Last Updated: 12/4/2023 | December 4th, 2023 Backpacking Europe is a rite of passage. With a well-worn travel trail, a huge variety of amazing destinations, and tons of hostels, Europe is a fun, safe, and easy place to travel. It’s where I first started backpacking over 15 years ago, and I still make sure to visit the continent every year. Since budget travel is a huge part of Europe’s culture (and since many countries in Europe are expensive), hostels are pretty much everywhere.