How much does a 10-day trip to 3 European countries cost the average person?
A 10-day trip to Europe isn't as expensive as I thought.
The cost of traveling to three European countries—France, Italy, and Switzerland—will vary depending on the length of your trip, the season, the standard of accommodation, the mode of transportation, and your spending habits. The following is a budget reference for **my 10-day trip, which lasted about 10 days** (calculated in RMB, exchange rate: EUR 1 ≈ CNY 7.8, CHF 1 ≈ CNY 8).
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### **I. Basic Expenses (per person)**
1. **Airfare**
- Round-trip economy class: CNY 5,000–10,000 (more expensive during peak seasons such as summer vacation/National Day; book in advance to save money).
2. **Schengen Visa + Insurance**
- Visa fee: CNY 800–1,000 (including service fee).
- Travel insurance: CNY 200–500.
3. **Intra-Europe Transportation**
- Train/Bus: It is recommended to use a Eurail Pass or purchase point-to-point tickets in advance for travel between the three countries, which costs approx. CNY 2,000–3,500.
- Transportation within Switzerland: Swiss Travel Pass (approx. CNY 2,200 for 4 days), covering trains, buses, and some attractions.
4. **Accommodation**
- Budget hotel/homestay: CNY 400–800/night, approx. CNY 4,000–8,000 for 10 days.
- Hostel bed: CNY 200–400/night.
5. **Food and Beverage**
- Regular restaurant: CNY 80–150/meal; simple meals from supermarkets are cheaper. Approx. CNY 2,000–3,500 for 10 days.
- Prices are higher in Switzerland (CNY 100+ for a bowl of noodles).
6. **Attraction Tickets**
- Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Colosseum, etc.: CNY 100–300/attraction, budget CNY 1,000–1,500.
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### **II. Spending Reference by Country**
1. **France (Paris/Lyon)**
- Accommodation: CNY 500–1,000/night.
- Metro single ticket: CNY 15.
- French meal set: CNY 150–300.
2. **Italy (Rome/Florence/Venice)**
- Accommodation: CNY 400–800/night.
- Venice water bus: CNY 100/ride.
- Pizza/Pasta: CNY 60–120.
3. **Switzerland (Zurich/Interlaken)**
- Accommodation: CNY 800–1,500/night (CNY 300+ for a youth hostel).
- Cable car/snow mountain ticket: CNY 500–1,000 (Jungfraujoch ticket price is approx. CNY 1,200).
- Fast food: CNY 100+.
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### **III. Total Budget (per person)**
- **Budget Travel**: CNY 15,00–20,000 (hostel + simple meals + avoid peak season).
- **Comfortable Travel**: CNY 25,00–35,000 (hotel + regular meals + some experiences).
- **Luxury Travel**: CNY 40,000+ (4-star hotel + Michelin + independent travel).
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### **IV. Money-Saving Tips**
1. Book air tickets/hotels 3–6 months in advance.
2. Use a Eurail Pass or a cheap bus (FlixBus).
3. Choose a restaurant set for lunch (cheaper than dinner).
4. Bring instant noodles or buy food from supermarkets in Switzerland.
5. Free attractions: exterior of Notre Dame de Paris, Trevi Fountain in Rome, etc.
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### **V. Itinerary Suggestions**
- **10-day route**: Paris (3 days) → Rome (3 days) → Interlaken, Switzerland (2 days) → Zurich (1 day).
- If time is tight, you can reduce one country or choose adjacent cities (such as France + Italy).
Adjust your budget according to your travel style and control your spending flexibly!