Unfortunately there is not much information out there to help you create the perfect itinerary to plan your time backpacking around Europe. Hopefully this can serve as a useful guide to those just starting to think about the places that they would like to visit whether they are backpacking through Eastern Europe or going to more traditional destinations.
#1 Where do you want to go?
The first thing to do before you get down to the nitty gritty details of visas and transport, the first thing to do is sit down and decide which countries you would like to see. If you want backpack through Iceland and swim in the blue lagoon, see Gaudi’s fantastic buildings in Barcelona or party the night away in Paris, now is the time to decide.
See Amazon.com’s European travel guide books for further inspiration
A fantastic picture of The Blue Lagoon. Would you like to swim here on your backpacking trip?
Sit down for a few hours with a map and choose where you want to go. With the huge variety that Europe has to offer I guarantee that you will get carried away with the number of places you want to visit but don’t worry, next we will look at how it will all fit together.
#2 Does your itinerary work logistically?
After brainstorming the places that you want to see the next thing to do is see whether your backpacking itinerary fits together logically. This is a crucial step that will save many possible headaches in the future. The best way to ensure that you have an incredible time while backpacking through Europe is to make a detailed plan so you leave nothing to chance. One of the most important questions to ask yourself is ‘How long do I want to spend in each country?’, make sure you allow yourself enough time to visit all the sights and attractions before you move on. Our country guides section may be useful
#3 Make sure you plan your transport carefully.
This may seem a little obvious but you would be surprised how many people have been caught out by this one. When planning an independent trip it is crucial to plan exactly the time and dates of your travel for each stage of your backpacking trip. Each country and method of transport will have a different booking website and although it will take some time to look at all the options but it will really pay off.
#4 How much will it cost?
The next essential Europe backpacking itinerary tip is to make sure you create a detailed budget for your trip. On an independent trip the only way you will be able to find out how much it will all cost is to sit down with a pen and paper to work out all the costs you will encounter along the way. Can I afford to stay in hotels or would it be better to save money and stay at hostels? How much money will I spend on food each day? There are many questions that you will need to answer, just remember that costs significantly vary depending on the country you are backpacking through!
#5 Am I happy with my itinerary?
Once you have answered all the above questions, go back and ask yourself if you are happy with the plans that you have made. You will have to make a trade off with what you want to see and do, but if you are unhappy with your itinerary just go back and change it around.
Backpacking in Europe is a daunting task, especially for the first time, but by making a detailed plan you can make sure that you have an amazing trip. To see an example itinerary have a look at the Backpacking Europe Itinerary page.
See Amazon.com’s European travel guide books for further inspiration
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