How do you save money on a trip to Europe in 2026? Ask a local!

Want to experience the best of Europe without draining your savings? Knowing the tricks locals use to save money can help you budget more effectively when traveling, so we've asked some of our globe-trotting European writers to share their top tips.

Saving money when traveling to Europe comes partly down to timing and flexibility. Flying mid-week and opting for the “shoulder seasons” (May–June or September–October in most countries in the region) can help you save on flights and avoid the peak-season crowds.

Likewise, skipping third-party booking platforms and going directly to hotels can sometimes secure you a better deal, as can choosing a payment card that doesn't charge high transaction fees or use disadvantageous exchange rates.

Picking your destination can also make a difference – prices in Basilicata in the south of Italy are lower than prices in busy Venice or Milan. And once you hit the ground in Europe, there are plenty of small adjustments you can make to offset the rising costs of travel without feeling like you’re pinching pennies every step of the way.

Here's what our local writers in France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Denmark and Portugal do to stretch their euros, and their favorite tips and tricks that you can follow to save money, too.

Denmark

Laura Hall is a travel writer and journalist based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

• Book train tickets in advance: If you plan to travel by train in Denmark, book on DSB, the national rail website, and look out for the heavily discounted Orange tickets, which offer reduced prices outside of rush hour. Tickets are released 2 months ahead of travel, and numbers are limited, so get in early.

• Visit free museums in Copenhagen: There are a handful of museums in Copenhagen that are free to visit, including the David Collection – with an impressive collection including Islamic art, European 18th-century art and Danish early modern art.

• Explore waterways for free: For a fun way to explore Denmark's cities from the water, book ahead and grab a Green Kayak for free. All you have to do is gather some litter while you explore. The kayaks are available in locations including Copenhagen, Aalborg, Aarhus and Odense.

• Enjoy free harbor swimming: Denmark's open-air floating harborside swimming pools are free and in use all year round. Just pack a swimsuit and a towel. They're a great place to meet local people and make friends. You'll also find inexpensive floating saunas you can rent by the hour in most Danish cities.

• Eat cheap local snacks: For a pocket-friendly lunch, ask for a boller med ost (cheese roll). Every bakery serves them, though they might not be on the menu; there's even a healthy competition between bakeries over who makes the best version. A fun Instagram account seeks out the best and rates them.

France

Julien Marsault is a reporter, writer and photographer from Rennes, France.

• Grab quick bites at a local bakery: When it comes to cost and quality, you can rarely go wrong with a quick bite in a local bakery or boulangerie. The selection is vast, and service is usually speedy. Expect to pay around 5 euros (€) for a jambon-beurre (ham and butter baguette) and a croissant. Focus on independent bakeries, which are generally of higher quality.

• Use a carpooling service: Nowadays, many French people use carpooling services like BlaBlaCar to get around and save on fuel expenses. As a traveler, it's also an excellent way to get around, meet people and get recommendations for your journey.

• Enjoy a bottle of wine in a park instead of a bar: Drinking alcohol in public spaces is permitted in France, and wine is cheaper in shops than in restaurants and bars. As the warmer days approach, it's a pleasant experience to have an outdoor apéro (pre-dinner drink). Except to pay €5–10 for a decent bottle of wine from a local caviste (wine merchant).

• Take advantage of free cultural events: Throughout the year, free events take place across France to promote culture and local heritage. For example, La Fête de la Musique is held on June 21, with free concerts and events all over the country, while La Nuit des Musées in May offers free nighttime visits to museums.

• Purchase seasonal products based on their location: France is known for excellent vegetables, fruit, cheeses, charcuterie, seafood and other foodstuffs, and you'll find the best prices where these items are produced, and when things are in season. For instance, the Loire Valley is famed for its pears, which come into season from August to November. In Brittany, invasive spider crabs are fished to protect local species, making them relatively inexpensive to purchase and a delicious local specialty.

Greece

Sarah Souli is a freelance travel journalist living in Athens, Greece.

• Skip dessert in northern Greece: Don't feel compelled to order a dessert – Greek restaurants will almost always serve you a free sweet treat at the end of your meal – anything from sliced fruit to lemon curd to kormos (a traditional cake made of biscuits and chocolate).

• Visit tsipuradika bars for free snacks: When ordering a glass of tsipuro, the triple-distilled Greek liquor, a shot automatically comes with a small plate of savory snacks. Order enough, and you'll have basically eaten a full meal.

• Seek out undeveloped beaches: You only have to pay for a beach chair and umbrella if you're visiting an "organized" beach, that is, a beach with amenities. Be on the lookout for undeveloped beaches where you can lay your towel down without spending a dime. Ask locals for tips – the best spots are often down hidden away down minor lanes.

• Ask for pharmacy discounts: Most pharmacies run promotions on beauty products, but they don't necessarily advertise them. Ask the pharmacist if they have any discounted items, especially from local luxury skincare and beauty brands like Korres and Apivita, which can cost up to 30% less in Greece, compared to overseas prices.

• Sign up for ferry loyalty cards: If you're island-hopping or taking a lot of ferries around Greece, register for loyalty programs with companies like BlueStar Ferries and SeaJets to earn discounts on trips and reward points for future savings.

Ireland

Sasha Brady is a Lonely Planet editor from Dublin, Ireland.

