3 months of travelling

If we had 3 months in Europe this is where we would go! [3 Month Itinerary]

Europe how we love you! If you’re reading this, you’re likely considering a longer Europe adventure, and we are so happy for you! After completing 6 months full time travel in Europe, and multiple other trips to various regions in the continent, we are uniquely qualified to give a little advice, and a few suggestions! We urge you to do lots of research, including reading blogs like ours, before you start planning you adventures. Take a look below at some recommendations, where we would head if we visited Europe for 3 months, and a few proposed itineraries for you to check out!

A few things to consider when travelling for 3 months (or more)

3 months isn’t as long as you think.. don’t try and fit everything in! Yes, 3 months seems like a lot, and it is! However, Europe is enormous, and despite the temptation of trying to tick off every one of your ideal destinations, we urge you to slow it down a little and re-assess. We travelled Europe for 6 months, and despite visiting 25 countries, we didn’t even get close to seeing everything, or ticking off all places we were keen to visit (Malta we will return for you!). Therefore, we urge you to pick your standouts, work out where you definitely want to visit, and spend some time in these locations.

Fast & Slow travel: Leading on from the last point, some destinations you may skip through quicker, but definitely we urge you to slow down in others. Not only will this help you refresh and enjoy it more, you physically cant keep going country-to-country every few days. We put a little piece together on Slow vs Fast travel if you want to read a little more on this area.

Head to a variety of different locations . Don’t spend your entire 3 months in big cities. However, spending the whole trip on the beach is likely too much as well. We would recommend striking a balance. Definitely include some big cities full of history, culture and good food (see our favourites below). We also strongly encourage you to check out the smaller towns as the often give a more authentic and often picturesque experience. And depending on your preferences, head out into nature, whether it be beachside, or hiking, or lakeside. There’s so much in Europe and we recommend you sample a complete range!

Step away from the conventional tourist paths for awhile. The ‘big ticket items’ (e.g. Italy, France etc) are popular for a reason, they are often spectacular. However, underrated countries and destinations are often just as impressive, and come with far less cost and fewer tourists. We definitely think it’s worth considering.

Do lots of research! Well done, you’re already on the way with this point by reading this blog! There’s so much great information out there, and the more you research the better you can plan your dream 3 month trip!

Where we would travel if we were heading to Europe for 3 months

If we were in your shoes, planning a dream 3+ month holiday, these are some of the countries and regions we would lock straight into our travel itinerary.

It’s a no-brainer. Italy is one of the best countries in all of Europe (and the world) to visit! Filled with amazing food, stunning big cities, so many inland and coastal towns, and lots of impressive beaches. Despite the popularity, there’s still many places to see that are a little away from the busy crowds. Don’t think twice, plan to head to Italy. Breaking down where to visit in Italy becomes a little more of a challenge. To give you some inspiration, we urge you to consider the following locations:

• Puglia: see why we loved this underrated coastal region!
• Tuscany: see our road trip through this amazing region!

The stunning country of Croatia is a true gem and definitely somewhere you should look to visit, especially during warmer summer months and shoulder seasons! Boasting some of the best beaches in the world, a crazy amount of incredible islands to explore, and lots of wonderful seaside towns, Croatia is a must visit! See some of the locations in Croatia that we loved!

• Croatian Islands: our favourite island is Vis!
• Makarska: this beachside town is bursting with reasons to visit!
• Dubrovnik: despite the tourist ‘hype’, it’s worth visiting!

Switzerland:

Ah Switzerland, your beauty is boundless! Our visit to this stunning country was punctuated with family moments (Tess’s Swiss-Italian family), incredible views, great hikes and cute towns to explore. We urge you to visit the many mountainous and lake regions, where postcard views will be at every turn. Don’t miss:

• Jungfrau: see our guide to the region!
• Oeschinensee: one of the most beautiful natural regions we have ever seen!

Portugal may well be our favourite country in Europe, or at least a close second to Italy. We loved the cities, beaches and smaller towns, but even more so enjoy the positive and welcoming nature of the locals. The food was excellent, and there was so, so much to see and do. If you’re heading to Europe, definitely consider Portugal on your ‘hit list’ of places to check out. We urge you to visit:

• Lisbon: our pick of things to do in Lisbon!
• Porto: our snapshot of Porto!
• Algarve: the impressive Portuguese beachside region

The Balkans:

This region in the central-east of Europe is truly a hidden gem filled with so many amazing places to explore. While Croatia (listed above) is part of the Balkans, there are many more amazing countries like Slovenia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Romania and more! You could easily spend a month or 2 just in this region, so we’d strongly urge you to consider adding the Balkans into your Europe trip. Take a look at our guide to the Balkans here.

And don’t miss..

There’s so many more amazing locations which we will include below, including cities like Copenhagen, Prague, Budapest and Edinburgh, along with amazing small towns and regions like south of France, Lake Bled, Albanian Riviera and more!

3 month Europe travel itineraries:

The planning is always a strange mix of extreme excitement and wanderlust, mixed with stress and ‘fear of missing out’. However, as discussed above, we urge you to not try and ‘fit everything in’, and choose a few key areas and regions to visit! Additionally, we also recommend a mix of coastal, big cities and smaller towns/regions. We have put together a few sample itineraries that we think cover off all the regions we love, and give you a wonderful mix of different locations. These can be copied exactly, but are more designed to give you inspiration for you 3 month travel planning.

Option 1: Switzerland, Italy & the Balkans

This itinerary covers of so many of our favourite places, particularly Switzerland, Italy and the Balkans! Start in the Swiss capital of Zurich , make your way down to the stunning Jungfrau region , before heading to one of our favourite countries, Italy ! Spend up to a month in Italy covering off Tuscany, Rome, Puglia and Venice, before a pit stop in Lake Bled on the way to another of our favourite countries, Croatia ! Head along the coast, to some of the islands, and a pit stop to Mostar on your way to Dubrovnik . After Dubrovnik, don’t miss Kotor in Montenegro, before flying across to check out the booming Albanian Riviera. Head further off the tourist path with Lake Ohrid, Sofia, and Transylvania (Romania). Finish your amazing trip visiting 2 of our top big cities in Budapest and Prague !

• Switzerland: 1-2 weeks
• Italy 3-4 weeks
• Lake Bled 3 days
• Croatia 2-3 weeks
• Mostar 1-2 days
• Kotor 3-4 days
• Albanian Riviera 7 days
• Lake Ohrid 3-5 days
• Skopje 1 day
• Sofia 2 days
• Romania 5-7 days
• Budapest 2-3 days
• Prague 2-4 days

Option 2: Portugal, Spain, Sth France, Italy & Croatia

This is another amazing option to visit some of our few favourite European locations, including Portugal, southern Spain and France, Switzerland, Lake Bled and Sicily! Start you travels in one of the best countries around, Portugal ! Work down from Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve, before heading to the Andalusian region of Spain . A pit stop in Barcelona takes you through to the beautiful south of France . Don’t miss Avignon and Gordes! Head across to the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, and then make your way to northern Italy. We recommended Lake Garda over Como, and pit stop in Venice before stopping at the gorgeous Lake Bled ! Head down to the underrated Sicily in Italy to finish you adventures with great food, beaches and culture!

• Portugal: 1-2 weeks
• South Spain: 1 week
• Barcelona: 3 days
• South France: 1 week
• Switzerland: 1 week
• Northern Italy: 1 week
• Lake Bled: 2-3 days
• Southern Italy: 1-2 weeks

Option 3: Northern Europe

Start in one of our favourite cities in Europe, Edinburgh . Spend at least 3 days here, and try to get up to the Scottish Highlands if you can. Make your way down to London stopping at the historic towns of York and Cambridge. London has so much to offer, but could easily be sampled in a few days, or spend a longer timeframe and see so much more. Catch a train from London to Brussels , then check out some of the other smaller Belgian towns, with Bruges top of our list. Make your up to Leiden which we consider a ‘mini Amsterdam’ and is a great base to stay and visit the nearby Amsterdam . From the Netherlands, make your up to Copenhagen stopping a few times in Northern Germany . When at Copenhage n, stay at least 3 days in one of our favourite cities in Europe! Consider day trips the the Swiss town of Malmo by train (approximately 45minutes) or the fishing village of Hornbaek (1-2 hours via train). Tick off some of the top big cities in Europe with Berlin, Prague and Munich before slowing down a bit in the Jungfrau Region and lake region of Switzerland. We then encourage you to either finish your trip in 2 of our favourite countries, Italy or Croatia !

• Edinburgh: 3-4 days
• Scottish Highlands: 2-3 days
• York: 1-2 days
• Cambridge: 1-2 days
• London: 3-7 days
• Brussels: 2 days
• Bruges: 1-2 days
• Leiden: 1-2 days (or stay here for Amsterdam)
• Amsterdam: 1-3 days (pending if you stay Leiden or Amsterdam)
• Dusseldorf/Dortmund: 1-4 days
• Hamburg: 1-3 days
• Copenhagen: 3-5 days
• Hornbaek: 1-2 days (or day trip)
• Malmo: 1 day (or day trip)
• Berlin: 2-4 days
• Prague: 2-4 days
• Munich: 2-4 days
• Choose Italy or Croatia to finish your trip for 1-2 weeks

These are only example travel itineraries put together to spark inspiration and excitement! We have visited most of these locations, and have literally 100s of guides available on our blog. We have also put together some recommendations to help you travel. A few top options include our complete Europe Travel Guide and our Favourite Accommodation in Europe !

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How To Travel For 3 Months: Best 12 Steps

How to travel for 3 Months! Traveling for three months will be a lot of fun, but it will also require a good amount of research and planning. You’ll need to do some research about what you want to do when you get there and how much money it will cost.

If you’re considering a long-term vacation, but have been put off by the thought of carrying around heavy bags and booking flights on different airlines for months at a time, then this article is just for you.

In it, we’ll cover how to plan a 3-month trip so that you can travel as light as possible and spend as little time as possible checking in with the airline.

How To Travel For 3 Months

Traveling for 3 months may seem daunting, but it is not difficult at all if you start traveling on a planned basis.

To set your schedule and avoid needing to check in with your airline’s baggage service, you should start accumulating air miles by making purchases on the frequent flyer program at least two months in advance of your trip.

You should also consider consulting with a travel insurance company for coverage against delays of a minimum length, delays on airport services, and other unexpected expenses.

Fluent in 3 Months

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By following the steps below, you should be able to travel for 3 months and not need to check in with the airline for any reason.

Step 1: Plan Your Trip

If you want to travel somewhere, you have to plan the trip first. Proper travel planning can give you the joy of a thrilling journey. It can also save you from the hassle and stress of being unprepared.

Travel planning includes a lot of things. You need to decide when to go and how long you will be staying at each destination. You have to choose an airline, a budget travel site, suitable accommodation, and transportation means.

Planning is essential for any vacation, especially if you want to travel for three months with just one single bag.

Step 2: Build Your Pack

Build your pack by looking over the list of things you’ll need while traveling .

Remember that while you’ll be able to do laundry in a hotel room, you won’t have access to a workspace, so it’s best to keep things simple.

Limit everything to one backpack and one carry-on bag. Your backpack should include everything you’ll need for day-to-day activities.

Step 3: Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is probably the most important thing to purchase before you embark on your trip. It can protect you if you’re delayed or unable to disembark from a flight due to weather conditions or a mechanical delay.

In the United States, travel insurance is also necessary for any trip that will last longer than 90 days, so it’s something that everyone needs anyway. We recommend World Nomads Travel Insurance.

They’ll provide you with an accurate quote after asking about your itinerary and include cancellation coverage, which many other companies won’t.

Step 4: Pick A Destination

You need to choose the place of travel according to your choice. When choosing a place to travel, you will select the type according to what kind of place you like to visit and what weather you want.

Choosing a destination that is not suitable for you may cause your mood to drop, so choose with care.

Step 5: Learn The Language Of Your Destination Country

It’s also a good idea to learn some basic language skills so that you can interact with the local people while traveling.

If you’re traveling to a foreign country on your own, it’s a good idea to do this before leaving.

You can pick up helpful language lessons in our free guide on travel.

Step 6: Get A Local SIM Card

To get a SIM card for your destination, you’ll likely have to go to a local mobile provider and sign up for an account. To save time, you can book directly with the local provider by going over to the contact page of their website and sending them an email.

It’s best to send it from the email address that you use for booking flights on Skyscanner so that they know who’s sending the request.

Fisher-Price On-the-Go Baby Dome

Step 7: Enquire About Flights

You will have to check with the airline about the flight schedule and decide where you will go. You should check with the airline as far in advance as possible.

Because you may still be waiting for your bag when you’re supposed to depart, it’s best to make sure that you can travel on time.

Step 8: Check-In

You will be able to check into your hotel early, but don’t forget that you’ll need to get a boarding pass and an ID card before boarding so that they can match your baggage with your name.

Step 9: Book Accommodations

You’ll want to book your accommodations as far in advance as possible. This allows you to save money on hotel reservations, but it’s also an excellent way to ensure that you’re not sharing rooms with any other travelers.

If you can’t find a place you like, you can always check out some AirBnB rentals. To make a booking, go over to Airbnb and fill out their booking form by entering the dates your stay will take place and providing them with your desired accommodation details.

Step 10: Research Visa Requirements For Entry Into Your Destination Country

If you’re planning on staying in another country for 3 months, then you’ll want to check their visa requirements. You may need to apply for a work visa, which can be expensive and time-consuming.

To save some money, it’s best to book a flight that will take you over the border so that you can avoid having to return home and then make another journey before coming back into the country again.

Step 11: Make Sure To Have Plenty Of Money For Food, Transportation, And Lodging

While you’re away from home, you’ll need to make sure that your food and lodging expenses are covered. Read our guide on how to save money while traveling and how to budget on the road.

Step 12: Be Aware Of Your Surroundings

While you may be visiting a new country, it’s not likely that you’ll be traveling in an unfamiliar location. You may think that this means that nothing wrong could happen to you, but there are plenty of random events that could happen to you while traveling.

If you’re not paying attention to your surroundings, then something unexpected could catch you off guard and cause harm to come your way.

How Much Does It Cost To Travel For 3 Months?

The cost of your trip may vary depending on your destination. When you consider the cost of flights, accommodations, food, and transportation, the average trip will cost around $500-$1000 per month.

The more you plan to travel. The more likely your expenses will be a bit higher than this.

If you want to keep your costs low, you should stay in budget accommodations, take local transportation, eat at inexpensive restaurants, or cook your meals.

How To Earn 3 Months Travel Time?

It takes a lot of money to travel. Because traveling can cost you a lot of unplanned money. So you need to know the alternative sources of income. Below:

1. Freelancing

If you have any outstanding skills, like graphic design or website development, you can use them to earn income during your travels. There are plenty of freelancer websites like Fiverr that allow you to list your services and help you get clients.

This will allow you to earn a little money in your spare time.

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2. Teaching A Foreign Language

If you’re willing to teach a different language than English, then this can also help you earn income in your travels. There are plenty of language schools around the world. You’ll have to find them.

3. Working In The Hospitality Industry

If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty and you like working with food, you may be able to find an opportunity to work in a hotel or even start your own business.

This will allow you to make money while staying in a different place. You can learn more by reading our free guide on starting your own business.

4. Find An Extra Job At Night

Working as a bartender or waiter is another way to make some money during your travels . You’ll have to work evenings and weekends, but it’s an excellent way to earn a little extra cash.

Before you leave, be sure to make a list of all of the things you will need and ask yourself if you’re willing to spend time and money on these items. If not, you may consider staying at home until your trip is complete.

You have enough time to save up for your travels before you leave so that it’s not a massive issue for you. In those situations, it may be best for you to take a part-time job to earn some extra income during your travels.

You should think twice before going on a long trip. Long journeys can lead to accidents, so be careful.

If you have any questions about how to travel for 3 months, please leave us a comment below!

Make your trip safe and enjoyable!

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The Ultimate Packing Checklist For 3 Months Of Travel

Introduction

Preparing for a three-month journey can be both exciting and overwhelming. From deciding what to pack to ensuring you have all the essential items, it’s important to have a well-thought-out packing checklist to make your travel experience smooth and hassle-free. This ultimate packing checklist will guide you through the process of selecting the items you need for your three-month adventure.

Before diving into the specific items, it’s essential to consider the climate and the activities you’ll be participating in during your trip. Will you be exploring the beaches of tropical destinations or hiking through mountains? Understanding the destinations and their weather conditions will help you pack the appropriate clothing and gear.

Another important aspect to consider is the size and weight limits of your luggage. Most airlines have weight restrictions, so you need to ensure that your bag and its contents meet those requirements. It’s also recommended to invest in a sturdy and reliable suitcase or backpack that can withstand the rigors of long-term travel and protect your belongings.

Now, let’s dive into the essential categories you should consider when packing for your three-month adventure:

Essential Documents

Before embarking on your three-month journey, it’s crucial to gather and organize all the necessary documents. These documents not only ensure smooth travel but also provide assistance in case of any unforeseen situations. Here are the essential documents you should bring:

• Passport: Check that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your return date. Make photocopies of the main page and keep them separate from your original passport.
• Visas: Research and obtain any necessary visas for the countries you plan to visit. Some countries offer visa-on-arrival, while others require pre-approval.
• Identification: Carry additional identification, such as a driver’s license or national ID card, in case you need to leave your passport in a secure location.
• Travel insurance: Purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical expenses, trip cancellation, and loss of personal belongings.
• Health documents: If required, obtain necessary health certificates or vaccination records for certain destinations.
• Flight tickets: Keep both digital and print copies of your flight itineraries, including any connecting flights.
• Accommodation details: Carry printed or digital copies of your hotel or hostel reservations to present at immigration if required.
• Emergency contacts: Create a list of emergency contact numbers, including local authorities, embassy or consulate details, and your next of kin.
• Travel itinerary: Write down a detailed travel itinerary with dates, locations, and transportation details. Share it with a trusted family member or friend.

Make sure to keep all these documents in a safe and easily accessible place during your travels. Consider using a travel document organizer or a secure wallet to keep everything organized and protected.

Remember, it’s always better to be over-prepared when it comes to essential documents. Keep digital copies of all your important documents stored in cloud storage or share them with yourself via email, so you can access them even if your physical copies are lost or stolen.

Clothing and Accessories

When it comes to packing clothing and accessories for a three-month trip, it’s important to strike a balance between comfort, versatility, and the weather conditions of your destinations. Here are some essential items to consider:

• Tops: Pack a mixture of short-sleeve and long-sleeve shirts in lightweight fabrics for layering. Choose versatile colors that can be mixed and matched.
• Bottoms: Bring a combination of pants, shorts, and skirts that are comfortable and suitable for different activities. Consider fabrics that dry quickly.
• Outerwear: Depending on the climate, pack a lightweight jacket, a sweater, or a hoodie for cooler evenings or unexpected weather changes.
• Undergarments: Don’t forget essentials like underwear, socks, and bras. Consider quick-drying and odor-resistant options for convenience.
• Footwear: Choose a pair of comfortable walking shoes or sneakers that are suitable for long walks and hikes. Include sandals or flip-flops for beach destinations.
• Accessories: Bring a sun hat or cap, sunglasses, and a lightweight scarf or sarong that can serve multiple purposes.
• Swimwear: If you’ll be visiting beach destinations or staying at accommodations with pools, pack a couple of swimsuits.
• Sleepwear: Don’t forget comfortable sleepwear or loungewear for relaxing in your accommodation.
• Laundry essentials: Consider packing a small travel-sized laundry detergent or stain remover, as it may be necessary to do laundry during your trip.

Remember to pack clothing based on the activities you plan to do during your trip, such as hiking gear, workout clothes, or formal attire if needed for specific events or occasions.

It’s important not to overpack and to choose items that can be easily mixed and matched to create different outfits. Opt for versatile clothing that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

Lastly, consider the cultural norms and dress codes of your destinations to ensure that your clothing choices are respectful and appropriate.

Toiletries and Personal Care Items

When it comes to packing toiletries and personal care items for your three-month journey, it’s important to strike a balance between essential items and travel-friendly sizes. Here are some key items to consider:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste: Bring a compact toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste.
• Shampoo and conditioner: Consider using travel-sized bottles or transferring your favorite products into reusable travel containers.
• Soap or body wash: Opt for a solid soap or a travel-sized bottle of body wash.
• Deodorant: Bring a small travel-sized deodorant or opt for a solid deodorant to save space.
• Skincare essentials: Pack travel-sized versions of your skincare routine, including cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
• Medications: If you take any prescription medications, make sure to bring an ample supply for the duration of your trip.
• First aid kit: Include essential items such as band-aids, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and any other personal medications or medical supplies you may need.
• Haircare products: If necessary, pack travel-sized bottles of your preferred hair products such as shampoo, conditioner, and styling products.
• Feminine hygiene products: Pack an ample supply of tampons, pads, or any other feminine hygiene products that you prefer.
• Razor or shaving kit: If you prefer a clean shave or need to maintain facial or body hair, pack a travel-friendly razor or shaving kit.
• Nail care kit: Include a nail clipper, file, and any additional nail care essentials you may require.
• Glasses or contacts: If you wear prescription glasses or contacts, make sure to bring an extra pair and any necessary cleaning solution or spare lenses.

Remember, you can often find travel-sized versions of many toiletries and personal care items at drugstores or online. This not only saves space but also ensures compliance with airline regulations regarding liquids in your carry-on luggage.

Consider packing these items in a clear, resealable bag for easy access during security checks at airports. Additionally, if you’re concerned about leakage, place liquids in individual ziplock bags to prevent any spills.

Lastly, make sure to check the regulations and restrictions of liquids and toiletries for each country you’ll be visiting, as they may vary.

Electronics and Entertainment

When packing for a three-month trip, it’s important to consider the electronics and entertainment items that will keep you connected, entertained, and organized along the way. Here are some essential items to include:

• Phone and charger: Bring your smartphone and its charger to stay connected with loved ones and access important information.
• Laptop or tablet: If necessary, pack a laptop or tablet for work, entertainment, or staying organized.
• Adapters and converters: Depending on your destinations, bring adapters and voltage converters to charge your devices in different electrical outlets.
• Power bank: Carry a portable power bank to ensure your devices stay charged when you’re on the go and don’t have access to electrical outlets.
• Headphones: Pack a pair of headphones or earbuds for listening to music, watching movies, or making calls without disturbing others.
• Camera: If you’re into photography, bring a camera and its accessories to capture the beautiful memories of your journey.
• E-book reader: If you’re an avid reader, consider bringing an e-book reader to have access to a vast library of books without adding the extra weight of physical books.
• Portable speaker: If you enjoy listening to music or hosting small gatherings, a compact portable speaker can enhance your entertainment experience.
• Travel adapters: If you plan to travel internationally, bring universal travel adapters that can accommodate different types of plugs.
• Portable hard drive or cloud storage: Back up essential documents, photos, and videos to a portable hard drive or upload them to a cloud storage service for safekeeping.
• Entertainment options: Consider bringing portable games, playing cards, or a travel-sized board game to keep yourself entertained during downtime or long flights.

Remember to pack these items in a secure and padded case to protect them from any damage during transit. It’s also advisable to keep a list of the serial numbers and make copies of the purchase receipts for valuable electronic items in case they get lost or stolen.

Before your trip, make sure to download any necessary apps, maps, or entertainment content to your devices to ensure that you have access to them even without an internet connection. This will be particularly useful during long flights or when visiting destinations with limited connectivity.

Lastly, be mindful of the weight and size of your electronics as they can quickly add up and contribute to the overall weight of your luggage. Choose the items that are essential to you and consider leaving behind any unnecessary gadgets to save space and reduce the risk of loss or theft.

Health and Safety

When traveling for an extended period, it’s essential to prioritize your health and safety. Here are some key items to pack to ensure you stay safe and well throughout your three-month journey:

• Prescription medications: Ensure you have an ample supply of any prescription medications you take regularly. Carry them in their original labeled containers.
• Over-the-counter medications: Pack a small travel-friendly kit with common medications such as pain relievers, antihistamines, and remedies for digestive issues.
• First aid kit: Include items such as band-aids, antiseptic ointment, adhesive tape, gauze pads, and any other supplies you may need for minor injuries or ailments.
• Insect repellent: Depending on your destinations, bring a reliable mosquito repellent to protect yourself against mosquito-borne diseases.
• Sunscreen: Protect your skin from harmful UV rays by packing a sunscreen with a high SPF. Opt for a travel-sized bottle to save space.
• Emergency contact information: Keep a list of emergency contacts, including local authorities, embassy or consulate details, and the contact information of your travel insurance provider.
• Travel insurance: Ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical expenses, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
• Reusable water bottle: Staying hydrated is crucial, especially in unfamiliar environments. Carry a refillable water bottle to help reduce single-use plastic waste and have access to drinking water throughout your travels.
• Face masks and hand sanitizer: In the current global health situation, it is advisable to carry face masks and hand sanitizer to protect yourself and others from any potential illnesses.
• Medical documents: If you have any pre-existing conditions or allergies, carry relevant medical documents or identification that can assist in case of emergencies.
• Safety devices: Consider bringing safety items such as a portable door lock, a money belt, or a whistle to prioritize your personal safety and security.

It’s important to research and understand the health and safety advisories of the destinations you plan to visit. Familiarize yourself with any necessary vaccinations, health precautions, or local safety regulations to ensure a safe and healthy trip.

Moreover, adopt good hygiene practices such as regular handwashing and following local health guidelines to minimize the risk of illness or infection.

Remember, prevention is key, so taking various measures to prioritize your health and safety will allow you to enjoy your three-month journey to the fullest.

Travel Gear

Having the right travel gear can greatly enhance your comfort and convenience during your three-month trip. Here are some essential travel gear items to consider when packing:

• Travel backpack or suitcase: Choose a sturdy and reliable backpack or suitcase that is suitable for your travel style. Consider factors such as size, weight, durability, and ease of maneuverability.
• Day backpack: Pack a lightweight and versatile day backpack for day trips and carrying essentials during your explorations.
• Travel pillow: Sleep comfortably on long flights or bus rides with a compact and inflatable travel pillow.
• Travel pillowcase and blanket: Bring a travel-sized pillowcase and blanket for added comfort and cleanliness, especially during long journeys.
• Travel locks: Ensure the security of your luggage by investing in TSA-approved travel locks for your backpack or suitcase.
• Travel adapter: Carry a universal travel adapter that can accommodate different types of plugs as you move between countries with different electrical outlets.
• Travel towel: Pack a quick-drying and compact travel towel that can be used for beach trips, swimming, or as a backup towel when necessary.
• Travel-sized umbrella: Be prepared for unexpected rain showers by carrying a small and portable travel umbrella.
• Reusable bags: Pack a few reusable shopping bags or foldable tote bags for carrying groceries, souvenirs, or storing dirty clothes.
• Travel-sized laundry detergent: Pack a small travel-sized laundry detergent or stain remover to do laundry on the go.
• Travel-sized sewing kit: Be prepared for minor wardrobe mishaps with a compact sewing kit that includes needles, thread, and small scissors.
• Travel gear organizer: Keep your travel essentials neat and organized by using packing cubes or travel organizers to maximize space and efficiency in your luggage.

