How to save money on your European trip in 2025? Ask a local

We’re all feeling the squeeze of the cost of living crisis, and that extends to travel. Holidays to much-loved destinations like Greece and Spain are now 15-20% pricier than they were before 2020, and the cost of accommodation and dining in popular hotspots isn’t doing us any favors either. The silver lining? Things are beginning to stabilize, and with a bit of savvy planning, you can still soak up the beauty of Europe without sacrificing the joy of your trip.

Flexibility is key. Flying mid-week and opting for the “shoulder seasons” (May to June or September to October) can help you save on flights and avoid the peak crowds. Likewise, skipping third-party booking platforms and going directly to hotels can sometimes nab you a better deal, as can using a credit card without transaction fees. Once you’re on the ground, there are plenty of small adjustments you can make to offset those rising costs without feeling like you’re pinching pennies every step of the way.

To help you get the most out of your holiday without blowing the budget, we’ve tapped into local insights from colleagues in destinations including Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal. They’ve shared tips and tricks to help you travel smarter, so you can focus on what matters most: having a great time.

Denmark

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

1. If you plan to travel by train, book on DSB, the national rail website, and look out for the limited, heavily discounted Orange tickets that offer reduced prices outside of rush hour. The tickets get released two months ahead of travel, so be sure to book in advance to score them.

2. There are still a handful of free museums in Copenhagen - The David Collection, which shows Islamic art, European 18th-century art and Danish early modern art – is one of them.

3. 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.

4. The country's open-air floating harbor 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. Some cities also have floating saunas you can rent by the hour, too. You'll find one in every Danish city.

5. Looking for a cheap lunch? Ask for a boller med ost, a cheese roll. Every bakery serves them, though they might not be visible on the menu, and there's even a healthy competition between bakeries about which serves 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

1. 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 the service is usually (expect to pay around €4-5 for a jambon-beurre and a croissant). My tip: you should focus on independent shops, which are generally of higher quality.

2. Navigate France through carpooling. Nowadays, many French people use carpooling services like BlaBlaCar daily to get around and save on fuel expenses. As a traveler, it's also an excellent option to meet people and get recommendations for your journey.

3. Enjoy a bottle of wine in a park instead of a bar. Drinking alcohol in public spaces is not prohibited in France. As the warmer days approach, it's a pleasant experience to have an outdoor apéro (except to pay €5-10 for a decent bottle of wine in a local caviste or wine merchant). 

4. Throughout the year, all across France, free events take place to promote culture and local heritage. This is the case, for example, with La Fête de la Musique, every June 21, which hosts free concerts and events all over the country, or La Nuit des Musées offering free nighttime visits to museums.

5. Purchase seasonal products based on their location. Whether you're interested in getting vegetables, fruits or seafood, take the time to learn about their origins and production season. For instance, spider crabs have become a worrisome invasive species in Brittany, making them relatively inexpensive to purchase and a delicious local specialty.

Greece

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

1. There's no need to order dessert in restaurants in the north of Greece. 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).

2. In tsipuradika or mezedakia (bars serving tsipuro, a triple distilled liquor), a shot automatically comes with a small plate of savory snacks. Drink enough, and you'll have basically eaten a full meal.

3. 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 unorganized beaches where you can lay your towel down without spending a dime.

4. Most pharmacies do promotions on beauty products but don't necessarily advertise them. Be sure to ask the pharmacist for discounted items, especially on local luxury skincare and beauty brands like Korres and Apivita, which are usually expensive from Greece and can be up to 30% less in the country.

5. If you're planning on taking a lot of ferries around Greece, make sure you sign up for a loyalty card (each ferry company in Greece has one, including BlueStar Ferries and SeaJets). You'll get discounts on trips and reward points.

Ireland

Sasha Brady is a Lonely Planet editor from Dublin, Ireland

1. Purchase a Leap Visitor Card if you're in Dublin. It's an easy way to pay for unlimited travel on the bus, Luas (tram) and DART (city train). If you're in the city for the weekend, the 72-hour card, at €16.00, is good value. No deposit is required.

