A Backpacker's Handbook

Fighting off jet lag in foreign cafes, reading for hours on trains passing through remote countryside, and filling tiny cubicles in a room full of strangers after the endless and exhilaratingly exhausting days—the only way to travel for the young and the hungry. Last summer, barely eighteen years old, we set off to Europe with nothing but heavy backpacks and all the books that we could carry in our hands and hopped on and off trains for two weeks.

The Gilmore Girls coming home after backpacking through Europe. Photo via The Gilmore Girls.

We had barely even traveled prior to this Eurail trip, so booking it was quite the audacious feat. Booking is a generous way to put it– all we really did to plan was buy plane tickets and train passes. Past that, we improvised. And the not-knowing was incredible. We could be in Poland one day and spontaneously end up in Rome the next, swapping blueberry pierogi for malaga gelato. Yet, the trip was not without its problems. One night, we found ourselves stranded in a train station in Northern Italy without water, phone battery, or bathrooms. Another night, a restaurant thirty minutes away by subway from our hostel could not accept our weird American cards, and one of us had to run through the pouring summer rain in cheap dress shoes to retrieve euros from our room. We cried at our misfortunes, notably the train strikes, but we laughed harder at the silly moments like every time an Italian man gawked at Zof’s pink hair, calling her Rosa. They seemed to follow the same script. 

With Eurail virtually being a rite of passage for any European student and impractical to undertake with luggage, we endeavour to share our infinite wisdom on how to backpack– from where to bunk down for the night to how to do speedy sightseeing– with our peers planning on embarking on their very own journeys this summer. 

How to use Eurail

Eurail is a pass stored on a smartphone app called Rail Planner. Before departing for your first destination, you should buy a pass to activate once you start using trains. On the app, you can add desired trips which will automatically be matched to trains that suit your details. There’s no need to worry about the details before getting there, though. You certainly don’t have to pre-plan out each train journey on the app–it’s even possible to conjure up a trip at the last minute, just as long as the train hasn’t actually left the station yet. Further, some, but not most, trains require you to pay a small fee to reserve a seat. You can do this on the app. These types of trains are the most annoying because you are obligated to go on the train after paying extra for your seat, which can sometimes derail the new travel plans that you had to adapt due to unexpected delays or new travel whims. Always expect your plans to change and try to avoid set-in-stone plans like seat reservations.

Train passing through a forested mountain range. Photo via Shutterstock.

What to Pack

Before leaving for the airport, you need to consider all of the necessities that you will need throughout your trip. Backpacking means that you won’t have as much room to carry everything, so be mindful when you pack. There is no use in bringing those cute jeans if you have some other pants with the same practicality already. When you’re traveling for the summer, it’s beneficial to pack lots of light clothing like tank tops and shirts while only really bringing one or two pairs of shorts. That way, throughout the trip, you won’t be forced to do the laundry every other day and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to be stylish. But, if you’re backpacking during the colder months, I would recommend only bringing one coat and one pair of pants! I know it sounds crazy, but more than one coat would take a crazy amount of space in your bag, and bringing multiple sweaters would definitely be more beneficial. On another note, we found that buying a toothbrush that comes with a case does wonders for keeping the rest of your stuff clean. You still definitely need to buy other essentials like toothpaste, shampoo, and conditioner when you get to your destination though, especially if it’s a long trip… or if you’re sharing with your sister. If you’re going to hostels, a towel and some flip flops are also a necessity– you will not be given the hotel experience. Other than the usual essentials though, don’t forget your wireless charger and some headphones for all of the trains and planes you’ll be taking. If you’re anything like us, you’ll also definitely need some books– but try not to bring too many. The first time we went backpacking, we came back with double the amount of books that I brought, so be aware that there’s a chance that you won’t make it through all the books you have in your bag. And, most importantly, remember to pack some negative space! You’ll need it to store all the souvenirs and memories. 

Navigating Hostels 

You’re really not backpacking if you’re not sleeping in youth hostels. Unless the city you visit is so barren of tourists that it doesn’t have hostels, you should always book a hostel. They are accommodated for backpackers like yourself as their clientele consists solely of young vagabond wanderers. It’s rare to meet a hostel-goer planning to stay in one place for more than a week and much less frequent to see a proper suitcase. Most hostels are equipped with laundry machines, essential for traveling light without smelling terribly. You can also get coffee and breakfast at most hostels– some even have kitchens where you can contribute the pantries while some double as bars. As a backpacker, a great convenience is that you can check out of your room in the morning but store your backpack in a locker for the entire day for a couple of euros and explore the city without its weight dragging you down. Furthermore, hostels are cheap, ranging from twenty to seventy euros a night– and, the more people in your dormitory, the cheaper. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to not share a room with nineteen other men and women, even if you’d only be paying pennies! Sleeping in a hostel is like having roommates with no strings attached; so, you can choose whether or not you’re feeling social at any given night. You don’t need to– and probably shouldn’t– befriend everyone, though it’s fun more often than not. Most roommates don’t even end up meeting each other because, while one stays out late clubbing, the other wakes up at dawn to catch a flight. Hostel experiences vary, but, in the end, the thing people want most is sleep, so sleep you will. 

A typical European hostel room. Photo via Eastseven Berlin Hostel.

Hitting up All the Spots in Record Time

Although you may take frequent trains, it’s important to visit as many of each city’s cool spots as possible! Maybe in the hostel late at night, or on the train before you arrive, you should look at the map around the area and pinpoint all of the historical landmarks to get to. However, with the heavy backpack on your back, walking around the city to each site may be difficult. If possible, try to align your arrivals to each new city with the check in hours of your hostels to maximize sight-seeing time. From my experience, most tend to open around 3pm, leaving plenty of time for you to drop off your backpacks before you explore the city until dinner. But, if you arrive earlier, you can just store your backpack in a locker. Furthermore, the city metro will become your new best friend, allowing you to travel quickly from one location to another without having to waste money on a taxi. But, walking is also fun too, leading you to many more locations and shops that would have been otherwise missed. Either way, if you push yourself to explore– with the help of Google Maps, of course– you can see a whole new world in just a couple of hours. 

Two backpackers visiting the Eiffel Tower. Photo via depositphotos.com.

Journeying throughout Europe takes a lot of effort– but, no matter what happens, through the ups and downs, we guarantee that you’ll have fun. It may be a bit stressful at times, worrying about missing a train or where to sleep for the night, but exploring new cities is extremely freeing. Make sure to keep calm and enjoy your trip. And, remember: every mishap and inconvenience can be fixed. There’s always the next train to catch.