Best small cities in Europe?

Question

Im 15, and plan on going over to Europe for my summer before college. Nothing of course is set in stone but i was wondering what are some good smaller cities or towns to look into for living. Also if you have any estimate of how much it would cost to live for about 3 months. So far i have $2000 (1389 euros if google is correct) saved up for this trip.

Thanks

Also it has to be an english speaking city/town.

Well, ill be 18 when/if i go. Also if my saving keep going they way they do ill have $6,500 saved up. Im not sure if that really changes anything. lol

Answer 1

English speaking limits you to the UK and Ireland, which makes it harder for you.

In Germany for example you could easily live on 2000 USD for 2 months. In the UK or Ireland you'll find it significantly harder to make ends meet on this budget.

I think you need to save up at least 4000 USD (including flight tickets) for 3 months in the UK or Ireland, maybe more. Depends on how the exchange rate and the cost of living goes in the next few years.

If you want to travel around it will be even more. Currenty a day of backpacking (budget travel, staying at hostels and eating food from the supermarket) costs 50 EUR (75 USD) per person in Western Europe.Multiply this by 90 days plus 800 USD for flight tickets and you get to 7550 USD for 3 months of travel around Western Europe.

I personally would not limit myself to the UK and Ireland - I'm German and I went to Nablus, West Bank, Israeli-occupied territory of Palestine for a semester abroad in summer 2000 in order to study Arabic and I have never regretted it. The large majority of Europe is non-English speaking and you would miss out half the experience of being abroad if you stuck to the UK.

Answer 2

You would probably come out better if you could go as an exchange student since you are so young. Europe, is very expensive or at least can be depends on your spending habits. If you know how to cook your own meals that would be even better for you.

Look into staying at hostels instead of hotels. Also a very cheap way to fly around Europe, is with Ryan Air. You can Google them for more info.

All cities in Europe, can be expensive, especially the major ones. You really have to get of the beaten path to find the cheaper rates. Do you speak any foreign languages. That's another thing, that you will have to deal with.

As far as how much money to take with you. That can vary. I would say at least triple what you already have, if not more. You have to take into consideration food, lodging, and transportation. Three months is a long time.

At first I wanted to tell you Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, because it is a small city. But it is very expensive.
Look more towards eastern Europe, Croatia is also a place that has very nice beaches that are cheap, compared to everywhere else.

You are already on the right track. You have started to do your research years in advance. Plus you are saving. Continue to prepare for this trip. Figure out where exactly... it is that you want to go. If you want to see whole Europe, or just one Country. You have to plan your trip accordingly. Plan for everything then you will have a better idea on how much money will be needed.

I hope you are not planning on traveling alone. Such a wonderful experience would be nice if you had a friend going along. At least so you will have someone to talk to.

Good luck on your adventure!

Answer 3

Don't limit yourself to English speaking countries!!!!!
The only issues I ever had were in France ( well Paris really and in Zadar in Croatia)....apart from that most of the tourists and many locals speak English ( just buy a european phrase book if you are freaked and want to know a few lines of the local language).

There are some lovely smaller towns and cities around....if you want cheaper then go east and south in Europe. I found Prague cheaper than some other cities and it was so pretty too. I also liked Dubrovnik in Croatia...its quite a small place ( and more expensive than other towns in Croatia, but right next to the sea with stunning views)
In Italy I loved Montepulciano, which I know produces wine and is in the Siena district ( I was supposed to be staying near Siena, but found that it was around 70km from Siena, fortunate mistake as it was a lovely little hilltop village in the countryside....)
Lucca, which is near Pisa and Florence in Italy was recommended to me by several people and was lovely. It was a nice escape from the mayhem in Florence where you could barely walk on the pavement there were so many people....as its only a short train ride from Florence it might have been a better option to stay there instead!

If you are travelling you will find your main expenses are accommodation, travel and food.....with accommodation usually being the biggest...lok up some websites like hostels.com, hostelworld.com or hostelbookers.com to give you some ideas of prices....sharing with others will be cheaper...if you don't mind.

Answer 4

Ohrid, Macedonia, there's so much to be seen in Ohrid.

During the day you can go on any of the many beautiful beaches by the shore of the lake, do some shoping, sightseeing in the city or just sit in one of the many cafés in any of the narrow streets in the Old Town and enjoy. For all the young people, the nightlife is great and vibrant. The cafes work late at night, but there’re also so many nightclubs where you can carry on from there.

For sightseeing, there’re enormous many old churches, my favourite ones are Plaoshnik, more than 15 centuries old, St. Jovan Caneo, St. Naum… If you climb on the Samuil Fortress, just 5 min from the centre, you get amazing sight on the whole lake.

The Lake is clean, one of the oldest ones in Europe, from 1980 protected by UNESCO as a place of world cultural and natural inheritance. Most of the lake’s plant and animal species are endemic, which also makes Ohrid unique. The most famous among these are two types of Ohrid Trout. You should try them prepared on the traditional way. Mmmmm…

Ohrid is also known as the site of the first Slavic university run by St. Clement and St. Naum at the end of the 9th century. Ohrid, also, used to be the centre of the orthodox Christianity in the whole region. There’s so much history there…

And DO NOT miss a boat trip on the lake, especially at night, believe me one of a kind experience!!

I must not forget to mention the hospitability of the people there.

In the last few years Ohrid is soooo popular among foreign tourists, especially Greeks, Dutchmen, Bulgarians, Serbians etc. So, check it out!!!

www.macedonialovesyou.eu
www.exploringmacedonia.com

Answer 5

I´m sorry, but I would not advice you going alone to Europe your being so young and with not so much money. It can be dangerous for a young girl going to any part of Europe! Do you have a passport, to some European countries you need a visa, do you know at all about that kind of things. They cost too. I´m not sure you will even get a passport or visa as you are so young. Just wait a few years and take a friend with you than.

Please think of your own safety!

A Happy New Year to you!

Answer 6

Don't worry about it being English-speaking. In Europe, pretty much everyone in the tourism industry speaks English, and even many younger ordinary citizens do too. If you want to see a beautiful small city, you could try Arles and Annecy in France. Girona, Spain (up in the NW corner) is also nice. Maybe you should start doing some research on the places people suggest to you by checking out a travel website like Wikitravel.

Answer 7

Almost all young people in Europe learn English in school, so in every town in Europe you will find people speaking your language.
If you are tight on money, consider any of the eastern European countries. (Those that used to be in the communist block.) Staying there is still a lot cheaper than in the west.
If you select one near a border with what used to be the West you can easily travel in both areas by taking day trips.

Answer 8

Try to travel to central Europe as well

Try Stade, Germany lovely
Luebeck, Germany a must
Lueneburg, Germany wonderful

Answer 9

Brasov - Romania
Budapest - Hungary
Kelheim - Germany

Answer 10

Inexpensive hmmmmm i think i got one
Vlora in Albania
http://youtube.com/watch?v=79Q_fvAr2-8
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Me-xQxdIn6U