Hi there! I’m planning my next solo trip and at a bit of a dead end as to where to go. Too many options I think.

I’m a solo female traveller, use hotels rather than hostels, like music, architecture, flowers, history, the arts, sightseeing, etc. I've been to London, Paris, Ireland, Scotland, and Krakow.

I'm considering places like Italy, Austria, and Czech Republic. I've also considered going back to London/England because I absolutely loved my time there.

I would prefer something that will give me the opportunity to see some concerts (I like classical and choral music, or similar type performances) or plays/musicals (in English).

Trip will be about a week long (work restraints- can’t go much longer). I don't mind one or two moves within the week, but nothing outrageous. If I'm going to be travelling within a country (or between one or two countries) once I've landed in Europe, I prefer trains to flying.

In terms of budget, I'm flexible. I usually aim for a global budget of around 5K for everything, but I don't really count pennies. I have a very stressful job and don't get much vacation time so I enjoy it.

I’m looking for someplace relatively safe, with a reasonable amount of things to do like museums and art galleries, gardens (I love flowers), decent day trips, good public transit, that sort of thing. I loved having free museums in London

Anyone have any suggestions?

Edited to add: Trip will almost definitely be in spring - April/May

As the title states, I (28F, American) have found myself impulsively planning a month long solo travel trip to Europe!! It will be my first solo trip EVER and I feel exhilarated at the thought and equally terrified. I've been snooping this page a bit and thought what better people to advise me than random, experienced strangers on the internet.

Here's the deal: I have 30 days. I have $6,000. I have family I want to see along the way in Scotland (Glasgow), England (London), and Belgium (city unknown), but besides that I am a bit overwhelmed at choosing where else to go. Other destinations that stand out to me are Reykjavik, Dublin, Amsterdam, Prague, Madrid, Lisbon, anywhere in Switzerland; but I recognize sometimes these may be touristy capital cities, most may be SUPER expensive and perhaps overrated, and I am really curious about the opinions of more experienced solo travelers. Really, the sky (or rather, my budget of $6,000) is the limit for what I can experience on this trip and I just don't know where to start.

If it's helpful, here's what I'm looking for/some of my interests that I want to indulge in on this trip:

-Places where I will be safe as a young, female solo traveler

-Places with good hostels, friendly people, and easy transportation

-Besides English, I only speak German so preferably I don't want to visit where people don't speak one of these/are reluctant to communicate with foreigners (not sure if this applies anywhere)

-I love art museums

-I love learning about history and culture

-I am a huge foodie and trying new food and drink will probably be my #1 priority

-I love beer

-I love the outdoors and I would love to go hiking, find myself in unique landscapes, go on a nature tour, etc.

-I love music. It would be so cool to go to shows abroad

-I would love to experience a "night out" at least twice

Based on these things, where do I NEED to go? What do I NEED to see? Please share any ideas you have, even if they are off the beaten path. As long as it's not dangerous, I'm all ears. Bonus points for sharing a whole route with me.

Below is some advice I compiled over my 5-month solo travel through Europe. I hope this helps someone in the planning phase of their trip. My word is far from bond, please remember that the act of traveling is really the most important part. Life is so short, the only wrong way to do it is to not do it at all. Cheers!

Link to my original trip report!

Budget Advice:

Your budget will define your trip.

• More is more. Less is less.

• Higher budget = Greater comfort, greater flexibility, and greater peace of mind.

Traveling is expensive, even on a budget.

• Prepare to go over your budget.

• Shit happens. Fun happens.

• It’s difficult to stay on a strict budget, it takes an extreme amount of self-control and planning.

Travel with both a debit and credit card.

• Stay on top of your charges in case one of your cards is compromised

• Don’t use EuroNet ATMs, use bank ATMs.

• Pull on card readers before inserting your card into an ATM.

The time of the year will influence travel prices.

• High season (late spring, summer, early fall) will be more expensive.

• Low season (late fall, winter, early spring) will be cheaper.

Itinerary/Logistic Advice:

What type of traveler are you? Spontaneous or Planned?

• Spontaneous travelers tend to make more meaningful connections but they typically see less overall.

• Planned travelers tend to see and do more but aren’t as flexible when unforeseen opportunities come up.

• Even spontaneous travelers should set goals, planning negates anxiety.

Don’t forget the Schengen Area restrictions!

• Know which countries are Schengen and which aren’t.

• Track your days in and out of the Schengen Area.

• Croatia is now a Schengen country!

As a general rule: 1 full day is too short, 2 full days is okay, 3-5 full days is best, especially in larger cities.

• There are definitely exceptions to this.

• Sometimes you’ll wish you spent more time and sometimes you’ll wish you spent less. This is where having a flexible schedule comes in handy.

Factor in travel time from destination to destination!

• I allotted a full day for travel between destinations. This worked best for me.

Google Maps is your friend.

• Google Maps was my hero. It allowed me to make the most out of my day-to-day plans. I used Google Maps to find restaurants, attractions, etc.

• The walking directive is incredibly useful.

Consider the season and weather when you’ll be traveling.

• Southern Europe can be exceptionally hot in the summer.

• Northern Europe can be extremely cold in the winter.

Equipment/Loadout Advice:

Have a good smartphone and a solid data plan.

• Invest in a quality case and screen protector.

• Does your phone have enough storage?

• Do you have a plan in case you lose your phone?

• Data is your friend. It will make your life easier.

Two bags are better than one.

• Bring a cross-body bag or some sort of small pack for daily use

• Invest in a typical backpacker’s backpack to carry the bulk of your belongings.

Research and try out your backpack beforehand.

• How does it feel with weight inside?

• Would you like more accessibility or less?

• I preferred a backpack that zipped all the way to the base.

The weight of your pack is everything.

• Can you run with your backpack on? Can you walk up stairs comfortably?

• Are you imbalanced?

• Are you feeling any pain?

Prepare to shed and gain clothes along your trip.

I recommend bringing two pairs of shoes. Something more durable and something more comfortable/fashionable.

Aside from your backpack, your shoes are the most important article of clothing you’ll bring.

• Think about adding insoles?

• You’ll never regret more comfort.

Quality is important. Quality is more expensive.

Don’t forget a lock.

Transport Advice:

Find a good app to evaluate transportation options.

• I had success using Omio.

• Rome2Rio can be useful in more remote areas.

Busses are your friend, especially in eastern Europe.

• FlixBus was my savior. Hail FlixBus!

Only resort to hitchhiking if you’re out of other options.

Lodging/Hostel Advice:

Hostels can make or break your experience in a country/city.

• Read reviews, do research! Know what you’re getting yourself into.

Schedule private rooms from time to time! I see this as a necessity.

Book your hostels at least two weeks in advance.

• Book even farther in advance for special events/holidays.

Look for holiday deals on HostelWorld.

Weird interactions and uncomfortable situations are part of hostel living.

• Sometimes they suck but they make great stories later.

Same-gender rooms might make you feel more comfortable and that’s okay.

Use a lock to secure your belongings when you’re away from the room.

Health, Wellness, & Safety Advice:

You will get sick, especially if you’re staying in hostels!

Consider your mental health.

• Are you in a good mental state to travel?

• Are you in a good mental state to continue traveling?

If you take medication, do you have enough? Where will you keep it? Do you have a plan if you lose it?

