Don’t go broke during your Europe gap year. ☆ At some point in life, everyone needs a gap year, be it you’re just finishing high school and want to take a year off before you go to college, or you simply need to get out of your own routine and want to live a little adventure. Have you ever considered a gap year travel in Europe?
Taking a gap year is a great choice, especially if you aren’t sure if you’re ready for college. You’ll make memories and learn lots while you’re away!
Gap years are a perfect way to take a break from the stressful day to day life and concentrate more on one’s personal growth, discovering new cultures, making new friends, mingling with international locals, tasting new dishes, having new and exciting adventures and exploring the array of Europe’s mysteries.
A gap year abroad will also gain you more exposure to an international environment, help improve your skills to adapt to situations that might sometimes seem outright ridiculous, will teach you how to become more patient and easy going of a person, and it adds value to your resume. Here’s how to have the time of your life with spending every last Euro—follow our gap year in Europe advice!
Why consider European gap year programs, even if they can be $$$$?
The beauties and uniquenesses of Europe have always been praised in famous novels and Hollywood movies, and has been the dream destination of thousands of gappers.
Taking a stroll down the streets of Europe’s oldest cities is like walking amidst living history with thousands of years old buildings and castles, filled with stories waiting to be told. But in Europe attractions are at every corner!
You can’t escape the warm, golden beaches of Portugal, Spain, Italy, or Greece, Iceland’s active volcanoes and hot springs, Netherland’s colourful tulips fields and artistic windmills, explore Transylvania and visit Dracula’s castle, party at the Oktoberfest in Germany, fall in love in Paris, gorge in delicious pizza and pasta, learn how to ski on the snow-capped Alps in Austria or Switzerland, backpack through the fairy-tale like countrysides of Serbia, Poland or Slovakia. Europe fulfills every heart’s desire.
Who doesn’t want to wake up to this every morning?
When it comes to European gap year programs, everyone’s biggest worry is of course, the cost. Are some programs’ prices so high you want to cry? Yes! Are they worth it? HELL YES! When you’re paying for such a program, you’re not only paying for fees and expenses, but also for the adventure of a lifetime, for the connections you’re going to make and help you build your future on, and for the personal growth and new skills that are going to come along with this experience.
How much does it cost to take a Europe gap year?
That is a million dollar question to which a lot of people seem to get the wrong answer to. A gap year cost in Europe won’t come close to that high amount, but the experience will be more worth than that.
Rough costs for European gap year programs
An average gap year cost will have you pay anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000, depending on the type of program, destination and length.
Relax! We’ll tell you the best ways to cut costs during you Europe gap year.
But we’re on a budget here! You can experience a cheap Europe gap year program through an au pair program in countries like France, UK, or Germany. What makes such programs cheap is that you get free accommodation through your host family, but yet earn some money that you can use to travel around on your days off.
Or even better, sign up with a program like Work and Travel Ireland and find your next dream job. What better way to spend an Europe gap year than working, developing your skills and traveling, all at the same time?
There are countless of such gap year programs in Europe that you can choose from, and they don’t need to be expensive. For a better understanding on how the program prices are determined, let’s take into consideration some very important factors:
How the length of the program & destination impacts cost
The price of a program is directly proportional to the length and destination of the program, because different parts of Europe have different costs of living. Countries like Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Serbia, or Croatia are considered cheaper, whereas countries like France, Germany, Netherlands, or Belgium are known for their high cost of living. So pick your destination carefully!
Unfortunately, Amsterdam is a pretty pricey place to stay during your gap year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit!
Anticipated gap year expenses
Besides the typical program fees, the cost of the program also includes your daily living expenses, your visa costs, paperwork and the headache that comes with it, travel and pickup costs and arrangements, accommodation, food, excursions, medical support, and most importantly, they provide a safe environment.
So now that so many worries have been checked off the list, the only thing you need to worry about is a small spending money budget.
Be sure to check exactly what is included in the program costs, and if you feel that it will completely fulfill your needs and wishes, is it really too expensive?
[How to Cover Your Gap Year Costs]
Our best advice for gap year travel in Europe on a budget
Everyone tends to first look at the price and maybe cringe a little, but when reflecting on these prices, try to see past the numbers and consider it an investment. You are investing in your own future, career, character development and you are opening doors to future opportunities.
So let’s see how we can enjoy a gap year in Europe at its fullest on a budget.
It may take a bit of work to figure out how to budget for European gap year programs, but it’ll all be worth it in the end.
