Backpacking is one of those rites of passage that is both over-rated and under-rated. For recent high school grads, college age kids, and people on gap year or sabbatical, backpacking is great travel option that also manages to be adventurous. Our generation is not likely to be drafted soon to fight in a foreign war, so one of the few rites of passage that we have is backpacking. While not as popular for Americans, I highly encourage more Americans to try it. Brits, Australians, New Zealanders, and Canadians are all onto something. While it may entail lots of hedonism, it does present an opportunity for self-growth, introspection, increased confidence, and greater cultural awareness. To this day, I’m happy I backpacked Western Europe when I was younger because it gave me tremendous confidence to further explore the world on my own. Below, I'll detail how a complete beginner can successfully backpack Western Europe.
Western Europe is a great place for backpacking beginners, because you can use a 90 day Schengen visa, and have adequate time to see any number of countries you want. Europe is also good because public transit is generally of high quality and affordable. You are also able to find some great deals on flights that go within Europe. Also, is the safety factor, for Western Europe, at least in good part, is decently safe when compared to some major American cities. Western Europe in particular has a good tourist infrastructure. For beginners at least this is important, because many are leaving home or creature comforts for the first time—it helps to have others on the same path as you.
This will focus on my favorite method of backpacking Western Europe: using a EuRail pass and staying mostly at hostels. This datasheet will mainly help beginners who want to spend 14 days to 3 months backpacking Western Europe, although most of the things talked about are applicable to more advanced backpackers too.
Preplanning
The most important thing is to get your flight, which can be pretty expensive if you backpack in summer like many Anglos do. The sooner you get the flight, the better. Unless you’re the type that likes to burn the bridges behind you, get a round trip ticket. This helps you allocate your cash better, and gives your journey a since of urgency when you get there on day one.
The next thing is to arrange your ground transportation, which you will use as your primary method to get you between most of the cities you visit. A tried and true method is the EuRail pass, which works if you’re under 26 at the time of issuance, in which case you will get a student discount. I highly advise this, even if it is expensive, because it makes the international travel so much easier, and gives you maximum flexibility on your travel dates. It will also allow for most travel in Western Europe one ticket, but for Central and Eastern Europe, it may be less effective. If you try to arrange individual tickets, it gets very difficult and complicated very quickly, and then you have to worry about a very strict schedule. Thus, if you’re an absolute beginner get a EuRail pass—you’re only young once.
These are the two most important things, and what you want to do next is to find yourself a good backpack. This is what makes backpacking, well, backpacking. Go for a pack that you can carry given your frame size and weight, and make sure it has comfortable shoulder straps. Also ensure that it has straps that you can snap to distribute the weight more evenly. It needs to have a decent amount of internal volume so you can fit your toiletries, a book or two, one extra pair of shoes, a towel, flip flops, changes of clothes, an iPad or tablet, and a sport coat, among other things. There are backpacks I have found that don’t look like big hiking backpacks, but still have nice shoulder straps, that make you a little bit less conspicuous when out in public, so I recommend looking into the options for such a bag. Get a lock! More on this later.
At this point, your flight is arranged, you have a rough idea of how ground transportation will be handled, a backpack, and some general idea of where you want to go. Now you pack your backpack being careful not to over pack, and you remember to pack a rain coat, jacket, etc. It may also be a good idea to pack a flask and a bottle opener/multi-tool.
If you’re one to plan, you can start to research and book your hostels. You can book a first night in a hostel in several cities, and then worry about extending your stay when you arrive, that way you can get a feel of the town, and move on if you don’t like the place. Or, you can book every single night of the whole trip, but at the expense of flexibility. Print out your reservation details and put them in a folder. Unless you like to play fast and lose with your plans, book at least a night or two in your first city so you can get your bearings. Photocopy your important documents and put the copies somewhere safe in your backpack.
