As an Australian, the ability to drive into another country is very novel to me. So much so, that I wasn’t prepared for just how many ways you can navigate Europe. Trains, buses, ferries, you name it. They can all take from A to B in a matter of hours and are usually a lot cheaper than the alternative; flying.
Sure, budget airlines exist, and sometimes 12 Euros can get you from Lyon to Barcelona. However, other transport options are worth keeping up your sleeve for when you’ve left your trip to the last minute (unfortunately me more often than not), and a 200 Euro flight makes you want to faint.
Flixbus
In a neon-green that you haven’t seen since lime cordial concentrate, they’re stand out for multiple reasons. They’re insanely cheap and cover an abundance of destinations, which is why the number of Flixbuses I’ve taken is well on its way to triple digits!
Sure, they’re not the most luxurious method of transport, and having a seat near the toilets on an overnight journey is the quickest way to question your life’s choices, but on shorter trips they’re hard to fault.
Local busses
I have a love-hate relationship with local buses. On one hand, I love the scope of the destinations they cover; you can get off the beaten track, visit smaller towns or cities, and access a lot more of nature like waterfalls and hikes, all without needing to hire your own car! On the other hand, however, they’re often a little bit less reliable, it’s trickier to navigate timetables, and they take a bit longer to get you where you want to be.
Ultimately I would say they’re worth the extra effort, and by putting yourself in the local’s shoes, it will give you a better understanding of the culture and people.
In my latest European summer adventures, I used a lot of local buses and I’ve compiled a list of a few of the apps and websites I used for public transport in each country.
- Austria, OBB
- Slovenia, Arriva.si
- Croatia, Arriva
- Czech Republic, IDOS
- Germany, DB Navigator *this one gets a special mention and I’ll talk about it next*
It’s worth keeping in mind however, that most buses will probably require cash, especially in more rural areas! Bring a bit of patience and flexibility, and you’ll have a great trip.
Deutschland ticket and other train deals
Public transport can be a bit of an unexpected cost, especially if you’re in big cities for multiple days. All-day passes and single journeys can really add up!
The only place this wasn’t the case was Germany. Germany has something called a ‘Deutschland Ticket’ or ‘Germany ticket’ that allows you to travel on public transport in ALL of Germany for 49 euros per month. Yep, that includes buses, trams and trains (although not the super speedy ones) within cities and even between them too.
Since one all-day ticket in Germany costs over 10 Euros, if you’re visiting Germany for even just 5 days, when you do the maths it’s worth getting. You can buy it online, however it’s a bit trickier, so I would recommend going to a DB store or ticket booth (most big train stations will have one), and buying it in person there.
With these tips, hopefully sticking to your budget will be a bit easier and you can spend more money on fun stuff.
Happy travelling!
Travel with Emily 
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