Backpacking in South East Europe
 

Hello, I am a college student studying abroad this Fall in Barcelona. Some friends and I plan on backpacking in Eastern Europe, from Budapest to Istanbul. We have 3 weeks from Nov 30th to Dec 22nd. We are college students on a tight budget, that is why we chose Eastern Europe for its cheap cities. We are interested in using the Eurail Pass for Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey and I wanted some ideas for the itinerary. I was interested in Budapest, Szentendre, Sibiu, Brasov/Bran, Sighisoara, Bucharest, Sofia, Plovdiv, Edirne, and Istanbul. Obviously, we can't go to all of these cities in 3 weeks so I have to pick and chose. We are architecture students from America and I am interested in Urbanism, History, culture and walkability. If Turkey becomes dangerous by December we will go to Athens instead, however, Istanbul is more ideal in architecture and price. Our itinerary is as follows,

Nov 29th - Fly from Barcelona to Budapest
Nov 30th - Dec 6th - Budapest w/ day trip to Szentendre and Visegrad castle
Dec 7th - Sibiu Romania
Dec 8th - 9th Brasov w/ day trip to Bran Castle
Dec 10th - Bucharest
Dec 11th - 12th - Sofia
Dec 13th - Plovdiv
Dec 14th - Edirne (or Delphi)
Dec 15th - 20th - Istanbul (or Athens)
Dec 21st - fly to Barcelona
Dec 22nd - fly from Barcelona to the USA

We have a round trip ticket to Barcelona, so we have to end back in Barcelona. Is this too rushed? Thanks for any suggestions.

You do realize it is likely to be pretty cold? And get dark early? Do some climate research at https://www.wunderground.com/

Trains in Eastern Europe are cheap enough a rail pass will probably not pay for itself. Research trains and prices at seat61.com and schedules at bahn.de

Has anyone been in Hungary and Romania in December? Is it too cold to walk around? If so is there anywhere in Southern Europe that is cheap to travel? Is Greece cheaper now, or even Portugal, or Central Turkey. Price is a factor, that is why I chose Eastern Europe. Thanks.

How cold is Bulgaria?
I could do 3 weeks in Bulgaria and Turkey.

Nov 29th Fly from Barcelona to Sofia
Nov 30th - Dec 3rd - Sofia w/ day trip to Rila Monastery
Dec 4th - 5th - Plovdiv w/ day trip to Bachkovo
Dec 6th - Edirne Turkey
Dec 7th - 13th Istanbul
Dec 14th - 16th Izmir (Ephesus and Pergamum)
Dec 17th - Denizli (Pamukkale)
Dec 18th - 19th Konya
Dec 20th - Kayseri (Goreme)
Dec 21st - Fly out of Istanbul or Ankara to Barcelona
Dec 22nd - Fly out of Barcelona

And could substitute Turkey with Greece if Turkey becomes dangerous.

Southern Spain, Portugal or southern Greece including Rhodes or Crete and the Mediterranean Coast in Turkey around Antalya would be warmer. It can get very cold even in northern Greece, much less Romania & Bulgaria.

How about Portugal and Morocco?

Thanks for the responses. I will be visiting Morocco for nine days during my Fall break and have a field trip to Southern Spain. Portugal is an option, it is cheaper than Greece, but not Turkey. I could do Athens and Turkey, however, Portugal is still an option.

Nov 29th - Fly from Barcelona to Athens
Nov 30th - Dec 3rd - Athens w/ Day trip to Delphi
Dec 4th - 6th - Corinth (Mycenae and Epidaurus)
Dec 7th - 13th Istanbul
Dec 14th - 16th - Izmir (Ephesus and Pergamum)
Dec 17th - Denizli (Pamukkale)
Dec 18th - 19th - Konya
Dec 20th - Kayseri (Goreme)
Dec 21st - Fly from Istanbul or Ankara back to Barcelona
Dec 22nd - Fly from Barcelona back home

Would getting a Eurail pass for Greece and Turkey be worth it or would it be cheaper to buy tickets separately, like in Eastern Europe?

Read what seat61.com has to say about passes. then price it both ways, but probably not.