A Guide to Backpacking Holidays in Europe

Whether it's solo or with friends, backpacking across Europe is an adventure in itself. When travelling alone, you are completely free: no fixed schedules, no compromises-just the freedom to explore at your own pace.

You can plan the route or take a leap of faith; find hidden nooks and surprises everywhere. 

Tips for Solo Backpacking in Europe:

1. Stay flexible – Leave room for spontaneous trips and unexpected detours.
   
2. Pack light – A smaller backpack makes moving around easier.
   
3. Use hostels and social stays – Great for meeting fellow travelers.
   
4. Stay connected – Share your location with friends or family for peace of mind.
   
5. Choose stress-free travel – Ferries are a relaxed way to start your journey, giving you time to plan your next move.

Making the most of your money is the main goal of backpacking, and ferry travel helps you massively make the most of your budget. Our ferries provide an inexpensive alternative to plane and train tickets for crossing the Channel. This allows you to spend more on activities, dining, and creating memories throughout Europe.

Forgot something? No problem, our onboard shopping has all the essentials you might need before you reach your next destination. Plus, you can relax and recharge during the crossing with comfortable seating, food options, and plenty of space to unwind.

With P&O Ferries, your journey starts stress-free, so you can focus on what matters—exploring Europe, meeting new people, and embracing adventure.

Backpacking Europe is a fantastic experience for families as well as lone travellers. When you travel around Europe with kids, you can experience the world through their eyes and make lifelong memories. When travelling with teenagers you can see first-hand their enjoyment of being more independent when travelling.

Even if you are backpacking Europe in the winter there are always loads of places to visit and things to do. While Amsterdam is ideal for cycling around canals and visiting interactive museums, cities like Paris offer breathtaking sites like the Eiffel Tower and Disneyland. The history of Berlin and the fairytale castles of Bavaria in Germany will pique the interest of people of all ages. Whilst the history of Belgium offers multiple places to explore as well as plenty of local delicacies and chocolate to enjoy.

Family backpacking in Europe offers a wealth of family-friendly experiences just waiting to be discovered, book your ferry now and start planning your trip of a lifetime.

• Start / End: London, UK (Start) to Prague, Czech Republic (End). The route can easily be traveled in reverse.

• Distance: Roughly 1,200 to 1,500 km (750–930 miles), depending on the specific rail lines you take.

• Time to Complete: 2 to 3 weeks. Rushing it in less than 14 days means spending too much of your trip sitting on trains rather than exploring.

• Key Stops: Paris (France), Amsterdam (Netherlands), and Berlin (Germany).

What You'll See: This route offers a crash course in European history and culture. You will watch the architecture shift from the classic stone facades of Paris to the 17th-century canal rings of Amsterdam, into the gritty, modern-art-covered remnants of the Berlin Wall (the East Side Gallery), and finally to the untouched medieval cobblestones of Prague's Old Town and Prague Castle.

• Start / End: Les Houches, France (in the Chamonix Valley). Because it is a circular route, you start and end in the exact same town. 

• Distance: ~170 km (105 miles).  

• Time to Complete: 9 to 11 days, averaging about 15–20 km of hiking per day.  

• Key Stops: Les Contamines and Les Chapieux in France, Courmayeur in Italy, and La Fouly and Champex-Lac in Switzerland. You sleep in mountain refuges (huts) located high in the alpine valleys.

What You'll See: You physically walk across three international borders while circling the Mont Blanc massif. The trail features massive, cascading glaciers (like the Glacier de Bionnassay), deep green alpine valleys, and jagged limestone peaks. Wildlife is abundant, so expect to share the trail with ibex, chamois, and marmots.

• Start / End: Abisko in the north to Hemavan in the south (Sweden).  

• Distance: ~450 km (280 miles) for the full trail.

• Time to Complete: About 4 weeks for the entire route. However, most hikers only do the famous northern section (Abisko to Nikkaluokta), which is 105 km and takes 5 to 7 days.  

• Key Stops: You will stay in or camp near simple mountain cabins run by the Swedish Tourist Association (STF), such as the Abiskojaure and Sälka huts, and the Kebnekaise Mountain Station. There are sections in the middle of the trail with no huts at all. 

What You'll See: This trail lies mostly inside the Arctic Circle. You will hike through the sweeping Arctic tundra, low-lying mountain birch forests, and dramatic glacial valleys. It passes near Sweden's highest peak, Kebnekaise. If you hike in mid-summer, you will walk under the Midnight Sun (24 hours of daylight); if you push into late August or September, you have a very high chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Expect to see herds of roaming reindeer along the way.