Visit seven countries and ten destinations in ten days with this Europe backpacking itinerary.
Backpacking in Europe should be a rite of passage for young, wanderlust-stricken souls, if you ask me. The continent has so much to reveal to travellers: from the terracotta rooftops of Dubrovnik to the colourful bays of Malta; Austria’s rugged peaks and Spain’s soft shores.
Europe’s vast and varied landscape is matched by its smorgasbord of cuisines, local tongues and cultures. If you have ten days to travel around Europe, you’ll want to see the best cities and tourist attractions (and bars, obviously), so you’ll need a Europe trip itinerary that packs a lot in to a short space of time.
This jam-packed Europe backpacking itinerary will take you to the top of Paris’ teetering Eiffel Tower, along Switzerland’s Rhine, and inside Rome’s iconic Colosseum.
It will show you Venice from its romantic waterways, and have you wandering grand palaces in Vienna, then partying in Budapest. It will also let you taste real Belgian chocolate-topped waffles and see Amsterdam’s Red Light District for yourself – all in less than a fortnight.
You can plan and book your entire ten day Europe adventure with an Interrail pass. If you’re from outside of Europe, you’ll want to go with Eurail. Of course, it’s always worth comparing flight prices on Skyscanner before you book a train – sometimes you can fly for just as cheap (and it’s always an infinitely shorter journey).
A suggested 10 day Europe itinerary: 7 countries, 10 destinations
I’ve included some of the best destinations to see on your first backpacking tour of Europe (no offence to those I couldn’t fit in) and, where possible, found overnight journey options to help you save money on accommodation. It’s one of the simplest and best budget backpacking hacks in the book, and one I’ve used many times while travelling to over 40 countries.
Is this the ten day Europe tour for you?
Day 1: London to Paris
If you’re starting your Europe trip in the UK, it’s usually cheapest and easiest to kick off in London. Take a crack of dawn train to Paris, which takes just over two hours.
When you arrive in the French capital, make a beeline for the Eiffel Tower (you should check the cheapest tickets and tours before you go), cruise along the Seine and try to see other famous Paris attractions.
Because you only have one day to see as much of Paris as possible, it’s a good idea to buy a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket, to whip around the main tourist attractions without wasting time.
Paris tours and activities
Day 2: Basel & Bern
Depart Paris late in the evening to catch an overnight bus or train to Basel, Switzerland. You can sleep on the bus, which will save you a night’s accommodation fee, and arrive in beautiful Basel refreshed and ready to explore.
If you’re in need of a proper wake-up, have a dip in the Rhine with the locals before you visit the tiny city’s many museums.
Get inspired: My Basel travel guide
Around lunchtime, take a bus or train from Basel to Bern, the capital of Switzerland. It’s an expensive city so you won’t want to hang around for too long there, but a few hours should be enough time to saunter around the old town and see the Swiss Federal Assembly, one of the world’s oldest democracies.
If you’d like to make sure you see the main sights, you can book an express tour of Bern.
Swiss sightseeing done, catch a late-night flight to Rome and get some sleep in a hostel there. You’ve got a lot of walking to do tomorrow!
Basel and Bern tours and activities
Day 3: Rome
Day three of your whirlwind ten day tour of Europe should be dedicated solely to exploring Rome. Walk its cobbled streets and crane your neck to see the city’s beautiful facades, visit the Colosseum, and gorge on gelato, pizza and pasta at every stop.
If you have time, tick another country off your travel bucket list: The Vatican. The best way to squeeze this in is to book a skip-the-queue tour.
Get inspired: My two day itinerary for Rome
Grab a drink in Trastevere and then, in the late evening, you can then make the journey to Italy’s jewel: Venice.
It’s quickest to fly but if you’re on a tight budget, take an overnight bus, which takes around seven hours. Use those seven hours to sleep. Another night’s hostel fee saved!
Rome tours and activities
Day 4: Venice
When you arrive in Venice, grab a bite to eat and then do the tourist thing: jump in a gondola and watch the world pass by, being sure to stop at Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica.
You could also do a boat trip to colourful Murano, Torcello & Burano Islands, which takes around half a day.
As the sun sets on your day in Venice, catch another overnight bus or train, this time to Austria’s capital city.
Venice tours and activities
Day 5: Vienna
Vienna is a beautiful city, and while you’ll never see all of its highlights in a day, you shouldn’t miss the incredibly regal Schönbrunn Palace, with its endless decadent rooms and pristine gardens.
Eat some apple strudel, go to the opera and climb to the top of St Stephen’s Cathedral for a truly awe-inspiring view over the city. In my opinion, this is one of the most inspiring European cathedrals.
