Backpacking to Europe could be a very fulfilling and educational experience. Europe is a huge continent and can accommodate even budget travelers. No wonder why more and more people are getting attracted to doing it.
While there are many places to visit in Europe, finding the ones that are ideal for backpackers can be a little bit tricky especially that Europe, in general, is not the cheapest place to travel. But, going back to the question… what are the best places to backpack in Europe?
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Budapest, Hungary
The first one we want to add on this list is the capital of Hungary. There’s no denying to the fact that Hungary is one of the most beautiful places in Central Europe. Divided into different parts, specifically Buda and Pest, by the Danube, the city of Budapest offers remarkable architecture, like art nouveau, baroque, neoclassical, as well as eclectic. Of course, there are other attractions in the city which are also truly remarkable; with a lot of regions having pedestrian zones that makes it ideal for walking around if that’s something you enjoy when you’re backpacking.
Belgrade, Serbia
The next on our list is Belgrade in Serbia. If you are looking for a place where past and present meets, then this is the place for you. This city is conveniently situated on the union of the Danube with the Sava River; this city is going to easily be engraved in the memory and backpackers who visit it. Even though it is profoundly located in eastern European, Belgrade will remind you of the western air, having something you will find from a typical French town. A lot of tourists have discovered the beauties and treasures of this city, unknown until recently. On the main tourist streets, you can feel the strong diverse character that the city has to offer.
Bucharest, Romania
Bucharest, with its mixed architectural styles, offers the ideal sight into the history and Romanian tradition. As you probably know already, Romania is a nation that is affected by the Communist absolute rule – located in Southeastern Europe; it was extremely much influenced in this respect by the government of Russia. Due to this era, people don’t know a lot of things about how Romania was like before Communism and not everyone has an idea of how Romania is now. If you want to learn more about its history, then make sure to allow at least a couple of days in your itinerary to check out some good museums, and also save some time for a walk in the parks. While much of the center is modern, and the buildings are in different stages of shabbiness, you will find marvelous 17th- and 18th-century Orthodox structures and elegant belle époque villas located in many corners of the city.
Sofia, Bulgaria
The ever growing and never aging city of Sofia is considered as the heart of Bulgaria that’s known for its picturesque beauties and magnificent landscapes. Sofia is a rambling city now and offers some of the best amenities for backpackers. Annually, thousands of visitors visit this brilliant and unique city for what everything it has to offer. Sofia undoubtedly has an extremely rich history which dates back to the 8th century BC. Sofia is famous for its natural beauty since it is located in the Sofia valley at the foothills of the mountains of Vitosha. The entire city is made around a mineral spring that could be found in the middle of the city.
Kraków, Poland
Another backpacker-friendly place in Europe is Krakow, a city in Poland. You can take a walk around the Royal Route, beginning from Florianska Gate, through the Sukiennice and St. Mary's Cathedral, down Grodzka, where the Churches of St. Paul and of St. Peter are located. Then go to the Wawel Castle, the most famous landmark in the city. Wawel Castle has many paradoxes hidden behind its fortress, with marvelous cathedrals, primeval tombs, and tales of the mythical Wawel Dragon.
Prague, Czech Republic
Situated on the River Vltava in central Bohemia, Prague is the capital and biggest city in the Czech Republic. Prague is known among travelers and with its many beautiful sites and cheap standard of living it’s easy to see why. It’s from this tradition that a lot of nicknames in Prague are derived: "the golden city", "the mother of cities", and of course, "city of a hundred spires". Prague went through less damage throughout the second World War compared to a lot of other cities in central Europe, and buildings could be found in a lot of architectural styles like Baroque, Art Noveau, Gothic, Cubist, Neo-Classical, Renaissance, and also modern.
Warsaw, Poland
Located on the banks of the river Vistula, Warsaw is another place spread throughout 172 square miles. Having been ruined by the attacks of World War II, the city had to be reconstructed from scratch. So as you can expect, Warsaw is a unique combination of modern and conventional architectural styles. With an ancient world appeal and a warm atmosphere, Warsaw stands out among tourists who visit Poland. With an extravagant culture and magnificent history behind it, Warsaw doesn’t lack offerings for the tourists a host of attractions to check out and discover here.
Munich, Germany
Located in southern Germany, Munich truly has many things to offer. Munich is a unified blend casual modernity with an eternal rich history. Unfading buildings are sitting discreetly next to the modern high-rise buildings, cafes spread amongst historic squares all add to the feeling of comfort that Munich releases. Visiting all the museums in the city would take at least a few days, but you can always join an organized tour to help you plan your trip better.
Tallinn, Estonia
If you are looking to backpack on a place where you can enjoy a lively nightlife but at the same time, explore the important remnants of history. Recently, a lot of great bars and restaurants have sprung up in this city. A lot of them offer high-quality food, and it’s not difficult to find a place for entertainment. For a change of scenery, you can easily travel out of the city and enjoy the beautiful countryside, the long coastline, the charming Baltic German mansion houses, etc. And there are not a lot of cities whose face is made by the 21st century instead of the 18th or 19th.
Vilnius, Lithuania
The last but not the least place we want to suggest for backpackers is Vilnius in Lithuania. This place is located in the southeastern part of Lithuania at the convergence of the Vilnia and Neris Rivers; Vilnius is the capital of, and largest city in, the country. Any backpackers will enjoy the laidback atmosphere and the friendly attitudes of the people will make your experience even more pleasant. Especially during the warm season when you will see more locals enjoying the outdoors, strolling along the Old Town streets and having a sip of their drinks at pubs or cafes.
Backpacking through Europe is one of the best things one could ever experience in his life. Europe is just an ideal place for a backpacker. Anyone can absolutely find many options available in this continent that can’t be found somewhere else. This is the reason why there’s a great fraction of the tourists and backpackers are keep coming back.
We hope this list of some of the best places for backpacking in Europe helped you create your plan or itinerary. If you have other questions about this topic, don’t hesitate to ask us or if you have any suggestions on places to visit in Europe, let us know in the comment below! Make sure to check out our blogs at ForTravelista.