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Lisbon is one of the best bases in Europe for day trips. Palaces, beaches, walled towns, and Roman cities all sit within two hours, and many of the top day trips from Lisbon are reachable by train for the price of a coffee. This guide covers 13 of them: what to see, how to get there, how long it takes, and what it costs.

Fares below are approximate 2026 figures and vary by operator and booking time, so check before you travel.

Best day trips from Lisbon: Overview

Trains serve Sintra, Cascais, Setúbal, Évora, and Tomar. Buses are the go-to option for Óbidos, Nazaré, Fátima, and Batalha, where train connections are slow or indirect, and Arrábida needs a car or a tour. If you can only do one trip, make it Sintra.

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Check current times and prices on Comboios de Portugal and the bus operators’ sites before you go.

1. Sintra: Palaces in the hills

Sintra is the most popular day trip from Lisbon for good reason: Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and forested hills about 28 km from the city. Trains leave Rossio every 30 minutes, take about 40 minutes, and cost around €2.45 one way. Expect roughly €15-€20 per monument ticket, and book online in advance. Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, is nearby.

Tip: Take an early train, ideally around 08:30. Fares for Sintra and Cascais load onto a Navegante card, which costs €0.50.

2. Cascais: The easiest day trip

Cascais is the easiest day trip from Lisbon. Trains from Cais do Sodré take 35 to 40 minutes and cost about €5 return, with services back every 20 minutes until midnight. It’s a coastal town with beaches and a walkable centre, and 3 to 5 hours is comfortable.

Tip: Combine it with Sintra by taking bus 403 over the Serra de Sintra, a scenic 40-minute ride past Cabo da Roca.

3. Óbidos: A medieval walled town

Óbidos is a walled town of whitewashed houses and cobbled lanes, known for ginjinha, the local cherry liqueur. Express buses from Campo Grande take about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes and cost roughly €10 to €17 return. The bus stops closer to the town than the train station does. Two hours is enough to walk the walls and the main street.

Tip: Tours often pair Óbidos with Nazaré, which makes a good full day.

4. Évora: Roman ruins and Alentejo wine

Évora is a Roman city in the Alentejo, with a Roman temple, the Chapel of Bones, and a strong wine and food scene. Intercidades trains from Oriente take about 1 hour 30 minutes and cost around €25 return in second class. The station is a 15-minute walk from the old town.

Tip: Check the CP timetable before you go, as trains are less frequent than on the Sintra and Cascais lines, and Promo fares are available when you book at least 5 days in advance.

5. Fátima: Portugal’s pilgrimage site

Fátima is Portugal's main pilgrimage site, and its sanctuary draws visitors from around the world. There’s no useful train, so take a Rede Expressos bus from Sete Rios: about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours and roughly €13 one way. Three to five hours at the site is enough.

Tip: Book the bus in advance, and consider a small-group tour that combines Fátima with Batalha and Nazaré if you want more than one stop.

6. Nazaré: Giant waves and a fishing village

Nazaré is a fishing village known for giant Atlantic waves, with a funicular up to the clifftop and the Praia do Norte viewpoint. Rede Expressos buses from Sete Rios take about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours and cost roughly €20 to €25 return. The biggest waves usually arrive in the cooler months, so summer visitors get the village and beach instead.

Tip: Check bus times carefully, because some routes have only three or four departures a day.

7. Setúbal: The beach day trip locals take

Setúbal is the day trip locals take when they want a beach. The Fertagus train takes around 50 minutes and costs about €5 one way, crossing the 25 de Abril bridge, while buses from Sete Rios take about an hour. From the marina, dolphin-watching boat trips on the Sado estuary cost around €30 to €45 and run from April to October.

Tip: Stay for a seafood lunch before heading back.

8. Arrábida: Turquoise water south of Lisbon

Arrábida Natural Park is a limestone mountain range with turquoise water, white cliffs, and pine forest running to the sea. There's no direct public transport, so you need a car (45 to 60 minutes) or a tour, with guided trips from about €60 per person, or €85 to €140 with Azeitão wine tasting. From mid-June to mid-September, private cars are banned on the coastal road.

Tip: In summer, reach the beaches by shuttle bus from Setúbal or on a tour.

9. Mafra: A baroque palace

Mafra National Palace is a baroque monument with a library that's among the finest in the world. Buses from Campo Grande (Carris Metropolitana line 2804) take 45 to 59 minutes and allow around 1.5 hours inside the palace.

Tip: Visit in the morning, then continue to Ericeira for lunch, only 10 km further.

10. Ericeira: Surf and seafood

Ericeira is a surf and seafood town on a wilder stretch of coast. Buses from Campo Grande take about an hour, and most Mafra buses continue on to Ericeira, with the Mafra to Ericeira leg costing €4.50. The restaurant selection here is better than in Mafra.

Tip: Do the two together, because service to Ericeira alone is limited.

11. Tomar: The Knights Templar town

Tomar is the Templar town, and its Convent of Christ is a UNESCO site larger than it looks. The Intercidades train from Oriente takes about 2 hours and costs around €11.30 one way, or roughly €24 to €35 return depending on the ticket. It's the furthest trip on the train network, so plan a full day.

Tip: Book Promo fares five or more days ahead.

12. Batalha: Gothic monastery country

Batalha is home to the Gothic Batalha Monastery. Rede Expressos buses from Sete Rios take about 1 hour 45 minutes, and the town is 20 minutes from both Fátima and Alcobaça Monastery. Check Rede Expressos for the current fare. Without a car, it's easiest on a small-group tour covering Fátima, Batalha, and Alcobaça, typically €75 to €110.

Tip: By car, a Batalha, Alcobaça, and Tomar loop makes a strong architecture day.

13. Peniche: Coast, lighthouse, and islands

Peniche is a fishing town with coastal hikes, the lighthouse at Cabo Carvoeiro, and harbour restaurants. A Rede Expressos bus from Sete Rios takes about 1.5 hours and costs around €18 return, and FlixBus also runs direct from Oriente. The ferry to the Berlengas islands runs only from mid-May to early September.

Tip: If you want the islands, go in summer and check ferry times before you travel.

Getting around and paying on your day trips

Portugal uses the euro, so you’ll pay in euros on trains, buses, and at attractions. If a card terminal offers to charge you in dollars or pounds instead, decline, because that's dynamic currency conversion and the rate is usually poor.

Grey lets you hold euros in one account, and you can spend euros on a virtual card added to Apple Pay or Google Pay. The card is a USD card, so purchases in euros are cross-border card transactions that incur a 2% fee plus $0.50. The fixed $0.50 charge matters more on small purchases, so fewer, larger payments, such as bus tickets and palace entry, keep the cost down. A travel eSIM for Portugal keeps maps, booking confirmations, and operator apps working without roaming charges, and you can send money from the US to Portugal if you need to top up.

