Backpacking Europe for the first time is easiest when you stick to a regional route of three to five connected stops rather than trying to cross the entire continent at once, as this can be very time consuming and lead to exhaustion that doesn’t allow you to fully enjoy your trip. There’s plenty of routes around Europe that will give you the chance to maximise your time, so you can get more done during your adventure.
In this guide, we will help any first-timers backpacking Europe for first time with routes and survival tips. Even if you’re an experienced traveller, this guide might help you get the itch to go backpacking once again, so continue reading.
Backpacking Europe Routes For First Time
Essential First-Time Backpacking Routes
Central Europe
Backpackers have so much opportunity when travelling around Central Europe, as it has so much unique culture that can’t be found anywhere else in the world as well as wonderful landscapes. Here’s the exact route we recommend:
Prague → Vienna → Budapest → Krakow
Choosing this route will give backpackers an easy way of seeing a lot of beautiful places without having to exhaust themselves from travelling extremely long distances. Each of these cities are relatively affordable compared to other popular backpacking destinations, giving you the chance to enjoy fantastic local food, fun activities and comfortable accommodation for a price that fits within your budget.
Transportation between each of these destinations is efficient with both trains and buses being very regular, helping to take you from place to place for just a few Euros. Each of these will also give you a good combination of rich history and great nightlife, so in the daytime you can enjoy a range of walks before going to the local discos later on.
Mediterranean Coast
For backpackers that are looking for more sunny and scenic cities and towns, travelling along the mediterranean coast is heavily recommended. While traversing different landscapes, this gives you the opportunity to visit local beaches and see some stunning coastal views. The best backpacking route we recommend is:
Barcelona → Nice → Cinque Terre → Rome → Split
In Barcelona and Nice, you can visit some world-renowned museums during your visit, as well as enjoying the nightlife, historic monuments and fun social scenes centered in backpacker hubs. You can then make your way to France and Italy, giving yourself some very pleasant beach days on the Riviera and cliffside village-to-village hiking trails along the Ligurian Coast.
Split is where you’ll have the most unique experiences, as there’s so much culture in such a small area. You can visit the Diocletian’s Palace at the city centre, which will then give you access to the Dalmatian Coast islands. Walking around these can be a great experience for both novice and experienced backpackers.
British Heritage Route
Travelling around the UK is perfect for first-time backpackers, especially those who have recently obtained their British Citizenship and are looking for things to do around the country. Since it’s just a small country, it’s great for finding backpacking routes that won’t tire you out as much as going throughout the whole continent. We recommend:
Glastonbury → Conwy → Lake District → Melrose → Pitlochry
Starting in Glastonbury, an ancient market town steeped in Arthurian legend, will give you a great place to improve your British culture knowledge. Here, where you can climb the iconic Glastonbury Tor for free and enjoy plenty of other nature walks. The Glastonbury festival also takes place every year and is the most popular in the UK, so don’t miss out!
The rest of the backpacking Europe route takes you to Wales, Northern England and Scotland, helping you to cover multiple countries. Each of the towns we have mentioned are very popular for backpackers who like hiking around mountain ranges, giving you plenty of wonderful sights to enjoy. You’ll finish at the classic Victorian resort town Pitlochry, which is nestled among pine forests, lochs and historic whisky distilleries.
Top Survival Tips
Pack Light
If you carry too much with you while backpacking, it can wear you out and make you feel exhausted quicker, potentially ruining your experience. Carry-on sized backpacks will fit in all of your essentials and help you to avoid overpacking. Heavy bags will be very miserable to carry around mountain ranges and cobblestone roads.
Budget Properly
Expect to spend around €60–90 daily on a tight budget, especially if you’re travelling to several countries in one backpacking adventure. Keep a financial safety margin for unexpected train changes or accommodation upgrades, helping you to recover in times of emergency. This can also be used to help you get back home safely if anything goes wrong. It should be budget travel Europe trip.
Money Advantages
Always pay in local currency when using cards or ATMs, as this will help you to avoid paying more than you should. You’ll also want to avoid high-fee Euronet ATMs, which charge you extra money to withdraw from.
Hostel Essentials
You’ll be staying in a range of different hostels during your backpacking Europe adventure, so make sure to bring all the necessary hostel gear with you. Bring your own padlock for lockers, a microfiber towel and earplugs for a noisy dorm room, so you can stay safe, clean and comfortable.
Smart Transit
If you’re planning on walking from place to place, it’ll be very challenging. Instead, make it easy on yourself by booking high-speed trains or regional buses based on total travel time and use multi-city flights so you don’t waste any days backtracking. You can also hire your own vehicle or bicycle to help you get from one place to another.
Final Thoughts
Backpacking Europe trip for the first time would be excited. Hope this blog helped you lot to get more information.