What countries to visit in Europe (50 days) for teenagers
 

So for my high school graduation, which is still a few years away, I'd like to go traveling through Europe for a little less than 2 months in the summer. My brother, who will be 16 at the time, wants to come with me as long as he can bring a friend. I'm fine with this as it will be the last time we will get a good amount of time to spend together for a while.

Anyways back to my question, what countries would best suit a bunch of teenagers in Europe? Originally my list was much to long for the amount of time we were there, it consisted of the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal. We decided this list was much to ambitious and that we wanted to spend a bit more time in each country, not just 3 days.

So we don't really like museums, we're more the type of people that like sightseeing and hiking through nature. I will be 18, but don't plan on drinking much or at all, so that kind of night life is not necessary.

We don't want to be spending a huge amount of money on this trip. We will most likely be sleeping hostels or using Airbnb, as well as using public transport to get from one place to the other. Depending on the price to get from one country to another we will be taking budget flights or the train.

England is a must for us as it is where our father grew up so we have some ancestry there. We'd also like to visit France. All suggestions welcome, thank you for your time.

Earlier this year my 23yo son took his Australian girlfriend on a whistle-stop tour of Europe. They too adore nature, hiking, adventures, and did it on a budget. They did take a tent with them and used it several nights.

I'll leave out city information, but here's the 'nature' parts of their trip, which may give you a little bit of an idea...

2 days hiking in the mountains near Montserrat (Barcelona) staying in an airbnb room.

2-3 days in the Calanques park near Marseilles. airbnb/camping.

Hiking the Cinque Terre, staying in a campsite.

Overnight ferry to Croatia, rented a car, camped at Plitvice, on a beach campsite near Split, then closer to Dubrovnik.

2 days white-water rafting in Montenegro staying in a lodge.

3 or 4 days camping on Mont Blanc, hiking and taking a para-gliding flight.

Hope this helps a little.

You can visit every country in Europe in 50 days, if you really wanted to. But you don't so that is good.

I suggest perhaps flying into London and seeing England for 10 days (London, Liverpool, Manchester, plus wherever your father grew up) then flying or taking the train up to Scotland to see Edinburgh and perhaps Glasgow for a few days. If your brother and his friends are also interested in rambles, you can definitely do that in England and Scotland. So let's say that the first 2 weeks of your trip are in England and Scotland.

Then fly to Paris. Give yourself four full days there then get on the train or plane to Madrid. Two or three days in Madrid then Barcelona for two or three days then optionally Malaga (puts you in striking distance of Cordoba and Granada) and Gibraltar (gotta climb the rock, see the monkeys, and tour the caves. Then head to Munich for three days, Nuremberg for three days (use Nuremberg as a base to see Bamberg and Rothenburg or perhaps take the steam train up into the Fränkische Schweiz and do the hikes up there), Berlin for three days, Hamburg for two, and Cologne for two. Then go to Brussels and spend a few days there and finally Amsterdam where you will fly home from (or fly back to London then fly home from there).

As far as activities go, there are literally hundreds of walks you can do in the areas of England and Scotland that I mentioned. As you refine your itinerary, I'd be more than happy to suggest specific walks or books on the walks.

Fifty days is a lot and your main limitation is budget (getting from point A to point B will always cost money). Since you are young and willing to take the punishment, besides trains and planes you can look at long haul buses (these tend to be dirt cheap) to get from city to city.

protip: "public transportation" in the UK is surprisingly expensive compared to the other countries on your list.

You have a lot of time to do your planning and saving the money for the trip. For perspective, our 19 year old DD went with a couple of friends for 6 weeks a couple of summers ago and spent $8,000 including transatlantic airfare. Since you will be going for so much long you will need a much higher budget.

Suggest you start doing in-depth research now in books/web sites that will have info from sources that are more likely referring to the type of trvel you will o. Have a look at the Let's Go Student Guides and the Thorn Tree section of the Lonely Planet web site to see what young people recommend and their tips for saving money - as well as realistic expectations.

For instance, the last number I saw - but this may be out of date - is that you need to allow a minimum of 60 euros per day (so $85 per day - $4500 for your 4 days - plus transatlantic airfare and intercity transit by train or bus) so you have a goal for savings.

My DD spent more than that since they really wanted AC due to traveling in the midst of the summer so they stayed in very modest hotels - but with AC, so more than the costs of hostels). You should be aware that AC is much less common in europe, even in very hot countries, in hostels and apartments.

Also be aware that you may find a lot of Air BnBs not wanting to rent to 3 teens - or requiring a very large damage deposit. Probably hostels are your best bet, and will also help you in meeting young people from all over the world, but do realize you have to research them carefully; many are fine but some are hot beds of drugs and theft

Sightseeing and hiking. I'd stay in France.
You can hike in the 'Cévennes' - and sleep under a tent, go to the Alps (no idea of the cost), in ski resorts which are also open during summer time.
Plus, you have history everywhere and a very good health system, it can always come in handy.
Then you have beaches on the Atlantic or the Med, complete with footpathe along the sea, plus lakes, etc. And some great churches, castles in case you want to see a few of those
Looking at your name, should I say 'Namaste' to conclude ?

for travel that long and presumably taking many trains check into Eurail Youthpasses for those under 26- in most countries hop on any train anytime - take overnight trains to save travel time and save on the cost of a hostel or hotel.

I would stay in hostels - private rooms are isolating - in hostels you will meet folks your ages from all over Europe and the world.

anyway for lots of great info on trains and passes check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

And get a copy of Let's Go Europe - invaluable info on many hostels including youth hotels which in many ways are more fun that official HI hostels.