Day-tripping from Lisbon? Hold euros with Grey, spend on a virtual Mastercard, and grab a travel eSIM.

Frequently asked questions about day trips from Lisbon

What is the best day trip from Lisbon?

Sintra is the best all-round choice. It’s about 40 minutes by train from Rossio, costs around €5 return, and packs in palaces and forested hills. Cascais is the easiest alternative, and Évora is the best pick for history lovers.

Is Sintra worth it?

Yes, if you start early. Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira are the highlights, with monument tickets priced at roughly €15-€20 each, so book online in advance. The crowds build through the morning, so take a train around 08:30.

Is it better to take the train or a tour?

The train is better for Sintra, Cascais, Setúbal, Évora, and Tomar, since it's cheaper and often faster. A tour or car makes more sense for Arrábida, Batalha, and multi-stop days such as Fátima, Batalha, and Nazaré, where public transport is slow or indirect.

Can you do Sintra and Cascais in one day?

Yes, if you start early. Take a morning train to Sintra, see Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, then catch bus 403 over the Serra de Sintra to Cascais, a 40-minute ride past Cabo da Roca. Trains run back to Lisbon every 20 minutes until midnight.

Can you do day trips from Lisbon without a car?

Yes, for most of the best ones. Sintra and Cascais are about 40 minutes by train, Óbidos is about an hour by bus, and Évora is about 1 hour 30 minutes by train. Arrábida is the main exception and really needs a car or a tour.

How much do day trips from Lisbon cost?

Train trips to Sintra and Cascais cost about €5 return, while trips to Óbidos, Évora, Nazaré, and Peniche cost roughly €10 to €25 return. Add entry fees and note that guided tours typically cost €60-€140 per person.

Whichever trip you choose, check the return times before you set off. For more ideas, see our guide to the best day trips from London.

Get a Grey Card and spend euros on your day trips

Prague is a good base for exploring Central Europe. Many of the top day trips from Prague take about an hour by train, and even the longer ones, like Dresden, are manageable in a day. In this guide, I cover what to see, how to get there, how long it takes, and what it costs.

One thing to know first: Czechia uses the koruna (CZK), not the euro. In October 2026, one euro bought roughly 24 koruna, so CZK 100 is about €4. Fares below are approximate 2026 figures and change by operator and booking time.

Best day trips from Prague: Overview

Trains suit Kutná Hora, Plzeň, Karlštejn, and Dresden, while buses are the better choice for Karlovy Vary, Český Krumlov, and Terezín. Distance sets the effort: Karlštejn is about 40 minutes away, whereas Vienna and Brno are long days that suit an early start or an overnight stay.

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Fares are one way, so as a rough guide a return trip costs about double. Check current times and prices on Czech Railways and the bus operators’ sites before you travel.

1. Kutná Hora: The bone church and a silver town

Kutná Hora is the easiest big payoff from Prague. The Sedlec Ossuary, decorated with the bones of tens of thousands of people, is the headline, and St Barbara’s Cathedral in the UNESCO-listed historic centre is the reason to stay for lunch. Direct trains from Praha hlavní nádraží take about 55 minutes and cost around CZK 100-160 one-way. The ossuary is close to Kutná Hora main station, while the historic centre is about 3 km further, so allow for a local train or bus.

Tip: Book an ossuary time slot online first, and arrive early, because tour buses start arriving after 11:00.

2. Český Krumlov: A fairy-tale castle town

Český Krumlov is a UNESCO town set inside a bend of the Vltava River, beneath a castle tower. A direct RegioJet bus from Na Knížecí takes roughly 2 hours 50 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes and costs around CZK 130 to 300 one way. The train needs a change and takes about 3.5 hours. It’s a long but doable day.

Tip: Take the 07:00 bus, which arrives around 10:00, and catch a late return bus so you see the town after the crowds thin. It gets very busy in July and August.

3. Karlovy Vary: the spa town

Karlovy Vary is a river valley lined with pastel colonnades, where visitors sip warm mineral water from porcelain cups. It’s also known for Becherovka, Moser crystal, and the Grandhotel Pupp. There’s no direct train, so take the bus: about 2 hours from Praha Florenc, with FlixBus at CZK 158 when we checked and RegioJet from around CZK 100.

Tip: Loket, a small castle town, is about half an hour away by local train if you want a second stop.

4. Terezín: A memorial, not a sightseeing stop

Terezín was an 18th-century fortress town that became the Theresienstadt ghetto and transit camp during the Second World War, and around 150,000 Jews passed through it on the way to the extermination camps. Today the Small Fortress, the Ghetto Museum, and a columbarium are memorial sites. Direct bus 413 from Praha Letňany (metro C) takes about an hour and runs hourly. Get off at “Terezín, U památníku” for the Small Fortress, or at the town bus station for the ghetto sites.

Tip: Allow half a day and consider a guide, because the history is hard to follow without context.

5. Dresden: Baroque Germany in two hours

Dresden is in Germany, about 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes from Praha hlavní nádraží by direct train, and the line follows the Elbe through sandstone canyon country for around an hour. Fares typically run €8 to €18, and FlixBus takes about 2 hours. The city is known as the “Florence on the Elbe” for its baroque architecture and museums. Germany uses the euro, not the koruna.

Tip: Take an early train and return in the evening, or stay overnight for a slower visit.

6. Bohemian Switzerland: Sandstone cliffs

Bohemian Switzerland National Park is a landscape of sandstone towers, gorges, and pine forest on the German border. The headline is the Pravčická Gate, described as the largest natural sandstone arch in Europe, plus gorge boat rides on the Kamenice. By public transport, take a train from Praha hlavní nádraží to Děčín, then bus 434 or 438 to Hřensko (about 20 minutes), roughly two hours each way. By car it’s about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Tip: This is the trip where a tour or a car beats public transport.

7. Plzeň: The home of Pilsner Urquell

Plzeň is where Pilsner Urquell is brewed, and the brewery is a 15-minute walk from the station. Beneath the historic centre, tunnels run nearly 14 km in total, and the guided Plzeň Historical Underground tour covers 800 metres. The town also has the tallest church tower in Czechia. Direct trains run hourly and take about 1 hour 20 minutes, costing roughly CZK 120 to 200, while buses take about an hour and can be cheaper.

Tip: With children, add the Techmania science centre.

8. Karlštejn: The quickest castle

Karlštejn is Charles IV’s Gothic fortress above the Berounka valley, about 30 km from Prague. The direct S7 train from Praha hlavní nádraží takes 40 to 45 minutes and costs around CZK 78 one way. From Karlštejn station, it’s a 20 to 30 minute walk uphill to the castle. It suits a half day. Tip: the ride itself passes limestone cliffs and beech forest, so sit by a window.

