Backpacking Europe Winter 2011-12

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flissis
flissis

Hi guys,

Firstly, this is my first post to Thorntree (be nice). I'm a 19 year old Aussie girl planning to backpack on my own (hopefully making friends along the way) across Europe in Winter 2012. This is not my first time to Europe, I have been once before when I was much younger (London, Paris and Rome for one week each in Winter). Also, this is not my first trip backpacking, I backpacked throughout south-east Asia last year.

I am planning on winging it, and so I'm looking for advice on places to visit and in what order (as well as any other advice you want to give me).
I'll be flying into Madrid, Spain on the 29th of December 2011. I will be staying there before (maybe) moving onto Barcelona for New Years Eve. Next, I am going to London to visit my sister who lives there, I need to go there at this stage in the trip because she is leaving of the 7th of January to go to Africa and I haven't seen her in over a year. Everything between this point and when I leave to go home, on the 14th of February from Munich, Germany, is open ended and apart from a rough itinerary (which is where you guys come in) I plan to go wherever my travels take me.

The places I really want to visit:
Scotland- Edinburgh
Belgium- Brussel, Bruges, Antwerp & Ghent
Greece- Athens,
The Netherlands- Amsterdam,
and obviously London, Madrid and Munich need to be included

There are heaps of other places I want to go, but since everyone has different opinions of what places make up 'Europe's best' I am open to suggestions. Also, I'm considering changing my flight to fly into London or anywhere in the UK to make my travels easier and cheapier (originally my sister and I were going to miss each other so I didn't want to go to Britian until later on). I don't want to waste time waiting around in airports or at trainstations.

I should let you know that I much prefer heat (or as close as I can get to it) to wet, cold climates so I am hoping to spend quite a bit of time in southern Europe. Because of my aversion to the cold I need to make sure I pack the right stuff, whilst staying fashionable (which is important to me) and packing light! Do I need a waterproof coat? If so, should I buy it at home or buy one after I arrive. What type of shoes do I need? I have 'Vans' type sneakers for anywhere that isn't raining or snowing however, I am considering buying Doc Marten style boots (not leather though as I am vegetarian). Are these over the top? If so what would you suggest, and again the buy at home vs buy there debate. Lastly, during winter in Australia, I mostly wear jeans and a top or a dress with stockings and a jacket (not very heavy). For the trip I will be bringing two or three jackets plus maybe the big waterproof one, but I'm wondering if I can get away with the jeans/top or dres/stockings combos underneath. Will I be warm enough (if I add scarves, gloves and beanies), do I need thermals?

Thank you and sorry this was so long.

Edited by: flissis

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anonymous
anonymous

Welcome to TT!

I should let you know that I much prefer heat (or as close as I can get to it) to wet, cold climates so I am hoping to spend quite a bit of time in southern Europe.

The only places on your list that are in Southern Europe are Athens and Madrid. You can use this web to get info about historical data of temperatures in the main European Cities so you can decide by yourself which ones on your list are heat for you. In order to suggest other places to your list, it would help us if you tell what are your interests. We know some places that you really want to visit but we don't know why do you want to visit them. That makes difficult to suggest other places that could be interesting for you. And, of course, your interests and my interests could be different so my suggestions could be not interesting for you. Anyway, as you say that you want to spend time in Southern Europe, Why don't you add places like Andalucía (Southern Spain) or Southern Italy...? Which cities/towns/villages in these regions will depend on your interests...

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fieldgate
fieldgate

A couple of comments:
- Greece is out of your way and making your trip much more expensive. Weather-wise it wouldn't be different from Spain,
In Jan you can expect temps between 5-15 C in that region. Not much different from winter in Oz.
- Even without Greece you'll visit 5 countries (or six if you count Scotland and England as two) and that would be enough for 6 weeks.
- Clothes:
Dr Marten type shoes will be fine. You don't need a special waterproof coat. An umbrella or rain poncho will do.

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phimeow
phimeow

OP says I need to make sure I pack the right stuff, whilst staying fashionable (which is important to me) and packing light!

Hmm..fashionable and backpacking - are these 2 things not mutually exclusive?

If you have traveled to Europe in winter before then you know that layering is the best way to keep warm. I suggest you go to an adventure store (e.g. Snowgum, Pady Palin, Kathmandu etc) and buy base, mid and top layer wool or polyprop clothing. Top that with good quality jumper and a wind/rain proof jacket (gortex is best IMHO) and accessorise with a good scarf, gloves and beanie. Warm woolen socks and waterproof shoes (consider waterproofing your Vans) are a must.

As for your destinations, Greece is too way out from Western Europe so I suggest you make that a different trip.

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phimeow
phimeow

@fieldgate...depends where you live in Oz. It's -5 to 10 degree where I am!

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airryan
airryan

hey, why dont you visit ireland, go from scotland to belfast by ferry, do the giants causeway and the north coast, visit malin head, drop down to the west coast of ireland and visit a small cottage with a bowel of pipping hot stew with the good old black(Guinness) and a roaring warm fire. while all looking out at the wet west coast of ireland. after drop into galway city for a quicky with the stags and a cocktail!! or you could do the paddy wagon tour

with the equipment, a good gortex jacket with good rain trousers, thermals and layers help out. shoes, vans good for cities etc when its good weather. boots that are waterproof will be great. all of this is what im carrying on my euro trip at the moment, and im in denmark at the moment, its nice and warmish, some rain, but no snow yet. lets hope we get some!!! enjoy your trip!!

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fieldgate
fieldgate

PhiMeow,
-5 C?
Where in Australia is it possible?
I thought the lowest it can get to would be 5 C, most likely in Tasmania.

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phimeow
phimeow

@fieldgate. Well, Australia does have snow, contrary to what people think about this big island continent (not just beach sand, desert sand and surf)! The alpine areas has a national web site here

The nation's capital, Canberra gets pretty cold. The winter temp can go as low as -10 degrees centigrade.The coldest temp ever recorded in Australia was at Charlotte Pass, -23.0 C on the 29th June, 1994 and I remember that day quite vividly as I was living only a few hours away from there!

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fieldgate
fieldgate

PhiMeow,
I have good knowledge of geography including climate and the conditions of Australian Alps, Mt Kosciuszko etc.
Have been there too. You might even go skiing in that area. But, those places are the extremes of Australian continent and restricted to one area. You can read some posts by Aussies, and see that they'd never experienced snow and therefore when they come to Europe it's with some sort of winter apprehension.

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phimeow
phimeow

@fieldgate..I'm only answering your question at #6 minus 5 C? Where in Australia is it possible?
True - most Aussies never experience snow (or cold).

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