Europe on a Frugal Budget

By The New York Times
ParisEd Alcock for The New York Times The Cour Carrée, the courtyard in the western wing of the Louvre, becomes a kind of free theater set at dusk.

As the Frugal Traveler discussed in his recent post that took a look back at his European Grand Tour of last year, traveling in Europe on a budget — particularly during the summer months — is no small feat. This weekend, the Travel section offers up a special package with suggestions on how to experience the best of 10 European cities on two budgets: $250 a day or $1000 a day.

The articles offer five categories: where to stay, where to eat, where to party, where to shop and how to experience the city in a creative way. Here are those 10 cities, with some of the frugal highlights you’ll find.

Amsterdam
Lunch at the Chinese restaurant Nam Kee, a city icon that serves delicious Chinese fare like their signature giant steamed oysters in black bean sauce, is 10.35 euros, or about $14.

Berlin
An evening at the riverside bar Club der Visionäre, including a beer and a cover change, is 5 euros, or about $7.

Copenhagen
At Bungalow, an off-beat design store, a blank-paged journal covered in playful color combinations of simplified Indian prints is 79 kroner, or about $14.

Dublin
An afternoon spent wandering the Hugh Lane Gallery, which features the city’s foremost collection of modern and contemporary art, is free.

Lisbon
A 100-gram box of the elaborate specialty chocolates offered at Claudio Corallo Cacau & Café is 10 euros, or about $13.

London
A satisfying lunch at the ubiquitous Wagamama chain is £8.20, or about $12.

Madrid
At the Hostal Adria Santa Ana, which combines gracious 19th-century rooms with up-to-the-minute 21st-century design and amenities, a double room is about half of what you’d pay at one of the city’s boutique hotels: 70 euros, or about $92.

Paris
Two pretty pots of exotic honey or confiture at the cooking supply shop G. Detou are 9 euros, or about $12.

Prague
A night at Klub Ujezd, one of the first post-Communist rock clubs in Prague, is 257 korunas, or about $13.

Rome
Looking at Caravaggio’s stunning three-painting cycle of the “Calling of St. Matthew” at the church of San Luigi dei Francesi costs only the euro coins you’ll want to drop in the machine to light up the paintings: 5 euros, or about $6.50.

Finally, for tips on how to get yourself to Europe, check out this week’s Practical Traveler column on the best time to buy your tickets.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

Jasmine April 26, 2009 · 2:43 pm

Thanks for posting this, but 1G a day is still way too much for me (I would be traveling on my own).

The main problem I find is the hotel rates: I know real estate prices are always rising but I’m only visiting – I don’t want to pay what could amount to one month’s rent or mortgage! I’m so surprised when hotels think $300 a night is a bargain – it really isn’t unless it’s a 5-star hotel. I might as well rent an apartment.

Najy Kamal April 26, 2009 · 6:16 pm

$250– this falls under the category of “frugal” now?

jameslouis April 28, 2009 · 4:51 am

I suggest one site named eurtour this site is for those people who want to visit Europe and it’s wonderful and lovely places in very cheap rate. Now a days they are providing Discount in various and diffrent tours and vacation packages. So this is really helpful.

For More Details Visit //www.eurtour.com

Gerard Delman May 2, 2009 · 1:59 am

This is frugal in the sense that rich people who aren’t used to worrying at all about money can do these things and pat themselves on the back for not being extravagant by their own inflated standards.
For anyone else traveling Europe, a blank-paged journal covered in playful color combinations for $14 is gratuitous.

nnkamani May 2, 2009 · 4:49 am

With $stores springing around every where,even 250$ cannot be termed as frugal anymore.Please make it in range of $150-200$ or less to make it really frugal.After all these are Bad Times.

Michael May 2, 2009 · 10:06 am

Small rooms in Paris complete with free WiFi and furnished kitchen can be had for between 50 and 70 Euros. Search by including kitchen. These are NOT in touristy areas, but ARE near public transportation.

Paul May 2, 2009 · 10:22 am

‘Frugal’ for the NYT writer may simply reflect the cost-of-living in New York City. It’s quite possible to get by on less than $250/day — I just completed an 8-day London/Cambridge trip for less than $150/day, which included a performance at the Royal Ballet, the Opera, and concerts every other night of the week. The Rick Steves guide books are a great resource for frugal travelling, with plenty of options for the not-quite-so-frugal as well.