9. Konopiště: A quieter castle

Konopiště is a castle with a rose garden about 40 km from Prague. Take a train from Praha hlavní nádraží to Benešov (40 to 60 minutes), then walk or take a local bus to the castle. Check Czech Railways for the current fare.

Tip: Choose Karlštejn if you want the famous castle, and Konopiště if you want the place to yourself.

10. Brno: Moravia’s capital

Brno is the capital of Moravia, about 2 hours 30 minutes from Prague by Pendolino, with trains every 30 minutes at peak times and fares of CZK 250 to 450 one way. Highlights include Špilberk Castle, the Capuchin Crypt, and the UNESCO-listed Villa Tugendhat. With around five hours of travel, it’s a long day, so many visitors stay overnight.

Tip: take the train rather than the bus, which is slower, and book Villa Tugendhat in advance.

11. Vienna: A long but possible day

Vienna is in Austria, about 4 hours from Prague by direct train, with several daily departures on ČD Railjet and RegioJet from around CZK 400 (€16). That’s roughly eight hours of travel, so it works better as an overnight stay than a day trip. The draw is the imperial palaces and the coffee culture. Austria uses the euro.

Tip: If you only have one day, spend it in Dresden and save Vienna for a longer visit.

Getting around and paying on your day trips

Czechia uses the koruna, so you’ll pay in CZK at stations, castles, and restaurants, and in euros in Dresden and Vienna. Some tourist businesses accept euros, but the rate they apply is usually worse than your card’s, so pay in koruna. If a card terminal offers to charge you in euros or dollars, decline, because that’s dynamic currency conversion and the rate is usually poor.

Grey lets you hold multiple currencies in one account, and you can spend on a virtual card added to Apple Pay or Google Pay. The card is a USD card, so purchases in koruna or euros are cross-border card transactions that incur a 2% fee plus $0.50. The fixed $0.50 matters more on small purchases, so fewer, larger payments such as train tickets keep the cost down. A travel eSIM for Czechia keeps maps, booking confirmations, and operator apps working without roaming charges, and you can move money before you travel if you need to top up.

Day-tripping from Prague? Spend koruna and euros on a Grey virtual card and grab a travel eSIM.

Frequently asked questions about day trips from Prague

What is the best day trip from Prague?

Kutná Hora is the best all-round choice. It takes about 55 minutes by direct train, costs around CZK 100 to 160 one way, and covers the Sedlec Ossuary and a UNESCO town in half a day. Český Krumlov is the standout if you don’t mind roughly three hours by bus each way.

Can you visit Dresden from Prague in a day?

Yes. Direct trains take about 2 hours 10 to 20 minutes, fares typically run €8 to €18, and FlixBus takes about 2 hours. Take an early train and return in the evening, or stay overnight if you want a slower visit.

What currency does Czechia use?

Czechia uses the Czech koruna (CZK), not the euro. In October 2026, €1 bought roughly 24 koruna, so CZK 100 is about €4. Some tourist businesses accept euros, usually at a poor rate, and Dresden and Vienna both use the euro.

Is it better to take the train or the bus?

Take the train for Kutná Hora, Plzeň, Karlštejn, Dresden, Brno, and Vienna. Take the bus for Karlovy Vary, Český Krumlov, and Terezín, where there’s no good direct train. For Plzeň, the bus can be cheaper and runs more often.

Is Český Krumlov worth a day trip from Prague?

Yes, if you’re comfortable with about three hours each way and catch an early bus. It’s a long day, and the town is very busy in July and August. Staying overnight lets you see it after the day-trippers leave.

How much do day trips from Prague cost?

Public transport trips typically cost about CZK 80 to 450 one way, or roughly €3 to €19, plus entry fees. Organised tours cost more: Kutná Hora tours are listed from about €46 per person and Český Krumlov from about €88 including admissions.

Whichever trip you choose, start early, and book timed entries in advance. For more ideas, see our guide to the best day trips from Amsterdam.

Get a Grey Card and spend on your day trips.

Some of the best day trips from Amsterdam take under 30 minutes by train, and most of the rest are within a couple of hours, so you can see those famous windmills, tulip fields, and medieval towns without changing hotels.

This guide covers 11 trips: what to see, how to get there, how long they take, and what they cost. Fares and prices are approximate 2026 figures and vary by time of day and ticket type, so confirm the exact amount before you travel.

Best day trips from Amsterdam: Overview

Trains do most of the work. Haarlem, Zaanse Schans, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Delft are all served by NS trains from Amsterdam Centraal, and you rarely need to book ahead. The exceptions are Keukenhof, which uses timed tickets, and Giethoorn, which has no station. If you’ve already done the Amsterdam canal boat trips, Utrecht’s wharf canals and Giethoorn offer a quieter version of the same idea.

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If you plan several stops in one region, the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket covers Volendam, Marken, Edam, Zaanse Schans, and Haarlem from about €23 for one day. Check live train fares on the NS website.

1. Zaanse Schans: Windmills in 20 minutes

Zaanse Schans is a preserved village of working windmills, green wooden houses, a clog workshop, and a cheese farm on the river Zaan, about 16 km from the city. The village is free to walk around, and individual windmills cost roughly €5-€7 each. A direct train from Amsterdam Centraal to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans takes about 17 minutes and costs around €9.40 return, with a 10-minute walk over the bridge afterwards. It suits a half day.

Tip: Arrive before 09:30 or after 15:30 in summer, when coach tours fill the village between 10:00 and 15:00.

2. Keukenhof: Tulips, in season only

Keukenhof is open for only about eight weeks each spring, with around seven million bulbs flowering across 32 hectares near Lisse. The 2026 season ran from 19 March to 10 May, and the dates for the next season will be published on keukenhof.nl. In 2026, adult entry cost about €21-€23 online, and a combi ticket with a return bus from Amsterdam started at roughly €35-€38.50. Bus 852 from Amsterdam RAI takes about 35 minutes. Entry is by timed slot, and peak weekends sell out.

Tip: Peak bloom usually falls between 10 and 25 April.

3. Utrecht: Canals without the crowds

Utrecht is the best city trip if you want canals at a calmer pace. Its two-level wharf canals have cafés in the old cellars at water level, and the Dom Tower and cathedral dominate the centre. Trains from Amsterdam Centraal take 25 to 30 minutes and cost around €16 return.

Tip: Give Utrecht a full day rather than pairing it with another stop, because the old centre rewards slow walking.

4. Rotterdam: The modern contrast

Rotterdam was rebuilt after the Second World War, which explains its bold architecture: the Cube Houses, the Markthal food hall, and the Erasmus Bridge over a lively waterfront. Fast direct intercity trains take about 40 minutes and cost around €15 return.

Tip: Delft is 15 minutes away by train, so the two combine well in one day.

