12 Essential Tips for a Smooth Backpacking Adventure Through Europe

From sprawling cities like Paris and quaint seaside towns like Hvar to picturesque mountain landscapes in Switzerland and vast glaciers in Iceland, Europe is a fascinating destination with much to see. As such, many travelers decide to backpack through Europe so they can see more in a short space of time.

However, to plan and execute the perfect European adventure, you must know plenty of things first. That’s where we come in. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 12 tips for backpacking through Europe. These tips will ensure you experience the best of Europe while enjoying a hassle- and stress-free journey.

Don’t Try To Do Too Much

Our number one tip for backpacking through Europe is to avoid trying to do too much. Europe is an exciting destination with many beautiful places to explore, so cramming as much as possible into one trip can be tempting. However, that would be a huge mistake because you’ll risk ruining your trip.

By planning to do too much, you’ll likely rush around each place you visit. This will cause you to miss some main attractions and make you feel exhausted. Instead, we recommend selecting a sensible number of places and taking your time. That way, you can see what each place offers and enjoy a more relaxed trip.

Plan Your Route Carefully

Similarly, efficient route planning is critical to any backpacking trip in Europe. You can minimize travel time and costs by carefully planning a route where your desired destinations are close together. You can also save money on flights by starting your journey in cities where flights are cheaper.

If you’re planning a budget-friendly European trip, we recommend visiting Eastern Europe. Travel, accommodation, food, and drink are much cheaper than in Western Europe, and you can expect fewer crowds. Alternatively, Western Europe is a better option if you want to visit Europe’s most iconic attractions. Rome2Rio is helpful in finding affordable transport options and planning your route.

Make Copies of Your Travel Documents

It might seem unnecessary at the time, but making copies of your travel documents can be a lifesaver should anything go wrong, which, unfortunately, isn’t out of the question. If you lose or misplace your passport during your trip, getting home will be much easier if you already have copies.

You can use copies of your passport to obtain an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) at an embassy. This will allow you to return home if you’re stuck abroad without your physical documents. In case you lose your phone, it’s also worth taking copies of essential phone numbers, such as your bank and loved ones. That way, you can still get in contact if necessary.

Purchase Travel Insurance

Yes, filling out a travel insurance quote, searching for the best deals, and taking insurance out is long-winded and boring, but it’s also crucial to your trip. With any luck, you won’t have to use it during your European adventure, but if you do, it’s better to have it than not. Besides, it’s often very affordable.

Travel insurance provides financial cover, peace of mind, and support in unexpected situations. These include property theft, missing luggage, medical treatment, and medical repatriation. One of the best travel insurance providers on the market is Safety Wing. This provider offers affordable and flexible international travel insurance plans and 24/7 support.

Visit Lesser-Known Tourist Destinations and Attractions

While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with planning a trip to Europe that includes all the most famous and popular places and attractions, it would be foolish to disregard lesser-known and lesser-traveled destinations. Across Europe, you’ll find many hidden gems that offer backpackers the opportunity to discover something new.

For example, while London is the premier tourist destination in the United Kingdom, Liverpool in Northern England has many fascinating attractions, such as the Cavern Club, home of the Beatles. Meanwhile, just a short drive from Lisbon, Portugal, you’ll find a fairytale medieval town called Sintra. With this in mind, explore Europe’s hidden gems during your trip to create more unique memories.

Invest in a High-Quality Backpack

I’ve learned from personal experience that a high-quality backpack is essential when backpacking through Europe. We all know how tempting it can be to purchase a more affordable backpack. However, in this case, it could be one of your biggest mistakes. Trust me, I’ve been there and done it.

In my experience, more affordable backpacks aren’t comfortable, durable, or reliable enough for backpacking. They can even make you feel sore. Admittedly, they’re fine for a week-long trip but not for anyone traveling for multiple weeks or longer. Instead, you need a high-quality backpack with plenty of back support, comfort, and durability. I’ve traveled with an Osprey men’s backpack for almost ten years, and it’s still going strong.

Pack Light

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Regarding backpacks, it’s worth remembering that you’ll likely be carrying around all your luggage for significant periods of time during your backpacking trip through Europe. Therefore, we recommend packing light so you don’t have to struggle with all your things. Besides, packing light gives you more room in your backpack to pick up souvenirs and mementos.

To pack light, opt for thinner and lighter clothing items, minimize the amount of liquids you carry, go easy on the books and electronic devices, and avoid packing things you don’t need. For example, you’ll unlikely need sunscreen for a visit to Iceland in December. It’s also worth noting that you can pick up most things, for example, shampoo, at your destination.

Only Travel With a Carry-On

One of the best ways to save money traveling through Europe is to only travel with a carry-on. Most European airlines offer affordable flight deals to draw travelers in before charging exorbitant fees to add luggage to your booking. However, a carry-on bag is often included in your booking or can be added for a much smaller fee.

Therefore, you can save some serious cash by traveling without a checked-in bag or suitcase. Furthermore, you won’t have to wait at the airport for your bag. You can simply get off the plane and leave the airport. Of course, this will require you to pack more efficiently, but you can do that with the tips we looked at in the previous tip.

Eat Like a Local

European Spots with the Best Street Food Scenes Krakow Poland — © maryviolet / Adobe Stock

If you’re on a tight budget, eating in tourist trap restaurants is one of the biggest money mistakes you can make. The restaurants surrounding popular tourist attractions are almost always more expensive than smaller, less popular, local ones found a few streets away. They also tend to offer less authentic experiences, with foods aimed at the masses.

With this in mind, steer clear of restaurants at or near famous tourist attractions and visit the local food establishments a ten or 15-minute walk away. That way, you’ll find more affordable, authentic, and unique dining experiences. Europe has some of the world’s most excellent cuisines, so try many local dishes.

Make the Most of Freebies

Another excellent way to save money backpacking through Europe is to make the most of the freebies. Unfortunately, Europe’s most famous attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Colosseum in Rome, are expensive to enter. Therefore, tourist attractions will likely become one of your most considerable costs.

Luckily, you can avoid overspending by visiting free attractions alongside one or two famous places. For example, many European cities offer backpackers free walking tours. An experienced guide usually leads these tours. They’re a great way to familiarize yourself with the city and visit other noteworthy attractions. Many European tourist destinations also offer free entry to museums.

Don’t Flash Your Expensive Belongings

Generally speaking, Europe is a safe place for backpackers to travel. However, like anywhere in the world, some issues remain, including petty theft. In most European cities, including Barcelona, Rome, London, and Paris, pickpocketing and tourist theft are common in tourist hotspots. As a result, you need to stay vigilant to avoid being the next target.

Luckily, avoiding pickpockets is relatively easy. For starters, always keep your belongings close to you in a zipped-up pocket or bag. Secondly, and arguably most importantly, don’t publicly flash your expensive personal belongings. For example, don’t leave your $1,000 phone on the table when eating outside a restaurant or leave your bag open on a train.

Be Flexible

The final European backpacking tip on our list involves being flexible. Being flexible is one of the most important things you must do when backpacking through Europe. Flexibility often leads to unexpected adventures, new opportunities, and savings. This flexibility might mean visiting a lesser-known place, traveling with friends you’ve made at a hostel, or taking a last-minute bus to somewhere new.

Part of being flexible requires you to be open to changing your plans. As such, I don’t recommend planning your entire European itinerary before you leave home. Instead, book your outbound flight and your first accommodation. After that, live life on the edge a little, booking accommodation and transport as you go.