Consider the specific needs of your trip and the activities you’ll be engaging in when selecting your travel gear. Lightweight and functional gear is ideal, as it offers convenience while minimizing the burden of carrying excessive weight.

Furthermore, remember to pack a good quality travel flashlight, a reusable water bottle, a portable charger for your electronic devices, and any other gear that aligns with your personal preferences and requirements.

Investing in quality travel gear not only enhances your travel experience but also ensures that your belongings are well-protected and easily accessible throughout your journey.

Miscellaneous Items

In addition to the essential documents, clothing, toiletries, electronics, and travel gear, there are several miscellaneous items that can come in handy during your three-month journey. Here are some miscellaneous items to consider packing:

• Travel journal and pen: Capture your experiences, thoughts, and memories in a travel journal. It’s a great way to reflect on your journey and keep a record of your adventures.
• Reusable water bottle: Stay hydrated on the go and reduce single-use plastic waste by carrying a reusable water bottle.
• Travel guidebooks or maps: If you prefer offline references, carry guidebooks or maps of the destinations you’ll be visiting to help you navigate and discover local attractions.
• Language phrasebook or translation app: If you’re traveling to a country with a different language, a phrasebook or translation app can be invaluable for communication and understanding.
• Cash and cards: Carry a mix of cash and cards for different situations. It’s essential to have local currency as well as international credit or debit cards for ease of payment.
• Reusable cutlery and reusable straw: If you want to minimize waste while eating on the go, consider packing a set of reusable cutlery and a reusable straw.
• Travel-sized sewing kit: Fix minor clothing mishaps with a compact travel-sized sewing kit that includes needles, thread, buttons, and safety pins.
• Earplugs and sleep mask: Ensure a restful sleep, especially during long flights or noisy accommodations, by packing earplugs and a comfortable sleep mask.
• Travel games or playing cards: Carry a deck of playing cards or compact travel games for entertainment during downtime or socializing with fellow travelers.
• Emergency snacks: Keep some energy bars or small snacks handy for long journeys or situations when finding food might be difficult.
• Travel insurance documentation: Keep a copy of your travel insurance policy and contact information easily accessible in case of emergencies or unexpected events.
• Small padlock: Secure your belongings in lockers or shared accommodation by bringing a small padlock to provide an extra layer of security.

While these miscellaneous items may seem small and insignificant, they can greatly contribute to your overall travel experience and provide peace of mind during your three-month journey.

Ultimately, the choice to pack certain miscellaneous items will depend on your personal preferences, travel style, and the specific needs of your trip. Take some time to consider what items will enhance your comfort, convenience, and enjoyment while on the road.

Preparing for a three-month trip requires careful planning and consideration. By following this ultimate packing checklist, you can ensure that you have all the necessary items to make your journey smooth and enjoyable.

From essential documents to clothing, toiletries, electronics, travel gear, and miscellaneous items, each category plays a vital role in ensuring your comfort, safety, and convenience along the way.

Remember to tailor your packing list based on the specific destinations you’ll be visiting and the activities you plan to engage in. Consider the climate, cultural norms, and any health and safety precautions that may apply.

Packing light and smart is key to reducing the weight and stress of carrying excessive luggage. Choose versatile items that can be mixed and matched, and always prioritize quality, durability, and functionality when selecting your travel gear.

Lastly, don’t forget to travel responsibly and respect the environment and local communities. Minimize waste, conserve resources, and be mindful of cultural sensitivities as you explore new destinations.

With proper preparation and a well-packed bag, you can embark on your three-month adventure with confidence, knowing that you have everything you need for an unforgettable travel experience.

Safe travels and enjoy your journey!

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Home > Europe > 3 Months in Europe: The Best 3 Month Itinerary for Europe

3 Months in Europe: The Best 3 Month Itinerary for Europe

By Dymphe / June 19, 2022

Spending 3 months in Europe is an amazing experience you'll never forget. This 3 month itinerary for Europe shows you exactly where to go!

Europe is a continent with many gorgeous destinations. You can find so many different places there! In Europe, you find history, beaches, cities, little towns, museums, islands, and so much more! Because of this, going there is a wonderful experience.

I live in Europe and I visited so many places on the continent! I saw large cities with impressive skyscrapers and Italian and Greek traditional villages. Furthermore, I saw beautiful lakes, gorgeous islands, beaches, and more!

No matter how much time you have in Europe, there's always something new to discover! The continent keeps surprising me, even though I'm living here.

As there's so much to see and to do, spending 3 months in Europe is great! This allows you to see many of the wonderful destinations the continent has to offer.

This 3 months itinerary for Europe is perfect if you're planning on spending 90 days there. You're definitely going to have 3 wonderful months in which you will see so many amazing places!

Table of Contents

Things to Know Before Spending 3 Months in Europe

When you are spending 3 months in Europe, there are some useful things to know! Below, you can find some important information.

1. Bring an Adapter/Converter With You When You’re Going to Spend 3 Months in Europe

There are other electrical sockets in Europe than in some other countries in the world, such as the US. Keep this in mind when you are in Europe for 3 months.

You need an adapter that allows you to plug your existing devices into European sockets.

There are two types you need. One for the UK and one for the rest of Europe.

Furthermore, the voltage in Europe can be different from your country. Most devices work for both, but if not you need a converter. As you're going to visit many places when you're 3 months in Europe, it's convenient to have the correct one.

You can buy an adapter/converter at many stores!

2. Schengen Visa

With a Schengen visa, you can travel within the Schengen Area. This includes the countries of the European Union and some other countries.

With this visa, you can stay up to 90 days in Europe within a period of 180 days. Make sure you don't stay longer than that!

When you are traveling from some countries you don't need a visa, but the same rules apply! For example, you don't need to apply for a visa when you are traveling from the United States to the Schengen Area!

3. Pay in The Local Currency

When you are paying with your credit or debit card you often have the option to pay in your own or the local currency.

You should choose the local currency, as this is often cheaper! This can save you lots of money during your 3 months in Europe.

4. Know the Limits of Hand Luggage

The limits of hand luggage in Europe are often much stricter than in the United States. So keep that in mind when you travel by airplane!

3 Months in Europe Itinerary

The destinations in this 3 months in Europe itinerary are:

Iceland (1 week) London (1 week) Amsterdam (3 days) Paris (1 week) French Riviera (1.5 weeks) Monaco (3 days) Zurich, Lucerne, and Lakes in Switzerland (1 week) Milan (3 days) Venice (1 week) Florence, Pisa and Cinque Terre (1 week) Rome (1 week) Naples and Positano (1 week) Athens (1 week) Santorini (1 week)

Let's start with the itinerary! If you follow this itinerary, you're going to have the most wonderful 90 days in Europe. You'll see beautiful cities, villages, islands and more!

Iceland (1 week): The First Destination of Your 3 Months in Europe

The first place for your 3 month trip to Europe starts in the country of Iceland.

Flying here from the United States can be very affordable. There are low-cost carriers that offer many flights to the country.

Furthermore, there are very cheap flights to the rest of Europe from here. That makes this a great place to fly through when going to Europe. But you should definitely stop here for a week to experience all the country has to offer!

Iceland is a wonderful place to visit. It is a country with a small population that is smaller than that of many cities. There are only about 400,000 people who live in Iceland. But there is a lot to do in Iceland, so it's definitely worth going to!

What makes Iceland great is the nature you find there. There are lots of beautiful places and the country's landscape is very diverse.

For example, there are a lot of places with ice. One of the best examples of this is Diamond Beach. This is a beautiful beach with small blocks of ice that look like diamonds.

Besides that, there are many volcanos in Iceland. These are very impressive to see. There are many places where you can see lava, which is very unique! When you're 3 months in Europe, you should definitely see this!

Also, there are beaches with black sand as a result of all the volcanic activity in the country.

Another great thing about nature in Iceland is the waterfalls.

Furthermore, there are lots of places where you can find Geysers in Iceland. This is yet another thing that is very impressive to see!

Also, there are thermal baths in the country. One of the best of these is Blue Lagoon .

In short, Iceland is wonderful to visit!

London (1 week): One of the Largest Cities of Your 3 Months in Europe

After seeing Iceland, it's time to go to London! You'll spend one week in London if you follow this 3 month itinerary for Europe.

London is the capital of the United Kingdom. Besides that, it's also the largest city in the United Kingdom. It's one of my favorite cities to visit.

Exploring such a large city in England is so much fun. There are many incredible things to see in London.

When you're in the city, you should see Tower Bridge and London Tower for sure. Besides that, seeing Big Ben, the Thames and London Eye is amazing as well!

Besides that, you should see the colorful houses and streets in London too. Especially in Notting Hill, you will find some of the most beautiful streets in the world.

Moreover, there are many incredible museums in London. One of the best museums in London is the British Museum . If you want to see great museums during your 3 months in Europe, this one is perfect!

You can see many objects here from all around the world and from all periods of time. For example, there are lots of objects from Ancient Greece.

Furthermore, those who love shopping will love London too! There are many amazing places for shopping, such as Oxford Street.

Also, London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world! It's very photogenic.

For example, there are many pretty cafes in London. It's incredible to go there as they look very beautiful with lots of flowers and pink.

Amsterdam (3 days)

From London, it is easy to get to the next destination in Europe: Amsterdam. There is a direct train connection between the two cities that is very fast.

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands and it is a lovely place to visit. There is a lot to do in the city, but you can visit the highlights in 3 days, so I recommend spending that amount of time here.

The city of Amsterdam has a lot of canals and bridges. These make the city very unique. Along these canals, you can see very picturesque canal houses. Each house is unique and wonderful to see!

A great activity in the city is doing a canal cruise. During this, you'll learn about the city's history and you'll see some amazing places.

Also, you can rent a boat and sail through the canals of Amsterdam yourself, which is great too!

Besides that, there are a lot of museums in the city of Amsterdam. These are interesting and great to visit when you're 3 months in Europe.

For example, when you love the art of Van Gogh, then you are at the right place at the Van Gogh Museum. Here you find the largest collection of his artworks.

Another great museum is Rijksmuseum. Here you can find a large collection of paintings and other objects.

Besides that, the Anne Frank House is another sight you have to see when you are in the city of Amsterdam. This is the house where Anne Frank lived during the second world war and where she wrote her diary.

Furthermore, the city has a great nightlife scene. There are lots of clubs and bars in the city center.

Also, Amsterdam Dance Event is a great event with lots of dance music events!

Paris (1 week)

The next place on this itinerary for 3 months in Europe is Paris. If you're in Europe, you should definitely visit the capital of France.

Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world. That's why people call it the City of Love.

There are so many reasons to visit Paris!

One of the reasons is that there are many incredible sights. For example, the Eiffel Tower is a must-see when you're in the city.

Besides that, you can also visit one of the most amazing museums in the world. The Louvre is a large museum that's definitely worth visiting.

And there's so much more, such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Sacré-Cœur.

So the sights in Paris are amazing, but there's another important reason to spend a week in Paris. That's the feeling and atmosphere in the city.

Going to Paris for a week is such an incredible thing to do as you can experience the city a bit like a local.

For example, going to some Parisian cafes is amazing. Or start your day at a lovely Parisian bakery with a baguette and croissant.

Wander through Montmartre and enjoy the beautiful Parisian Streets!

Also, you can shop at the Champs-Élysées or at one of the many lovely boutiques in Paris.

French Riviera (1.5 weeks)

After visiting the City of Love, it's time to go to the French Riviera. The French Riviera is also in France, but it's very different from Paris.

The weather in the French Riviera is often amazing. You can find many beaches and pretty villages in the French Riviera.

For example, Menton and Villefranche-sur-Mer are incredible.

Menton is a small town with some great things to do. One of the places you should see in Menton is Plage des Sablettes.

Plage des Sablettes is a very beautiful beach that's close to the train station of the town. If you want to visit pretty beaches when you're 3 months in Europe, you'll love this one!

The beach is very unique as you have a beautiful view of the colorful houses of the old town. Swimming in the water at this beach is very pleasant when it's summer.

Furthermore, there are lovely rocks where you can sit down and relax.

Villefranche-sur-Mer is also a gorgeous little town you should see!

Other places in the French Riviera are Nice and Cannes. These cities are larger than Menton and Villefranche-sur-Mer.

If you like shopping, going to Nice and Cannes is incredible!

At the French Riviera, you can find many great places to stay. You can choose between one of the small villages or one of the cities. Especially staying in one of the hotels with a view of the sea is very relaxing.

Monaco (3 days)

Another one of the best destinations in Europe when you are doing a 3-month trip is Monaco.

Monaco is actually part of the French Riviera, but it is a separate country. It is a very small place. In fact, it is one of the smallest countries in the world! Because of this, it's a must-see.

Getting to Monaco is as easy as getting to other places in French Riviera. There is a great train connection from places in the French Riviera!

What makes Monaco great is how beautiful it looks. Everywhere in the city, there are pretty spots. For that reason, it's an amazing place to see when you're 3 months in Europe.

One of the best events in Monaco is the Monaco Grand Prix. During this event, the whole country turns into a racing track, which is incredible!

One of the best places you can go to in Monaco is the Monte-Carlo Casino. The casino appeared in many movies and it is a very fun place to go to! Fun fact, people who live in Monaco may not enter the casino to ensure the citizen don't lose their wealth here.

Another great place to visit in Monaco is the Rock of Monaco. This is the highest point in the city with many sights.

You can find here the St Martin Gardens. These gardens are beautiful and are especially pretty because of the view!

Another interesting sight at the Rock of Monaco is the Prince's Palace. This is the official palace of the Prince of Monaco, which is very interesting. Also, you can see the ritual of the changing of the guards here, during which the guards change shifts.

In Monaco, there are amazing beaches. One of the best of these is Larvotto Beach.

Zurich, Lucerne, and the Lakes in Switzerland (1 week): The Most Beautiful Nature of Your 3 Months in Europe

Now it is time to visit some places in Switzerland. Switzerland is famous for its beautiful nature and wonderful cities.

From France, it is easy to get here by train!

When you are going to Switzerland, you should definitely go to Zürich. This is the capital of the country, with lots of things to do and see.

Wandering through the city and seeing the typical Swiss architecture is amazing. It is a great addition to your 3 month trip to Europe that you should not miss out on!

Another great city in Switzerland that I definitely recommend visiting is Lucerne. You can go here by train from Zürich.

The old part of the city of Lucerne is great! The houses here are very picturesque. Furthermore, the Kapellbrücke is lovely to see. This is a very old wooden bridge that crosses the river.

You can also visit the mountains near the city. From there you have a wonderful view of the city. Furthermore, it is great to see nature here!

Next to Lucerne, you can find Lake Lucerne. This is one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland. The water is very blue and the views of the mountains are lovely! Furthermore, you can swim in the lake!

Besides this lake, there are a lot of other great lakes that are worth visiting in Switzerland. Each lake is unique, but all are stunning!

You can visit these lakes when you are 3 months in Europe. There are great train connections or you can go there by car!

Milan (3 days)

From Switzerland, you should travel to Italy. There are good connections by train between the two countries.

One of the best Italian cities close to the border with Switzerland is Milan.

Milan is one of the largest cities in Italy with lots of great sights.

The most famous sight in the city is definitely Milan Cathedral. This is a beautiful cathedral in the center of the city. If you love architecture, it's a wonderful sight.

Also, next to it you can find the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This is a great covered passage that looks beautiful. You can find here lots of luxury fashion stores.

Milan is one of the fashion capitals of Europe and it is a great place for shopping! There are lots of other shopping streets in the city.

There are also a lot of places of high cultural significance. For example, you can find here The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, which is a very famous mural painting.

Also, there are lots of great parks in the city and there are good restaurants.

Because you can see the highlights of the city in a very easy way, spending 3 days in Milan is enough to cover it!

There are many other great places in Italy left to explore!

Venice (1 week)

After you went to Milan you should definitely go to another great place in Italy: Venice.

From Milan, it is easy to get to Venice by train or by bus.

Venice is a very special city and one of my favorite ones that I went to! It is such a gorgeous place!

In the city of Venice, there's water everywhere. The whole city is full of canals and bridges. This is also the only way to move around. There are no cars, so you can only travel on foot or by boat.

The canals look amazing with the blue water and lovely canal houses. Seeing these is a great experience when you are 3 months in Europe.

For example, the view of the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge will surprise you. It is so gorgeous to be there.

Furthermore, one of the best things you can do in the city is a gondola ride. This is a very famous and romantic activity. On board a gondola, you'll tour the canals of Venice and see the city from the water!

Another great activity in the city is going to St. Mark's Square. You'll find here the Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Basilica. These places have incredible architecture and a very interesting to visit.

Besides seeing the famous things in the city, you should definitely get lost when you are in Venice. The little streets of the city are great to wander through and you'll stumble upon pretty places for sure!

There are also lots of great events in the city of Venice. When you happen to visit the city of Venice during March, you can see the Venice Carnival. This is a great festival with lots of dance, music, and incredible masks.

Florence, Pisa and Cinque Terre (1 week)

Now it is time to visit one of my favorite cities. Florence is another beautiful city in Italy. It is the capital of the region of Tuscany.

The city is all about the Renaissance and you can see that in all the buildings in the city. This makes the city very beautiful and very interesting.

The history of the city is what is very interesting. During the Middle Ages, it was a very wealthy and influential city.

Under the rule of the Medici family, the city flourished. Many people consider the city as the Renaissance's birthplace. Furthermore, many famous people lived here. These include Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Machiavelli, and Leonardo da Vinci.

The historic center of Florence is amazing to wander through. You can see beautiful buildings and monuments everywhere.

For example, the Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall of Florence, is amazing. Also, you'll find here the Loggia dei Lanzi, where you can see all kinds of historic statues for free.

Other notable sights in the city are Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, and the Duomo. There is so much to see here!

Also, there are lots of great places for art in the city. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the best museums in Europe. You can find here lots of paintings that are wonderful to see.

Another great place for art is the Galleria dell'Accademia. You can find here lots of sculptures. The most famous object here is David by Michelangelo.

Furthermore, when you are in Florence you should also do a trip to Pisa and Cinque Terre.

Pisa is a lovely city that is especially famous because of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

And Cinque Terre is a great collection of colorful seaside towns. The houses there are very picturesque and beautiful!

Rome (1 week)

The next Italian city on this itinerary for 3 months in Europe is Rome.

This city is very famous and you definitely already know about it.

Rome has a very interesting history and there are lots of great things to see and do here.

Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire and you can still see a lot of remains from that period in time.

Definitely, the most famous sight of the city is the Colosseum. This is an old arena from the Roman Empire where fights, plays, and more events took place.

What's incredible about the building is its size and age. Back in its days, the Colosseum could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 people, which is a lot. And the fact that a large part of such a large building survived is amazing!

Another one of the best sights in the city, near the Colosseum, is the Roman Forum. This was the city center of Ancient Rome. You can see here ruins of all kinds of buildings, such as temples. Furthermore, you can see here the houses of former emperors.

Furthermore, the Trevi Fountain is an incredible sight to see in Rome. This is a fountain in the middle of the city with lots of statues and decorations.

Close to this, you can also see the Pantheon. This is an ancient temple from the Roman Empire for the old Roman gods.

The Spanish Steps are another lovely thing in the city of Rome. This is a great spot with many shopping streets surrounding it.

Also, when you are in Rome, you should definitely visit Vatican City. This is the smallest country in the world and it is the place where the pope lives. You can find here the impressive St. Peter's Basilica.

Naples and Positano (1 week)

Another great place to go to during your Europe trip of 3 months is the city of Naples. When you are spending one week here, you can explore the city and some of the surrounding areas!

In comparison to other cities in Italy, Naples feels more authentic. There are fewer tourists, which makes this a great place to go!

There are many sights in the city. For example, there are lots of beautiful churches throughout the city. Also, there is a lot of beautiful architecture in the city. Naples is the perfect city for your 3 months in Europe if you love architecture. For example, Piazza del Plebiscito is great!

But wandering around in Naples is a great activity too!

Also, you should definitely try out pizza when you are in Naples. That's because Naples is the birthplace of Pizza! Experiences authentic pizza is a great experience for your 3 month Europe trip!

You can find lots of great pizzerias in the city. My favorite pizza restaurant is L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele. Their pizzas are very cheap and very delicious!

Next to Naples is the volcano Mount Vesuvius and the ancient city of Pompeii.

During the time of the Romans, the eruption of the volcano covered the city in ashes. All buildings and people of the city got frozen in time. Because of that, there are a lot of interesting things to see here!

Furthermore, visiting the volcano is great too! From there you have a wonderful view of the city of Naples and the sea. Also, you can see lava here.

Another great place near Naples is Positano. This is a small coastal town that looks incredible. There are many picturesque houses and beautiful viewpoints. Visiting this town is definitely worth it when you are in Naples as well!

Athens (1 week)

From Naples in Italy, you can fly to the city of Athens in Greece.

Athens is the capital city of Greece and it is an amazing place to visit.

The history of the city is very interesting and you can find remnants of it throughout the city center. Furthermore, the city looks very beautiful.

One of the best things to do in Athens is to visit the Acropolis. The Acropolis is an old citadel of Ancient Greece. Thousands of years ago, you could find here many important buildings. Nowadays, there are a lot of ruins left.

The most important building that you can still see a large part of here is the Parthenon. This is an old temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena, who was the patron of the city of Athens.

Another great thing to do in Athens is going to the Temple of the Olympian Zeus. Here you can see ruins of the ancient temple that focused on the God Zeus. When this temple was in use, it was the largest temple in the world.

When you are in Athens, you should definitely go to Ermou too. This is the main shopping street in the city that is great for shopping!

Also, Plaka is a great part of the city to visit. You can find here lots of boutique shops and restaurants serving delicious food. Wandering around here is great!

Another great sight in the city that is worth visiting is the Ancient Agora. You find here lots of ruins from Ancient Greece.

Besides that, the Panathenaic Stadium is also worth checking out. This is a very old stadium.

From Athens, you can visit the Greek islands. There are many of them, and from Athens, you can travel there by ferry in a quick way!

Santorini (1 week)

The last place you're going to visit if you follow this itinerary for 3 months in Europe is Santorini. Santorini is a beautiful island in Greece that's part of the Cyclades.

Santorini is one of the most popular destinations in the world for photography. That's because it's so beautiful!

Santorini is famous because of its magnificent blue domes and viewpoints. If you're going to visit Santorini, I'm sure the beauty of the island will amaze you!

You can find pretty villages in Santorini. As you're spending one week in Santorini, there's enough time to visit several villages!

The most famous place on the island is Oia.

Oia is a wonderful village where you can find the most gorgeous viewpoints, such as Oia Castle.

Furthermore, there are gorgeous blue domes and lovely shops.

Oia is definitely a must-see when you're on the island! It's is also the most popular place to take photos on Santorini.

Other great villages are Fira and Imerovigli.

Fira is the capital of the island. In Fira, you can find many great shops. Furthermore, it's also a place where many buses to other parts of Santorini leave.

Imerovigli is a wonderful village where you can also find great viewpoints.

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Detailed 3 Months Europe Itinerary + Costs (2024) : The Best of Europe in 3 Months

3 months in europe is a good duration to get to explore the best bits of europe. this 3 month europe itinerary has not just fun and adventurous activities but also tips and tricks to save money and the best places to stay and eat.

Spending 3 months in Europe allows you to delve deeper into the regions that interest you the most, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveller.

You can explore the blue-domed Churches in  Santorini , The black sand beach in  Iceland , the architecture in  Seville  or the mountains in  Switzerland . With so many destinations to choose from, the possibilities are limitless.

After spending about 10 years exploring what Europe has to offer, here’s the best tips and tricks to save money on your 3 month Europe itinerary and visit the best places in the continent.

Read along for a complete Europe itinerary 3 months to make the most of your trip to Europe.

If you’re planning your 3 months Europe itinerary at the last minute:

Here’s the top experiences and stays you don’t want to miss on your trip

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath Full-Day Tour

Lisbon: History, Stories and Lifestyle Walking Tour

From Amsterdam: Keukenhof Flower Park Trip with Transfer

Prague: Vltava River Night Cruise with Buffet

Florence: Chianti Wineries Tour with Food and Wine Tasting

Here’s where to stay on your 3 months in Europe itinerary

London – Fox and Goose hotel

Venice – Venice Maggior Consiglio

Amsterdam :   Hotel Nes

Florence: Soggiorno La Cupola Guesthouse

Budapest: Callas House

A detailed 3 months Europe itinerary

Here’s a comprehensive 3 months Europe itinerary that will take you on an unforgettable journey through some of the continent’s hidden gems, and breath-taking landscapes.

This Europe itinerary 3 months offers a myriad range of experiences that will satisfy even the most discerning traveller, so, grab a cup of coffee and prepare to be inspired by Europe’s magic and wonder.

Month 1 of your Europe itinerary 3 months

Western europe.

Welcome to the first month of your epic 3 month Europe trip!

This 3 months in Europe itinerary will begin in Western Europe, where you will have the opportunity to visit some of the continent’s most iconic and cosmopolitan cities covering the countries UK, France, Spain , Portugal and The Netherlands .

If you’d prefer spending more time here on your 3 months in Europe itinerary consider adding countries like Iceland , Ireland and the other regions of the UK like Scotland and Wales.

London, UK (5 days)

Starting your 90 days in Europe itinerary in London is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the city’s rich history, diverse culture, and iconic landmarks.

What to do in London during your 3 months Europe itinerary

A great way to explore London is to take this Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour , which covers almost all the major spots in the city.

Here are some of the things you could do in London:

Visit the Houses of Parliament , Big Ben and Westminster Abbey

Learn about the Tower of London’s history as a royal palace, prison, and fortress

Take a stroll through St. James’s Park to witness the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Take this day trip to the charming town of Windsor and its castle, Stonehenge, and the Georgian city of Bath. Adding Bath to your 3 month Europe itinerary is a fab way to get a taste of the countryside in the UK

Attend a performance in London’s famous theatre district, the West End

Explore London’s many museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, British Museum , the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum

Walk around Covent Garden, checking out the shops, street performers, and cafes

Explore Camden Town’s vibrant neighbourhood and bustling market

Visit the National Theatre or Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to see a play or musical

Take a ride on the London Eye, a giant observation wheel offering panoramic views of the city

Visit the Royal Observatory and the Prime Meridian in the historic Greenwich neighbourhood

A rare find is the Fox and Goose hotel . It has a traditional pub and is close to the Underground and is about 15 to 20 minutes from the major attractions. Couples quite like it for the location and vibes!

You can also extend your trip and take a road trip across north Ireland .

Paris, France (5-7 days)

From London, take a train to Paris , France and spend 1 week out of your 3 month Europe trip itinerary,  exploring the City of Lights.

What to do in Paris during your 3 months Europe itinerary

You can visit the top sites in Paris by booking a  Hop-on Hop-off Discovery Bus Tour . Some of the things to do in Paris are:

Visit the iconic Eiffel Tower and take in the city views from the top.

Take a stroll along the  Seine River  and marvel at the numerous bridges and landmarks, including Notre Dame Cathedral.