5. The Hague: Museums and government

The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government and home to the Mauritshuis, known for its Vermeer paintings. Families may prefer Madurodam, a miniature Netherlands. A direct intercity train takes about 50 minutes and costs around €14 return.

Tip: Delft is only 10 minutes away by train, so pair The Hague with Delft instead of adding a third city.

6. Giethoorn: The car-free canal village

Giethoorn has about 6.5 km of canals, no cars, and thatched-roof cottages on small islands. It has no train station, so public transport means a train to Steenwijk (around 90 minutes) and bus 270 (15 minutes), roughly two hours each way. Check NS for the current fare. Guided boat tours in the village cost about €8-€10 per person, and organised day tours from Amsterdam start at around €64.50 and include transfers.

Tip: If you only have one spare day, Haarlem or Zaanse Schans give a better return on your time.

7. Bruges: A long day, but worth it

Bruges is in Belgium, so it takes the most planning. The train via Brussels takes about 2 hours 45 minutes each way and costs roughly €35 to €50 return. FlixBus runs direct coaches in 3 to 3.5 hours from about €15 one way. The medieval centre and canals are compact enough to cover in a day.

Tip: Start early and carry photo ID, since you’ll cross a national border even though checks are rare.

8. Haarlem: The easiest day trip

Haarlem is 15 to 20 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal by train, at around €10 return. It has a Gothic cathedral, the Grote Markt square, and the Frans Hals Museum, and feels distinctly Dutch without the crowds. It works as a half day.

Tip: Zandvoort beach is about 15 minutes farther by train, so Haarlem plus a beach walk makes for a full day in warm weather.

9. Delft: Blue pottery and Vermeer

Delft is a compact canal town famous for Delft Blue pottery and its Vermeer connections, including the Vermeer Centrum. The train takes about an hour, and return fares run roughly €15 to €25 depending on the ticket, so check NS. Half a day covers the highlights.

Tip: Delft is 10 minutes from The Hague and 15 minutes from Rotterdam, so it fits easily into a two-city day.

10. Volendam and Marken: fishing villages

Volendam is a fishing village on the IJsselmeer, about 20 km north of the city, with an old harbour and traditional costumes. Marken is a quieter former island with green wooden houses. Bus 316 from Amsterdam Centraal reaches Volendam in 30 to 35 minutes, and a seasonal ferry (April to October) crosses to Marken for roughly €8.50 one way.

Tip: Tours often combine these villages with Zaanse Schans, but they lie in different directions, so going independently means two separate bus routes.

11. Kinderdijk: UNESCO windmills

Kinderdijk’s 19 windmills date from the 1740s and were built to drain the polder. Take the train to Rotterdam (about 40 minutes, around €15 return), then the Waterbus to Kinderdijk, for a total of roughly 1 hour 15 minutes. Entry to the visitor area is around €16, with timed entry in peak season.

Tip: Guided tours linking Kinderdijk with Rotterdam or The Hague simplify transfers.

Getting around and paying on your day trips

Dutch trains, trams, and buses use OVpay, which lets you tap in and out with a contactless bank card or a phone, so you rarely need paper tickets. Confirm your card works with OVpay before you rely on it, and keep some cash for small kiosks and markets.

Grey lets you hold euros and other currencies in one account, and the Grey virtual Mastercard can be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay for contactless payments. Because it’s a USD card, purchases in euros count as cross-border card transactions and incur a 2% fee plus $0.50, so check the cost before you pay for small items. You can spend euros on a virtual Mastercard for larger purchases such as tickets and tours. A travel eSIM for the Netherlands keeps maps, the NS app, and booking confirmations working without roaming charges. If you’re topping up from home, see how to send money from the US to the Netherlands.

Day-tripping from Amsterdam? Hold euros with Grey, spend on a virtual card, and grab a travel eSIM.

Frequently asked questions about day trips from Amsterdam

What is the best day trip from Amsterdam?

Zaanse Schans is the best all-round choice for first-time visitors, because it’s about 17 minutes by train and covers windmills, cheese, and crafts in half a day. Haarlem and Utrecht are better if you prefer a real Dutch city. In spring, Keukenhof is the standout.

Is Bruges a day trip from Amsterdam?

Yes, but it’s a long one. Allow about 2 hours 45 minutes each way by train via Brussels, or 3 to 3.5 hours by FlixBus from around €15 one way. Start early, or stay overnight if you want a slower visit.

Is it better to take the train or a tour?

The train is better for Haarlem, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague, Delft, and Zaanse Schans, since they’re direct and need no advance booking. A tour makes sense for Giethoorn and Keukenhof, where public transport involves transfers. Organised full-day tours typically cost €35 to €90.

Can I visit two cities in one day?

Yes. Delft, The Hague, and Rotterdam are on the same line, with Delft 10 minutes from The Hague and 15 minutes from Rotterdam. Haarlem and Zandvoort beach are about 15 minutes apart.

Do I need to book Keukenhof in advance?

Yes. Entry is by timed slot, and popular dates sell out before the season starts. The park opens for about eight weeks each spring, so check keukenhof.nl for the confirmed dates.

How much does a day trip from Amsterdam cost?

Most train-based trips cost about €9-€16 return to Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, Utrecht, The Hague, and Rotterdam, plus any attraction entry fees. Bruges and organised tours cost more. Prices change, so confirm fares on NS before you go.

Whichever trip you choose, start early and travel light. For more ideas, see our guide to the best day trips from London.

Get a Grey Card and spend euros on your day trips

Planning a Europe trip involves a lot of variables: which countries, which season, how you’ll move between cities, and where you’re flying from. Get those details right, and you can see a lot of Europe for a reasonable amount. Get them wrong, and costs escalate quickly without any obvious single cause.

This guide breaks down what a trip to Europe costs in 2026, starting with five major departure regions, then going country by country to provide daily spending figures that determine your on-the-ground budget.

How much does a Europe trip cost? Budget range overview

A two-week Europe trip in 2026 costs roughly $1,800 to $3,500 per person on a budget, $3,500 to $7,000 mid-range, and $8,000 plus for luxury travel. These figures include international return flights from the US, accommodation, food, local transport, and activities.

The single biggest variable after flights is your route. Daily costs range from $70 to $90 in Eastern Europe, $120 to $180 in Western Europe, and $180 to $280 in Switzerland and Iceland. A two-week itinerary through Portugal and the Czech Republic costs meaningfully less than the same length of time in France and Switzerland, even with identical spending habits.

Two other variables that matter: season and booking lead time. Summer (June to August) is the most expensive period for both flights and accommodation across Europe. Shoulder seasons (April to June and September to October) offer a strong balance of good weather and lower prices. Winter travel outside the Christmas period can reduce costs significantly.

The Europe trip budget framework that most experienced travellers use: calculate your flights as a fixed one-off cost, then multiply your daily spending estimate by the number of travel days, and add a 10 to 15% buffer for unexpected costs. The daily estimate depends almost entirely on which countries you visit, covered in the country-by-country section below.

