{"id":97849,"date":"2025-05-13T10:56:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T10:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/97849\/"},"modified":"2025-05-13T10:56:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T10:56:13","slug":"how-to-visit-3-countries-for-less-than-500-including-france-switzerland-and-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/97849\/","title":{"rendered":"How to visit 3 countries for less than \u00a3500 – including France, Switzerland and Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"

WATCHED Race Across the World and now feel the urge to embark on your own adventure? <\/p>\n

Across eight days keen travellers could head from London<\/a>, UK, to six different destinations, across three countries including accommodation. <\/p>\n

\"Aerial<\/a><\/p>\n

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The first city you would stop at would be ParisCredit: Getty\"Place<\/a><\/p>\n

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But it isn’t just big cities you would get to go to, you would also explore lesser-known destinations such as DijonCredit: Getty\"Panorama<\/a><\/p>\n

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And the cascading hills of SwitzerlandCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

On day one, travellers would start their adventure at London St Pancras, catching an early Eurostar<\/a> to Paris<\/a>, France<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The journey to the French capital takes just over two hours, meaning you would likely arrive mid-morning. <\/p>\n

In Paris, you can wander the streets or stroll along the Seine – and save some pennies by having a picnic. <\/a><\/p>\n

For cheap accommodation, head to Generator Paris – which offers affordable luxury from \u00a356 per night for a bed in a dorm of four. <\/p>\n

If you book directly, you will get an extra 10 per cent off. <\/p>\n

Top tip: head to its rooftop bar to enjoy a drink and soak in one of the best views in Paris.<\/a><\/p>\n

On day two, after getting up early and having breakfast in the hotel’s Cafe Fabien, you would take a mid-morning SNCF train to Dijon, famously known for its mustard. <\/p>\n

Tickets start from \u00a311 and the journey lasts around an hour-and-a-half. <\/p>\n

After a long day of exploring the charming old town, for just \u00a331 per night, stay at Premiere Classe Dijon Nord in a private double room.<\/p>\n

For an added extra cultural experience<\/a>, you can visit the famous La Moutarderie Edmond Fallot – the mustard factory known for its classic dijon mustard for just \u00a310.<\/p>\n

New \u00a318m Scots train station near Glasgow set to open next year<\/p>\n

On day three, hop on an early train which takes you through the Swiss hills to Chur – a beautiful alpine village<\/a> in eastern Switzerland. <\/p>\n

The journey lasts four hours and 45 minutes and costs from \u00a376 per person, when booked in advance. <\/p>\n

Once in Chur, head to the pretty Old Town <\/a>and soak in the peaceful alpine atmosphere. <\/p>\n

Then for the night, stay at the VIVA Hostel for \u00a335 per night in a dorm.<\/p>\n

Whilst Switzerland isn\u2019t known for its cheap food, local delicacies <\/a>from the supermarket helps cut costs.<\/p>\n

You can then take your buffet to Fontanapark, a beautiful park in the heart of Chur.<\/p>\n

On day four, you would get on a FlixBus to Venice, lasting around eight-an-a-half hours, with an hour-and-a-half stop-off in Milan. <\/a><\/p>\n

\"Busy<\/a><\/p>\n

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In many of the places, you can pick up food for cheapCredit: Getty\"Colorful<\/a><\/p>\n

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You would have two days in Naples, allowing you to explore it in more depthCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

Tickets start from \u00a330 when booked in advance. <\/p>\n

Upon arrival in Venice, enjoy exploring the city’s historic canals<\/a> and grab a pizza or cicchetti (cheap Venetian tapas) for dinner. <\/p>\n

After a long day of travel, head to Generator Venice, an affordable yet stylish hostel right on the waterfront of Giudecca Island<\/a> – with a bed in a shared dorm starting at \u00a354 per night. <\/p>\n

Originally a warehouse, the Venice boutique hostel <\/a>blends history and character with contemporary design including mosaic floors, a glass chandelier and an imposing stone fireplace.<\/p>\n

For day five, you can wake up and enjoy the beautiful views of Giudecca Island from the hotel. <\/p>\n

After this, take an early morning stroll around Piazza San Marco and St Mark\u2019s Basilica before it gets crowded and walk by the Doge\u2019s Palace (outside only, unless you want to splurge). <\/p>\n

Getting hungry? Head to Osteria Al Portego for a cheap lunch – a hidden gem loved by locals.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Aerial<\/a><\/p>\n

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Many of the hotels are also cheap, with some offering breakfastCredit: Getty\"Elevated<\/a><\/p>\n

