How to Spend 4 Weeks in Europe & How Much To Budget (2024)

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Planning a trip to Europe can be a ginormous process.

Yes, I totally said ginormous.

To help you create your dream Europe travel itinerary for four weeks or a month, this post will take you through two of my favourite European routes!

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The one month Europe itineraries mentioned below are perfect for first-time and pro-travellers alike.

You can cover them by train, bus, plane or by road whichever suits your travel style best.

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You want to stick around until the end for all my top budget travel in Europe tips! Let’s jump into the Europe itinerary 4 weeks ideas!

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#1: Frankfurt (2) → Munich(3)→ Füssen (2)→ Verona(2)→ Venice(4)→ Florence(4)→ Amalfi(3)→ Positano (1)→Pompeii (3)→Rome(7)

This itinerary starts in Frankfurt, Germany and ends in Rome. The itinerary is relatively easy to travel as train and bus connectivity is quite good across this entire region.

In Italy, during peak seasons you may need to reserve trains, especially overnight ones in advance but they can easily be done online or purchased from the train stations itself.

Your journey will begin in Frankfurt where you can spend two or three days exploring the modern and old architecture that fills this city. I always found Frankfurt a rather strange city, but it’s definitely got an interesting vibe to it.

Next, you will head south towards Munich and spend a few days in the Bavarian capital, sampling beer, local festivals and Dachau (concentration camp) along with the excellent shopping centres. You can also make a quick stop in Nuremberg if time permits on your way to Munich.

Next, you will stop by at Füssen, from where you can take day trips to Zugspitze (Germany’s highest peak) or the Neuschwanstein Castle (Disney logo is based on this). Füssen is also an excellent base for exploring hikes in this region.

From here you will head to Verona, the city where Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, and enjoy the small town Italian life for a day or two.

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Venice, is about two hours away on a scenic train ride, and do I need to sell Venice to you? Take as much time as you need, but do remember Venice is an incredibly crowded and expensive city, even during off-season so do plan and budget your time accordingly.

This itinerary takes you across the most beautiful spots all the way from eastern Europe to southern Europe. For beach and history lovers, who would like to explore a more off-beat track at a cheaper cost than the other itineraries, this one is a stunner.

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#2: Warsaw(3)→ Krakow(3) → Budapest(4)→ Zagreb(3)→ Sarajevo(3)→Dubrovnik(4)→Athens(4)→Santorini(3) → Rhodes(2)→ Creta(2)

You will start your trip from Warsaw, the capital of Poland, where you will spend time immersed in the amazing history and nightlife that this city brings.

Next, you will head to Krakow, where you will experience one of the largest and most beautiful city squares in Europe, complete with horse-driven carriages. You can also take some time to visit Auschwitz, the infamous concentration camp that makes for an informative day trip.

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From Krakow, you will head by train to Budapest where you will take time exploring the two parts of the cities, thermal baths and eating and drinking like a Hungarian. This is one of those cities in Europe that is equally breathtaking at night as it is during the day. The ancient ruin pubs are also a must-visit.

From here, you will go to Zagreb and start exploring the city with Austro-Hungarian architecture. From Zagreb, you can head to Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina where you will take some time to explore this off-beat cit set amongst the Dinaric Alps. You can also stop along the way to Zagreb if you would like to break your travel time a bit.

Next on this itinerary is Dubrovnik which is south of Croatia. Again, made famous by Game of Thrones and a ridiculously beautiful city, if you are a coastal city lover, you would love this place.

Spend a few days lazing around and slowly exploring the region, especially if you travel during peak season when crowds can be overwhelming and prices expensive.

After Dubrovnik, you will take a flight to Athens where you will start exploring Greece. I have also included a choice of Greek islands that you can explore for 2-3 days each, and are easily reachable either by short flights or boats from Athens.

Once you’ve had your share of history and culture in Athens, head to one of the various beautiful islands in Greece, including Santorini, Rhodes, Creta, Mykonos and more. The islands you pick of course depends on your budget and type of travel.