How much does a Europe trip cost from the USA?

Flights from the US are the single largest fixed cost for most American travellers visiting Europe, and the range is wide depending on departure city, destination, airline, and timing.

From New York (JFK), round-trip fares to London or Paris typically run $600 to $900 on full-service airlines if you book two to three months ahead. In summer, prices can spike to $1,200 or more for direct flights. From Los Angeles (LAX), expect to pay $750 to $1,200 for a round trip in economy to major hubs like Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Madrid. Chicago usually falls in the $650 to $950 range for nonstop routes.

Budget airlines including Norse Atlantic, PLAY, and French Bee offer transatlantic fares from $150 to $380 one-way. These carry-on-only fares require flexibility on dates and destination, but can substantially reduce the flight portion of your budget.

Two-week Europe trip total from the USA (per person):

• Budget traveller: $1,800 to $2,800 (including $500 to $700 on flights)
• Mid-range traveller: $3,000 to $4,500 (including $700 to $1,000 on flights)
• Comfort traveller: $6,000 to $9,000 (including $1,000 to $1,500 on flights)

How much does a Europe trip cost from Canada?

Canadian travellers face similar transatlantic flight dynamics to US travellers, with some route-specific differences. Direct flights operate from Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), and Montreal (YUL) to major European hubs.

Round-trip fares from the East Coast of North America to Europe average $700 to $1,000 for economy class, with West Coast departures running $900 to $1,300. Canadian departure cities generally sit within this range, with Montreal often competitive on Air France and Air Transat routes to Paris and beyond.

Two-week Europe trip total from Canada (per person):

• Budget traveller: $1,900 to $2,900 (including $550 to $800 on flights)
• Mid-range traveller: $3,100 to $4,700 (including $800 to $1,100 on flights)
• Comfort traveller: $6,200 to $9,500

How much does a Europe trip cost from within Europe?

Travelling within Europe to other European destinations has a completely different cost structure. Budget airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Vueling) and an extensive rail network make intra-European travel significantly cheaper than transatlantic flights.

Budget airline fares between European cities often start at £20-£80 one-way when booked in advance, though baggage fees can add £30-£50. Intercity rail within a single country runs €20 to €80 for most journeys, with high-speed international routes (London to Paris, Paris to Amsterdam, Madrid to Barcelona) typically costing €50 to €150 when booked ahead.

A multi-country Eurail Pass offers unlimited travel in 33 European countries, with a 15-day continuous pass starting from approximately €441 for adults. This is cost-effective for intensive rail travel but not always necessary for planned itineraries where point-to-point tickets booked in advance are often cheaper.

Two-week Europe trip total from within Europe (per person):

• Budget traveller: £800 to £1,400 / €900 to €1,600 (depending on route and countries visited)
• Mid-range traveller: £1,500 to £2,800 / €1,700 to €3,200
• Comfort traveller: £3,500 to £6,000 / €4,000 to €7,000

How much does a Europe trip cost from Africa?

African travellers to Europe typically fly through major connecting hubs including Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Doha (Qatar Airways), Dubai (Emirates), and Amsterdam (KLM). Direct flights exist from a small number of African cities to European destinations, but the majority involve at least one connection.

Roundtrip fares from major African cities, including Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, and Johannesburg, to European destinations typically range from $400 to $1,100, depending on origin, destination, and season. Ethiopian Airlines and Turkish Airlines consistently offer competitive fares on African-to-European routes.

Schengen visa requirements apply for most African passport holders, with consulate fees currently at €80 per application. Factor this into the total trip cost.

Two-week Europe trip total from Africa (per person):

• Budget traveller: $1,500 to $2,400 (including $400 to $700 on flights)
• Mid-range traveller: $2,800 to $4,200 (including $600 to $900 on flights)
• Comfort traveller: $5,500 to $8,500

How much does a Europe trip cost from South America?

South American travellers face some of the longest transatlantic routes outside of Asia-Pacific. Direct flights operate from São Paulo (GRU), Buenos Aires (EZE), Bogotá (BOG), Lima (LIM), and a handful of other cities to European hubs, primarily Lisbon, Madrid, and Paris.

Lisbon and Madrid are typically the cheapest entry points for South American travellers due to direct routes from multiple South American cities. TAP Air Portugal and Iberia are the primary carriers on these corridors.

Roundtrip economy fares from South America to Europe generally run $700 to $1,400, with São Paulo to Lisbon or Madrid often the most competitively priced at $700 to $1,000 when booked two to three months ahead. Buenos Aires and Lima routes run slightly higher.

Two-week Europe trip total from South America (per person):

• Budget traveller: $2,000 to $3,200 (including $700 to $1,000 on flights)
• Mid-range traveller: $3,500 to $5,500 (including $900 to $1,300 on flights)
• Comfort traveller: $7,000 to $11,000

Europe trip cost by country: daily budgets compared

Your route determines your daily spending more than almost any other factor. Here is a verified country-by-country comparison for the five most commonly visited European destinations, plus two value alternatives.

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Switzerland can cost €230 to €280 per day, while Portugal is €85 to €115 per day, which is significantly cheaper than most of Western Europe.

For a detailed breakdown of one of the most popular European destinations, see our guide on how much a trip to Italy costs.

What your route means in practice: A 14-day trip splitting time between Czech Republic and Portugal, using the mid-range figures above, costs approximately $1,820 to $2,940 in on-the-ground spending, not including flights. The same two weeks split between France and Switzerland costs approximately $2,870 to $4,690 on the ground. That’s a difference of over $1,000 to $1,700 purely from country selection, before a single additional decision is made.

How to budget and pay for your Europe trip

Once you have a total figure, how you access and spend money in Europe makes a measurable difference to what you actually spend.

Hold euros before you go: Most of Western Europe uses the euro. Converting your spending money before departure, or holding euros in a multi-currency account, means you can see and confirm the rate you're getting, rather than accepting whatever the airport kiosk or hotel desk offers. Grey lets you hold euros and more in one account and spend directly from that balance.

Use one virtual Mastercard across borders: A Grey virtual card works at any merchant or ATM that accepts Visa across all 27 EU countries and beyond. There’s no need to carry multiple cards or exchange cash at each border. Cross-border card transactions on a USD card incur a 2% fee plus $0.50; spending from a euro balance avoids this for euro-zone countries.

Get a travel eSIM for Europe: Roaming charges on your home plan can add unexpected costs to a multi-country trip. A travel eSIM lets you add a European data plan before you leave, avoid roaming fees entirely, and switch between local networks across the continent. Buy a travel eSIM for Europe through the Grey app and cover your data needs without a separate SIM card or roaming charges.

For sending money from the US to cover European expenses, see our “send money from the US to Europe” page for current rates and fee information.

