The rucksack – the Osprey Farpoint 55 (the 55 litres, the zip-off daypack, the 1.8 kg, the GBP 120 – and the essential rucksack choice for European backpacking), the weight that is the 12-15 kg (the maximum that the human frame can the carry for the months without the pain), and the moment when the rucksack is the lifted onto the shoulder at the start of the Interrail – is the essential backpacking moment. The backpacking in Europe is the rite of the passage: the 3-month Interrail, the hostels, EuropeR 50/day, the trains, and the friendships that the last the lifetime. Here are the 10 top tips to remember.

1. Pack the Right Gear

The 55-65 litre backpack (the larger is the too heavy, the smaller is the too limited), the packing cubes (the 3-4 – the organization is the essential, and the best investment: the Eagle Creek – the GBP 30 for the set, and the best GBP 30 the backpacker can the spend), the essential clothing: the 3 t-shirts, the 2 pairs of the trousers (the 1 jeans, the 1 zip-off), the 1 jumper, the 1 waterproof, the 5 underwear, the 5 socks (the merino wool – the odour-resistant, the quick-drying, and the essential backpacking investment: the GBP 12 per the pair), the towel (the micro-fibre, the GBP 10, the dries in the 2 hours), the universal plug adapter (the essential: the 2 USB ports).

2. Budget Wisely – EUR 50 per Day

EuropeR 50/day is the budget (the hostel – EuropeR 25, the food – EuropeR 15, the transport and the activity – EuropeR 10). The essential bank card: the Monzo, the Starling, the Revolut – the no fees on the foreign transactions, the free ATM withdrawals – the essential backpacking bank accounts. The essential: EuropeR 200 in the cash – the hidden in the rucksack.

3. Book Accommodation Smartly

The Hostelworld (the app), the booking.com – the book the 2-3 days ahead in the peak summer, the same day in the shoulder season. The essential hostel rule: the read the reviews for the “party hostel” – the essential distinction. More travel tips –

4. Use the Right Train Apps

The essential train app: the Rail Planner – the offline timetable, the essential for the Interrail – the DB Navigator – the German rail app is the best for the all-of-the-Europe timetables.

5. Take Night Trains to Save Money

The night trains (the CityNightLine, the Thello – the French to the Italian, EuropeR 30-50 for the couchette, and the essential backpacker’s budget tip: the night train saves the night of the accommodation).

6. Stay Safe on the Road

The copy of the passport in the email, the lock on the backpack zips (the travel padlock – the TSA-approved, the GBP 8), the money belt (the hidden, the GBP 20, and the essential for the overnight trains), and the essential rule: the check the “leave” button on the Facebook before the posting the location – the not the announce the empty flat at the home.

7. Slow Down – Don’t Rush

The 20 cities in the 60 days is the exhaustion; the 10 cities in the 60 days is the travel. The 3-4 nights per the city, the day-trips from the base, and the sense that the movement is the not the achievement. The best backpacking experience: the 1 month in the 1 country – the Italy, the Spain, the France – and the deeper experience of the 5 cities rather than the 10.

8. Walk Into the City from the Station

The rucksack on the back, the map in the phone, and the first view of the cathedral or the sea that is the essence of the backpacking.

9. Choose the Right Backpack – 55 to 65 Litres

The larger is the too heavy, the smaller is the too limited. The Osprey Farpoint 55 is the gold standard – the zip-off daypack is the essential feature.

10. Use Packing Cubes for Organization

The 3-4 packing cubes are the essential organization investment. The Eagle Creek set at GBP 30 is the best GBP 30 the backpacker can spend.