Here's my itinerary for my first backpacking trip ever in Europe! If you're looking for places to see, do and eat that's cheap or free this itinerary is for you!
LONDON
Transportation: Take the Underground or double-decker buses. Cheapest and easiest way to get around London.
Food: ALDI Grocery store I found has the cheapest and best groceries. Try some Nando's while you're there and take advantage of London's street food markets!
DAY 1
Sightseeing: London Eye, Big Ben, Victoria Park
Visit Sky Garden
House of Mina Lima
Classic Nando's dinner
DAY 2
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens, stop by Buckingham Palace on the way there. Eat your packed lunch here and enjoy the view.
Portobello Road Market
Shoreditch Street Art: nightlife is great
Village Underground music venue in Shoreditch
DAY 3
Cross Thames River to get to Globe Theatre: Watch the play of Romeo & Juliet, tickets are 5 Pounds each if you stand!
Tate Modern Art Museum: good for rainy days, entry is free for most exhibits
Borough Market (8 Southwark St): Good cheap food, open from 8 am-5 pm
DAY 4
Queen Elizabeth's Royal Hunting Ground Museum
Camden Street Food Market: I had the BEST Arepazo there!
The Sherlock Holmes Museum: check the store times before you go, I went when it was already closed
Head to King's Cross Station after 10 pm for a no crowd photo at Platform 9 3/4. If you're looking for a Harry Potter souvenir, the gift shop closes at 10 pm.
AMSTERDAM
Transportation: Rent bikes! So easy to get around, there are bike lanes everywhere and easy to park your bike. Everyone in Amsterdam is either walking or biking.
Food: MUST TRY: Rudi’s Original Stroopwafels Albert Cuyp Markt, made fresh when you place your order. Dutch fries with mayonnaise are also a tasty snack.
DAY 1
Free Amsterdam walking tour working at the National Monument from Dam Square
Stop by a local cafe for delicious Dutch pancakes
Henri Willig Dutch Cheese Shop: they have free samples and the staff is super nice, they explained to us their process of cheese making for free.
Anne Frank House
Red Light District
All bars in Amsterdam have cheap drinks! Take advantage of the local bars, but drink responsibly.
DAY 2
Amsterdam Museum with “I Amsterdam” sign
Begijnhof
Bloemenmarkt (Floating Flower Market)
Pick up some wine, bread and cheese. Head to the Canal by sunset for a lovely Canal picnic.
DAY 3
Canal Belt
Magere Brug a.k.a. Skinny Bridge
North Amsterdam: Eye Film Museum; depart from Centraal Station free boat ride every half hour to North Amsterdam
LAUSANNE
DAY 1
Train from Geneva to Lausanne
FOOD: The cheapest grocery store in Lausanne is ALDI
Cathedral of Notre Dame of Lausanne
Shopping on Rue St François down to Rue de Bourg
DAY 2
Day trip to Lutry: jump off the platform and cool off in the clear water of Lake Geneva overlooking the mountains
DAY 3
Musée d'Archéologie et d'Histoire
Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts (PLATFORM 10)
Louis Bourget Park: grab some wine and BBQ grub as you watch the sunset over the mountains by the beach. The perfect way to end the day.
GENEVA DAY 1
Train from Lausanne to Geneva
Jet d'Eau (Geneva Water Fountain)
Cross over Mont Blanc Bridge
Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève (The Conservatory and Botanical Garden of the city of Geneva)
Palais des Nations (United Nations Office at Geneva)
Spend the extra money and indulge in Switzerland's delicious cheese fondues. This is one thing on your trip you won't want to miss!
BARCELONA
DAY 1
Catedral de Barcelona
Picasso Museum → 14 euros
La Boqueria Food Market
DAY 2
"The World Begins With Every Kiss" Mural: snap your travel Instagram photo here!
Font de Canaletes: drinking fountain in La Rambla, said to believe that if you drink from it when you return to Barcelona in the future, you will find the love of your life.
Columbus Monument
Parc de Montjuïc: arrive around sunset, night time has a wonderful vibe
Plaza de toros de las Arenas: used to be a bullfighting arena but is now a mall!
Park Guëll→ 7 euros
DAY 3
Basilica of the Sagrada Familia: Regular 15 euros, student 13 euros → buy before
Barceloneta Beach
MALLORCA
DAY 1
Catedral-Basílica de Santa María
Downtown Mallorca
Ca'n Pere Antoni beach
Boulevard Maritimo Club
DAY 2
Drach caves
Playa de Alcudia
The Convent of Santa Clara: definitely come here for the delicious nun cookies and the purchasing experience!
DAY 3
Soller Train Mountain Ride
Port de Soller
Playa de Porto Cristo