How to Backpack Through Europe

Deciding Where to Go

Select your arrival and departure dates. Make sure to consider the season you want to travel in when you are selecting your dates. June through August is peak season, which means a lot of tourists and higher prices, but nice weather and many festivals. On the other hand, November through April is low season, which means cheaper prices and fewer tourists, but colder weather. If you plan a trip to Europe in the winter, keep in mind that you will need to pack more clothes.

Make a to-do list. Making a to-do list is the fun part. Make a list of all the places you want to see or visit. Then narrow down your list to the places you have to see, the places you really want to see, and the places you could do without. Use maps, travel books, and online travel sites to find out about exciting or popular events and destinations.

Plan to stay in big cities for at least three full days. Do this if you plan on visiting multiple cities. Three full days will give you enough time to see the sights without feeling rushed or burnt out. However, how long you stay in each city really depends on the length of your trip. For example, if you are traveling for two weeks and you want to visit four different cities, then two full days in each city is more practical.

Planning Your Accommodations

Check out hostels. If you are planning on a budget, then hostels are a great choice. On average, a hostel will cost anywhere from 18 to 40 euros/night. The farther you go east, the cheaper the prices are. Many hostels offer free WiFi, clean linens, and breakfast. However, not all of them do. Make sure to check the amenities each hostel offers before booking. Additionally, because some hostels have lower and upper age limits, check out the hostel's age limit before you book your stay. The cost of a hostel will typically depend on the popularity of the hostel and the size of your room; for example, a private room in a Parisian hostel will cost more than a shared room in a Croatian hostel.

Couchsurf. Couchsurfing is another affordable way to travel around Europe since it is free most of the time. It is also a great way to meet locals and find out about local events and activities. Visit a site like couchsurfing.com. You can browse the available couches in the area you will be staying in. There is a large network of couchsurfers in Europe, so it is a relatively safe and affordable way to backpack through Europe on a budget.

Try camping. Camping is another affordable option. However, you will need to pack or buy a tent and basic camping supplies if you want to try this option. The average cost of a tented space at a campsite ranges from 9 to 15 euros. Alternatively, you can try a camping service. Sign up for the service, find a host, and pitch your tent in their backyard for a flat fee of 4 to 10 euros. Some hosts may even offer amenities, like a shower, during your stay. Look for these services at sites like campinmygarden.com, gamping.com, and airbnb.com.

House sit. House sitting is a great option if you are staying in a city for a week or two. You will be able to stay at a local’s residence for free in exchange for maintaining and watching their house. Sign up for a service, find a house, and contact the owner. Make sure to read over the agreement and sign any documents before booking. Look for these services at sites like mindmyhouse.com, housecarers.com, and luxuryhousesitting.com.

Try a vacation apartment rental. Vacation apartment rentals are pricier than hostels and couchsurfing, but they are still affordable. By staying in a vacation apartment rental, you will definitely have more space and privacy. Sign up for a service, find a rental, and book it. It is that simple. Look for vacation apartment rentals at homeaway.com, airbnb.com, vrbo.com, and flipkey.com.

Stay at a hotel. Staying at hotels is the most expensive option, but it is a great option if you feel like being pampered for a night. Stay at a hotel for one or two nights throughout your trip. See if you have any points saved up on your credit cards. This is a great way to get some discounts on hotel stays.

Planning Your Transportation

Travel by bus. Traveling by bus is, by far, the cheapest option. You can travel by bus within cities, as well as to other cities. It is typically 2 euros or less to travel within a city by bus. Euroline is the main bus service in Europe and its network extends throughout the continent. The drawback is that it takes longer to travel from city to city by bus.

Get a rail pass. Traveling by train is an affordable option if you plan to visit many cities. To get the best deals, purchase a Eurail pass ahead of time. For unlimited travel to any country within the Eurail system for 15 days to 3 months, get a Global Pass. Get a Flexi pass for 10 to 15 days of travel to any country within the system for a 2-month period. If your travel time to cities is less than six to eight hours, then this is the best option.

Fly to your locations. Try flying to your locations if you are traveling for only a short period of time like two weeks. Budget airlines in Europe make this option very affordable. The cost of a flight can be as low as 5 euros. However, make sure to look at the fees and stipulations before booking. The flight may seem cheap, but fees can raise the price substantially. This is a good option if your travel time by train is eight or more hours. Some discount airlines are Ryanair, Wizz, Easyjet, and Transavia.

Rent a car. A car is a good option if you want to visit small towns in the countryside, but it is the most expensive option. You have to pay for gas, tolls, and parking. Additionally, many companies charge a drop-off fee of 100 to 300 euros if you drop the car off in a different destination.

Packing for Europe

Choose a convertible backpack. A convertible backpack is a suitcase with backpack straps. They make packing and transporting your things easy. Make sure to choose one that fits your body comfortably. Try to avoid picking a huge backpack since this may cause you to pack more. Choose a 40 to 50 liter backpack for the most versatility. If you want to avoid checking in your luggage, then go for a 30 to 40 liter backpack.

Pack the basics. Try to only bring basic toiletries (toothbrush/paste, multi-use soap, washcloth, etc.), five to six tops, two to three pants/shorts, and five pairs of underwear and socks. Make sure all of your tops match with your pants, and bring both long and short-sleeved tops. Bring accessories like scarves, hats, and sunglasses to add variety to your outfits. Wrinkle-free clothes are a great choice since your clothes will be packed in a suitcase a majority of the time. Remember to choose comfort and flexibility over fashion. You can always buy clothes or shoes as you travel.

Pack important travel accessories. Accessories you may want to consider bringing are a smaller backpack or satchel, a padlock, a quick-drying towel, a water bottle, and travel laundry soap. You may also want to bring duct tape, a multi-tool device, a money belt, Ziploc bags in multiple sizes, and an umbrella. To get around the city bring a guidebook, as well as a phrase book to communicate with the locals.

Planning Ahead of Time

Begin saving early. Once you have everything planned out, calculate the cost and begin saving. It is probably best to start planning your trip six to eight months ahead of time. This way you can ensure that you will have enough money saved up for your trip.

Get a passport. Make sure to do this if you do not have one. Make photocopies and electronic copies of your passport just in case you lose it. Also email yourself the photocopies. This way you can access them on a computer anywhere. Additionally, make sure to check your travel destination's tourism website to see if you need visas for your trip; for example, you may need a visa if you are traveling for an extended period of time, or if you are traveling from an EU country to a non-EU country.

Book your flights, accommodations and transportation. Do this once you have everything planned and the costs calculated. Try to purchase your plane tickets, accommodations, and train tickets (or rental car) a couple months in advance to get the best deals.

Visit your bank. Ask your bank about their exchange rates and fees. See if they have credit cards available that can help you get around some of these fees while you travel. Make sure to ask about any ATM withdrawal fees as well. Additionally, before you leave, make sure to let your bank know you will be traveling to avoid having your credit cards frozen.

Contact your cellphone carrier. Ask your cellphone carrier about their international rates, as well as the type of international plans they have available. If you determine that the rates are too expensive, then look into getting a prepaid phone, like a tracphone.

Bring maps. It is always a good idea bring a global map or maps of the countries you will be visiting. This way, if you cannot access the internet to activate your GPS, then you will have a back up. Try to purchase travel guide books that include maps of the countries you will be visiting.