Backpacking Europe with my Bestfriend (18yo f)
 

Hi :)

At the end of next year, (dec 2016) me and my bestfriend are planning on heading over to Europe and backpacking for a couple of months. We are from Australia and will both be 18.
Just have a few questions, like safety and such? And where the best places are to go, things to do and see? i've done some research on hostels in each of the big cities but we also want to visit some of the much smaller, off the radar places.
So any information and tips for this kind of adventure would be very appreciated!

How would you answer this question: "I want to go to Australia. What should I do?"
Full stop; no details or context or guidance as to interests, experience, budget -- for a huge place full of differences. Books have been written; blogs crammed full of information; tourist boards putting out fortunes for their websites. Fodors own website, right here, has plenty of suggests already, under Destinations at the top left of this page.
So: I am scolding you, sure, but travelling at your age is learning to be self-sufficient. Seriously, the place to go and the thing to do is go to a bookstore/library/website and start thinking about what you are interested in and how you are going to finance it. Specific questions then will draw much more useful responses.
Even harder, you and your friend need to have a serious meeting of the minds if you want to travel together and stay together. Sorry, there is no easy way to DIY. But the effort is worth it, and in fact is part of the whole experience.

Have you allowed for the weather? Anyplace north of the Alps has a real winter - with low temps, freezing rain, sleet and snow and fog at times. This will mean a different wardrobe for you as well as probably spending more time indoors than outdoors and that the countryside will not be pretty in the short, grey days.

This is less common south of the Alps - but you can get rare snow as far south as Rome and Madrid, which is on a high plateau in the center of the country, gets a real winter.

Also this type of weather can wreak havoc with travel - esp plane, bus and car - train being more reliable unless there you run into very heavy snows.

Europe is generally safe, although pickpocketing is common, as long as you don't do foolish things: drinking heavily and then walking back through deserted area, not watching your belongings at all times (backpacks make theft VERY easy since you can;t see who is dipping into - or slicing through a pack; much better worn on the front) and letting go of them in any public place. Be aware of everyone around you and ignore scammers - there is no need to be "nice" to strangers who may be pulling a con.

To get the best rates (assume your budget is limited) you should reserve hostels in advance (pick carefully, some are not pleasant/safe), either get some sort of rail pass or buy train tickets far in advance (90 days) for best prices, and look at options for budget meal choices. Note that beer or wine is usually fairly cheap but mixed rinks/hard liquor is usually very expensive.

Suggest you review the Let's Go Europe guide book for students as well as the Thorn tree section of the Lonely Planet website for budget tips.

Also start building a zero based budget now (50 euros per day per person is considered the absolute minimum for a very basic trip - but this may not include major sights with big budget entrance fees).

And start organizing an itinerary now, remembering that 2 nights in a city means only 1 day there and that i takes from 1/2 day to a full day to change cities - so include that time in your schedule.

Then come her and ask more specific questions about the places you are most interested in - as well as what you most want to do/see (history, art, winter sports, hiking, biking, whatever).

You tagged your post for help with France , Italy , Netherlands and Slovenia. So is that where you want to go? If so, where do you want to go in those places that are "much smaller and off-the-radar"?

Your question is a bit vague. You might want to start familiarising yourselves first with the cities in Europe and their attractions and see which ones are you leaning towards to. Also work out a budget after you decided on the cities and the mode of transport in between. You can also check for safety informations on the internet.

In December 2016 I'll be in one of Morocco, Egypt or Tunisia any of which are warm and pleasant at that time of year. Or are you coming for for the skiing?

I would advise a Contiki tour. They do some good immersion trips in December which will give you a feel for some places - then head out on your own.
Get 'Europe on a Shoestring' - the Lonely Planet guide book (or download chapters that appeal to you) and stay in the south as the north will be a cold unlike anything you've every experienced in Australia - even if you're from Tasmania.

At the very early planning stages, I really do think it's easier to work from a guidebook (Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Let's Go, etc.) rather than on the internet. It's more concrete information, less overwhelming.

Go to the public library and check out a stack. Tack a paper map of Europe up on your wall.

There is a very good forum called The Thorn Tree, on Lonely Planet's website where many backpackers plan trips (much more so than here on Fodor's, that skews older generally speaking).