1. Scholarships and financial aid
Even if you are fresh out of school and have a low budget, there are all sorts of scholarships and grants to help you pay for your gap year. Or better yet, with a little help from friends and family and a fundraiser on FundMyTravel, you’ll be on that plane in no time.
[Find Gap Year Scholarships]
2. Apply for gap year in Europe jobs
Although most gappers choose to teach English abroad, it’s not a rule. There are other gap year jobs in Europe that you can do—like becoming an au pair or working on an organic farm. If you’re working for a company that has a headquarters in Europe, you should definitely look into a transfer.
Or, how about a summer holiday job? Wait tables for a few months in a cafe or restaurant and enjoy the off season traveling around Europe. By now you should know a few more tricks from the locals on how to travel on a budget, then you can even become a travel agent.
3. Internships + exchange student opportunities
If you’re fresh out of high school and your pocket might not afford a whole program, you might want to look into an exchange student program or find an internship. Or both! This is a great way to travel, and not worry as much about expenses. You might not get to travel to all European countries, but we are sure you will mark some off your bucket list.
[Is There Such Thing as a “Free” Gap Year?]
4. Backpacking or adventure travel
When you want to detach from your phone and connect to the nature more, spending a gap year backpacking through Europe, swimming in the crystal clear water in Portugal, walk through the smooth sand of Greece, sky jetting down the Danube, scuba diving in Malta, exploring the fjords in Iceland, skiing in the snowy Alps of Austria or France, motorbiking through the Carpathians, or take in the green, historical scenery of Germany. The point is, there are choices. Lots of them!
We’re partial to a bit of hiking, but whatever you do, don’t forget to bring your new friends!
5. Plan your route in advance and go to cheaper places
Just like most people book their vacation months in advance because it’s cheaper, the same applies when planning your gap year. Take out the map, plan out your route and start looking into buying early tickets for flights, buses, trains, hotels. If your goal is to cover Eastern Europe, early tickets will help your budget tremendously.
Check out the InterRailing ticket that gives you access to trains across thirty different European countries for a whole month, or direct flights from Belgium to Romania for as little as $20. How cool is that? Not only will this keep your budget on the low side, but it will also save you up a lot of headache trying to figure it all out on the spot.
[10 Best Places for Adventure Travel in Europe This Year]
6. Manage your money
Although most countries in Europe use the same currency, the euro, countries like Romania or Croatia, who are both in the EU, still use their own currency, the leu or kuna. If you happen to wander to any of such countries, avoid exchanging money at the airports, where the conversion rate itself can dry you out, but do it somewhere in town, at a local exchange store. Don’t worry, they are everywhere! Also, you don’t want to carry too much cash on you either and watch out for pick-pocketing.
When you’re hopping between countries every other weekend, it can be hard to keep track of your money and spending.
7. Be flexible
Yes, we did advise you on planning ahead, but life is unpredictable and you need to be prepared. If your flight gets cancelled, that’s ok, you can take an overnight train and save up on some accommodation expenses too! You wouldn’t believe how comfy some buses and trains can be.
Instead of going to all the expensive touristy areas, spend more time in the rural areas with the locals and enjoy a better, more authentic and cheaper experience! Or sleep under the best roof in the world, the Northern Stars!
The more adaptable you are, the better of an adventure you can have.
8. Don’t try to see everything
You’re probably excited, you want to see it all and you think a whole year is enough for it. Unfortunately, it is not, especially if you really want to enjoy your time abroad to the fullest, and not rush through every city. You will want to dine in the fancy restaurants of Paris, spend a night partying in Amsterdam, or admire the archaeological sites of Athens. Start slowly, one coast at a time, and give yourself time and space to take it all in, and live in the moment.
[Browse ALL Gap Year Programs in Europe]
You’re ready to cover the costs of gap year travel in Europe!
Get packing! Time to take on your gap year in Europe!
Each gap year, depending on how you want to spend it, will involve different costs (and different benefits included in this cost). Now that we’ve broken down the most important and useful tips for taking an Europe gap year, it’s safe to say that you can take a deep breath and start working on that budget spreadsheet! As you already know, there are countless of opportunities for gap year travel programs in Europe can be spent differently: studying, learning a language, exchange program, internships, working, volunteering, adventure travel, backpacking etc. The choice is all yours and you should start there.
Affordable gap year programs in Europe are out there, with great reviews from past gappers, some of which have fallen so in love with Europe that they stayed there (#guilty). A gap year might not be enough to quench your thirst for that unique, Euro-spirit. But how will you know unless you get your first taste?!
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