Tour of europe in 20 days
Better than Jules Verne, Kimberlay set off to explore Europe in 20 days.
From train to train, follow her journey through these renowned cities of the ancient continent.
A perfect travel itinerary for aspiring adventurers or those who want to limit their carbon footprint!
Going to Europe is a very good training before going to more distant destinations like Asia or South America.
This allows you to test and visualize all possible unforeseen events on this type of trip. Budget, journey, and tips, Kimberlay shares all her traveler tips so that you too can offer yourself a wonderful tour of Europe by train.
Travelling in Europe is good training before tackling more long distance destinations such as Asia or South America.
It means you can do a trial run and see for yourself the unforeseen events possible on this type of trip.
Duration of this european tour
20 days
Themes of the journey
Culture & History
Main transport: train
Walking with backpack or
bike to explore deeper each city
When is the best period to travel in europe?
Spring - Summer
Distance
4,000 km in total, average of 270 km
How much should i budget for this tour of europe?
€50 per day
Kimberlay's route for this 15 days tour of europe
(trip made in August 2018)
1. Brussels
2. Berlin
3. Prague
4. Vienna
5. Budapest
6. Krakow
Brussels, the washington of europe
Brussels is a city full of charm, especially if you stop in the centre. I wandered around the Grand Place, saw the Manneken Pis and visited the Hergé Museum.
It’s a city where it's good to eat a waffle in the sunshine! Do not leave without its famous speculoos in your bag, you can offer it as a gift to your friends or to your host in the next city.
Berlin, the city of bears that you must absolutely visit by bike
It's one of my favourite cities because there are a lot of parks and cycle lanes (around 620 km). The bicycle really is the best way to see the city in a few days.
This is one of my favorite cities! But be carfeul, the city is huge, do not hesitate to rent a bike to be able to see as much as possible, there are a large number of parks and cycle paths (count 620 km of track).
Berlin Wall, Holocaust Memorial, Brandenburg Gate, the city has an incredible historical heritage. The different neighborhoods reveal its many facets. If you like alternative places, Berlin is your city. Festival or culture, the choice is yours!
I stopped off in the very typical summer beer gardens and flea markets that are often hidden away from tourists.
Prague, city of 100 spires
The Vltava river runs through the city and divides it in two. It's an extremely romantic city rich in architecture.
The city is a Unesco heritage since 1992. It's a great place to live. Victim of its own success, prices are generally pretty high in Prague but if you book your hostel in advance you should be getting a good price. You can travel by tram for an even more typical experience!
I was able to pedalo on the river and hike on the Mala Strana side. It's a little steep however the city view is breathtaking!
Imperial vienna
It's an very well organised city with an extremely rich cultural heritage.
For a long time, it has been considered as the music capital of the world, many composers have lived there and its philharmonic orchestra is still a reference worldwide today. Franz Schubert, Stefan Zweig, Sigmund Freud, Romy Schneider ...Vienna has many famous inhabitants!
I visited the famous Zoo and the Sisi Imperial Palace. I also attended a classical music concert. The added extra: stop to taste their famous Viennese coffee.
Budapest, the pearl of the danube
Penultimate city of my trip, it's a very pleasant city and be assured that you will feel safe.
I did a long tour of the city, stopping now and again at typical “Ruin bars”: these are former residences or warehouses that have been done up to welcome a crowd and contemporary artists.
Known as a "low cost city" in recent years, the city has fallen victim to its own success and prices have risen sharply. Think outside the box to find good deals!
Be careful not to confuse Budapest, the capital of Hungary, and Bucharest, the capital of Romania! Their names are phonetically close but are two completely different cities. I did not have the pleasure of visiting Bucharest this time, but I hope to be able to discover it soon.
Krakow, the rome of the east
It's the second biggest city in Poland. It has a lot of charm, it is a Unesco heritage city since 1978. I was able to visit the city center to discover its exceptional architectural heritage. I was also able to make my dream of doing outdoor activities in the city come true by canoeing on the Vistula!
It's a very accessible place in terms of price for accommodation and food, rich in cultural visits, sporting activities and easy to visit, it is a destination to recommend to all aspiring globetrotters!
As a bonus...
My trip essential
Merino wool short-sleeved t-shirt (the best for odour management)
Destinations not to be missed
- The Berlin Wall (Ok it seems obvious but it's really incredible and it changes all the time)
- The Charles Bridge in Prague (The only bridge over the Vltava until 1741 !)
- The Schonnbrunn Palace in Vienna (To take yourself for Sissi for a visit)
- The Budapest Parliament (Incredible, its reflection in the Danube makes it even more impressive)
- The Vawel in Krakow (memory of the time when Krakow was the capital of Poland)
A good tip
Before leaving, I took out an international option with my bank. This means you don't carry too much cash with you and can just withdraw money when you want to. Remember that there is no Euro in the Czech Republic and Poland ;)
How to cross europe by train?
There are many options for crossing Europe, I chose to do everything by train. There are many connections between European capitals. The interrail tickets are interesting but be careful, the companies limit the number of places available with the passes. You will therefore need to book your tickets at least 3 months in advance for the various stages of your trip.
Travel budget for a european tour
For this tour of Europe I used 50 euros on average per day or 1000 euros in total. I booked the accommodation in advance, sometimes stayed with the locals, and above all I did not splurge: dinner at the restaurant or large purchases of souvenirs. 50 euros per day a lot but at the same time not that much, especially when you want to visit museums and palaces ... that said, I was able to enjoy my trip with outdoor activities such as pedal boats or canoes.
More travel experiences:
To find out more, discover our backpacking vision !
By kimberlay, head of decathlon gennevilliers and explorer of the great outdoors
Her extra word of advice:
"Great journeys are so wonderful that the magic begins even before departure. We open the atlas and dream over the maps."