Buy travel adapters. Make sure you have what you need based on the countries you’ll visit. Most importantly, figure out the money situation. If you have a credit card, it’s great, because if there’s ever an emergency situation, you’ll have a way to book a room, flight, get medical care, transportation, use an ATM, etc. Otherwise have some emergency cash in a second bank account, or have a relative who can send money if there’s a problem via western union or bank transfer. A general rule of thumb would be: Hostel 30-50 USD a night, food 20 USD if you keep it simple, 20-30USD everything else. That means $70-$100 per day. You can backpack for less, but unless you’re a frugal person, the money will leave your hands sooner than you think, especially when things are unplanned. If you were to go to the grocery store every day and use the kitchen at the hostel you could keep daily food costs at $10 or less-- I’ve seen people do this, but this is not likely unless you are willing to do this process every day or you are short on money.
Make sure your cards are valid for use in Europe by calling your bank. Make sure you have your phone situation worked out. You can get an American plan for travelers that will be expensive but will ensure your phone works in most countries, you can get individual sim cards for each country, or you can go phone-less which I don’t recommend. Have the situation sorted out or else you will get hit with roaming fees once you arrive in Europe.
Arrival
Your flight will be most certainly long and unpleasant in economy class. You will be tired, out of energy, possibly sleepy, and jet-lagged on arrival. So, when you arrive at your destination airport, it is very crucial that you get to your first hostel/hotel as soon as possible. Hopefully you went to the exchange office before you ever left, otherwise you need to get to the airport ATM and get 50-100USD as soon as possible. Yes, the exchange rate won’t be the best, but it is better than going to a currency office at the airport, which offers even worse rates. You now need to secure ground transportation to your hostel, which is hopefully in the city center (more on that later). It’s crucial you get to the first hostel safely, because you’re tired and may make dumb mistakes. Taxis are risky, especially if you don’t speak the language because you could be scammed. If you opt for the taxi route, make sure the airport ground transport people secure one for you. Otherwise an Uber would be a good idea, depending on local laws and availability of Uber. Public transit, shuttles and buses are also a good idea. They’ll go to the city center for a fixed rate, and are most likely cheaper. They’ll also be much safer.
You’ve at this point hopefully made it to the city center, and hopefully your hostel is close by, it may be a good time to get some food, and a cup of coffee, because it may still be a bit too early to check into the hostel. Just get something into you, your body just needs some food and a jolt to the nervous system to get you through your arrival day. Get to your hostel; depending on your budget, you may walk, take public transit, or a taxi.
You’re now at your hostel and it’s time to check in. You have a reservation, or you’ve found a hostel via the internet that has beds for the night. Listen to what the front desk clerk tells you, because the hostel may have certain policies, fees, and even hours the front door is locked (which means you can’t get in). Although lock-outs are becoming less common, and are more prevalent in cheaper hostels, or hostels that are in neighborhoods that have noise restrictions.
Go to your room, which is most likely a public room that has 3,4,6, 8 or more beds. Find an open bed. Find a place to lock your stuff when you’re not in the room. Hopefully there’s a locker that you can put your lock on inside the room, or in a common area, or at the front desk. This is important, because someone will gladly take the opportunity to jack your stuff. Meet the other people in the room if you’re social because they may have a better idea of what the city is like, or may know what’s going on at the hostel. One of the primary reasons you stay at a hostel is because it is cheap, but the other reason you stay at one is because they’re social. So, don’t disregard the social aspect. A lot of backpackers stick together in groups thus it’s not hard at all to meet some new people. Everyone is in the same situation and wants to party, hookup up, and see stuff.
There are basically two types of hostels: party hostels and non-party ones. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. Party hostels are what they sound like. They are hostels where things get crazy, and people party on the premises. You may have trouble sleeping at a party hostel, but sometimes it may be worth the lack of sleep. Non-party hostels may have older guests, noise restrictions, or premises that aren’t good for partying. You can check review websites or the hostel’s website to get a general idea of which one it is. Some hostels that are run by non-profit groups are generally non party-hostels, and are better for people that like to sleep and families.
Take a short nap, but make sure you have your passport very close to you, or locked up. After you’ve taken a short disco nap, it’s time to meet new arrivals in your room or to head out for some food and fun. You may not feel very social because you’re really tired, but it may put you at ease to meet some of your roommates. If your roommates are chill, they’ll likely tell you their plans, share a drink with you, and maybe invite for something they’re going to do later. It can’t really be any simpler, really. Just look out for weirdos. A lot of hostels have bars, so this would be a good place to start if you’re feeling social. People are generally receptive to meeting new people here, so just strike up a conversation or ask if you can sit with a group. Generally they will say yes.
