Our Budget-Friendly 12-Day Europe Trip from Prague: Costs & Tips

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Exploring Europe on a budget may sound challenging, but with proper planning, it’s completely doable! My bestfriend and I embarked on a 12-day budget-friendly trip from Prague and visited Salzburg, Munich, Zurich, Brussels, and Amsterdam, using only FlixBus to travel between cities.

Here’s a breakdown of our journey, including transportation costs, food budget, and accommodation choices to help you plan your own affordable European adventure!

Trip Overview & Budget Breakdown

     

        COUNTRY		FlixBus Fare per person in CZKFood Budget in CZKHotel cost for 2 peopleHotel
2 nights - Salzburg1,6932,0005,831czka&o Salzburg Hauptbahnhof
2 nights - Munich9302,0003,893czkK+K Hotel am Harras
2 nights - Zurich1,4022,0006,150czkGreen Marmot Capsule Hotel ZΓΌrich -
4 nights - Brussels3,7262,5007,000czkAdagio Access Brussels Delta
4 nights - Amsterdam9553,00011620czkHotel New Kit

Total Costs for One Person (CZK)

  • FlixBus Total: 10,006 CZK
  • Food Budget: 11,500 CZK
  • Accommodation per Person: Approx. 17,247 CZK

πŸ‘‰ Total Estimated Budget per Person: ~38,753 CZK

City Highlights & Budget Tips

πŸ“ Salzburg, Austria 

We kicked off our trip in Salzburg, a charming city famous for The Sound of Music and its breathtaking views of the Alps.

πŸ’° Budget Tips:

  • Walk around the Mirabell Gardens and explore the Old Town for free!
  • The Salzburg Card is great for discounted attractions and free public transport.
  • Affordable local food? Try Bosna (Austrian sausage sandwich) & traditional pretzels from street vendors.


πŸ“ Munich, Germany  

Munich surprised us with its mix of modern vibes and historic charm.

πŸ’° Budget Tips:

  • Visit Marienplatz & English Garden (free).
  • Enjoy a budget-friendly meal at Viktualienmarkt—great food options at fair prices.
  • A classic beer & bratwurst combo is a must-try!


πŸ“ Zurich, Switzerland 

Switzerland is expensive, but we made it work!

πŸ’° Budget Tips:

  • Walk along Lake Zurich and visit the Old Town for free.
  • Instead of dining out, we got supermarket food from Coop & Migros—still delicious but budget-friendly!
  • Stayed at Green Marmot Capsule Hotel—affordable but comfortable.


πŸ“ Brussels, Belgium   

Brussels was a longer stop, so we made the most of it!

πŸ’° Budget Tips:

  • Visit Grand Place, Atomium (outside), and Manneken Pis for free.
  • Get budget-friendly waffles from smaller street vendors (cheaper than touristy spots).
  • Supermarkets like Lidl & Carrefour helped us save on meals.

πŸ“ Amsterdam, Netherlands 

Amsterdam was one of our favorite stops!

πŸ’° Budget Tips:

  • Walk along Jordaan & the Canals for free.
  • Instead of paid museums, we visied Begijnhof, Vondelpark, and the floating flower market.
  • Street food like herring sandwiches & stroopwafels are delicious and cheap!

My Takeaway?  

Using FlixBus, booking budget accommodations, and planning our meals wisely helped us enjoy a multi-country Europe trip without overspending.

🚍 Would we do it again? Yes! But next time, we might consider slower travel to enjoy each city even more.