JenellScherbel May 2, 2009 · 11:41 am

I spent, roughly, 25-35 Euro per day last summer in Paris, Florence, Athens, etc. (well . . . not counting Eurail and Rail Europe passes) by using hostels such as Hostelling International with the added benefits of meeting other travellers, learning about truly frugal travel, and forming spontaneous “travel/mutual assistance” groups. Hostels are casual and spare, but clean and comfortable, often well-run, and offer free breakfasts and inexpensive travel insurance as well!

Laura May 2, 2009 · 2:16 pm

One of the cheapest and most comfortable types of accommodation in Europe these days is actually to get online and rent an apartment for a few nights. Especially if you are looking into travel in central or eastern Europe, this is the best (and often cleanest) way to go about it. These rental apartments usually look like Ikea showrooms and can be rented for less than the cost of a hostel. (I’ve done this in Budapest, Vienna, and Bucharest). Just using google to search for vacation rental apartments in a European city is a good way to start and it will help keep your budget below 250 per day. I lived in Europe for three and a half years and was able to travel during every scholastic holiday (I was a teacher) on a salary of less than E1000 per month, usually by using apartment rentals like this or by getting private rooms in hostels.

Tony Danza May 2, 2009 · 7:29 pm

Europe on $250 a day? One can do Europe in the spring time on $150 with very little trouble, unless you’re some diva who needs egyptian cotton sheets and fancy eats three meals a day. I would also suggest the lower your budget the more authentic your experience of European culture will be.

Darla May 2, 2009 · 8:35 pm

Staying in Bed and Breakfasts helps a lot. On an 11 day trip we are never spending more than 59 Euro a night, and the place we are staying in the longest has free bikes for guests, which will be our primary method of transporation. We figured out after splitting the bill in half because there are two of us and taking into account the bikes and breakfast, the room is almost free!

Carlton Colquitt May 2, 2009 · 8:40 pm

Whatever did happen to “frugal?” Is it a totally obsolete concept?

selvi May 3, 2009 · 12:10 am

i feel, the tariff per day is really high and if using, eurorail, to visiting these places, will be little bit cheaper for us

Dana14 May 3, 2009 · 3:16 pm

Frugal traveler can enjoy free accommodations on a couple of websites: //www.couchsurfing.com and //hostandcare.com. Couchsurfing is perfect for a couple of nights while Host & Care is ideal for longer stays: vacation home exchanges, vacation hospitality exchanges or getting free room and board in exchange for part-time work.
Dana

Simran May 6, 2009 · 5:02 pm

I thought we were in a recession? I guess I missed the memo. 250 is frugal now.

Jose B Carranza May 7, 2009 · 1:23 am

If the $250 includes your all transportation, such as air, rail, car rental, food and Lodging, It is Frugal.

Harriet May 8, 2009 · 4:44 pm

I truly enjoyed reading the Frugal Traveler in Europe and folowed some of his suggestions. Here’s one more for Florence:
HOTEL LOCANDA de’ PAZZI
Borgo Pinti 5
50121 Firenze
Tel: +39 0552347719
email: info@locandadepazzi.it
//www.locandadepazzi.it
For a budget accommodation a few blocks from the Duomo, try this place. It is run by Alba and her borther Tony, they’re very helpful and kind, and they make great coffee in the morning. Rooms have private baths. One point: expect to climb stairs to get there (no lift).

Harriet May 9, 2009 · 1:13 pm

On my previous message, I mis-spelled the word brother. Alba and her brother Tony are great! They helped 3 “older” women have a good time in Florence, and provided us with comfortable accommodations and tasty coffee-filled breakfasts. We used the 3 flights of stairs as a daily workout after rounds of museums, palazoos, and gelaterias.

Ricky May 13, 2009 · 7:51 am

I visit the site //www.starstay.com and //www.starstay.co.uk both are very nice websites All information about the European hotels can be found.

Leon Freilich May 26, 2009 · 8:53 pm

DISTANT PROSPECT

It’s an airport given

For foe and friend

Your gate is always

At the farthest end.

Kash Bhattacharya June 4, 2009 · 5:24 pm

For budget travel tips in Europe and travel ideas have a look at my blog: //www.europebudgetguide.com

Shawn OO June 19, 2009 · 5:22 pm

Europe: including international flights (from SFO in my case), lodging, food, attractions, flights/trains/boats in Europe combined can be done easily for $60 per day if planned well.

As said above, $250 sounds way way too high for a purported Frugal Traveler Blog.
My $60 per day estimate is most likely an overestimate, and does not involve staying in dumps or hostels far from city centers. I did it back of the envelope with the current exchange rate. (I just returned a week ago). I did the same average in the summers of 2005, and 2006.

