Making the Most of Your European Backpacking Trip

Backpacking is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture and beauty of Europe. It provides wonderful opportunities to meet other travelers with similar interests. It is also fun, safe and convenient. The public transportation system in Europe is extensive, so getting around without a car is easy. There are many places to stay both within city limits and just outside metropolitan areas. Here are ideas on getting around and places to stay while backpacking that will make your trip even more memorable.

GETTING AROUND

Trains

Train travel offers spectacular views, easy border crossings, comfortable accommodations, and eco-friendly travel. Many trains have cafes or restaurants. The best way to travel around Europe by train is with a Eurail Pass. Eurail passes offer the backpacker many choices of combinations and packages and may even include free or discounted passage on other forms of transportation like ferries, buses, or specialty rail lines. Eurail passes can be ordered before leaving for your trip. Go to Eurail.com for information.

The cogwheel railway system in Switzerland that carries passengers up and down steep mountainsides is fabulous. My favorite cogwheel rail trip travels from the Lauterbrunnen valley, up the side of Mount Eiger, to Grindlewald and then to Kleine Scheidegg. From there the last leg of the trip up to Jungfraujoch is through a steep tunnel inside Mount Eiger.

Boats

Ferries and boats offer fun, relaxing travel with varying levels of accommodations and are excellent ways to travel between or within countries. Traveling by ferry between the Greek Islands is a great way to explore this part of the Mediterranean. Many companies offer one-way, multi-destination, or open tickets. Be sure to check ferry destinations and schedules before planning your itinerary, especially if you intend to do a lot of island hopping. Regional services vary by company. Some boats only leave from and return to Athens, or travel to and from Italy and Greece, or to Turkey and Cypress, while other ferry companies offer trips between islands.

The fjords and Lofoten Islands of Norway, and the Aland Island chain between Finland and Sweden are also places to consider seeing by boat. One of the most incredible boat trips I have ever been on was the HurtiGruten ship that winds its way in and out of breathtaking fjords complete with waterfalls and glaciers, past islands inhabited only by puffins and sea lions, along a 1250 mile stretch of the Norwegian coast. It docks at many ports between Kirkenes and Bergen, and provides travelers with awesome opportunities to disembark and explore.

Buses

Bus travel varies widely depending on the region in which you are traveling. In some places, like London, Paris, Helsinki, or Amsterdam, buses are modern, efficient, and clean. However in other places bus travel is a very different experience of local flavor. Either way, immersion in local culture is the best thing about traveling by bus.

There is nothing more uniquely British than a knuckle whitening ride on the upper level of a world-famous bright red double-decker bus as it squeals wildly around a narrow street corner. In stark contrast, the bus I took from Corfu City to Sidari on the island of Corfu, Greece was one of the most interesting bus rides I've ever been on. The ride took several hours as the bus bounced slowly over dirt and gravel roads, stopping at tiny towns all along the way. Local farmers used this route to travel between villages with their wares, so passengers shared their seats with goats, sheep, chickens, and boxes of produce or merchandise. That bus ride, though slow, crowded, and hot, was a treasured glimpse of local flavor.

PLACES TO STAY

Hostels

Most hostels are close to bus or train routes. Travelers share rooms with one or more other guests and have access to a shared kitchen, bath, and laundry. Many hostels provide an Internet connection and a secure place to store your belongings while exploring the area. Rooms are fairly inexpensive, and travelers can cook meals in the kitchen instead of having to eat out. The most interesting European hostel I have stayed in is the Af Chapman & Skeppsholmen, a floating hostel in a converted sailing ship in Stockholm, Sweden.

Hostelling International is an association that ensures travelers of certain standards regarding the facilities of its member hostels. Individual travelers can also become members and receive various benefits, services, and discounts. Go to HIusa.org or HIhostels.com for information on hostels or membership.

Campgrounds

Camping is popular among international backpackers, so it is a good way to meet people from all over the world. Campgrounds abound in or near most metropolitan areas and many small towns in Europe. Many of them are located close to a bus or train route. The facilities and prices vary, but backpackers who bring a tent, stove, and food will find sufficient accommodations in the majority of campgrounds. Be sure to use a stove that runs on a readily available fuel. I use a Whisperlite Internationale because it accepts several different types of fuel.

You may want to do some research to find campgrounds at stops on your itinerary. One resource is Eurocampings.co.uk. Another good one is the Lonely Planet series of travel guides. The local tourist office will also have information on the area campgrounds.

Trains and Boats

If you are planning to travel by boat, train, or ferry, save the daylight hours for sightseeing and consider an overnight trip. You can travel from place to place and get some sleep at the same time. Overnight trains in Europe are rather common and usually very comfortable, except that a conductor may awaken you at a border crossing. If so, simply show your passport and go back to sleep.

Accommodations on boats, like Norway's Hurtigruten, vary in price and facilities. Even ferries, like ones in the Greek Islands, often offer overnight trips with staterooms and various other sleeping options. Some of them even have showers. One of my best memories of island hopping is sleeping under the stars on a ferry trip to Crete. Several other backpackers and I laid our sleeping bags out on the upper deck and slept out in the crisp, fresh Mediterranean air. When we awoke the next morning, we were docked at the rugged and beautiful island of Crete.

Many of my fondest backpacking memories are from evenings camping or sharing a room at a hostel with other travelers I met. We cooked together, laughed together, swapped stories, learned from each other, and discussed itineraries. Often, I met interesting people on crowded buses on my way to somewhere. Some of the most beautiful scenery I saw was from a boat or a train, as I enjoyed a rest or a leisurely meal on my way to the next place. As you plan your backpacking trip to Europe, remember to make every minute of your trip count. Consider your methods of travel and the places you stay as part of your adventure, too. Anyone can travel to a place, but only a few can truly say that half the fun they had was getting there.