Nine months ago, I turned to my boyfriend and just blurted out, “Let’s go long-term travel in Europe.” Fast forward to the present day — I’ve explored 19 European countries in just five months. I’ll explain exactly how I did it as a 24-year-old remote worker with zero interest in staying in hostels. In this blog post, you’ll find how we planned the trip, where we went, how we spent more than 90 days in Europe, what it cost us, packing tips, and how it changed my life for the better.
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How Long-Term Travel in Europe Became Reality
I have an insatiable desire to travel and see the world paired with a deep urge to seek a better quality of life outside of the United States. Waiting until retirement to travel has never sat right with me. And let’s be real — by the time you hit the retirement age, your health may not be tip-top and the quality of life in the U.S. has been on a decline for a while now.
I even tried to study abroad in Europe for a semester during college, but the COVID-19 pandemic had other plans. So, I switched gears, thinking that settling in a new city with a good job after graduation was the way to go. But something was still missing: the freedom to explore the world on my own time.
Unable to feel satisfied with my life in the U.S., I dreamed of long-term traveling in Europe. When I broached the idea of backpacking Europe to my boyfriend, I was honestly testing the waters. To my surprise, he simply said, “Okay,” as if it were no big deal.
At that time, I already had a remote job as a writer for a healthcare startup. My boyfriend’s goal was to transition to a remote role before our departure. Our lease expired in five months, making it an ideal time to just go for it.
However, we had much to plan within those five months, including which countries to visit, the duration of our stay, accommodation choices, packing strategies, items to sell, and a plan to keep it all affordable.
How We Planned Our Long-Term Travel Trip in Europe
Originally, I envisioned a leisurely six-month journey with no strict itinerary, savoring each dream destination. However, everything changed when I learned about the Schengen area. As an American citizen, you can only spend 90 days within the Schengen area of the EU within a 180-day period. Once your 90 days are up, you must wait another 90 days before returning. Unfortunately, this restriction included most of the destinations on my bucket list.
However, the Schengen area allows seamless travel between its European countries, similar to the United States.
As a result, I refined my list of must-see European destinations. From there, we meticulously created an itinerary with specific dates for each country to ensure we adhered to the 90-day limit while experiencing everything on our list.
We also had to accommodate my work schedule. We couldn’t hop around too frequently during the week or late at night when I needed to be available. Typically, we spent about a week in each country but took day trips to explore additional cities. If you’re traveling without work obligations, two to three days in major cities should suffice, unless you wish to take day trips to nearby towns.
To stay organized, we maintained our itinerary in Google Sheets. This was my revised European destination bucket list for our long-term European adventure:
- London, England
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Dublin, Ireland
- Paris, France
- Munich, Germany
- Vienna, Austria
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Brussels, Belgium
- Lucerne and Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
- Venice, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Rome, Naples, and Positano, Italy
- Nice, France
- Monaco
- Naxos, Santorini, Paros, Mykonos, and Athens, Greece
- Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Antalya, Turkey
- Barcelona, Spain
- Lagos and Lisbon, Portugal
Wait, Backup…How Did You Travel Europe for 5 Months If You Can Only Spend 90 Days in the Schengen Area?
First, I wasn’t content with a mere three months in Europe. I knew there had to be a way around it. Aside from the obvious option of applying for a visa, we took advantage of exploring European countries that weren’t part of the Schengen area at the beginning and end of our trip. Countries not included in the Schengen area are:
- United Kingdom
- Scotland
- Ireland
- Turkey
- Cyprus
- Bulgaria
- Romania
We initially flew into London, spending about eight days exploring the United Kingdom, including a visit to a friend in Manchester. We then journeyed to Edinburgh, Scotland, for four nights. Subsequently, we devoted about two weeks to Ireland. I delayed entering the Schengen area to enjoy ideal spring weather.
We entered the Schengen area by flying into Paris, France, on March 10th.
Now, there was the option to spend the entire 90 days within the Schengen area and then venture outside to conclude our trip. However, I was determined to experience a European summer. Therefore, at the end of May, we spent nearly three weeks in Turkey, exploring Istanbul, Cappadocia, and the Turkish Mediterranean Coast in Antalya.
In June, we reentered the Schengen area to complete our journey in Spain and the Algarve region of Portugal before flying home from Lisbon. We had 18 days remaining to savor.
The Cost of Our 5-Month European Expedition
Allow me to preface by saying that it’s more affordable than you might imagine, and you don’t need to be rich by any means. Our one-way flight to Europe cost less than $200. We secured our flights with Norse Airlines during their Black Friday promotion, flying from New York to London (highly recommend). Additionally, I purchased two hopper flights from Austin to New York on the same day, each costing $60.
