Best Backpacking Destinations in Europe: Part 2

In the second instalment of the "Best Backpacking Destinations in Europe" article series, I am going to introduce you to three other magnificent European cities. These cities are all excellent for backpackers, and offer lot of ways one can enjoy his or her time in in them.

Click here to read the previous article.

Barcelona

First on our list is the beautiful city of Barcelona in Spain. Barcelona is the capital of Catalunia, and has its own language, the Catalan. Of course they all speak Spanish in the city, but Catalan is spoken by almost all locals, and if you can speak a few sentences in Catalan, you are going to go a long way in the hearts of the local inhabitants.

Barcelona is famous for its beautiful architecture. The city has plenty of old cathedrals, and churches that are breathtaking. You can also enjoy the famous sports life of Barcelona. The city has two football clubs, Espanyol and the world-famous Barcelona. Barcelona also has an excellent handball and an outstanding basketball team.

Port Vell, Barcelona.
Source: Wikipedia

If you are not big for architecture or sports, you can enjoy the world-famous beaches of the city. The hot sea is perfect for swimming, not to mention that you can fish in the waters rich in all kinds of creatures.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, and it is a constant feature of American comedies due to its famous coffee shops. However you would be very wrong if you would think that Amsterdam has nothing else to offer.

The Canals of Amsterdam during the summer.
Source: Wikipedia

The city is probably most famous of their cycling culture. The city actually has more than one million bicycles, which is more than its inhabitants. You can rent bikes, or you can buy one in one of the many bike shops of the city. However there are more types of transportation that you can take in Amsterdam. The canal system runs through the city, where you can take a Boat Tour to travel through the city.

The city is the home of multiple world-famous restaurants. The Heineken beer brewery is in Amsterdam, where you can learn about beer brewing, how Heineken is made and you can learn a lot about beer tasting.

Prague

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, and it adds a nice Eastern European flavor to our list. As an Eastern European city, it is quite cheap by Western European measures. The city is famous for its architecture, with much of it remaining from the middle ages. This is the reason why the city is used for shooting movies by Hollywood film crews.

The Prague Sunrise.
Source:Wikipedia

If you go to Prague, I urge you to try one of the many beautiful campsites the city has to offer. It is the cheapest form of accommodation really, you just need to grab your best waterproof tent, set it up, and you have a perfect shelter for the night.

One of the most famous buildings of the city is the St. Charles Bridge, which arches over the river that runs through the city. The city is just for you if you love beer. The Czech Republic is the famous home country of Bohumil Hrabal, who's literature documents the beer drinking culture of the Czech people very well.

The city is also big on sports. The city is the home to the football team Sparta Prague. Plenty of bicycle routes run through the city, making it very easy to get around on a bike.

Conclusion

I hope that the second instalment of our "Top Backpacking Destinations in Europe" gave you a few ideas on where to go on a cheap, yet exciting trip on the old continent. If you want more ideas, you can read our first article, or go on trips to cities that we haven't mentioned, and then tell us about your trips in the comments.