If you’re traveling alone, it’s important to remember that there’s no one to bail you out if anything goes wrong. So be moderate with your alcohol consumption, etc. Or, at least be moderate until you have some experience under your belt.
Traveling to your next destination
You inevitably will have to move on to your next destination. Pack up all your stuff, make sure you have your passport and travel documents, and check out. Make sure your phone has a full charge. It’s now your obligation to get to the train station or less possibly the airport. You can always ask hostel staff for directions or help because they generally travel as well. Walk, take a taxi or public transit to your departure point. Leave enough time to make your train or flight comfortably. If you’re taking a train, be careful outside the train station. A lot of times, more shady elements congregate outside it in Western Europe, so keep your valuables close, and avoid talking to sketchy people outside.
If you’re taking the train, there is one important thing to do before you get on the train if you have a EuRail pass; you need to activate it for it’s first use. Go to the ticket office, and present the pass to the ticket agent. The agent will endorse it and write the date on it. Depending on the pass, you will have a certain time period of unlimited travel, or you will have a set number of travel days. In any case, today is the first day your EuRail pass will be valid/ used.
It helps to research the train you will be taking ahead of time. Sometimes, although not always, there will be a separate seat reservation fee you will have to pay (mainly for flagship trains, like Germany’s ICE or France’s TGV). This is regardless of whether you have a EuRail pass or not. Make sure it is paid if it is applicable to your trip.
One last word about trains: make sure the portion of the train you’re in does not split from the other part of the train, because if it does split you will be sent to the wrong destination if you’re on the wrong section of the train.
Try not to only spend one day in a city, because you will tire out a lot faster if you’re traveling every day.
Destinations
As a first time backpacker to Europe you have a lot of options as far as destinations are concerned. Common destinations include: Paris, London, Edinburgh, Berlin, Rome, Milan, Amsterdam, Stockholm, and so on. A lot of people doing Western Europe will also devote time to Eastern or Central Europe, for example Budapest, Bucharest, Vienna, Croatia, etc. The destination is up to your personal preference, but you will find a lot of backpackers in Western Europe, and the number will in general thin out the further east you go. I’ve see backpackers in Belgrade or Skopje, but these places are a lot more off the beaten path, and harder to get to logistically as well.
It’s a great idea to mix partying and culture. Visiting Berlin would be great because it’s a party city, but maybe Paris would be good too in order to visit museums. The sky’s the limit.
General Advice
•Scamming is very prevalent in Western Europe, so be aware at all times and avoid propositions or approaches on the street from strangers
•When showering at the hostel wear your flip flops and make sure your stuff is locked up. Make sure your passport cash and phone is with you in the shower. These are things that you cannot afford to lose.
•It is better to pay with cash in a lot of places in Western Europe, but don’t carry too much. ATMs will always be close.
•If you’re at a party hostel you may have trouble sleeping. Bring some headphones, or earplugs. If this is an issue, book a private room or find a non-party hostel.
•People will hook up at hostels, even in public rooms, so do your best to ignore any activity.
•Find a common area in the hostel if you want to meet people. Every hostel has some sort of common area.
•Chat up girls. They want to hookup too. It’s not that hard in the party environment of many hostels. Travel is the ultimate aphrodisiac. Many will hookup in shared rooms even if there are others present.
•Be aware of all local laws; I.e. Public drinking, noise restrictions, opening hours for bars, etc.
•Many shared rooms are co-ed! Just be respectful, polite, and not a creep.
•Unplug from social media—your whole experience will be more relaxing and satisfying this way. You also don’t want everyone on your social media to be aware of all the debauchery you’re getting into.
•Don’t hold/carry other people’s stuff that’s not yours.
•Avoiding acting like what your national stereotype is. Part of backpacking is about making real connections and having fun with fellow travelers. Be polite, respectful, and a good listener.
•A lot of hostels offer free walking tours of the city, these are a good idea if you don’t know what to do, or are companion-less
•Hostels may offer pub crawls for a set fee, which are good if you like drinking and socializing with other travelers.
