Travel Tips for Studying Abroad

Studying abroad in Vienna has easily been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Between the beautiful architecture, safe atmosphere, and easy access to the rest of Europe, it has been a dream location. But I also wanted to make the most of my time in Europe by seeing as many other places nearby as I could. I quickly learned that a little planning goes a long way when it comes to making the most of your time (and budget) abroad. So here are some of my biggest travel tips that I have learned so far!

Flight Discounts!

If you’re hoping to travel around Europe on a student budget, RyanAir is your best friend. Their flights are already super affordable, but signing up for their discount emails is a total game-changer. My roommate, Sophia, would get alerts about flash sales that made weekend trips to Stockholm or Copenhagen possible for under $60 round-trip! Just be sure to double-check baggage rules and be prepared to wear dozens of layers. There have been many scrambles in the airport to squeeze our American-standard carry-ons into Europe sized bins. We have also flown Austrian Air a couple of times and have had a great experience for a very reasonable price! 

Use the Trains/Public Transit! 

Austria’s train system is clean, fast, and incredibly scenic. We have taken trains to Hungary, Germany, and Slovenia and each one has been a positive experience! I loved taking trains for day trips or weekend getaways because it’s such an easy way to see the countryside and smaller towns. That said, my friends and I realized that the Eurail Pass wasn’t worth it for the countries we wanted to visit. Individual tickets ended up being cheaper and more flexible for our specific travel plans, especially since we weren’t hopping around every few days. Definitely do the math before committing to a pass! We also purchased public transportation in some of the cities we visited (such as Budapest and Munich) to avoid spendy taxis/ubers. It not only is budget friendly but safe and convenient to get around in the cities, many of which sell weekend passes for approximately $7-14 USD.

Plan Your Trips Early!

One of the best pieces of advice I can give: plan your first big trip the first weekend you get abroad (or within the first couple of weeks). This will ensure you get good prices and have a well mapped out plan for the rest of the semester! There were many people who waited until the week before to decide where they were traveling and it ended up being very expensive and hard to find hostels to stay in. Vienna is so well-connected, so you’ll have tons of options whether you want to explore Austria itself or venture out to nearby cities like Prague, Budapest, or Munich.

Map Out Restaurants and Must-Sees in Advance!

I know it’s tempting to wander and figure out what to do when you arrive at a location, and you definitely should at times, but I found that mapping out restaurants and sights beforehand helped us make the most of each day. Larger cities, especially places like Rome, have sights that book out weeks in advance. My friends Sophia, Mia, Ishita, and I learned this the hard way after standing outside of the Vatican for over five hours to get into the Sistine Chapel. Also, nothing's worse than being starving in a new city and settling for mediocre food just because you didn’t plan ahead. We ate some of the best meals of our life by just planning out where to eat beforehand. 

Research Where You’re Staying!

Before booking hostels, Airbnbs, or hotels, always check Reddit or Hostelworld reviews, not just for how nice the place is, but also for how safe the surrounding area feels. Some spots might look great online but be in neighborhoods that aren’t ideal for walking back late at night. My friends and I started making it a habit to skim through recent reviews and each comparing the results that we found. Keywords that we always made sure to keep an eye out for in reviews were bed bugs/cleanliness (an unfortunate incident for one of my friends!) and proximity to sights! Purchasing a cheap hostel is great until you have to buy a $40 uber to get into the city center every day! By making sure to do deep research, you have greater peace of mind and avoid unpleasant surprises! 

Find Unique Experiences in Every Location! 

One of my favorite parts of traveling abroad was finding fun, local experiences that made each city feel special. GetYourGuide became our go-to for that. We found everything from food tours to boat cruises to cooking classes, and all were super easy to book online and you really got the most for your money. Some of my favorite memories came from these experiences: We took a pasta-making class in Italy, and we did a sunset cruise in Budapest where we saw all the monuments glowing over the Danube. It was one of those “this is why I studied abroad” moments that I’ll never forget.

Conclusion

Traveling while studying abroad in Vienna is such a unique experience, it’s the perfect balance between having a home base in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and being just a short train or plane ride away from countless adventures. With a little research and time, you can see and experience so much more than you ever imagined.