See the magnificent Palace of Versailles, a magnificent symbol of France’s royal history. It’s a bit of a trek from the city centre, but worth the trip.

Visit the Luxembourg Gardens, a tranquil haven in the city’s heart or have a picnic in the beautiful Tuileries Gardens.

Explore the world-renowned Louvre Museum and its impressive collection of art and artefacts, which includes the Mona Lisa.

Take a walk through Montmartre’s picturesque streets, which are known for their bohemian vibe and artistic history. You can also book this  Montmartre Cheese, Wine & Pastry Guided Walking Tour  and indulge in some local cuisine, from croissants and pastries.

Enjoy a boat ride along the Canal Saint-Martin to discover the city’s charming waterways and hidden treasures.

See the impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including works by Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas. at the Musée d’Orsay.

Take  this day trip  to the Palace of Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte to see its impressive collection of art and architecture.

Explore the trendy Marais neighbourhood’s many boutiques, cafes, and art galleries.

The People – Paris Belleville IEx Les PiaulesI , is a great budget stay option in Paris. This hostel, located in the Belleville district, offers both dormitory-style and private rooms at an affordable price.

French Riviera ( 5 days) – Nice, Eze etc.

Hop on a train or flight to Nice, France, to spend 5 amazing days from your 3 month Europe trip itinerary, exploring the gorgeous French Riviera.

What to do in the French Riviera during your 3 months in Europe Itinerary

Here are some suggestions on what you can do in the French Riviera:

Discover Nice’s beautiful Old Town, including the Place Rossetti, Cours Saleya, Promenade des Anglais and the magnificent Russian Orthodox Cathedral.

In Nice, see Take the bus or train to nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer, where you can explore the charming old town and waterfront.

Book  this half-day trip  from Nice to the hilltop village of Eze and the tiny principality of Monaco.

Spend a day in Cannes, which is famous for its opulent shopping, and beautiful beaches. Visit the Palais des Festivals, which hosts the Cannes Film Festival.

Take a train to  Antibes , a charming old town with a lovely marina and the famous Picasso Museum.

Visit Saint-Tropez, a glamorous and picturesque seaside resort town known for its beaches and lively nightlife.

Travel by train or bus to Marseille, France’s second-largest city, and explore its vibrant Vieux-Port and the magnificent Notre Dame de la Garde.

Take  this boat tour  to the Calanques National Park, a beautiful coastal area with clear waters and towering cliffs.

Stay at Nice at Locarno , a gorgeous property with free Wi-Fi and a breakfast buffet.

Barcelona, Spain + Montserrat, Sitges (5 days)

Next on this 3 month Europe trip itinerary, book a high-speed  train  to  Barcelona  to experience this vibrant and lively city that is known for its unique architecture, beaches, delicious food, and rich culture.

What to do in Barcelona during your 90 days in Europe Itinerary

Visit Antoni Gaudi’s iconic Sagrada Familia, an unfinished basilica designed by him.

Explore the vibrant  Park Guell  and take in the city’s breath-taking views.

Explore the Gothic Quarter, a charming neighbourhood filled with narrow streets, historic buildings, and cosy cafes.

Stroll down lively  La Rambla  and visit the Boqueria Market for fresh produce and local treats.

Soak up the Mediterranean sun on Barcelona’s sandy beaches, such as Barceloneta or Mar Bella.

Explore the nightlife in the El Raval and Gracia neighbourhoods.

Visit the Picasso Museum to learn about the famous artist’s work.

Book  this day trip  to Montserrat, a beautiful mountain range with a monastery and breath-taking views.

Try some of the local cuisine, including traditional tapas, paella, and the famous Catalan dish, calçots.

A fantastic to explore Barcelona is by booking  this Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour .

Stay at  Praktik Bakery  in the heart of the city. The best bit? Enjoy traditional breads and pastries from the hotel’s bakery, fresh and hot! Also close to most attractions in the city!

Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais – Portugal (5 days)

Next, on your Europe 3 month itinerary you can take a flight to Lisbon, Portugal’s charming capital city, located on the Atlantic coast.

What to do in Lisbon during your 3 month Europe trip itinerary

A great way to explore Lisbon is by booking this  History, Stories and Lifestyle Walking Tour

Explore Alfama’s historic district, which is known for its narrow streets, traditional buildings, and picturesque city views.

Visit the Belem neighbourhood and its famous landmarks, such as the Belem Tower, the Jeronimos Monastery, and the Discoveries Monument.

Tram 28 is a historic tram that runs through some of the city’s most charming neighbourhoods and landmarks.

Visit the Sao Jorge Castle, a historic fortress with beautiful views of the city and the Tagus River.

Take  this day trip  to the nearby town of Sintra, and the beach towns of Cabo da Roca, and  Cascais .

Explore Bairro Alto, a bohemian neighbourhood known for its lively nightlife, charming cafes, and trendy shops.

Visit the Mercado da Ribeira, a historic market that has been converted into a food hall serving traditional and modern Portuguese dishes.

Take a walk along Belem’s waterfront and take in the views of the Tagus River and the 25 de Abril Bridge.

Visit the National Museum of Ancient Art, which has a large collection of Portuguese and European art dating from the 12th to the 19th centuries.

Hotel Alif Avenidas  is a great accommodation. It is located in Lisbon’s historic centre, with private and shared rooms, and a cosy lounge area.

Amsterdam, Netherlands (4 days)

Take a flight to the vibrant city of Amsterdam, your next destination in this  Europe itinerary 3 months.

What to do in Amsterdam during your 3 month trip to Europe itinerary

Apart from delectable Dutch cheese and stroopwafels, Amsterdam has plenty of activities to do, some of them being:

Take a walking tour of the city centre to see major attractions like Dam Square, the Royal Palace, and the A nne Frank House

Visit the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum.

Take this  canal cruise  to get a different perspective on the city.

Discover the charming streets, cafes, and boutiques of the Jordaan neighbourhood.

For a tour of the famous beer brand’s brewery, visit the Heineken Experience.

See the famous window displays and learn about the area’s history and culture by visiting the Red Light District.

Explore the Museumplein neighbourhood, which is home to several museums, including the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art.

Visit Zaanse Schans to see the traditional Dutch windmills and learn about the area’s history.

Visit nearby attractions such as the picturesque town of Haarlem or take  this guided tour  to  Keukenhof Gardens , which are well-known for their spring flower displays.

Visit local markets like the Albert Cuyp Market or the Noordermarkt.

Stay at  Hotel Nes  situated in one of the best areas in Amsterdam; a traditional canal house alongside the Amstel River. The restaurants are nearby and the rooms cosy! One of the best places to stay as per guests!

Month 2 of your Europe itinerary 3 months

Central europe.

Prepare for a whirlwind adventure as we embark on the second month of your 3 month trip to Europe, in Central Europe.

This month will be filled with art, culture, history, and delicious cuisine, from the trendy streets of Berlin to the picturesque city of  Prague , from the imperial charm of Vienna to the thermal baths of Budapest. Prepare for an unforgettable journey through Europe’s heart.

Berlin, Germany (5 days)

Hop on a train from Amsterdam to Berlin, the capital city of Germany. You can set aside 5 days in your Europe travel itinerary 3 months to explore Berlin.

What to do in Berlin during your 90 day Europe itinerary

Book this Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour to visit Berlin’s top attractions.

Visit the iconic Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s symbol and one of the city’s most photographed landmarks.

Explore the historic Reichstag building, which houses the German Parliament, and climb to the top of its glass dome for amazing views of the city.

Learn about the events that occurred at the iconic Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War.

Take a walk down Unter den Linden , one of the city’s most famous boulevards lined with impressive buildings and historical monuments.

Visit the Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery to learn about the city’s division and the difficulties that East Berliners faced during the Cold War.

Visit Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site that houses five world-class museums displaying ancient artefacts, art, and cultural treasures.

Explore Berlin’s trendy neighbourhoods such as  Prenzlauer Berg and Neukölln,  known for their charming streets, boutiques, and cafes.

Take this boat tour along the Spree River to get a different perspective on Berlin’s history and architecture.

Learn about the history and culture of Jews in Germany by visiting the Jewish Museum, an architectural masterpiece and one of Europe’s largest Jewish museums.

Relax and take in the dazzling views of the city from the top of the Berlin TV Tower, Germany’s tallest structure and a symbol of the city’s skyline.

Stay at Hotel 38 located in the city centre – 100 yards from the Oranienburger Tor Tram Stop, each room is done differently and is in quite a popular area with easy access to transport.

Krakow, Poland (3-4 days)

Next on this Europe itinerary 3 months, you can take a train to Krakow, a Polish city, known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and cultural significance.

What to do in Krakow during your three month Europe itinerary

Here are some suggestions on how can you spend our 5 days in Krakow:

Visit the  Wawel Castle, a former residence of Polish kings that is now a museum complex.

Admire colourful buildings and street performers as you walk around the Main Market Square (Rynek Gówny), one of Europe’s largest mediaeval squares.

Visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp during WWII. The location is now a museum and a memorial.

Visit St. Mary’s Basilica and listen to the hourly trumpet call from the tower.

Explore Krakow’s historic Jewish quarter, Kazimierz, and see the Old Synagogue, Remuh Synagogue, and Jewish Cemetery.

Enjoy a traditional Polish dinner at one of Kazimierz’s many restaurants.

Explore the  Wieliczka Salt Mine with this tour , a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Europe’s oldest salt mines. The mine contains underground chambers, lakes, and salt sculptures.

Take a  guided tour of the Schindler’s Factory Museum  to learn about Oskar Schindler and the Jewish prisoners he saved during WWII.

Visit the various museums in Krakow such as the  Krakow Museum of Contemporary Art or the Polish Aviation Museum or the Krakow Museum of History.

Visit the Tatra Mountains and explore Zakopane, a popular ski resort town with stunning Tatra Mountain views. For panoramic views of the surrounding area, take a cable car up to Kasprowy Wierch.

The Hotel Krupnicza 30  is a top-rated stay option in Krakow. It is located in the old town, 1 mile from the castle and has classy rooms. It is 4 star yet budget friendly!

Prague, Czech Republic (1 week)

Take a scenic train journey from Krakow to spend 1 week in Prague in your 3 month itinerary Europe.

What to do in Prague during your three months in Europe itinerary

There is a lot to  see and do in Prague  also called the  ‘Golden City’, here are some suggestions:

Visit  Prague Castle, one of the world’s largest castle complexes.

Explore St. Vitus Cathedral, a magnificent example of Gothic architecture.

Cross the famous Charles Bridge, which is lined with 30 saint statues.

Visit the Old Town Square and see the 600-year-old astronomical clock.

Visit the Sedlec Ossuary, a chapel decorated with human bones, by taking a  day trip to Kutna Hora .

Visit Wenceslas Square, a historically significant location that witnessed many of the city’s pivotal events.

Take a tour of Prague’s Jewish Quarter to learn about the city’s Jewish history.

Visit the National Museum to learn about the Czech Republic’s history and culture.

Take a  river cruise on the Vltava River  to see the city from a new angle.

Take a walking tour of the Lesser Town and enjoy the stunning views from the Petrin Tower.

Enjoy a soothing bath at one of the city’s well-known beer spas.

Explore the nearby Karltejn Castle, one of the most well-known castles in the Czech Republic.

Visit the lovely Konopit Castle, the former home of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.

Savour traditional  Czech cuisine

Explore the art and architecture of the Municipal House, one of Prague’s most beautiful Art Nouveau structures.

Explore Kampa Island and see David ern’s famous sculptures.

Book your Prague stay at the  Hotel CUBE Prague , located quite close to Charles bridge and other attractions. It has clean rooms and great service with rooms that come with coffee machines. It is also quite budget friendly even in peak season!

Austria (5 days)

Take a 4-hour train journey to explore Vienna and enjoy a glimpse into the opulence of the Habsburg Empire during your 3 months travelling Europe. You can check out this amazing  5-day Austria Itinerary  if you want to explore more

What to do in Vienna during your 3 month Europe itinerary

Visit the famous  Hofburg Palace, a former imperial palace that now houses several museums and the famous Spanish Riding School.

Take  this guided tour  of the  Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, the former imperial summer residence.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a stunning example of Gothic architecture, is a must-see.

Explore the Kunsthistorisches Museum, one of the world’s largest art museums, which houses a significant collection of European art.

Visit the Vienna State Opera, one of the world’s foremost opera houses.

Visit the Belvedere Palace, a stunning Baroque palace that now houses an impressive collection of Austrian art.

Visit the  Naschmarkt , Vienna’s largest outdoor market, which sells a wide range of food, beverages, and other items.

Attend a performance at the renowned Musikverein, which is home to the Vienna Philharmonic and one of the world’s most renowned concert halls.

Book  this day trip  to the nearby Wachau Valley, a scenic region known for its vineyards, castles, and charming towns

Have lunch at the historic  Demel bakery , which is famous for its delectable pastries and desserts.

You can stay at the MEININGER Hotel Wien Downtown Sissi . This hotel in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt district is within walking distance of the city centre and offers modern rooms with free Wi-Fi.

Budapest, Hungary (3-5 days)

Hop on a short train ride from Vienna to explore the ‘Paris of the East’,  Budapest .

What to do in Budapest during your 3 months Europe itinerary

Here are some  things to do in Budapest  during your 90 day Europe itinerary:

Book  this guided city tour  and explore the Buda’s Castle District, Gellért Hil, Heroes’ Square and the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Building.

Walk across the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and take in the view of the Danube.

Take in the panoramic views of Budapest from Castle Hill and Fisherman’s Bastion.

Visit the Matthias Church, a lovely neo-Gothic church in the Castle District.

Relax in a famous thermal bath, such as Széchenyi Bath or Gellért Bath.

Visit the Great Market Hall to try Hungarian cuisines such as goulash, chimney cake, and langos and buy local products.

Take  this Danube River cruise  and admire the cityscape from the water.

Visit the House of Terror Museum, which depicts the horrors of Hungary’s fascist and communist regimes.

Visit the Dohány Street Synagogue while strolling through the Jewish Quarter.

Take a stroll down Andrássy Avenue and pay a visit to the  Hungarian State Opera House .

Admire the Vajdahunyad Castle’s eclectic mix of architectural styles and the stunning art nouveau structure of Gresham Palace.

Visit Memento Park, an open-air museum displaying communist-era statues and memorials in Hungary.

Ride the Budapest Eye, a massive Ferris wheel located in Erzsébet Square.

You can book a room at Callas House , located right next to the Opera house, that’s close to most attractions. It is in one of guests’ favourite areas and the rooms are quite spacious!

Month 3 of your Europe Itinerary 3 months

Southern europe.

Welcome to Month 3 of your 90 day Europe itinerary! You’ve already travelled through Central and Western Europe, so it’s time to head to sunny and warm Southern Europe. Prepare to immerse yourself in Mediterranean culture, visit ancient ruins in Greece, indulge in delectable cuisine in Italy. You can also extend your trip to bask in the warm sunshine in Cyprus .

Athens, Greece (3 days)

Athens, the capital city of  Greece , is an ancient city rich in history, culture, and mythology. You can book a flight from Budapest o Athens, which will take around 2 hours. You can also explore  Athens in a day  and save other days for other gorgeous destinations.

What to do in Athens during your 3 months Europe itinerary

Take  a guided tour  of the Acropolis, Parthenon, & Acropolis Museum..

Explore the ancient Agora, a key centre of Athenian life during the classical period.

Visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Greece’s largest temple and one of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples, the Temple of Hephaestus.

Explore the historic Plaka district, which is known for its picturesque streets, shops, and restaurants.

Visit the National Archaeological Museum, the Benaki Museum, and the Museum of Cycladic Art

Visit the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.

Explore the Roman Agora’s ruins, including the Tower of the Winds and the Gate of Athena Archegetis.

Explore the historic neighbourhoods of Psirri and  Anafiotika.

Climb Mount Lycabettus for panoramic views of Athens and its environs.

Visit the stunning Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, which is known for its stunning sunset views.

Book this  Gourmet Food Tour  and explore the bustling Athens Central Market (Varvakios Agora), and enjoy traditional Greek food.

Arethusa Hotel  located next to the Plaka is close to the Metro station and is tastefully decorated. There’s a roof garden with great views and its close to most attractions!

If you’re planning to explore the Greek islands, Santorini is perfect with direct flights from Athens. Mykonos is also a fab option!

Dubrovnik, Croatia (5 days)

Dubrovnik, also known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ is a stunning Croatian coastal city. There are plenty of things you can do in the city during your Europe itinerary 3 months, some of them as follows.

What to do in Dubrovnik during your 3 month Europe itinerary

Walk along Dubrovnik’s city walls, which provide stunning views of the city and the Adriatic Sea.

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town by booking  this guided walking tour  and visit Dubrovnik Cathedral, and Rector’s Palace among other major spots

Take a boat ride to Lokrum, a nearby island with a beautiful botanical garden and a 12th-century Benedictine monastery.

Take the cable car up Mount Srd for sweeping views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding countryside.

Take a sea kayaking tour of the coastline and caves of Dubrovnik.

Explore the exhibition War Photo Limited and the Dubrovnik Maritime Museum

Take a day trip to Ston, a nearby town known for its ancient walls and salt pans.

Relax on Banje Beach, a popular swimming and sunbathing destination.

Explore the Dubrovnik Synagogue, the world’s oldest Sephardic synagogue still in use.

Take  this Game of Thrones-themed tour  to see some of the popular TV show’s filming locations.

Stay at  boutique Villa Dorma , located in a quiet area of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, just a few minutes walk from the city walls and major attractions.

Venice, Italy (3 days)

Next on this 3 month tour of Europe, take a flight to the  ‘Floating City’, Venice and explore its intricate canals, stunning architecture, and rich culture.

What to do in Venice during your 3 month Europe itinerary

Book  this guided tour  of St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace.

Take a gondola ride through Venice’s canals to see the city’s unique waterways.

Visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a modern art museum containing works by Picasso, Pollock, and others.

Go on a  tour of the island of Murano to see the famous  Murano  lass being made and the island of  Burano  to see its colourful houses and enjoy seafood

Visit the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, a stunning Baroque church at the Grand Canal’s entrance.

Explore the Cannaregio neighbourhood’s quiet and picturesque backstreets.

Visit the Gallerie dell’Accademia, an art museum specialising in Venetian Renaissance art.

Spend the evening watching the sunset over the Grand Canal.

Stay at the Venice Maggior Consiglio , located in the Cannaregio neighbourhood, just a 10-minute walk from the Rialto Bridge.

Florence, Italy (5 days)

The last destination on this 3 month Europe travel itinerary  will be the Italian city of  Florence, renowned for its Renaissance art and architecture.

If you wish to extend your trip in Italy, you can refer to this 12 day Italy itinerary .

What to do in Florence during your 3 months Europe itinerary

Book  a guided tour of the Accademia Gallery  to see Michelangelo’s David statue.

Visit the Florence Cathedral, Giotto’s Campanile, and the Baptistery as you walk around Piazza del Duomo.

Explore the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most famous art museums in the world.

Take a walk across the  Ponte Vecchio , a famous bridge lined with jewellery stores.

Visit Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, which were once home to the powerful Medici family.

Discover the Mercato Centrale, a bustling indoor market filled with vendors selling local food and wine.

Take  this guided tour  of the famous Chianti vineyards for some food and wine tasting.

Visit the Basilica di Santa Croce, the world’s largest Franciscan church and the final resting place of many famous Italians, including  Michelangelo  and Galileo.

Soggiorno La Cupola Guesthouse is a beautiful stay option in Florence, featuring stylish rooms with free Wi-Fi.

Tips for travelling around Europe 3 months

Backpacking Europe 3 months can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but making the most of your trip requires careful planning. Here are some suggestions to help you make the most of your three months in Europe:

Plan a rough Europe itinerary 3 months ahead of time, but be willing to change it as you go.

Pack lightly and wisely, opting for versatile clothing that can be mixed and matched.

Stay in low-cost accommodations such as hostels.

Take public transportation, such as trains, buses, or metros, to get around.

Look into free or low-cost activities such as walking tours or visiting local markets.

For low-cost meals, try local street food or local supermarkets.

Don’t be afraid to meet new people and make new friends.

Stay safe by being aware of your surroundings, avoiding dangerous areas, and keeping your belongings secure

You’ll be prepared for your 3 month trip to Europe if you follow these tips. Enjoy the journey.

Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour in London

Lisbon: Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Day Trip

Amsterdam: Classic Boat Cruise with Cheese & Wine Option

Berlin: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour with Live Commentary

Berlin: 1-Hour City Tour by Boat

Krakow: Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour

Krakow: Oskar Schindler Factory Guided Tour

From Prague: Kutná Hora and Ossuary Tour

Vienna: Schönbrunn Palace & Gardens Skip-the-Line Tour

Vienna: Wachau, Melk Abbey, and Danube Valleys Tour

Budapest: Grand City Tour with Parliament Visit

Budapest: 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise

Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon, & Acropolis Museum Guided Tour

Athens: Gourmet Food Tour

Dubrovnik: Old Town Walking Tour

Dubrovnik: The Ultimate Game of Thrones Tour

Venice Doge’s Palace & St Mark’s Basilica Skip-the-Line Tour

Florence: Skip-the-Line Accademia Guided Tour

• The People – Paris Belleville IEx Les PiaulesI

The Loft Hostel ,

Home Lisbon Hostel

St Christopher’s Inn Berlin Mitte

Bubble Hostel

Hostel EMMA

MEININGER Hotel Wien Downtown Sissi

City Circus Athens

boutique Villa Dorma

With its stunning natural beauty, rich history, and diverse cultures, Europe offers a wealth of experiences that are both unique and unforgettable that can only be experienced if you spend 3 months in Europe.

3 month Europe itinerary FAQs

How to travel europe for 3 months.

The best way to Travel within Europe is by train. These are fast and more affordable than flights.

Can I take a 3 month Europe road trip?

Yes, you can take a three-month road trip through Europe, but you must carefully plan your three month Europe itinerary, ensure you have all necessary documents and permits, and budget for fuel, tolls, and parking fees.

What is 3 month Europe trip budget?

The approximate cost of a 3 month vacation in Europe for budget travellers would be €50-€70 per day for lodging, food, and transportation. This would bring the total cost of the trip to between €4,500 and €6,300. It’s also important to consider extra costs like sightseeing activities, travel insurance, and visa fees (if applicable).

Award-winning Analyst, multi-nominated digital content creator and photographer Lavina Dsouza's words capture stories about culture and tradition mainly through its food and people. She has written and contributed to publications such as The Washington Post, Lonely Planet and Matador Network, to name a few. She is the editor of UntraditionalHumans.com, a non-profit created to share inspiring stories from women of colour who break free from traditions and choose happiness.

She's also a speaker passionate about DEI and champions solo travel. She has collaborated with numerous renowned brands such as Intrepid Travel, TripAdvisor, Travel and Leisure and Adobe, to name a few.

She can be found on Twitter and Instagram.

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How Much Does 3 Months in Europe Cost: A Complete Budget Breakdown

Here at The Jet Lag Journey, we love travel transparency. When we first started researching travel, it was very difficult to understand how much money we needed to go from occasionally taking a 10 day vacation, to really making this a lifestyle. We spent the summer of 2023 traveling through Europe to 14 countries and want to share exactly how much a trip like this costs! In this post, we will give a full budget breakdown on how much money we spent while traveling Europe for 3 months.

Why we chose to spend your summer in Europe

Over the last few years, we have intentionally restructured our life to have location freedom with work. We spent all of 2022 basically as professional wedding guests. We attended 12 weddings in one year! That meant that all of our time and money was going towards travel for these events. While we love our friends and cherish the time we spent celebrating their love, we were ready to take a trip that was for us. Even though we had taken many trips in the last few years since our original 6 month backpacking trip in 2019, we were ready to be on the road again for an extended time.

Europe is truly our favorite place in the world. Fingers crossed, one day we will be European citizens and actually move there, but for now we are limited to our 90 days in the schengen region in a 180 day period. Even though we had already been all over Europe, there were still tons of new destinations on our bucket list. There are also cities that we will always love and wanted to experience living there for more than a few days.

Where we went on our 3 month trip around Europe

It is always difficult to choose where to go when planning long-term travel. You’d be surprised how quickly the calendar fills up and you still don’t have everything you want to do on the list! Our Europe summer 2023 was a mix of traveling to new destinations and living in places that we already knew loved.

We’ll be honest, this itinerary was jam packed. Even with a decent amount of extended stays, we oftentimes still felt rushed and exhausted. It is difficult to maintain work-life balance when you are also trying to enjoy traveling full time! When we do this again, we will likely travel at a slower pace.

Read our detailed guide on how to plan long-term travel for more trip planning information!

Europe summer 2023 Itinerary:

• Lake Bled, Slovenia
• Split, Croatia
• Annecy, France
• Lausanne, Switzerland
• Thun, Switzerland
• Cagliari, Sardinia
• Valletta, Malta
• Stockholm, Sweden
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Cork, Ireland
• Edinburgh, UK
• Malaga, Spain
• Marrakech, Morocco
• Mallorca, Spain
• Porto, Portugal
• Madeira, Portugal
• Lisbon, Portugal

How much did we spend over 3 months in Europe?

It doesn’t matter if you are a solo traveler or traveling with a partner, you’ll be able to understand this budget breakdown for either! Since we are two people, we combine the expenses, but we will also list totals as cost per person.

So…how much money did we spend in Europe for three months? Here’s a detailed breakdown by category!

So, there you have it – it cost us each slightly over $10,000 to spend three months in Europe . Let me be very clear here, you do not need $10,000 to spend three months in Europe. In fact, we go into more detail about how we did a 6 month trip around the world in 2019 for almost the same amount of money! When we did that trip in 2019 though, we did not have jobs. We had fully quit our jobs to travel. This summer we were both working full time as digital nomads, so we were able to travel on a bit higher of a budget since we had income while traveling, not just tearing through our savings.

No matter what your budget is, we believe that there are always ways to be smart with your money while traveling with out sacrificing your experience. Read 40 ways to travel cheaper here!

Below we talk through each budget category in more detail.

Budget Category Descriptions

Housing budget

The housing category is exactly what it sounds like – it’s how much it cost TOTAL for accommodations all summer. Our budget goal for housing for the summer in Europe was an average of $100/night. Guess what – we were in Europe for 87 days total so we ended up under budget at $94/night average!

When we did our 6 month trip around the world in 2019, our housing budget was only $40 a night. This is the biggest factor in why that overall trip cost was much lower than our 2023 Europe summer.

An important thing to note here is that we set this as an average cost per night. There were some cities like Copenhagen, where there are simply no adequate housing options for less than $180 a night. There are also some cities like Malaga, Spain where we found a great Airbnb for $70 a night. We also stayed for free with friends both in London and Ireland. The point is that the budget we set was meant to be an average! As long as it ends up on track in the end, not every city is the same with what value you will get with your budget.

As digital nomads, we stayed mostly in Airbnbs this summer. It was essential for us to have our own kitchen, a comfortable bed and good wifi. Be sure to thoroughly read reviews before booking any housing during extended travel!