Check for bed bugs before setting your belongings on any bed.

• Know what to look for when checking for bed bugs.

Do not neglect some casual exercise.

• Jogging was a great way to atone for some of the heavy drinking and eating I was doing. It allowed me to see things I would have never seen otherwise.

You may rapidly lose or gain weight on your trip based on changes in daily activity and diet.

• I lost 15 pounds in the first two months due to an increase in daily activity. It was actually kind of alarming.

Wash your clothes! Become an expert at finding and using laundromats.

Romance Advice:

• Traveling abroad is romantic. Experiencing new places and novel things with like-minded people fuels romantic interest.

• Travel love is rare. Travel lust is abundant.

• Hostels are full of sexual tension, some more than others.

• Flirting is heavily tied to culture. Some cultures are more direct, others are more passive.

• Be respectful but always shoot your shot. You will experience rejection. You will experience success. Get good at experiencing both.

• Don’t fuck in a communal room. Go to the bathroom or shower. It’s tempting but it’s not cool to your bunkmates.

TLDR:

• The greater your budget the more comfort and flexibility you’ll have. Traveling is expensive and keeping to a strict budget is difficult.

• Planners typically do and see more; spontaneous travelers open themselves to more opportunities. As a rule, planning negates anxiety.

• Don’t forget about the Schengen Area restrictions!

• Hostels can make or break your experience in a city/country. Do your research.

• Factor travel time into your plans.

• Get a good phone with a good data plan. Google Maps is your friend.

• You will get sick, especially in hostels.

• Traveling is romantic and passionate. Travel passion tends to be fun but short-lived.

29M. Have a somewhat spontaneous trip planned tentatively for October for 2 weeks (Oct 4-Oct 18). This will be my first solo trip. I’ve been to the following cities with a prior significant other: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Ghent/Bruges, Budapest, Rome, Florence, Vienna, Prague. Although I’d like to go to places I’ve never seen, I’m pretty much open to anything, I feel regardless of where I go, travelling solo will be a much different experience.

What are your favourites European cities for solo travel and why?

Hello I (24M) have only ever travelled with my parents, I'm from south Germany near Munich. Most of my vacations were to either the German alps, or the north sea near Hamburg. What would be some good destinations for a 2 or 3 week trip this summer or early fall?
Here's some of my criteria:

• Somewhere in Europe, don't really want to have to deal with visa's or long distance flights for my first time

• I speak German and fluent English

• Something that's distinct from southern Germany, I want to see something new

• Mix between city and nature, ideally I'd be on the outskirts of a city with good public transit, that let's me either go downtown or out into nature

• For the city I'm mostly interested in history and dense old-towns

• I've never been south of the alps, and feel drawn to/interested in the mediterranean countries right now.

Options I've considered so far were for example Milan, Barcelona, Tenerife, Lissabon, maybe Croatia in Split. I've mostly looked at bigger cities and typical tourist places so far, but it doesn't have to be a major city. In fact I think I might feel more comfortable in a smaller or mid-size city.

What are suggestions you have?

I'm having a hard time deciding and would like to hear your suggestions. Which city has been your favourite or which one is your dream destination, and why?

Edit: I've had a ton of questions about my post and the feedback here was so great that I decided to make a YouTube channel addressing a lot of questions, feel free to check it out here"

1. Background:

Just got back from a 3 month amazing trip to Europe (13 countries / 22 locations) and wanted to share my experiences, things I've learned, and advice I feel would be helpful for anyone thinking about doing a similar trip. I graduated from university in 2021 but have been working in the industry (IT) since 2017 so have been fortunate to earn and save alongside study. I have travelled before but only with family, I'd say I'm a pretty introverted person so deciding to solo travel was pretty nerve-wracking and an opportunity for me to become more social. I have been following this subreddit for a few years and have been thoroughly inspired by the countless posts and positivity shared amongst r/solotravel so wanted to share my experiences with hopes it will inspire others. I chose Europe as I wanted somewhere easy to navigate, with minimal language barriers, and was inspired by what I had seen looking at this subreddit and pics on r/travel.

About me:

• 24 y/o male from Australia

• First time in Europe and first-time solo travelling, have travelled before but only with family (USA, India, Thailand, NZ)

• Was very fortunate to be able to get time off work (without pay). Big reason for this is as my boss is also an avid traveller so the empathetic feelings went a long way.

• Have been working alongside uni and have enough funds to cover my trip.

Trip Summary:

• 85 days

• 13 countries / 22 cities

• Hostels only

• 10 flights / 25 trains

• Carry on only (Osprey Farpoint 40L) + (15L day pack)

• Hundreds of new people met, new connections all from over the world!

• 30+ museums / art galleries visited

• Ate out for all meals (never cooked at the hostel)

• 👀 3 hookups 😬

Cost:

• I had originally estimated I'd spend $12,000 for 3 months ($4,000 each for transport, food/drink, accommodation)

• TOTAL spend ~ $15,300 AUD (Approx $9,500 USD)

Countries + Cities / Map (In order of visit)

• UK (London)

• France (Paris)

• Portugal (Lisbon)

• Spain (Madrid, Barcelona)

• France (Nice)

• Italy (Cinque Terre, Florence, Rome, Venice, Milan)

• Switzerland (Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt)

• Germany (Munich)

• Austria (Vienna)

• Hungary (Budapest)

• Poland (Krakow)

• Czech Republic (Prague)

• Germany (Berlin)

• Netherlands (Amsterdam)

• Belgium (Brussels)

• France (Paris)

Here's a screenshot of my route.

DETAILED SUMMARY

• London, UK (5 nights)

• Flight from Sydney to London. Stopover in Singapore.

• Hostel: Wombats, met some amazing people here and was lucky that they all seemed to stay for a similar duration as mine. Easy to make friends, close to Tower Bridge and the tube, beds were creaky and last night had a dorm mate who snored like a chainsaw, other than that a solid hostel. 8.5/10.

• Pros: Very similar to Australia. Coming from Sydney direct to London felt like not much had changed other than the landscape. The buildings were much more beautiful and historical, however, the rest of the city and how it operated felt similar to Sydney, the urban planning, shopping, transportation, and people all felt similar. Differences I noticed were it was much more expensive, AC was a luxury, peopled walked extremely fast and couldn't make up their mind whether or not to stay left or right, afternoons at the pub seemed like a societal norm, with white collar and blue-collar workers all mingled together which was nice to see. London also felt quite walkable, once you are in the city centre, most sights are able to covered with a few hours of walking. Museum/history fans are spoilt in London, incredible museums and the majority are free.

• Cons: Expensive. The AUD gets about 0.57 GBP for every dollar so the cost of living in London was eyewatering, a decent meal would run about 13 GBP, and a beer about 4 GBP. People in London also seemed a bit cold, not rude but just a tad reluctant to open up and have meaningful conversations.

• Favourite memory: Taking in the view from the sky garden at night with beers in hand. Partying through the night till 6 am at E1.

• Overall: 8/10

• Paris, France (5 nights)

• Eurostar from London to Paris.

• Hostel: The People - Belleville. This was an okay hostel, the dorms were nice and they had a good location next to the metro, however it lacked a social vibe as it was just too big and open to the public (public bar). Met some people in the dorms but the interactions were limited to just exchanging pleasantries/small talk, people seemed to be in groups or just anti-social, guess it comes down to luck. Made friends with the bartenders and enjoyed some solo time in Paris. When I was craving socialisation, I used the chat feature on the HostelWorld app to meet people which was amazing. 7/10.

