find a place to eat and go to a market to pick up snacks for day two which will involve a lot of sightseeing and walking around. When budgeting out this trip I’m estimating around 40 euros to get to the apartment and for the cost of the apartment, I’m also adding on an additional 40 euros for dinner and snack for tomorrow coming to a grand total of 80 euros for day one.
DAY TWO ATHENS:
Day two will be starting bright and early with you getting to the Acropolis Museum by 8 AM so you don’t have to wait in line. The Museum will cost about 10 euros and a visit will usually last about two hours. I highly recommend getting The Combination Ticket For €30, you can purchase a combination ticket that gets you admission into the Acropolis, Kerameikos, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Temple of Olympian Zeus, and Aristotle’s Lyceum. If you plan to visit the Acropolis and two additional sites, the ticket pays for itself. It costs €20 for summer admission into the Acropolis. For just 10 more euros, you get admission into six additional sites. The real bonus is that the combination ticket allows you to skip the ticket line at each of these sites (except at your first site, where you purchase the ticket). This can literally save you up to an hour at the Acropolis and 10 to 20 minutes at each additional site. You can buy your combination ticket at the first site you visit or you can purchase it online in advance. The combination ticket is valid for 5 days. After all the sightseeing head back to your apartment and get ready for dinner and a night on the town. I would plan for another 100 euros for day two which includes all the sightseeing, the cost of your Ari BnB, and a fun night in the town.
DAY THREE ROME:
Head back to the airport to catch a flight to Rome which will cost about 30 euros for a flight once in Rome, head to your Air BnB to drop off your thing then go and see the sights starting at the Colosseum which will cost you 12 euros, then heading over to the Trevi Fountain for lunch ending at the Pantheon. Now the Air BnB I found is over by the train station and costs about $43 a night so about $22 a person. The Air BnB it’s about a half an hour walk from the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, so once you leave for the day you probably aren’t going to be back till bedtime so make sure you have everything you need. Day three I would plan on spending about 10 euros on breakfast, maybe 12 to 15 euros for a sitdown lunch over by the Trevi Fountain, and a nice dinner on the heart of Rome costing about 20 to 25 euros. This brings our total for day three to 114 euros.
DAY FOUR VENICE:
Wake up bright and early to head to the train station to hop on the first train at 6:50 AM to head to Venice and get there by 10:50 AM (this will be 44 euros). Once in Venice head to St.Marco square to take in some of the sights, grab a bite to eat, and find a gondola. I would be prepared to spend around 12 euros to make a small picnic to take with you for a ride on a gondola this rides typically run about 30 to 40 euros. Day four excursion will run about 98 euros so if that’s not in your budget you can continue on the train to your next destination. If this excursion is for you then after you have had your fill of Venice head back to the bus station to catch the 10 PM bus go to Munich Germany for 31 euros and will get you into Munich at 6:15 AM ready to start your next day of fun. Day four will be either cost 129 euros or 50 euros to get from Rome to Munich.
DAY FIVE MUNICH:
Now if you opted out of the excursions to Venice then you will have an extra day on this trip so make sure you plan accordingly. Upon arriving in Munich, you will need to find your Air BnB in Old Town (49 euros a night or 25 euros each) which is right in the heart of Munich. Once you have found your Air BnB then you can head out and get your feel for Old Town by going shopping and getting ready for a night on the town since it is a Saturday night you might as well as really live it up and go to the dance clubs in Munich. I would plan on spending around 75 euros for this evening in Munich and you Air BnB.
DAY SIX MUNICH:
After your night on the town take in all the sights Old Town has to offer by going on this free do it your self walking tour. Day six is looking to be about 25 euros for night two at the Air BnB and about 50 euros for your food, drink, and walking tour coming to about 75 euros for the day.
