this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2025
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I've even heard that in some places, there is a fee for entering the city.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

You mention 150€/day in the comment thread. I'm struggling to think where in the world you couldn't stay on that budget if you spend some time looking for cheaper accommodation (hostel or something like airbnb) and mind a bit where you eat. Australia seems (per Wikipedia) to have the highest minimum wage at 18$/hour, ×8h to € comes to 127€/day. Sure, temporary accommodation costs like five times more than more permanent places, but in terms of food and transport you can pretty much do whatever the locals do so that, on the whole, you should be able to meet that budget pretty much anywhere

In Europe, Iceland might be the only place where you'd really have to plan ahead to get to an average of 150€/day as tourist. It's Europe's most sparsely populated country and lots of things need to be imported, making essentials like food expensive and accommodation options few and far between. If you don't want to drive a long distance every day (outside of the wider Reykjavík area at least) you'll easily spend three quarters of that daily budget on accommodation, and with food being expensive even in supermarkets and needing a rental car to get anywhere, you'll exceed the budget on a lot of the days

So that's challenge mode! I'm curious what values people who tried to cheapskate Iceland get to. We were at 290€/day for 2 persons. That's including the rental car, eating out most days (not at expensive places necessarily, but sometimes simply the only place), and we booked reasonably priced but not always the cheapest option for accommodation. This price excludes costs of attractions like the lava show, boat tour, swimming pool, etc.—the country is plenty beautiful to travel to without needing those necessarily, though I'd recommend all of the above. This amount is for 2 persons, but the car and rooms don't scale much when you're alone so a per-person cost price wouldn't be fair

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Portugal, Bosnia and other get non-EU Balkan countries are good. You'll still find people backpacking there. Most of western Europe is too expensive for that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I think, Venice is still the only city literally charging an entrance fee. They do that, because they got more tourists, than the city could handle. But I think what you have heard might be about tourist taxes. Many cities charge those per night. But you won't notice it directly, it's just that, if you're staying in a hotel, they'll automatically add it to the price of the room.

I second Prague. It's beautiful and worth it whether you come for the history or the culture or the atmosphere.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

150€ will net you a stay in most countries in the EU except scandinavia and too big cities.

For 150€ a day, Budapest, Warsaw, Split, Prague, Vilnius, Salamanca, etc.

Be mindful of where you rent, make sure to have travellers insurance, don't get scammed for BS reasons (like peeps trying to make you believe you need to pay high money to use the autobahn in Czechia). Be mindful of pickpockets anywhere southwest of Paris and enjoy the food and locals.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Be mindful of pickpockets especially in Paris!
When you travel through France by train, you often have to get off at one train station in Paris, and take the Metro to another train station to continue.
This funnels a constant fresh supply of disoriented tourists onto specific Metro routes.
When you're in one of those Metros, there will be groups of professional pickpockets on board.
And if they can't pickpocket you, they aren't above shoving, crowding and yelling at you to take your focus off your wallet.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

All of this is true. I neglected to mention that because I didn't think you could survive with 150€ a day in Paris as a tourist

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Czech Republic maybe, due to them having a different (and lower) currency? Prague is beautiful and Brno, while smaller, is quaint.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Ah prague, the place where scammers who do nothing but evolutionise from umbrellas to bus drivers

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I've been in Prague for 10 years and never came across any kind of scam.

Also, prices have gone up a lot in recent years, it's not that cheap anymore.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Bummer. I’ll never forget going out in Prague with five people and failing to spend just $20 at bars. drinks were cheaper than food, and both were spectacular

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Yeah, 10 years ago you could get a meal for €4. Now you pay double. Beer prices tripled. Not to mention supermarkets, rent etc.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Albania. In particular southern Albania near Greece. Most places are good, but if you like the beach, Saranda. If you like history, Gjirokaster.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Dunno current status, but a few years back Croatia was a popular place to visit. I don't have the details, but it was recommended to me at the time by multiple parties of the reasonable cost range.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

I have to say that "Croatian Rhapsody" is really amazing. It's so great!