• Pros: Lives up to the hype. I had some culture shock when I got off at Gare Du Nord, hardly anyone was speaking English and it hit me that I was in an actual foreign country. Was in love with the museums there, Musee d'Orsay is my favourite museum/art gallery in the world, I would recommend it over the Louvre. Also, recommend watching the 1 am Eiffel tower lights as they sparkle while the main tower lights are switched off. Incredible foodie city with restaurants and cafes serving lots of amazing food. I found Paris expensive but not as bad as London. People were reluctant to speak English but when you put in some effort they help you without a second thought.

• Cons: I didn't experience much nightlife in Paris, I did go to a few bars but felt they were quite posh with people dressing up and attracted more of an older crowd. Perhaps I was just in the wrong areas. Paris metro although efficient and cheap is always packed, I rarely got a seat here, minor detail but I guess something to point out. Paris is also huge, wouldn't consider it a walkable city unless you are a fan of walking a marathon every day. The metro also didn't run after 1 am which for such a big city I found strange, would've enjoyed more nightlife if I had a safe/cheap option to return back to the hostel late at night.

• Favourite memory: Seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time, I teared up a bit not going to lie. Visiting Versailles was also incredible.

• Overall: 8.5/10

• Lisbon, Portugal (4 nights)

• Flight from Paris to Lisbon

• Hostel: Yes! Lisbon Hostel. A great social hostel right in the heart of Lisbon. Literally situated a street behind the town square, you couldn't ask for a better location. With cheap beers, a great common area, daily activities and friendly staff, this was an amazing hostel. Met lots of people here and did plenty of activities together, the hostel also organised tours to Sintra which was helpful if you wanted to go with familiar faces. The hostel also had bathrooms/toilets outside the dorms which I view as a pro which also made the experience nice. 9/10.

• Pros: Lisbon truly had it all, amazing food, beautiful scenery, beaches, forests, mountains, nightlife, the list goes on. I never had a bad meal in Lisbon, I remember looking at 'food near me' on Google, normally I'd sort by minimum 4.5 stars but literally every restaurant was 4.5 stars minimum. Lisbon also had amazing nightlife, alcohol is cheap, beers were 1 euro each, a cocktail like a long island was 5 euros and they free pour them so you got to be careful. The architecture is also splendid, the tiled buildings and ornate walkways are charming, just be careful when it rains! The people were also super hospitable and extremely friendly, the majority also spoke English very well. Lisbon also felt small enough to see everything but yet large enough that you always stumbled upon cool new spots, I found that really enjoyable when I was wandering around.

• Cons: Extremely hilly, I remember when I'd put in a destination on Google maps it would say 800m but it will take you 10 minutes to walk, prepare your knees for some torture while you're here or save yourself the misery and take the cute trams around. A minor con is that I found Lisbon extremely touristy, I believe a lot of east coast Americans fly into Lisbon as it is the closest to the States, nothing against Americans (love you all) but just a minor thing to consider. Sintra also felt like a bit of a scam, the weather there was always terrible with dense fog covering the castle, meaning you couldn't see it unless right next to it. Getting inside the castle also required a wait in queue of at least an hour even if you had pre-booked tickets. Minor inconveniences but something to take into consideration.

• Favourite memory: Getting pizza and sitting under the bridge and watching sunset. Getting too drunk on long island iced tea's and being helped home by two of the nicest British people. If you are out there, I love you both!

• Overall: 9.5/10

• Madrid, Spain (4 nights)

• Flight from Lisbon to Madrid

• Hostel: Sungate One. One of the best hostels I've ever stayed at, the staff here were absolutely incredible and did everything, wanted to skip a bar crawl and watch a movie, someone would be there to give you company, wanted to go on a picnic, someone would be sure to join you. The people here did everything together, breakfast, eating out, walking tours, dinner, free tapas and sangria, and absolutely amazing hospitality by these guys. Bonus points that they did not have bunk beds and the apartment complex in which the hostel was housed had the cutest dog living upstairs. 9.5/10.

• Pros: Madrid like Lisbon felt quite small in the sense you could see most attractions in a day but also large enough that you could stumble upon attractions you wouldn't of normally seen. The Madrid Palace was incredible, personally, I found it better than Versailles. The rooms were all differently ornated with different colours and styles, something which I felt Versailles lacked. One thing I didn't understand was why they didn't allow us to take pictures inside (I managed to sneak a couple :P). Madrid also was quite affordable, a three-course lunch could be had for 10-15 euros, beers were 1 euro, the metro was also affordable and safe. Most people spoke English very well and the city felt quite young. Amazing nightlife was also to be found in Madrid, the nightlife district was closely situated to the hostel so everynight we were able to experience new bars/clubs which were popular with tourists, making the experience much better. I also found Spanish people in general to be extremely welcoming, very warm and hospitable, and to add a point extremely good looking.

• Cons: Honestly, I can't think of too many cons in Madrid. Perhaps the extremely hot climate during summer can be off-putting but other than that, Madrid felt like it had it all.

• Favourite memory: impromptu sunset picnics at the Temple of Debod, partying all night with locals at Fucking Mondays.

• Overall: 9.8/10

• Barcelona, Spain (5 nights).

• Train from Madrid to Barcelona

• Hostel: Yeah! Hostel. The hostel was pretty good, met some awesome people and had plenty of nightly activities planned. I found that it was a bit large so meeting people was doable but a bit more challenging. The location itself wasn't that close meaning that for pup/club crawls you would have to catch the metro at night and usually a cab/walk back to the hostel. It also didn't help that since Barcelona streets all look the same, finding this hostel while drunk was a nightmare :P. 8.5/10.

• Pros: Barcelona is known for its nightlife and it sure lives up to the hype. Visited several clubs here and can say if you wan't to party, Barcelona will always have something for you every night of the week. I also found the food here incredible, tapas, sangrias and paella were all amazing and affordable, would definately return for the culinary experience here. The Olympic Pool was also a highlight of my time in Barcelona, on a hot day it was amazing to relax there, bonus points that it didn't seem touristy at all with lots of locals there enjoying. Watching sunset over the city from the Bunkers was also incredible, the tiring hike up there is definately worth it! Lastly, the Gaudi architecture was 'unique', personally not my taste but many people I spoke with found it amazing. The Sagrada Familia is like nothing else, insanely unique, same goes for Park Guell. The city had lots of his work scattered around so if you're a fan of his style it's definately a unique sight.

• Cons: Some may view this as a pro but I found the layout of Barcelona too simplified to the point where I didn't know where I was staying unless I had Google maps handy. Most of the city centre is built in a grid like pattern so finding your way around and having points of reference to remember is extremely difficult especially if you aren't a local. Barcelona was also the first city where I saw/encountered pickpockets, one time a lady began shouting on the metro in Spanish accusing a man of trying to pickpocket her, another time I was at a McDonalds when a man came up to me happily trying to shake my hand while trying to slide his other hand into my pocket (I knew what he was trying to do). Lastly, Barcelona was hugeeee, I hit 60k steps one day here (bad idea).

