How to Interrail on a Budget: Interrail Europe CHEAP! (2022)

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Let’s be honest. Europe is expensive. In fact, it’s one of the most expensive continents on the planet. That’s why I’ve written this guide to teach all of the budget backpackers out there how to interrail on a budget!

Let’s be honest, backpacking in Europe is expensive.

It’s a stark contrast to backpacking on some of the cheaper continents like Southeast Asia or South America, and your bank balance will notice it immediately.

This is a post I really wanted to write, right from the start of my interrailing series.

Because backpacking Europe CAN be done on a budget, but you just have to be savvy about it and follow some of my interrail tips.

I’ll be honest, the first time I interrailed around Europe, I spent a LOT. Way over my budget. But through this trip, I picked up some ideas and tricks that I’d use the next time I interrailed.

And that’s why I’ve written this handy little post, full of secrets explaining how to interrail on a budget.

Before we begin, I’ll list a few helpful links for you to make sure your interrailing dream can become a reality!

• Buy your interrailing pass here!
• Interrailing Switzerland: Route, Itinerary and Guide
• Interrailing Spain: Travel Spain By Train
• Interrailing France: Travel France By Train
• Interrailing Routes 3 Weeks: FOUR Routes You’ll Love!
• 21 Interrail Tips for First-Timers: Interrailing Europe
• What To Pack Interrailing Europe: Packing List Essentials

How to Interrail on a Budget

NOTE: This post also works with the Eurail Pass 😀

Not sure which backpack to buy for interrailing Europe? Read my post to find the best backpack for you!

🗺️ Interrailing Europe? Yay! Book your interrailing pass here!

How much does an Interrailing pass cost?

Let’s start off with the basics.

If you haven’t bought an interrailing pass yet, this is how much it’s going to cost you.

(Prices are recorded during July 2022).

NOTE: ‘7 days’ or ‘4 days’ etc means the actual days you are on a train.

All prices are listed as an average between two prices, as there are always discounts on youth passes and adults.

There are different global passes and one-country passes, and which one you choose is up to you.

• 7-Day Interrailing Pass within 1 Month: 200-300 EUR

• 4-Days within 1 month: 150 – 200 EUR

• 15-days within 2 months: 400 – 500 EUR

• 3 months: 800 – 900 EUR

As you can see, I have just picked some of the most popular passes, and there are in fact a whole range of passes to choose from. You can check them all out here.

Ultimately, your pass cost depends on how long you are travelling for. When I interrailed for a month in 2015, I spent around 300 EUR on my interrailing pass.

However, since then, I have interrailed for shorter periods of time and spent 150 – 250 EUR on my pass.

So how do you buy an interrail pass on a budget? Use your time wisely. Buy the cheapest pass for the fewest amount of journeys possible (which I’ll be explaining a bit more later).

For example, buy a 1-month pass, with around 4 journeys. That’s still a lot of travel and could be 5-6 countries if you wanted.

Key point: plan, plan, plan!

How much money to budget for Interrailing

So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.

How much money do you ACTUALLY need to interrail Europe?

Well, this firstly depends on the countries you’re planning to visit. And a whole lot more.

Your budget is going to depend on the type of traveller you are, what you eat, where you stay, how organised you are and what activities you choose to do.

Plus, countries in Europe really vary in price. For example, Poland and the Czech Republic are WAY cheaper than countries like Spain and France, so you’re going to need to keep that in mind.

But, interrailing on a budget can be done (at a push).

Overall, here are my budget amounts.

• Interrailing Western Europe (the UK, Spain, Portugal, France, Amsterdam etc…): 70 – 150 EUR a day.

• Interrailing Eastern Europe (Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania): 50 – 100 EUR per day (the MOST budget-friendly!)

• Interrailing Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway): 100 – 200 EUR per day (the LEAST budget-friendly!)

If you’re on a tight budget, I’d recommend sticking to countries in Eastern Europe. Again, these are BALLPARK amounts, and you can definitely try and do it for less.

But, these amounts are if you’re really budgeting.

If you’re unsure of a route, check out my Interrailing Routes 3 Weeks: FOUR Routes You’ll Love!

The amounts cover accommodation, seat reservations, activities, food, drink and everything in between. So you’re going to need to REALLY cut down if you want to stick to these prices.

I’m talking hostel rooms, home-cooked food, and using a water filter bottle…but more on this later!

Interrailing on a budget: Plan, Plan, Plan!

One of the best ways to save money whilst interrailing is to plan.

What do I mean by this?