DAY SEVEN AMSTERDAM:
Monday will be traveling to Amsterdam now you can either spend the whole day on a bus, or you can take a train and spend half a day on that, or you can fly which oddly enough comes out to be cheaper than taking a train and faster than a bus(about 60 euros for a flight). Once in Amsterdam, I recommend finding the drop and go luggage storage facility so you don’t have a big backpack getting in your way during your explorations (7 euros for 24 hours). The bag storage opens at 9 AM which is perfect since there is a flight which will get you into Amsterdam at 8:15 AM leaving you just enough time to grab a bite to eat and head over to the bag drop. After dropping off your bag head right over to the Anne Frank House (10,50 euros) a line developed pretty quickly so you don’t want to be too late getting the museum which opens at 9 AM. After the Anne Franke House it will be the perfect time for a nice cold beer so go take a tour of the Heineken Brewery, make sure you go online and purchase your tutor package before you go and enjoy a nice cold beer (18-55 euros depending on your tutor). After all the touring you will have worked up an appetite so go find your self some lunch then feel free to wander around Amsterdam enjoying the sights and beauty of the city. Make sure you keep an eye on the time since your flight to Paris takes off at 7:45 PM (42 euros). Your Amsterdam adventure will cost about 200 euros but the memories you make will be priceless.
NIGHT SEVEN PARIS:
Your flight will get you into Paris around 9 PM which you will then go catch the 9:30 PM 13 metro (2 euros) which will take you to the 7th arrondissement where you Air BnB is located (40 euros a night 20 euros each). If you are hungry feel free to grab a bite to eat or head to bead and get a good night’s sleep to prepare yourself for a full day of tourist fun. Night seven will be around 22 euros for the first night at your Air BnB.
DAY EIGHT PARIS:
Day eight wake up bright and early to get to The Louvre (17 euros) by 9 AM to avoid some of the lines and crowds. I personally am wanting to save the Eifel Tower for the evening to see the night sky lit from the town below. After the Louvre take a walk along Champs-Elyees, this is one of the most recognizable streets in the world, running from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. Along the way, pop into Laduree for macarons, another must-do while in Paris. Sitting at the top of the Champs-Elysees is the Arc de Triomphe. From the top of the Arc, you get one of the best views of Paris. Look down the Champs-Elysees to the Louvre, out to La Defense, and over the rooftops to the Eiffel Tower. At night, you can watch Paris (and the Eiffel Tower) sparkle…quite the sight to see. After the Arc head on over to Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the oldest and grandest cathedrals in the world. Unfortunately ever since April 15, 2019, Notre Dame suffered a devastating fire. The cathedral and the towers will be closed until further notice, so make sure you keep an eye out to see if tours are allowed when you make your trip to Paris. Don’t feel too bad though because just a short walk from Notre Dame is Sainte Chapelle, another gorgeous cathedral and one of the world’s best displays of stained glass. Lines to get into Sainte Chapelle are usually long, but it’s worth the wait. The Conciergerie can also be combined with a visit to Sainte Chapelle since they sit beside one another. This is the place where Marie Antoinette and others were imprisoned before being taken to Place de la Concorde to be executed(about 13 euros). Finally, end the night on the Eiffel Tower (17 euros) taking the elevator all the way up to the third floor for a nice champagne toast at the iconic monument while at the summit’s Champagne bar (12 euros). Once down from the Eiffel Tower head over to the Seine for a nightcap with a bottle of your favorite French wine and a nice fresh beget and cheese which you can get earlier that day and keep in your Air BnB till your ready for it. Day Eight will be around 130 euros for all the tours, food, and the last night in your Air BnB.
DAY NINE PARIS & LONDON:
You can spend this day in one of two ways. The first of which is being very lazy sleeping in till check out and then heading over to the train station to go under the English channel to go to London. The second being getting up and at them to see any last sight of Paris before you head on over to London this afternoon. Depending on when you would like to leave Paris the train can cost you between 81 euros and 67 pounds. Once in London, you will need to find your Air BnB (87 pounds a night so 45 pounds per person) I found one near the London Eye and Big Ben right by Waterloo station so to get there your will need to take the Piccadilly line Westbound to Leicester Square. Change at Leicester Square and then take the Northern line Southbound to Waterloo station (2 to 3 Pounds). Once settled into your Air BnB start wandering around the city to get yourself familiarized feel free to talk to the locals to see if they have any suggestions or tips for you. Day nine is probably going to be around 150 Pounds between getting to London, paying for the first night at the Air BnB, and any sort of food and drink you would also like.
