Backpacking Europe

[DollarBill]

I'll be leaving on a 3 month Europe trip (Middle of May, flying into Paris). I also have a 3 month Eurorail pass (For all 27 Countries). I don't really have a game plan yet except to go clockwise...oh and I want to run with the bulls (July 6-14). Planning on staying at hostels mostly but AirBNB in the larger Cities or when I'm staying at least 3 days.

Can anyone who has traveled through or has plans to backpack Europe send in some tips/helpful apps/routes/must see places & things?

[Able was I ERE]

Check out "AirMnM", you might be able to stay with some cool mustachians (including myself in Austria): http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/mustachian-marketplace/airmnm/

[Shef]

there are a couple of great websites providing good information about EUrail and the european railsystem like en.rail.cc and seat61.com or also the official website eurail.com. Get the app from them, so you will have always a offline-timetable on your phone.

As a Swiss, I am a bit biased with recommendations. But I think scenic trains like Bernina-Express or Goldenpass are almost a must since this is also included in EURail (there are also many other nice trains like Glacier Express but on this is not included in the EUrail). Since all trains in Switzerland operates at least once per hour (and don't need a reservation), you can also do some kind of hop-on-and-off-Tour.
A little downside of Switzerland is that there are some operators which are not fully included in passes like EUrail. That means, you need to pay for a discounted ticket in order to use them. The most imported one is the Matterhorn-Gotthard-Railroad, which operates a good part of the Glacier-Express. Some of the trains I mentioned also ask for a surcharge for their scenic-cars, but there are always a hourly normal train without surcharge. Off course, there are also nice cities in Switzerland like Basel or Lucern.

Other recommendations are: Scandinavia (nature!), Italy, Brunn in Czechia (avoid Praha), Krakau, Budapest. France is also worth to see, but in rural areas, transportation is poor.

I'm sure you will have a unforgettable time on those three months in Europe

Since some (mostly international) high-speed-trains ask for surcharges or compulsory reservations, those websites I mentioned as first provide hints to find connections which are free for pass holders.



 

[2Cent]

If you like to see tourist stuff in the larger cities but don't want to spend much time I recommend taking bus tours(hop on hop off if possible) It will take you to all the main sights and drop you at the doorstep. Else it takes a long time to get from one place to the next, and if you make a mistake you may end up missing it all together.

Oh, if you're starting from Paris, go: Paris, Luxembourgh, Brussels, Amsterdam, Hamburgh, Kopenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Vennice, Rome, Monaco, Barcelona.

This will skip Londen and Finland but they are a long way to travel, with not much to see that is not in other places.
Also, skip scandinavia if you want to save time. It is nice, but a bit out of the way.

[HenryDavid]

Pack really light. Then pack lighter than that.
You don't need to carry tons of toiletries, a hair dryer, extra shoes etc.
Every pound you do not pack, you will be so grateful for. It can be hard to find places to leave a heavy bag for the day. You will be more relaxed, mobile comfortable with less. Train travel means stairs, corridors, etc!
A large student book backpack with one tightly rolled set of clothes will work.
Sink laundry is easy, with once In a while laundromat use.
40 litres or 2500 cubic inches will be heavy if you fill it. But don't.
Mail stuff home to yourself if you buy anything.

Also learn to say please, thank you, hello, goodbye, where is, and how much in the local language. Makes a very good first impression and gets folks on your side.
Have a swell trip.

[MsPeacock]

Pack really light. Then pack lighter than that.
You don't need to carry tons of toiletries, a hair dryer, extra shoes etc.
Every pound you do not pack, you will be so grateful for. It can be hard to find places to leave a heavy bag for the day. You will be more relaxed, mobile comfortable with less. Train travel means stairs, corridors, etc!
A large student book backpack with one tightly rolled set of clothes will work.
Sink laundry is easy, with once In a while laundromat use.
40 litres or 2500 cubic inches will be heavy if you fill it. But don't.
Mail stuff home to yourself if you buy anything.

Also learn to say please, thank you, hello, goodbye, where is, and how much in the local language. Makes a very good first impression and gets folks on your side.
Have a swell trip.

+1 on all of this.

Get a good waterproof jacket that you can layer over other stuff. make sure it is very lightweight and squishes down to nothing. You will have highly variable weather if you travel from southern to northern Europe. Jeans - personally I like them for travel because unless you get really dirty you can wear the same pair for a week or so.

Lock your stuff at the hostel - lock the bag, and lock it in a locker or to your bed w/ a cable lock.

Pack super light - like 3 shirts, two pairs of pants, one pair of shoes (plus flip flops or sandals, if needed), one hoodie, one jacket, underwear. If you find that there is something you absolutely can't survive w/o you can purchase it during your travels. The vast majority of people over pack and regret what they brought, not what they left at home.

The Lonely Planet books are best for hostel recommendations and meeting up w/ other travelers.

If you see something interesting from the train - get off and go see it! I ended up in Strasbourg, France this way and saw the most fantastic cathedral and it was just amazing. You have a lot of flexibility with the Eurail pass - have fun with it.

I would head south first before the hottest weather, and end your trip in the northern parts of Europe, rather than the reverse.

From southern Spain you can take the ferry into Morocco for the day (from Teriffa - ?), see Gibraltar, the Alhambra, check out Toledo (love this little city), Seville.

