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Amsterdam, Netherlands
This ultra liberal city is the perfect place to start any euro-trip and is a
popular stop for most travellers on a Central Europe backpacking route.
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is a major hub in Europe with flights to and from
cities all around the world and the train station offers excellent info and
advice in English on Europe rail passes, a luxury that is less common as you
head east, so it is a good place to start backpacking in Europe.
It is a compact city, full of lively squares and built around a network of
canals. The fantastic Anne Frank Museum is its number one attraction and while
it is a pretty expensive destination, there are also a host of free things to do
in Amsterdam which should help you stick to a shoestring budget. There is also a
darker side to Amsterdam with its notorious red light district an eye-opening
experience. The ability to walk into a cafe and legally buy weed also appeals to
many travellers and if that’s your scene, you could easily stay a bit longer
here before embarking on your rail adventure.
- Dam
- Rijksmuseum
- Museumplein
- Red Light Secrets - Museum of Prostitution (Red Light Secrets – Prostitution Museum)
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Berlin, Germany
Germany and its capital especially has very much got its cool back. Berlin has
been practically rebuilt since the wall which used to divide this city came down
in 1989 and it has been done with great style and planning that is rarely seen
in big cities across the world.
Berlin has many interesting sights and points of interest relating to the Cold
War era and you can still visit the last remaining sections of the Berlin Wall
today. However it also has a modern, rebellious streak and there are some unique
districts to visit while you attempt to understand the city’s immense history.
Its nightlife scene is also not to be missed with some incredible warehouse
clubs serving up some of the best electronic music in the world.
For more on the nation as a whole, check out our countdown of the best places to
visit in Germany this summer.
- Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas)
- Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor)
- East Side Gallery
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Munich, Germany
Back in Germany and the southern city of Munich in Bavaria. This is the
country’s cultural centre with an outrageous number of museums on everything
from motors, theatre and art to Bavarian history. This is also of course home of
the 200 year old Oktoberfest which sees millions of litres of beer drunk by the
huge numbers of visitors who flock to Munich every autumn, as well as Bayern
Munich, one of the most successful football clubs in the world who play at the
stunning Allianz Arena, which features in our Bavaria backpacking guide.
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Zürich, Switzerland
A trip to Zurich is worth it just to see some of the stunning Swiss scenery you
pass on the train in and it’s certainly worth looking to book a train during
daylight hours either side of your visit. It is the largest city in Switzerland
but still has some small town charm to it. It is a city of churches, lakes and
gardens but there are also plenty of lively shopping streets and a larger
concentration of nightclubs than any other city in Europe (although don’t forget
your wallet as Zurich is seriously pricey!). The city is known as a gateway to
the Alps and it’s a short hop on the train to nearby ski resorts.
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Paris, France
Paris is one of the most visited cities on the planet and although its
reputation as a romantic getaway and high prices make it more popular with
couples and wealthy tourists than backpackers, there can hardly be a better
place to end a trip around Europe. From the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe
to the Louvre and the Champs Elysées, Paris is a city full of world famous
landmarks that keeps tourists snapping away for the duration of their stay in
the French capital. Aside from the essential places to visit, there are plenty
of interesting and more wallet-friendly districts to eat, sleep and enjoy this
beautifully artistic city, one of the best places to live in France.