Eurotrip Itinerary: 2 Months

When I first started plotting my Eurotrip, I had no idea where to begin. All I knew is that I wanted to fit as much as possible in the span of 40 days.

'How do I choose which country to start in?' 'Which country do I go to next?' 'How do I get from place to place?' Which places are safe? I'd ask myself, overwhelmed before I even began.

If any of these questions sound familiar to you, consider yourself relieved as I mapped a route that explains the how-to's. While there are plenty of routes you can find or create depending on where you want to go, the one below worked well for me and my personal schedule/budget:

[Disclaimer: Please note that the following summaries are relative to my individual experience. Other people may have different perspectives based on various factors.]

England, France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Vatican City, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro

1. LONDON

Cheap ticket: With a little research, I quickly learned that some of the cheapest tickets from New York to Europe are going to land you in London - especially if you buy your ticket early on. I was able to get a one-way ticket for $190.00 which INCLUDED flight insurance. Buy flight insurance. English Speaking: London is also a great place to start because most people speak English. There's nothing more anxiety-inducing when traveling alone than arriving in a foreign country where the signage is in a different language and you can barely make your way out of the airport. Having the ability to communicate with another human doesn't sound like privilege until you're unable to find a soul who understands what you're saying.

Safety: Like every place in the world, dangerous places exist. It's easier to identify a wolf in sheep's clothing at home, however, than in a city where everything is unfamiliar. While common sense and gut instincts can get you far, starting your journey in a city where police is identifiable is more useful than you'd imagine. And because London is socially diverse, you won't experience as grave of a culture shock as you would by starting off in France or somewhere further East.

Coming soon: How to do London in 4 days

2. PARIS

Easy Commute: If you're looking to make your way South, Paris is literally a 2 hour train ride away. You can buy your train ticket on Eurostar up to three months in advance, making planning ahead simple and affordable. I was able to purchase my ticket for $115, which really isn't terrible when you consider the comfort, convenience, and reliability of Eurostar trains.

Language Barrier: Once you get off at Paris Gare du Nord, you'll understand what I mean about the privilege of being able to communicate with someone who understands you. Most of the signage is in French and my experience with finding someone who was at least willing to help was very difficult. If this is your first time in France, I highly recommend researching directions to your accommodation beforehand to avoid needless confusion in a place that's already bustling with distractions. In having done this, I still struggled finding my way which can hopefully provide some insight!

Safety: Speaking of distractions, pickpockets are real- especially once you get off the train. If this is your first time traveling alone, I re-emphasize looking up directions in advance to prevent you from looking like a confused, vulnerable target. Once I found my way to the hostel (two failed ubers and a cab ride later) I was able to take a breath and enjoy what the beautiful city of Paris has to offer. Paris was definitely one of my favorite cities so don't let the chaos of arriving in a new country deter you!

Coming soon: How to do Paris in 2 days

3. SWITZERLAND

Commute: Why Switzerland? I could literally write a novel. But for now, I'll tell you that it's an easy 1 hour flight from Paris that cost me about $70.

Switzerland is also centrally located, making it a good place to pivot East or West depending where you want to go next. If it weren't for a friend recommending Switzerland, I would have missed out on the most stunning, visually captivating, Lord of the Rings-looking-place ever. English Speaking: So many English speakers! And SO many kind, generous, local people willing to help! Landing in Switzerland felt like such a relief coming from France where asking for directions felt criminal. Go Switzerland!

Safety: Of all the places I traveled, Switzerland felt the safest. Switzerland felt like a sanctuary immune to the world's evils where poverty and crime were invisible. I can't remember seeing a single homeless person or shady character, even after spending hours commuting across cities on public transportation. Switzerland is also bewilderingly clean to the point where you could probably eat off of the streets and be fine. While it's naive to believe that any place is entirely resistant to misdeeds, my guard was most comfortably let down here.

Currency: Switzerland is beautiful. Switzerland is safe. Switzerland is clean. But at an incredible price. When people cautioned me that Switzerland was expensive, I assumed they meant like NYC or Vegas expensive; mentally budgeting for $20 dollar cocktails and overpriced water. Little did I know that a small cup of coffee would cost me close to that without including the extra 5 franc I'd inevitably pay for milk. A one way ticket for a half-hour ride on the Swissrail can easily run you $60 dollars, so make sure to budget accordingly or purchase a Swisspass that suits your trip.

Coming Soon: How to do Interlaken in 4 Days

Coming Soon: Getting around Switzerland: The Swisspass

4. BARCELONA

Commute: Less than 2 a hour flight and less than a $200 ticket, the trip from Switzerland to Barcelona is smooth and affordable. While $150 seems expensive for traveling within Europe, its not bad when you consider the distance you're actually flying.

Language: Be mindful when trying to communicate with locals in Spanish as the native language is actually Catalan. Chances are you won't get knocked out for misspeaking, but it's always safer (and more respectful) to be culturally competent when traveling abroad. And if you're not familiar with either language, like me, finding someone who speaks English should be easy as Barcelona is incredibly touristy.

Safety: Barcelona is called the pickpocketing capital of the world for a reason. I witnessed several people whose phones were stolen out of their hands (let alone purses) while taking pictures or making calls, causing me to carry belongings that only fit in my bra or waist band. If it's stolen, consider it lost because if you chase them, expect a fight.

Many of the homeless people are also aggressive so be careful when walking alone.

In fact, I encourage you not to- especially if you're female and definitely not at night. I was chased down Las Ramblas at 2 o'clock in the afternoon for accidentally bumping into someone, be mindful of your surroundings!

