Things You'll Need:
- Europe guidebook
- Eurail timetable
- Student discount card (if applicable)
- Eurail pass
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Step 1
Get a valid passport. If your passport is up for renewal, get the ball rolling as the process can often take awhile. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after your planned return to your home country.
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Step 2
Determine a budget for your trip. The most expensive item to account for will most likely be your international airfare to Europe. Other items to consider include lodging, food, activities and travel within Europe (most likely with the help of a Eurail pass).
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Step 3
Decide how long you want to backpack in Europe. Details to consider include what countries you want to visit and how long you want to spend in each city.
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Step 4
Create an itinerary for your trip. Consider how long you plan to spend in each city and what you will do while there. Overnight trains can allow you to travel without wasting a touring day spent stuck on a train.
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Step 5
Purchase airfare to Europe. The least-expensive cities to fly into are often London and Paris, though deals can be found to fly into other European gateways. Purchase your airfare as soon as possible to ensure that airfares do not go up.
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Step 6
Decide what kind of Eurail pass you will need. You can buy country-specific passes as well as multi-country or regional passes. Estimate the number of days you will spend traveling by train and purchase your pass accordingly. To save money, you will want to purchase your Eurail pass before traveling to Europe. You do not need to worry about making overnight train reservations ahead of time, as those can often be booked on the day or several days ahead during your travels abroad. Be aware that overnight trains can be booked up during the summer high season.
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Step 7
Pull together all the supplies you will need for your backpacking trip. Purchase as large a backpack as you can comfortably carry. Eagle Creek is a highly recommended brand. For clothes, pack layers in neutral colors that can be easily hand-washed if necessary. Pack comfortable shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking. Be sure to bring along an up-to-date European guidebook to help you find food and lodging along the way during your trip. Plan to book accommodations for your first night prior to leaving and then one to two days in advance during your travels. Bring along small locks to lock up the zippers on your backpack. Also plan to bring a net lock or bicycle lock to secure your backpack on overnight trains.
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Step 8
Make a copy of all your travel documents -- including the front page of your passport, airplane tickets, Eurail pass and credit card numbers -- and leave it with a family member or friend at home. These copies will come in handy in case something happens to you or your documents while you are abroad.