Transportation budget

Transportation includes more than just our flights, we included any form of transportation in this category. That means taxis, trains, ferries, public buses and anything else that we paid for to get from point A to point B that wasn’t our own two feet.

One call out here is that we booked our trans-Atlantic flights with credit card points. Those flights are typically a large transportation expense when someone is planning a trip to Europe!

Pro-tip: When booking flights in Europe (and in general), make sure to read the fine print on the airline’s luggage policy. If you end up needing to gate check a bag or your carry-on does not fit, you can get hit with an unexpected large fine. Even as experienced travelers, we got hit with an unexpected $150 charge each when flying home on TapAir Portugal. The weight for the carry-on bag was insanely low and they were weighing everyone’s bags at the gate. Have a gameplan for your bags before you show up to the airport!

Use code JLJ10 for 10% off all eSIM purchases.

Grocery budget

The grocery category includes anything that we bought from a supermarket or convenience store. Since we were traveling for three months, we cooked many meals ourselves. It would be impossible to eat at restaurants the amount that you would on a one week Europe trip. We also love to cook meals any chance we can during long-term travel!

The cost of groceries in Europe varies by country. For example in Switzerland, even though groceries are the cheapest option for meals, it is still drastically more expensive than grocery shopping in Italy. No matter though, grocery shopping will be your cheapest option when traveling on a budget.

Restaurant budget

Ok so here’s the deal, we are not the biggest foodies in the world. With that said, we love to eat out when we can, especially in Europe! We also always look for the best bang for our buck. We will not dine at a fancy restaurant just because it is the top recommended place on Google. Seth is an expert at digging through google maps and finding local spots with the best deals.

Like stated before, long-term travel is very different from taking a week-long holiday. We typically only eat at restaurants while traveling 2-3 times a week at most and will try one local establishment in each city. Overall, European dining is typically much cheaper than in the United States. You can get a full meal with wine in countries like Portugal, Spain or Italy for less than $20 a person. Of course, countries like Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland will take your entire bank account if you dine out too much!

Bar and pub budget

To some it may seem strange that we have bars and restaurants as their own categories, but we’ll be honest with you all, we enjoy a good party! Bar hopping is one of our favorite ways to dive into a new city and embrace the local culture. We have days and nights where we may not eat out, but we will find a great happy hour deal or simply have a night out with other travelers.

The bar and restaurant budget categories are where things can get very personal as a traveler. If you love to try missiline star restaurants and drink martinis while traveling, you may need to budget much more for these categories. Our favorite drink is the cheapest beer in town, so it is possible this number is actually much lower than it could have compared to someone who may not be as conscious about how much each drink costs.

We didn’t have an exact budget in mind for how much we planned to spend at bars all summer in Europe (because who could really plan that), but we will say that we did our best to always look for the best deals in town and stick to the cheaper drinks on the menu. That’s an accomplishment in itself!

Activity budget

The activities portion of the budget is reserviced for typical touristy things that you would do in a new city. Examples of this include castle entry fees, museums, funiculars to viewpoints, and things like that!

We do not set a limit on this budget because we do not always know in advance which activities we will want to do, but we try our best to stick to things we are really excited about. We will not enter a museum or tour a building that we are not eager to see. These types of expenses can add up if you are not cautious!

Our daily travel budget

If you know us personally at all, then you know that Seth is a budget guru. He is an expert at setting and making sure we stick to our daily budget! As long-term travelers, sticking to a budget is essential to making sure we can maintain this lifestyle. If you are traveling for 1-2 weeks, it is easy to convince yourself that you do not need to worry about your expenses. That is 100% not the case when travel is your lifestyle.

The easiest way to break down the budget is with a daily average. We do not include major transportation or housing in our daily budget because we view those as overall trip expenses. It is too complicated to add those into the day-to-day expenses. Our daily budget was $100 or $50/person average over the entire trip . It is important to keep in mind that this is an average number. There were some days that we spent $0 and some that we spent over $200 depending on what was the plan for the day!

We ended the summer at an average of $91 per day total or $45 per person/day without including housing or major transportation costs. This average was under budget – yay!

To further help you envision a travel budget (and give some travel inspo!), we put together this budget spreadsheet freebee to go along with this post. This spreadsheet will be helpful if you are more of a visual learner and want to see a detailed breakdown by destination.

How to manage your travel budget

Team JLJ over here loves a travel budget! We totally understand that setting a budget and sticking to it is not everyone’s area of expertise. The truth about budgeting is that it is a muscle that needs to be strengthened. The more you do it, the better you will get at sticking to it!

Our best recommendation for sticking to your budget is to download an app that tracks everything you spend on the go. There are tons of apps like this out there, but our favorite app that we used this summer is TravelSpend . It feels odd at first to enter each expense, but after a few days it will just become second nature. This is the best way to track your spending while traveling!

We also love this app because it stores all of the details we need for recommendations! Someone asks where our favorite dinner was in Porto, Portugal? No problem! We can easily look back to where we went and how much it cost.

There are a lot of factors that go into establishing your own personal travel budget. We go into all of the details in our post about how to make a travel budget.

Why you should plan your own summer in Europe

The truth is that there is no bad time to travel to Europe, but the summer in Europe is truly incredible. While it is peak tourist season, it is also the best weather for beachy destinations. If you prefer to go in the off-seasons, we recommend traveling in the spring or fall when it will be less crowded but still mild temperatures.

Get inspired with this Europe bucket list to start planning your own adventure today!

Our goal with this post was to provide some clarity if you are planning your own extended Europe trip. We always do our best to be transparent with travel costs and expenses because we understand how overwhelming it is when you want to travel, but don’t have a concept of how much money you will need!

If this post resonated at all, leave or comment or rea c h out to us with any thoughts or questions. We always love to connect and help other adventures accomplish their travel goals!

Happy traveling! XX Maddy & Seth

Hi friends! Welcome to The Jet Lag Journey.

This is an online destination that tackles difficult travel questions in order to make worldwide travel practical and accessible. Happy exploring!

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How To Comfortably Long Term Slow Travel In Europe

Posted on Published: December 15, 2020  - Last updated: December 19, 2023

Categories Europe , Travel Tips

There’s never going to be a good time to quit your life back home and long term slow travel for a few months. Let me tell you from first hand experience, this isn’t an easy task but it’s incredibly worth it!

In fall 2019 my partner and I took the plunge to embarked on the biggest trip of our life. We left Montreal behind to slow travel Europe for 4 months. This took a lot of planning , and we of course still ran into some hiccups along the way.

We lived in Brussels, Edinburgh, Aix-en-Provence, and Barcelona for one month each! We decided to travel during low-season in the fall from September through December. This way, we could enjoy the local atmosphere without the abundance of tourist season (plus it made it a bit cheaper!).  

Keep in mind, this is not a guide to how we backpacked for 4 months in Europe. We saved up from years of working so we could live comfortably while we were away. We did have a budget, and we didn’t spend our money extravagantly, but we made sure we had enough to not have regrets and live comfortably during our long term travel.  

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

When Should You Go? There’s Never A Perfect Time…

There’s never going to be the perfect time to stop everything and put your life on hold for four months. That’s why you just have to do it. We decided to take the leap because I was working a dead-end job and my partner was in the final stages of his PhD (writing his thesis).  

I was going to quit my job anyway, so I just put off looking for a new one for a few months. For him, he could work from anywhere. We realized that he’d be working full time after he graduated, so this might be our last opportunity to leave the city for an extended period of time.  

And just like that, we started planning!  Before we knew it we were off to slow travel Europe for four wonderful months.

Plan the ultimate vacation

My  digital travel planner template  has everything you need to plan your vacation: research templates, travel planner itinerary, travel budget templates…etc. . You can print it out or use it digitally on your phone, tablet, or computer.

Considerations Before You Leave

What kind of trip are you looking for.

When we did this trip, we were 25 and 26. We could have backpacked for 4 months in Europe, but that didn’t interest us. You could easily make this into four months of intense hostel jumping and partying. You’d probably be able to ‘see’ more countries but we were more interested in slow travel in Europe. You know, getting a taste of local experiences and cultures.  

So we decided to live in one place for an entire month, took our time exploring the city and the surrounding areas. We didn’t travel everyday, we had a lot of days off where my partner worked on his thesis and I worked on this blog. It was the perfect excuse to sit in a local cafe for the afternoon and recuperate from the day trip we took the day before.  

Keep in mind, this was not the Euro trip to be cheap. We didn’t live in luxury for four months, but we lived comfortably, as we would have at home . We saved up enough money over several years to be able to do this. We didn’t want to have missed out on opportunities and for lack of funds to be the reason.

How Long Do You Want To Travel For: Why We Chose 4 Months In Europe?

4 months in Europe was a slightly random decision, but it was actually the perfect amount of time for us. We didn’t want to leave for too long (like 6 months) because we still had responsibilities at home (like my partner graduating from his PhD!). But, we wanted it to be longer than a 2 month summer camp experience. We figured that four months is like a semester abroad. 

Let me tell you, by the end of our trip, we were ready to go back home. We were exhausted, felt like we had so many new unimaginable memories to look back on, and we really missed our bed! 

Tips For Long Term Travel For Canadians…

As a Canadian, you have to live in your province for 4 to 6 months of the year (depending on the province) for health care. We ran into an issue though. As a Canadian, we’re also only allowed to stay in the Shengen zone in Europe for 3 months every 6 months.

The Shengen zone is pretty much all western Europe, with a few exceptions (like the UK and Ireland). So, without a visa, you’re only be able to stay for 3 months… We still managed to do our four month trip by leaving the Shengen zone for a month. 

Should You Apply For A Visa?

If you do want to stay longer, as a Canadian, you’re able to apply for work away visas (like the  International Experience Visa ). This is primarily easy for those looking to go to Europe and are under 30. A visa allows you to live and work abroad for up to 2 years.  

We opted against this, as we wanted it to be more of a vacation for us, not a work away from home.

Responsibilities Back Home To Cancel

Applying for a visa and booking accommodations and flights are one thing. Dealing with your responsibilities at home is an entire other ball game.  

There are so many monthly costs to life. I’m talking things like rent, a car lease, and your phone bill! But then there’s where you’re going to receive mail, if you have any plants…etc.  

Most people probably wouldn’t have done what we did, but we were so happy we did. We pretty much didn’t cancel ANYTHING during our 4 months in Europe . All our friends thought were INSANE! But I assure you, there was a reason for everything.  

Another thing to watch out for, look ahead to see what costs might be coming up in the upcoming months when you’re away. For example, my partner’s car registration was due in October so he had to pay it before we left. This can also be your license, any taxes …etc.

Monthly Costs Worth Cancelling

Here’s an overview of some of the monthly costs we pay for that you may want to cancel for your long term travel:

• Car Insurance
• Home/ Renters Insurance
• Phone Plans (Mobile, Home)

So Why Didn’t We Cancel Anything?

First, we wanted to keep our phone numbers, so we paid a smaller monthly fee to keep them without having an actual talk/text plan.  

Next was the car. We looked into doing a lease transfer or trading it back to the dealer, but at the end of the day we had to pay 1-2 thousand dollars to get rid of it (more than our payments for the four months!) and this way we would have a car when we got back. But once we decided not to trade it in or do a lease transfer, we needed to find an alternative.

We don’t have a parking spot, and it’s not exactly a good idea to leave a car inactive for four months. So we offered the car to my sister for those months. She had a parking spot at her apartment and now she had access to a car! It was a win win for everyone!

Are You Telling Me You Paid Rent For 4 Months But Didn’t Live There??

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. People thought we were mad when they heard we had been paying rent for four months but weren’t living there anymore. Again, we did the calculations and it didn’t cost for us to not keep it.  

There were a lot of costs associated with us not keeping our apartment back home. We’d need a moving company, monthly storage for everything, and then another moving company when we got back.

There’s also the added stress of then finding a new place. We figured we’d have had to live at my parents house until we found a place… not exactly ideal in my mind. 

But, then we ran into the issue of leaving the apartment unattended for four months. We offered it to my younger sister to live in on the weekends (she lived at my parents in the suburbs, our apartment was in the city).

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This killed several birds with one stone. She got a place to stay on the weekends in the city, and we had someone to water our plants, check on the apartment, and check our mail. She did pay us for amenities that she wanted but we didn’t need to pay for if no one was there (like heating and internet).  

Alternatively, we could have sublet our place. To be honest though, I’m not so keen on having a stranger live with my personal belongings. But that could be an option for you!

Setting An Appropriate Budget For 4 Months In Europe

As I mentioned, this was not a backpacking Euro trip. Our long term travel budget was quite a bit higher than if it was, but we nonetheless still had a budget. We set an appropriate budget for ourselves to make sure that we didn’t come back totally broke. We still wanted some money in the bank, especially since I didn’t know how long it would take me to find a new job.  

A budget is also important for setting certain guidelines for how much to spend. For example, we had a budget for accommodations, food, attractions, and everything travel related.  

When I budget, I always over estimate EVERYTHING! Just because I’d rather think I can spend more and then spend less, you always need some wiggle room. There’s also always unforeseen expenses, and you might spend less in some areas, but more in others! 

Figure out how you want to live when you’re abroad. We more or less wanted to keep the same lifestyle we were living at home, plus the added travel costs. So that was the starting point for our budget.   We ended up budgeting that the trip would cost us around $33 000 CAD ($16 500 each).

Long Term Slow Travel Budget Vs. Reality

Our initial budget for the trip was around $33 000 CAD and we ended up being off by about $9 000! Again, I’d rather be expecting to spend more, and have the money, than budgeting less and get caught in an undesirable situation. The final tally for the trip was around $24 000 CAD ($12 000 for one person). 

We spent more or less what we thought we would on food and monthly living expenses (minus accommodations). That’s because it’s similar to what we spend in Montreal (about $150/week).  

Every month, our credit card came to $3,000 when we were away which was double what it was at home. But now we had the added travel expenses.  

The main place where we were off was the cost for our accommodations. When we initially budgeted, we had thought we’d be able to find a month long stay for $1500… MAX. This was not the case!  Booking an Airbnb for a month cost us an extra $1 000 than we thought it would. We wanted a reputable host, and in a good location, so you have to pay for that!

What We Spent For 4 Months Abroad (2 People)

Return Flight To Europe : $2 000 (upgraded to include luggage) Inter-Europe Transportation : $1 000 (flights, trains, buses…etc.) Total : $3 000

Accommodations : $2 500/ month  Total : $10 000

Monthly Costs: (Food, touring, misc…etc.): $3 000/ month  Total : $12 000

Total: $24 000 Each: $12 000

Long Term Travel Money Saving Opportunities

We chose the timing of our 4 months in Europe (Sept-January) for a reason. This is low season in Europe. Not only does that mean less tourists to deal with, but a lot of the flights, hotels, and attractions may offer certain low season discounts.  

But! Be aware that some places might also be quite empty and even closed during low season! 

We also chose to stay for a month in each location for a reason: airbnb hosts will offer discounts the longer you stay. Our discounts ranged from 60% to 25% off! That makes a huge difference! We also saved on booking an Airbnb because we were able to buy local and cook our own meals.

Another trick is to get a travel credit card or bank account! Continue reading for tips!

Traveling as a couple? Here’s some tips to save money

What To Do About Foreign Exchange Fees

Paying foreign exchange fees when you’re on vacation is never fun (especially for us Canadians). We don’t usually think about it because it’s for about 2 weeks. When you’re travelling for longer, it can add up quite a bit! 

There are two main ways to avoid paying a foreign exchange fee, and maybe even get some money back! You can sign up for an appropriate credit card or bank account. Opening up a bank account in another country is typically a bit trickier. For us, it really didn’t work because we were constantly changing countries.  

Instead, we found out that Scotiabank in Canada has agreements with several foreign banks though ( see the list here ). We opened up an account (it was free for us as my partner was a student) and this meant that we could take out money at certain banks without paying any fees.  

For a credit card, we traveled with the Rogers Mastercard. It had 3% cash back on foreign purchases at the time (now it’s 1.5%), and no foreign exchange fee. The Rogers Mastercard ended up being killer! We even payed back some of the trip with the cash back we got!

The Scotiabank account though was a bit unnecessary. We left with €100 for Belgium, and then we only took out cash about once a month (a total of three times). It would have been fine to pay the small fee to take out the money at that point.

Double Check Your Travel Insurance!

We thankfully did not need to use it, but you still need to have it. We were on my partners insurance plan which included travel insurance. Because he was a student, the travel insurance covered up to 6 months (I guess to accommodate semester abroad). Double check your insurance if it covers long term travel. You might need to get separate coverage. 

In addition to travel insurance, make sure you’re covered for car insurance if you want to rent a car while abroad. We were covered through both our credit cards. I’d recommend going over the policies to know exactly what you’re covered for though! You don’t want to think you’re covered for something, but aren’t. 

5 Money Saving Tips For Booking Direct Flights Online

The Fun Part: Choosing Where To Go

Now that you’ve figured out what kind of trip you want, how long you’re traveling for, and your budget, it’s time for the fun part! Choosing your destination(s) for your long term travel experience is so important.

Depending on how long you’re traveling for, you might decide to stay in one place or travel around to a few.  We decided that a month in one place would be more than enough time to explore and learn about the culture. So, we chose four completely different places based on four main factors.

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1. Location, Location, Location!

I’m not just really excited about the location, there are three location factors you have to decide on for your long term travel.

The first location you have to decide on is what continent you want to travel around for your long term slow travel adventure? Do you want to go as far away as possible from your home country or stay relatively close? We threw around the idea of traveling to Australia or Asia, just because you’d rather only do that kind of big flight once!

We ultimately decided on 4 months in Europe because we wanted to be a bit closer to home and knew a few people already there. We didn’t want to be completely cut off. My dad travels to Europe for business, so we figured we could see him (which we did) and we met up with a few friends along the way. 

Second, you have to decide on the country? Do you want to stay in one country, or maybe travel to a few on that continent?

The third location is all about the city. Do you want a relaxing beach vacation or experience high intensity city life?

We wanted a bit of everything, so we wanted places that were more or less centrally located that had really good day or weekend trip opportunities. But, we also wanted a big enough city that we could hang around there if we chose to. 

2. Do You Speak The Language?

If you’re living somewhere for a month or longer, you probably want to know the language… at least a bit. We debated on some smaller towns in Italy (based on the weather) but… we don’t know any Italian. 

For us, another main goal for spending 4 months in Europe was to improve our French, so we were looking for French-speaking countries.

3. The Schengen Zone & Visa Requirements

Are you able to stay in Europe for the amount of time that you want to travel for? We needed to leave the Schengen zone for at least one month, so we needed a place outside! 

See more information about the  Schengen zone . If you’re looking to stay in the Schengen Zone, find out more about an  International Experience Visa  for Canadians. 

4. Weather Considerations For Long Term Travel

Weather played a HUGE factor for us when deciding where to go. Another goal for us was to escape some of winter. So we were looking for relatively warm fall weather in Europe. 

Weather also played a role because we were moving every month, we needed to keep it relatively consistent for packing reasons. I didn’t want to need shorts for September and then a winter jacket for December. 

Even with trying our best to find countries with similar weather, we had a lot of variance, and I ended up needing to buy a warmer jacket halfway through. But that’s why you always leave room in your suitcase!

Fall Travel: Pros Vs. Cons

Our Picks For 4 Months In Europe & Why!

We ended up living in Brussels, Edinburgh, Aix-en-Provence, and Barcelona.  

Brussels (in Belgium) had two perks for us. First, it was the ultimate central location in Europe. Not only were we able to travel throughout Belgium, but also the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany. As an added bonus, we wanted to improve our French while we were away, and Brussels is primarily French.  

Next up we chose Edinburgh. Our decision to come to Scotland was purely based on the fact that we needed to leave the Schengen zone for one month. We could have gone anywhere in the U.K. or Ireland. Ireland was too expensive to live in Dublin, and I’d been to Edinburgh for the day already and fell in love with it!  

Aix-en-Provence, in the South of France, was actually the inspiration for this trip. Our dream was to live in the South of France, and then we stumbled upon Aix-en-Provence! The perfect spot to relax midway through the trip, and again, work on our French. Plus, it was the perfect weather when we were visiting in November.  

Our last destination was Barcelona, purely chosen for the impeccable December weather! We also knew a few people from Barcelona who helped us out planning that leg of the trip (like where to stay!). I’ll admit, it’s a lot easier to live somewhere for a month where you’re familiar with the language.

Long Term Slow Travel: How We Spent Our Days

As I mentioned, we wanted the full local experience and a more relaxed, slow travel Europe experience. That’s to say, this was not the go-go-go touring vacation we were used to. We spent time going to the grocery stores, cooking local food, and actually working (finding the best cafes in each city!). But, that doesn’t mean we also didn’t explore our home city a lot, and the surrounding area.

We ended up going on day trips about two to three times a week. When we stayed in our host city, we’d typically split our day in half. We’d tour in the morning, and then settle down in a local cafe to work in the afternoon. This also gave us some time to unwind, our day trips were usually pretty densely packed.  

Our itineraries also shifted based on where we were. In Brussels, our first location, we still had the travel bug and tons of energy. We went on the most day trips of the trip (including a 3-day overnight trip to Amsterdam! ).  

Scotland was similar with an overnight trip to the Highlands and 2 day trips a week. By the time we got to Aix-en-Provence, in the South of France, we were exhausted! Aix is a much smaller city, so we were able to relax a bit and travel at a much slower pace. We were able to just sit back, enjoy the local cafes, and focus more on our work. Barcelona on the other hand is a huge city, that we only went on 3 day trips throughout the entire month!

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Booking Your Accommodations: Where To Stay For Long Term Travel

As I briefly mentioned before, we booked all our accommodations through Airbnb in each location. We did this because we were able to get a monthly discount. Plus, this way we could fully immerse ourselves in local culture by staying outside of the tourist epi-centers. It was unbeatable! We had our own place where we could cook, and make ourselves feel at home for the month.  

Another main perk for us by booking an Airbnb was that we looked for places specifically with a washing machine. Even though we were there for a month, we didn’t want to waste time waiting for laundry at a laundromat. This was something we spent extra on at our Airbnbs, but it was worth it! 

Booking an Airbnb also lets you seek out more local locations to stay. For example, we LOVED our stay in Gracia in Barcelona , a 20 minute walk from the city centre. Or Ixelles in Brussels, where we discovered our favourite local bar that we’d go to several times a week (shoutout to Le Pantin)!

Before Booking Your Airbnb For Long Term Travel: Read My Guide

Packing Guide For 4 Months In Europe

What the f*** are you supposed to pack for 4 months in Europe? Obviously, you’re away for a long time, but you can’t exactly pack your entire wardrobe.

I packed myself and my partner in two MASSIVE suitcases ( TravelPro Maxlite 5 29″ ). I was worried they were a bit big… and to be fair, they probably were. They didn’t fit in most cars, but we never had to check them in as oversize luggage (which I was worried about). I’m a huge supporter of TravelPro, but I think one size smaller would have been better ( the TravelPro Maxlite 5 25″ ).  

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Review: Why Travelpro Is The Best Suitcase Brand

My mentality for packing for 4 months in Europe was to pack two weeks worth of clothing (NOT 4 months!). I didn’t want to be doing laundry every day. So, I brought two weeks worth of underwear, shirts, and pants.  

Here’s the list of everything I brought (keep in mind we traveled during the fall, so I brought warmer clothing) for 4 months in Europe. I also bought a few things while we were away (I needed a warmer jacket halfway through). 

Long Term Travel Packing List (For The Fall!)

• 1 pair of shorts (in case of hot day in September)
• 5 pairs of pants 
• 14 shirts (12 short sleeve, 2 long sleeve)
• 14 socks (+2 thin wool socks)
• 20 underwear (take up no space and you always seem to run out!)
• 2 pairs pajamas
• 1 Bathing Suit
• Boots ( Blundstones )
• Sneakers (white  Stan Smiths )
• Flip Flops  ( Plastic Birkenstocks  – perfect for walking around the apartments and showers, if necessary)
• Oxfords  (fancier shoes that I could walk all day in)

Toiletries:

• Conditioner
• Battery powered toothbrush
• Moisturizer
• Hairbrush & hair elastics
• Microfiber packable towels
• Packable Kleenex
• Mini Toiletries (for weekend trips: shampoo, soap…etc.)
• Sherpa lined jean jacket
• Thin bomber jacket
• Water & windproof Kway (Packable)
• Long yellow rain jacket
• Cotton zip sweater
• Thin wool pullover
• 2 Cardigans (thick & thin)
• Fanny pack ( Love the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag! )
• Small purse
• Knapsack 
• Packable duffel bag
• Packable totes
• Adapters ( UK ,  EU )

Miscellaneous: 

• Ziploc containers (for liquids while travelling and storing leftovers)
• Plastic bags
• Medication (full bottles: Advil, Tylenol, Allergy, Zinc)
• Swiss army knife
• Notebook & pens
• Refillable water bottle
• Pillow case

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My digital and printable packing guide on Etsy . Filled with packing planning prompts for your next trip!

Long Term Travel Packing Guide Key Takeaways

What i’m happy i packed for slow travel in europe….

If you’ve read my packing guide , I mention not to pack any of these “what if” items, or items that you can only wear once. I’m not saying to pack only these items now, but you might want to pack some. You’re going to be away for a long time, you want to look nice, and be comfortable.  

For example, I packed my K-way (as a packable rain jacket) but then I also packed a larger yellow raincoat. This is not a practical travel item, it takes up a lot of space and I was already bringing a rain jacket, but I absolutely loved having it. It’s a lot longer than my K-way so it was perfect to wear when it rained in our home city.

Plus it really stood out in pictures! I also packed some comfortable lounge items (and probably packed way more pants than I needed because I brought some to just wear in the apartment!). I would never pack lounge pants on a regular vacation, but you kind of need it for long term travel.  

I also packed a thick mustard yellow cardigan, it was really warm, but mustard yellow… that does not go with everything! I would have shunned myself if I packed this for a 2 week vacation! 

7 Tips on How To Pack Your Suitcase Like A Pro

On top of some extra fashionable clothes, I also packed some kitchen items, like Tupperware and plastic bags. These came in handy so often. To travel, I stored my liquids in them, so they didn’t leak into my suitcase. But I also used them to store leftovers in! The plastic bags were useful to take snacks and lunch on the road! I could have bought these while I was there, but what’s the point, I’m going to need room for them in my suitcase anyway. 

I was also very happy to pack a silicone packable collapsible water bottle ( read why I chose the Nomader Collapsible water bottle ). Sure, it was great as a water bottle but it came in handy in so many more ways! I used it as an icepack when I needed to, and as a heating pad! So either pack a heating pad, or something that can turn into one!

What I’m Happy I Packed And You Should Pack Too For Slow Travel In Europe!

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What I Wish I Packed For My Long Term Travel In Europe

Because we were staying in AirBnBs for 4 months in Europe, there were a few things that I wish I’d brought that I didn’t think of before.  

