Europe

Europe is compact but incredibly varied, so a little planning goes a long way. Start by deciding trip style: a fast-paced rail journey through multiple countries, or a slower stay focusing on one region like the Amalfi Coast, the Greek islands, or Central Europe. Use Hello’s trip planning to pin cities like Paris, Barcelona, Prague, and Vienna, then group them into a logical route.

Think in clusters rather than ticking off countries. For example:

• Western loop: Paris – Brussels – Amsterdam
• Mediterranean: Barcelona – Nice – Cinque Terre – Rome
• Central Europe: Berlin – Dresden – Prague – Budapest

Check visa rules and Schengen regulations well in advance, especially if you plan longer stays. Train and budget airline prices fluctuate, so set alerts and be flexible with dates. For big cities, book popular sights (the Colosseum, Sagrada Família, Louvre) early to avoid queues.

Keep travel days realistic: aim for 3–4 nights per city to avoid spending your holiday in transit. As you plan, log accommodation, transport, and activity estimates in Hello’s budget tracking so you can see the whole trip cost in one place, broken down by destination.

Europe’s transport network is one of the easiest in the world to navigate once you know a few tricks. High-speed trains like France’s TGV, Spain’s AVE, and Italy’s Frecciarossa link major cities quickly and comfortably; booking in advance can turn a €90 ticket into a €35 one (about US$38). For longer jumps, budget airlines connect hubs like London, Milan, and Athens, though baggage rules can be strict.

In cities, public transport is usually excellent:

• Metro and trams in Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and Lisbon
• Contactless payments on buses and Tube in London
• Tap cards like the OV-chipkaart in the Netherlands

Download local transport apps and always check for day passes or city cards if you’ll ride multiple times. Staying connected makes navigation stress-free: activate a Hello eSIM before you land so your phone is online as soon as the plane touches down, without hunting for airport Wi‑Fi or worrying about roaming fees.

Taxis and ride-hailing work well in most urban areas, but in compact historic centres—Venice, Dubrovnik, Florence—walking is often faster and more scenic. Comfortable shoes matter more than you think.

Food is one of Europe’s greatest pleasures, and it’s often where your budget disappears fastest. Mix splurge meals with simple local staples: tapas in Seville, a plate of cacio e pepe in Rome, bouillabaisse in Marseille, or hearty goulash in Budapest. In many cities, a good café lunch might be €10–15 (US$11–16), while a mid-range dinner with drinks can run €25–40 (US$27–43) per person.

To eat well without overspending:

• Follow the lunch menu of the day ("menu del día" in Spain, "pranzo fisso" in Italy)
• Avoid main restaurant strips right next to big sights
• Look for bakeries and markets like La Boqueria in Barcelona or Mercado da Ribeira in Lisbon

If you’re sharing dishes or ordering rounds of wine or beer, use Hello’s expense splitting to settle up fairly without awkward math at the table. Meanwhile, log each day’s food and bar spends with budget tracking to see how much those gelatos and aperitivo hours add up over a week.

Tap water is safe to drink in many countries, but not all; ask locals or your accommodation before refilling bottles in public fountains.

Most of Europe uses the euro (€), but not all: you’ll find Swiss francs in Switzerland, kronor in Sweden and Denmark, and zloty in Poland. Cards are widely accepted, especially in the Nordics and Western Europe, yet it’s wise to carry a small amount of cash for markets, rural areas, and older establishments. ATMs generally offer better rates than airport exchange kiosks.

Track real costs as you go instead of relying on guesses. With Hello’s budget tracking, you can set daily limits in local currency and see at a glance whether you’re on track for that week in Santorini or ski trip in the Alps. Log recurring expenses like accommodation and rail passes, then watch variable spending—cafés, museum tickets, nightlife—day by day.

Roaming between countries can be confusing and expensive. To avoid surprise bills, install a Hello eSIM before your trip, choose a data plan that fits your typical usage, and activate it when you land. This keeps maps, translation apps, and messaging working seamlessly as you cross borders—from Germany into Czechia, or from Slovenia into Croatia—without switching SIM cards or hunting for free Wi‑Fi.