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What would you consider a low price level? My mom and I have been to a lot of places that aren't traditionally known as cheap, but we usually stay in places with a kitchen (aparthotels, mainly, we avoid airbnb) and grocery shop so we spend far less on food than a lot of people would. We also travel outside of peak season, primarily to avoid the crowds but it's also less expensive.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think the low prices are as follows: 20 euros per person for each lunch or dinner, 50 euros for accommodation in a hotel, and 1 euro for using the toilet.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

I think most of Europe has places that can accommodate that, especially if you travel outside of big cities. I'd put more of my budget into a place to stay and slightly less into food, but that's my personal preference, and I've found tons of meals out for a lot less than that. I don't think we spent more than maybe 40 euros for a meal for two anywhere in Spain, including wine/beer, and many were more like 25. Even Berlin and Munich were pretty reasonable and we made up the difference by going to Aldi for some of our breakfast/dinner food.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Jugendherbergen (Youth Hostels) are everywhere in Germany, making travel affordable even in expensive cities especially if you're under 28 and/or don't mind sharing a room.

The same might apply in other countries, I wouldn't know. Except in France where I know it's not the case because they are sadly underfunded.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I rarely hear people around me say that they have traveled to Germany. Maybe it's because Germany is not as popular as Italy and France in terms of reputation. In my stereotypes, it seems that Germany doesn't have anything else attractive except its industry.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Germany has tons of awesome old castles, nice inner cities and some cute villages with old architecture. If you like pork then you will also like German food.

Some places I can recommend are Heidelberg, Freiburg, Dinkelsbühl. Berlin has loads of history and techno if you're into that.

If you like nature, you can do lovely bike tours along rivers, along the Lahn, Rhein, Danube, etc. Alternatively go for a hike in the black forest, the Odenwald, Saxon Switzerland or the Alps

Don't just go anywhere though, some cities were bombed to shit in WW2 and then badly rebuilt.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Industry is irrelevant for tourism. No, Germany absolutely has beautiful towns and landscapes, although it's not like the countries you mentioned where almost every place in a popular region meets that definition. That's where travel blogs and guides come in handy to find the places worth visiting.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 day ago

Of course, I like Germany very much. My car is a German Mercedes-Benz, and my coffee grinder is a German Comandante. Many of my things are from Germany. However, I have never been to Germany.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

Hungary

Just avoid anything that isn't Budapest x)

Here are some pictures:

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Low price compared to what currency? That's the key question.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (2 children)

One can live a day with around 150 euros per person.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Sorry, I understand now. That's a lot of money. I don't find that low priced. And I live in a very country. Australia.

Where do you come from, out of interest? If you don't mind.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

And I live in a very country.

Very country! Many joy! So people!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

Where? España

Deutschland?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Vilnius has a very nice old city centre, great food and very good beers. It's pretty cheap and might fit in well with a round trip in the baltics. Haven't been to Latvia or Estonia yet, but the people I know that have been, have been pretty positive about it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Fr! The old town really has its own unique charm. It's like a whole different world, full of those old - school vibes that you just can't find anywhere else. So dope!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Only fees I've ever heard of were fees for violating clean air districts with a car that hasn't paid the tax or didn't qualify.

I've traveled all over Germany and never was charged a fee to enter a city.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Is there something called "Beherbergungsabgabe" or "Kulturförderabgabe" in Germany?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Potentially for citizens, or those living in country on a visa. But visiting I've never been asked to pay any taxes beyond buying things.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Please, if you don't have any experience traveling in Europe, don't reply to my post. I don't want to reply to any asshole who tells me to use Google to search. I think these people are born with a lack of ability to communicate with others.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Gonna be real, if your entire knowledge base is that you've heard that there are fees for entering cities then you really do need to do some googling. A lot of tourist destinations in europe charge tourism taxes in a variety of forms, and can because they are worth travelling to.
It also depends on what you consider to be cheap and worth travelling for. Eastern Europe is pretty cheap and great for WWII buffs or hikers, but not so good for people just looking to party. Amsterdam has plenty of food and culture and is cheaper than Stockholm, but still more expensive than somewhere like Lisbon.

Maybe sort out your own communication before making snide comments about other people's.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Just like the reason why there is a charge for using the toilet is that the toilet is worth using.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

No, toilets have charges because shitting and pissing are necessary human bodily functions but doing it in public is illegal, so they have a monopoly on where you can piss or shit and can make you jump through basically whatever hoops they want in order to access their facilities. Nobody needs to go to Venice, Edinburgh, or Barcelona, but millions do every year because of the history and culture they can only access there.

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