MY TIME LINE
Jan-March
When I came to Europe, it was during March and I landed in Amsterdam. I found that the weather at that point was still a bit cold and definately not t-shirt and shorts kind of weather. If you plan to go during this time, I would suggest bringing alot of warmer clothes as well as rain gear as things can be very unpredictable during that time. You also probably won't find as many backpackers due to the weather conditions.
April- June
For most University students, this would be the ideal time to go. Though it may still be a bit chilly in April, the crowds during that time would be bearable. This is the same for May and June, however the crowds may begin to pick up during mid June. The weather will begin to warm up but still be sure to have some form of rain gear as the spring is the time the rain gods come out and play. You'll also find that most people traveling during that time can range between 20-35 years of age. Not alot of highschool kids at all. Again, I find that a plus. Therefore, this is probably my most ideal time to go.
July-August
I find that the busiest time of the year has to be July and August. This is due to no school for most highschool and university students and the only time for most families to go as a whole. Thus, not only are you fighting with other fellow backpackers for territory, you'll also be fighting with families, tour companies and of course locals taking vacation as well. Therefore, my advice is that if you can avoid going during this time, then do so. The advantage to this time however, is getting to chance to meet all sorts of VERY interesting people
September-October
The time when most people have to go back to school. Again, September would be ideal considering the weather hasn't cooled off just yet and once everyone has left, you won't find yourself fighting for accomodations. October, you may find yourself bringing warmer clothing with you which adds to the weight of your bags and leaves less room for other things.
November-December
Not a whole lot to say about these months. December is the holiday season, thus you'll find most people at home with their family's. November is the beginning of the cold season, therefore most of the trees and nature slowly disappear leaving people with only a portion of Europe's beauty which are the castles, churches and monuments.
When I first began planning out how long I wanted to go for, I was actually constrainted to time (2 months to be exact). Looking back in hindsight, however, I found that my time was ample and by the end of my journey I was ready to go home. People really don't realize how difficult it is to be a backpacker. As adventourous as it may sound, people fail to take into account the several hours on trains, the lack of sleep, the language barriers, the hunt for accomodations and the challenges of entering a city and trying to figure out the metro scheme in order to locate where you are and where you want to go. It's a constant cycle that never ends until you get on that plane that's headed for home.
I've known people to go for 6 months of straight travel to people who only have 2 weeks. My advice to that is 2 months can give you a good taste of what Europe has to offer and it allows you to plan for the next trip back where you would want to focus on a certain region rather than the entire continent. 6 months would be an extremely long time for just travel, but if you're working in between, it will make things easier both financially and mentally. Do remember that you are living out of one backpack. As for the 2 weekers, my advice is to pick a particular region and solely focus on that part. Don't try and fit the entire continent during that time because it doesn't give you a real experience. First, you spend most of your time on a train and you don't have the time to enjoy where you are. I actually met people who were trying to go from Amsterdam to France to southern Italy and hit Switerland and Germany along the way in a 2 week span. They were actually focusing on a particular city (Rome) and took a train from the middle of France to the south of Italy. For those who may not realize the distance, it's probably 1 full day on the train. That right there eliminates 2 days (there and back) which leaves you with 12. Again, stick to a particular region if you're constrained to time and you'll find it so much more worth it.
Another important aspect of planning is taking into account travel time. It's very easy to say I want to go to Nice for 2 days, then Barcelona for another 2 but what some may forget is that there is probably a 14 hour train ride involved. Thus, when planning, try and find out how long it takes to get from one place to another. The Let's Go Guide has a brief section in the front of each country that shows how long it takes to travel by train and bus. They only include the more common places of travel, so if you're coming from a smaller town, it may not tell you.
Finally, another tip to keep in mind is if you're trying to save time and money, what you may want to think of doing is taking overnight trains. The advantages are that it saves on having to pay for accomodations, usually by the next morning you're already there, and there are less people you have to deal with. The disadvantages are that it's probably less safe at night as security is reduced, if you're not used to sleeping in a seat it can end up being very uncomfortable, and it's harder to figure out where you're going because there aren't alot of people to ask on the train. With that in mind, I did actually take several night trains and found them all to be fine.
This was my starting point. After working in Poland for 4 months, I took a train out to Vienna where I spent a night, attended the Love Parade in the city, then flew out to Greece to start my adventure.
2. Athens, Greece (1 day)
I landed probably around midnight into the city. Luckily I had a friend that booked a hostel for me so I didn't have to worry about accomodations. I basically got into the city walked around at night then went to sleep. I toured the city for the remainder of the day then took the next boat out to the islands.
