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Lagos, Portugal
Start your trip with golden-hour swims at Praia do Camilo, one of the Algarve's most dramatic cove beaches. The old town is compact and walkable — grab a pastel de nata and explore the sea cave grottos by kayak. Nights come alive with hostel bar crawls through the cobblestone streets of the historic centre.
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Ibiza, Balearic Islands
Spend your days at Playa d'en Bossa, the longest beach on the island and home to buzzing beach clubs right on the sand. Stock up on pre-drinks from any supermarket before heading to world-famous clubs like Hï Ibiza or Ushuaïa for big-name DJ nights. The old walled town of Dalt Vila is a UNESCO site worth a daytime wander too.
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Interlaken, Switzerland
Base yourself here for jaw-dropping Alpine adventure — day-trip to Lauterbrunnen valley to hike past 72 waterfalls and breathe some of the cleanest air on earth. Cliff-jump and swim in the electric-blue glacial waters of Lake Brienz, a highlight that genuinely looks unreal in person. Cook in the hostel kitchen to keep costs down — Switzerland is expensive but the scenery is absolutely free.
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Bolzano - Bozen, Italy
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Rome, Italy
A one-night pitstop packed with the big hitters — pre-book your discounted youth ticket to the Colosseum well in advance as queues are brutal in August. Grab a massive slice of street pizza near Termini station and make the pilgrimage to the Trevi Fountain after dark when it's cooler and slightly less chaotic. The Ostello Bello near the Colosseum is a great base with a free welcome drink to kick things off.
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Split, Croatia
Spend your first two nights in Split partying at the legendary beach bars along Bačvice and exploring Diocletian's Palace, a Roman emperor's retirement home that's now a living city centre full of bars and restaurants. On day three, board the Sail Croatia Navigator cruise for a seven-night island-hopping adventure through the Adriatic, ending in Dubrovnik — expect non-stop tanning, crystal-clear swimming spots, and island clubs. This sailing leg is the absolute centrepiece of the whole trip.
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Theth, Albania
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Himarë, Albania
This is your Santorini-style moment — a UNESCO-listed medieval walled town dramatically hugging a bay of impossibly clear turquoise water, surrounded by dry, rugged limestone mountains. Hike up to the ancient fortress walls at sunrise for panoramic views over the Bay of Kotor before the crowds arrive. The old town is tiny and labyrinthine, packed with cheap Adriatic seafood, local wine, and a surprisingly lively backpacker bar scene at night.
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Athens, Greece
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Sofia, Bulgaria
Split your time between multi-day wilderness hiking along the dramatic ridges of Central Balkan National Park, staying in traditional mountain huts called hizhas, before returning to Sofia to recover. The Studentski Grad district is one of the cheapest nightlife zones in all of Europe — cold beers for under a euro and a massive student crowd every night of the week. Hostel Mostel is legendary on the backpacker circuit for its free dinner and free beer deal, making it the perfect final base to wind down the trip.