Liz August 8, 2009 · 11:19 am

In what universe is $1000 a day or even $250 a day “frugal”?

Jamie August 23, 2009 · 10:40 pm

Could it be the coffee shops? The bike riding lifestyle? Or the brick roads of the city center? No one was running on the streets of Amsterdam. My 3 guide books say nothing on the subject of running. Our smashing hotel staff suggest running in Vondelpark, the largest park in Amsterdam.

I take an easy-to-manage tram to Vondlepark. At 8:30 am, the park is serene and verdant. Runners are doing their thing! A 4K asphalt bike route and a dirt path ring the park (with straightforward signs to guide me.) While running, I spot a tree full of green parrots! The grand Filmmuseum of Amsterdam (with requisite café) is located mid-park. Stately homes on tiny canals line the perimeter. Some vintage Clash and New Order feels right as I circle the park a few times.

The Dutch, the tallest people on earth, are invariably fit and great looking. We see few cars in the city and nonstop bikes. People of all ages and manners of dress ride them. The bikes are often decorated with Mexican oilcloth bike bags. The fashion: think Eileen Fisher goes Scandinavian hippie princess. Men and women wear messenger bags of smart design; a jewelry of sorts.

The bike riders are patient with Karen (quirky art teacher and treasured old friend) and I as we inadvertently step into the bike lane (watch out!!) People seem relaxed, open and friendly. In a country where tolerance prevails and people are directly connected to their environment, who needs to run and run? Very often, we spot men with their children. Is there a saner work/family dynamic here?

Coffee shops are not the totality of Amsterdam. In fact, the Dutch smoke less marijuana per capita then Americans. Coffee shops have a diverse vibe and clientele. Many are quite civilized and economical. Others are filled with exuberant kids with unfortunate tee shirts.

When it comes to getting around, Amsterdam is the great leveler. The city is not built on a grid. The canals ring the city in a mind boggling manner. On any given corner, people from all walks of life can be found scowling at their maps. The coffee shops cannot be helping this effort!

We visit the Van Gogh Museum. Only 1 wing of the Rijksmuseum is currently open due to renovation. We take in the spectacular Rembrandts, still lives and Vermeers. The fantastic modern art Stedelijk Museum is also currently closed for renovation. Some of its art can be found in the Van Gogh Museum.

We thoroughly enjoyed:

-The Museum of Bags and Purses/The Tassenmuseum–bags from the 1500’s to modern times. Words fail to describe these treasures!

-We caught Public Enemy at the opulent art deco Tuschinski Theatre.

-The Hermitage/Amsterdam, opened in 6/09, is an airy space filled with riches from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. I was especially taken by the czarina dresses; sumptuous velvets with mirrors and to-die-for embroidery.

-The Amsterdam Public Library, the largest public library in Europe, was built in 2007 by Joe Coenen. This place defines visionary architecture.

-The markets- Albert Cuypmarkt, Westerstraat

-The FOAM contemporary photography museum

We relished the Netherland’s hearty bread, butter, cheeses and apple cake. Terrific Asian (Thai, Indonesian, Surinamese and Chinese) restaurants can be found everywhere. Most restaurants and stores do not accept credit cards.

Our magnificent hotel, the Grand Hotel Amrath, served for a decade as a major shipping office. It is replete with high ceilings, art nouveau décor, charming canal views, a fabulous pool and a FREE minibar every night! The staff is charming, friendly and quite literate (our young porter was fluent in 5 languages.) We purchased our rooms for $130.00 dollars per night via Hotwire. A recent NY Times column, Save or Splurge, Amsterdam on a $1000 Dollars a Day, recommended the Amrath! Could this trip get any better?
//www.aboldpace.com

A poor englishman June 11, 2010 · 9:34 am

Sorry but it really doesn’t seem like you’ve done you research on ‘frugal’ europe.
Hotel Linda in Amsterdam

“Prices for a double room start at 150 euros on weekends, but on weekdays are as low as 75 euros.”

Really? As low as that?! Or you could stay a 5minute tram journey out of the city at Camp Zeeburg for $40 euros for a double cabin next to a beautiful view with lovely farm animals bopping around.

Frugal to me means, “it has hot showers and beds, what more do you want?”. This seems a bit more like middle-class travel keeping an eye on how many steak dinners you have.

You can easily do most of Europe for less than E100/day with food and accommodation if your willing to forgo things like overpriced restaurants and bars full of wankers.