• Use public transport smartly: If you come to Dublin, purchase a Leap Visitor Card for unlimited travel on the buses and Luas (tram) and DART (city train) services. The 72-hour card costs just €16, and it's perfect for weekend visits.

• Visit free cultural attractions: Be sure to check out Ireland's impressive collection of free museums and galleries, including all the locations of the National Museum, Cork Public Museum, Galway City Museum, Chester Beatty Library, and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Heritage Ireland properties throughout the country can also be visited for free on the first Wednesday of every month.

• Take affordable an day trip from Dublin: For an inexpensive day out, ride the DART to the seaside village of Howth and hike the free Howth Cliff Walk, enjoy some street eats from the farmers market on Saturday or fish and chips from Beshoff Bros by the harbor before stopping in the Abbey Tavern, a 16th-century pub for live music (free) and a coffee beside the roaring fire.

• Explore beyond the capital: Get out of Dublin to save – you'll find that prices for everything from food to drink and accommodation are slightly cheaper in other parts of the country than in the capital. Also, the scenery is better!

• Use dining discount apps: Download Early Table, a restaurant app offering between 25% and 50% off food bills for dining during off-peak times, helping restaurants fill tables when they're quiet.

• Seek out affordable entertainment: Ireland has a thriving live music, theater and comedy scene with many affordable smaller venues and free live music in many pubs. Check out Nialler9 for music gig listings in Dublin, Limerick and Cork, or Alternative Dublin for comprehensive event guides.

Italy

Benedetta Geddo is a journalist and content creator from Turin, Italy.

• Discover free beaches: Almost half of Italy's coastline is privatized, with access to beach clubs costing up to €160 per day in some upmarket areas such as the Italian Riviera. However, free public beaches can still be found. Inquire at your hotel or Airbnb – Italians often have their own favorite beach spots that may not be widely known but offer a more authentic experience.

• Walk everywhere possible: Italians walk everywhere, especially in cities such as Venice and Florence, and locals rarely use Uber and taxis unless they're in a rush. Across Italy, you'll find cities that are compact and pedestrian-friendly, and walking doesn't just save you money, it lets you immerse yourself in the Italian way of life.

• Avoid driving in historic centers: Before renting a car, familiarize yourself with the limited traffic zones known as Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL) to avoid potential fines. These restricted areas are common in tourist areas such as the centro storico (historic center) of many towns and cities, where parking and road access for non-residents is prohibited for most of the day. Park farther from crowded tourist hubs and use public transportation wherever possible.

• Get coffee and bathroom access together: Most public toilets require payment, and many Italians prefer to take a bathroom break over coffee at a nearby cafe. By ordering a drink, you can use the cafe bathroom without incurring an additional fee – and you'll get a quality coffee as part of the deal.

• Stand while drinking coffee: You'll pay more for an espresso or cappuccino if you sit at a table in a cafe, particularly in touristy locations or cafes with outdoor seating. Many Italians prefer to stand at the bar while enjoying their espressos, as prices are typically lower compared to ordering while seated at a table.

Portugal

Joana Taborda is a travel writer and editor from Lisbon, Portugal.

• Order the menu of the day at lunch: Most restaurants in Portugal offer a fixed menu deal, or menu do dia or a daily special , or prato do dia, for a little under €10 at lunchtime.

• Say no to starters: While it's tempting to start tucking into the bread and olives that the waiter casually dropped on your table, it's usually not free. You can politely decline it and avoid that extra charge on your bill.

• Buy a transport card: Save money on public transport, including those quaint funiculars and trams, by getting a prepaid transport card such as the Navegante in Lisbon or the Andante in Porto. For long-distance travel on buses and trains, book tickets up to a week in advance to get a discount of up to 50%.

• Visit museums for free on Sundays: Many local museums in cities such as Lisbon offer free admission on Sundays, such as the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian. Alternatively, you can time your visit around International Museum Day on May 18, when many museums let everyone in for free.

• Get drinks on the go: Skip those pricey cocktails at the bar and head to the supermarket to stock up on an affordable bottle of wine, then hit the nearest viewpoint for the ultimate sunset ritual with the locals.

Spain

Natalia Diaz is a guidebook author and journalist who lives in Madrid, Spain.

• Order the daily lunch menu to save some euros: On weekdays, most Spanish restaurants offer a fixed-price daily lunch menu, or menú del día, for €8–17. This is typically a filling three-course meal with dessert, a drink, bread and coffee.

• Buy own-brand products in supermarkets: If you're self-catering (or stocking up for a picnic), products manufactured by third-party producers and sold under the brand name of a supermarket or retail chain are usually cheaper than well-known brands, and are usually of decent quality.

• Take early high-speed trains: Buying a ticket for a Renfe AVLO "early bird" train can get you savings of up to 70% on the usual ticket price for a long-distance train journey. The high-speed service from Madrid departs at 6:30am and connects you to several main Spanish cities, including Barcelona, Málaga, Sevilla, and Valencia, with fares starting at just €7.

• Eat inside restaurants instead of out on the terrace: While it's tempting to dine al fresco, especially on balmy evenings in sun-drenched Spain, many establishments charge extra for an outdoor table. Save a few euros by eating indoors rather than out on the terraza (outdoor terrace).

• Think twice about "free bread": If the server asks if you want bread, it's always good to ask if you'll be charged for it. If so, it's fine to decline. Asking for agua del grifo (tap water) instead of bottled water is another good way to save; restaurants are legally required to provide it free on request.