• Favourite memory: Partying!!! Oh and relaxing in the Olympic Pool with an incredible view of Barcelona and watching sunset over the city from the Bunkers!

• Overall: 9.5/10

• Nice, France (3 nights)

• Flight from Barcelona to Nice

• Hostel: Villa Saint Exupery Beach. This hostel was one of the only decently rated hostels available in Nice so decided to book it and see how it went. The hostel itself was very boujie, with a hotel like lobby, amazingly decorated with cool hangout areas scattered around and even a gym. That's where the luxury ends though, the room was a 14 bed dorm and it was barebones, the beds creaked insanely loudly and were jammed right next to each other, bathrooms didn't drain properly and weren't cleaned, for being the most expensive hostel of my stay, this was definately a dissapointment. The location was absolutely spectacular I'd give it that, just a street behind the main square and just a few minutes walk to the beach, you couldn't ask for a better location. 7.0/10.

• Pros: Nice definately felt like a holiday town so everything felt extremely relaxed and slow paced. People were friendly, spoke english and the overall vibe of the place was amazing. I loved that it was also so close to Monaco so we drove down there with some hostel friends and were able to explore that "country" as well. As a car enthusiast, this was an amazing experience. The weather was amazing, the food especially gelato were also incredible. If you want to truly relax and have a proper holiday, I'd definately recommend visiting Nice.

• Cons: Extremelyyyy expensive. A beer was 10 euros, a bottle of water 3 euros for the cheapest. It was hard to enjoy Nice since I was keeping track of my spending and I'd often be over my budget by lunch time. I also felt there wasn't much to do in Nice, sure there was good dining, day trips to Monaco and the beach but other than that I didn't feel like it had much to offer.

• Favourite memory: Taking a spontaneous roadtrip to Monaco with hostel friends.

• Overall: 8/10

• Cinque Terre, Italy (4 nights)

• Train from Nice to Cinque Terre

• Hostel: Mar-Mar. I knew from the moment I saw this on HostelWorld the fact that it only had 3 pictures displayed that I was going to be in for a surprise and boy was I right. Mario, the owner, greeted me and showed me the hostel, it's pretty much an apartment with bunks. One room has got 10 beds with another adjoining room having 4 beds. The hostel also has an amazing balcony terrace with great views of Riomaggiore. Other than that, the hostel was very basic, simple bunks, two bathrooms and a kitchen, you can't complain but it was definately barebones. 6.5/10.

• Pros: Incredible, the pictures you see on Google don't do this place justice, every town is amazing and the pesto is godtier. If you like hiking you'll also love it here, the 5 towns are joined by train as well as hiking trails (closed in some parts) so spending the day hiking and then capping it off with a swim are always amazing. Seafood is also amazing here, fried seafood could be had in every town as well as gelato. Another thing I really liked was the regular trains that ran between the towns. I booked 4 nights in Cinque Terre which in hindsight was too much but my reasoning was that I'd spend a day in each town. In reality, the towns are separated by just a few minute train ride so in theory you could see all towns in a single day.

• Cons: Not many faults with Cinque Terre but if I had to name some I'd say it was very crowded with tourists, other than that it was great.

• Favourite memory: Sleeping on the beach at night, watching the milky way with the occasional shooting stars.

• Overall: 9/10

• Florence, Italy (4 nights)

• Train from Cinque Terre to Florence

• Hostel: Ostello Bello Florence. The staff here were super friendly, they gave me free breakfast for my stay even though I didn't have it included in my booking and it a pretty solid breakfast too with cold meats, croissant varieties, yogurts and much more. The hostel beds though were triple bunks so being that high up would've been sketchy, lucky for me I always made sure to request a bottom bunk before checking in. The hostel was large with multiple hotels built within the same building complex so finding your way around at first was a bit hard. I met lots of cool people here and they organised trivia night which was fun. They didn't do activities like pub crawls so we had to make our own plans for the night. 8.75/10

• Pros: Florence was amazing, extremely historical and very charming. It felt like there were no new buildings in Florence at all and it was unchanged for centuries. Seeing the duomo in person was incredible, it was massive, you definately have to visit it in person to appreciate it. The food here was amazing, wild boar seemed like the speciality here so I tried wild boar pasta, as well as many pizzas and sandwiches while here. Florence was also a small place so it was very walkable, also note-worthy is the fact that it's a great city to do day trips from. While I was here I did a day trip to Pisa (found it overrated and quite boring) as well as Sienna (amazing). Amazing leather markets in Florence too as well as museums!

• Cons: Not much bad to say about Florence, once again to nitpick I'd say it was overrun with tourists. No metro was also a bit annoying but by no means a problem.

• Favourite memory: Seeing a guy with a tattoo of Caravaggio's Medusa take a selfie with the real Medusa shield in the Uffizi Gallery.

• Overall: 8/10

• Rome, Italy (4 nights)

• Train from Florence to Rome

• Hostel: The RomeHello Hostel. The hostel was very big and pretty much a hotel with bunks. I saw families staying here and people weren't the most social. I did however manage to meet some cool people and were able to make plans that way for dinner and such. Other than that I can't really complain, good location near the Trevi Fountain, all the facilities you could ask for as well as a connected restaurant/bar which was nice. 8.5/10.

• Pros: The whole of Rome feels like you're walking through a museum, the cobblestone streets, ancient architecture and incredible food make it an amazing place to just wonder around. I never caught public transport here just because I wanted to see as much of the cool sights by walking amongst them. If you are into history you will for sure love Rome and all it has to offer. Once again, incredible food here, I cannot count how much pizza and gelato I had in Rome, far too much but I walked most of it off. Rome had so much to see and do, you could spend months here and still have new things to see or stumble upon.

• Cons: Rome did feel a bit more expensive than the other places in Italy, partly due to the fact that it was incredibly touristy. I'd also advocate getting up early, around 6am if you hope to get a decent picture with any sights. The Trevi Fountain during midday was so crowded that there's hardly any walking space past it. Apart from these minor things, I can't fault Rome, amazing city.

• Favourite memory: pizza, pizza and more pizza.

• Overall: 8.5/10

• Venice, Italy (2 nights)

• Train from Rome to Venice

• Hostel: Anda Venice. Ok now this is actually a hotel with bunks, the place was enormous, 6 floors, a huge working space, multiple kitchens, an outdoor bar with a garden, this place had it all. Personally, I find the nicer a hotel appears on the surface the less social it will usually be and for the most part I've been correct. This hostel did have events like karaoke planned so you could socialise but the majority of my interactions were with those in my dorm. The hostel itself was very nice, located not on the main island of Venice though so you needed to catch the train to Venice itself. 7.5/10

• Pros: Lives up to the hype. I found Venice extremely pretty, the canals and bridges do look the same after a while but you never get tired of them and its always fun to stumble down tiny alleys and discover new sights. I would 100% recommend when in Venice intentionally try and get lost, it's super cool to just wander around and not know what you'll find. Additionally, I went to Murano and Burano. Murano wasn't my favourite as it didn't have much going on when I went (went early morning around 8am) but Burano was incredible, super cute and unique. I preferred spending time in Burano over Venice.

• Cons: Not much to complain about here either, Venice I felt is great for sightseeing and culinary experiences, if I had to fault something it would be that nightlife is pretty non-existent, I would wonder around at 9pm and it seemed like everyone was back at their hotel rooms.