Well, you need to plan:

• Your route
• Accommodation
• Activities you really don’t want to miss
• Everything you’re going to pack

Now, I know this sounds over the top. Do I really need to plan everything? It totally goes against my spontaneity vibe.

I hear you.

But, planning is undoubtedly one of the best ways to save money whilst backpacking Europe.

Let’s break this down a bit further.

Not sure which backpack to buy for interrailing Europe? Read my post to find the best backpack for you!

🗺️ My interrailing must-have:  I use my Insta Mini 11 to take photos on all of my trips. As they print instantly, they’re perfect for making a scrapbook and writing in all your favourite and funniest memories. I’ve even got my boyfriend joining in on it now too!

1) Plan your route

Planning your route helps you to save money because you then know exactly what countries you’re going to visit, and what seat reservations you need to make.

Whilst interrailing, there aren’t many trains you can just hop on without a seat reservation. And this all adds up!

The quicker you get your seats booked, the more money you can save from advanced tickets.

Planning your route also means you can pre-book accommodation. This is always cheaper in advance.

Plus, you need to choose a starting destination. If you’re flying to that destination, you want to book flights way in advance to get the best prices.

🗺️ My interrailing must-have: Solo travelling on your interrailing trip? Stay safe by carrying your cash or card in a money belt. I know it sounds silly, but Europe can be chaotic and pickpockets are known to work in busy areas. it’s better to be safe than sorry!

2) Plan your accommodation

As previously mentioned, planning your trip means you can pre-book your hostels and hotels. Generally, this means cheaper prices.

It’s even better if you’re flexible on dates and can chop and change your accommodation to get the best prices in a hostel.

Do your research before even leaving the country. Which hostel is the cheapest? Can you get it the cheapest on Hostelworld?

Are there any campsites nearby to save extra money?

Think about what you’re prepared to do to be able to travel Europe on a budget.

🗺️ My interrailing must-have: A wheelie backpack! Check out my favourite, the Osprey 65L wheeled backpack. It’s dreamy for long-term trips and when you need more than a carry-on!

3) Plan + decide on activities you really don’t want to miss

How does this help you to interrail on a budget?

Well, if you plan your activities in advance, you can ensure you find the best deals and prices beforehand.

You can also ensure you have enough money to make sure they actually happen.

Shop around, look online, and read travel blogs to see if you can get the tours in person on the day cheaper.

See? Sometimes planning ahead is a huge money-saving tool!

🗺️ My interrailing must-have: Solo travelling but still want to take photos?  📸 I’ve found the most perfect adjustable tripod that’s lightweight and easy to set up (you don’t want any awkward moments alone, I know how it feels!)

4) Plan what you’re taking in your backpack

One KEY part of saving money whilst you’re interrailing is to make sure you pack everything you need.

Suncream, water filter bottles, hiking shoes, portable chargers – pack it BEFORE you leave the country. These are all things you’re more than likely going to want and don’t want to spend money on whilst you’re backpacking.

Suncream can cost upwards of 30 EUR in some European countries!

Be prepared, pack well and you’ll save money whilst interrailing Europe.

Not sure what to pack interrailing? Check out my post: What To Pack Interrailing Europe: Packing List Essentials.

🗺️ My interrailing must-have: Well, it’s a little more advanced, but if you want to take high-quality photos, make sure you invest in a good camera. This doesn’t have to be thousands of pounds, and our favourite is the Canon EOS 6D Mark II.

Best countries to visit on a budget

Want to know the cheapest countries to visit in Europe?

Let’s take a look.

The cheapest country in Europe to travel: Bulgaria

Other cheap countries in Europe include: Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia.

As I previously mentioned, Eastern Europe is your best bet if you want to interrail Europe on a budget.

🗺️ My interrailing must-have: Don’t forget an additional memory card and hard drive for saving your photos on the road!

When is the best time to Interrail on a budget?

Ultimately, interrailing Europe at any time of year is going to be expensive. But if you’re sensible and travel during off-peak times, you may be able to save some money.

Avoid peak summer time (June – August) in Europe, because this is when European schools break up, and locals will want to take their summer holidays.

Big tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower or Oxford Street are 10 times busier, so you can expect to share your interrailing trip with hundreds of other people.

Travelling during spring or autumn (March-May/September – November) are great budget times to travel Europe, as they’re quieter and the school term is in play.

Winter can be pricier in Europe, as most places in Europe will get snow. This makes it a great winter wonderland destination and tourists flock from around the world to meet Santa in Finland and see the snow-covered cities.