DAY TEN LONDON:
Today is going to be full of sightseeing and getting all you can out of London. First, we will start walking over to Big Ben around 9:30 to take some of the typical tourist photos of yourself and Big Ben. Then you need to head over to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the guard which happens every day in June and July and starts at 10:45 AM and lasts about 45 minutes. After BuckinghamPalace head over to St. James’s Park for a nice picnic the park is also right next to Westminster Abbey. So once you finish your picnic head on over to Westminster for a tour (20 pounds) make sure you book ahead if you are wanting a guided tour of Westminster Abbey. After Westminster head over to Tower Bridge then end the day with a rid in the London Eye (40 pounds) make sure to buy your tickets before to skip the lines. After the London Eye head back to your Air BnB and get ready for a Friday night out on the town. Day ten is probably going to be around 170 pounds between your Air BnB, food, tours, and your night on the town.
DAY ELEVEN DUBLIN:
Wake up early to get your last view of London before flying to Dublin at 12:30 PM (26 pounds). Once in Dublin, you can either take the bus service, route 16 from the airport to the College Green area. The cost is about 2.60 euros. There are dedicated airport express bus services – Airlink 747 and Aircoach at respective fares of 6 and 7 euros per person. Both serve Grafton Street / Trinity College / College Green adjacent to Temple Bar. Once in the Temple Bar area, it’s time to find your Air BnB (49 euros a night so 25 euros each) which is just outside the famous Pantibar and across the bridge from the Temple Bar area. After you have checked into you Air BnB its time to familiarize your self with the area and go check out some of the landmarks Like St Stephen’s Green and Ha’Penny Bridge, also don’t forget to find the spire that’s the best landmark to use to find your way around Dublin if you get lost. After you have explored a bit go get ready for a night on the town in the famous Temple Bar Area. Day eleven is probably going to be around 100 to 150 euros depending on how much fun you plan to have in the Temple Bar Area.
DAY TWELVE DUBLIN:
Start your day off with a walk through Trinty College then head over to Dublin Castel for a tour (8.50 euros) at 9:45 AM. After a nice walk through Dublin Castel head over to the Guinness Factory for a tour(19.50 euros) buy your tickets early to ensure you receive any discounts available. After a lovely pint of Guinness go grab some lunch before heading over to the Jameson Factory for a tour there as well. Make sure you buy your tickets online before you head over to the Jameson Factory since they have many different types of tours. After your tours feel free to see some cathedrals if you’re interested or go for a hike around Dublin bay. To hike around Dublin Bay you will need to take a train to a town called Howth. You can reach Howth using the northbound DART, a fast train service, from Dublin’s city center a day-return ticket costs 6.25 euros. After your hike head back to Dublin and enjoy your last night on the town before you head back to the states. Day twelve will be around 145 euros for your last night at the Air BnB, your tours, the train to Howth, and your last night out in Dublin.
DAY THIRTEEN HOME:
Depending on when you booked your return flight home you might have some time to do some last-minute sightseeing, but for the most part, I hope you got your fill of Europe on this two-week adventure through seven different countries. The total cost of this trip will come out to being around 3,000 dollars. If you are planning to buy any sort of souvenirs, go to a nice restaurant, or shop in the least bit I would add on at least another 1,000 to 1,500 dollars.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- All methods of transportation should be bought ahead of time to ensure the best prices. I found Omi0 and Skyscanner found the best deals for traveling on the European continent.
- I used Air BnB as my preferred method for places to stay because I wanted to have my own private room and bathroom as well as the option for a laundry facility so I wouldn’t have to wash my clothes by hand.
- If you wanted to save even more on room and board you can use the Couchsurfing sight or even look for hostels in the cities you are planning to stay.
- Please note that the sights I’m choosing to see are not all that’s out there so make sure you do your own research before going to be certain you are not missing anything on this amazing adventure.