• Favourite memory: getting lost in the narrow streets and window shopping the amazing blown glass stores.

• Overall: 8/10.

• Milan, Italy (2 nights)

• Train from Venice to Milan

• Hostel: Ostello Bello. Similar to the hostel in Florence, this hostel also had great staff, a cool vibe and the dreaded triple bunks. Luckily again for me though I was on the bottom bunk so had no worries. Located real close to the main train station so was no problem getting around Milan. Not many organised activities with this hostel so socialising wasn't the easiest but if you put yourself out there you would manage just fine. 7/10.

• Pros: Milan definately seemed like a working city compared to the other cities in Italy, people were go go go, lots of cars here too so walking around the city wasn't the easiest. The Duomo cathedral was stunning in person, probably the most impressive building I had seen so far on the trip. Once again, amazing food as you would expect anywhere in Italy, I recommend a pizza place called 'Piz' which does amazing pizza, they also give free samples while you wait! If you're into football you'll have fun here since Inter Milan and AC Milan share the stadium so matches happen frequently.

• Cons: I found Milan didn't have much to do, I saw the Duomo, Galleria as well as some museums, other than that I didn't see much that caught my eye. Perhaps I was just spoilt at this point but I felt like Milan was my least favourite of the Italian cities I had seen.

• Favourite memory: Watching Inter Milan Vs Cremonse in the packed San Siro Stadium with 70,000 screaming Italians.

• Overall: 7.5/10

• Lucerne, Switzerland (1 night)

• Train from Milan to Lucerne

• Hostel: Backpackers Lucerne. Quite a large hostel with lots of families/older people staying here. No social vibe at all, mainly a place for people to relax and recharge. I only met the receptionist here, the dorms were empty when I checked in and with people sleeping when I returned back at night. I was only here for the night so didn't put much effort into meeting people. The hostel itself was about a 15 minute walk from the station and was overlooking a nice park. A decent area but not the best. 7/10.

• Pros: Lucerne was absolutely stunning, walking along Lake Lucerne my jaw dragged on the floor, straight out of a fairytale is how I would describe the landscape here. The air was so crisp, the views in all directions stunning, beauty wise Switzerland can't be beat. The people all were very friendly and spoke english well, the town was super modern and extremely safe and clean. Free busses as well which was nice to get around the city. A small city too so you could definately see most of the sights within a day.

• Cons: Expensive, but then again everyone knows that about Switzerland. I wasn't in Lucerne for long enough to really judge it much but from my limited experience I didn't experience anything bad.

• Favourite memory: Watching the sunset over Lake Lucerne.

• Overall: 8/10

• Interlaken, Switzerland (2 nights)

• Train from Lucerne to Interlaken

• Hostel: Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof. A cosy hostel with lots of people of all ages staying here. Met some solo travellers here but many families and groups were also staying. Incredible location in the heart of Interlaken, once you walked outside the doors you looked up and saw paragliders flying above you, it was amazing to witness. Friendly staff, free towel included and free breakfast, it was a solid hostel. 8/10.

• Pros: The most beautiful hikes and lakes you will ever experience are in Lucerne. The water is such a beautiful light blue colour I'm amazed how it's even possible. The hikes are breathtaking, on mountain tops with incredible views of the valley and Lucerne down below. The place is also heaven for adrenaline junkies, anything you want to experience whether it's abseiling, mountain climing, paragliding, sky diving you can do it all here.

• Cons: No cons to name at all, keep your wallet topped up and put your adventure boots on because it's going to be wild.

• Favourite memory: Being caught in a hail storm while doing the Harder Kulm to Augustmatthorn hike and almost dieing, good times. Eating fondue after that ordeal.

• Overall: 8.5/10

• Zermatt, Switzerland (2 nights)

• Train from Interlaken to Zermatt.

• Hostel: Zermatt Youth Hostel. This hostel was hard to find, it's tucked in the corner of Zermatt on the opposite side of the train station. A bit hard to find without navigation but definately easy once you know where it is. It has an amazing view of the Matterhorn from the main building which is just incredible. A note to keep in mind is that the hostel is divided into a big and small building, with the smaller building having no view of the Matterhorn. I was in a 6 bed dorm here and surprisingly had it all to myself which seemed nice at first but quickly became boring/scary :P. The hostel did an amazing free breakfast with cakes, puddings, cold meats, yogurts etc. which honestly was enough to keep you full for a day of hiking. 8/10.

• Pros: Pictures don't do this place justice. Zermatt to my surprise was low season in summer so was somewhat empty, a good thing in my eyes though since the temperature was just right, crowds were small and the town felt very relaxed. Similar to Interlaken, you'll love it here if you're a fan of hiking, mountaineering or anything mountain biking. The town doesn't allow cars but instead has these small electric cars that take you around if you want. Most people walk or use mountain bikes to get around. The Matterhorn is simply stunning, I spent hours just starting at it every day and watching the first light of sunrise hit it is incredible.

• Cons: No cons at all. Simply stunning, must visit if you are in Switzerland.

• Favourite memory: Watching the sunset over the Matterhorn.

• Overall: 9/10

• Munich, Germany (4 nights)

• Train from Zermatt to Munich

• Hostel: Wombat's. Quite similar to the Wombat's in London however this one was not as social I felt, likely just bad luck with the people. The people I met were just in the dorms, most people in the common rooms seemed to be on their laptops or passed out napping. The location is great, near the main train station, it did feel a bit sketchy at night since the street has other hostels on it so there are some rowdy people out at night. The beds were extremely creaky, you were reluctant to move around at night because it would wake up the whole dorm. The Wombat's hostels I've stayed at have also always had one guy who snored like a chainsaw and this one was no exception. Wombat's attracts loud snorers, don't ask me why. 6.5/10.

• Pros: Munich had pretty gothic buildings and the day trip to Neuschwanstein was amazing (even though it was raining). As a car enthusiast, I loved BMW world and BMW Welt. The beer gardens were also super cool and the huge beers were a sight to behold. It was amazing seeing the Bavarians drink so much beer and somehow still be able to keep it together, apparently getting too drunk is frowned upon there :P. The trip the castle was also incredible, it was raining but the view of the castle was still incredible. Very walkable in Munich also so there's no need to use transport, most of the sights are within close distance of each other.

• Cons: Quite a conservative city from what I experienced. Most people didn't want to speak English and they loved following rules. I remember walking around at night, coming to cross the road and seeing people waiting at a red light when there was no traffic at all. Usually you would jaywalk no problem in Europe but in Munich they would definately judge you I felt. Munich was also quite expensive, considering I had just come from Switzerland I couldn't fathom paying 20 euros for a schnitzel and pommes.

• Favourite Memory: Beer and schnitzel

• Overall: 7/10

• Vienna, Austria (4 nights)

• Train from Munich to Vienna

• Hostel: Jo&Joe. Ok this was the boujiest hostel I've ever stayed at, it was literally intergrated into an IKEA building onto the top floor, the dorm had an incredible view of the city and looked absolutely incredible at night. The bunks were super comfortable, the staff extremely friendly and the decor in the place was all ofcourse IKEA supplied :P. I met some cool people here and we explored Vienna and did lots of things together. The hostel was right next to the train station which made it really easy to get around. One thing I didn't like was that it seemed like a lot of school groups were staying there, meaning a lot of the socialising opportunies were limited to your dorm. The rooftop bar was also accessible by the public which made it hard to know who was a local and who was staying at the hostel. 8.75/10.

