Backpacking Europe Itinerary: Routes, Budget, and City Guide
A complete backpacking Europe planning guide covering classic routes, city-by-city time allocation, transport options, hostel booking strategies, and budget management for 2-12 weeks across the continent.
Choose between a focused regional route or a continental circuit
A Western Europe circuit covering London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, and Barcelona takes 3-4 weeks. Adding Southern Europe extends to 6-8 weeks. A full Western, Central, and Eastern Europe loop needs 10-12 weeks. First-time backpackers do better with fewer cities and more days per stop than rushing through 15 countries in 3 weeks.
Allocate 3-4 days per major city and 2 days per smaller stop
Paris, London, Barcelona, Rome, and Berlin each justify 4 full days. Smaller cities like Bruges, Dubrovnik, Cinque Terre, and Salzburg need 2 days. One-night stops create packing fatigue. The best backpacking memories come from slowing down, not from a country count. A 4-week trip visiting 6 cities beats a 4-week trip visiting 12.
Build rest days into your itinerary every 7-10 days
Travel fatigue accumulates. A rest day every 7-10 days to sleep in, do laundry, journal, and eat without rushing prevents burnout. Use rest days in cities with good hostel common areas and parks. By week 3, you will crave a day without sightseeing. Building it in proactively keeps energy levels sustainable.
Research visa-free stay limits for your passport before planning
Most passports allow 90 days visa-free in the Schengen Area within any 180-day period. The UK, Ireland, and non-Schengen Balkans have separate limits. If your trip exceeds 90 days, split time between Schengen and non-Schengen countries. Overstaying results in fines, deportation risk, and future entry bans.
Transport Between Cities
Compare Eurail passes vs individual train and bus tickets
A Eurail Global Pass for 7 travel days within 1 month costs 350-450 EUR. Point-to-point budget train and bus tickets average 20-50 EUR per trip. If you take 7+ long-distance trips per month, the pass saves money. Budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet can be cheaper than trains for cross-country routes.
Book budget airline flights 4-8 weeks ahead for the lowest fares
Budget airlines charge 15-80 EUR for European flights when booked 4-8 weeks early. Prices double or triple within the final 2 weeks. Carry-on-only policies save 20-40 EUR in bag fees. Read baggage rules carefully as every airline has different size and weight limits. A 45x35x20 cm bag is the most universally accepted size.
Use overnight trains and buses to save accommodation costs
An overnight train from Paris to Barcelona or a night bus from Prague to Berlin covers distance while saving one night of hostel cost. Sleeper trains with couchettes cost 40-80 EUR. Night buses on FlixBus cost 15-35 EUR. Bring ear plugs, a sleep mask, and a neck pillow for bus overnights.
Walk and use public transport within cities to save money
European cities are walkable and have excellent metro, tram, and bus systems. A day pass for urban transport costs 5-10 EUR in most cities. Walking between attractions saves money and reveals neighborhood character. Taxis are rarely necessary in European cities with good public transport.
Accommodation Strategy
Book hostels with high social ratings for meeting other travelers
Hostels with common rooms, bars, organized events, and free walking tours create a built-in social network. Solo backpackers benefit most from social hostels. Rating sites show separate scores for social atmosphere, cleanliness, and location. A 4-bed dorm is quieter than a 12-bed dorm but less social.
Mix hostel dorms with occasional private rooms for recovery
A private room every 5-7 nights provides genuine rest, privacy, and personal space to recharge. Budget 15-30 EUR per night for dorms and 40-70 EUR for private rooms. The dorm-to-private ratio depends on your tolerance for shared sleeping. Many hostels offer private rooms at lower prices than budget hotels.
Book 1-3 days ahead in peak season and walk in during shoulder season
Summer in popular cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Prague fills hostels 3-5 days ahead. Shoulder season from April-May and September-October allows more spontaneity. Walk-in rates are sometimes lower than online prices. For flexibility, book the first night and extend after arriving if you like the hostel.