🗺️ My interrailing must-have: If you’re travelling Europe, make sure you pack a Microfibre towel (and this one linked is super pretty too). They make life easier when getting in and out of the water, they’re portable and easy to carry on any kind of day trip. I’ve had mine for years and use it on every beach trip!

Accommodation whilst Interrailing

If you’ve read any of my other interrail budget travel tips, or know anything about me, you’ll know I bloody love using hostels to save money.

Hostels are my go-to when travelling as they are just so much cheaper. A shared dorm can be up to 70% cheaper than an Airbnb or hotel.

But, if you can brave camping, I’d highly recommend looking at campsites. This will be even cheaper than a shared hostel room, and can be as low as 6 EUR a night in some European countries.

Private rooms, Airbnbs and hotels are expensive in Europe. Plan and work out your route to see if you can afford to stay in them beforehand.

I use Google Sheets for all of my budget planning needs, as it helps to lay it all out and see your money goals beforehand.

**TOP TIP: Take overnight trains to not pay for a night’s accommodation at all!**

Looking for more ways on how to interrail on a budget? Check out my top tips here: 21 Interrail Tips for First-Timers: Interrailing Europe.

🗺️ Booking hostels? I always use Hostelworld as their deals are usually the cheapest. They also have reviews from other backpackers, and explain the vibe of the hostel (party, chill, social…) so you know exactly what you’re booking.

10 Tips for Interrailing on a Budget

1) Book your interrailing pass in advance

As I mentioned briefly earlier, you can actually get discounts when booking your interrailing pass online.

If you have your interrail pass ready to go, you can then begin planning and working on your interrail budget needs.

Plus, if you’re under 27, you can buy a youth pass and save up to 25% on your interrailing pass. Things like this are good to know so you can work out where you can put the rest of your money during your trip.

🗺️ Interrailing Europe? Yay! Book your interrailing pass here!

🗺️ My interrailing must-have: A portable power bank. Don’t get caught short and lose your phone battery whilst travelling! If you’re solo travelling, you’re going to rely on it to get you from A to B.

2) Use bikes and walking to get around destinations

This one goes without saying, but make sure you avoid taxis when interrailing Europe.

Hire a bike or WALK around cities or locations to keep in your interrail budget.

Bikes can be hired in Europe for under 5 EUR a day. Take advantage of this!

Alternatively, get to know the city’s metro systems. Most (and I emphasise, most) metro systems will be cheap for a day ticket, and that means you can get around the city as much as you’d like.

However, in visiting cities like London, metro systems aren’t so cheap. So just be wary and check beforehand.

You don’t necessarily need hiking boots, but I wore mine to walk in more rural areas in Europe. It made the walks a lot easier! You can buy my favourites here.

3) Opt for slower, regional trains

I know, *cry*.

You may have heard about the whizzing high-speed trains in Europe, but the fact is, they’re going to max out your poor interrail budget.

You have to pay a 5 – 20 EUR seat reservation cost if you want to use these kinds of trains.

Even though the trains may be slower and more rickety, if you’re not in a rush, they’re a great way to save money on your interrailing trip.

You can learn more about train reservations, train tickets, a different country pass and the various train journeys here.

4) Stay in accommodation OUT of the city centres

It doesn’t take a scientist to work out that staying out of a city is going to be cheaper than staying in the centre of one.

If you can work out a city’s metro system, and know how to get into the city safely, you’re better off staying OUT of the main areas.

This will save you a lot of money whilst interrailing Europe!

Plus, it’s always a bit of an adventure staying somewhere less well-known, right? 😅

5) Pay more for accommodation with a kitchen

Ok, hear me out on this one.

It may seem strange that I’m telling you to pay MORE, but there’s a reason for this.

If you actually like the place you’re staying in, and it has a kitchen, you are more likely to stay in and cook.

Ultimately, this will save you more money than anything else.

Meals in a restaurant in Europe can cost upwards of 50 EUR, just for a main course and a drink.

Stay somewhere with a kitchen, and that’s a saving of 50 EUR per night!

Staying in hostels? Don’t forget to pack:

• A padlock: to keep your valuables secure when you leave your hostel room.
• A hanging wash bag: to make sure all your toiletries are kept in one place, and won’t get confused with anyone elses
• Speakers: because, well, who doesn’t love music? Just make sure everyone in your room gets a chance to pick a song! (And no one minds you playing the music)
• A microfibre towel: Not all hostels will provide you with towels for free. Bring your own to save extra ££.
• Earphones: for loud nights and disruptions to your sleep.
• Flip flops: if you’re using shared showers.
• Eyemask: for uninterrupted sleep.
• World travel adapter or an extension lead: so you’re not using more than one plug!
• Your laptop or tablet: for movie nights, of course! 🍿

6) Carry a water filter bottle

Carrying your own water bottle is one of my best interrailing budget tips.