•Costs vary widely from city to city, so be aware of this.
•Be aware of local tipping norms.
•Carry a water bottle in order to stay hydrated.
•Don't be an pussy and tell people you are from Canada if you're not. Own up to being American.
Let me know if you have further questions, or if there's something I forgot to mention. I hope this datasheet helps people new to backpacking have a better first time experience!
~Dragan
Western Europe is a great place for backpacking beginners, because you can use a 90 day Schengen visa, and have adequate time to see any number of countries you want. Europe is also good because public transit is generally of high quality and affordable. You are also able to find some great deals on flights that go within Europe. Also, is the safety factor, for Western Europe, at least in good part, is decently safe when compared to some major American cities. Western Europe in particular has a good tourist infrastructure. For beginners at least this is important, because many are leaving home or creature comforts for the first time—it helps to have others on the same path as you.
This will focus on my favorite method of backpacking Western Europe: using a EuRail pass and staying mostly at hostels. This datasheet will mainly help beginners who want to spend 14 days to 3 months backpacking Western Europe, although most of the things talked about are applicable to more advanced backpackers too.
Preplanning
The most important thing is to get your flight, which can be pretty expensive if you backpack in summer like many Anglos do. The sooner you get the flight, the better. Unless you’re the type that likes to burn the bridges behind you, get a round trip ticket. This helps you allocate your cash better, and gives your journey a since of urgency when you get there on day one.
The next thing is to arrange your ground transportation, which you will use as your primary method to get you between most of the cities you visit. A tried and true method is the EuRail pass, which works if you’re under 26 at the time of issuance, in which case you will get a student discount. I highly advise this, even if it is expensive, because it makes the international travel so much easier, and gives you maximum flexibility on your travel dates. It will also allow for most travel in Western Europe one ticket, but for Central and Eastern Europe, it may be less effective. If you try to arrange individual tickets, it gets very difficult and complicated very quickly, and then you have to worry about a very strict schedule. Thus, if you’re an absolute beginner get a EuRail pass—you’re only young once.
These are the two most important things, and what you want to do next is to find yourself a good backpack. This is what makes backpacking, well, backpacking. Go for a pack that you can carry given your frame size and weight, and make sure it has comfortable shoulder straps. Also ensure that it has straps that you can snap to distribute the weight more evenly. It needs to have a decent amount of internal volume so you can fit your toiletries, a book or two, one extra pair of shoes, a towel, flip flops, changes of clothes, an iPad or tablet, and a sport coat, among other things. There are backpacks I have found that don’t look like big hiking backpacks, but still have nice shoulder straps, that make you a little bit less conspicuous when out in public, so I recommend looking into the options for such a bag. Get a lock! More on this later.
At this point, your flight is arranged, you have a rough idea of how ground transportation will be handled, a backpack, and some general idea of where you want to go. Now you pack your backpack being careful not to over pack, and you remember to pack a rain coat, jacket, etc. It may also be a good idea to pack a flask and a bottle opener/multi-tool.
If you’re one to plan, you can start to research and book your hostels. You can book a first night in a hostel in several cities, and then worry about extending your stay when you arrive, that way you can get a feel of the town, and move on if you don’t like the place. Or, you can book every single night of the whole trip, but at the expense of flexibility. Print out your reservation details and put them in a folder. Unless you like to play fast and lose with your plans, book at least a night or two in your first city so you can get your bearings. Photocopy your important documents and put the copies somewhere safe in your backpack.
Buy travel adapters. Make sure you have what you need based on the countries you’ll visit. Most importantly, figure out the money situation. If you have a credit card, it’s great, because if there’s ever an emergency situation, you’ll have a way to book a room, flight, get medical care, transportation, use an ATM, etc. Otherwise have some emergency cash in a second bank account, or have a relative who can send money if there’s a problem via western union or bank transfer. A general rule of thumb would be: Hostel 30-50 USD a night, food 20 USD if you keep it simple, 20-30USD everything else. That means $70-$100 per day. You can backpack for less, but unless you’re a frugal person, the money will leave your hands sooner than you think, especially when things are unplanned. If you were to go to the grocery store every day and use the kitchen at the hostel you could keep daily food costs at $10 or less-- I’ve seen people do this, but this is not likely unless you are willing to do this process every day or you are short on money.
