5 Ways To Sleep For Free In Europe

[B]ackpacking in Europe is expensive.

Aside from the flight, your next biggest expenditure is often accommodation. Hotels will ruin your budget unless you’re traveling with friends.

Hostels aren’t that much better, with a bed in a dorm averaging around 20 Euro a night. Add this with food costs and you’re looking at 40 Euro’s or more a day.

Fortunately, there are ways to sleep for free in Europe. Unfortunately you will have to sacrifice a bit of comfort and convenience.

There are plenty of spots, from train stations to McDonalds, where you can sleep safely, relatively comfortably, and best of all, for free.  While at first it might be hard to get a decent nights rest, after a while you might even prefer it to a night in a hotel.

Whether you’re looking to save money on accommodation or you arrived too late to check into a hotel, below are 5 spots where you can sleep for free in Europe.

1. In Train & Bus Stations

Aside from London’s King Cross and a few other German stations, most train and bus stations remain open for the entire night.

During the summer backpacking season, it is not unusual to find fellow backpackers camped out all over the floor.

The station attendants generally don’t mind and since there are usually police nearby, it is relatively safe. This is one of the best places to sleep for free.

2. Camping

Although there are generally designated campsites, which require a small fee, there are also loads of beaches and forests where you can camp for free.

If you are in Western Europe, it’s best to pick a concealed spot away from the city. This way police or potential thieves won’t pester you.

If you are in Eastern Europe, it is safer to stay near the city. Here the police usually don’t care if you camp and will add a degree of safety.

3. In 24-Hour Restaurants

Throughout Western Europe, there are loads of American fast food chains, McDonalds and Starbucks to name a few.

They are most often found near the train station and usually stay open until 3 or 4 AM, if not all night.

As long as you buy a burger from the dollar menu, the staff will usually let you rest for the night.

4. On Couches

Couchsurfing is another great way to get free accommodation. Although you need to plan this in advance by connecting with others through their website, it allows you to make new friends and sleep in comfort.

While Couchsurfing is relatively safe, be sure to trust your instincts and if you get a bad feeling, politely decline.

5. In Parks

City parks aren’t your best option, but they are better than say an alley. Here it is often best to pick a spot out of sight in order to avoid homeless people and police.

However, in some parks you might find other backpackers camping out for the night, in which case it’s not a bad idea to try to make friends.

Conclusion

You might be stuck without a hotel in the middle of the night or maybe want to save funds to help you travel longer. Either way, the former spots are some of the best ways to sleep at any time for completely free.

While most are relatively safe spots, it’s always best to keep your guard up. If you can, always try to join another backpacker group. The more people around you, the less likely you will end up in a dangerous situation.

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About the Author:

When Leif was 16 he ran away from home and explored much of Europe and the Middle East without a dime. He is currently working on a book about this adventure as he continues to make new ones traveling the world.

Through his experiences, advice and adventures, he hopes to prepare, empower, and inspire others to travel. Follow him on Facebook or visit him at RunawayGuide.com.