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Delft, Netherlands
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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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Prague, Czech Republic
It is true that Prague has become very touristy over the past decade or two but
there’s good reason for it and it’s still a lot cheaper than its Western
European counterparts. The city is perhaps the most beautiful in Europe with
stunning churches and bridges as well as a picturesque riverside setting.
There’s also excellent and ridiculously cheap beer, available in some areas for
the equivalent of well under €1 for a pint which helps add to its reputation as
one of the best places to backpack in Europe. The nightlife is also a big draw
for visitors and is best on weekends when the clubs are packed with a mixed
crowd of Czechs and mostly European tourists. There are also literally hundreds
of youth hostels and budget hotels of varying quality, most of which are very
reasonably priced while Prague Castle is perhaps the main highlight in terms of
things to see.
- Prague: Old Town, Medieval Underground & Dungeon Tour
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Vienna, Austria
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Bratislava, Slovakia
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Budapest, Hungary
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Zagreb, Croatia