Europe is very easy to backpack and many Europeans love backpacking so the continent is well set up for it. Europe is a large and diverse place with many different stunning countries to see and explore. It is possible to travel anywhere in Europe hassle-free and Europe famously has scores of super cheap flights connecting cities all over the continent. Europe is in many ways a backpacker's dream and a great place to get used to the art of backpacking for those just starting out. There are a number of things to keep in mind with backpacking in Europe and backpacking in general though.
Don't Pack Too Much
One of the golden rules with backpacking is not packing too much. What one packs, one has to carry. It also limits one's options as if it turns out that the backpacker needs something else and the bag is fully packed, then something needs to be thrown out.
- Tip: To Avoid Backing To Much Get A Modest Sized Backpack
The Europeans love camping and backpacking, consequently, one can easily buy anything one needs while in Europe. The Europeans have many great quality backpacking and camping brands as well as many cheap but still good quality brands. One of the main large and cheaper outdoor chain stores in Europe is Decathalon.
Typically there is never a good reason to get a backpack larger than 70 liters or to carry more than 20 kgs or 45 pounds.
- Tip: If The Backpack Is Over 45 Pounds, It's Over Packed (Less For The Average Woman)
Consider What One Is Going For
If one is going to Europe to hike in the mountains, then it is very important to carry as little as possible and have proper outdoor clothing. If one is planing mostly to explore the many old cities and castles around Europe and one is planning to take normal transportation around the continent, then one can afford to carry more as one is not likely to carry the backpack too much. It is likely to stay in the hostel.
- Tip: Get A Backpack With A Day Bag, Day Bags Are Very Useful When Walking Around The City Or For Excursions
If one is going for an extended period of time, then consider taking a laptop. This, among other things, gives the opportunity to work remotely online and extend one's trip indefinitely.
Transportation Around Europe
Unlike America, Europe is well connected with public transportation, there are plenty of well-performing trains running to most destinations in the continent. Also, there are scores of buses connecting everything in Europe (buses in Europe are pleasant and don't have the reputation that they do in America as being for the lower social-economic who can't drive or afford to drive for some reason).
- Trains: Europe Has Great Trains
Europe is also teeming with scores of cheap flights. These flights connect just about every destination around the continent. Cheap airlines include:
- Ryanair Air
- Wizz Air
- Pegasus Airlines
- Easy Jet
One very important thing is to consider choosing and packing one's backpack for these cheap flights. One can easily find cheap flights for $10 or $15 around the continent but they are always without checked luggage. The cost of checked luggage can be several times the cost of cheap flights. If it is possible to travel light while in Europe, then consider finding a backpack that meets the carry-on dimensions of these airlines and only packing it to the permissible carry-on weight. This is how many European backpackers travel around the continent.
- Tip: Consider Packing To Meet Airline's Carry On Regulations
For those who wish to backpack around Europe by car but don't want to hire a car or hitchhike (hitchhiking is quite common in Europe outside of the Meditteranean), then there's BlaBlaCar. BlaBlaCar is a very popular ride-sharing site that enables people to share the cost of traveling from one city to another. Open an account and see if anyone is traveling the route desired and see how much they are asking to contribute to the cost of the trip. Of course, if one hires and car, then one can make offers on BlaBlaCar too.
Hostels & Accommodation
Europe is full of hostels all over. There are plenty of budget options and the main sites for booking hostels are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com.
- Booking: Main Budget Accommodation For Backpackers Is Listed On Booking.com and Hostelworld.com
It is also common for backpackers in Europe to travel with Couchsurfing. Couchsurfing.com is a website where people can host travelers in their homes for free, and travelers and ask prospective hosts in the destination to be hosted for free.