Top 10 backpacking Europe destinations

We will publish many additional tips in this space, but to get started thinking about your backpacking Europe trip, first consider these questions:

1) How much time to you have to travel (2 weeks, 2 months, a whole year?)
2) Will you travel alone (ultimate freedom!) or with another person or two?
3) How much money do you have available (Europe is not cheap, minimum cost per day average is about $60)? Backpacking Europe costs can vary wildly by location, time of year, and by traveler lifestyle.
4) What time of year will you go? Summer is the most fun and interesting but also the most crowded and expensive. May, June, and September can be the perfect time for your trip.
5) Determine your comfort level - can you stay in dorm rooms with strangers or do you need a private room each night. Can you eat from a grocery store or do you need a restaurant meal every night? Can you carry around all your stuff on a backpack or are you a suitcase on wheels person?
6) What is the focus of your trip? Culture and museums, beaches/fun in the sun, culinary adventures, learning a language, meeting locals or other travelers. Each trip is unique.
7) Where do you want to go? Even with 3 months and a healthy budget, it is very difficult to see everything interesting in Europe. For some Paris takes a lifetime, for others three days in Rome is enough forever. Study European geography and travel guides intensely to see what interests you.

Those questions will help you get started on planning your backpacking Europe trip. For more info, the One Summer in Europe podcast may be useful to you.