First time backpacking europe summer

Don't forget to factor in travel time! Some of your distances are quite far and you will need much of a day to get from one place to the next in several cases. If you factor in travel time you will either lose time from your itinerary or need to extend your stay to stay. Adding a day of travel between your current destinations gives you a trip of about 43 days in length.
We have backpacked extensively in Europe for long periods of time - you'll have a great time! You can totally do this trip...you're right - lots of destinations but it will be fabulous!

Take less stuff rather than more - believe me you won't be sorry! If you find that you have brought to few pairs of socks or undergarments, etc., you can always purchase them. Carrying too much on your back is miserable and something we learned the hard way on our first trip!

Make sure to schedule 1/2 day for laundry every 7 days or so. You need to plan for this so that you don't eat into your sightseeing time. You can also leave your laundry to be done at a cleaners but make sure to budget for this...it can be expensive but it can be well worth it to preserve time.

If you plan on buying souvenirs it's worth it to mail them home rather than carrying them in your pack for the remainder of your trip.

Most hostels offered lockable cabinets - check their individual websites to determine how that works for each one. You will be able to leave your backpack there while sightseeing. If you arrive before check-in time most of them will allow you to store your backpack until you come back and check in.

Don't bring bottles of shampoo or lotion...buy travel sizes and purchase new ones along the way. Liquids are extremely heavy. Pack any liquids in zip-loc baggies in case they leak.

Bring a mix-and-match wardrobe where everything can be worn with everything else...last summer I chose "colors of a stormy sea", all blues and greys...I usually bring fewer bottoms than tops as these can be worn 2 or 3 times before really needing to be washed.

Bring clothes that you can layer for warm or cold weather and bring a lightweight rain jacket. Bring two pairs of shoes in case one gets wet which they most likely will knowing your destinations!

Don't bring "book" travel guides...use downloadable guides on a smart phone instead to save on weight. If you must use a book, then tear out the sections that are relevant to your trip rather than taking the whole thing.

Sometimes carrying a backpack is a lot for your feet to take and you might get blisters....I always carry mole skin in case I get a blister. It's designed for backpackers and is much better than using band aids that will fall off. They sell it at outdoors and sporting goods stores.

Hi,

Of course, you can do this trip in 5 weeks, esp at your age. Leaving out Ireland and Greece I would have done the same. True, Krakow to Prague can be done by night train, which saves you a day. Hostel have lockers in your room nowadays. The ones I have encountered use a card key which opens the locker as well as your room door. I don't think it is necessary to bring the sleeping bag liner since the hostel provides sheets free of charge, which you get in a sealed pack at check in. The white sheets in this pack are ironed and starched. The only part that may surprise you in the hostel experience is that at check-in the hostel wants to keep a picture ID of you during your stay, which is returned at check-out after you turn in the card key. It's like keeping your picture ID hostage until the card key is returned. I give them my Calif Dr Lic, the first time doing that I was a bit nervous in their losing it, etc...but no fear...everyone does likewise. I always got it back at check out. Hostels take credit cards.

From your itinerary you have Munich and London. Those two cities have a Wombats Hostel, a private independent chain. What I described is my hostel experience staying in Wombats Hostels, very satisfactory with a very helpful staff. Their Munich hostel is located 2-3 mins from Munich Hbf. I would suggest bring a combination lock since you might need that at other hostels....I know it's extra weight.

One sees all sorts of ages at the hostel, from kids at 18 and retirees in their 60s, all sorts on nationalities...US, German, Koreans, Mandarin Chinese, British, Japanese, Australian, Argentinian, etc

Use websites like hostelworld.com to research hostels. Read the descriptions and the reviews to get an idea. Some have a frat-party vibe, others are strict about quiet hours. Choose what works for you. Pay attention to location. If it isn't central, you'll spend time and money getting to the center. It's a good idea to have a list of hostels before you go, whether you pre-book or not.