• Pros: Incredibly pretty city. Vienna felt like the epitome of luxury such an upperclass feeling place (, I loved the cafe culture there, I used to sit in cafes for hours and just devour sacher torte and coffees and no one batted an eye. Incredibly friendly people there too with almost everyone speaking English. Viennese schnitzel is also incredible and the cafes are amazing. The horse drawn carts around the city are also very charming and add to the classic vibe of the city.

• Cons: No cons other than that it's quite expensive.

• Favourite memory: Being peer pressured into going onto the craziest ride at the Prater amusement park. Eating Sacher Torte at Demel and Cafe Sacher.

• Overall: 8.5/10

• Budapest, Hungary (5 nights)

• Train from Vienna to Budapest

• HostelOne Budapest. Great location near the ruin bars of Budapest, incredibly social hostel with daily activities, pub crawls and an organised boat party which is usually combined with other hostels. I met the most people in this hostel, the place has a great vibe. For a party hostel though, it does lack in luxuries, the bunks were right next to each other and not the sturdiest. The bathrooms on the bottom floor also had no locks, just shower curtains. There were bathrooms upstairs though which was good. The nightly activities really made this feel like an awesome hostel and it definately was. 9/10.

• Pros: Budapest had such an amazing vibe, it was grungy but also super luxurious. Szimpla Kert was such a cool idea and the bars inside were amazing, a bit unusual but still an extremely unique place. I found the nightlife also had lots to offer and the boat party with unlimted booze for 38 euros was unbeatable. For shopping I also found Budapest incredible, so many vintage stores, flea markets and cool stores, I bought way too much stuff here :P. The cafes and food in general here was incredible, all the cafes were incredible and extremely affordable, my favourite was the Grumpy Food Bar Cafe where one lady would prepare all meals right in front of you, absolutely amazing food, would recommend to everyone. Overall, I'd say Budapest had been the most unique place and one of my favourite cities I'd been to so far.

• Cons: The prices of drinks in ruin bars are extortionate. A long island iced tea was 15 euros, daylight robbery for tourists since it's such a popular spot. Other that that, there's no downside to Budapest, absolutely amazing city.

• Favourite memory: Budapest boat party with unlimited drinks for 38 euros, need I say more.

• Overall: 9.25/10

• Krakow, Poland (3 nights)

• Flight from Budapest to Krakow

• Hostel: Greg&Tom Beer House Hostel. Insane value, at $23 AUD a night with free beer, breakfast and dinner, I have no idea how this place makes a profit. It's located literally in the heart of Krakow, a minute walk and you're in the main square. It's also got incredible food as it is situated above the actual Greg&Tom restaurant, guessing that any leftovers are given to the hostel and they're amazing. Free beer on tap, packaged sandwiches if you are going out, this place was incredible. Met so many amazing people here in the dorms and just throughout the hostel. Nightly activites and organised trips to the Salt mines and Auschwitz were also nice to see. I did find the staff a bit cold but still helpful nonetheless. 9.5/10.

• Pros: Amazing value, Krakow was super affordable, a nice restaurant meal was less than 10 euros, beers were 1 euro or free in the hostel! Krakow was also very small, you could walk around no problems and see all the main sights within a few hours. There was the tram if you needed it and it was reliable and safe. The city didn't feel overrun with tourists when I was there which added to the vibe of the place. The Jewish quarter in Krakow is also amazing and rich with history, I'd recommend a walking tour through here if you visit. I also had so many of those donuts filled with custards and fillings, omg they were incredible and like 1.5 euro each. Krakow I felt had something to offer everyone, amazing food, sights, architecture, people, day trips. Amazing city.

• Cons: Weather. Krakow was cold, it was about 9 degrees celcius during the day and being an Australian I struggled. It was also raining most of the time but it added a super cosy vibe at night.

• Favourite memory: Visiting the Krakow shooting range and shooting guns for the first time.

• Overall: 9/10

• Prague, Czech Republic (4 nights)

• Train from Krakow to Prague

• Hostel: The RoadHouse. Incredible hostel, my favourite by far. The hostel is literally an apartment with 20 beds, the moment you walk in you are in the hangout area so instantly meet people. Abdul, who worked there was incredibly hospitable and super friendly. He was always down to party at night too which was amazing. The dorms also have little whiteboards next to the beds with the person's name written on them so you have no excuses for forgetting people's names. The hostel had three bathrooms/toilets outside the dorms, and a kitchen and I even saw a Czech grandma working there! There are nightly dinners and beers available, also the nightly pub/club crawls are amazing, you go to great places that locals also go to. Such an authentic hostel experience. 10/10.

• Pros: Prague was incredible, it felt like Budapest but scaled down and with prettier buildings. The people were incredibly friendly and everyone spoke English, there was also so much to do, every night we went to different bars and clubs and explored all around the city and were able to check out some non-touristy sights too. Czech beer is also amazing, although I still quite don't understand why they have so much foam in the glass :P, no wonder they drink so much, it's because you don't get much in the glass! Overall, Prague was super pretty and one of the nicest places I'd visited, top 3 cities for me.

• Cons: No cons at all, if I had to nitpick I'd say it was the excess of tourists.

• Favourite memory: Visiting the Planetarium, visiting the dog bar and partying at Bike Jesus.

• Overall: 9.5/10

CONTINUED IN COMMENTS

LINK TO PICS

I’m 27 y/o male from the USA thinking of taking a solo trip to Europe in July. Looking at around 8-10 days. I was leaning towards either Portugal for the scenery/budget, or Italy for the amazing food/culture/sights.

My interests are pretty generic - I love great food, architecture, walking around sightseeing, ountain/water views, some history but this isn’t mandatory, some socializing/partying.

Would like to stay in a hostel for the social aspect but likely get a private room for my own privacy so I don’t have to worry about roommates.

Just wanna get out of my comfort zone since I’ve never been overseas before, and Portugal/Italy both seem to fit the bill. Possibly Spain too.

If Portugal I’d do Lisbon/Porto, Spain I’d do Barcelona/Madrid, Italy some combo of Rome/Florence/Venice/Amalfi.

Budget: Around $1.5-2k excluding flight/accomodation.

Out of those countries, where do y’all recommend for my first time? Feel free to suggest any others!

I am planning my first solo trip in Europe and am curious which places people have had the best experiences feeling safest (I am an early twenties white female). The countries/cities that I am currently looking at are the Greek islands, Vienna, Croatia, London, and Budapest. I have seen good things about these places so far, but wanting to hear more people's experiences.

Would also appreciate any tips and tricks for a first time solo traveler! :)

I've got a mostly solo adventure into Europe planned on May 1st. I'm flying into London.

I have almost no concrete plans and I'm starting to get very anxious. My basic plan is to use hostels, work away, and couchsurfers to travel cheaply.

Really, I've avoided making too many concrete plans becasue I want to decide what to do when I'm in Europe. I don't want to feel beholden to some itinerary I made while I'm here. I want the freedom of choosing my adventure spontaneously.

