21-Day Backpacker Europe Itinerary
Six capitals in three weeks on hostels, trains, and kebab dinners. Focus on Central Europe where the dollar stretches.
Build this tripAt a glance
- Duration
- 21 days
- Cities
- 6
- Flight legs
- 1
- Budget/day
- $75
Cities
- Amsterdam
- Berlin
- Prague
- Vienna
- Budapest
- Krakow
The plan
Fly into Amsterdam (cheapest transatlantic point for most US gateways). 3 days hostels in De Pijp. Night train or FlixBus to Berlin, 4 days covering the Wall, East Side Gallery, Kreuzberg techno clubs, Prenzlauer Berg cafes. Train Berlin-Prague 4h, 3 days in hostels near Old Town. Train Prague-Vienna 4h, 3 days. Train Vienna-Budapest 2h30m, 3 days covering ruin bars, thermal baths, and the Jewish Quarter. Train Budapest-Krakow 10h (overnight), 3 days including Auschwitz day trip. Fly home from KRK. Budget $60-80/day stays feasible with hostels and self-catering.
When to go
May-June or September-early October; hostels cheapest in shoulder season.