Culture: The rich food, history, and art of Barcelona is truly unrivaled. Between Picasso and Paella, Gaudi and the Gothic Quarter - Barcelona is vivid with culture.

Coming Soon: How to do Barcelona in 4 Days

5. PORTUGAL

Commute: Portugal is very easy to get to from Spain whether you're commuting via train or plane. I chose to fly since I was coming from Barcelona, but if you're coming from cities that are more central or southern you might find better deals on train or bus. Also, if you can, avoid flying TAP Portugal. You'll thank me later.

Communication: Similar to Switzerland, the locals are incredibly friendly! They were very helpful and willing to communicate amidst a language barrier (though many people speak English). Similar to Spain, try not to confuse the local dialect for Spanish. While Portugese and Spanish have linguistic similarities, their cultural histories are rivalrous.

Safety: Portugal felt very safe, but apply rule of thumb and use common sense.

Atmosphere: Compared to other cities that are saturated by hyper-tourism, Portugal still has it authentic local charm.

One of the things I love most about this country is the warmth (literally and figuratively) that radiates from the city to the countryside. Portugal offers an eclectic blend of luscious greenery, immaculate coastlines, and vibrant nightlife- ranking this country my overall favorite.

Coming Soon: How to do Portugal in 5 Days

6. ITALY

Commute: I flew to Venice because I planned on backpacking from the northern tip of Italy to the southern coast of Amalfi. There are several major airports (Milan, Rome, Naples) that you can fly to instead depending where you want to visit and how long you have to spend.

Communication: One thing I remember most was not so much the communication barrier, but the ways with which Italians communicated. The local people were very direct which I first misunderstood as rude. What was initially perceived as unsolicited aggression, translated to passionate intensity!

Safety: Pickpockets are rampant in Rome. Crime is pandemic in Naples. If you're traveling across the country, remain cautious of this as Napoli is centered on the West Coast between Northern and Southern Italy.

To avoid passing through alone, I booked a round-trip 5 day tour that took me through Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi. If you're interested in learning more about this excursion, look out for my upcoming post that will detail how to do Italy in 10 days.

Coming Soon: How to do Italy in 10 Days

7. GREECE

Commute: Once you arrive in ATH, you'll need to find the train that takes you to Athens (if that's where you're going) which may be challenging because all signs are in Greek. The commute to the actual city is another hour and some change so if you're willing to splurge at this point in your trip, consider taking an uber.

Greek: Everything is in Greek, which is obviously harder to decipher than languages that at least use the same characters. Once you make your way from the airport and to the city, you shouldn't have that much trouble as Athens is also considerably touristy.

If you venture from the city centre to other towns, villages, and islands, I recommend using Google Translate to help you get around.

Safety: Before traveling to any country I highly recommend doing preliminary research about the political climate of the particular region you're visiting.

A week before I landed in Greece spread the Attica Wildfires that killed and seriously injured hundreds. By the time I arrived, local citizens were in a state of mourning which shifted the atmosphere quite a bit. And while this particular tragedy is not necessarily a political travesty, it didn't help the already tense socio-economic state of the region. If you're unfamiliar with the economic crisis in Greece, I suggest looking it up as it might help you contextualize your surroundings.

Coming Soon: How to do Athens in 2 Days

8. CROATIA

Commute: Toward the end of my trip I decided to extend to critically-acclaimed-Croatia, where I spent a week in Dubrovnik, otherwise known as King's Landing. You can find cheaper methods of transportation if you don't mind a 23 hour commute via bus or train. While this might sound exhausting, it could save you up to $200.

Language barrier: Dubrovnik and Split are the most touristy cities in Croatia so if you don't plan on venturing far, you should be fine. Like everywhere else, language barriers become increasingly distinct the further you stray from popular towns. When in doubt, use Google Translate.

Safety: Eastern Europe definitely has a different vibe so be mindful when you're in areas that are less populated. While Croatia is considered West-Balkan, it only gained it's independence from Yugoslavia less than 30 years ago! If you're wondering why this is important, google 'Siege of Dubrovnik.'

9. MONTENEGRO

Using the bus: The end of my journey was concluded with an impromptu trip to Montenegro as I soon met travelers who were bussing around the neighboring countries of Croatia. The ride itself wasn't bad, as it was only five hours, but the experience overall is worth considering if you prefer comfort and predictability.

While the busses are coach and usually equipped with staples of the 21st century car (air conditioning, charging ports, reclining seats), they don't always work and therefore make what is supposed to be a short trip, feel very long. Because you're crossing international borders, you'll pass through customs which can be an hour process in itself. The scenic views along the way make the commute worth it despite these trivial inconveniences!

Communication: The locals here communicate very aggressively and sometimes come off as hostile. One of our waiters almost attacked my hostel-mate for misunderstanding his laugh as making fun of him during breakfast. While some of the locals were cordial, others were incredibly confrontational. Tread carefully when trying to communicate.

Safety: Aside from the run-in with the waiter, I had many other experiences that jeopardized my safety, and the safety of those with whom I travelled, when interacting with the local people. I can't stress enough how confrontational the locals are, so while Montenegro is truly a sight to beholden, be smart when traveling alone or with a group. If you thought Croatia was fairly new, you'll be surprised to learn that Montenegro only became independent 14 years ago - making Montenegro new to tourism and new to foreigners. Factors like this make all the difference with how citizens treat their tourists.

Coming Soon: Itinerary for Kotor, Montenegro

For better or worse, I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything! Each experience taught me something valuable that made me a better person, problem-solver, and traveler; which is what traveling is all about. If you have any questions about my itinerary, feel free to reach out.

Stay tuned for upcoming country by country itineraries!

Thanks for reading :)