For example, a blanket for cozying up on the couch with. Something that I guess I take for granted at home while I’m watching TV. I don’t typically watch TV on vacation so it didn’t even cross my mind to pack. I ended up going out and buying a cheap one at Primark (btw Primark is going to be your best friend!). If you don’t want to bring one from one, order a new one for travel from Amazon like this one .

I also wish I packed my pillow for long term travel in Europe. I always pack my own pillow case but I never thought about packing my pillow itself. It was really stupid that I didn’t. My pillow is one of those down-filled pillows that flatten to nothing and wouldn’t have added any weight to my suitcase. 

What I Wish I’d Packed For Long Term Travel!

A cozy blanket for long term travel.

A Collapsible Travel Mug For Slow Travel In Europe

Looking back, it was a no brainer that I should’ve brought my pillow for long term travel. Especially because as it turns out I’m quite picky with the pillow I sleep on. Less than halfway through the trip I ended up with terrible neck and shoulder pain.

It probably could have been avoided if only I’d packed my pillow. I’m usually fine on vacation with pillows, but I usually never sleep on the same bad one more than a few nights in a row. Anyway, if you can, bring your pillow, you can thank me later!  

Last but not least, I brought all these packable items, like duffels and tote bags, even a packable rain jacket. But, I didn’t think to bring a packable travel cup (like a Stojo Collapsible cup – read my review! ) for long term slow travel. It would have come in handy on several occasions. There were many mornings when we left super early in a hurry so I didn’t have time for my a coffee or tea. It’s a good way to save a few euros here and there (plus more eco-friendly!)

Stojo Collapsible Cup For Long Term Slow Travel Review

How To Get A Data Plan Abroad For Long Term Travel!?

I still remember the first time I traveled in Europe when I was 19. It didn’t even cross our minds to get an international data plan. We traveled around, without any data for an entire month. We would download offline maps and jump from WIFI to WIFI spots throughout the cities. This doesn’t really work for long term slow travel…

When you’re on a long term travel adventure, and living somewhere, it’s kind of hard nowadays to be without a data plan. Today, the easiest way to get a data plan is actually with an eSIM card. Most new phones these days are equipped with two SIM card slots, on regular and one for an eSIM (an electronic SIM).

You can buy a plan before you leave through an app like Airalo … P.S. Save on your first international data plan with my code MEGHAN4678 or  click here

If your phone doesn’t have an eSIM slot, you can still do it the old fashioned way. When you arrive abroad, just to swap out your SIM card. Remember to unlock your phone at home first! You can order it online before you leave, but we just bought it when we first landed at  Orange . All you need is an address (we gave our Airbnb) and your passport.  

Alternatively, you can also buy  pocket WIFI . We actually booked each of our Airbnb’s with pocket WIFI, but none of them actually had it (I think they just thought it meant regular WIFI…?). It’s essentially a portable WIFI router that you can connect to on the go.

Important: Stay Connected To Home During Long Term Travel

I cannot stress this enough! This is also a reason to get a data plan for long term travel. You want to stay connected to home as much as possible.  

If you need to, plan times to call your parents, siblings, grand parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends… etc. It’s important to not lose touch with people back home, remember, they’re the ones that are going to be there when you get back .  

It’s going to be hard, but make an effort, put it into your calendar if you have to. We made sure that we spoke to people at least once a month. And I don’t mean just sending off a text once a month, I mean getting on video call with them. They also want to hear from you and all about everything you’ve been up to! 

I also put in an extra effort to share updates every day through a photo sharing app (like iCloud, Google Photos…). Plus this way you get to go over your pictures everyday and show off your best ones! You can also start a blog, but that takes a lot more effort… trust me!

What I Learned From Slow Travel In Europe

Appreciation for home & better habits.

Travel is exhausting. It’s nice to have a place to call home where I can relax in the comfort of my home! 4 months in Europe taught me to appreciate my own backyard a bit more. When we came back to Montreal, we put our long term slow travel routines to good use. 

We decided to take back our weekends and explored a lot more of Québec. In fact, we were pleasantly surprised by what we found.  We used to be exhausted from the work week, and don’t get me wrong, we still are. But we made a promise to ourselves to go on a day trip at least one day of our weekend. We can relax on Sunday, but Saturday we need to get out – no excuses! 

It’s also nice to be around family and friends, and not have to video call people all the time. At the end of the day, long term slow travel is such a unique experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

If I Did It Over Again, What Would I Change?

Honestly, I don’t think I would change anything. It was practically perfect in every way! Anything that went wrong throughout our 4 months in Europe, has since turned into hilarious memories and life lessons (like when when we were almost washed up by the sea in North Berwick walking to Tantallon Castle !).

Well, maybe I would change one thing… invest in a good place to stay during long term travel. Keep in mind, you’re going to be sleeping here for quite a few nights, you want it to be as comfortable as it can be. It’s worth spending a little bit more for a nicer place. We did cheap out on our first Airbnb in Brussels and it definitely affected that part of the trip.

But…Did Our French Improve At All??

I know this is the question you’ve been waiting for. Did our French improve at all during our 4 months in Europe!?

Well, I like to believe that I’m more confident speaking French now compared to before. I think the biggest difference isn’t necessarily speaking French, but we watch a lot more French TV now than before. It gave me more of an appreciation and drive to be better at the language. 

Quick Links – My Amazon Travel Favourites

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• How To Plan Your Vacation In 9 Simple Steps

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Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Jane Williams

Sunday 11th of June 2023

Just loved this article. My husband and I are hoping to spend up to 6 months travelling through Europe and the UK in 2024. You are so inspiring and brave for taking this step in your lives. As we are retired, we are hoping that this may be our last big adventure. Thank you for sharing your experience. Jane

Monday 12th of June 2023

Thank you so much Jane! I hope you have a wonderful 6 month trip - that sounds amazing and is really the dream! Enjoy being with each other and getting to experience new adventures together!

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions about longer term travel!

Tuesday 11th of April 2023

I searched 'live in europe three months' and came across this article. Nicely done. A bunch of years ago, we took a year off and travelled around the world with our kids for nine months. Three months in Europe, then the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. An absolute life changer. While we didn't stay anywhere for a month, there were a number of extended stays (like two weeks on a Greek island, two weeks in Istanbul, two weeks in Gokarna, India (which was super fabulous, by the way)), and lots of one week stays here and there. We rarely stayed only one night in any place. One of the things we learned early on was to pack light! We each (four of us) had our own backpack, and mine was the largest at 80 litres. A good backpack made stairs and cobblestone and all forms of travel much more relaxed. As well, knowing that if you forget something really important (other than your own pillow), wherever you are, whatever you need, the people there will likely need it to, so you can probably find it somewhere. Now we're looking at some post retirement trips that involve some version of slow travel, like three months entirely in Croatia (with maybe a little visit to Montenegro and/or Slovenia), or maybe something similar to what you've done, and spend a month each in Crete, Itay, Portugal, or some other warm combination. Coming from the Canadian Prairies, the idea of a very warm fall or spring is particularly appealing. Good luck with your future travels!

Monday 17th of April 2023

Wow! That sounds like an amazing trip of a lifetime! Very good point about being able to buy all the necessities - I do think I've changed over the years with packing A LOT lighter than I used to and its made traveling so much more enjoyable!

I can't recommend staying in one place for the month enough - in fact we've done it twice more since that trip (although only one month at a time instead of 4 months total!) and it's such a nice way to explore an area. Such a slower pace so you can figure it out as you go and not have it all planned in advance. Plus, I love becoming a regular at a place and having the staff recognize us by the end!

Definitely warmer locations at that time of year is key! Just keep in mind when choosing a place to stay that some places might be closed or deserted during low season - we ran into that issue in the fall quite a bit!

Happy and safe travels :D

Runaway Ann

Saturday 23rd of January 2021

I love that guide! You described all possible aspects - I really admire that ! thanks! :)

Monday 25th of January 2021

Thanks so much! I hope it can help you go on a similar trip :D

Monday 28th of December 2020

As a mother of three who is currently homeschooling, this sounds so amazing I could cry. Pinned so I can refer back when the world opens back up again. I LOVE Edinburgh. It's my favorite place in the world. Thanks for all the advice!

Tuesday 29th of December 2020

Hi Laurence, Oh boy! I can only imagine :P That's awesome, I really hope you get to experience a trip like this soon. It's the perfect trip to also bring the family on! Homeschool them during the week, travel on the weekends. Edinburgh is the absolute BEST and can go back there in a heartbeat for another stay (short or long!)

Wednesday 23rd of December 2020

I love this idea of traveling so much before he finishes his PhD and starts school! I might do the same with my boyfriend who's working on his PhD!

You really should!! Honestly there's no better time to go. Keep in mind that it might delay his graduation by a bit (obviously he wasn't working on it full time for 4 months) but SO worth it! It's such a perfect opportunity to travel because you can work on your PhD from anywhere!

3 Months in Europe Itinerary

Over 12 fabulous trip itineraries for exploring europe in 3 months.

Do you have a little free time on your hands?  Do you like to slow travel or cram in as many stops as possible? If so Europe makes a fabulous area to visit especially if you have the option of taking a little more time to explore.   There are so many wonderful choices for 3 months in Europe Itineraries.  

Why Europe for Extended travel?

Europe has everything a traveler could want:  beautiful landscapes, varied cultural experiences, history around every corner, fabulous architecture, generally easy public transportation, and wonderful social opportunities.  There is something in Europe for everyone including large cosmopolitan cities, post-card perfect mountains and amazing coast line.  Europe is a good choice for a quick 1-2 week focused trip but is better suited for longer stays.  The more popular areas are generally more expensive but lesser known (but just as pretty) countries can be budget friendly and more authentic.

So Why 3 Months?

Most of Europe is part of the Schengen zone.  What this mean is as Americans you can travel up to 3 months in the Schengen zone as a tourist.  Technically it’s 90 days of the last 180 days. Until recently you just brought your passport but 2020 and 2021 have changes with additional steps and you may need to get a Schengen visa.  If you want to slow travel in Europe longer then you will need to get a longer visa which can be difficult to get or you will need to go to a non-Schengen country until you can get back in.  Countries in Europe that are not part of the Schengen group include: UK (Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, Gibraltar), Ireland, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and a few others in the area.  Several have plans to joint the Schengen zone so always check the countries status and policies prior to travel.

Even with a full 3 months – regardless of the itinerary and area you choose, generally travelers will still feel that they were just able to get a taste of what Europe has to offer.  Consider slowing down and taking more of a slow travel lifestyle.  Instead of trying to see it all, consider picking an area to focus.  Please enjoy our group of 3 month trip itineraries in Europe to get you started planning the ultimate European 90 day trip.     

Like this article? but want to save it for later … it’s a long one.  If so then pin this …

Central Europe

Central Europe is the area most people think of when starting to plan an European Vacation.  It’s one of the easiest areas to navigate and generally has fabulous transportation.  The area tends to have a larger tourist population which can be good if you’re new to travel and like the extra support but can also make things a little more crowded and a little less authentic.  Traveling through this part of Europe will be more expensive then other areas but you’ll be rewarded with fabulous experiences.

3 Months In Europe By Train

If you are someone who likes to travel at a relaxed pace and prefer to use public transport, this Grand Train Tour of Switzerland , Italy, Austria and Germany could be the ideal itinerary.

Using Europe’s excellent rail network, this three month itinerary highlights the best of Switzerland and northern Italy, and visits some interesting cities in Austria and Germany, as well as taking a side trip into France. The itinerary starts in Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich where you should spend a couple of nights before setting off on your adventure.  It is recommended that you spend at least five nights in most destinations. This gives you the opportunity to really explore your destination and take a couple of side trips to neighboring towns and attractions that interest you.

The beauty of this itinerary is that it offers you a mix of Switzerland’s breathtaking alpine landscapes, picturesque lakes, stunning architecture, bustling cities and charming villages. You’ll also experience a mix of languages, cultures and cuisines as you travel on this central European itinerary.

The Route for 3 months in Central Europe by Train:

Start in Zurich (2 nights) ->  Lucerne (5 nights) ->  Interlaken (7 nights) ->  Montreux (5 nights) ->  Geneva (2 nights) ->  Annecy (5 nights) ->  Annecy (via Geneva) to Zermatt (5 nights) ->  Lugano (5 nights) ->  Como (7 nights) ->  Milan (3 nights) ->  Verona (3 nights) ->  Bolzano (5 nights) ->  Innsbruck (5 nights) ->  Garmisch Partenkirchen (5 nights) ->  Munich (5 nights)  -> Nuremberg (3 nights) ->  Wurzburg (3 nights) ->  Stuttgart (3 nights) ->  Lindau (5 nights) ->  Lindau to Zurich to Schaffhausen (2 nights) ->  Zurich (2nights)

Contribution by Carolyn of Holidays to Switzerland

Best of Europe – Europe Road Trip by Car

With 3 months in Europe, there’s nothing better than going on a  European Road Trip  from Northwest Europe to Southeast and back. Driving by car and with a tent in the back of the car, stopping wherever it pleases you. This route has it all: castles, museums, old cities, stunning nature, culture and food.

Start the road trip in Germany. Hamburg, Frankfurt, Sinsheim and the Romantische Strasse are perfect stops in this country, Take 13 days for this part, and end with Neuschwanstein castle.

Cross the border at Füssen with Austria. Austria is a beautiful country, explore the mountains here. Breitenwang, Volders, Zell am See and Obervellach are stops here, covering 11 days.

A usually forgotten country, Slovenia, just a transfer to Croatia. But this time take 10 days and stop at Dovje, Lake Bled, Ljubljana and Ptuj.

Start the tour in Croatia at Zagreb, then cover Plitvice Lakes, Knin and Dubrovnik. Taking no less than 11 days for this.

In Montenegro take 3 days for the beautiful old town of Kotor. From Montenegro go to Bosnia & Herzegovina for a visit to Mostar and Kravice Falls, take 4 days for this.

Continuing further down the Croatian coast with stops at Split, Zadar, Krk island and Pula. 8 Days should be enough.

Through Piran in Slovenia (3 days) cross the border with Italy for Trieste and the Dolomites, spending 5 days in Italy.

Then drive in 6 days through Switzerland, with stops at Sankt Moritz, Disentis and Wassen.

Then stop for 2 days in France, Luxembourg and Belgium. Visiting Colmar, Luxembourg-City and Dinant.

The last country is the Netherlands, stopping at Maastricht (3 days), Utrecht (2 days) and Amsterdam (3 days).

Trip Summary for the Best of Europe 90 day road trip

Austria:  Hamburg: 3 days (Speicherstadt, Miniatur Wunderland) ->  Frankfurt am Main: 3 days (Sightseeing cruise, Goethe House and Museum) ->   Sinsheim: 2 days (Auto- und Technik Museum) ->  Romantische Strasse: 5 days (Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Neuschwanstein castle)

Austria:  Breitenwang: 2 days (Plansee, Highline179) ->  Volders: 3 days (Innsbruck, Hiking in the mountains) ->  Zell am See: 3 days (Krimmler waterfalls, water sports ->  Obervellach: 3 days (National Park Hohe Tauern, Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse)

Slovenia:  Dovje: 3 days (Vintgar gorge, Hiking in the Julian Alps) ->  Lake Bled: 2 days (Boat tour, Bohinj Lake) ->  Ljubljana: 3 days (Tromostovje, Ljubljanski grad) ->  Ptuj: 2 days (Ptuj castle, Terme Ptuj)

Croatia:  Zagreb: 2 days (St. Marcuschurch, Museum of Broken Relationships) ->  Plitvice Lakes National Park: 3 days (7 Hiking Routes, Veliki Slap ->   Knin: 2 days (Krka National Park, Knin Fortress) ->   Mlini: 4 days (Dubrovnik, beach)

Montenegro:    Kotor: 3 days (Old Town, City Walls)

Bosnia & Herzegovina :    Mostar: 2 days (Stari Most, Museum of War and Genocide) ->  Meðugorje: 2 days (Kravice Falls, Apparition Hill)

Croatia:   Split: 2 days (Diocletian’s Palace, Kasjuni Beach) ->   Zadar: 2 days (The Greeting to the Sun at Sunset, Museum of Ancient Glass) ->   Krk Island: 2 days (Krk town, Stara Baška) ->   Pula: 2 days (Arena, Brioni National Park)

Slovenia:    Piran: 3 days (Old Town, Koper)

Italy:   Trieste: 2 days (Castello Di Miramare, eating Italian Ice Cream) ->   Dolomites: 3 days (Hiking, Stelvio Pass)

Switzerland:   Sankt Moritz: 2 days (Watersports, biking) ->   Disentis: 2 days (Chur, Rheinequelle) ->   Wassen: 2 days (3 Passes tour, Rhone glacier)

France:   Colmar: 2 days (Old Town, Chateau Haut-Kœnigsbourg)

Luxembourg:    Luxembourg city: 2 days (Old Quarter, Grand Ducal Palace)

Belgium:     La Roche-en-Ardenne: 2 days (Kayaking, Dinant)

The Netherlands:   Maastricht: 3 days (Eating Kruisbessen schuim, Maastricht Underground) ->   Utrecht: 2 days (Speelklok museum, Rietveld huis) ->   Amsterdam: 3 days (Anne Frank huis, Canal boat ride)

Contributed by Cosette from KarsTravels

3 months in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is just a small country, but you can easily spend 3 months here without running out of things to do. It’s a country with a rich history, old cities, and 21 National Parks and during your time here you can get to know the Dutch culture as well as explore the diverse nature.

Are you a city person? Definitely include these three cities in your Netherlands itinerary:

• Utrecht:  one of the oldest cities in the country and famous for the Dom Tower, historic buildings, and the Miffy Museum. Recommended time: 4 days.
• Rotterdam:  one of the most important harbors in the world and the Dutch capital of modern architecture (as most historic buildings were lost during the WWII bombings). Recommended time: 3 days.
• Zwolle:  a highly underrated city in Overijssel, where you can hop on a boat tour, climb the Peperbus and visit the Foundation Museum. Recommended time: 2 days.

Prefer Nature? Don’t skip these three beautiful spots:

• The Hunebedden, Drenthe:  these ancient dolmens are prehistoric tombs constructed out of huge boulders. It remains a mystery how our ancestors constructed these imposing historic landmarks. Recommended time: 1 day at the Hunebedden but definitely spend at least a week exploring Drenthe.
• De Waddeneilanden:  pick one of the five Waddeneilanden (or better yet, visit all five) and spend at least a week here. Go for long walks at the beach, rent a bicycle, and learn about the wildlife on the islands. Recommended time: at least 7 days, if you want to visit all islands give yourself 2 weeks minimum).
• De Veluwe:  this is one of the Dutch National Parks and rightly so. It’s one of the best and most beautiful places to go hiking or cycling. During the summer months, it’s also one of the most popular areas of the Netherlands to go camping. Recommended time: 3 days, though if you love the outdoors you can easily spend a week or more enjoying the many trails.

It’s easy to get around by public transport in the Netherlands, there is an extensive network of trains, buses, trams, and boats (to the islands). Renting a car is also a good option, driving is easy and roads are in perfect condition.

Contribution thanks to Eschbach Consulting

3 months in the UK and Ireland

United kingdom train trip itinerary (+ ireland).

It is possible to enjoy many of the most popular sights and attractions of the UK by train. This 3 month itinerary includes all the major cities plus some of the most scenic train routes across Britain.

Basing yourself in cities such as London, York, Liverpool and Edinburgh will enable you to take day trips by train to explore areas in close vicinity. It is also possible to book tours or take public transport such as buses for day trips.

Week 1 – London

I recommend spending at least a week in London to fully explore the city. This will give you time to see all the major landmarks, sights and attractions.

Week 2 – Bath

Travel to the beautiful city of Bath which you will use as your base for week 2. Explore the Cotswolds, Stonehenge and Salisbury by tour or train.

Week 3- Cornwall

Take the train to Bristol and change for a train to St Ives. This is a scenic train journey through the Devon and Cornish countryside and along the coast. Cornwall is best explored by car so I would recommend picking up a hire car so you have freedom to visit Cornwall’s beaches, seaside villages and beautiful countryside.

Week 4 – York

Take a train to York which will be your base for week 4. Explore the city – don’t miss the Minster, train museum and Medieval shopping street The Shambles.  

Week 5- Liverpool

Visit the home of the Beatles and take a tour of the childhood homes of Paul and John.

Week 6 – The Lake District

Head to Windermere and spend a week exploring the Lake District. A UNESCO World Heritage site the area has many lakes, tarns and hiking tracks to explore.

Week 7 – Edinburgh

The Scottish capital is one of the most popular cities for visitors to the UK and is the perfect base. Visit in August and enjoy the festival or visit at New Year for Hogmanay celebrations.  

Week 8 – Inverness

Explore Loch Ness. Catch a train to the Kyle of Lochalsh and bus over the bridge to Skye. Or hire a car and take the Scotland 500 road trip.  

Week 9 – London – Cardiff

Take the Caledonian Sleeper train from Inverness to London before hopping onto a train to the Welsh capital Cardiff. From Cardiff explore southern Wales including the Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons.

Week 10 – Dublin & Northern Ireland

A train to Fishguard and a ferry to Dublin opens up Southern Ireland for week 10. Spend a few days in the city before heading nouth to explore Northern Ireland.

Week 11- Ireland

After a week exploring Northern Ireland head down to Cork before catching a ferry from Rosslare back to Pembroke in Wales.

Week 12 – London

The final week is once again spent in London. We recommend taking some day trips from the capital to explore Brighton, Cambridge, Windsor and other popular destinations easily explore on a  day trip from London by train.

Contribution from UK Travel Planning

90 days in the UK and Ireland Itinerary Summary

London -> Bath -> Cornwall -> York -> Liverpool -> The Lake District -> Edinburgh -> Inverness -> Cardiff -> Dublin -> Northern Ireland -> Ireland -> London

Want to add more Ireland to the trip?  Then check out our Ireland Family Travel Guide for more great stops.

3 months in Eastern Europe Itinerary

2022 – I’m keeping this itinerary in this article but please do your research prior to visiting any country near the Ukranaine conflict and invasion by Russia.

Eastern Europe is a great place to travel as it’s very cheap and easy  to get around with train and bus options easily available through most  of this part of Europe.  When visiting Belarus if you want to cross  the land borders you will need to get a visa before the trip,  otherwise you will need to fly in and out of Minsk.

Start your trip by flying into Warsaw, Poland and spend around 2 weeks  in Poland making sure you take time to visit Gdansk, Krakow and  Zakapone before heading across the border to Ukraine.

Take approximately 2 weeks to explore Ukraine, making sure to stop in  the very European city of Lviv which used to be part of Poland, the  seaside town of Odesa before travelling to Kiev the capital and taking  a 2 day tour of Chernboyl.

From Kiev you will visit Belarus.   Spend 2 weeks in Belarus  exploring the country, there are a few great days trips you can do  from Minsk and also make sure you visit Grodno and Brest.

From Belarus cross the border to Lithuania or fly depending on your  visa.  For this next part of the trip spend around 6 weeks visiting  these next 4 countries. Visit Vilnius the beautiful capital of  Lithuania where you can do a day trip to Trakai castle and also visit  Kaunas and Klaipeda.

From Lithuania travel north to Latvia where you will want to visit Riga , nearby Sigulda and if it’s summer make sure you take a trip to  the beach in Jurmala.

From Latvia you want to head north to Estonia to visit the university  town of Tartu and then onto the capital Tallinn a beautiful old city.

If you still have some days left on your trip then catch the ferry  across to Finland to visit Helsinki and Turku before the end of your  trip.

Contribution from Clare @ I Live for Travel

90 days in Eastern Europe Itinerary Summary

3 Month Road Trip through the Balkans

Three months is the perfect amount of time to spend travelling the Balkans region. The nations that made up Yugoslavia – with the addition of Albania – are among the most interesting (and underrated) countries in Europe, making this a great choice for travelers who like to venture a bit left of center in search of culture, history and splendid landscapes.

This part of the continent is compact and made for exploring by car. Once you get a grip on the driving style (some countries are worse than others), you’ll find that roads are in good condition, fuel is affordable, and navigating is very straightforward.  An ideal Balkans road trip itinerary  is slow paced but shows you a good cross-section of the region, from the alps to the Adriatic Coast.

Focusing on the Western Balkans, start in Belgrade, Serbia where you can brush up on your history at one of many museums and memorials. A week in Northern Serbia would be well spent visiting the wineries and smaller cities of Novi Sad and Subotica. Next, drive into Croatia, stopping in Zagreb before heading to the Istrian coast to visit Rovinj and the Roman amphitheatre at Pula. Make your way south along the Dalmatian coast, soaking up the history in each Venetian port city.

A full month could easily be spent in Bosnia and Herzegovina , dividing your time between the capital, Sarajevo, Mostar, with its iconic Stari Most old bridge, and the small towns in the interior. Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor is a must for more charming old towns, while a boat trip on Skadar Lake – the biggest lake in the Balkans – shouldn’t be missed. Hike in Durmitor National Park then cross into Kosovo to spend a week in Prizren, the cultural capital, and Prishtina, the largest city.

In Albania, choose between the beaches on the Riviera or the beautiful old cities and fortresses of Berat and Gjirokaster before ending in North Macedonia, where more Roman ruins in Bitola and the beautiful Lake Ohrid await.

Contribution from Emily from Wander-Lush

Summary of 90 day Itinerary through the Balkans

How to spend 3 Months in Southern Europe

3 month Road Trip through Southern Europe Itinerary (Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy)

A trip through the south of Europe should be on everyone’s bucket list. The regions of countries like Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy that line the Mediterranean experience mild temperatures even throughout the winter and are a great way to spend 3 months in Europe. Visit during April-October for the best conditions.

Start the trip in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Take a couple of days to explore the cobblestone streets and delicious cuisine. Spending 4 days here is ideal, and if more time is an option, visit the fairytale hilltop town of Sintra. Rent a car here and drive to Lagos. The large white-sand beaches are the feature here.  

Drive across the border to Seville, one of the cultural highlights of Spain and drop the car here. Seeing a flamenco show is an absolute must. Then spend the next 4 days exploring the deep history and architectural marvels of the city.

Now take a 3-hour train to Granada, the home of the Alhambra palace complex. Granada is a very walkable city, so there is no need for transportation here. Make the hill climb to see the expansive Alhambra. One night here is enough, but two or more won’t be a disappointment.

Optional stops: Cordoba and Madrid

Take a train to Barcelona, home to the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s architectural beauty. Spend 4 days exploring the ancient parts of town and enjoying some of the best tapas in Spain.

Optional stops: Costa Brava, San Sebastian, Nimes, and Avignon

Now it’s time to head to the charming Provence region of France. Arrive by train to Aix-en-Provence. This small enchanting town comes alive daily with farmer’s markets and showcases beautiful marble fountains and facades. Spend 2-3 days here.

Optional stops: Marseille, St Tropez, Menton

Rent a car to make the picturesque journey to Nice along the southern coast of France. Enjoy a walk on the promenade and relax here for 2-3 days.

Board the train to Genoa, Italy, with an optional stop to see the opulence of Monaco. Spend only one night here. The remainder of the trip by train to Florence will take 4 hours. Feel right at home in the streets of Florence, by sitting out al fresco with a glass of Tuscan wine. People watch or visit the famous duomo. A visit to Florence wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Uffizi Gallery or Statue of David. Spend 4-5 days.