Plan your itinerary carefully, whether you book train tickets in advance or not. For flights, the sooner you buy, the cheaper it'll be. Read carefully and know all the fees before booking. Look at the cabin baggage limits - expect them to be strictly enforced. Figure out how much time it will take to get from place to place. bahn.de is the German train website, use it to find train schedules all over Europe. Be sure to allow time to get from hostel to train station and enough time in the station to find your train.

You will have a locker in the hostel only for the time you are checked in. That's usually from mid-afternoon until mid-morning. On the days of arrival and departure, there may be luggage storage available, but it is very likely to be a closet that many people have access too. Many train stations have secure luggage storage, but it adds costs. If you are traveling in the morning, you have to store your luggage when you get to the next destination, then start sightseeing. If you are traveling later in the day, you have to store your luggage, before sightseeing, then pick it up before continuing your trip. Many sights will not allow entry with a backpack.

I would seriously reconsider taking a large, expensive DSLR on a backpacking trip. It may attract the attention of thieves. A good point-and-shoot camera will take very good photos under nearly all circumstances. If you plan to take a lot of photos, you will want to back them up. Figure out a way, so you don't lose them. Have spare batteries and memory cards so you will always be ready for the next photo op.

Shoes and sandals (you will want sandals when it's hot) need to be comfortable, broken in, and with thick soles or the cobblestones will kill you. I'd bring a sturdy rain poncho, a sun hat, sun glasses and sunscreen.

Switzerland/Italy/Greece. Where? So much to see and do!! How are you getting from Italy to Greece? Are you flying open-jaw into Dublin and out of Athens? If you don't have your flights yet, consider all the advice you get here and work out your itinerary with actual train/flight times before booking to avoid getting messed up with the planning.

Will your plan will work for you? Figure out how much sightseeing time you have in each stop, how much you'll spend on transportation in time and money and decide if it's worth it or if you want to cover less distance. For instance, you could see small towns between big cities. Or take day trips without changing locations.

I would have been happy to leave Ireland and Greece for another time, adding in Paris, plus more time in Switzerland and Italy. Of course, you'll have a great time. Stay safe and enjoy.

Such great advice! THANK YOU! I've been researching this trip since October now! I do have trains and ballpark times picked out. Which also is helping budget planning.

We are planning on booking hostels ahead of time since this will be during the busy summer season. We are also going to be booking any train tickets that we can get a discount on by purchasing ahead of time or could get sold out. Is this a good idea? Do hostels tend to over book frequently?

How is it to navigate the cities/ train stations? I'm nervous I'm going to look like a young blonde american girl, confused and lost. Any tips?

Any suggestions on the types of shoes? Brand? I have a pair of sturdy leather sandals with thick soles.

With hostels can we use a school ID instead of licenses? (We are teachers)

In Switzerland we will be taking the Golden Pass Express from Lucerne, Interlaken and Zermatt. We know it is going to be a jammed packed trip through Switzerland but we think it will be worth it.

We are unsure where in Italy. We were looking around the Amalfi Coast... But then we have to think how are we going to get there??!? Any tips/suggestions?

Getting from Italy to Greece is still up in the air. We were thinking about possibly flying into one of the Greek islands (the only flight we will take while in Europe) then take a ferry back to Athens where we will fly out of.

Again thank you all for your kindness in taking the time to respond in such detail!

A few things about hostels:

Not every one has lockers inside the rooms for you to stow a backpack. And of those that do provide a locker, you may occasionally find that a larger backpack will not fit inside the locker (some "lockers" are just really small cubbyholes). You do need to have your own padlock for a locker in many hostels. For those places without any lockers, I would recommend you have at least one lock to secure at least one set of zippers on your pack if you need to keep valuables there, and also have a cable lock so you can affix it around something (like the bed frame) and lock your pack to it. The cable lock also comes in handy if you are going to be sharing a sleeper car on a train with other guests, or if you have to take a train and leave your bag on a luggage rack that is out of your direct line of sight.