Frequently asked questions about the cost of a Europe trip

How much does a Europe trip cost for two weeks?

A two-week Europe trip in 2026 costs roughly $1,800 to $3,500 per person on a budget, $3,500 to $7,000 mid-range, and $8,000 plus luxury, including flights from the US. The range is wide because Eastern European countries cost roughly half as much per day as Western European ones. Your route shapes the total almost as much as your flights.

Which are the cheapest countries in Europe to visit?

Central and Eastern Europe offers the best budget value, with Czechia, Hungary, and Poland providing realistic daily costs from about $45 to $65. Portugal is the best value in Western-adjacent Europe, with prices ranging from $55 to $80 per day on a budget. Switzerland and Scandinavia are consistently the most expensive, with Switzerland running $150 or more even for budget travellers.

How much per day should I budget for Europe?

Plan $45 to $65 per day in Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland), $80 to $130 in Southern Europe (Portugal, Greece, Croatia), and $120 to $200 in Western Europe (France, Italy, Germany). Switzerland is a category of its own at $150 to $300 per day for most travellers. These figures cover accommodation, food, local transport, and entry fees, but not international flights.

Is rail or flying cheaper for getting around Europe?

It depends on the route and how far ahead you book. Budget airlines frequently offer fares between European cities for £20 to £80 one-way when booked weeks in advance, which beats most rail options on cost. However, rail is often faster city-centre to city-centre once airport travel time is included, and a Eurail Pass becomes cost-effective for intensive multi-country itineraries. For short, planned routes, point-to-point rail tickets booked two to three months ahead are often the best value; for spontaneous travel, budget airlines win on price.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Europe?

The cheapest months to fly to Europe from the US are typically January, February, and November, when round-trip fares from hubs like JFK can drop to $550-$700. The shoulder seasons of May and September offer a good balance of lower prices and favourable weather compared to the peak summer period in July and August.

Touring Europe? Hold euros with Grey, use one virtual card across borders, and grab a travel eSIM for your trip.

Let’s say you found a return flight from Greece for $890 and started planning a week-long vacation around it. Then you check hotels on Santorini and one night costs more than you expected to spend for three nights. You quickly realise that the flight is usually the easiest part of trips to Greece to price; hotels, ferries, and how many islands you visit are where the budget moves.

A one-week trip to Greece from the United States costs roughly $1,200 to $1,900 per person on a budget, $2,000 to $3,000 mid-range, and $5,000 or more for luxury stays. Flights, island ferries, and July and August hotel rates drive most of the difference.

How much does a trip to Greece cost? Budget range overview

A week in Greece breaks into three cost layers: getting there, sleeping, and moving around once you arrive. Return flights from the United States typically cost $700 to $1,300. On the ground, a budget traveller spends about €450 to €800 for seven nights and a mid-range traveller spends €900 to €1,500, both assuming two people share a room. Dollar totals in this article use an assumed rate of $1.10 to the euro, so adjust them if the rate has moved by the time you book.

Three choices affect a trip to Greece more than any others.

The first is season, because July and August are when rooms cost the most, and Greece also charges a higher nightly climate fee from April to October than from November to March.

The second is which island you pick: a mid-range room that costs about €130 a night on Naxos can cost €250 to €350 on Santorini in August.

The third is how many ferry hops you add, since each leg costs €35 to €108 depending on the route and vessel.

How much does a trip to Greece cost from the USA?

Return flights from the United States cost about $700 to $1,300. Direct flights from several East Coast cities to Athens take roughly nine to ten hours, and fares sit at the top of that range in July and August. Once you land, a 3-star hotel room in Athens typically costs €70 to €140 a night, and meals run €20 to €35 a day for budget travellers or €45 to €70 for mid-range travellers who eat two sit-down meals daily. An Acropolis ticket is €30, and a flat-rate taxi from Athens airport to the city centre costs €43 during the day and €60 at night, so an Athens-only week stays near the bottom of each range.

That puts a budget trip from the USA at roughly $1,200 to $1,900 per person and a mid-range trip at $2,000 to $3,000 per person, including one island ferry trip. Because you pay for flights in dollars and for almost everything else in euros, the exchange rate and any card fees apply to nearly every purchase after you land, which is why the payment section below is worth reading before you travel.

How much does a trip to Greece cost from North America?

This section covers Canada, Mexico, and the rest of North America; US travellers should use the section above. Return flights from these origins cost about $800 to $1,400. The ground costs are the same as for any other origin: budget travellers spend €450 to €800 per week, and mid-range travellers spend €900 to €1,500 per week. That makes a budget trip about $1,300 to $2,000 per person and a mid-range trip about $2,000 to $3,100.

Currency adds a step for Canadian and Mexican travellers. Fares may be quoted in Canadian dollars or pesos, while hotels and ferries are priced in euros, and the totals here are in US dollars and euros. Check the day’s rate between your own currency and the euro before treating any total as final, because a three per cent swing on a $2,500 trip is $75.

How much does a trip to Greece cost from Europe?

Flights from elsewhere in Europe are the cheapest in this guide, at roughly €150 to €400 return, because most European capitals have direct routes to Athens and several islands. Ground costs stay the same: €450 to €800 for a budget week and €900 to €1,500 for a mid-range week. Totals come to about €600 to €1,200 for a budget trip and €1,050 to €1,900 for a mid-range trip, shown in euros because that is how most European travellers budget.

Travellers from the eurozone don’t convert any currency in Greece, so their only extra cost is card fees if the account isn’t in euros. Travellers from the UK, Switzerland, and Poland pay a conversion fee on every purchase, which makes the card or account you choose a bigger part of the total.

How much does a trip to Greece cost from Africa?

Return flights from Africa to Athens cost about $500 to $1,100, and most itineraries connect through a hub such as Istanbul, Cairo, or Addis Ababa, so fares vary with the route. Citizens of most African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco, need a Schengen visa for Greece. The application fee is €90 for adults, and applicants usually also pay a visa centre service charge and need travel insurance with at least €30,000 in medical cover. Add those costs to your total.

Excluding the visa, a budget trip from Africa comes to roughly $1,000 to $2,000 per person and a mid-range trip to $1,700 to $2,800. Many travellers from Africa pay for flights and hotels in dollars or euros, so how you hold foreign currency before you leave matters as much as the fare.

How much does a trip to Greece cost from South America?

Return flights from South America to Athens cost about $1,100 to $1,900 and usually include one connection in Europe, which makes this the most expensive origin in the guide. Citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru can enter Greece without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, while citizens of some other countries in the region need one, so check with the Greek embassy before you book.

A budget trip comes to roughly $1,600 to $2,400 per person, and a mid-range trip to $2,300 to $3,600 per person. With a long-haul fare as the largest line item, the biggest savings usually come from the flight date, so compare fares across several weeks before you fix your hotel dates.