Optional stops: Cinque Terre, Piza and Venice

On the last leg of this ultimate 3-month European itinerary, stop for a couple of nights in the Tuscan village of Siena before making your final stop in the ancient city of Rome for five days.

Contributed by Haley of Haley Blackall Travel

3 Months in Southern Europe Itinerary Summary

3 Months in Spain and Portugal by Train  

While it’s impossible to see every single highlight of Spain and

Portugal in 3 months, visiting some of their biggest cities while also exploring their natural spaces and hidden gems (while mostly traveling by train) is very much possible. A week or two in each city is enough time to see what they have to offer and take day trips to explore their surroundings.

Starting with two weeks in  Barcelona , there’s plenty of time to enjoy this city, its hidden gems, and surroundings. Visit Gaudi’s architectural creations, take the funicular to Montjuic, explore the Gothic Quarter, visit the MACBA (Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona), and take day trips to Montserrat, Girona, and Figueres.

A train ride to the next stop,  Valencia , takes two hours and 40 minutes or three and a half hours, where one could spend a week. From its old town to the modern complex of the City of Arts and Sciences to day trips like Xativa and Sagunto, there’s a lot to see here.

Next, after a quick train ride,  stay in  Madrid  for two weeks. There are so many places to visit around it like Segovia, Toledo, Aranjuez, and Avila that one week for day trips and one laid-back week in the city are perfect.

Continue by train to one week in  Granada  and two weeks in  Seville , which are fantastic bases to explore the region of Andalucia. Don’t miss their amazing landmarks like the Alhambra and the Alcazar of Seville, but hire a car to admire some Andalucian white-washed villages or visit national parks and take easy day trips to Jaen, Cadiz, and Jerez de la Frontera.

Crossing to Portugal, a 3-hour bus ride gets from Seville to  Faro , a great one-week stop with fantastic beaches and a beautiful old town. It’s also possible to take day trips to the coastal Albufeira and Lagos.

Next, in one week in  Lisbon , you can see many of the city’s highlights like Sao Gorge Castle, Tower of Belem, and National Tile Museum, while also taking a couple of day trips to Sintra and Obidos.

A 2-hour train ride will take you to  Coimbra , a beautiful city known for its visit-worthy university, which is one of the oldest in Europe. After a couple of days in Coimbra, take easy day trips to Aveiro, Leiria, and the coastal Figueira da Foz.

Last but not least, one week in  Porto  is the ideal finish point to this itinerary. Spend a couple of days in Porto, have a quick hop to Gaia to sample some port wine, and take day trips to the Douro Valley and the cities of Guimarães, Viana do Castelo, and Braga.

By Or from My Path in the World 

Itinerary for 3 months in Spain and Portugal Summary

Looking for more itineraries to plan your trip through Andalusia, Spain?   Please enjoy Fitz5onthego’s Article with 10 epic Itineraries for Andalusia, Spain.

3 months Road trip along the Mediterranean Sea

Depart from Nice, France exploring the small towns of Antibes and Toulon. In Toulon, you can stop by to explore The Mourillon Beaches. However, there is not much to explore here. You can stay for one day and continue your trip towards Montpellier. Explore the history here and enjoy a stay for two days. On your way to Barcelona, you will find towns like Narbonne and Girona. You can stop by to grab something to eat. Reach Barcelona, Spain to explore its diversity. Explore the  best beaches in Southern Spain  like Marbella, Nova Icaria, and more. To explore the capital, you should stay here for a month. You can stay at Safestay Barcelona until the next departure. Start your drive to the next major stop, Seville. Stay here for about 25 days to explore beaches like Canos de Meca and others. There is a lot to explore here. You can enjoy a stay at IBIS Sevilla.

Continue your way to Portugal. You will meet some port cities in Spain like Huelva where you can stay for one day or two. Then take the route to Algarve, Portugal that has a lot to offer. It is known for Atlantic beaches and a lot of hotels, villas, and restaurants. You can explore Albufeira, Lagos, Portimao, Alvor and popular monuments. Stay here for about a month to explore all the little corners. You can book a stay here at Hotel Algarve Casino. Then make your way back to Nice which would take you about 21 hours by car.

Contribution thanks to Paulina from Visit Southern Spain

3 Months off the Beaten Path in Italy and Greece

A continent as diverse as Europe is ideal for slow travelling and long vacation. If you have three months to spend roaming around Europe, why not plan a trip to enjoy the most off-the-beaten-path parts of Italy and Greece, with a pinch of the Asian continent? A road trip across Italy, Greece and Turkey is one of the best ways to experience the multicultural layers of Europe.

90 Days of Italy, Greece and Turkey Itinerary Summary

3 Months in Greece

Greece is blessed with numerous islands, and one of the most unique ways to experience this country and Europe is to spend a few months here, island-hopping. The best way to go about it is to fly to Athens and spend a few days here and get a glimpse into the food and culture. While you’re here the Acropolis is not to be missed. Once you’re ready, from the port of Piraeus, pick any destination to head to first. Some destinations that have a ferry leaving from Piraeus are Aegina, Chania, Adamantas, Heraklion to name a few. Another way to go about it is to fly to an island of your choice and then take a ferry/cruise/flight out of there to the next one. For many  Santorini  and Mykonos sit at the top of the list when it comes to visiting islands.

Backpacking around Italy in 3 months by public transport

Italy is a big country with many famous landmarks, cities, coastlines, and picturesque nature. One way to seek that beautiful country is by backpacking and with public transport. The whole country is well covered by trains and busses. Another alternative way to travel around Italy cheaply is using ridesharing apps like BlaBlaCar.

There are many places to visit, but when planning a backpacking trip to Italy , the preferred starting point would be in northern Italy – Venice. The local airport is connected with several direct flights and that would be the perfect place for drop-off. It takes a full day to discover Venice islands and cross hundreds of bridges.

After that, it’s time to set sights on Romeo and Juliet’s town in Verona and spend a day there. After Verona, a quick stop next to Lake Garda is also a must when being in that area. Recommended is to visit Sirmione, which is at the top of the narrow peninsula on the shore of Lake Garda. After a short train ride, it’s time to visit Milan. A fashion capital is discovered within two days.

It’s time to go further south to Genoa. There are many things to seek within two days. After Genoa starts the Italian Riviera road trip. Along the coastal line are several small charming towns to visit like Bogliasco, Camogli, Portofino, and Sestri Levante. It’s also recommended to do a small hike from Portofino to San Fruttuoso. The Italian Riviera road trip ends with a magical Cinque Terre. There are plenty of things to do and see and might take about three days to discover.

After days in Cinque Terre, take a quick picture with Pisa tower before heading to the city full of art – Florence. It’s a big city with several historical sights and buildings that it takes at least two days to wander around.

After long train rides it’s time to move on with the busses. Exploring a Tuscany region starts with the town of towers – San Gimignano. When going more south it’s recommended to visit several small towns and villages like Colle di Val d’Elsa, Monteriggioni, Siena, San Quirico d’Orcia. Also on the way in Bagni san Filippo is a great place to soak in thermal springs.

Another bus ride takes backpackers on the shore of Lake Bolsena to the village of Bolsena. After that, it is recommended to visit “the dying city” – Civita di Bagnoregio. A hilltop village which is in danger of being damaged by erosion. Another bus ride takes travelers to historic Viterbo.

From Viterbo, it is possible to use a train again to move into the capital Rome. It’s recommended to stay there and discover the city for at least 4 days. Following Rome comes the Italian cuisine capital – Naples. There are so many things to do and see in and around Naples. Like the islands Capri, Ischia, and Procida. Archaeological parks in Pompeii and Ercolano. Volcanic Mount Vesuvius. Finally a magical Amalfi Coast. There are several public transportation options by bus and boats to do day trips from Naples.

After that, it’s time to discover Basilicata’s hidden gems. Firstly, backpackers need to take a train to Potenza and from there continue their journey by bus. The first stop would be the scenic mountain village Castelmezzano. There is also one of the highest-speed zip lines in Europe. After that, it’s time to take another bus ride to ancient Matera.

After a couple of days in Matera, it’s time to explore the Puglia region. Firstly, set sights on Taranto and explore its old town which is located on a small island in the middle of the city. After that take a bus ride to the top of the heel to Santa Maria di Leuca. Puglia is a beautiful coastal area with several towns like Santa Cesarea Terme and Otranto.

After small cities, it’s time to discover Lecce, which has a charming old town. After that visit “the White City” Ostuni, then take a bus and explore Locorotondo, Alberobello, and Monopoli. From there it’s possible to move on by train to Polignano a Mare and the final destination Bari.

A lot of Italy can be discovered by public transportation, using for while ridesharing or even trying hitchhiking.

By Erki from Genem Travels

3 Months Backpacking through Italy Itinerary Summary

3 Months in Italy by Car

There is but one place to spend 3 months in Europe and that is without a doubt Italy. The country has such a rich history, a wide variety of geography (from mountains to beaches) and the food is always good, even in the biggest tourist trap you will hard pressed to find a bad meal, it is a matter of national pride after all!

Start your time in the Dolomites and hike your heart out: Tre Cime, Segesta, Sorapis are but a handful of the beautiful hikes around the area. You will also want to make time to explore the many vineyards in the region and take a swim in the pristine lakes. Some of the  lakes in the Dolomites  even offer the opportunity to go rent a boat and go rowing (Lago di Braies, Lago Dobbiaco).

Next make your way down to Venice and explore the romantic canals. Reward yourself with a delicious local  ciccetti  and a refreshing Aperol Spritz. Your trip will take you through magical Tuscany with the city of Florence being a must, but equally so the little villages dotted around the countryside! Umbria is the little sister of Florence, less expensive and wonderfully authentic. Go back in time as you visit all the little villages perched up on the hills, overlooking the valleys.

Visiting Italy without seeing Rome would be a real pity. The city has so much to offer that one could easily spend three months in Rome alone. From Rome head down to the Amalfi Coast and find out the true meaning of La Dolce Vita. Time permitting you might want to add in Sicily to your itinerary. This island has the most pristine beaches in all of Italy and has its fair share of UNESCO world heritage sites including the best ancient Greek ruins outside of Greece.

Contribution from Caroline at veggiewayfarer

3 months in Italy by Car Summary Itinerary

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How to Pack for 3 Months

Home » Blog » Travel Planning » How to Pack for 3 Months

A sweet send-off note from our friends

How do you pack a backpack for three months, you might ask?

A few people have asked us this question recently, so I searched my computer and found this packing list I made the week before we left for South America.

(And although this post feels long overdue, I decided to put it up anyway since it was all typed up and ready to go!)

Now, I am not in any way saying that we are experts in the area of packing. But we do have our go-to packing list for long term travel (probably more updated than this one). 

We probably could have gotten away with far less than what we brought. But we also could have packed much more… Roller suitcase, anyone? 

We can say, though, that we felt prepared for just about every situation we encountered. Plus, we were both pretty proud that we were able to carry everything on our backs, with room to spare – thanks in part to our amazing, magical packing cubes.

These pictures say it all:

Katie’s clothes before…

…and all squashed down in the packing cubes! Yes, this is ALL OF MY CLOTHES!

Ben’s Clothes before…

… and all squished down!

Oh, and don’t forget food! We brought some dried fruit, trail mix, beef jerky and Cliff bars… which lasted all of four days…

So that’s everything! It all fit in two big backpacks and two day packs!

Our Packing List

Our tried and true packs ( 65 liter High Sierra backpack – Ben; 60+10 L Deuter backpack – Katie)

2 small day packs

8 Eagle Creek Packing Cubes . Best. Invention. Ever. (Just check out those pictures!)

7 basic tanks (This was too many! They packed up super small, so it wasn’t too big of a deal but next time I would bring less.)

1 dressy tank top

2 athletic tank tops

1 long sleeve “nice-ish” shirt

1 long sleeve athletic shirt

1 zip-up hoodie

1 lightweight dress

1 pair yoga pants

1 pair leggings

1 pair lightweight trekking pants

1 pair Nike leggings

1 pair jean shorts

2 pairs athletic shorts

1 pair jeans

1 short skirt

1 long skirt

Undergarments:

12 pairs of underwear

3 lightweight socks

2 wool socks

3 sports bras

2 regular bras

2 swim suits

Hiking Boots

Lightweight sneakers

Comfy flats

Shower sandals

Columbia Omniheat Shell Jacket

Accessories:

3 pairs of earrings

2 necklaces

2 headbands

Toiletries:

Shampoo & conditioner

Bar of soap

Facial wipes

Collapsible toothbrush

Dental floss

Razor and extra blade

Hand sanitizer

Nail clippers

Small mirror

Hair elastics

Collapsible travel hair brush

Small solid perfume

A couple makeup items: waterproof mascara, chapstick, etc.

3 tank tops

1 long sleeve shirt

1 quarter zip long sleeve

Pants/Shorts:

1 athletic shorts

1 pair of khaki shorts

1 pair of jeans

1 pair of hiking pants

10 boxer/briefs

4 light socks

1 swim suit

Hiking boots

Pair of Vans

Raincoat – Later stolen 🙁

Columbia Shell Jacket

Electric trimmer

Electronics:

Asus Q200E Laptop (11”)

GoPro Hero 3 and accessories

Canon Powershot Point and Shoot

2 Kindle Paperwhite

iPod (Ben’s ancient one, so old it has a wheel… Remember those?!)

2 pair of headphones each

Chargers for all

Diamox (for altitude sickness) – never used this

Dramamine (for motion sickness) – never used this

PSI bands (these plastic bands are worn on pressure points on your wrist to alleviate motion sickness)

Stoppers and Goers (if you don’t know what that is, look it up) – never used this

Antibiotics

First Aid Kit (Super compact kit from REI that has EVERYTHING we could possibly need. And more.)

Important Documents:

Extra passport photos

Vaccination documentation (we got the vaccination for Yellow Fever and Typhoid)

Credit cards

Copies of all documents saved in “the cloud”

Don’t forget vaccinations!

“Luxury” Items:

Collapsible cups

Bottle opener

ENO Hammock (this was one of our favorite wedding presents! Although we only used it a couple times, it was amazing!)

SteriPen (Sterilizes 1 liter of water in 90 seconds using UV light. This was one of the best purchases we made before our trip. We saved tons of money because we rarely had to buy bottled water!)

2 Headlamps – later stolen 🙁

2 REI super absorbent travel towels

Mini lantern

2 large combination locks

2 small combination locks

4 carabineers

Deck of playing card

Spanish Phrase Book

2 Notebooks and pens

Non-Packable Items:

Amazon Cloud account – This is where we backed up all our pictures and important documents

Traveler’s Insurance – for roughly $70, we were both covered for three months with traveler’s insurance. Although we would really only be able to use it during emergency situations, it made us feel better knowing we would be covered if something went terribly wrong. Plus, when we had a few things stolen, our insurance reimbursed us for some of the cost.

You might also like…

Ultimate Packing List For Long Term Travel

Practical Travel Gear Gift Guide

How to Look Your Best While Traveling

Perfect Everest Base Camp Packing List

Packing for a long term travel? Save this to Pinterest!

We want to hear from you!

Did we forget anything? Do you still have questions? Comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you!

Comments (10) on “ How to Pack for 3 Months ”

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Nice post! Thanks for sharing and please keep sharing.

Hey there, love your blog. I will be going to Bolivia this summer, and my main concern is transportation as everything is very far away from each other. Would you recommend taking busses or air travel? I want to visit La paz, Cochabamba, Potosi, Uyuni, Sucre, and of course the amazon. Thank you so much!!!

Hi there, Bolivia is a great destination! We did a bit of everything when it comes to transportation.

To Uyuni, most people take a bus. It is about 10 hours, and I believe most run at night. We had heard of some people going through sketchy companies and having nightmarish trips, so we went through Todo Turismo (known as the most reputable bus service). We booked our seats at their office in La Paz 2 days prior to departure I believe (they do book up fully so you’ll want to go a couple days in advance). We had a flawless journey with them, but I do remember it being on the more expensive side (around $30 per person) but I guess you get what you pay for!

As for getting to Rurrenabaque in the Amazon, I would definitely recommend flying at least one way, especially if you are pressed for time. The planes are tiny and a the airport is a little sketchy, but an adventure! Plus, the bus journey there is around 24 hours and our friends had a crazy experience (one of them had to sit on the floor of the bus for the entire journey next to chickens). I believe our flight was around $45 and took 45 minutes.

Other than the Amazon though, most people we met seemed to take the buses. It certainly depends on how much time you have.

Good luck, have an amazing trip 🙂

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A Guide to Backpacking in Europe for 3 Months

For our honeymoon, my husband and I went backpacking in Europe for 3 months. Here, I’m sharing all the details from our time in Europe, including things to do, what we packed and places to eat, particularly vegetarian restaurants. We’ve been back from Europe for 2 months now and I’m finally sharing all the details…

For our honeymoon, my husband and I went backpacking in Europe for 3 months. Here, I’m sharing all the details from our time in Europe, including things to do, what we packed and places to eat, particularly vegetarian restaurants.

We’ve been back from Europe for 2 months now and I’m finally sharing all the details from our experience. I compiled all of the guides I wrote along the way, plus some extra tips at the end.

As with all of my travel guides, I want to stress that I don’t live in Europe and I’m not an expert by any means. This is just my personal experience backpacking in Europe. I hope you’ll find it helpful in one way or another.

Our 3 Month Europe Itinerary:

• 3 weeks in Lloret de Mar (Spain) + Day trips to Barcelona and Girona
• 2 nights in Marseilles (France)
• 3 nights in Antibes (France) + Day trips to Nice and Monaco
• 1 night in Nice (France)
• 1 night in La Spezia (Italy)
• 3 nights in Florence (Italy) + Day trips to Pisa, Montepulciano and Siena
• 1 night in Venice (Italy)
• 1 night in Graz (Austria)
• 3 nights in Vienna (Austria)
• 3 nights in Salzburg (Austria) + Day trip to Hallstatt
• 3 nights in Munich (Germany) + Visit to the Neuschwanstein Castle
• 2 nights in Zurich (Switzerland)
• 3 nights in Thun (Switzerland) + Day trips to Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and Zermatt
• 6 nights in Paris (France)
• 1 month in London (UK) + Day trips in Cambridge, Bath, Oxford, Brighton, Ely and Dover
• 3 nights in Edinburgh (UK)

Europe Travel Guides + Details from our Trip

Spain (september 30th – october 20th).

Our honeymoon started with a relaxing 3 weeks in Spain. We decided on a little city outside of Barcelona called Lloret de Mar. Why? Because we wanted something quiet, but relatively close to bigger cities. Basically, we just wanted to relax on the beach for a few weeks. From there, we did 2 days trips: One to Barcelona and one to Girona.

Below, you can find my Spain guides for every city we visited. These guides include things to do and the vegetarian meals and restaurants we enjoyed.

• Barcelona Guide
• Girona Guide
• Lloret de Mar Guide

Southern France (October 20th – 25th)

On October 20th, we left Spain and made our way to the south of France. Our first stop was Marseille. Honestly, it wasn’t our favorite city (and some of you guys had told me the same). But I’m still happy we spent a day there.

After 2 nights in Marseille, we left for Antibes. We had an Airbnb there, which was our base for the next 3 nights as we explored the area. We spent one day in Antibes in the rain, one morning in Monaco and 2 days in Nice.

Our last night in southern France was spent in Nice. We were supposed to sleep in Italy and visit Cinque Terre the next day, but were unable to get there due to a train strike.

You can find more details on our time in Southern France below:

• Southern France Guide

Italy (October 25th – 31th)

Italy was our next destination. We spent most of our time in the Tuscany region, including Pisa, Florence, Montepulciano and a short stop in Siena. We rented a car to travel at our own pace and it was great (though driving there was a bit scary).

On our way to Austria, we then stopped for one night in Venice. I won’t share a guide on Venice as we only spent a few hours exploring this beautiful city, but I did post some of my favorite photos in the post linked below.

• Tuscany Guide
• Venice Guide

Austria (October 31th – November 7th)

Austria was one of our favorite destinations. We visited a few cities, including Graz, Vienna, Salzburg and the small village of Hallstatt. From the beautiful cities to the snowy mountains… There’s something for everyone! You can find all the details from our time in Austria below:

• Austria Guide

Germany (November 7th – 10th)

We only spent a few days in Germany and it’s certainly a place I want to revisit one day. We spent 3 nights in Munich and on our way to Switzerland, we stopped at the Neuschwanstein castle. As our stay in Germany was short, I didn’t write much of a travel guide. However, I did include a collection of photos with a few notes in the post linked below:

• Munich + Neuschwanstein Castle

Switzerland (November 10th – 15th)

We only stayed 5 nights in Switzerland, but we had an incredible time in this beautiful country.

We started with 2 nights in Zurich and only spent one full day exploring the city. We then left for our Airbnb near Thun. There, we stayed 3 nights on a farm with the most amazing view of the mountains. We mostly relaxed on the farm and spend one day in Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen, where we hiked and admired the mountains and waterfalls.

Finally, before leaving Switzerland, we did a quick stop in Zermatt, a ski town known for the Matterhorn. Find all the details from our stay in Switzerland below:

• Switzerland Guide

Paris (November 15th – 21th)

After Switzerland, we made our way to Paris, where we stayed for 6 nights. We had an Airbnb in Meudon, a short transit ride away from the center of Paris. We spent our days exploring everything that Paris has to offer.

Our last full day in Paris, we took the train to Versailles to explore the Palace. Find all the details from our stay in Paris below:

• Paris Guide

United Kingdom (November 21th – December 24th)

We stayed in the United Kingdom for 1 full month and it was one of the best experiences of my life. There’s so much to experience in this beautiful country.

We stayed in a small town called Sawbridgeworth for our entire time in England. It was a short 40 minute train ride to the center of London. Because we stayed outside of the city and we wanted to explore as much as we could in one month, we decided to purchase an England train pass. This pass allowed us to travel to London every day AND to visit other cities around England (I shared more details on this in my London post below).

Here are the cities we visited: Cambridge, Oxford, Bath, Brighton, Ely and Dover. We also spent an evening at the Warner Bros. Studio. Finally, our last destination was Edinburgh. We left our little home in Sawbridgeworth and stayed in Scotland for 3 nights before leaving Europe. You can find all the details from our time in the United Kingdom below:

• London Guide
• Edinburgh Guide
• 5 Day Trips from London

How to Prepare for a Backpacking Trip Through Europe

Let’s be real, traveling for 3 months requires a lot of planning. Below you can find some guides that I created to help you plan your next trip to Europe. I was able to plan fairly well, but we certainly made some mistakes along the way. Hopefully you can learn from us!

• 3 Month Packing List for Europe in Fall and Winter + What I Wish We’d Packed and What we Didn’t Need
• How We Travelled to Europe on a Budget
• The Best Restaurants we Tried in Europe (Vegetarian)

Frequently Asked Questions:

I got many questions about our backpacking trip in Europe, so I thought I’d answer some here (those that haven’t been answered in my specific Europe guides).

I wrote a big post on this and you can find it here . In short, balance is everything. Food is part of traveling and it’s important that you enjoy it, without guilt. Travel is temporary. Don’t regret missing out on some experiences, just because they don’t fit your description of health.

This is a really hard question to answer (we loved them all!), but I would have to say Austria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. I know, I can’t narrow it down more than this. I could break it down like this: Nature/Scenery: Austria and Switzerland. The mountains are stunning and we especially loved Hallstatt, Interlaken and Zermatt. City: London and Vienna were my favorite big cities. I still miss London SO much and it felt like home as we stayed there for one month. I also really loved Graz, Bath, Cambridge, Oxford and Edinburgh.

I have to answer this from experience as I don’t live in Europe, so I can’t know for sure. Personally, I would choose to visit in the fall or spring. Winter is also great for certain areas, depending on your plans (the Christmas markets are amazing!). I would just personally avoid summer. From past experience, Europe is extremely busy in the summer and can be uncomfortably warm (to my taste). That being said, do what works best for you!

A few specifics :

• London was amazing around Christmas time and was filled with Christmas markets. It doesn’t get too cold (it was consistently around 10°C for us), but it’s wet.
• Paris was great in November as it was mild and less busy. Spring is also a great time to visit from what I hear.
• Spain was good in October, but it was starting to get cooler. If you plan on spending time at the beach, September or summer may be better (I can’t know for sure).
• From past experience, I would especially avoid Italy during summer. It was extremely warm and crowded. Fall was perfect.
• Austria, Switzerland and Germany were beautiful in early November and still had fall foliage. I’m sure October would have been great too!

And that’s it! I hope that you found this guide helpful. Have you traveled to Europe? Are you planning a trip soon? Do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments!

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I’m Caroline, a registered dietitian based in British Columbia. Here, you’ll find a variety of nourishing vegan recipes, without a side of diet culture

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2 responses to “A Guide to Backpacking in Europe for 3 Months”

Hello! Me and my girlfriend are planning on doing a similar trip next summer, I was just wondering if you had a good estimate for saving up before we planned to go for 3 months?

Hi Noah, that’s a great question! I don’t have an exact number for you as it’s been 4 years since our trip. My estimate is 10-12K (CAD), maybe up to 15K if we’re being safe. We spent an average of $60 CAD per night for our Airbnbs, though I believe prices for accommodations have gone up since then. We also saved on food by eating in our Airbnbs often and limiting eating out to once per day on average. It really depends on your type of travel. Most of our money went towards accommodations, food (groceries and eating out) and travel (plane tickets to get there and back, plus trains once in Europe). We also didn’t do many paid activities, so this is something else to consider in your planning. I did write a little guide on how we traveled to Europe for 3 months on a budget, which might be helpful. Let me know if you have any more questions. Enjoy your trip, it’s such an amazing experience!

You can find the other post here: https://nourishedbycaroline.ca/how-we-travelled-to-europe-on-a-budget/

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Home » Blog » My 90 Day Travel Packing List

My 90 Day Travel Packing List

Since my last venture to a foreign country left me in a mad packing daze in which I forgot socks, toothpaste, jeans and going out shoes, I thought I would actually make a packing list of things I wish to bring this time. That last trip was only 9 days, this one will be 3 months long.

First thing to remember, I will be packing mainly for summer weather; however, from my previous experiences in New Zealand I have learned to be prepared for everything.

