The Cost to Ride Romania to Austria
Over a total of 15 days and 4,722km/2,934 miles, I rode 8 countries. Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia. Many Americans wonder what the cost would be to visit these countries so I did my best to keep a log of it, and here it is. I hope it helps your curiosity and maybe convinces you to come over to ride these beautiful areas!
Warning: These prices are approximate depending on what exchange rate you got when changing currency. It’s always safe to allow a 5-10% differential.
Warning: These prices are approximate depending on what exchange rate you got when changing currency. It’s always safe to allow a 5-10% differential.
Gasoline/Petroleum
The total distance I rode was 4,722km/2,934 miles. After all is said and done, the average cost per gallon of gas was around $5.40
The bike I used was a 2006 BMW f650gs, so keep in mind it was fairly fuel efficient.
The speeds in the areas I rode are relatively low and I spent most of my time in the mountains or on curvy roads. It helped to keep the cost down, and make the ride so much better too.
Austria and Italy had the most expensive prices, with the other 6 countries averaging around the same.
The bike I used was a 2006 BMW f650gs, so keep in mind it was fairly fuel efficient.
The speeds in the areas I rode are relatively low and I spent most of my time in the mountains or on curvy roads. It helped to keep the cost down, and make the ride so much better too.
Austria and Italy had the most expensive prices, with the other 6 countries averaging around the same.
Restaurants, groceries, tolls, and fees
Let me just rant about how amazing the food is here, from what you buy in stores to what you get in a restaurant. Everything is fresh, mostly organic, and so cheap.
The majority of my grocery money was spent on fresh fruit, vegetables, a variety of sausages, and cheeses. A package of good cheese or salami runs $1-$2, for a couple pieces of fruit it was usually $1, a bag of granola with dried fruit was $2. I still grabbed an ice cream bar or bag of chips sometimes, but they usually costed under $1. I usually bought a 1.5 liter water bottle from the gas station every 1-2 days and they range from $0.50 to $1.50. Of course you can spend more on higher end products but I found the quality of low end to be better than America’s typical high end. My average grocery trip was $15 for about 2-3 days of food.
When I did eat out, I got a decent dish and anything I wanted with it. Usually that included bread, salad, and a beer or two. The cost for each restaurant also includes tip and I was a decent tipper. I felt a little guilty because some of my servers didn’t speak good English, so I added a little extra on for that.
I ate out a grand total of 7 times, was fed by hosts 6 times, and the rest of the time I snacked on what I carried with me. Let’s just say I had a good amount of scenic picnics whenever the mood hit me.
Austria is big on charging for mountain passes but they were well worth it. You can avoid the Hungary and Slovenia toll pass by staying off the highway but I wanted to save some time. Each scenic location I visited was as worth every penny so don’t skip because of the fees involved!
The majority of my grocery money was spent on fresh fruit, vegetables, a variety of sausages, and cheeses. A package of good cheese or salami runs $1-$2, for a couple pieces of fruit it was usually $1, a bag of granola with dried fruit was $2. I still grabbed an ice cream bar or bag of chips sometimes, but they usually costed under $1. I usually bought a 1.5 liter water bottle from the gas station every 1-2 days and they range from $0.50 to $1.50. Of course you can spend more on higher end products but I found the quality of low end to be better than America’s typical high end. My average grocery trip was $15 for about 2-3 days of food.
When I did eat out, I got a decent dish and anything I wanted with it. Usually that included bread, salad, and a beer or two. The cost for each restaurant also includes tip and I was a decent tipper. I felt a little guilty because some of my servers didn’t speak good English, so I added a little extra on for that.
I ate out a grand total of 7 times, was fed by hosts 6 times, and the rest of the time I snacked on what I carried with me. Let’s just say I had a good amount of scenic picnics whenever the mood hit me.
Austria is big on charging for mountain passes but they were well worth it. You can avoid the Hungary and Slovenia toll pass by staying off the highway but I wanted to save some time. Each scenic location I visited was as worth every penny so don’t skip because of the fees involved!
Grand total for gas, food, and tolls is
$521.45
+ approx. 5-10% for currency exchange loss
These are hypothetical costs.
Lodging:
Since I free camped during the whole ride, I didn’t incur any lodging costs. What I learned about camping in each country is below and how I found my campsites are on this article - how to free moto camp. Park4night was my main go-to app with iOverlander being my second most frequently used.
Romania - wild camping is free and abundant.
Austria - wild camping is tolerated and I found plenty of spots.
Italy - wild camping is illegal so it’s best to stick to private areas.
