As a way of saying thank you for all the tips I’ve received before, during, and after my travels around the world, I’ve compiled information to help backpackers plan their trips. Planning makes all the difference for those who want to save money and take advantage of what each place has to offer, so don’t underestimate the importance of researching as much information as possible.
My first backpack, I did with less than USD 2,000 visiting 11 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, at a time when the dollar was around BRL 3.00 and the euro below BRL 4.00 – Brazilians will understand what I mean. It’s been a while… I was in my early 20s, everything was party and fun. So, giving up comfort in favor of experiences was an easy decision to make. I only regret not having done this earlier.
And of course, the adventures and surprises along the way yield stories, which can never be missing from a backpacker’s itinerary. What if I’m in my 30s or 40s? If that’s your case, the question I ask is: are you willing to give up comfort in order to travel more? Or being able to travel with the money you have?
Without a doubt, Europe is the best continent for a backpacking trip. After all, the distance between the countries is short, with excellent infrastructure, security, and good transport options. And there are options for all tastes and budgets, including those traveling on a tight budget. For travelers coming from North America and Australia, it is the equivalent of moving from one state to another.
How to plan a backpacking trip in Europe?
There are different ways to plan a backpacking trip in Europe. One option is to buy a Eurail Pass to travel by train as you wish across 33 countries or only to the countries of your preference, as train stations are usually located in the city center or in an important area from where you can travel to local attractions. With Eurail Pass, just go to a train station at the time you want to change cities and go to your next destination. For a more spontaneous trip, it’s the best option as you don’t have to stress about routes, schedules, and ticket prices.
Another option for backpacking through Europe is to buy low-cost airline tickets through companies such as Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizzair, combined with bus trips via companies such as Eurolines and FlixBus. However, it is worth remembering that low-cost airlines usually fly from airports far from the city center, which ends up taking time and money to pay transport costs. In addition, low-cost airlines usually only allow 1 backpack as luggage without extra charge and there may be luggage weight restrictions. Still, tickets can be cheap. I’ve already paid 45 euros from Zurich to Berlin, for example.
When is the best time to backpack in Europe?
The best time to backpack in Europe is in summer, between June and the first half of September. During this period, it is possible to travel with lighter luggage, go dressed in shorts and flip-flops during visits to the cities and enjoy the sunny days on the old continent. And in the northern hemisphere, the sun sets later, at 21:00 or even 23:00 if you go further north in Europe.
Summer is a time of high season in most of the most visited destinations in Europe, so it is expected that the prices of accommodation, tickets, and tickets at attractions will increase and that queues will be longer in most tourist cities. If you don’t book accommodations and buy tickets in advance, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to purchase after your options run out.
In winter, between December and March, prices for tickets, accommodation, and entry to attractions tend to be cheaper in cities that are in low season. However, the cold weather demands more clothes in the luggage and a backpack will not be enough.
If planning a backpack outside the summer, it is worth considering the spring (March to June) and autumn (September to December) periods. At these times, it is possible to find accommodation at affordable prices and visit the main attractions without long queues. When planning your trip, remember that on dates such as Easter and other important holidays, tickets sell out in advance and tourist attractions receive more visits.
What to pack in a trip to Europe?
For short trips, you can think about going with a backpack and suitcase as long as you don’t visit many cities. Now, if you go backpacking across Europe, be practical with your luggage, taking only the essentials: clothes, shoes, bathroom and hygiene items, cell phone, camera. I advise you to avoid taking jeans as much as possible because of their weight and because they take up space in your suitcase, in addition to taking longer to wash and dry. Lighter T-shirts and shorts, those to wear on the beach, are the most practical to carry in your luggage. Polo shirts are also practical as they don’t wrinkle, are easy to fold and iron.
To reduce the volume of luggage, the microfiber towel is a practical item to take in a backpack and can dry quickly both in a hostel room and on a camping trip. As for shoes, I recommend taking a pair of sneakers and, as a spare, espadrilles and flip-flops will do in case of an emergency.
If you already have a good water bottle that fits in your backpack, it’s worth taking. Otherwise, buy water in the city and fill up at local fountains when possible. There are cities where it is possible to access water from local springs while in others it is a source of disease. Observe the locals and make sure there is no risk.
If you are backpacking in winter, between December and March, your luggage will be heavier and your winter clothes will take up much more space. Thermal shirts and pants help reduce luggage a little, however, thermal clothing alone is not enough for temperatures of -10ºC, even less for -20ºC and -30ºC, which are common in Eastern Europe. It is inevitable at this time to take jackets, blouses, scarves, and gloves. For the harshest winters, you’ll need to stock up on fur or goose-down coats as soon as you arrive in the country. Even in spring and autumn, the climate in Europe tends to be cold, which demands jackets and blouses in the luggage.