One Month In Europe Budget

Europe is a destination where you can have a backpacking trip, a budget trip or a luxury trip. The possibilities are endless.

If you live in a developing country, you will find that even a budget trip in Europe can cost a large hole in your pocket if you do not plan well ahead. This section will take you through major expense groups and how to approximate a budget for your trip.

The major costs of your trip can be divided into six major groups, airfare, accommodation, sightseeing, local transportation, food and shopping.

Even though budgeting is by and large a personal choice, having a good idea of your overall expenses before you set out booking your trip is always a good place to start.

Depending on the length and type of your trip, the table below gives you the lower ceiling for your travel expenses. If you plan to start saving for your trip in advance, the table below should help you figure out the bare minimum.

FLIGHTS

Depending on where you plan to fly from, flight tickets may range anywhere from $800-$1000 assuming you booked your tickets at least three months in advance.

The cheapest airports to fly into Europe include Frankfurt, London, Paris and Amsterdam. Due to the high volume of tourists and flights, competitive pricing always makes these airports the cheapest to fly in to.

On the other hand, flying into a tiny city in Croatia at the beginning of your trip can as an exception be a good idea, but is rarely, if ever so.

This makes the destination you fly in and out of central to your trip planning and overall budget.

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HOTELS

The average cost of hotels per day has been taken as $40 per day per person. This can range from $10 (in a hostel considering a shared dorm) or over $100 per night in a budget hotel.

The cost of accommodation is also highly dependent on the cities you plan to travel to. A hostel bed in a Prague will set you back $10 whereas in Stockholm will set you back $30.

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SIGHTSEEING

Europe has a large range of attractions ranging from museums to old historical buildings to theatre and operas. The average cost of a ticket would be about $10, but if you purchase a city pass that normally includes public transportation, the average cost of visiting one museum may be cheaper.

Assuming you see at least one paid attraction per day, you can budget at least $10 per day for sightseeing.

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LOCAL TRANSPORT

While travelling in Europe, you would need to book transport both for intra-city and inter-city travel. While averaging costs in the table above, I have approximated mainly the cost of the Eurail pass which could also be replaced by flights or buses.

The most popular and cost-effective way for longer trips in Europe is via train. Cheap flights connecting you across long distances can be found for less than $100 if you plan and book in advance.

FOOD

In Europe, eating out, especially in restaurants (with service) can be particularly expensive. You’re looking at an average of $10-$20 per meal with a drink if you plan to eat at a restaurant.

A sandwich or salad picked up from a supermarket, on the other hand, would cost you less than $5-$10 per meal. Smart travellers find a way to mix their food costs with eating at the supermarket and occasional restaurant treats.

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SHOPPING

Costs for shopping have been averaged at $100 per trip, staying constant as this is a highly subjective section. Souvenirs in Europe such as fridge magnets, t-shirts, mugs etc, would set you back about $3-$6 per piece.

Assuming you may also shop for some necessities during a trip, it is advisable to create your own cost estimate based on how much you normally shop or can afford to shop.

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TRAVELING TO EUROPE? GET ALL MY MONEY SAVING TIPS WITH MY GUIDE

My detailed, 90+ page guidebook is made for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff and gets straight to the practical information you need to save time and money while planning a trip around Europe. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, how to apply for visas, which mode of travel to pick, top European highlights, where to stay, what to eat, what to pack and so much more!

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Check out the following useful Europe posts-

• Europe itinerary 1 week
• 2 week Europe trip ideas
• Backpacking Europe Itinerary
• Euro Trip Planner
• The Best Time To Travel To Europe? Answered!
• 9 Cheapest European Cities That You Can Visit For Less Than $50 a Day
• Top 10 Cheapest Countries To Visit in Europe (and around) in 2019
• The Ultimate Europe Packing List Guide For Summer

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