Backing through Europe can be a life-changing experience. While it can be an undertaking, with enough research and forethought, anyone can successfully traverse the continent and partake in this fulfilling adventure.
This all-inclusive guide covers the basics of backpacking through Europe for all experience levels.
What To Pack On A Backpacking Trip?
The first thing backpackers need to consider is what to pack for the journey. Whether it’s a weekend or a month-long one, a clear, informed inventory in your backpack, assembled well before the trip, will help you overcome the obstacles you might encounter on the journey.
Leave no room for confusion while you backpacking by utilizing all the room in your backpack with these essential items for a fulfilling trip:
Clothes
Proper clothing is an absolute necessity for a successful backpacking excursion. Clothes tend to be the bulkiest items in a backpack; the more selective the clothing inventory, the more space available in the bag. Choose outfits based on the purpose they serve and less on their aesthetic appeal.
Here are the bare necessities every backpacker should include in their inventory:
- Hiking footwear
- Socks
- Undergarments
- Pants
- Shirts
- Rain poncho
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Jacket
- Face mask
Plan For The Weather
The weather forecasts can’t be accurately predicted before embarking on a backpacking trip, especially when booked months in advance.
Weather can change abruptly within a day, depending on the location. Always account for the potential of inclement weather when packing attire for the trip.
Base clothing choices on the season; pack a sunhat and breathable attire in the summer and a cold weather cap, layered clothes, and so on for wintertime travel. Researching the weather patterns of a given location based on the time of year can influence what makes for appropriate backpacking attire.
Canteen/Water Bottle
Water sources may be hard to come by throughout a backpacking trip. Backpacking can be exhausting; staying sufficiently hydrated is essential to staying energized and alert while backpacking.
Public water fountains are few and far between in Europe, and constant resupply of bottled water is a grave expense that adds up fast. A water bottle is a must-have item for backpackers on a budget.
Packing a personal canteen or water bottle provides backpackers with a reliable, immediate, and inexpensive means to sustain hydration levels throughout the backpacking experience.
Cell Phone
Cell phones are an intractable part of modern life; naturally, they are a crucial item for a backpacking experience. In an emergency, having a cell phone on hand can make all the difference in one’s safety.
Managing a functioning cell phone in Europe as an international traveler can come with hurdles. The European cellular network may not accommodate non-European providers without first signing onto an accepted international plan.
Most major cellular providers in non-European countries have existing packages wherein backpackers can seamlessly opt into the European cellular network with their existing phone for a fee.
Acquiring a local European SIM card or a prepaid cell phone is another option. Here are more options for effectively maintaining cellular service in Europe as an international traveler.
What Travel Documents Do You Need For Backpacking?
Perhaps the most important items to carry along on a backpacking trip are travel documents; your authorized travel documents are necessary for entering Europe, leaving Europe, and, depending on where you travel, backpacking across Europe.
Here are a few key documents you’ll need for your backpacking trip.
- Passport
- Tickets
- Visa
Passport
Passports are travel documents issued by your home country that verify your identity.
Keeping your passport secure on your person is an essential part of safe backpacking. Passports hold key information about your person: your name, date of birth, physical description, and photo identification. They are required for entering and exiting Europe; losing your passport is a significant hindrance to your trip.
Make sure you know where it is at all times.
Tickets
Backpacking tends to involve a good deal of traveling. Buses, trains, and airplanes are effective ways to cover long distances on a backpacking trip.
Ticketed transit options like these help backpackers see more of Europe. Keeping your ticket inventory in order will help you stay on schedule and get you where you need to be.
Visa
Depending on how long your intended backpacking journey is and where you go, you may need to apply for a visa to gain admittance to Europe.
Visas are documents authorized by the country you are traveling to, not your home country. As such, they may require some to be approved. To facilitate the screening process necessary to gain an admittance visa to Europe, consider applying for ETIAS.
Learn how ETIAS screening may help you gain approval for a travel visa to Europe.
What Are The Best Ways To Travel While Backpacking Across Europe?
- Trains
- Buses
- Planes
- Bicycles
How To Travel By Train While Backpacking
Europe is renowned for its accessible and efficient train network.
Most European countries have a robust rail infrastructure, connecting their cities with each other and even neighboring nations. Because of Europe’s embrace of rail travel, the continent is fairly accessible through rail alone; most metropolitan areas have state-of-the-art train stations that help travelers get where they need to go.
Traveling by train depends on the scope of your trip. Offerings like multi-segment passes can be a great advantage for backpackers, especially those on extended stays. Trains easily accommodate luggage sizes like backpacks, allowing travelers to cover vast distances at a reasonable price.
How To Travel By Bus While Backpacking
Buses are a great way to connect to places overlooked by more intensive transit options like rail or flying.
There may be out-of-the-way locations on your destination list that don’t have immediate access to a local rail station. Europe’s many bus lines can connect travelers to places disconnected from the rail network, allowing higher resolution accessibility in long-distance travel.
Tickets for overnight and long-distance buses are generally inexpensive travel options.
How To Travel By Plane While Backpacking
Flying into Europe can be expensive. Once inside Europe, travel between European nations can be surprisingly inexpensive.
Several budget airlines offer decently priced routes between distant cities, often for a better price than railway options. For backpackers looking to cover more ground faster, airlines can be an effective means to do so.
If you’re traveling between non-participating nations in the E.U. and Schengen Area, there may be different requirements for admittance.
Learn more about the European nations included within these free travel zones so you can plan ahead for any additional transit obstacles.
How To Travel By Bicycle While Backpacking
Intrepid backpackers should consider using bicycles as a means of transport while traveling Europe.
Many European cities have devoted significant effort to make their streets bicycle-friendly. The top ten most bike-friendly cities in the world are all in Europe. Using a bicycle can achieve short to medium-distance travel with surprising safety and efficiency. Some trains and bus lines will even allow travelers to store their bicycles on board.
Bikepacking is increasingly popular amongst European travelers. Many dedicated bike lanes exist within cities and beyond their metro limits. Bicycles are an inexpensive, immersive way to see all Europe offers.
Where To Stay When Backpacking In Europe: Hotel vs. Hostel?
Regarding lodging arrangements on a backpacking journey, the options generally narrow down to hotels and hostels. They both have their benefits and drawbacks; learn more about each before booking your backpacking trip.
Hotels
Hotels provide travelers with a single room to themselves.
Booking a hotel while backpacking can provide a respite after a long day of travel. Hotels generally operate at a consistent and higher standard. They often come with additional amenities like complimentary breakfasts and entertainment options.
Prices can vary between hotel rooms; generally, they tend to be higher in price than hostels. While they may be more expensive than hostels, hotels provide backpackers with an increased degree of privacy.
Hostels
Hostels differ from hotels in their arrangements; while some hostels may have private rooms at a higher rate, the rooms are usually shared between multiple guests.
Because they are shared living spaces, hostels tend to be more affordable than hotel rooms. For many backpackers, the communal living of hostels is a benefit; they can be a great way to meet other friendly travelers.
Backpackers eager to meet new people and accommodate their budget should consider booking their lodgings at a hostel.
ETIAS Helps You Backpack Across Europe With Ease
Backpackers eager to explore Europe may find the most difficult part of the journey is getting to the continent in the first place.
Recent legislation passed by the E.U. may affect international travelers' ability to visit Europe without a visa. Learn if the ETIAS requirements affect your prior to your departure to Europe.
Sources:
How To Use Your Phone Overseas | New York Times
The 20 Most Bike-Friendly Cities On The Planet, Ranked | Wired