How much does a backpacking trip in Europe cost?
How much you will spend backpacking in Europe depends, as the cost varies according to the countries that are on your itinerary, the activities you do during the trips, the frequency with which you go out and eat, in addition to the duration of the trip. Accommodation prices vary by location, seasonality and comfort level. A cheap hostel can cost around 10 euros a night, 15 euros or 20 euros, or up to 3 times more, depending on the city.
To get an idea of the average cost in Europe, it makes sense to separate the regions of the continent based on local wages and cost of living, according to the breakdown below:
- Eastern Europe (€150 to €800 per month): Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania.
- Central and Northern Europe (€3,000 to €6,000 per month): France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
- Southern Europe (€800 to €2000 per month): Portugal, Spain, Italy, Malta, Greece.
These averages are based on local wages, just to give you an idea of the cost of living. As a traveler, your daily expenses with transport, accommodation, food, and possible activities tend to be 2 or 3 times higher. If we consider Turkey, then it is worth considering itineraries departing from the Balkans such as Bulgaria or Bosnia.
It should be remembered that each country has its own immigration rules and tourism laws, which include a minimum daily budget. This minimum budget in Portugal can be 60 euros per day while in Switzerland it can be 100 Swiss francs (the equivalent of 100 euros) per day. It is always worth checking the official sources of the European Union and the countries you are going to visit.
So a backpacking trip through expensive countries like Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland will inflate your budget. For travelers looking for cheaper destinations and options, it is worth focusing on Eastern Europe. Portugal is more expensive than Eastern Europe, but cheaper than other Western European countries.
For backpackers looking to save money, extending their stay in countries with a cheaper cost of living is an alternative to organizing itineraries and interesting activities while spending less. Another option for cheap travel is to take advantage of exchange and volunteer opportunities that may include accommodation. Platforms such as Couchsurfing and Worldpackers are also options for more affordable accommodation. For those who have citizenship in countries that participate in the work & holiday program, it can be an excellent opportunity to make money while traveling.
What is the best backpack for travel?
The best type of backpack for backpacking depends on the travel time and the volume of your luggage. For short trips lasting a few days, it’s no problem to carry a suitcase and a small 30-litre backpack. However, for a backpacking of 20 days, 30 days, or more, it is best to take everything inside a large backpack of 60 liters, 70 liters, or 80 liters.
Along the journey, there will be kilometers of walks, buses, trains, rides, arrivals and departures from hostels, moving houses, and dozens of unforeseen events. Carrying a backpack everywhere will lead to tiredness, and shoulder and back pain. Take only the essentials – clothes, electronic equipment, bath, and hygiene items – if you are planning a trip across different countries. For those planning longer backpacking trips, it is also essential to be physically prepared for the journey.
Is it safe to travel to Europe?
Compared to what I’m used to growing up in Brazil, it is ridiculous to make any comparison in public safety. In both Eastern and Western Europe, I feel safe in a way that you don’t see in Latin America. Among all the places I visited, the only city in Europe that I felt the need to be more careful with was Paris, I noticed a large presence of pickpockets and all kinds of crooks around tourist attractions.
For travelers to Europe, the biggest thing to watch out for is pickpockets and scammers who target tourists, who often carry more cash than any local citizen. Cities that receive millions of tourists, such as Barcelona, London, Paris, and Venice are full of crooks and rascals looking for easy money.
As anywhere in the world, pickpockets are concentrated in the busiest places such as subway stations, train stations, bus stations, bars, nightclubs, and tourist attractions. Far from being poor fellows, they are rogues who steal to make as much money as possible and are very skilled at stealing.
I’ve never been robbed, being careful and not talking to beggars is enough. Closed backpacks, anti-theft pants, and anti-theft bags are options to make life difficult for thieves. Always have a reserve card or other means of payment to avoid problems with the bank in case of theft.
In Eastern Europe, chances are you’ll come across corrupt police like I did in Ukraine when crossing the border by bus. Write down the number of the Brazilian embassy and insist on calling the embassy, even better if you have acquaintances in the country, which inhibits their creativity in inventing stories like “your passport looks fake” or “Are you sure you don’t need a visa ?”. I didn’t pay a penny in bribes, but I had to take it easy until they saw me as an opportunity cost for the time lost with me.
If I were to plan my first backpack today, I would take as little luggage as possible, because when traveling from one city to another, it is not practical to carry things by hand.
Originally posted 2023-09-10 21:14:25.
