Backpacking Around
Europe
A common misconception about backpacking
in Europe is that you will be walking from Paris to Rome; this
just is not the case. The benefit of backpacking in Europe is
their train system. To truly take in all the sites of Europe in
the short amount of time you are surely allotted, you will want
to get either a Eurail pass or a Europass.
Eurail passes cover seventeen countries and can be used on
consecutive or scattered days. The regular Eurail pass is can
only be used on consecutive days and varies in price according
to the number of days you are purchasing it for. The Eurail
Flexipass is the one that can be used on scattered days and
again varies in price according to the number of days for which
you are purchasing it. To get the true backpacking in Europe
experience, it is recommended to get the consecutive pass. An
important note to remember when dealing with these passes is
that you must fill out the pass before boarding each train. A
nominal fee and the revoking of your pass may occur should you
forget this.
You may be wondering why it is called backpacking in Europe if
you are not actually going to trudge from city to city. The
idea of backpacking in Europe is to get off a train and hike to
another. You can see the sights on the way and because half of
the fun is rushing to the next train on time on a consecutive
day pass, you still get the exercise you would as on a normal
backpacking trip. You can save on accommodations if you opt to
ride the trains at night, but cheap rooms are not hard to find.
Italy is the only place that you would have to call ahead for
reservations.
Backpacking in Europe is more about sightseeing than it is
about backpacking. Check out the sights. There are no wrong
turns because you are going where you want to go—to places that
interest you. As backpacking is an adventure, so is backpacking
in Europe.
While you do not have to use the trains for travel and can use
other means of transportation, hiking it can be just as fun if
you have the time. But to get all that Europe has to offer,
backpacking in Europe is best done from train to train.
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