Rick Steves' Clever Tips For Cheaper Dining In The Most Expensive Part Of Europe

If you've done some traveling through Europe, you may know that Scandinavia is a relatively pricey part of the continent. It's beautiful, with a mix of cities and natural attractions, but even travel pro Rick Steves calls Scandinavia "Europe's most expensive corner" on his website. However, that doesn't mean you can't find ways to save money, and Steves has some great tips to do just that. While the travel expert usually advises against hotel breakfasts if they're not included in the room rate, he does say that, in Scandinavia, a breakfast smorgasbord is usually included — and worth waking up early for. In fact, he explains that it's a good place to fill up for the day, which can help save money on pricey meals.

In another post on his website, Steves calls the Scandinavian breakfast smorgasbord "vast" and "a great way to stock up on calories for a busy day of sightseeing." He mentions items you may find, like herring, dense breads and crackers, and a type of sweet goat cheese (which Steves notes resembles earwax). While that last one may not sound very appetizing, it's worth trying in the spirit of adventure. In yet another post, Steves says these breakfasts are a good deal, even if they're not included in the basic hotel price. The guidebook author reveals that you may even be given a roll of foil to save some food for lunch (and if not, it's worth asking about). This way, you have enough to fuel you throughout the day, and you can save your money to try out a restaurant for dinner.

Rick Steves has more tips for you to save money on dining in Scandinavia. First, if you do take food out of the smorgasbord the hotel laid out for breakfast, you can supplement that with a trip to a local grocery store or farmers market to grab drinks and snacks for a picnic, something Steves considers a budget-friendly dining option. This depends on the weather, of course. Additionally, a grocery store will have things that are easy to carry along with you, like energy bars or trail mix, so you don't get hangry while sightseeing. Bringing along a reusable bottle is also helpful so you don't spend extra money on bottled water.

Another suggestion from Steves is looking for lunch specials, called "dagens rett" in Norwegian, "dagens ret" in Danish, or "dagens rätt" in Swedish. He says, "You can normally have all the vegetables (usually potatoes) you want when you order a restaurant's entrée. Just ask for seconds." Steves also recommends looking at Scandinavian pizza spots for all-you-can-eat offers and salad bars. For example, at Nordic Sportsbar in Gothenburg, Sweden, you can get an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet on Fridays from 5:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. for just over $10 at the time of this writing. However, Steves does warn that an alcoholic drink in Scandinavia can pack quite a bit onto your bill, so you may want to avoid ordering beers. Finally, if you're planning a European vacation and you're on a budget, try Steves' clever tip to avoid paying for water at restaurants.