So You Want To Backpack Europe

I take it since you’ve found this blog you want to backpack Europe so yay! 

In April, I backpacked Europe with my best friend. I’m not calling myself an expert but I did travel recently and since I had no clue where to start, I have some tips to share.

1. Where do you want to go?

Not so easy of a question now is it? When my friend and I sat down to figure out where we wanted to go, we accidentally had a list with more than 15 locations. Sadly there just isn’t ever enough time to do everything. Here’s my advice on how to deal with this problem. First make that list with all the locations, every single one of them. Group those into must sees and what can wait until next time. Also, look at your locations geographically, where are they in Europe and how easy will it be to get to each location. Hopefully this breaks down your list to a manageable size.

2. Where are you going to stay?
Lets face it, you don’t have millions of dollars to just drop whenever you like. Hotels are expensive and can really eat away at your funds. There are some really great resources for backpackers to find much more affordable places to sleep. First there are hostels, which I’m sure you’ve hear of. We used the App HostelWorld, it is super easy to use and find hostels in any city you might be visiting. Next theres Airbnb, I never used it while in Europe but there are some great deals on here as well. Lastly theres Couch Surfing which connects you with locals who will give you a place to sleep for free, if you do this just be safe.

3.  How do you plan on getting around?

You can’t travel if you don’t have a way to get around. Flying in Europe is much cheaper than it is in North America since Europe has lots of budget airlines. Flying from place to place is definitely an option, its quick but can be a bit of a hassle. Trains go everywhere in Europe and that was our main way of travel. Theres a train pass called eurail for travellers that allows you to take trains in different  countries, it made our travel lives so easy. Lastly don’t shy away from buses, they might not be luxurious but they are cheap, just make sure you’re super on time, they don’t tend to stick to their schedules.

4.  What Backpack?

You can’t go backpacking without a backpack. There are lots of backpack options so do your research before buying one. I’d suggest to make sure it is international carry on size to help you while at the airport. I used a Gregory Jade 38L, but with so many different options out there try going to your local sporting good store, they are experts and will help you find the right backpack for you.

Have fun planning and have even more fun travelling. Where will you be going next?