A buddy and I are backpacking Europe for 3 weeks after we graduate from college in May. We have compiled a general itinerary of cities we'd like to see. I've posted here before and received valuable feedback and I was hoping someone could help again:

Background Information:
Two 22 year old males
we want culture but fun, young cities

ORD-AMS

Amsterdam 5/31-6/4
--train
Munich 6/4-6/7
--flight
Istanbul 6/7-6/10
--flight
Rome 6/10-6/14
--flight
Barcelona 6/14-6/17
--flight
Paris 6/17-6/21

CDG-ORD

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! I too backpacked around Europe with a friend after college. I think your list of cities will provide you with what you're looking for, however it is quite a bit of moving around. For instance, when you leave Amsterdam on the 4th and arrive in Munich, you'll lose half to 2/3 of a day. If you're leaving Munich again on the 7th for Istanbul... you only really get 2 days in Munich. Same with Istanbul. Now a motivated college student can see a lot in 2 days, but were it me, I'd probably knock out one destination and spread your stays out a bit more. I just wouldn't want to spend so much of my short trip hanging out in the airport or on planes.
For your guidebooks, try the Let's Go books and the Lonely Planet books.

Just thought of something...
There is an overnight train from Munich to Venice that I took at your age. Lots of young people on it. Venice is also a natural middle point between Munich and Rome. Not that Istanbul wouldn't be a fabulous destination, but Venice is more "on the way" and the overnight train would save you losing a half day or more in travel time.

Think in terms of nights -- not days.

Then it is:

ORD-AMS Amsterdam 5/31 through 6/3 (3.5 days - one of which is probably jet lagged)

Train to Munich 6/4-6/6 (2+ days)

Fly to Istanbul 6/7-6/9 (2.5 days)

Fly to Rome 6/10-6/13 (3.5 days)

Fly to Barcelona 6/14-6/16 (2.5 days)

Fly to Paris 6/17-6/20 (3.5 days)

CDG-ORD 6/21

Only you can decide if that is enough time in each of those cities. If it was me, I might cut one city and add some time to Paris or Rome.

Yes, congratulations on your upcoming graduation!

I haven't checked, but do believe that the flights are cheaper Munich-Istanbul than Venice-Istanbul.

Try checking the Thorn Tree on the Lonely Planet website.

Hostelworld.com for hostels

seat61.com for general information on trains

bahn.com for train schedules

backpackeurope.com good site good info

BullDog Hostel or Flying Pig Downtown

www.wombats.at Munich

www.yellowhostel.com Rome

eurocheapo.com cheap eats city guide

Congrats and Party Hearty u have earned it.

I sure did when your age.. do regional trains like

a local or if super budget eurolines.com bus pass saves.