Croatia - wild camping is illegal, especially on the coast. Stay off the coast and you’ll be fine.
Bosnia - wild camping is fine.
Serbia - wild camping is fine.
I didn’t camp in Slovenia or Hungary but I assume them to be okay.
For those who don’t like to camp, cheap hostels run from about $10-$20 per night in countries like Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Croatia. A middle-higher end hotel will run more along the $40-$60 range. Cheap lodging in Italy and Austria runs more like $40-$60 per night, with higher end going upwards of $150.
Rental:
The cost for the rental will be up to which bike you choose and for how long. For the BMW F650gs that I used for 15 days would be $1,323 with a $882 deposit. You may prefer larger bikes and opt for the F1250gs, so here’s the website for pricing: https://romaniamotorcycletours.com/motorcycle-rentals/
Flight:
Since I’m very flexible and a smart shopper, I was able to pick the best dates for my flight and purchase at the lowest price at the best airport. I paid $744 round trip with Turkish Airlines from San Francisco, which I highly recommend as well. They have been the best airline I’ve used to date. You could pay $1,500 round trip if you choose peak season, so buy early and try to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. Keep in mind you’ll also pay more for flights from smaller airports, so if you can aim for the large international hubs, you’ll save some money.
Hypothetical grand total for gas, food, tolls, lodging at average $25/night, BMW F650gs for 15 days with returned deposit, and the best flight is $3,000 + 5-10% for currency exchange loss.
But please keep in mind that I’m an experienced frugal traveler so I know how much I’m okay to eat or not, how to camp, brought everything I needed, didn’t get sick, didn’t get hurt, didn’t drop or break the bike, and can tough it out in uncomfortable situations but still have a grand adventure. I always advise to have a safety net for mishaps and to plan your adventure according to your needs.
Lodging:
Since I free camped during the whole ride, I didn’t incur any lodging costs. What I learned about camping in each country is below and how I found my campsites are on this article - how to free moto camp. Park4night was my main go-to app with iOverlander being my second most frequently used.
Romania - wild camping is free and abundant.
Austria - wild camping is tolerated and I found plenty of spots.
Italy - wild camping is illegal so it’s best to stick to private areas.
Croatia - wild camping is illegal, especially on the coast. Stay off the coast and you’ll be fine.
Bosnia - wild camping is fine.
Serbia - wild camping is fine.
I didn’t camp in Slovenia or Hungary but I assume them to be okay.
For those who don’t like to camp, cheap hostels run from about $10-$20 per night in countries like Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Croatia. A middle-higher end hotel will run more along the $40-$60 range. Cheap lodging in Italy and Austria runs more like $40-$60 per night, with higher end going upwards of $150.
Rental:
The cost for the rental will be up to which bike you choose and for how long. For the BMW F650gs that I used for 15 days would be $1,323 with a $882 deposit. You may prefer larger bikes and opt for the F1250gs, so here’s the website for pricing: https://romaniamotorcycletours.com/motorcycle-rentals/
Flight:
Since I’m very flexible and a smart shopper, I was able to pick the best dates for my flight and purchase at the lowest price at the best airport. I paid $744 round trip with Turkish Airlines from San Francisco, which I highly recommend as well. They have been the best airline I’ve used to date. You could pay $1,500 round trip if you choose peak season, so buy early and try to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. Keep in mind you’ll also pay more for flights from smaller airports, so if you can aim for the large international hubs, you’ll save some money.
Hypothetical grand total for gas, food, tolls, lodging at average $25/night, BMW F650gs for 15 days with returned deposit, and the best flight is $3,000 + 5-10% for currency exchange loss.
But please keep in mind that I’m an experienced frugal traveler so I know how much I’m okay to eat or not, how to camp, brought everything I needed, didn’t get sick, didn’t get hurt, didn’t drop or break the bike, and can tough it out in uncomfortable situations but still have a grand adventure. I always advise to have a safety net for mishaps and to plan your adventure according to your needs.
Lodging, motorcycle rental, and flight
(Photos from areas with fees)
I hope this encourages you to come to Eastern Europe to ride the amazing roads they have here! If you do come, please consider renting with Maria at Romania Motorcycle Tours. She’s got great customer service and truly cares about making sure your time here is enjoyable. She offers a range of BMW motorcycles as a simple rental, with a self guided tour package, or with a guided tour package.
Thanks for reading everyone! As always, questions, comments, and concerns are always welcome!
Thanks for reading everyone! As always, questions, comments, and concerns are always welcome!