I did a backpacking type trip in 1993 (so long ago - pre internet - pre-email - really had to wing it at each place when you arrived, and change money at every new country) and again in 2000 (also long ago), and have been back several times now with my kids (not backpacking type trips - they aren't quite old enough to deal w/ that yet). It is a wonderful adventure - Happy travels!

[rocketpj]

It's been said above, but it can't be emphasized enough.  Pack light.  Pack lighter.  Pack a bag you can keep under your seat without being ridiculous, that you can walk for hours without even noticing.  Wear a decent set of hiking shoes that will work in warm and cool locales.  Winter boots are too bulky and if you want sandals when you are in hot places buy them there.

A day bag is about all you need.  A change of pants, a couple changes of shirts.  Perhaps swim trunks and a bit of undies/socks.  Minimal toiletries - they have it all where you are going, and it is often cheaper anyway.  Leave room in your bag for a novel.  If you have any electronics bring a 220 adapter.

I say this as one of the many people who brought a ginormous backpack full of everything I could think of when I was 21 on a trip to Europe.  I lugged a 4 lb flashlight all over the damn globe and used it about 4 times. 

[mohawkbrah]

will you be wildcamping or staying in b&b's?

[The Fake Cheap]

I suggest reading Rick Steeves books for info on where you might want to go.  My wife and I found them extremely useful while in Germany in 2011.  I think he has books for all of Europe, so you should be covered wherever you may go.  He also has self guided walking tours for many cities as well, we followed a few of these and they were great.  He will often tell you about off the beaten track kind of stuff opposed to the usual tourist traps.

[LLCoolDave]

It sounds like you are traveling alone. Over long periods of time you really need some social interaction and you will get more at a hostel and less at an Airbnb. My favorite guidebooks are Let's Go and Lonely Planet on a Shoestring Budget. Rick Steve's guidebooks cater to an older crowd (40's and 50's) and accommodations/restaurants will be priced accordingly.

Paris is my favorite city, Berlin is incredible. As a country Spain is my favorite. Barcelona, Madrid, Segovia, Seville, Cordoba, Salamanca, Granada (the Alhambra is a must see), Cadiz. The architecture in Southern Spain (Moorish) is really incredible. The thing about the railpass in Spain is that the whole system works like a spider web from madrid so train times can be a little longer.

Even with a railpass it might also be beneficial to buy a RyanAir flight every now and again to cover long distances. It sounds like an awesome trip.

[Urchina]

Most Europeans dress more formally than we do in the States, so I'd recommend a pair of of chinos instead of jeans, and at least one button-down shirt. A plastic poncho folds up into a tiny spot and will keep both you and your pack dry, which a jacket won't do.

I love Ex Officio underwear for traveling -- wear a pair, wash a pair. They dry very quickly and are really comfortable.

Eastern Europe is amazing, and really cheap compared to the rest of Europe. I would spend less time in (heavily visited) Western and Southern Europe and more time in the Baltics and the Balkans (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Croatia, Slovenia, etc.) Don't forget Poland -- it's so cool. I would check news sources to see how the Syrian refugee crisis is affecting travel in those areas first, however.

[DollarBill]

I'm back from my trip! Thanks everyone for your advice and sorry I didn't reply sooner. Things were happening so fast before I left (Sold my house, moved to Austin and helped my Mother move to Austin). I'll do a short trip report with tips.

Here's the route I took:
Paris
Brussels
Amsterdam
Munich
Prague
Budapest
Zagreb
Split
Hvar Island
Dubrovnik
Venice
Rome
Naples
Ischia Island
Florence
Milan (Plus Lake Como)
Nice
Marseille
Barcelona
Pamplona
Madrid

[Jrr85]

If you like to see tourist stuff in the larger cities but don't want to spend much time I recommend taking bus tours(hop on hop off if possible) It will take you to all the main sights and drop you at the doorstep. Else it takes a long time to get from one place to the next, and if you make a mistake you may end up missing it all together.

I'll second the hop on hop off bus tours.  I always thought that was kind of a cheesy way to visit a city, but then I actually did it and realized that it typically let's you knock off a lot of good but not great sites while you get oriented to the city.  What we would do is get on and figure out how much time we could spend at each place while still doing the whole circuit in a city.  Any stop we got off at that we immediately could tell we would want to spend more time at, we'd just get back on the bus immediately (or skip getting off all together) and plan to come back on our own when we're not rushed.  At the end of the day, a lot of places that are nice to check out but maybe not worth a lot of time invested in getting there are knocked out, you have a good idea of the layout of the, and you have an idea of things you definitely want to hit.  So a typical city stop for us would be one day on the hop on hop off, and then spend the next two or three mornings going to something on the hop on hop off that we wanted to spend time on, and then have the afternoon and night for more leisurely wandering. 

[sisto]

Welcome back, I can't wait for the full trip report.

[patrickza]

Sounds like a fantastic trip. I'm also waiting for a report and photos. A budget would be fun too if you don't mind sharing.

[DagobertDuck]

Most Europeans dress more formally than we do in the States, so I'd recommend a pair of of chinos instead of jeans, and at least one button-down shirt.

I would definitely consider a backpacker in chino's to be overdressed.

I fully agree that trainers, shorts and a sloppy t-shirt won't look very good, but jeans and a nice polo shirt will definitely do.

[arebelspy]

Darn, sorry I missed this thread before you went, could have provided some thoughts; the wife and I backpacked Europe one summer, and loved it.

Following, can't wait to hear your trip report.  :)