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By train hopping, you also get to see the countryside between citiesCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

After lunch explore Dorsoduro, another peaceful, artistic district.<\/a> <\/p>\n

And then walk to Punta della Dogana for panoramic views of the lagoon and San Marco, the perfect spot to enjoy beautiful sunset views.<\/a><\/p>\n

After dinner, at 10pm head to Venezia San Lucia to board the overnight train to Naples. <\/a><\/p>\n

The nearly-12-hour journey will drop you off in Naples centre the next morning at 10am.<\/p>\n

In real Race Across the World <\/a>style, opt for a seat, starting at \u00a345 for a seat – although couchettes and sleepers are available at higher prices.<\/p>\n

On day six and seven, you will be in Naples. <\/p>\n

Start by heading to Gran Caff\u00e8 Gambrinus to grab a pastry like a sfogliatella or bab\u00e0 and a strong espresso. <\/p>\n

Then explore Naples\u2019 Historic Centre (UNESCO World Heritage Site), <\/a>including a wander down Spaccanapoli – the narrow street that slices the old town. <\/p>\n

\"Notre<\/a><\/p>\n

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Some of the journeys are as little as two hoursCredit: Getty\"Boats<\/a><\/p>\n

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After Venice, you would board an overnight train saving on the cost of a hotelCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

One free spot to explore is Naples Cathedral (Duomo di San Gennaro) and visitors can peek into small artisan workshops along the way. <\/p>\n

For lunch, head to Pizzeria Da Michele or Sorbillo to eat authentic Neapolitan pizza at one of the city\u2019s legendary spots.<\/p>\n

Expect queues but pizza here is fast and worth the wait, for example a Margherita or Marinara costs between \u00a34 and \u00a36.<\/p>\n

For accommodation, stay at Hostel of the Sun in a shared dorm for \u00a332 per night.<\/p>\n

Enjoy another full day in Naples taking in the local culture, delicious Italian cuisine and rich history before heading to Port of Naples (Molo Immacolatella Vecchia) to catch an overnight ferry<\/a> to Palmero, departing at 8pm.<\/p>\n

This is a scenic and comfortable journey across the Tyrrhenian Sea, allowing you to rest overnight and arrive refreshed in Palermo. <\/a><\/p>\n

Deck passage tickets start from \u00a338.<\/p>\n

On day eight, you would arrive in Palermo at 7:30 in the morning. <\/p>\n

\"Tourists<\/a><\/p>\n

12<\/p>\n

After Naples, you would also save on accommodation with an overnight ferryCredit: Alamy\"Medieval<\/a><\/p>\n

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Some dishes cost less than \u00a32 in the destinationsCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

Grab a cappuccino and cornetto (Italian croissant) at a neighbourhood caf\u00e9 – skip touristy spots to keep costs low. <\/p>\n

Then head to Palermo Cathedral, which has free entry, and take in the beautiful architecture<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Explore the historic streets<\/a> with a stroll along Via Vittorio Emanuele, one of Palermo\u2019s oldest streets and pass by the Quattro Canti, a spectacular Baroque square often called the “heart” of Palermo. <\/p>\n

For lunch, visit Mercato di Ballar\u00f2, Palermo\u2019s most authentic and lively street market and enjoy cheap street food staples like: arancina, pane con panelle (chickpea fritters in bread) and Sfincione (Sicilian-style pizza) with prices ranging from around \u00a31.68 to \u00a32.52 per dish. <\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re tired after your travelling, head towards the waterfront and relax in Villa Giulia.<\/p>\n

Treat yourself to a private room at Astoria Palace Hotel for just \u00a349 per night, before heading back to the UK the next day.<\/p>\n

In total, the trip would set you back \u00a3485.<\/p>\n

There is also a European tourist destination where it\u2019s 24C right now, with package holidays for under \u00a3200<\/a><\/p>\n

Plus, the best value holiday destinations for 2025 revealed and a European resort is number one.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"High-angle<\/a><\/p>\n

12<\/p>\n

In total, the trip would set you back around \u00a3485Credit: Getty<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"WATCHED Race Across the World and now feel the urge to embark on your own adventure? Across eight…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":97850,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5309],"tags":[2000,299,36,2199,940,1411,8921,1014,21291],"class_list":{"0":"post-97849","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-france","8":"tag-eu","9":"tag-europe","10":"tag-france","11":"tag-italy","12":"tag-money-saving","13":"tag-paris","14":"tag-section-travelnews-travel","15":"tag-travel-advice","16":"tag-travel-deals"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114500166461233476","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97849"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97849\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}