Many hostels will not let you use your own sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner or sheets. This is due to risk of bed bugs. A lot of hostels (particular boutique ones) now include bed linens in the rate - and those that do not will often rent them to you for 1-2 Euro a night. Bring a lightweight bath towel or a quick drying camping towel as well as flip flops to wear in the bathroom/showers. I also like having a sleep mask and earplugs if I am going to be staying in a dorm room as you will have people coming and going throughout the night or early morning and some will flip on overhead lights, or you end up near a snoring person.

Not all hostel rooms have ample places to charge iPhones, iPads and other electronic items. Do not leave your electronics charging unattended at a hostel in the dorm or common areas unless you are getting a private room for just the 2 of you. Many hostels have on-site coin-op laundry facilities, so it's highly unlikely you will need to even find a laundromat unless you wanted to pay the extra to have them do your laundry for you. I find it's just as easy to throw in a load of wash right before I jump in the shower and by the time I am done, I can transfer it over to the dryer and before I am ready to go out for the day or night, my clothes are clean and dry. Many hostel laundry rooms also sell single use packets of laundry detergent for 1 Euro or less, so not necessary to lug it around in your pack.

For 2 people traveling together, depending on your budget, sometimes hostels are not the best option financially and if you are pre-planning some of your trip, you might find a budget hotel, B&B or guest house is close to the cost of a hostel. University lodging might also be something you want to look into as many colleges and universities will rent out their dorm rooms to tourists during the summer months (all the perks of a hostel, but typically with more privacy as many rooms are singles or doubles and often include their own private bathroom).

Some hostels will want to see your passport when you check in, not just your school ID card from your teaching job. The ID from your job as a teacher may come in handy when you are visiting cultural sites. It can't hurt to try to see if someone might give you discounted admission for being a teacher to a museum or historical site.

For shoes, I would not bring more than 2 pair and the flip flops to wear back at the hostel or on the beach. I know a lot of women like to bring high heels or sandals with a heel as something to wear out at night, but there is a lot of cobblestone and the heels make the shoes relatively useless during the day for any sightseeing. I recommend a cute pair of flats that you can wear out at night and also during the day.

On hostels being "overbooked" or booked up? Yes, it does happen. I've seen phone calls made to the Wombats in Vienna on Mariahilferstrasse where the caller has to hear the disappointing news that hostel is booked up on the particular week-end. Of course, these are attempt at last minute reservations. On batteries for the camera, bring several, esp if the AAA size, batteries are generally expensive.

On going from Italy to Greece: there is the ferry connection from Brindisi, an option other than flying.

Your ID in Europe is going to be your passport so you don't need to worry about a driver's license unless you plan to drive, which is sounds like you are not planning to do. As a fellow teacher I can tell you that your employee ID card or your union membership card get you small discounts here and there but it's really nothing too significant.
Yes! Book everything you can ahead of time if you want to save money. This means, though, that you remove all flexibility from your trip. If you LOVE a place and want to stay longer, you can't since you have pre-booked tickets.
I have never stayed in a hostel that is overbooked but you absolutely do need reservations in summer. They fill up. Really read the reviews carefully if you are staying in independent hostels. Many are lovely but there are some that are absolute cesspools!!
As far as being young, female, and blonde...Europe is crawling with young, female, blonde people! You will not stand out one bit. Train and bus stations are filled with people looking lost, staring at schedule boards. Just be very aware of your surroundings, don't take advice or speak to strangers who seem eager to help you (they are most likely up to no good), and walk confidently once you figure out which way you are going. Since there are two of you, one can figure out your logistics and the other can keep a watchful eye out. That's not to say that there is danger on every side - quite the contrary - but it's always when you least expect it that someone may try to take advantage of you. In 30+ years of traveling in Europe I've never once had an issue but I have encountered very "friendly" people who are clearly testing me to see what they can get away with. Just keep your eyes open and your radar on!

Hi,

Another item: You most definitely need to have your passport handy at check-in at the hostel (or hotel) since you have to fill out the passport number on the form (in Germany it's the Meldeschein), and indicate your nationality.

Leave the sleep sack at home. You'll always get sheets provided (usually a duvet cover and fitted sheet).