2. Car rental is notoriously expensive in Ireland, but it's generally easy to navigate the country by train; you can cover much ground without a car. Just be sure to purchase your ticket online, as prices are more expensive at the stations, sometimes even double the price.

3. For a relatively affordable day out in Dublin, take the DART to the seaside village of Howth (€5.20 return). Hike the Howth Cliff Walk (free), enjoy some street eats from the farmers market on Saturday or fish and chips from Beshoff Bros (from €13.35) by the harbor before stopping in the Abbey Tavern, a 16th-century pub for live music (free) and a coffee beside the roaring fire.

4. Or, get out of Dublin altogether - you'll find that prices in other parts of the country for everything from food to drink and accommodation are slightly cheaper than in the capital. Also, the scenery is better.

5. You can enjoy much of Ireland's artistic offerings (and take shelter from the rain) without spending a cent because most museums and galleries are always free. This includes all National Museums, Cork Public Museum, Galway City Museum, Chester Beatty Library, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and so much more. Even Dublin Castle is free to visit. In addition, heritage sites throughout the country can also be visited for free on the first Wednesday of every month.

6. 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.

Italy

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

1. Almost half of Italy's coastline is privatized, so you're often required to pay to rent sunbeds and umbrellas, and the cost can be pretty high, reaching up to €160 per day in some upmarket areas like the Italian Riviera. However, free public beaches are still available, and locals can recommend hidden gems without the added expense. Inquire at your hotel or Airbnb. Italians often have favorite spots that may not be widely known but offer a more authentic experience.

2. Italians walk everywhere, especially in cities like Venice and Florence, and rarely use Uber and taxis unless in a rush. It's not just about saving money on transportation; it's about immersing yourself in the lifestyle and experiencing the city on foot. Many cities in Italy are compact and pedestrian-friendly. However, if you're in a hurry, single bus and subway tickets are generally quite affordable, especially compared to cities like Paris or London.

3. Before renting a car, familiarize yourself with the limited traffic zones (Zona a Traffico Limitato or ZTL) to avoid potential fines. These restricted areas are commonly found in tourist areas such as the Centro Storico (historic center), where parking is prohibited most of the day. Generally, it is advisable to choose parking locations farther away from crowded tourist hubs and utilize public transportation wherever possible.

4. Most public toilets require payment, so most Italians buy coffee at a nearby café. By doing so, you can then use the café's bathroom without incurring an additional fee—you essentially still have to pay, but at least you get a coffee in return for your visit.

5. Speaking of coffee, you may pay more for one if you sit at a table in a café, particularly in touristy locations or outdoor seating areas. This is why many Italians often stand at the bar while enjoying their espressos. By standing at the bar, you are typically charged a lower price for your coffee than sitting at a table. This is a common practice in Italy.

Portugal

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

1. Take advantage of the menu do dia (menu of the day). Around lunchtime, most restaurants will offer a fixed menu deal or a daily dish (prato do dia) for a little under €10.

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

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

4. Enjoy free entrance attractions. Sunday is usually a free admission day for local museums, such as the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian. Alternatively, you can time your visit around International Museum Day on May 18th.

5. 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

1. Order the menú del día (menu of the day) for lunch. On weekdays, most restaurants offer a fixed-price daily lunch menu (€8 to €17) that includes a filling three-course meal, dessert, drinks, bread, and coffee.

2. Buy marca blanca (white mark) products in supermarkets. These products are manufactured by a third-party producer and sold under the brand name of a supermarket or retail chain instead of a well-known brand. They are commonly available for food, household and personal care products. They are more affordable and of decent quality.

3. Take the Renfe AVLO (high speed, low cost) train. If you take this high-velocity early bird train, you can save as much as 70% on long-distance train fares (and not skip on comfort!). It departs Madrid at 6:30am and connects you to several main Spanish cities, including Barcelona, Málaga, Sevilla, and Valencia, going as low as €7.

4. Eat inside restaurants instead of a terraza (outdoor terrace). While it's tempting to dine al fresco, especially during perfect weather in sun-drenched Spain, many establishments charge extra for an outdoor table. Save a few euros by eating indoors.

5. Another pro-saving tip – if the server asks if you want bread, it's always good to ask if you'll be charged for it.