The Cheapest Ways to Travel Between European Countries

The Cheapest Ways to Travel Between European Countries

Comparing trains, buses (FlixBus, Eurolines), budget airlines, and ridesharing for intercity travel in Europe.

Europe has one of the world's most developed intercity travel networks. Within a few hours, you can move between countries using buses, trains, planes, ferries, or shared cars — often at a cost lower than a taxi ride home. The trick is knowing which mode of transport makes sense for which journey, and how to find the best price before committing.

FlixBus: The Budget Bus Network

FlixBus has become the dominant intercity bus operator in Europe, connecting over 40 countries with a network of more than 4,000 destinations. It acquired Eurolines in 2019, effectively consolidating the long-distance European bus market.

Pros:

• Extremely low base fares — €5–€20 for many routes
• Wi-Fi on board (quality varies)
• Toilets on longer routes
• Comfortable reclining seats
• Luggage included (1 small bag in overhead + 1 bag in hold)

Cons:

• Long journey times — the bus between Amsterdam and Paris takes 4–5 hours vs 2 hours by Thalys train
• Not practical for distances over 600 km if speed matters
• Subject to road traffic; no arrival time guarantee
• Not ideal if you value comfort over price

Best for: Short-to-medium hauls where time is less critical. Berlin-Prague, Munich-Zagreb, Lyon-Barcelona, London-Edinburgh (domestic UK via National Express partnership). Also excellent for smaller cities not served by rail.

Booking: FlixBus.com. Fares are cheapest booked early. No cancellation refund on basic fares (free cancellation within 15 minutes of booking or with Flex ticket upgrade).

Trains: Faster, Often Not as Cheap

European rail is fast, comfortable, and sometimes the most civilized way to travel. But "cheap" depends heavily on when you book and which country you're traveling in.

Budget rail strategies:

• Book early — Point-to-point tickets on high-speed routes (Paris-Lyon, London-Paris, Amsterdam-Brussels, Madrid-Barcelona) drop significantly for advance bookings (1–3 months ahead). Prices rise as the date approaches.
• Use regional trains instead of high-speed intercity trains where the time difference is manageable. A regional train from Munich to Salzburg (90 min) costs a fraction of a premium intercity ticket.
• National rail cards — Many countries offer discount cards for residents or frequent travelers (Deutsche Bahn's Bahncard, SNCF's Avantage card). Worth it if you'll use them repeatedly.
• Omio — A platform that aggregates European rail, bus, and flight tickets. Useful for comparing options across modes.

Useful booking platforms by country:

• Germany: bahn.de (also search European routes)
• France: sncf-connect.com
• Spain: renfe.com
• Italy: trenitalia.com or Italo (private competitor)
• Pan-European: Raileurope.com, Omio, Trainline

Night trains are worth a special mention — they've made a comeback. The Nightjet network (Austrian Federal Railways) now connects Vienna with destinations including Amsterdam, Brussels, Rome, and Paris. A night train is effectively a hotel + transport combined.

Budget Airlines: Best for Longer Distances

For distances over 800 km where no high-speed rail route exists, budget airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Norwegian, Eurowings) are typically faster and often cheaper than any other mode.

The real price of a budget flight includes:

• Base fare
• Cabin bag fee (if not included)
• Hold luggage fee (if needed)
• Transfer to/from secondary airports
• Your time at the airport (arrive 90–120 min early)

When those are factored in, the gap between a €25 flight and a €60 train ticket often narrows significantly.

Best for: Copenhagen to Lisbon, Stockholm to Rome, Warsaw to Barcelona, London to Athens. Any route where no rail or bus alternative is reasonably fast.

BlaBlaCar: Ridesharing Across Europe

BlaBlaCar is a peer-to-peer ridesharing platform where drivers with empty seats on long-distance journeys offer them to other travelers at a split-cost price.

How it works:

1. Search your origin and destination on BlaBlaCar.com or the app
2. Browse available rides by date and time
3. Book and pay through the platform
4. Meet the driver at the agreed pickup point

Pros:

• Often the cheapest option for medium distances (150–400 km)
• Door-to-door-ish — pickups can be city center, not a distant terminal
• Luggage included as part of the car trip
• Social experience if you want it

Cons:

• Departure time depends on the driver
• Not available for all routes or dates
• Platform takes a booking fee (usually 10–15% of the ride price)

Best for: Routes between smaller cities not well served by FlixBus or rail (e.g., Bordeaux to Bilbao, Krakow to Vienna, Milan to Geneva). Also useful for connecting to airports from smaller towns.

Ferries

Often overlooked but occasionally the most cost-effective and scenic option for specific routes.

Key European ferry routes:

• Baltic: Helsinki-Tallinn (2.5 hours, Viking Line and Tallink), Stockholm-Helsinki (overnight), Stockholm-Tallinn
• North Sea: Amsterdam-Newcastle (overnight, DFDS), Esbjerg-Harwich
• Mediterranean: Barcelona-Palma de Mallorca, Italy-Greece (multiple operators), Toulon-Ajaccio
• Adriatic: Venice-Split, Ancona-Split, Bari-Dubrovnik

Ferry prices vary enormously based on whether you book a seat (cheapest), a cabin (more like a budget hotel), or are taking a vehicle.

How to Choose: A Quick Decision Framework

Comparison Tools

• Omio — Compares train, bus, and flights in one search
• Google Flights — Best for flight price calendars and fare alerts
• Skyscanner — Useful for "everywhere" searches (find cheapest destination from your city)
• Rome2rio — Comprehensive journey planner showing all modes including time and cost estimates

The most important variable in cheap European travel is booking time. For any mode except BlaBlaCar, prices rise as the departure date approaches. Plan 4–8 weeks ahead for rail, 2–6 weeks for budget airlines. Buses are more forgiving — FlixBus can be booked the day before at similar prices to several months out.