Before you spend
Travel in the shoulder season for lower hotels and thinner crowds. Book trains, buses, and flights weeks ahead for the best fares. Stay a few stops outside the center and commute in. Use city cards only if you will hit most entries. Free walking tours and church concerts cost little and teach a lot.
Daily savings
Eat your big meal at lunch, when menus are cheaper than dinner. Markets and bakeries cover breakfast and snacks for pennies. Carry a bottle and refill at public fountains. Walk or take transit instead of taxis. Picnic in a park with market cheese, bread, and fruit beats a tourist-square restaurant every time.
Avoiding traps
Skip the photo-menu restaurants on the main square; side streets feed locals for less. Watch for cover charges and service fees before sitting. Exchange money at banks, not airports. Confirm prices for rides and tours upfront. A little comparison shopping on the first day sets the rate you pay for the rest of the trip.