I think Rick Steves' statement "occasionally you'll have to pay extra for sheets" is really outdated-- fuzzy memory of the 70's perhaps.

Some hostels' bedding is more comfortable than others, but there's no cleanliness concern.

True...in the 1970s in German HI hostels one did have to pay for sheets if you answered "no " to the question of having linen (Bettwäsche) asked at check-in.

If you are planning to stay in 2-bed private rooms in hostels, you definitely have to reserve well in advance. There aren't many and they go quickly, even in off-season. And the smaller dorm rooms fill up quicker than the bigger ones.

You may be asked to leave photo ID as a "security deposit" when you take audio guides, for instance. I carry my driver's license. If it gets lost or stolen, it's easy enough to replace when I get home and it's not going to be a problem on the trip. I would expect your teacher's ID to work too. Take both. You might even be able to get a discount at some sights. While teacher's discounts are generally limited to residents, some places may not be strict about it. And the ticket seller may just be a in good mood.

Italy The Amalfi coast is both far and time-consuming to reach. There are so many wonderful places to visit in Italy. Start by looking for flights between Italy and Greece. Go to the wiki page for each Greek airport that may suit your plan (sorry, haven't been to Greece at all . . . yet). Anyway, toward the bottom of the page, there's a chart listing the airlines and destinations for that airport. Then look at what's near the Italian airports you can use and what's near them. Or do it the other way, look at the northern Italian airports (since they're closer to Switzerland) - Milan, Verona, Venice, Bologna, Florence. These are all pretty close to each other by fast train and all great destinations. I think everyone should visit Venice. Bologna is less touristy and you can visit other towns as day trips (Ferrara, Ravenna, Modena. . . . ).

Consider taking a rolling suitcase rather than a back pack.

Hi,

This may well be obvious to you. True that if you want an en suite private room for two at a hostel, book that on-line early too, as suggested above. These rooms are the most expensive at the hostel, yes, you pay extra for the luxury of privacy. The dorm rooms are the cheapest. You do see a lot of roller suitcases at hostels instead of literally a backpack.

Flying between Ireland and London costs about the same as an advance-purchase train/ferry combo ticket and is faster. Flying from London to Amsterdam is cheaper and faster than train, about $35 on EasyJet or Vueling. I would also fly nonstop from Amsterdam to Krakow on KLM for $150 per person. See www.skyscanner.com

In comparison, the overnight train route from Amsterdam to Krakow requires two connections (not at bad times) with a total travel time of 18 hours. If using a flexi style of rail pass, this takes two travel days. The route of the night train is actually Cologne-Warsaw.

I would recommend you check out Lonely Planet and Rough Guide sites and books as well since student-type travel is their thing

That Warsaw to Cologne night train used to have Amsterdam as the terminus. Since Amsterdam abolished some of its night routes (with the exception of Amsterdam-Munich Hbf ) in Dec 2015, the Warsaw train ends in Cologne, still all right for my purposes since it is a straight shot at night from Warsaw to Köln Hbf via Berlin Ostbahnhof.

In Switzerland we will be taking the Golden Pass Express from Lucerne, Interlaken and Zermatt. We know it is going to be a jammed packed trip through Switzerland but we think it will be worth it.
From Munich you are best to travel via Zurich to Lucerne for 1 night.
Then to Interlaken for 2 nights, with a day excursion into the mountains.
The Golden Pass line takes you only as far as Montreux. Note, Zermatt is served by the Glacier Express.
Spend a night in Montreux or Lausanne and join a direct train to Venice (EC37) the following morning.

We are unsure where in Italy. We were looking around the Amalfi Coast... But then we have to think how are we going to get there??!? Any tips/suggestions?
I would suggest as a minimum ... 2 nights in Venice, followed by 3 nights in Rome, or on the Amalfi Coast.

I think a sleeping bag is always useful, take it.

Ciera78, as a previous poster noted, many hostels do not let you use your own sleeping bags, liners, or other linens. While it may come in handy if you have to sleep out some night, in general, you will be hauling it around for nothing.