Probably the most common method of travel for European backpackers is via the vast network of national railways. One of the easiest and most cost efficient ways of accessing rail travel is the tried and true Eurail Pass. The Eurail Pass provides access to the national railways of up to 27 countries. This can allow you to travel pretty extensively through Europe for a decent price.

However, to get the most out of your rail pass takes a little planning and thought. Eurail passes comes in two different flavors, one that is valid for a set number of continuous days, and another that is valid for a certain number of days within a given time-frame (e.g. 15 days within two months). More »

Probably the single most expensive purchase the would-be backpacker has to make is a plane ticket to Europe. For shorter backpacking trips, this can be well over a quarter of the overall cost.

There are a number of strategies for finding cheap airfare, many of which are covered in our flights section. However, the most reliable way to spend the least amount of money on your flight is to book it with frequent flier miles. Booking with miles can save you hundreds, if not more. More »

Freiburg (im Breigau) is small city in the southwest corner of Germany. Nestled in between France, Switzerland and the Black Forest, Freiburg is a charming city worth checking out. If you have been traveling mostly in large cities, spending some time in a smaller city like Freiburg can be a welcome change of pace. More »

Bruges (Brugge in Flemish/Dutch) is a quaint little tourist town in northwest section of Flanders, the Dutch speaking portion of Belgium. Despite being dominated by tourists from all over Europe, Bruges still maintains its charm and will make you hesitant to leave. More »