Our other significant expense involved accommodation for five months, as well as the cost of traveling between cities. We required our own place to stay with a kitchen to save on meals and so I could work. We primarily opted for Airbnb stays with kitchens, which amounted to less than $100 per night (about $50 each), in well-located areas that offered convenience for walking or accessing public transportation. However, in certain cities, we had to stay in hostels.
Costs varied from one city to another, but the overall breakdown was approximately $1,000 per month for each of us for accommodation, averaging $33 per day. In total, our five-month journey cost us $10,957, which, honestly, is considerably cheaper than renting in Austin, Texas. We also compared this to the $45 we spent daily on our current rental, which was nothing special.
Additional Cost-Saving Tips for Long-Term Travel in Europe
While we may not classify ourselves as budget travelers, we aren’t luxury travelers either. We did indulge in the Interrail three-month pass, which amounted to approximately $700 but it’s so worth it. We got our money’s worth by taking numerous day trips to smaller towns and neighboring cities.
We also focused on minimizing distances while hopping around and traveling during the off-season for part of our trip to help reduce costs. For example, it made sense to go from the Netherlands to Belgium because they were right next to each other. Occasionally, we had to purchase flights, but they were typically less than 50 euros for a short-haul flight.
Additionally, the cost of living in Europe is considerably lower. We cooked breakfasts and most dinners, and our weekly grocery expenses were around 50 euros. We frequently dined out for lunch, exploring new and local cuisine almost daily. I’m quite particular about my diet due to dietary restrictions, so it wasn’t just cheap street food either.
I continued to work while we traveled, providing a financial cushion. We also had already paid for half of our Airbnb bookings months in advance. Although my boyfriend couldn’t secure a remote position before our travels, he had saved a substantial amount of money before leaving his job.
How We Packed for Long-Term Travel in Europe
We conducted extensive research to determine what to bring. While this topic deserves its own detailed blog post, I’ll share my top tips here.
First and foremost, avoid the mistake I made – overpacking. We limited ourselves to two carry-ons each: one backpack and one roller carry-on. I even transitioned to a smart casual capsule wardrobe ahead of time. Packing for three different seasons (winter, spring, and summer) was a challenge.
Here are my top packing tips for long-term traveling in Europe:
- Invest in a travel backpack with a shoe compartment; it’s the best way to accommodate an extra pair of shoes.
- Opt for small bags that you can easily carry and maneuver upstairs and through cobblestone streets.
- Leave some space in your bags; you’ll want room for those affordable, natural fabric clothing finds.
- Utilize bags within bags; I employed extra bags for groceries, beach outings, day trips, and even to transport uneaten food on our train journeys to the next destination.
- Pack clothes you don’t mind leaving behind; adjusting to changing weather meant I had to part with my thick coat. You can also have things shipped home if you’re in a hotel.
- Create a neutral capsule wardrobe to blend in with the locals, who often dress in dark, smart casual attire.
- Avoid large roller suitcases that require checking, as they won’t fit on trains.
- Be mindful of train luggage compartments, which are typically first-come, first-served; my roller carry-on didn’t even fit, leaving us with a bag wedged between our legs or blocking doorways.
- Bring a minimal amount of liquids; when traveling between airports, you can only carry 100 ml products, up to 1 liter, in a small, clear bag in your hand luggage in Europe.
- Pack only comfortable shoes suitable for long-distance walking; sneakers were my best companion.
- Don’t forget to pack portable chargers and ensure you have a travel plug adapter, as Europe uses different power outlets.
For technology, we opted to stay in Airbnbs with good wifi. Some days I’d find a cute cafe where I could get some work done. Our phone plans didn’t cover Europe, so I purchased an ESIM (digital sim card) that covered the European countries we were traveling. This way, we didn’t have to purchase a separate phone or change out our physical SIM card for cell service. I highly recommend setting up an ESIM in advance with Airalo.
Why We Concluded Our European Travels at the 5-Month Mark
Believe me when I say I didn’t want our long-term European trip to end. I felt a profound sense of sadness upon leaving. However, the constant movement to different countries led to burnout. We needed time to recover financially and mentally, especially since my boyfriend’s savings were running low, and to reintegrate into our daily routines.
Had it not been for the Schengen area restrictions, I would have opted for a longer stay in Europe to prevent burnout. Nevertheless, we remained present in the moment. With a heavy heart, we booked our flight back to the United States towards the end of our five months.
How Long-Term Travel in Europe Transformed My Life
I initially thought traveling Europe for five months and ticking off my bucket list would make me feel at peace with settling down. However, that wasn’t the case. I’ve come to realize that a long-term backpacking trip or even a gap year is no longer satisfying for a true desire to travel.
I yearn for full-time travel to become my lifestyle, but I also prioritize my health and well-being. I understand how these lifestyles feel conflicting, but you don’t have to compromise. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to assist other wanderlust, health-conscious individuals to engage in wellness-focused travel through this blog.