But the anxiety is starting to get to me. I'm just thinking about arriving in london... I have no idea what the airport is like, how their public transport works, etc. I know I can fix this with research, but I'm getting worried that over the course of a month I'm biting off more than I can chew.

Has anyone ever been in a situation similar to this? How difficult is it to travel Europe on somewhat of a whim? Is their an ideal amount of baseline planning I should do?

Feel free to criticize me harshly if you think I'm a fool, I don't care. I just want the best outcome here.

TLDR I'm flying to London in a month to solo travel Europe as cheaply as possible. I've done a lot of general research but i don't have any specific plans on where I'm going (I keep wavering on what I want to do). I am packing one large backpack. I plan to use workaway, hostels, and couchsurfers for accomodation. I'm looking for general advice on travelling Europe and what I should research.

Hello everyone!

I (23 M) am currently planning my first solo trip to Europe from May into early August. For context, this is only my second time visiting Europe; mainly using it as a tool for self-exploration and pushing my own personal boundaries. I should also mention that I’m not a very social person, but I’m hoping to change that on this trip.

For reference, I have a rough itinerary for the places I would like to visit, which include: Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Czechia etc. Given the 90 day travel limit within the Schengen area, I plan to stay ~1-2 weeks in each location I visit. As such, my estimated budget for this trip would be $14k CAD or about 10k €. This figure includes flights, accommodation, as well as any estimated daily expenses.

While I have done some of my own preliminary research, I do have some questions regarding my plans and Europe itself. They are as follows:

1. In your experience, what are some good ways to make friends while travelling? I don’t plan on staying in hostels all too often, so this piece of advice would be very helpful.

2. Any recommendations on cities/countries that I should potentially add to my current itinerary? For example, I’m torn on where to stay in Spain and if Germany is worth visiting.

3. Am I over or under estimating the expenses for my trip? I figured 3-4K euros a month should suffice, but I’m quite naive regarding the expenses of solo travel lol.

4. Basically any other kind and informative advice regarding solo travel, Europe, and potential activities/events to look into

Any and all responses would be greatly appreciated!

I can really find things to love about every city I visit, and of course everyone’s experience is subjective. However, on my first solo trip last summer I was surprised by how much some places seemed to be better suited for solo backpackers vs. other places where that was not the case. My main question is where is somewhere in Europe you travelled to solo where you had a great time and met many other solo backpackers looking to socialize?

For example, Lagos in Portugal had a phenomenal scene. Lots of solo travellers, some lively bars at night, and beautiful nature and beaches to fill the days. Budapest (although a larger city) also had so much to do, a lot of people looking to be social, great nightlife and a ton of accommodations to choose from.

On the other hand, I’ve been to cities like Berlin where it seems like most people aren’t travelling solo, and people’s interests seem to be very divided… WW2 history lovers vs. techno lovers there to club for example, and people aren’t as willing to invite you to hangout or be social in my experience.

I guess maybe you have to consider traveller demographics, what people are stereotypically there to do, and city size… although like all things there are probably many exceptions.

Any recs for great cities that you loved while solo backpacking that may have surprised you? Any cities that you didn’t like or liked but thought would be better suited for a different type of trip (ie. not alone or not backpacking). Thanks guys

Finished with my 2 month solo trip through Europe and it has been the trip of my life so far. It was my first solo trip and Reddit helped so much with my nerves so I have made 2 posts to help anyone who might need it. Travelling solo has gone from being a confronting and anxiety inducing experience to me already planning my next solo trip. The close friendships you develop in a matter of days and the new experiences and sights you see are amplified because you did it yourself without relying on anyone else.

Adding onto my last post, some specific things I'd like to highlight from the trip.

Do what you want to do

I cannot stress this point enough. It has been the biggest change for me with my independence on this trip. You are in control of this trip and while it's great to do things with friends do not feel pressured to join them just because they're doing something and invited you along. As a chronic people pleaser there was something so freeing about saying no to other people's plans and doing my own thing (part of my trip bucket list) or just wanting to do something by yourself. With the same notion, if someone says no to hanging out with you, do not take this personally, everyone is on their own trip and doing their own things.

Getting sick

You will get sick at some point on the trip. You are sharing spaces with so many people and travelling most likely by public transport. If you're lucky it will be a short term thing but otherwise it's something you'll have to deal with. Accept it and have an understanding of how you can access pharmacies and doctors in the country you are. I used an online doctor service in Italy that was fantastic.

Solo days - find the rhythm

Just reiterating my last post a bit but you need to find what works for you socially. For me having breakfast by myself and 1-2 days a week spending the afternoon solo is enough that I'm not getting burnt out socially. However I am getting tired of making new friends in each city, it has been fantastic once the relationship is formed but it is also quite draining.

Making Friends

I'd still like to highlight the importance of making some new friends as you travel. Roommates are the easiest way to do this, just when you walk in, smile and ask how they're going, where they're from etc. see my previous post for some ice breakers. Once you have a bit of a chat with your roommate, ask if they want to grab something to eat, grab a beer or go for a walk, you won't be weird I promise!

Have a think about your favourite hobbies, movies, tv shows, books as these are great conversation topics if you are a bit nervous about socialising.

Transport

Accessibility throughout Europe with trains is crazy compared to Australia. I didn't do the calculations but purely for the convenience I would recommend the Eurail/Interail. The ability to just hop on a train and if you miss it you can get the next one with no issue made transport so much less stressful. Flixbus/Itabus etc. are also great cheap options that are pretty comfortable for bus travel.

In multiple countries but specifically Italy the train strikes caused havoc with travel plans. They are not advertised well at all and threw a spanner in the works. Just keep these strikes in mind and plan to not use public transport on those days. I'd suggest downloading Omio which gives you comparisons between rail, bus and flights for price and times.

Make Hay while the sun shines

When things go wrong, which they will, just roll with it and take the opportunity to explore the area. If it's at night and you missed the last bus, maybe call an uber it's not the end of the world. But if you miss a train in the middle of the day or get split up from a walking tour, use it as an opportunity to explore the surroundings and just have fun. It might be stressful but once you just embrace it, it can be a lot of fun to get lost in a bit of chaos.

Security

I used my lock for my dorm locker twice on my trip and only when the curtains were hiding who my roommates were. I had a bit of a running joke through the trip where I would ask my roommates "are you going to steal my shit?". That conversation always got a nice laugh and set the tone of the room as a relaxed place. That said, don't feel pressured to use/not use a lock no one else cares what you are doing. For me it's just a pain to constantly have to lock/unlock my things up and honestly I didn't have much worth stealing...

Thankfully I did not have any issues with getting things stolen, pickpocketed or scammed. I don't have specific advice other than to keep a watch of your surroundings and trust your gut. If you feel unsafe in an area or you feel you're being watched then don't have your phone out. I would also be acutely aware of your personal space, if you are in a crowd have your hands near your pockets. I didn't get approached by any scammers including in Paris near the Eiffel tower, they ignored me... I'm not certain why but I wore relatively dark clothing and kept to myself so maybe didn't stand out too much but YMMV.

Packing/bags

Packing cubes... I didn't use them and regret it after about 2 weeks of using my bag. Getting to something at the bottom of my bag and making a mess of everything else was such a pain. Just use them...