90 day packing list:

• Osprey Farpoint 70 without the day bag.
• LowePro Photo Sport
• Frye Foldable Purse  (Europe)
• Sling Day Bag (Southeast Asia)
• Running Shoes
• Everyday walking shoe
• Wedge (Europe)
• Fancy Sandals (Southeast Asia)
• Bags to place them in so they don’t get bag dirty

Accessories

• Rain bag cover
• Water bottle 
• Laundry Bag
• Laundry powder
• Pillow Case
• Microfiber Body Towel
• Microfiber Face Towel
• First Aid Kit
• Travel Blow Dryer
• Travel Hair Straightener
• Toiletries Bag
• Swiss Army Knife
• Travel Cutlery Set
• Cleaning Wipes
• Jewelry Bag
• ROBOCOPP   Safety Personal Alarm 
• 2x Multi-country Electrical Adapters

Everyday Clothes

• Packing Cubes
• 1x Active Shirts
• 1x Active Shorts
• 3x T-Shirts
• 1x Long Jumper (Hoodie)
• 1x Fancy Long Sleeve Shirt (Europe)
• 2x Summer dresses/rompers
• 2x Longer Sleeve rompers/dresses
• 2x Nice evening shirts
• 1x Beach Shorts
• 1x Beach Shirt
• 1x Temple(Baggy) Pants (Southeast Asia)
• 1x Shirt and Shorts (sleep wear)
• 10x Underwear
• 2x Sports Bras
• 2 Swimming Suits 
• Waterproof Cover
• Pocket Language Guide
• Passports plus holder.
• Important Documents
• External Hard drive
• 2x Sunglasses
• Face Powder
• Spare Battery Pack to charge USBs
• All Chargers

For more packing tips & advice check out my eBook , 259 pages of all the travel advice you’ll need for planning, packing and travelling around the world!

Alright, see you in New Zealand!!

24 comments

I’m very amazed you made all that fit in those 3 bags lol… and thank you for reminding me that the seasons are opposite in NZ and Australia! … this is something I somehow had yet to think about for planning my trip this summer lol fail. Thinking I would rather go somewhere that is also summer…. hmmm more planning necessary! I’m so excited for your videos and stuff tho… seeing all the nice summery weather will be a nice change from Canadian winter! :)

This came at the perfect time, I’m preparing for a 4 month study abroad. Infinitely useful!

Glad I could help :)

Yeah Girl!!!!!!!!!

Tiger Lily such a noob.

Hey Nadine! You should definitely use the mike! You are sometimes a bit hard to understand, especially when there is wind. That packing video made me really excited for the vlogs u are going to make! Have fun and be safe!

zomg! only 1 scarf! ;-)

Have a great adventure Nadine =)

How much it all weight ?

“Underwear(lots)” Don’t forget to turn them inside out for that extra day of freshness! LOL

Have a great trip! :)

Very well thought out- would be interesting if you could follow up after your trip with “things I wish I would have brought” and “things I wish I had left behind” Thanks for sharing–look forward to the videos!!! BYE

This is such a great video! I watched all 21 minutes. I have no idea how I am going to pack for roughly 45 days – I don’t know how you did 90 days. :)

How was 4 pairs of socks enough? Do you wear flip flops a lot?

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Part 1 Chapter 34

They’ll move you, if you give them ear, no doubt,

I’m getting ready to live in Spain for 3 months! I can across your packing list and made a few minor adjustments for the region I’ll be living in. Thanks for the list!

• Pingback: Packing for 3 months?! Help! | Nuevas aventuras

Hey Nadine! I am planning a similar trip in January and this list is super helpful. I will be travelling with the exact same Osprey Ariel pack and am wondering if you were able to carry your pack on or if you had to check it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks! Sarah

Very informative, thank you!

During your trip, was there anything you wished you had brought?

I’m leaving for a 90-day trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji in less than three weeks and would find this information very helpful. Thanks!!

I loveee your blog. Thank you for posting so interesting information. I am going to visit France next week. I am going to follow your method of packing precisely. Thank for sharing it. Greets!

Great information for solo travel

What toiletry bag do you use?

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Hey Nadine, loved the video, you are so funny and it’s always helpful to see how other people do it. ( Packing for a 3 month trip)

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Our 3 months in South America Itinerary

Our first big trip together, besides a couple of weekends away, was to South America. We planned our 3 month South America travel route together, something I’d been wanting to do for years but was saving until after graduation.

If you’re hoping to spend some time backpacking South America, I’ve put together our South America itinerary for 3 months below.

It was such a fun backpacking South America route and I can remember it so vividly; a sign of a great trip I think!

We travelled South America as a couple – our first backpacking trip – and now we’re married so I think things worked out pretty well, wouldn’t you agree?

We visited Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay (well, we got the stamp!), Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands . We had an amazing time and have since then taken other big trips together including a 3-month cross-USA road trip route in our self-converted campervan, and have moved to Canada.

Our South America travels are perfect for first-time backpackers to South America hoping to see the main bucket list South America sites but also do some unique activities too.

Whilst I wouldn’t change much of our South American itinerary, I’d look to add Colombia to the end of our trip. Before we went to South America I’d not heard much about this country (& what I had heard wasn’t exactly positive).

However, once we landed in Peru many of the backpackers we met told us how much fun they’d had there. Just an excuse for us to go back, hey?

Table of Contents

Our South America Travel Route – A 3-month South American Itinerary

When you start planning your South America trip and looking up how long it takes to get between places, you’ll quickly notice just how MASSIVE South America is. After all, it is a continent and each of the countries within that continent is pretty big!

Deciding on where to go, which country to start in, and how to get from place to place can be a tricky task. You’re probably going to want to do everything but in most cases, time and money (let’s be real) won’t allow for absolutely everything.

That’s the situation we were in. Though we’d graduated and were doing some part-time jobs to save up for our trip, our overall budget was pretty modest. It was also the first time either of us had done such a long trip. My longest before then was a month spent visiting Australia’s East Coast.

This South America travel blog post will help you decide where to go and how to get there, what to do and give you an idea of how much money you’ll need. If you’ve still got questions, feel free to leave them in the comments at the end and I’ll get back to you!

Have you got travel insurance? I’ve been using SafetyWing for a while and it’s incredibly easy, affordable and overall hassle-free! Make sure you check them out before your trip (or after, you can subscribe even if the trip has already started!). They offer subscription-based travel insurance which is great for digital nomads. It allows you to claim medical expenses, and you can add travel coverage to cover your for lost or stolen belongings or additional expenses due to delayed travel.

3 month South America itinerary

This South America backpacking route starts in Lima, Peru. Peru was our favourite country in our whole South America trip. The food was great, the people were friendly, the country has everything from beaches to mountains, rainforest to deserts AND it was one of the cheaper countries too.

We’ll then head from Peru down into Bolivia, across to Brazil, into Argentina and down to Uruguay then back into Argentina, across to Peru and north to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

I’ve linked to other South America travel guides where relevant so you can find more information about some of the most popular destinations to visit in South America.

A South America map of our travel route and the places we visited. Click the image to view the interactive map which you can save to your phone!

Here are the places we visited in Peru and some links to more detailed posts about them. Make sure to add these activities to your Peru bucket list for your South America travel route!

Lima is the capital of Peru and sits on the coast. It’s full of beautiful buildings and has plenty of museums to explore too so that you can get to know more about the fascinating ancient history of Peru.

The best area to stay in Lima is Miraflores which is the more touristy area, but also the safest and one with the most restaurants and things to do.

Some of the best things to do in Lima, Peru are:

• Swim with Sea Lions in the Pacific Ocean
• Take a Peruvian food tour
• Experience the Lima Magic Lights Circuit & the Catacombs

A few hours down the coast from Lima is Paracas. Paracas is often called ‘the poor man’s Galapagos’ as it’s a great place to do some nature watching.

It’s home to blue-footed boobies (a type of bird) and many more animals that are best viewed by taking a boat ride out to the islands.

The boat rides out to the islands are the best things to do in Paracas by far. If you’re not planning on visiting the Galapagos I’d recommend taking a boat tour.

Boot a boat tour in Paracas.

Not a city or really even much of a town, but a VERY fun place to spend a day or two. Huacachina is super popular with backpackers in South America due to the sand dunes which surround the little oasis that is Huacachina.

Here you can go sandboarding , or take a dune buggy ride both of which I recommend!

Book a sunset sandboarding and dune buggy tour

You may have heard of the Nazca lines before, if you’re taking PeruHop you’ll stop off here and have the chance to climb a tower to view these mysterious lines from above.

However, the only true way to see them is by taking a flight above them which is pretty expensive for backpackers. Having said that it’s definitely the only way to really see them, the tower doesn’t offer you much in the way of views of the Nazca Lines.

Book a Nazca Lines flight

Honestly, I’d save your money for something else and wouldn’t make a special trip to stop here unless you were nearby.

Arequipa is a city with beautiful architecture and a place to stop off at if you wish to visit the Colca Canyon.

Colca Canyon

One of the world’s deepest canyons, the Colca Canyon is a well-known trekking destination. It’s a habitat for the giant Andean condor which is the largest flying bird in the world!

Book a Colca Canyon trip

Cusco is one of the most popular stops for travellers to South America as it’s the gateway to Machu Picchu. This town is at 3,339m above sea level so it’s a good idea to spend the best part of a week here to acclimatise to the altitude before heading off to Machu Picchu.

If you didn’t book a trekking South America tour in advance you may be able to find a last-minute opening by walking around the tourist companies.

Otherwise, you can take trips to the Lost City, or head up to Sacsayhuaman (pronounced “sexy woman”) another Inca city within walkable distance from Cusco centre.

Another cool thing to do in Cusco is a day trip to Rainbow Mountain . This wasn’t an option when we visited back in 2014, but it’s now one of the best things to do in Cusco.

Book a trip to Rainbow Mountain here.

The Humantay Lake trip is also really special. You’ll head out to a beautiful alpine lake similar to those found in Canada in terms of colour!

Visit Humantay Lake on this guided tour.

Machu Picchu & Aguas Calientes

Whether you hike or get the bus or train, Machu Picchu is an absolute MUST-see in Peru. This famous Lost City of the Incas is absolutely stunning.

It’s one of those places that lives up to your expectations, even when your expectations are ridiculously high. We took the Salkantay trek to get there. 

However, you can also take day trips to Machu Picchu from Cusco with return transport if you don’t want, or don’t have the time, to hike.

Read more about how to get to Machu Picchu.

Lake Titicaca & Puno

From Cusco, we headed to Lake Titicaca and the town of Puno. There’s not a whole lot to see in Puno, it’s basically where people stay the night before getting an early bus to Bolivia or north into Peru.

Lake Titicaca , however, is worth seeing. This high-altitude lake is home to a community that makes their houses and the islands they live on out of reeds.

Find out more about Lake Titicaca.

Once we flew from Buenos Aires back to Lima, we headed north up the coast to Mancora. This beach town was entirely unexpected by us during our backpacking South America trip.

I never realised Peru has such beautiful beaches! Pocitas Beach just outside the town was our favourite.

While this town has grown hugely in popularity, we loved spending a relaxing week at the beach, drinking Mancora milkshakes and relaxing.

Iquitos & the Amazon Rainforest

From Mancora, we took the long route to Iquitos in the Amazon rainforest (and went piranha fishing in the Amazon !). Most visitors to Iquitos fly there from Lima, but we floated down the Amazon river on a cargo ship and this is perhaps one of the most memorable experiences of our entire trip.

The boat to Iquitos is one adventure I think about often (even though it’s been almost 10 years since then!)

Sure, it took a long time but it was such a cool thing to do.

Bolivia was our least favourite country during our backpack in South America. Probably because we both got very ill. But, it was by far the cheapest (a 3-course meal for £3!) and we still had some very cool experiences here.

Many people love exploring the wild landscapes of Bolivia and the colourful cities.

If you’re travelling from Peru, Copacabana is the first town you’ll get to as it’s right across the border. There’s not a whole lot to do here other than wait for the next bus out.

La Paz is one of the highest-altitude capital cities in the world and it’s a bustling city. There are tonnes of street markets (including the Witches’ Market) which are fun to explore.

It’s home to super cheap lunch menus (look for “menu del dia”) and nowadays there’s a cable car that will take you to the top of the mountain walls that surround the city.

You can also get tours from La Paz to cycle down Death Road . Less scary these days than it used to be, but still an exhilarating experience you’ll cycle down this notoriously dangerous road on (pretty old) mountain bikes.

There’s now a cable car in La Paz and this tour of the city includes a cable car trip which is such a unique way to view this incredible city.

Salar de Uyuni

The largest salt flat in the world, and one of the top places to visit for any Bolivia backpacker, the Salar de Uyuni is an amazing place.

The best way to visit is to book a tour. You can book one that drops you off in Northern Chile if that’s your next stop, or you can book a circular route.

Check out this guide to the best salt flats tours including how to see the salt flats at sunset!

From Bolivia, we worked our way across land via Santa Cruz in Bolivia to Corumba in Brazil to Campo Grande and the Pantals (a wetland home to jaguars and many, many species of wildlife) and then to the Brazilian coast and inwards again to Iguassu Falls.

The Pantanals

The Pantanals were an unexpected surprise. We hadn’t planned to go here but had a great few days chilling out and taking trips out to see wildlife.

Iguassu Falls

Amazing waterfalls and the meeting point of three countries (Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay).

Though we enjoyed visiting from the Brazilian side the most, it’s worth visiting from both the Brazilian and Argentinan sides to get the full experience.

On the Brazilian side, you can do a super fun (and wet) boat tour to get closer to the falls.

Book your ticket to Iguassu Falls with a boat ride here.

Also, if you’re looking to get another stamp in your passport, you can cross the bridge into Paraguay from the Brazilian side (just don’t do it after dark as it can be quite dangerous!).

We loved visiting Ilhabela. It was our first ever Airbnb experience and our hosts took us with them to their friends to watch Brazil play in the World Cup, to a local school fundraiser and for ice cream. It was such a nice way to get to know the island.

Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande is a small island (don’t let the name fool you), that’s home to beautiful beaches and forest. Take walks, swim and hang out in a hammock. There are no cars on the island here making it even more chilled out!

This beautiful town is extremely photogenic and has plenty of beaches and islands to explore.

You can also book a boat from here to Ilha Grande in advance of your trip.

A huge Brazilian city, Sao Paulo is full of skyscrapers and museums. There are also cool places like Batman Alley to explore too.

Take a tour with a local to see the main sights.

Rio de Janeiro

You’ve definitely heard of Rio before and you can’t go backpacking to South America without visiting Rio! Honestly, it’s a must on anyone’s 3 month South America itinerary route!

This party city has plenty to see and do including Christ the Redeemer ; the giant statue of Christ that looks over the city.

This 6-stop highlight tour of Rio is a great way to experience the city.

Though it was cold and very wet during our visit, I enjoyed exploring Uruguay a little. It was a country I’d never really heard much about but thoroughly enjoyed. To get to Argentina we took the ferry from Montevideo to Buenos Aires.

The capital of Uruguay, Montevideo , is home to over a 1/3 of the country’s population. This coastal city is home to the 10-mile Rambla, a walkway between the beach and the city, and some great food markets too.

Be sure to take a tour of Punte del Este while in Montevideo which is full of beauty and luxurious housing.

If you’re travelling around South America and looking for something different, check out Montevideo. It was a pleasant stop on our South America itinerary 3 months plan.

Tacuarembó – Cowboy camp

Another of our more unique backpacking experiences in South America was spending time on a cowboy ranch . We rode horses, saw armadillos and skunks and had a great time despite the pouring rain!

Our first steps in Argentina were at Iguassu Falls where we viewed the falls from the Argentinan side . This was one of the big things we wanted to tick off during our 3 month itinerary in South America.

We then skirted down the eastern side of the country all the way to Uruguay before crossing back into Argentina from Uruguay and spending a few days in Buenos Aires.

If you have more time, consider visiting Mendoza and Argentina wine country.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a beautiful city. Though it’s probably the most expensive one on this South American backpacker route, it’s still worth visiting.

It’s a great city to add to your South America trip itinerary.

Some of the best things to do in Buenos Aires include:

• Enjoying dinner with a tango show
• Taking a guided tour of the city

From Argentina, our South America trip planner saw us fly back to Lima, go north to Iquitos then fly to Quito.

We didn’t spend a huge amount of time in Ecuador; just a couple of days in Quito and then off to the Galapagos Islands where we stayed for a week.

I’ve listed a couple of other Ecuador destinations that are popular with backpackers and worth visiting if you have space in your South America 3 month itinerary.

The capital city of Ecuador, near Quito, is where you can find the equator at Mitad del Mundo , explore historic buildings and take the teleferico (cable car) up to the high point of the city.

Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador

This beautiful national park is home to the 5,900 m high volcano, Cotopaxi. If you’re a keen hiker taking a tour of the volcano is well worth adding to your 3 months South America itinerary.

Baños

A popular backpacking town, Baños is famous for its beautiful natural surroundings, the swing on the edge of a cliff and for being a base for outdoor adventures!

Popular Ecuadorian riverside town that is full of beautiful colonial buildings and hipster cafes.

Galapagos Islands

When travelling south America, a visit to the Galapagos Islands is definitely bucket list material.

The Galapagos Islands aren’t cheap but you can still visit the Galapagos Islands on a budget. You don’t need to book a cruise (in fact I’d advise against it), to see the wildlife.

It’s truly everywhere, and day excursions will get you out into the sea for diving and snorkelling opportunities.

Ideas for a longer backpacking route in South America

There are obviously ways to shorten the route by just visiting one of two countries from the itinerary above while travelling in South America.

You could also lengthen the route by visiting countries like Columbia and Chile, or spending more time in Argentina and Ecuador.

When we travelled to South America, Columbia was only just becoming a popular destination for backpackers and I’d love to go back one year and see what it’s like.

I’d also  love to go back and explore the numerous hiking routes of Patagonia on another trip travelling South America.

How much does it cost to backpack South America?

Our south america travel budget: £3500/£4000.

Our budget for this South America travel itinerary was roughly £3500 for 3 months travel in South America including flights to and from the UK and a couple of internal flights (Brazil to Peru, Peru to Galapagos Islands). It doesn’t include the cost of travel insurance, gear or vaccinations.

This is based on staying in cheap private rooms in hostels and hotels. Hotels in South America are often cheaper than hostels if you’re splitting the cost between two since you split the price of one room rather than paying for two beds. Ie. this was the cost to travel South America on a budget.

We also opted for overnight bus journeys since that saved on the cost of hotels and we’d have to pay for the transport anyway.

It also included the cost of activities such as our Salkantay trek, day excursions during our stay on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands and others.

However, we’re not big drinkers, and are more than happy to save on food; either cooking for ourselves or eating cheaply when eating out.

While we were travelling we stuck to a budget of about £35 a day ($45US). Some days we spent more, some days less, but overall it was around this amount a day.

How long to spend backpacking South America?

This itinerary for South America is based on spending three months on a South America travel route. We moved pretty quickly and fit a lot into a short amount of time but it was totally worth it.

If you have longer to spend (/more money to spend!) then anywhere between 4-6 months will allow you to see places more slowly and visit additional countries such as Colombia and Chile.

To plan or not to plan?

If this is your first big trip you maybe someone (like me) who’s tempted to plan EVERYTHING.

I’d advise you not to.

Hear me out. Some places you’re going to love and want to stay longer exploring. Other places you’re going to just not gel with and want to get away from as quickly as possible. If you’ve booked 1 night in the former and 4 nights in the latter you’re not going to be happy OR you’re going to lose money on non-refundable deposits.

Having said all that some things you’re just going to have to book, or  should  book to have a much more relaxing backpacking trip in South America.

Things we booked before travelling to South America

We booked our flights to Lima, Peru from the UK and then left from Quito in Ecuador (via Lima) back to the UK.

We also booked our Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu . The Inca Trail was already booked up (we booked at least 3 months in advance), but I’m actually so glad we took this trek instead!

We also won tickets in the lottery for World Cup football games in Brazil which meant we had to be in Brazil by a certain point.

And, since we knew we wanted to visit the Galapagos, we booked a flight from Argentina to Peru (to get us back on the west coast after Brazil) and to the Galapagos Islands, and back from Quito.

Our itinerary was a bit back and forth, but it worked for us.

Skyscanner is what I use to find cheap flights.

The best time to go to South America

If you live in the northern hemisphere, then remember that South America’s seasons are the opposite to what you’re used to. The northern countries are best visited May-September and the southern ones from October-April.

Our trip was from May to August.

Do I need travel vaccinations for South America travel destinations?

It’s likely you will need some South America travel vaccines. The requirements change from time to time so it’s worth checking at least 3 months before you go.

The  Fit For Travel website by the NHS  is full of useful advice.

When we travelled we made sure to get our Yellow Fever vaccination since countries such as Brazil said they’d check your certificate at the border.

We also got Malaria tablets to take with us since we were spending time in the Amazon Rainforest.

Additionally, if you’re worried about altitude, you may want to take Diamox, or a similar drug to help mitigate the effects you can get from altitude sickness. While I took this in the Himalayas, we didn’t take it during our trip to South America.

What visas do you need to backpack South America?

If you’re from the EU, chances are you won’t need to get any visa in advance. Most countries in South America will give you a 90-day visa upon entry.

Check each country’s government travel advice pages to see what the visa requirements are before you travel to South America.

How to get around South America?

With such a big continent, how will you know how to get around? Here are the methods we used!

Buses in South America

The best way to travel South America is to get buses from place to place.

You’ll likely be spending A LOT of time on overnight buses as you backpack South America. It’s by far the cheapest and easiest way to travel across the continent and you’ll be pleased to know that the buses in South America are actually pretty luxurious. I think the longest stint we did on back-to-back buses was 26 hours!

Depending on what class seat you book, you can enjoy fully-reclining seats, meal service (like aeroplane meals) and onboard entertainment! However, I  would  recommend packing a blanket or plenty of warm clothes as some of the buses, especially in Bolivia and other high altitude areas, do get VERY cold overnight.

In Peru, we used  PeruHop  which had just started as a company a few months before we used it. It’s a bit like the Oz Experience for road tripping on Australia’s east coast.

While it is a hop on hop off bus, typically you’re travelling with the same group of people for a week or so since people move places at roughly the same speed. If this is your first extended travelling experience, I’d recommend doing Peru Hop as they’ll organise hotels for you too but it’s not a bus tour in the sense that they’re then guiding you around each of the cities and stops you make. You also have the option to book your own accommodation.

When we travelled in South America back in 2014, Peru Hop only went from Lima to Cusco but I believe they’ve expanded their service to include many other stops (& other countries too).

Buses throughout South America tend to go from one big bus station in the town or city you’re in. This station will be pretty hectic with people shouting out the name of the town their bus company is going to next.

There’ll be several different bus companies going to the same place and their prices will vary. Sometimes not by much, but sometimes by a lot. Some buses will also take longer.

At first, this experience may be a little stressful, but you’ll get the hang of it! Oh, and don’t forget to haggle, chances are you can get the price down much lower than they’ll tell you to begin with.

If you want to be more prepared, you can book buses in advance, and get an idea of the prices of the tickets, by using  Busbud

Flights in South America

While you can do some internal flights as we did, they’re more expensive and honestly travelling by bus between places is actually pretty fun. You’ll meet other travellers and get to see the scenery as you drive past it.

Getting around cities in South America

You’ll likely use these three forms of transport when getting around the larger cities in South America.

Collectivos

Collectivos are likely doing Uber Pool but without the Uber app. They’re typically a standard car that will drive faster, and make less stops than a bus.

They’ll only go when they’re full, so this may mean the driver won’t leave the station for a while until they’ve drummed up enough customers to fill the car. OR, they’ll drive slow through the city shouting out the destination hoping someone will hop in.

We only used these in areas where there were no buses going where we needed to go. This was mostly in northern Peru as we tried to navigate from  Mancora to Iquitos .

While some of the larger cities in South America likely have Uber now (it didn’t exist when we travelled there!), more often you’ll be using local taxi companies. Once the drivers realise you’re a foreigner they’ll likely up the price that a local would pay.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to agree on a price  before  you get in the taxi. Sometimes they’ll insist on using the metre but the metre will be set to a higher rate or perhaps you insist on using the metre but then they turn it off and tell you it’s not working and just make up a (usually very high) price you now need to pay.

Smaller city buses

Cities also have smaller minivan-style buses that work much like a bus system anywhere in the world. We used these city buses in Lima to get between museums and around the city. The ticket is usually a flat fee so you just need to remember where to get off.

FAQs on South America Travelling

How to travel south america.

Travelling in South America is very popular with backpackers. While it may seem daunting most backpackers visit the same cities and attractions so you’ll meet plenty of people along the way. I think it’s a great destination for backpackers looking for adventure! The information above will help you plan how to travel South America.

How long to travel South America?

Three months is a great amount of time to experience South America. In this time you can do many of the bucket list things as well as explore several countries.

How to travel around South America?

The easiest and cheapest way to travel around South America is by bus. If this is your first backpacking trip I’d recommend using a company like Peru Hop. Otherwise, you can find plenty of domestic and international long-haul bus companies in South America. They’re usually pretty comfortable with reclining seats and meals served onboard too.

How to plan a trip for South America

You’re starting well by reading this blog post of our 3-month itinerary for South America. Make a list of the places you want to travel to, look up the things you want to do and get an idea of costs. See what fits within your budget and then book those flights!

About backpacking in South America

Often referred to as one of the most diverse continents on Earth, South America is home to hundreds of beautiful natural sites and history.

This continent is where you’ll find the 2nd highest mountain range in the world, the largest rainforest and the world’s driest desert.

No matter how long you have to visit South America, you’re sure to come across something that truly takes your breath away. Each country is unique and offers a different history, culture and natural sights. You’re set to have a fantastic time!

Backpacking in South America is favoured since it’s a pretty cheap place to travel when compared to North America or travelling in Europe in particular. Whilst not as cheap as South East Asia, you’ll still be okay with a relatively modest budget to cover your food, accommodation, travel and activities.

Our 3 months in South America, including the return flights there and back to the UK, cost us around £3500/$3800US in 2014. This included a couple of internal flights that could be avoided and we didn’t stay in shared hostel dorms much either.

There’s more information about a 3 months in South America budget below.

Last Updated on November 8, 2023 by Hannah

Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe , a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada , you’ll find posts on all of this.

Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.

Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.

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Hi! I will be heading to South America for 3/4 months next summer. Where did you start?! It looks like you fit a lot of places in!

We started in Lima then headed South, overland to Brazil, then to Iguassu, overland to Uruguay, ferry to Buenos Aires, flight back to Peru then North into the Amazon and over to the Galapagos.

We definitely fit a lot in, but there’s SO much to see. Our route was a bit weird to make sure we were in Brazil for the World Cup!

Would recommend visiting Columbia, we didn’t, but every one we met said it was a fantastic country. If you’ve got more questions you can always email me, I’d love to help anyway possible! x

Hi!! A friend and I are heading to South America for 5 months from July but we’ve got so many questions and are feeling a little out of place! Where did you start?? Your trip looks amazing! 🙂

Hey Jodi! Wow, 5 months? That’s going to be amazing! Do you have any idea of where you want to go?

I’d love to help you with any questions you may have! Just send me an email at [email protected] .

I started in Peru and went South to Bolivia, then overland to Brazil (rio, sao paulo and Ilhabela, Ilha grande), flew from Rio to Iguassu went by bus from Iguassu to Uruguay then boat from Uruguay to Argentina. From Argentina flew back to Peru and this time went North and into the Amazon. From the Amazon we flew to Ecuador and the Galapagos then back to England!

Look forward to hearing from you! x

Hey Hannah,

I have been thinking about visiting South America for a long time now – do you know how much you spent during your time in South America, so I can get an idea of a budget to work towards.

