How I Traveled Europe for 3 Months on $30 a Day

"Europe? On THAT budget? Good luck!" That's what everyone told me. But I just got back from three incredible months bouncing around 12 European countries, and guess what? I did it on roughly $30 a day. No, I'm not kidding, and no, I didn't sleep on park benches (well, maybe once, but that was by choice).

Here's the honest truth about how I made it work.

Accommodation: $12/night average

Forget hotels. Forget Airbnb (mostly). Here's what I did:

Hostels are your best friend - I stayed in hostels about 70% of the time. In Eastern Europe, you can find decent ones for $8-10/night. Even in expensive cities like Copenhagen, I found one for $18/night by booking directly through their website.

Couchsurfing saved my budget - About 20% of my trip was spent crashing on couches through Couchsurfing. Not only did I save money, but I made genuine friends. My host in Prague, Martin, took me to underground music venues I'd never have found as a tourist.

Night trains are free accommodation - I took overnight trains whenever possible. Sure, it's not always the most comfortable sleep, but you save both a night's accommodation AND transport costs. Win-win.

Food: $10/day

This is where most budget travelers struggle, but it's actually the easiest to control:

Supermarket meals are your friend - I'd grab bread, cheese, fruit, and cold cuts from local supermarkets. Picnics in parks became my favorite way to eat. Total cost? Maybe $3-4 per meal.

One restaurant meal per day - I'd budget for one proper restaurant meal, usually lunch when prices are lower. The rest was supermarket food and street snacks. In Portugal, I discovered these amazing $3 lunch specials at local workers' cafeterias.

Free breakfast - Most hostels offer free breakfast. Load up! I'm talking stacking those sandwiches for lunch kind of loading up. Not proud of it, but hey, budget travel.

Transport: $5/day average

BlaBlaCar changed my life - This rideshare app is HUGE in Europe. I'd ride with locals going the same direction, paying just for gas. Plus, you get insider tips about your destination.

FlixBus is your backup - When BlaBlaCar didn't work out, FlixBus was there. Book in advance and you can find tickets for as low as $5-10 between major cities.

Walk everywhere - I tracked it once – I walked about 15km a day on average. Free, healthy, and you see so much more than from a bus window.

Activities: $3/day

Free walking tours - Every major city has them. They're "free" (tip-based), incredibly informative, and a great way to meet other travelers. I'd usually tip $5-10.

Museums on free days - Did you know most museums have free entry days? I planned my city visits around this. Saw the Louvre, the British Museum, and tons of others for exactly $0.

Nature is free - Hiking in the Alps, swimming in Croatian waterfalls, watching sunsets in Santorini – all completely free.

Reality Check: It's Not Always Glamorous

Let me be honest – this style of travel isn't for everyone. There were definitely moments:

- Taking a 13-hour night bus through the Balkans (my back still remembers)

- Eating the same pasta four days in a row because it was cheap

- Walking 8km with my backpack because the hostel was "just outside the center" (it wasn't)

- Skipping activities because they were outside my budget

But here's the thing – I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

Was It Worth It?

Absolutely. I saw the Northern Lights in Norway, learned to cook paella in Valencia, went wine tasting in Porto, and made friends from all over the world. These three months taught me more about life than any classroom ever could.

The secret to budget travel isn't deprivation – it's choosing where to spend and where to save. I saved on accommodation and food so I could splurge on that Norwegian fjord cruise (totally worth the splurge).

Final Tips

1. Be flexible - Plans will change, and that's okay

2. Talk to other travelers - The best tips come from people currently on the road

3. Don't sweat the small stuff - Missed your bus? Whatever, there's another one

4. Keep track of spending - I used a simple app to log every expense

5. Remember why you're doing this - It's about the experiences, not luxury

So yes, you absolutely CAN travel Europe on a tiny budget. You just need to adjust your expectations, embrace the adventure, and be willing to sleep on a few uncomfortable buses. Trust me, the stories you'll have are worth way more than a comfortable hotel bed.

Now stop reading and start planning your trip! Europe is waiting.