Make sure your cards are valid for use in Europe by calling your bank. Make sure you have your phone situation worked out. You can get an American plan for travelers that will be expensive but will ensure your phone works in most countries, you can get individual sim cards for each country, or you can go phone-less which I don’t recommend. Have the situation sorted out or else you will get hit with roaming fees once you arrive in Europe.
Arrival
Your flight will be most certainly long and unpleasant in economy class. You will be tired, out of energy, possibly sleepy, and jet-lagged on arrival. So, when you arrive at your destination airport, it is very crucial that you get to your first hostel/hotel as soon as possible. Hopefully you went to the exchange office before you ever left, otherwise you need to get to the airport ATM and get 50-100USD as soon as possible. Yes, the exchange rate won’t be the best, but it is better than going to a currency office at the airport, which offers even worse rates. You now need to secure ground transportation to your hostel, which is hopefully in the city center (more on that later). It’s crucial you get to the first hostel safely, because you’re tired and may make dumb mistakes. Taxis are risky, especially if you don’t speak the language because you could be scammed. If you opt for the taxi route, make sure the airport ground transport people secure one for you. Otherwise an Uber would be a good idea, depending on local laws and availability of Uber. Public transit, shuttles and buses are also a good idea. They’ll go to the city center for a fixed rate, and are most likely cheaper. They’ll also be much safer.
You’ve at this point hopefully made it to the city center, and hopefully your hostel is close by, it may be a good time to get some food, and a cup of coffee, because it may still be a bit too early to check into the hostel. Just get something into you, your body just needs some food and a jolt to the nervous system to get you through your arrival day. Get to your hostel; depending on your budget, you may walk, take public transit, or a taxi.
You’re now at your hostel and it’s time to check in. You have a reservation, or you’ve found a hostel via the internet that has beds for the night. Listen to what the front desk clerk tells you, because the hostel may have certain policies, fees, and even hours the front door is locked (which means you can’t get in). Although lock-outs are becoming less common, and are more prevalent in cheaper hostels, or hostels that are in neighborhoods that have noise restrictions.
Go to your room, which is most likely a public room that has 3,4,6, 8 or more beds. Find an open bed. Find a place to lock your stuff when you’re not in the room. Hopefully there’s a locker that you can put your lock on inside the room, or in a common area, or at the front desk. This is important, because someone will gladly take the opportunity to jack your stuff. Meet the other people in the room if you’re social because they may have a better idea of what the city is like, or may know what’s going on at the hostel. One of the primary reasons you stay at a hostel is because it is cheap, but the other reason you stay at one is because they’re social. So, don’t disregard the social aspect. A lot of backpackers stick together in groups thus it’s not hard at all to meet some new people. Everyone is in the same situation and wants to party, hookup up, and see stuff.
There are basically two types of hostels: party hostels and non-party ones. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. Party hostels are what they sound like. They are hostels where things get crazy, and people party on the premises. You may have trouble sleeping at a party hostel, but sometimes it may be worth the lack of sleep. Non-party hostels may have older guests, noise restrictions, or premises that aren’t good for partying. You can check review websites or the hostel’s website to get a general idea of which one it is. Some hostels that are run by non-profit groups are generally non party-hostels, and are better for people that like to sleep and families.
Take a short nap, but make sure you have your passport very close to you, or locked up. After you’ve taken a short disco nap, it’s time to meet new arrivals in your room or to head out for some food and fun. You may not feel very social because you’re really tired, but it may put you at ease to meet some of your roommates. If your roommates are chill, they’ll likely tell you their plans, share a drink with you, and maybe invite for something they’re going to do later. It can’t really be any simpler, really. Just look out for weirdos. A lot of hostels have bars, so this would be a good place to start if you’re feeling social. People are generally receptive to meeting new people here, so just strike up a conversation or ask if you can sit with a group. Generally they will say yes.
If you’re traveling alone, it’s important to remember that there’s no one to bail you out if anything goes wrong. So be moderate with your alcohol consumption, etc. Or, at least be moderate until you have some experience under your belt.