I used a carry on sized suitcase for 2 months in Europe in the winter. Yes I repeated outfits but everyone I talked with who had a bigger bag regretted it as it is quite a pain to move it around and elevators are not common at all in hostels. Bag - Monos Expandable Carry On

I had a backpack that I barely used other than to store stuff as I moved cities but I did use my crossbody sling through the warmer countries. For the backpack, highly recommend getting one with a luggage sleeve, it's quite useful for public transport not having to balance everything. Carrying around water was pretty essential as not everywhere in Europe offers water for free. I did find that using a crossbody sling in the colder countries was too annoying over my big jacket so didn't use it. Sling - Uniqlo (of course!)

Bucket List

I am thankful that I had some goals that I wanted to achieve before I left because it really rounded out my trip by the end and I felt quite accomplished. Some people may not need this and might just want to travel, but seeing things happen naturally that were part of my goals gave me so much joy.

Some (not all) of them -

• Make a friend (yes I know it's a simple one)

• Say no to someone's plans

• Cook dinner with friends you made

• Stay in an AirBnB with friends

• Change travel plans to go visit a friend you made in a different country

• Do something special for Christmas/NY

Emotions

My last point is just to really think about your emotions on the trip as you go, you're going to have down days and feel lonely and other days you won't want to end as you have so much fun. Understand that the lows make the highs so much better and let yourself feel the emotions when they come up. Cry, there's going to be times when you will want to, if you're not comfortable with it then find a private spot, put a sad song on and let them flow. By the end of the trip I could feel what kind of day I was having and not repressing those emotions which is new for me.

Misc.

Apps Bolt, Omio, Lime, Rick Steves Audio Guide, blablacar, RailPlanner (Eurail)

Some of the best tours I did were Rick Steve's Audio Guide, a free app that gives you walking tours through most big cities in Europe.

Journal - I wrote out a page or so in a journal of everything that I did the previous day, the people I met and the food I loved. I'd recommend this as it is quite a nice read looking back at how I've changed and all the things I've done and people I've met on the way.

Take group photos!!! Those are the best memories that I have of the trip, otherwise it's just a lot of food and architecture that you could have seen on Google.

Happy to answer anyone's questions or give recommendations for any of the cities I travelled to.

If you got this far and are thinking about solo travel, just do it, I promise you'll love it and you'll have a pretty special trip. Good luck!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a solo trip to Europe this September and would love some feedback on my draft itinerary. I’ll have about 3 weeks and a budget of $5,000 or less. My main goal is to sightsee and immerse myself in local cultures — museums, architecture, food, history, etc. I’m not really into hiking or nature-focused activities (I plan on getting my fill of nature in Switzerland). I’ll be staying in hostels and plan to use a Eurail pass for transportation.

Here’s my current plan (3 nights in each city): • Interlaken, Switzerland • Vienna, Austria • Budapest, Hungary • Prague, Czech Republic • Berlin, Germany • Amsterdam, Netherlands • Brussels, Belgium

I’m wondering: • Does this itinerary seem too rushed? • Would it make more sense to cut one or two cities and spend more time in fewer places? • Are there any cities you would recommend swapping out? • Any hostel or train pass tips for someone on this route?

Appreciate any advice or insights from those who’ve done similar trips — thanks in advance!

I am planning a 3-week trip to Europe for end of September / early October. I'm leaving from NYC and have a budget of $7,000 (Please let me know if this is reasonable/ unreasonable). I plan to stay in either private rooms in hostels or shared airbnbs (How hard is it to meet ppl in shared airbnbs vs private room in hostels?). I have come up with a rough list of potential places based on researching on this sub, but would like input on these places / other suggestions based on the below. Places I’ve been before so wouldn’t consider: Lisbon, Berlin, Prague, Paris

This is my first time traveling solo and my top priorities are: 1. Walking around to explore city and learn about culture, 2. Meeting people (one of my biggest fears for 1st time solo travel is being alone / feeling lonely), 3. Food, 4. Nightlife.

If I could get 1 recommendation on a place that is mostly nature based, less city vibes, more outdoors (hiking), that would be great. Possibly would sub out Budapest for a more nature-based location since I plan on going to Amsterdam dance event in Amsterdam.

Possible Itinerary

• Spain (Barcelona)

• Belgium (Ghent / Brussels) – can I do both or do I have to pick 1?

• Poland (Krakow)

• Hungary (Budapest)

• Netherlands (Amsterdam) Plan to catch a few nights of ADE: Oct. 18 – 22

Questions

• Is this too many places to fit into 3 weeks? If so, how many should I aim for and which should I prioritize?

• How many days should I plan for each location?

• Is it okay to plan my trip out so structured (booking all flights, airbnbs ahead of time, having hard dates for each location) pros and cons to this approach? I know there is no right or wrong answer here but as a planner, the thought of having the trip be open ended seems scary. Also, does the spontaneous route usually cost more? What have peoples experiences been for both approaches? Have you found one to be better overall?

• Why do most people on this sub suggest packing so light? Have you experienced not having enough clothes for various activities? Active wear for walking around during day, nicer clothes for going to dinners, dressy clothes for going out, outerwear such as sweatshirts and jackets, etc. (I usually like to pack heavy and am a rookie so would be good to hear others opinions). Based on this answer I plan to either bring a carry on suitcase (~30 lbs) or a checked bag (~50 lbs).

Thanks in advance and excited to face my biggest fear in life and go on my first solo adventure!!!

Hi all,

I am looking to travel to Europe next year. (27 male)

I am trying to work out whether I should choose a tour such as topdeck and Intrepid, or go full solo, and only doing day trip style tours.

TBH I am not thrilled with the tour options out there. I am in an awkward position where my options are either 18-20 year olds who want to drink only, or the other end that caters to people in retirement.

Also I am not a fan of sharing bathrooms or being in multishare hostels. Yet these are the tours where I am the most likely to have people close to my age. If I was to select any tour that doesn't have an age limit, then everyone will most likely be decades older.

Meeting others is the main draw for choosing a tour, but the options aren't great, and any decent ones seem to be very overpriced.

I’ve done a solo trip to Paris and Brussels before. I wouldn’t mind going back to Paris, but are there any other cities recommended? I am aiming to hit London as well

Straight to the point, I’m a 21M solo traveling to Europe for the first time in late May/early June. I’m Brazilian, and as you might expect, we are used to intense partying here (as I missed some of it due to turning 18 in 2020, I’m trying to make up for the “wasted years” due to COVID, but don’t want to live this party life for too long tho).

Judge me at will, but basically my goal is to enjoy the most of Europe’s nightlife (and should I have any luck, some of the girls too). I’ll have about 10 free days, so it would be nice if I went somewhere with partying/clubbing options also during early/midweek days. I’m not going there to rest, so the lack of sleeping will not be an issue to me. Due to the limited time, I’d probably like to visit up to 3 cities. As the Brazilian currency is kinda depreciated compared to the Euro, budget-friendly (or at least not too expensive like Copenhagen or London) destinations are more than welcome.

So I’d kindly ask for tips regarding (i) best cities (I was thinking something like Prague, Budapest, Krakow or Barcelona) and (ii) hostels in those cities - might seem obvious, but should I go to regular hostels or party hostels?

Additionally, I am proficient in English, speak decent Spanish but nothing of the other European languages. I’m assuming English (and the very basics of the local languages for politeness reasons) should be enough.