Vienna is another city where you’ll benefit from buying a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket, because the city sprawls.
Get inspired: My two day itinerary for Vienna
Spend the night in a hostel in Vienna – I recommend Wombats.
Vienna tours and activities
Day 6: Budapest
Next morning, take a train or bus from Vienna to Budapest. Stroll along the Danube and go to Fisherman’s Bastion for the best view.
Budapest’s most unmissable attraction is of course, its outdoor baths and Széchenyi Bath is said to be the best.
If you plan ahead, your night in Budapest might coincide with one of their crazy ‘sparties’ in Szechenyi Spa & Baths. If not, book a late night dinner cruise and then hit the famous ruin bars like Szimpla Kert. Alternatively, meet fellow backpackers on a pub crawl.
Get inspired: My guide to a short break in Budapest
Budapest tours and activities
Day 7: Brussels
On day seven of your trip, spend the morning in Budapest and then jump on a cheap flight from there to Brussels. See the impressive Grand Palace and its neighbours, the six guild halls, then munch on some proper Belgian fries, served with mayo.
No backpacker can visit Belgium without sampling one of its other famous products: beer. Spend your night in Belgium’s capital sipping the amber nectar, and book a beer tasting if you’d like to learn about it as you sup. Not interested? A four hour pub crawl will do the job.
Brussels tours and activities
Day 8: Bruges and/or Ghent
I highly recommend travelling within Belgium while you’re there. It’s one of the countries that I didn’t expect to love as much as I did, and my two favourite spots are Bruges and Ghent. They’re both fairytale places, but Ghent is slightly less touristy than Bruges.
Get inspired: My two day itinerary for Ghent
Ghent and Bruges tours and activities
Day 9: Amsterdam
You can take the bus from either Bruges or Ghent to Amsterdam, the final stop in this Europe itinerary – though it’s a shorter travel time if you go from Ghent.
Spend your last day cruising on Amsterdam’s canals, visiting their famous coffee shops and reflecting on your adventure. Still thirsty? There’s always the Heineken Experience.
By this point, you should be exhausted and have memories to last a lifetime – but the fuel in your belly for another trip soon.
Get inspired: My two day itinerary for Amsterdam
Amsterdam tours and activities
Day 10: Back to London
Day ten brings you back to the UK. I used to think that travel meant leaving ‘home’ behind, but now I know that the UK has so much to offer and there are loads of cool places to visit closer to home. Check out my UK travel section for some inspiration.
If I can offer you one tip for the best UK city to visit, I’d direct you to Edinburgh.
London tours and activities
Plan and book your Europe adventure
Use my Travel Resources page to save money
I see this lightning-speed, whistle-stop Europe trip itinerary as a taster tour, a flirtation with Europe if you will. Use it to sample the delights of some of Europe’s best spots, and make a mental note to go back for second helpings of the places you fall for the hardest.
You’ll never see all of Europe, whether you’ve got ten days or ten years, but I think this is a good way to experience some of its best destinations for backpackers in a small amount of time.
Of course, I’ve missed out too many of Europe’s wonders to list. This Europe tour doesn’t take you to Berlin or Bosnia or Bucharest, but it does introduce you to the European backpacking trail. The important thing to know is that you don’t have to stick to an itinerary when you travel. Use this itinerary as a guide and do it your own way!
I hope you find this ten day European backpacking suggested itinerary useful, and that it helps you plan the most incredible adventure. Remember, the world may always be there but you won’t be young forever. Go now, while you’re fresh-faced and have the stamina to tackle a trip like this!
Europe travel tips
If you’re off on a backpacking stint around Europe, the Lonely Planet Europe guide is bound to come in handy.
It’s also super important that you protect yourself with travel insurance – World Nomads are generally hailed as the best option among travellers.
Get a good rate on your Euros by ordering them in advance of your trip.
It’s also always worth checking out budget options for accommodation for each destination on your itinerary on booking.com. Opt for hotels or hostels who offer free cancellation, in case your plans change.
What are your favourite spots in this itinerary, if you’ve already travelled to them? Any top tips for first time backpackers who only have ten days to see as much of Europe as possible? Share the knowledge in a comment and please share this post with anyone planning their own Europe backpacking tour.
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TeaPartyPrincess says
OK that’s incredible. Actually incredible. You’ve fit so much in!
Cora
Pia says
that´s a pretty cool trip, especially, when you want to see as much cities in less time! Good to hear that Wombats hostel in Vienna is still there and be recommended. I stayed there on my Vienna trip in 2013 or so… damn, such a long time!