Trip to Greece cost breakdown: flights, hotels, ferries, and food

This table lists the line items behind the totals above. Prices are per person unless a row says per room, and ferry prices vary with vessel type, season, and how far ahead you book.

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Ferry times and prices change by season and operator, so check the official Greek tourism site for island information and confirm fares with the ferry operator before you book. If you already know your hotel and ferry costs, you can hold euros before you leave, which locks in the exchange rate for the part of your budget you can price today.

How to budget and pay for your trip to Greece

Once the budget is set, the next cost is paying for it. Three charges matter most: your bank's foreign transaction fee, the ATM operator’s withdrawal fee, and dynamic currency conversion, which happens when a Greek card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in dollars instead of euros. Decline that offer, because the conversion is usually done at a less favourable rate than your card network’s.

Grey is one way to handle this. You can hold euros in a Grey account, convert dollars to euros at a 1% cap of $6. You can also spend USD on a virtual card that costs $5 to create and has no monthly fee. As a worked example, converting $1,320 (about €1,200, a mid-range week on the ground) costs $6 in conversion fees instead of $13.20, because of the cap. The exchange rate itself includes a margin over the mid-market rate, and Grey shows it before you confirm. You can also buy a travel eSIM for Greece in the app so you have data when you land, and send money from the US to Greece if you need to pay a host or a booking deposit in advance. A fee-free travel card from your own bank may cost less on a given trip, so compare each option’s foreign transaction fee, conversion rate, and monthly fee before you choose.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a trip to Greece cost?

A one-week trip to Greece from the United States costs roughly $1,200 to $1,900 per person on a budget and $2,000 to $3,000 per person in the mid-range, including flights of $700 to $1,300. Ground costs alone run about €450 to €800 for a budget week and €900 to €1,500 for a mid-range week, with hotels and ferries causing most of the variation.

Is Greece expensive?

It depends on where you go. Daily costs run from about €55 to €210 per person on the mainland and €80 to €420 on the islands, depending on travel style. Santorini and Mykonos cost the most, and a traditional taverna dinner averages €18 to €35 per person, including house wine.

How much does island hopping cost?

Ferry fares run €35 to €50 per leg on conventional ferries and €70 to €108 on high-speed catamarans, so three to four legs cost roughly €100 to €430. Athens to Santorini costs €40 to €60 on a conventional ferry (about eight hours) and €60 to €90 on a high-speed ferry (about 4.5 hours). The best departure times can sell out on the busiest summer routes, so book early.

When is the cheapest time to visit Greece?

November to March is the cheapest period for the nightly climate fee, which falls to €0.50 to €4 per room, compared with €2 to €15 from April to October. Room rates are also lower outside July and August, when a mid-range room that costs about €130 on Naxos can reach €250 to €350 on Santorini. Some island ferry routes run less often in winter, so check timetables before you plan an island trip.

Do I need a visa or ETIAS for Greece?

US, Canadian, and many South American passport holders can visit Greece for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Citizens of most African countries need a Schengen visa, with an application fee of €90 for adults. The EU’s ETIAS travel authorisation, a short online application for visa-exempt visitors, has been scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026, so check the official ETIAS website for the start date and fee before you book.

Should I pay in euros or dollars in Greece?

Pay in euros. When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in dollars, known as dynamic currency conversion, decline it, because the conversion is usually done at a less favourable rate than your card network’s. Check your own card’s foreign transaction fee and ATM charges before you leave, since those are the two fees that apply to most purchases.

Heading to Greece? Hold euros with Grey, spend on a virtual card, and add a travel eSIM before you fly.

My friend who took a trip to Thailand last year says it cost her about $30 a day, so you multiply by seven, get $210, and start looking at flights. The first fare you find is $980 return. Her $ 30-a-day rate was accurate, but it left out the flight, the island ferry, and the fee her bank charged on every card payment. Planning a week in Thailand is mostly a matter of separating the low daily costs from the costs that arrive before you land, which are not.

This guide covers what a week in Thailand costs from five starting points, including the island transfers and payment fees that most budgets leave out.

How much does a trip to Thailand cost? Budget range overview

A week in Thailand costs about $1,000 to $2,800 per person once flights, accommodation, food, and local transport are included, and the cost of the trip depends more on your departure city than on anything you do after you arrive. Thailand is a value destination on the ground: a street meal costs roughly $2 to $4, and a shared guesthouse room costs about $20 to $35 per person per night. The return flight, at $600 to $1,400 from most regions, is what makes the total large.

The figures in this guide assume seven nights, two people sharing a room, and two spending levels. Budget means guesthouses or simple hotels at about $20 to $35 per person per night, plus $25 to $40 a day for food, local transport, and entry fees. Mid-range means three- and four-star hotels at about $50 to $90 per person per night, plus $50 to $80 a day. On the ground, that comes to roughly $315 to $525 for a budget week and $700 to $1,190 for a mid-range one, before flights and island transfers.

After the flight, three things move the total: the season, which islands you visit, and how you pay. Prices peak from November to February, when the weather is dry and cool, and fall in the rainy season from roughly May to October.

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Each total ranges from the cheapest flight at a budget level to the most expensive at a mid-range level. Totals exclude island transfers and visa fees, which are covered below.

How much does a trip to Thailand cost from the USA?

Return flights from the United States to Bangkok typically cost $700 to $1,300. Most itineraries connect through East Asia, the Gulf, or Europe; journeys take 20 hours or more, and fares tend to be low in the rainy season, from May to October, and high around Christmas and New Year.

On the ground, a budget week costs about $140 to $245 for accommodation and $175 to $280 for daily spending, while a mid-range week costs $350 to $630 for accommodation and $350 to $560 for daily spending. That puts the total at roughly $1,015 to $2,490 per person before island transfers. The flight is the highest single cost for most travellers, which is why the trip to Thailand cost from the United States varies so much with the month you book.

Card fees add to the total. Many US bank cards charge a foreign transaction fee of around 3% on each baht purchase, which comes to about $30 on $1,000 of card spending, and Thai ATMs charge a separate flat fee on every foreign card withdrawal, covered in the payment section below.

How much does a trip to Thailand cost from North America?

This section covers Canada and Mexico, since the United States has its own section above. Return flights to Bangkok typically cost $800 to $1,400 in US dollars. Canadian travellers usually connect through East Asian hubs, with Vancouver offering the shortest routes, while travellers from Mexico typically connect through the United States, Europe, or East Asia.

Ground costs are the same as in the US section, which puts the total at roughly $1,115 to $2,590 per person before island transfers. Because these figures are in US dollars, the amount you pay in Canadian dollars or Mexican pesos depends on the exchange rate on the day you book and on the days you spend. Many Canadian credit cards also charge a foreign currency fee of around 2.5% on each baht purchase, so check yours before you fly.