(tip: if you're planning to see the Accropolis, go early in the morning as it tends to get very hot by 11am)
3. Ios, Greece (3 days)
This is the temptation island of the Mediteranean. Full of tourists everywhere, its one huge party 24 hours a day. Its a great way to meet a whole lot of people whiling having some fun in the sun. If you're not into drinking and partying, don't even bother coming here.
4. Santorini, Greece (3 days)
The most beautiful island of the Mediteranean. Once again full of tourists, however this island's beauty is more designed for couples of all ages. It's a nice place to relax and enjoy what Greece really has to offer. Make sure you visit Oia while the sun is setting and all the different colored beaches.
(tip: there's a volcano tour that they offer there which I would NOT recommend going to. Everyone I've spoken to said it's not worth the money you spend and you really don't even see anything interesting)
5. Santorini-Athens-Brindisi (2 day)
This was the travel time needed to get from one country to the next via ferry/bus/ferry. Not the most comfortable ride but again if you're pressed for time, then you got to do what you gotta do.
6. Sorrento, Italy (2 nights)
A small Italian town outside of Naples. We decided to move here after we saw what Naples had to offer (NOTHING). It's a quiet and peaceful town with great gelato and pizza. While staying here, we ended up visiting Pompeii (half a day) on a day trip.
7. Rome, Italy (4 days)
One of the most historical places I visited. So much to see in such little time. My suggestion is to take a walking tour as you'll cover alot of ground without having to figure out what you're looking at because that's what the guide is for.
(tip: The sistine chapel closes at 3pm every day therefore, make sure you do it first before anything else. Also remember that if you visit any churches, they may not allow you in if you're wearing shorts or a tank top. Always have your shoulders covered.
8. Florence, Italy (2 days)
After visiting the Vatican 2 days prior, the churches here are a bit smaller and less elegant. Nevertheless, its a beautiful city that houses David, one of Michealengelo's finest pieces of work.
9. Cinque Terre, Italy (4 days)
After passing through Pisa (half a day), we found what I consider heaven on earth. No vehicles anywhere! 5 towns on the cliffs of the Italian rivierra and you can hike through all 5 of them. Need I say more?
10. Venice, Italy (2 days)
Another gorgeous city though the canals might not have the nicest smells. Nevertheless go and visit San Marco square as the church housed there is truly spectacular.
11. Munich (Bavarian Alps)-Salzburg (3 days)
I started by spending half a day in Salzburg, Austria. Went to the fortress on top, then off to Munich and the Bavarian Alps. This is where King Ludwig III build some of his castles, the most famous one being on top of the trees. That was where Walt Disney got the idea for sleeping beauty. Such an amazing area that may take a bit more time in trying to find out how to get there but when you do, it will be worth it.
12. Interlaken, Switzerland (2 days)
If you're into extreme sports, then this is the place to do it. I ended up canyoning which basically involves alot of cliff diving, repelling, sliding off natural slides and swinging through waterfalls. Absolutely worth the money I spent.
13. Nice-Monte Carlo, France (2 days)
The French rivierra. Though the beaches are mostly made of stone, there's just something about this city that made me want to stay longer. Of course I didn't. Also got to visit Monte Carlo while I was there. Whoever said it was impossible to smell money was wrong!
14. Barcelona, Spain (3 days)
My first spanish city! Full of life and art, it was fun wondering through the famous city of Las Ramblas and visiting Guadi's works of art. Make sure you party at night in the mall full of clubs. 3 floors, no stores, only clubs gives you a chance to dance the night away.
15. Paris, France (5 days)
My longest stay anywhere. This city boasts the greatest art collection in all of Europe. And who can forget the Eiffel tower. So much to see and visit and the atmosphere alone make it worth you're while. Who would ever want to leave? Unfortunately I couldn't stay there forever.
16. Brussels-Brugge, Belgium (3 days)
I only spend half a day in Brussels as I was running out of time and people told me that there wasn't much to see there. I did enjoy my time spent there. If you have a chance, make sure to visit Flander's fields as it was one of the bloodiest battlefields in all of WWII. As for Brugge, it was amazing as well. A small town on the coast, filled with canals, cobblestone roads and friendly people, everything seemed perfect.
(tip: you MUST try the mussels while in Belgium as well as the fries and chocolate. It's the best you'll ever have)
17. Berlin, Germany (4 days)
My final stop before heading back to Poland to fly out. This was a great end to the trip as I learned so much about WWII. It was nice to visit the place that housed the man who caused much of it and to see where he lived. It was also interesting to see the Berlin wall that separated the east and west for so long. A very historical place to visit and a great end to my backpacking adventures!