40 Helpful Tips For Backpacking Through Europe
Backpacking happens to be one of the many things that travelers are interested in undertaking especially people seeking for adventure. For those who may not be in the know, backpacking is a kind of travel which involves traveling with all of your necessities in a backpack during a trip while moving from place to place.
However, backpacking is not as easy as it seems and there are so many variables to take into consideration for a smooth and enjoyable backpacking experience.
This article should serve as a guide for anyone interested in making their quest for their quest for backpacking through Europe a success.
1. Get a Backpack
This should be at the top of your travel checklist. A strong, roomy, compartmentalized and comfortable backpack with sturdy and adjustable straps is your best bet.
2. Choose your Destination
It’s unwise to get on the road without properly deciding on all the places you want to visit while on your trip. If you’re on a tight budget, then think of exploring budget-friendly locations and stick to those.
3. Book your Flight
Getting a plane ticket early enough will save you stress and money. Research for the cheaper options when it comes to airfare.
4. Look for Cheap Accomodations
The goal of backpacking is actually the chance of saving some money while traveling. Cheap lodging is recommended if you are looking at saving some coins. Instead of regular hotels, you can opt for Airbnb’s, couch surfing, house-sitting and even outdoor camping.
5. Check Travel Documents
Ensure all your travel documents including your passport, ID, Visas and even plane ticket are all intact. It’s best to conduct a comprehensive research of all documents required for travelers in your preferred destination.
6. Travel Light
Since you’ll be moving around with a backpack, it’s best to pack only the necessary items you’ll be needing during your trip to avoid having too much of a backache.
7. Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance is a must especially if you are traveling to Europe from a different continent. Insurance is a lifesaver for situations like accidents, illness, misplaced or stolen items.
8. Carpooling
Carpooling with the locals can help you save a lot of money that you would have to spend when trying to get around in your location.
9. Renting a Ride
Renting a ride is also another cheap alternative to help you get around.
10. Train Travel
This is still by far the cheapest form of public transport in most parts of Europe and it saves the backpacker a lot of coins.
11. Travel with a Refillable Water Bottle
That way, you can easily access free water from fountains which happen to be everywhere I Europe rather than spending money on bottled water.
12. Learn Popular Phrases
Learn some of the popular key phrases in the local dialect of you are backpacking to a place where you don’t speak the language. It’ll help you in making purchases or finding your way if you get lost. You can write out the commonest sentences on paper for ease.
13. Local Dishes
Eating local dishes will save you a lot of money.
14. Free Food
Enjoy free food by eating the samples at farmers markets which are always free.
15. Opt for the Countrysides
Opt for the countrysides if you want to save more money as being stuck in the city results in spending more money than you planned.
16. Visit Museums
Visit museums and tourist attractions on free days. If you’re in Italy for instance, The Vatican museum offers free entry on September 27 commemorating world tourism day.
17. Wear Comfortable Shoes
Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes if you are going to do some walking around.
18. Shop Operating Times
Be aware that in so many European destinations, shops and supermarkets are all closed on Sundays so plan accordingly.
19. Take your Time
There are a lot of picturesque places to see in Europe so don’t be in a rush but let the beauty of each location you visit soak in.
20. Ease Yourself at Restaurants
Most locations in Europe require that you pay to use the public restrooms so always ease yourself whenever you are at the restaurant, mall or museum.
21. Enjoy Free Events
There are a lot of free events happening in Europe almost every other day, so if you are a concert lover, look up what’s happening around you and pull up.
22. Enjoy Night Life
Europe is fun on a whole different dimension during the wee hours of the night as so many destinations are famous for the bubbling night life.
23. The beach is a great spot for the relaxation of the typical backpacker.
24. Avoid traveling to a location during it’s peak season to avoid any unnecessary price hikes.
25. Sometimes, it’s fun to allow yourself get lost and wander off into new places. You’d be amazed at what you stumble upon.
26. Ensure to travel with a guidebook.
27. A high speed data plan for your phone for your phone and laptop will do you a lot of good during your backpacking adventure.
28. Never trust public WiFi especially if you are going to enter your credit card information.
29. Sadly, not everyplace is as safe as you’d assume, avoid giving away the fact that you are a tourist at all locations.
30. To avoid long queues at museums and other tourist attractions, arrive at least two hours before closing time.
31. Go hiking and stretch those beautiful legs.
32. Spend your money only on the things you enjoy not on what’s popular.
33. A picnic at the local park is loads of fun.
34. Purchase your bus tickets before you get on board. Never attempt to sneak in and out.
35. Be wary of tourist scams.
36. Avoid showing off any expensive possessions that you may have on you. Items including smartphones, jewelry,etc.
37. Never take your eyes off your backpack.
38. Keep photocopies of your travel documents just in case you lose the originals.
39. Padlocking your backpack decreases chances of losing items inside.
40. Making new friends while on a journey is among one of the best memories for the traveler.
Conclusion
Backpacking through Europe is supposed to be super fun and less expensive and stressful once you follow all the tips that apply to you and your destination. Apart from cutting down your budget considerably, backpacking gives you the freedom to live in the edge and see the world on your terms.
Frequntly Asked Questions
Is it safe to backpack through Europe?
Europe is considered very safe as a continent and very accessible to tourists as cities and countries are well linked.
How much money do you need to backpack through Europe?
Depending on where you are traveling from and the part of Europe you intend to visit, make an average daily budget of $150 to $200.
Where do you sleep for free when backpacking through Europe?
A free night’s rest can be gotten in train stations, 24 hour bars and restaurants and camping outdoors.