How much does a trip to Thailand cost from Europe?

Return flights from Europe to Bangkok cost about €500 to €900. Nonstop flights run from several European capitals, and one-stop itineraries through Doha, Dubai, or Istanbul are often cheaper.

Ground costs in euros range from €280 to €460 for a budget week and €610 to €1,030 for a mid-range week, for a total of roughly €780 to €1,930 per person before island transfers. Travellers from the eurozone still convert euros to baht on every card payment and cash withdrawal, and the fee for doing so varies by bank, so check your card's foreign-currency charge before you travel.

How much does a trip to Thailand cost from Africa?

Return flights from Africa to Bangkok typically cost $600 to $1,200. Ethiopian Airlines flies from Addis Ababa to Bangkok, and other itineraries connect through Doha, Dubai, or Istanbul.

Entry rules depend on your passport. South African citizens have been able to enter visa-free for a short stay, while Nigerian citizens need a tourist visa, which costs about 2,000 baht (roughly $55) for a single entry at the time of writing and is applied for online or at a Thai embassy before travel. With the same ground costs as the other sections, the total comes to roughly $915 to $2,390 per person before island transfers and any visa fee.

How much does a trip to Thailand cost from South America?

Return flights from South America to Bangkok typically cost $1,300 to $2,200, which makes this the most expensive starting point. Nearly every itinerary connects in Europe, the Gulf, or the United States, and journeys often take 24 hours or more. Citizens of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile can enter Thailand visa-free for short stays, so there’s no visa fee to pay.

With ground costs of $315 to $525 for a budget week and $700 to $1,190 at mid-range, the total is roughly $1,615 to $3,390 per person before island transfers. Travellers paying in Brazilian reais, Argentine pesos, or Chilean pesos face a currency conversion on every purchase, so the exchange rate affects the total more here than for travellers who already hold dollars.

Trip to Thailand cost breakdown: flights, hotels, food, and islands

The table below shows what a week costs once the flight is set aside. Island transfers are the item most budgets leave out, and they depend on how far you travel and how quickly you want to get there.

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A ferry from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi, or the combined bus-and-ferry ticket from Surat Thani to Koh Samui, typically costs $9 to $25 per journey, and a domestic flight from Bangkok to Phuket or Chiang Mai typically costs $40 to $100 one way when booked early. The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists entry and transport information for each region.

Travellers who earn or save in more than one currency can hold multiple currencies before they leave, so the exchange rate is fixed when they convert instead of at each purchase.

How to budget and pay for your trip to Thailand

Thailand uses cash for small purchases such as street food, markets, and local transport, and cards for hotels, tours, and flights. That split shapes what paying costs. Thai ATMs charge a flat fee of about 220 baht (roughly $6 to $7) on every foreign card withdrawal at most banks, on top of whatever your own bank charges, so withdrawing $300 once costs far less in fees than withdrawing $100 three times. When an ATM or card terminal offers to convert the amount to dollars, decline and pay in baht, because the rate it applies is set by the operator and is usually worse than your card's. Most US bank cards also add a foreign transaction fee of around 3%, and carrier roaming passes typically cost about $10 per day, or $70 for a week.

Several options reduce these costs. Travel credit cards with no foreign transaction fee remove the 3% charge, and multi-currency accounts such as Wise and Revolut also support international spending. Their fees vary by plan and country, so compare them before you choose.

Grey is another option, with different trade-offs. You can spend on a virtual card created in the app for $5, with no monthly fee. A virtual card keeps your main bank card out of hotel and tour-booking systems, and you can freeze the virtual card if its details are ever exposed. The card is denominated in US dollars, so every baht purchase is a cross-border card transaction with a 2% fee plus $0.50. Against a 3% bank fee, that makes the card cheaper above $50 and more expensive below it: a $200 tour costs $4.50 in fees against $6, while a $5 street meal costs $0.60 against $0.15. Use the card for hotels, tours, and flights, and pay for street food in cash.

You fund the account by ACH deposit, which costs 0.8% (minimum $2, maximum $10), or by converting from another balance at 1% (capped at $6), and the exchange rate is shown before you confirm. If you also need to pay a tour operator or host by bank transfer, you can move money before you travel and settle the booking in advance. For data, you can buy a travel eSIM for Thailand in the app and install it before you fly. Travel eSIMs are typically data-only, so calls and texts to your US number still need your carrier's plan or Wi-Fi calling, and the price per gigabyte is worth comparing with your carrier's roaming pass.

Frequently asked questions about the cost of a trip to Thailand

How much does a trip to Thailand cost?

A week in Thailand costs about $1,000 to $2,800 per person for most travellers flying from North America, Europe, or Africa, covering flights, accommodation, food, and local transport. The return flight is usually the highest single cost, at roughly $600 to $1,400 depending on where you start, while a week on the ground costs about $315 to $525 at a budget level and $700 to $1,190 at mid-range. Island transfers, visa fees where they apply, and card or ATM fees add to the total.

Is Thailand cheap?

Thailand is inexpensive on the ground compared with the United States and Western Europe. A street meal costs roughly $2 to $4, a shared guesthouse room about $20 to $35 per person per night, and an island ferry about $9 to $25. Prices rise in Phuket, Koh Samui, and Koh Phi Phi during the November to February peak, and the long-haul flight remains the highest cost for most travellers.

How much spending money do you need per day in Thailand?

Plan for about $25 to $40 a day at a budget level or $50 to $80 a day at mid-range, plus accommodation. Those figures cover street food and local restaurants, metro and shared taxi rides, and temple or park entry fees. They don't cover island transfers, organised tours, or nights out, which you should budget separately.

When is the cheapest time to visit Thailand?

Prices are lowest in the rainy season, roughly May to October, when flights and hotels cost less and the Andaman coast around Phuket and Krabi sees rougher seas. Gulf islands such as Koh Samui are generally drier between January and August, which makes them a better choice in the middle of the year. Peak prices apply from November to February, with the steepest rates around Christmas and New Year.

Do I need a visa for a trip to Thailand?

Citizens of the United States, Canada, most European countries, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile can enter without a visa for a short stay, currently up to 60 days, though the allowed period has been under review. All arrivals complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online shortly before they travel, and a tourist entry fee has been proposed more than once, so check the current rules before you book. Other nationalities, including Nigerian citizens, need a tourist visa, which cost about 2,000 baht at the time of writing.

Should I bring cash to Thailand?

Yes, for small purchases. Street food stalls, markets, local buses, and many small shops take cash only, while hotels, malls, and larger restaurants accept cards. Withdraw cash in fewer, larger amounts, because Thai ATMs charge a flat fee of about 220 baht on each foreign card withdrawal regardless of the amount, and decline any offer to convert the withdrawal to your home currency.

Off to Thailand? Create a Grey virtual card and add a travel eSIM before you fly.