Kunthea Relinski Kunthea Relinski

21 Days In Europe

There is nothing a plane ticket can’t fix (at least temporarily). I spontaneously booked a round trip flight to London after a small menty-b and it was everything I needed after two years without international travel. This is an incredibly simple route that I found a lot of other solo-travelers follow. London, to Brussels, Berlin, Prague, and Vienna is an easy to follow, accessible train route and is great for first-time backpackers and experienced travelers alike. In depth itineraries for each city coming soon.

 

Day 1: Red Eye To London, England

Depending on where you live in the US, I find that flying to London or Paris is typically the cheapest option. While London is not the most affordable city, it is a great place to start if you have never been to Europe and especially if you have never left the states. It’s a native English speaking country, everything is super accessible by walking or public transport and you can travel into the city from the airport by taking the Underground alone. There is a rich variety of cuisine at varying price points, most museums are free and shopping at various markets around the city can be really reasonable. London does not have to be expensive unless you make it expensive.

Day 2 - 4: London, England

I studied abroad in London so I have a bias but I truly feel like it is a city that you could spend a lifetime and not see everything. I spent this time visiting friends in the city and getting over my jet lag. Here are some of my favorite recommendations for first time visitors:

 

Day 5: Eurostar to Brussels, Belgium

Trains are the easiest way to travel from city to city in the majority of Europe. That being said, traveling by train from London can be a hassle. You MUST get to the station at least an hour early in order to go through passport control and security. Once the platform is announced it’s a mad dash by everyone in the entire station to get to the escalator and onto the train itself. But once you’re on it’s smooth sailing.

Day 6 - 7: Brussels, Belgium

I’ve been told by many people that Brussels is boring. I agree in the sense that there is not much to do or see but it’s the perfect city to take it slow, eat chocolate and just admire your surroundings. It was the perfect stop after the bustle of London to relax before another two weeks of travel.

 

Day 8: Train to Berlin, Germany

Getting on the train to Germany was so incredibly easy. Getting from the Berlin Station to my hostel was the real issue. The Berlin Hbf is so big and busy that it can be a tad bit overwhelming even for a seasoned traveler. So make sure you get there early for your departure if you think there is going to be an issue.

Day 9 - 11: Berlin, Germany

This city surprised me. I had no intention of visiting Germany and have always written it off as a country on the bottom of my list. I loved the city so much I am now learning basic German for my next trip back. It is so easy to navigate, the people were so friendly and there was so much to do.

 

Day 12: Train to Prague, Czechia

Super easy travel day. The Prague train station is super centrally located and was walkable to my accommodation. I did get rained on and lost on the way.

Day 13 - 14: Prague, Czechia

So many people love Prague. It was not my favorite. The architecture was beautiful but I did it all in a day. The people were not the nicest, it was so hard to get around and it was incredibly rainy. But everything was so cheap and I do not regret visiting. It is a must see city and may be different another time around. Everyone deserves a second chance.

 

Day 15: Train to Vienna, Austria

This was the most exciting travel day because it was to my favorite European city. I started running around the city as soon as I arrived.

Day 16 - 17: Vienna, Austria

My second time visiting and it was just as good as the first. I cried when I had to leave because I love it so much. The coffee is fantastic, the people are so wonderful and the city is so beautiful and rich with history. I’m so glad I made this one of my last stops.

 

Day 18: Flight to London, England

Vienna is unfortunately quite far from London so I had to take a flight back but splurged a little bit extra to fly into Heathrow. The underground transport is too convenient to pass up back into the city.

Day 19 - 20: London, England

I spent the last few days in London visiting some of my favorite places, catching West End shows and grabbing souvenirs for friends and family.

Day 21: Flight home

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