Europe Backpacking Summer Tour
So, you wanna travel to Europe, but you are not sure where to start? Well, I have an itinerary for YOU!
Ibiza, Spain
I recommend you fly into Barcelona (airport code BCN) and you fly back home from Amsterdam (airport code AMS). It will be tiring and non-stop, and you will probably need a vacation from your vacation, once you return home, but it will be worth it!
1st stop: Barcelona, which happens to be my most FAVE European city!
I love Barcelona so much that I have visited a few times! There’s just so much to do and see!!
Pont del Bisbe bridge in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter
Spaniards are naturally beautifully looking individuals, but their accent makes them sexy!! All Spaniards speak Castilian Spanish, but the people from Catalonia, a region in Northern Spain, also speak Catalan, which is a French, Spanish, Latin intermix! I can’t explain it, you’ll just have to fly to Barcelona and hear it for yourself!
I recommend that you spend at least 4 days in Barcelona, at the bare minimum. You won’t be able to see everything, but you will have lots to chose from.
Upon arrival at BCN take the RENFE railway system into the city, which will take about 30 minutes. Jump onto your connecting metro train and head to El Born, a trendy neighborhood that’s full of historic sites, art galleries, and funky shops by day, and cocktail bars, tapa restaurants, and music venues by night. In my opinion, it is the prettiest out of all the adjoining areas.
Book an Airbnb, stay at a hostel, or get a small hotel room—you won’t be spending much time in your room either way. From El Born, you’ll be be able to walk to many attractions, enjoy some of the best meals, and ride the metro around the entire city!
Visit the famous “La Sagrada Familia” (and unfinished Basilica with gothic and modern designs), try some Paella, sip on some Sangria, spend a beach day in Barceloneta, hit up the clubs (but don’t you dare show up before 1am!! You will be the ONLY one there at that time!), attend a Flamenco show, roam Las Ramblas, tour the Picasso Museum, attend a service at the Cathedral, sign up for free walking tour (and tip your guide) and head to Parc Güell, for one of the best views of this beautiful city, but overall, just get lost! You will not regret it!! And if you have extra time, head over to Ibiza, indisputably the most famous and top-party destination in the world!!
On the evening of the 4th day catch an overnight train on Rail Europe to Paris OR fly into Paris.
2nd Stop: Paris, the City of Love.
Paris, the French Capital, is captivating, romantic, and very fashionable. Some say that the French are a bit impolite, but I disagree, it’s simple the way we communicate!! The French do NOT like tourists that ONLY speak English and make no effort to adapt the common basics like Excusez-Moi, Merci, or Bonjour, so brush up on your accent before arriving in France lol
Obviously, in Paris you must visit the Eiffel Tower; so, purchase a ticket, in advance, and explore the top platform! BEWARE of all those street scammers at the bottom!! They are professionals, and will trick and entrap you into playing, paying, or losing money! All the observers are in on it!!
Take an early day trip to Versailles, the former royal residence; visit the Louve, but do some research prior to your arrival, as many of the famous paintings (Mona Lisa) , sculptures (Venus de Milo) and other artifacts are NOT in the same exhibition rooms or general area. Visit the Notre Dame (and take the guided tour), have breakfast in Montmartre, walk down Avenue des Champs-Élysées, and break the bank at one (or all) of the luxury brand retailers, and stop for some pictures at the Arc de Triomphe. The French are foodies, so be daring and dig in. And for some evening fun, head to the Latin Quarter.
Mona Lisa Painting at Louvre Museum in Paris, France
3rd Stop: Brussels
After a few days in Paris, catch an early morning train to Brussels.
Stay near the Grand Palace, enjoy some Belgium beer, and off course order some waffles. If you happen to visit during the month of August, stop and see the “Flower Carpet” near the Main Square; and if you visit during July, pre-book tickets to Tomorrowland, the biggest EDM festival in the world! It is WILD!
Take a walking tour and learn about its history and Parliament. Take note, so you can revisit all of the highlights at your leisure, as you will want to go back and grab that Belgium chocolate, check out the flea markets, walk around the gardens, and enter one of the many local museums. After a couple of days, head out to your final destination.
Tomorrowland Festival, in Belguim
4th and FINAL stop: Amsterdam
Stay in Centrum, which is inside the “canal belt” and near the train station.
With so many hotel options available, any place that you book is perfect! As soon as you step out, it will be jam-packed with tourists, just like you! But please be careful and keep an eye out on your belongings, as thieves loom the area!
Needless to say, the Redlight District is a very popular attraction for obvious reasons, and if that is your type-of thing, just be safe and do not get outta control—the Dutch dislike heavily intoxicated tourists. Also, DO NOT, and I repeat DO NOT eat the space cakes!! While it is legal, and everything goes, it does not mean you should consume it!
If you are looking for something more chill and a family-friendly atmosphere, visit the Anne Frank Haus, the Van Gogh Museum, and take a canal boat tour!
If you are feeling adventurous, rent-a-bike, but watch out for pedestrians and drivers, as directions can get a bit convoluted. If you wanna step outside the City Centre, take a day trip to Zaanse Schans, to view the historical windmills, or to the world-famous tulip fields, for those once-in-a-lifetime pictures. And off course, no visit to Amsterdam is complete without a Heineken tour.
Amsterdam
So, there you have it!! It is a lot to do, but you’ll be able to knock out 4 countries in one trip. And the advantage is that the Schengen Visa, which compromises of 26 European countries, allows travelers to roam freely within the Schengen zone, so just verify the COVID entry guidelines for each country before visiting.