Water in Europe is expensive (shock!) and can cost up to 5 EUR a bottle in some countries!

With a water filter bottle, you can drink water from any tap, and save countless pennies on buying bottled water.

Plus, it’s also a great sustainable way to travel and save the planet!

You can buy your own water filter bottle here.

7) Avoid eating out and cook your own meals

This isn’t a backpacking budget secret and is something most travellers on a budget do regularly.

Avoid eating out and cook your own meals. This could save you hundreds of pounds.

One thing we love to do in Europe is to have a picnic. You can pick up a baguette and some cheese from a local supermarket and have a picnic for under 10 EUR! It’s also a great experience and something you won’t forget.

8) Show your interrailing pass EVERYWHERE.

Your interrailing pass has so many added benefits. You can get discounts on hostels, hotels, ferries, activities, tour guides and everything in between with your interrailing pass.

It just differs from country to country.

Show your interrailing pass wherever you go and you can save money every day!

You can find out more about this here: Is the Interrail Pass Worth it? An Honest Review (2022)

9) Go on free walking tours

This is one of my favourite ways to save money when I’m travelling.

All across Europe, there are free walking tours that take place on a daily basis. If you’re staying in a hostel, they’ll usually be organised for you and it’s also a great way to make friends.

Free walking tours are perfect for learning more about a place and a culture, and they’re free! Ultimate backpacking money-saving activity!

In fact, take advantage of free tours, cheap public transport, and completely free activities like museum visits and compare prices of tours online.

10) Use free Wifi or get a local SIM card

Depending on how many countries you’re travelling to, it might be worth getting a local SIM card. This means you won’t spend any money on unwanted roaming charges and you know exactly what you’re spending on your phone.

Alternatively, most European cities have free wifi. Take advantage of this wherever you go!

**TOP TIP: Ensure data roaming is switched OFF as soon as you land. Tom had his on recently for about 10 minutes and it cost him £60!**

If you’re still booking flights, I recommend checking lastminute.com for the latest deals. Recently, we were able to save £50 on our flights just by booking through Last Minute!

What is interrailing? (or the Eurail)

Interrailing is a great way to see Europe on a budget.

An Interrail pass gives you unlimited travel on trains across the continent, so you can hop on and off as you please. Interrailing passes also include night trains.

There are loads of different Interrail passes to choose from, depending on where you want to go and how long you want to travel for.

You can even get passes that include ferry journeys, so you can explore even more of Europe. Your interrailing trip is a great way to meet new people and see new places, so what are you waiting for?!

Get planning your EPIC interrail trip today!

Is the interrailing pass worth it?

Buying an interrailing pass was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Not only did it save me money (I’m a regular backpacker, so I’m always looking for ways to save), but it also meant that I could travel around Europe without having to worry about missings trains or buses.

And because my Interrail pass was valid for a month, I had plenty of time to explore each country I visited.

If you’re thinking of interrailing around Europe, then I would definitely recommend it – just make sure you buy your Interrail pass in advance so you can get the best deals!

Your interrailing pass allows you to travel on night trains, visit multiple European cities, save on train fares, get discounts on public transport, and have a perfect trip! Plus, it’s totally suitable for solo travellers.

Check out my more in-depth post about the interrailing pass here: Is the Interrail Pass Worth it? An Honest Review (2022)

🗺️ Interrailing Europe? Yay! Book your interrailing pass here!

Will I need a visa to travel to the EU after Brexit?

So you’re planning a trip to Europe after Brexit.

Well, the good news is that you won’t need a visa to travel to most European countries. If you visit as a tourist and are only staying for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, you do not need a visa. 

However, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind.

For starters, your passport should be valid for at least six months after your planned return date.

You’ll also need to have proof of travel insurance and enough money to support yourself during your stay.

But, things change ALL the time, so make sure you do your research before you go.

How to Interrail on a Budget: In a Nutshell

As you can see, there are a few ways to interrail on a budget. It CAN be done.

You just have to be wise about it and make sure you plan ahead of time.

Interrailing Europe isn’t cheap, but it can be done as a budget backpacker if you really want it to.

Got a question about how to interrail on a budget? Let me know on Instagram or in the comments below!

Happy travelling!

Jennie 😀 x

🗺️ Interrailing Europe? Yay! Book your interrailing pass here!

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