Hostels in Europe vary wildly from large institutional hostels with lots of rules that cater to European school children to filthy run-down city hostels that most people wouldn't let their dog stay in to modern independent hostels, both city and in rural locations, that are world class? as far as hostels go. Unfortunately, for this reason, it is unwise to assume that your next hostel experience will be about the same as the last one. As a result, many travelers get turned off to hostels in Europe and spend most nights in pensions and hotels. This is sad because there are some great hostels in Europe, but like they say "One bad apple spoils the bunch." Fortunately for you, the whole point of this website is to help you cut through the haze and get the straight story from travelers just like yourself.
Activities for the European backpacker are plentiful. If sightseeing is your thing, you'll get more than your fill in almost every place you go. The long history of Europe translates into lots of stuff to look at. You'll see more cathedrals, museums, and architectural works of art than you could possibly take in. Best bet on the sightseeing is to pace yourself and don't fret if you have to skip a few "Must see's," or you'll get so burned out on cathedrals and museums that you'll never want to see another one in your life.
Aside from sightseeing, there are lots of other activities to keep you entertained. In the big cities, your outdoor activities are limited so it's worth including a number of small towns on your itinerary. It's wise to break up the sightseeing with some down time. Make sure to pencil in some of the numerous beach side towns, quaint European villages, and island getaways. You'll be surprised how much fun a small town can be that has a healthy backpacker scene.
Wherever you are, the good hostels will always serve up a good party. Picking the right hostels can be the difference between enjoying a town and hating the place? it's all about the people you meet. All the cathedrals and museums start to blend together after a while, but you'll never forget the people you met and traveled with along the journey. Good hostels are always socially conducive so you'll be sure to make some new friends at every stop.
The busiest backpacker season is from the May to September. If you're trying to follow the sun, try to hit the northern extremities during July and August. The Southern Mediterranean stays hot most of the year so this is a good place to be in the spring and fall. If you don't want to fight the crowds (which isn't a bad idea), just target the fringe seasons.
Backpacker transportation throughout Europe is great. Trains are the preferred method of transportation for most backpackers while in Europe. Deciding you're going to go by train is only the first step? next you have to figure out what type of rail pass to buy or if buying individual segments makes more sense (See Wise Nomad's FastTrack? train guide for details).
You can also get around by bus, and it's easier than going by train when going through Britain, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey. There's a relatively new bus service called Busabout that's a European push of the great backpacker bus company in Australia called the Oz Experience. Busabout doesn't compare to their Australian counterpart, but it's not a bad option as it relieves you of the headaches that can often stem from trying to figure out the train system in each new country. The problem with the Busabout is that they pigeonhole you into staying at certain hostels and it's not an off the beaten path experience like down under. Perhaps in a few years, their service will be more refined in Europe.
The cost of traveling throughout Europe varies not only with the country, but also with the current exchange rate between the Euro and whatever your currency happens to be. If the Euro is weak, traveling suddenly becomes a lot more affordable. It's worth taking this into consideration when planning the length of you trip. Regardless of the value of the Euro, some countries are still relatively inexpensive and others are relatively costly. Like everywhere else on earth, the big cities are more expensive, but it can get down right ridiculous in London and Paris. In general terms, the farther south you are, or the farther east you are, the cheaper everything is. Spain, Italy, and Greece are fairly inexpensive. Eastern Europe is really cheap, although it's getting more and more expensive as these places are getting more and more popular. It's wise to set up an itinerary that has the longer stays in the inexpensive places, as there is just as much to see and they're just as much fun? use the money you save to extend your trip a few more weeks.
I'd set a spending limit of US$80 per day (Excluding flight, but inclusive of transportation) and target US$60 which will allow you to have a grand time all over Europe and really live it up in the inexpensive places. Alternatively, if you want to target a lower cost per day, all you have to do is spend more time in the inexpensive countries. Whatever path you choose, remember that when backpacking the less you spend, the more fun you're likely to have. Opt to cook dinner at the hostel with a few people and make a few friends, or have a few cheap beers at the hostel and meet a few friends before going out where the tab really starts to add up. After all, meeting interesting people and making new friends from all over the world is what hostelling is all about.