Traveling to your next destination
You inevitably will have to move on to your next destination. Pack up all your stuff, make sure you have your passport and travel documents, and check out. Make sure your phone has a full charge. It’s now your obligation to get to the train station or less possibly the airport. You can always ask hostel staff for directions or help because they generally travel as well. Walk, take a taxi or public transit to your departure point. Leave enough time to make your train or flight comfortably. If you’re taking a train, be careful outside the train station. A lot of times, more shady elements congregate outside it in Western Europe, so keep your valuables close, and avoid talking to sketchy people outside.
If you’re taking the train, there is one important thing to do before you get on the train if you have a EuRail pass; you need to activate it for it’s first use. Go to the ticket office, and present the pass to the ticket agent. The agent will endorse it and write the date on it. Depending on the pass, you will have a certain time period of unlimited travel, or you will have a set number of travel days. In any case, today is the first day your EuRail pass will be valid/ used.
It helps to research the train you will be taking ahead of time. Sometimes, although not always, there will be a separate seat reservation fee you will have to pay (mainly for flagship trains, like Germany’s ICE or France’s TGV). This is regardless of whether you have a EuRail pass or not. Make sure it is paid if it is applicable to your trip.
One last word about trains: make sure the portion of the train you’re in does not split from the other part of the train, because if it does split you will be sent to the wrong destination if you’re on the wrong section of the train.
Try not to only spend one day in a city, because you will tire out a lot faster if you’re traveling every day.
Destinations
As a first time backpacker to Europe you have a lot of options as far as destinations are concerned. Common destinations include: Paris, London, Edinburgh, Berlin, Rome, Milan, Amsterdam, Stockholm, and so on. A lot of people doing Western Europe will also devote time to Eastern or Central Europe, for example Budapest, Bucharest, Vienna, Croatia, etc. The destination is up to your personal preference, but you will find a lot of backpackers in Western Europe, and the number will in general thin out the further east you go. I’ve see backpackers in Belgrade or Skopje, but these places are a lot more off the beaten path, and harder to get to logistically as well.
It’s a great idea to mix partying and culture. Visiting Berlin would be great because it’s a party city, but maybe Paris would be good too in order to visit museums. The sky’s the limit.
General Advice
•Scamming is very prevalent in Western Europe, so be aware at all times and avoid propositions or approaches on the street from strangers
•When showering at the hostel wear your flip flops and make sure your stuff is locked up. Make sure your passport cash and phone is with you in the shower. These are things that you cannot afford to lose.
•It is better to pay with cash in a lot of places in Western Europe, but don’t carry too much. ATMs will always be close.
•If you’re at a party hostel you may have trouble sleeping. Bring some headphones, or earplugs. If this is an issue, book a private room or find a non-party hostel.
•People will hook up at hostels, even in public rooms, so do your best to ignore any activity.
•Find a common area in the hostel if you want to meet people. Every hostel has some sort of common area.
•Chat up girls. They want to hookup too. It’s not that hard in the party environment of many hostels. Travel is the ultimate aphrodisiac. Many will hookup in shared rooms even if there are others present.
•Be aware of all local laws; I.e. Public drinking, noise restrictions, opening hours for bars, etc.
•Many shared rooms are co-ed! Just be respectful, polite, and not a creep.
•Unplug from social media—your whole experience will be more relaxing and satisfying this way. You also don’t want everyone on your social media to be aware of all the debauchery you’re getting into.
•Don’t hold/carry other people’s stuff that’s not yours.
•Avoiding acting like what your national stereotype is. Part of backpacking is about making real connections and having fun with fellow travelers. Be polite, respectful, and a good listener.
•A lot of hostels offer free walking tours of the city, these are a good idea if you don’t know what to do, or are companion-less
•Hostels may offer pub crawls for a set fee, which are good if you like drinking and socializing with other travelers.
•Costs vary widely from city to city, so be aware of this.
•Be aware of local tipping norms.
•Carry a water bottle in order to stay hydrated.
•Don't be an pussy and tell people you are from Canada if you're not. Own up to being American.
Let me know if you have further questions, or if there's something I forgot to mention. I hope this datasheet helps people new to backpacking have a better first time experience!
~Dragan
