When to Visit Europe?
Europe is extremely crowded wherever you go in the summer, so I would recommend visiting from April to May (spring) and September to October (autumn) instead.
During these periods, you will get the best of both worlds: fewer tourists, cheaper prices for accommodations, good average temperatures, and nature's colors in full swing. Plus, outdoor activities that you can attend in cities like Berlin are still happening during these months, so it will be fun nonetheless.
How to Get to Europe?
The good thing about traveling in a well-traveled area, like Europe, is that there are plenty of cheap flights from which you can choose.
Ideally, with this particular itinerary, I would recommend that you fly into Madrid, Spain, and fly out from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Both airports have plenty of flights going in and out every day. For example, Iberia Airlines offers flights from the US to Spain, and KLM is a good option for flying out from Amsterdam.
To find the cheapest flight to Europe, make sure to browse through Skyscanner or Expedia so that you can get the cheapest flight from your home country to Spain.
How to Get Around Europe?
Europe is massive, and since this itinerary covers over 10 countries, a well-planned route and mode of transportation are essential, especially with the 90-day limit on our tourist visa. Here are a few ways you can get around Europe.
Low-Cost Airlines, like RyanAir, are a great option if you want to significantly shorten your travel time and travel far; however, they can be expensive. In this itinerary, you will likely be traveling nearby and making your way slowly around the continent, so you won't be flying.
Buses are one of the best and cheapest ways to travel around Europe. Most of the locations covered in this itinerary can be reached by bus (except Zermatt where you will have to take the train). Flixbus is a great option with affordable prices and a good network of buses that connect most of the places I listed here.
European trains are also a good option if you want to travel quickly, but they can become expensive very quickly. Therefore, I would recommend using them only when there is no bus available on the desired travel day.
The Eurail Global Pass is recommended if you plan to travel by train frequently. The Eurail pass provides unlimited train travel on the national rail networks of over 31 participating countries for a specified period of time. You are eligible to obtain one as long as you do not hold European residency and purchase it prior to your arrival in Europe. Additionally, if you are 27 or younger, you are also eligible for a 23% discount.
For more information about the Eurail Pass: How to Use a Eurail Pass - A Guide to European Rail Passes.
If you want to save even more money, you can go with Blablacar, a carpooling service popular in countries such as Spain, France, and Poland.
Daily Budget
This is a rather expensive destination, so careful budget planning is advised. On average, I spent around $55 - $80 USD per day per person, covering essential items such as food, accommodation, and transportation.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Europe?
Given the new data roaming surcharge ban that went into effect in 2017, we can now have one local SIM card bought in the EU and use it in most places in Europe without having to buy a new SIM card for every country we visit, making our connected lives so much easier.
In theory, you can buy a SIM card from Spain and access data throughout your trip at the same domestic rate, no matter where you are. However, there are some countries, such as Poland and the Nordic countries, that have not yet complied with the change.
Thankfully, Wi-Fi is plentiful in these countries, so you will have no trouble getting online while on the road, even without roaming SIM cards.
One thing to note when buying a local SIM card is to make sure that it actually allows you to roam with your data. Go to a proper phone carrier shop, and have them activate the roaming data, and they should provide you with all the information you might need to stay connected while traveling for 3 months.
For more information on the European Union SIM card: European Union Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, make sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling so that you can bypass any local Internet censorship you might encounter while in Europe.
What to Pack for Europe?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Europe:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
