European Travel Tips and Tricks

Happy December, IES Abroad blog readers! I can’t believe that I am approaching the last two weeks of my study abroad journey in London. Study abroad has flown by so fast; I feel like I have lived a hundred different lives this semester. Over the course of the past three months, I traveled to nearly ten different countries and all over the United Kingdom. Nearly every weekend, I am in a different country or city, experiencing the world from another perspective. Don’t worry - I will write about them in future blog posts.

For this blog, I will be writing about five European travel tips and tricks that I learned from my constant travels. Traveling in Europe is very different from traveling in the United States – that is one thing I learned quickly! From understanding public transportation in a foreign country to experiencing things on a budget, this blog post will save you a lot of time and money!

Look up how to use public transportation before arriving in the country:

Public transportation looks different in every country. I have been quite spoiled with the pay-as-you-go system with the tube, but not every European country has this system. Before solo traveling to Rome, I went on TikTok to see how to get from the airport to the city center. It is important that you look this up first, so you have an idea of your transport options to get to your accommodation. I personally always use public transit from the airport to the city center since paying for an Uber or a taxi is out of my budget.

After looking up how to get from the airport to the city center, I look up TikTok videos on how to pay for public transportation around the city. Going back to my time in Rome, several locals talked about purchasing a ticket from a “tabacchi” or a tobacco shop to get around the city, or using their bank card to pay as they go. If you are purchasing a physical ticket, you must validate it. There is a ticket validating machine at the bus or train station. If a ticket inspector comes and sees that you didn’t validate your ticket, you will get fined.

Check if your accommodations offer free perks:

I stay in hostels every time I go to a different country. As a female solo traveler, I always book all-female dormitories for safety and comfort reasons. I have met awesome girls from all over the world through hostels. I know people may not feel comfortable staying in hostels, and that is understandable! But if you’re on a budget like me, hostels are a great option. Make sure to read guest reviews on Hostelworld and Google before booking them, though!

The hostels I’ve stayed at always offered perks for guests. For example, when I was in Berlin, the hostel gave me a 15% discount on food from the bar next door. In the Roman hostel, the establishment gave me free drinks and dinner every night. They served me pasta, which was delicious! In the hostel I stayed at in Geneva, the hostel offered free public transport tickets throughout my stay. Traveling can be expensive, but there are ways to make it cheaper, especially as a study abroad student!

Go to public places for toilets:

You might be wondering: Pauline, what on earth are you talking about? Toilets, really?

Believe it or not, some European cities do not have free public toilets. I remember paying 1 Euro to use the toilets in Bruges. Regardless, the toilets are spotless and clean, so I didn’t have a lot of complaints paying 1 Euro. However, if you really have to use the toilet and do not know where to go, I recommend public places, such as malls and libraries. You cannot simply walk into restaurants or cafes and use the toilets unless you are a customer. I remember roaming around Berlin and realizing that I had to use the toilet before my walking tour! I immediately looked for the nearest public library and found one nearby. Phew!

Always have local currency on hand:

This is a no-brainer, but there have been times when I forget to bring Euros on hand every time I go to an EU country. (Pauline, why? It happens!) Don’t worry: Most places accept contactless payment and/or a physical bank card. However, some stores, especially small businesses or market pop-ups, may not accept card payments. It is important to have a couple of Euros or a country’s local currency. You might see something cute you like, but not be able to buy it because they only accept cash payment.

Book “free” walking tours:

I like to plan the places I want to visit since each city has its own rich history, and I like learning about history. Before leaving for London, a friend who had previously studied abroad in Spain recommended going on walking tours. She told me that walking tours are a great way to explore and learn about a new place at the same time from a knowledgeable local. I was sold!

I highly recommend booking walking tours. Visiting a historical building is different from visiting and learning about the building from a local tour guide. I personally think that the tour guides I’ve had do a fantastic job of narrating a city’s history and highlighting important landmarks. Most of them are very animated and funny, so I never got bored walking around a foreign place. Although they are called “free” walking tours, you pay the tour guide at the end of the tour. There is no minimum or maximum amount that you have to pay, but they always encourage paying fairly. I have paid 10, 15, and 20 Euros based on how I found the tour, and it is always up to your discretion.

What do you think of my travel tricks and tips? Are there any that you agree or disagree with? Regardless, I wish you the best of luck exploring new places across Europe!