Want to travel from Paris to Barcelona, Berlin, or Brussels without breaking the bank?
Good news: there are plenty of affordable options to cross Europe today — by bus, train, or even carpooling. Here are the best solutions for savvy travelers and smart tips to adopt.
🟢 1. FlixBus – The most economical (and green) option
🚍 Direct routes from Paris to +250 cities in Europe
💸 Fares starting from €9–15 (book in advance = lowest prices)
Advantages:
- Very cheap
- No need for a card or subscription
- Perfect for short journeys like Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Lyon, Milan…
- Wi-Fi, power outlets, reclining seats
🔋 Tip: prefer night buses to save on accommodation!
🚂 2. Interrail (or Eurail) – The train pass for exploring multiple countries
🎫 Multi-country pass for traveling freely by train in Europe
💶 Example: 4 travel days in 1 month → starting from €200–250 for under-28s
Perfect if:
- You want to explore 3–5 countries in 1 month
- You enjoy the comfort of trains
- You want maximum flexibility (last-minute reservations possible)
🚄 Includes France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Nordic countries, and +30 countries.
💡 Tip: France sometimes requires a paid reservation on TGV → allow some margin in your budget.
🚗 3. BlaBlaCar – The economical and flexible carpooling option
🚗 Last-minute rides between European cities, for example:
- Paris → Lille: €12
- Paris → Brussels: €17
- Paris → Geneva: €25
Advantages:
- Friendly atmosphere (meet locals)
- Often faster than the bus
- Great for routes without direct train access
📲 Very popular app in France, Spain, Germany…
🚄 4. Ouigo / Inoui – Low-cost TGV in France and beyond
🏁 Affordable TGV between Paris and major French cities
💸 Tickets starting from €10 if booked early at:
👉 https://www.sncf-connect.com
Examples of destinations: Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Strasbourg
→ Fast, convenient, sometimes cheaper than a FlixBus when booked in advance.
🚌 5. Other bus companies to know
- Blablacar Bus (yes, they also operate buses!)
- Eurolines (some routes still active)
- RegioJet (Central Europe: Prague, Vienna, Budapest)
- Student Agency (Slovakia, Czech Republic – super cheap)
📲 Practical tips for savvy travel
✅ Book as early as possible to snag the best prices
✅ Compare options on platforms like:
- Omio
- Rome2Rio
- Trainline
✅ Travel outside weekends and school holidays if possible
✅ Prefer night journeys: 1 ticket = transport + accommodation
✅ Consider baggage included or not (especially on buses)
🛏️ What to do between trips? Rest at the AIJ Paris 💤
Located in the 11th, the International Youth Hostel is perfect for taking a break between cities.
You can:
- Recharge your energy
- Wash your clothes
- Meet other travelers to share part of the journey
🎒 In summary:
You can travel in Europe starting from €10, as long as you:
- Book in advance
- Remain flexible with schedules
- Take advantage of great deals when they appear