Use hostel kitchens to save on meal costs
Cooking 1-2 meals per day in the hostel kitchen cuts food costs by 40-60%. Supermarket groceries for breakfast and lunch cost 5-10 EUR per day versus 20-30 EUR eating out. Pasta, bread, cheese, fruit, and eggs are cheap and filling. Eat out for dinner to experience local cuisine without spending on every meal.
Budget Management
Track daily spending from day one using a budget app
Set a daily budget and enter every expense. Western Europe averages 50-80 EUR per day for budget travelers; Eastern Europe averages 25-45 EUR. The daily total includes accommodation, food, transport, and activities. Tracking spending in real time shows where money goes and where you can cut back before running out.
Eat like a local to save money on food
Tourist restaurants near major attractions charge 30-100% more than spots 2 blocks away. Follow locals to their lunch spots. Bakeries, kebab shops, markets, and grocery stores provide cheap, satisfying meals. A baguette, cheese, and fruit from a French market costs 5 EUR and is more memorable than a 15 EUR tourist menu.
Take advantage of free activities in every city
Free walking tours operate in nearly every European city. Museums have free days or hours. Churches, parks, markets, and neighborhoods cost nothing to explore. Street art tours are self-guided. Many of the best travel experiences, like watching sunset from a Roman piazza or walking along the Seine, are completely free.
Use a bank card with no foreign transaction fees
ATM withdrawals with standard US or international banks charge 1-3% foreign transaction fees plus 3-5 USD per withdrawal. A no-fee debit card saves 50-150 EUR over a multi-week trip. Withdraw larger amounts less frequently to minimize per-transaction fees. Always decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and choose local currency.
Safety and Practical Tips
Keep copies of your passport in multiple locations
Carry a photocopy of your passport while leaving the original in the hostel locker. Email a scan to yourself for cloud access. Some countries require you to carry ID at all times. Replacing a lost passport at an embassy takes 1-5 business days and costs 100-200 USD, disrupting your trip.
Use hostel lockers and carry a padlock at all times
Hostel theft is uncommon but does happen. Lock valuables in the hostel locker whenever you leave and while sleeping. A combination padlock avoids losing keys. Cable-style locks wrap around larger locker hasps. Keep your day bag secured at crowded tourist sites and on public transport.
Stay connected with a European SIM card or eSIM
A prepaid European SIM card with data costs 15-30 EUR for 30 days with 10-20 GB of data. eSIMs work on compatible phones without a physical card swap. Data access provides maps, translation, hostel booking, and emergency communication. Free hostel and cafe Wi-Fi supplements data but is not reliable enough as your only connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need to backpack Europe?
Budget 40-70 EUR per day for Western Europe and 25-45 EUR per day for Eastern Europe, including hostel dorms, food, local transport, and basic activities. A 4-week Western Europe trip costs 1,600-2,800 EUR plus flights. A mixed Western and Eastern route runs cheaper. Add 500-1,000 EUR as a safety buffer for emergencies and splurges.
What is the best time of year to backpack Europe?
May-June and September-October offer the best combination of warm weather, manageable crowds, and lower prices. July-August is peak tourist season with the highest prices and longest queues. April and late October are cooler but significantly cheaper. Winter backpacking is possible in Southern Europe and cities, but shorter days and cold weather limit outdoor activities in the north.
Is a Eurail pass worth it?
A Eurail pass saves money if you take 4+ long-distance train trips per month and prefer spontaneous travel. Point-to-point budget bus and airline tickets are cheaper for planned routes with fixed dates. The pass adds convenience and flexibility but requires seat reservations on high-speed trains at 10-25 EUR extra. Calculate your specific route costs before deciding.
How do I meet people while backpacking solo?
Stay in social hostels with common rooms and organized activities. Join free walking tours. Sit at communal tables in hostel kitchens and bars. Say yes to group activities and pub crawls. Solo travelers are the majority at most hostels and everyone is open to meeting new people. The first 24 hours feel awkward; by day 3, you will have a rotating group of travel friends.