Roughly speaking it was probably £3,500 (excluding flights), maybe a bit less/bit more! But we did everything we wanted to including the Galapagos. We were there for 3 months, so I guess a budget would depend how long you want to go for too. If you’ve got any questions feel free to send me an email 🙂 [email protected] x

Hi I love this post so much! I graduate college in December so plan on treating myself to a trip around South America since I am a Spanish minor and it’s been a dream to see Machu Pichu and other places. When you say backpack do you mean you guys set up tent or just that you traveled around the countries? Did you at all have to rent a car to get to these places or were the buses enough to rely on? While I dont plan on going to Brazil and instead want to tack on Patagonia and possibly parts of southern Chile, I also do not have a set time line.

Hi Virginia, I just mean we travelled with a backpack rather than tent camped! Buses were definitely enough to get around. There are so many and they’ll go between all major cities. Long distance bus journeys in South America were actually quite nice. They generally have reclining seats (if you pay a bit more they’re fully reclining like a bed) and you can even get meal service on some of them – like being on a plane!

I too would love to go to Patagonia one day!

GREAT ITINERARY AND DETAILS!

Hi, love the post. Can I ask if your budget of 3500 was combined or was it each? Thanks

It was each

South America Backpacking Route (3 months)

Welcome to our 3 month South America backpacking route.

It is no secret that South America boasts one of the world’s vastest continents, and in our opinion, is one of the best for any type of adventure travel .

Home to mysterious cultures and ruins, breathtaking landscapes as well as vibrant cultures, it truly is one of those regions that has it all. In this guide, we’ll take a look at our customized 3 months South America itinerary.

Having spent countless years here ourselves, we’ll give you deeper insights from our own experiences throughout this awesome continent .

What's in this guide?

South America backpacking Route

Whilst we would love to say that 3 months is enough to cover the continent, we cannot lie to you. You would need a minimum of 6 months, and even then that’s really pushing things.

However, 3 months is still good for exploring a good chunk of this region . In this itinerary, we’ll be starting off in Colombia , and then exploring Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

Getting around South America

This continent is quite a big one, and as such distances can be somewhat intimidating, to say the least.

Buses are the most used method of transport by backpackers since they’re the cheapest (often with several different companies serving the same route).

In Ecuador , they can be quite short, usually between 3-6 hours. In larger countries like Chile, travel times by bus can often be as much as 20 hours!

The other alternative way of getting around South America is via flights. They’re usually more expensive, however, they cut travel distances into just a fraction (since you’ll be flying over difficult jungle and mountain terrains, rather than motoring through and around them).

We recommend flying around Chile, and also some parts of Peru too (we’ll mention where specifically below in the itinerary).

Things to know before traveling to South America

Before packing your bags and hopping on the next flight, it’s important to first cover some other important advice.

Not only will these tips help to keep you safe in South America, but you’ll also improve your overall experience whilst traveling.

• Aim for a Backpack of between 50-70L capacity.
• We recommend a daily budget of $20-30.
• Always use padlocks on bags when traveling between destinations.
• Pack your main backpack roughly 3/4 full.
• Avoid wearing Flashy Clothes and Accessories and carry an ultra safe money belt to avoid unnecessary displays of wealth.
• Check Visa requirements (they can vary per country and also where you’re from).
• Pick up some basic Spanish before you go.
• Be sure to research the differing Climates you’ll be facing (since there’s a huge variety in this massive continent).

Got travel insurance for South America?

3 Months Backpacking South America Route

Now we’ve covered some important points to know before, it’s time to dive into our 3 month South America Backpacking Route!

Colombia (14 Days)

The first stop on our great tour, Colombia is as spicy as it gets in this continent. You can easily fly into Bogotá from most continents around the world, which is the best place to start things off.

The capital is great for historical sightseeing, and you’ll want to climb up the mountain of Monserrate for the best views. After a few days in the capital, you can then take a short flight to the Caribbean coast, with Santa Marta the best hub for a stay.

Here you’ll find palm-fringed beaches perfect for some tanning and good times. You can also head on a multi-day trek into the mysterious Lost City , as well as to the remote region of The Guajira. We recommend staying in the Masaya Hostel when in Santa Marta.

From here you can head to Medellin to get to know more about the (real) past of Colombia, where you can even tour the former mansion of Pablo Escobar.

We recommend heading on this awesome tour , which includes breakfast and all transport. Onwards from Medellin, we’ll head to Cali for a more authentic experience in this diverse country. If you’re a keen Salsa dancer, then you must head to La Topa Tolondra!

Colombia Route Summary:

• Bogotá (2 Days)
• Santa Marta (5 Days)
• Medellin (4 Days)
• Cali (3 Days)

Other Special Mentions (Visit if you have more time):

• Isla San Andrés

Ecuador (10 Days)

Ecuador is our next stop on our South American journey, and is the overall best all-rounder. Despite being one of the smallest, it’s home to pretty much everything you’d experience on your journeys in this continent.

We’ll first cross the border from Pasto, and then into the capital of Quito. This high altitude city is home to some really stunning architecture, and you can also hike the nearby volcano of Cotopaxi too.

From here we’ll then take a bus over to the town of Baños. A forever popular spot among backpackers, this town is great for adrenaline enthusiasts, where you can sit on a swing at “the end of the world”, and also visit the mesmerising waterfall of Pailón del Diablo .

After a few days of exploring this mountainous region, we’ll then head over to the buzzing beachside town of Montañita , which lies on Ecuador’s Pacific Coast.

This town is awesome for a more relaxed pace of life (where you must try surfing at least once), whilst at the same time being home to a truly incredible nightlife scene.

Whilst here you’ll want to visit the nearby towns of Ayampe and Puerto Lopez, the latter being the jumping off point to the Isla de la Plata (a national park home to rare birds and penguins). Our favourite hostel in Montañita has to be the infamous Selina , with this one located right on the beach.

Ecuador Route Summary:

• Quito (4 Days)
• Baños (3 Days)
• Montañita (3 Days)

Peru (21 Days)

Now we head into the mysterious nation of Peru, home to many ancient ruins and also a variety of stunning landscapes. From Montañita we will head to nearby Guayaquil, and hop on a flight over to Lima (otherwise it’s 30 straight hours on a bus; George did this and doesn’t recommend it for those strict on time).

Lima is the cosmopolitan hub of Peru, and here you’ll find some really tasty dishes that are worth tucking into. You’ll want to explore the Costanera by bike, as well as visit Huaca Pucllana for your first taste of Inca ruins . From here we’ll fly over to Iquitos in the Amazon (there’s no other way we’re afraid!).

The most biodiverse region on the planet, Iquitos is a great jumping off point into the Amazon, where you can spot everything from pink dolphins to Jaguars along your jungle treks. We highly recommend this 3-Day Tour where you’ll explore the deep Amazon.

As well as swimming with Dolphins and fishing for Piranhas, you’ll also get to meet an indigenous tribe too After exploring Iquitos, we now head back to Lima, where we start heading south to the oasis haven of Huacachina . It’s the perfect place to go sandboarding, and we’ve found that two days is enough time here.

Our next stop is Arequipa , which is a beautiful city covered in white-washed buildings, with fiery volcanoes setting the backdrop . Whilst here you’ll want to explore the nearby Colca Canyon – which is the second deepest on earth!

After some off-road exploring, we now head to the legendary city of Cusco. We’ve planned 6 days here, given the sheer amount of things to and see.

These include visiting Machu Picchu (you can head here with this overnight tour ), exploring the Sacred Valley, hiking Rainbow Mountain as well as exploring the pretty city of Cusco itself.

Kokopelli is the best hostel for a stay here, and we’ll keep coming back for sure!

Lastly on our trip through Peru, we’ll make a stop off at Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca for a day – where you can visit the seriously impressive floating Uros Islands before crossing over into Bolivia.

Peru Route Summary:

• Lima (3 Days)
• Iquitos (4 Days)
• Huacachina (2 Days)
• Arequipa (5 Days)
• Cusco (6 Days)
• Puno (1 Day)
• Chachapoyas

Bolivia (16 Days)

Crossing Lake Titicaca over into Copacabana, we recommend making a stop over at Isla del Sol if it’s possible (there’s some really awesome views here).

You’ll also be able to enjoy the small city of Copacabana too, before making our way to La Paz. The Bolivian capital (well, one of them at least), La Paz is a thriving city perfect for a backpacker .

Here you’ll want to base yourself in the Wild Rover Hostel , which is conveniently located in the historic centre. As well as soaring the skies in La Paz’s very own “gondola metro” (as I like to call it), you can also visit the Witches Market as well as cycle down El Yungas (known as the world’s most dangerous road – not for the faint of heart).

If you want to cycle this route, then you’ll need to go with a reputable company. We recommend this highly-rated tour , which includes all equipment as well as a tasty lunch too.

From La Paz we then fly to Sucre – our next stop – given the bus takes quite a while. This city is similar to Arequipa, in that it’s full of beautiful white architecture and colonial buildings .

A must visit whilst here is a visit to the Parque Cretácico, which is home to various dinosaur footprints. After strolling around this friendly city, we’ll then head to Potosí, which is famous for its Cerro Rico mine . Unfortunately it has a more gruesome past, however you can tour these mines (ranked as one of the world’s most dangerous) whilst providing supplies to the workers inside.

Be sure to take your time, given Potosí is located at a dizzying altitude of 4090m. Finally we head to nearby Uyuni, and onto this legendary 3 day tour which takes us into Chile. Words really can’t do this region justice, and along the way you’ll see these incredible salt flats, as well as red lagoons, pink flamingos and some of the clearest skies in your life (perfect for stargazing).

Bolivia Route Summary:

• Copacabana (2 Days)
• La Paz (6 Days)
• Sucre (3 Days)
• Potosí (2 Days)
• Uyuni (3 Days)
• Rurrenabaque

Chile (14 Days)

Having arrived into Chile after an unforgettable (and pretty tiring) journey across the Altiplano, we’ll now stay in the small desert town of San Pedro de Atacama. Home to the driest desert on earth , there’s some tours here that are really worth doing, such as to the Geysers del Tatio as well as to the Valle de la Luna.

From San Pedro you’ll then head to nearby Calama to catch a flight over to Santiago, our next stop in Chile. The capital is full of history and sites , however the first thing you’ll want to do here is to head up to the Mirador on top of Cerro San Cristóbal for the best views.

Nearby Valparaíso is also worth a visit with its artsy streets and hills (usually we’d recommend staying there, but given our time we’ll only make a day trip there instead).

When in Santiago, we recommend staying in the Plaza de Armas Hostel in the historic centre, which is close to all of the top sights. Our next stop from here is Pucón, which is in Chile’s Lake District. The Villarrica volcano is a must see here, and for hikes you’re going to want to layer up (minus temperatures are for sure to be expected!).

Given Pucón is also situated on a lake, it’s a great place for water sports, and it even has a beach too. To round up our stint though Chile, we’ll then be heading to Torres del Paine, which is in the heart of Patagonia .

This ultimate region encompasses spiralling peaks and unforgettable hiking trails, and rightfully makes any South American bucket list. You’ll want to spend quite a few days here to really breathe it all in.

Those in nearby Calafate can head on this awesome day tour where you’ll explore the very best spots of this stunning national park

Chile Route Summary:

• San Pedro de Atacama (3 Days)
• Santiago (4 Days)
• Pucón (3 Days)
• Torres del Paine (5 Days)
• Antofagasta
• Valparaíso (stay here rather than visit as a day trip).

Argentina (21 Days)

Now we head into our last country on this South America travel route. As you many know, Argentina is a fiercely proud nation, which given everything here – it’s not hard to see why. We’ll first touch down in Ushuaia – the most southern point in all of South America .

This city is a glacial lovers’ paradise, and here you’ll feel like you’re in an entirely different continent than from that we’ve already explored. A must-visit here is the Isla de Martillo, which is home to an absolute tonne of penguins.

After a few days here, we’ll catch a short flight over to El Calafate. This city is most known for its proximity to the Perito Moreno Glacier , one of the largest and last of its kind in the world. We recommend this highly-rated tour of Perito Moreno , where you’ll get up and close with the glacier as well as having a cruise included too. It’s also a fantastic place for mountain hiking, where the nearby Parque Nacional Los Glaciares has many scenic routes.

From El Calafate we continue north again, and this time to Bariloche, which is known as the gateway into Argentina’s very own Lake District . This town is well known for its epic skiing, with the Catedral Alta being one of the most popular resorts. Exploring the nearby lakes is a must, as well as spending some time in the Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi.

Now our time in Patagonia ends as we head north to Mendoza. This city is located right next to the Andes, and as a result of its unique conditions, produces some of the best wines in the world .

You’ll want to head to Maipu Valley to sample some of the very best, where you can join a bike tour to ride between them. You’ll also want to head to the Mirador of Aconcagua for views of the tallest peak in all of South America.

We recommend staying in the Panda Hostel , which is right in Mendoza’s centre. From here we’ll take one last flight over to Buenos Aires, which is our final destination. Known for its steak and football fanatics , the capital is also home to lots of interesting sites including La Recoleta, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes as well as the neighbourhood of La Boca.

You can also catch a Milonga in the streets too (which is a local, impromptu tango show). Quite a way to finish up our itinerary, for us Buenos Aires is a perfect ending to the whirlwind of a 3 months that we’ve just had!

Argentina Route Summary:

• Ushuaia (4 Days)
• El Calafate (5 Days)
• Bariloche (4 Days)
• Mendoza (4 Days)
• Buenos Aires (4 Days)

South America Travel Route FAQs

Having covered the entire route, you’ll probably be more than convinced to go! However you may still have a few more questions, so below we’ll answer some of your most burning queries about this South American route.

How much money do you need for backpacking South America?

This really depends on you as the traveller, however we do have some advice that can give you a good head-start . A daily budget for the countries of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia can be between $20-30, whilst you’ll need around $30-35 per day for Chile and Argentina. Of course be sure to factor in extra budget for your flights, buses and extra activities you plan to do here. Check out the best hostels in South America to be able to save money on accommadation.

Is Argentina cheaper than Chile?

Chile is by far the most expensive country in South America. Argentina is usually a close second, but given the current economic climate (during the time this was written in 2022), you’ll find Argentina is pretty cheap to travel right now!

What are the cheapest countries in South America?

The overall cheapest country to visit on this South American Route is Bolivia. You can still live well on a daily budget of as low as $20 , given accommodation and buses in this nation are ridiculously cheap. Peru and Ecuador are just behind Bolivia in terms of costs.

Which South American country is the safest?

South america backpacking route.

And that’s all for our backpacking route through South America.

This incredible region is full of unforgettable experiences, which range from epic sceneries to mysterious cultures and beyond .

In this guide we’ve covered our 3 month route through South America, covering Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

Along with our backpacking South America guide, bookmark this page before and during your travels, so you’ll always have a handy reference available.

👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.

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Malaysia , Thailand , The Philippines , Vietnam

3 month southeast asia itinerary & backpacking route.

Table of Contents

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Looking for the perfect Southeast Asia itinerary for 3 months? You found it! There are so many fascinating destinations and beautiful sights to see in this region. If you have no idea where to start or how to get around, fret not as I’m sharing my tried and tested Southeast Asia backpacking route.

Read next: 101 Southeast Asia travel tips

Where to go during 3 months in Southeast Asia

The countries I’ll be talking about in this blog are Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. If you’ve yet to decide which countries to visit, you might be best off reading my guide to the best things to do in Southeast Asia ordered by country. If you know where you want to go, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, I’ll share 3 travel itineraries for spending 3 months in Southeast Asia. The first is for the big four: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam . This Asia backpacking route can be explored entirely by land with no flights needed. The second two Southeast Asia itineraries include Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines although, a word to the wise, I don’t recommend trying to see all eight countries in three months. It would be insanely busy!

3 MONTHS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA ESSENTIALS Copy of Lonely Planet Southeast Asia on a shoestring Book buses and trains: 12GoAsia Book flights on Skyscanner Accommodation: Browse Hostels (Hostelworld) // Browse hotels (Booking.com) Tours: GetYourGuide For foodies: A Chef’s Tour Stay connected: an Airalo e-SIM for 18 Asian countries Travel insurance:  True Traveller  (European travellers) /  Hey Mundo  (other nationalities) /  Safety Wing  (digital nomads) Essential reading: Things to do Southeast Asia / Vietnam travel guide / Backpacking the Philippines / Malaysia itinerary / Bali itinerary

Before we get stuck into my Southeast Asia backpacking itinerary, I want to share…

The perfect Southeast Asia backpacking route

I believe I’ve hacked the perfect route around Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. It was trial and error because I definitely did it ‘wrong’ during my first trip. My first attempt at a Southeast Asia backpacking route was from northern to southern Laos to visit Four Thousand Islands on the border of Cambodia only to travel back up (which took almost two days!) for my flight to Vietnam. Then I ended up in Cambodia two months later. In retrospect, there’s a more sensible route…

Perfect Southeast Asia backpack route:

• After seeing Thailand, take the slow boat from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Laos
• Travel down Laos by bus to the Four Thousand Islands
• Cross the border to Cambodia
• After seeing Cambodia, cross the border to Vietnam (by boat or bus) and arrive in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)
• Travel up Vietnam and finish in Hanoi.

I believe this is the perfect Southeast Asia backpacking route. You won’t pay for any flights (which is great for Planet Earth) and you’ll take the more adventurous, scenic route. This 3 month Southeast Asia backpacking route doesn’t include Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines or Indonesia so keep reading as I’ll include an itinerary for these later.

How to get around Southeast Asia

One of the best things about backpacking Southeast Asia is how easy and affordable it is to get about. Here are the main options: Flights – there are numerous budget airlines in Asia including Nok Air, Lion Air, Scoot and Air Asia. Book them on AirAsia or Skyscanner . Buses – this is a popular way to travel in Asia and usually my preferred option. Many of the Southeast Asia backpacker buses are comfortable with reclining seats, aircon, and snacks included with the ticket. Use 12GoAsia to book and compare prices. Trains – you can travel by train in various parts of Southeast Asia. These are a scenic way to travel and usually very comfortable. Trains can also be booked on 12GoAsia . Boat – don’t overlook boat as a way to get around. The slow boat from Northern Thailand to Laos and the bus and boat along the Mekong between Cambodia and Vietnam are adventures in their own right.

My top tip for backpacking Southeast Asia – travel early in the morning for short journeys and throughout the night for longer ones. Yes, it feels a bit rough but it saves you so much valuable time.

How long to spend in Southeast Asia

How long is a piece of string? I spent almost a year in Southeast Asia from 2015-16 and another year from 2018-19. But I’m aware most people probably don’t have that much time on their hands, especially if they don’t work online. I would suggest spending 3 months in Southeast Asia at a minimum. The following 3 month Southeast Asia backpacking itinerary will help you see the best of the region. Note – these itineraries are busy and fast-paced to incorporate as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to stay longer in places you love and miss a few stops!

Want to stay connected while travelling? Download an Airalo e-SIM and connect as soon as you land in Asia. Browse packages for individual countries or get the Asialink card for 18 countries.

#1 – Southeast Asia 3 month itinerary (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam)

This Southeast Asia backpacking itinerary is a classic. This popular section of what’s often called the ‘Banana Pancake trail’ is the perfect place for beginner travellers, solo travellers and those who’ve never backpacked before. It’s safe, affordable and you’ll meet plenty of other travellers. There are beaches, adrenaline adventures and bucket list experiences aplenty…

Overview: 1 month Thailand , 2 weeks Laos, 2 weeks Cambodia and 1 month Vietnam .

Weeks 1-2: Southern Thailand

After flying into Bangkok, make your way down to the islands by night bus or flight. There are two main clusters of Thai islands : – Koh Tao (famous for diving), Koh Samui and Koh Phanang (famous for the Full Moon Party) off the east coast – Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Koh Yao Yai further south off Krabi on the west coast. If you have 2 weeks in Thailand, include these stops in your 3 month Southeast Asia itinerary…

Days 1-2: Bangkok. A two-day Bangkok itinerary is enough time to see highlights including the Grand Palace , Wat Pho , Wat Arun and Chinatown. Catch a flight to… Days 3-4: Koh Samui . Visit the Big Buddha statue at Wat Phra Yai Temple and explore beaches and waterfalls – you can also join this tour to explore. Swap this stop for Koh Phangan if it times with a Full Moon Party. Read about the differences between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan . Days 5-7: Koh Tao. Try diving and spend longer if you wish to complete your Open Water diving qualification. Catch a ferry to Surat Thani and a bus to… Days 8-10: Krabi. Explore Railay Beach and its caves, hike to Wat Tham Sua temple, and visit Krabi Hot Springs. Days 11-12: Koh Lanta . My favourite Thai island has loads to do from boat trips, kayaking, volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare and visiting caves, beaches and national parks. Days 13-14: Koh Phi Phi or, if you’re not a fan of parties, visit quieter Koh Yao Yai .

Read next: the ultimate guide to solo female travel in Thailand

Weeks 3-4: Bangkok and Northern Thailand

After two weeks of island paradise, get your culture fix by travelling back to Bangkok and making your way towards Northern Thailand. The mountains, countryside and temples are a total contract to the south. Here’s my itinerary for 2 weeks in Northern Thailand : Days 15-16: Return to Bangkok. Take a trip to Ayutthaya , Thailand’s ancient temple site.

Days 17:18 : Take a bus or train to Sukhothai , a UNESCO site populated from 1238 until 1438. Days 19-21: Chiang Mai. This small city in Northern Thailand is one of my favourites in Asia. Take a bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or catch a flight. Check out my Chiang Mai itinerary . Days 22-24: Pai. This hippie town in the mountains is a lovely spot for a couple of days exploring hot springs and Pai Canyon.

Days 25-26: Head back to Chiang Mai and take a trip to Doi Inthanon National Park with GetYourGuide . Alternatively, take longer overnight hikes from Chiang Mai . Days 27-29: Chiang Rai. Not only is this town a fantastic place for temple-hopping but it’s an essential stop if you’re heading to Laos. Tour companies will take you to Huay Xai to begin the boat ride. Check out my 2 day Chiang Rai itinerary . Day 30: Slow boat to Laos. Follow my Southeast Asia backpacking route by taking a 2-day slow boat from Thailand to Laos and soaking up some amazing scenery along the way.

Weeks 5-6: Laos

The small, landlocked country of Laos may be lesser-visited but it’s well worth including in your 3 month Southeast Asia itinerary. Here’s how to spend 2 weeks…

Days 33-36: Luang Prabang. The slow boat from Thailand arrives in Luang Prabang. Things to do in Luang Prabang include temple-hopping, shopping and eating at the night market, watching sunset from Mount Phusi and swimming in Kuang Si Waterfall. Days 37-38: Vang Vieng: Spend a couple of days in eco-adventure paradise, kayaking, canoeing, abseiling and trekking.

The most popular tours in Vang Vieng:

• 🛶 Experience adventure in Vang Vieng by kayaking on the Nam Song River and tubing inside Tham Nam None Cave with this tour
• 🏞️ Enjoy an easy half-day zip lining experience surrounded by green beautiful forests and mountains
• ⛰️ Discover some of the most beautiful caves and trails available in Vang Vieng with this full day trekking tour

Days 39-40: Vientiane : The capital of Laos has a few cool attractions including Pha That Luang temple and Buddha Park . It’s also a good place to try tasty Vientiane food . Days 40-41: Kong Lor Caves. These huge limestone caves in central Laos can be explored by boat. Days 42-44: Pakse . Travel from Kong Lor to Pakse. Visit Wat Luang Temple and learn about the region’s culture at Champasak Historical Heritage Museum. Days 45-47: Don Det, Four Thousand Islands. Three months in Southeast Asia can be busy so take some time to relax. The Four Thousand Islands are scattered in the Mekong connecting Laos and Cambodia. Bag yourself a $5 beach hut on Don Det and book a kayaking tour to spot river dolphins.

When you’re done, continue my Southeast Asia backpacking route by booking your transportation from Don Det to Siem Reap, Cambodia .

Weeks 7-8: Cambodia

Days 48-51: Siem Reap . It wouldn’t be a trip to Cambodia without marvelling at Angkor Wat , a Hindu temple site dating back to the 12th century. Stay in Siem Reap town and hire a tuk-tuk driver who will bring you to the temples for sunrise.

Days 53-53: Kep . Once an elite French seaside town, Kep is now a popular stop for travellers. Hike in Kep National Park, soak up the sunset and sample fresh seafood. Days 54-55: Kampot. This is favourite stop for foodie travellers who come from far and wide to sample famous Kampot crab seasoned with Kampot pepper. Days 56-57: Koh Rong . Travel from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong island known for its diving, snorkelling and lively beach bars. Days 58-59: Koh Rong Samloem . Take a trip to the smaller and more peaceful Koh Rong Samloem. There are fewer busy beach bars and more empty beaches.

Days 60-62: Phnom Penh. Explore Cambodia’s capital and visit tragic but important locations, the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide . Book activities on GetYourGuide . Afterwards, catch a 3-day boat and bus combo ticket from Phnom Penh to Saigon .

Weeks 9-12: Vietnam

I adore Vietnam! It’s well placed on the Southeast Asia backing route and home to cities, beaches, mountains and more. Spend four weeks here to finish up your Southeast Asia itinerary.

Read next: The ultimate Vietnam itinerary

Days 65-68: Saigon . Explore the War Remnants Museum, Chu Chi Tunnels, Walking Street and Ben Thanh Market. Follow my Saigon itinerary .

Days 69-70: Mui Ne . Try your hand at sandboarding. Days 71-72: Da Lat . This cool, mountainous part of Vietnam is known for coffee, canyoning and countryside tours . Day 73-74: Nha Trang . I don’t love Nha Trang but you’ll need to stop over to break up the journey up the coast. Take a trip to the nearby hot spas. Days 75-78: Hoi An . This quaint city is a must for any Southeast Asia backpack itinerary. Include the Ancient Town and My Son Temples in your Hoi An itinerary . Day 79: the Hai Van Pass . Cruise the coastline by scooter or Jeep to soak up some of Vietnam’s best scenery. Days 80-81: Hue . Spend 2 days in Hue to explore Vietnam’s ancient capital and explore the temples.

Read next: guide to travelling solo in Vietnam as a woman

Days 82-83: Phong Nha National Park . The largest caves in the worlds are found in Phong Nha . Take day trips from the town at the centre of the national park. Board a night bus to… Days 84-85: Ninh Binh.  Spend 2 days in Ninh Binh . Explore mountains and countryside temples. Days 86-87: Hanoi. Vietnam’s atmospheric capital is one of my favourite places. Spend 3 days in Hanoi to catch the highlights. Days 88-90: Sapa.  A few days hiking in Sapa is a must for nature lovers. Days 91-93: Ha Long Bay.  Spend a couple of nights cruising between islands in Ha Long Bay. Book a 2-day Hanoi cruise to finish your 3 month trip!

3 month Southeast Asia itinerary – more than the big 4!

Want to do more than Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia? I don’t blame you. The next two Southeast Asia itineraries include some of my other favourite countries. Add to your Southeast Asia backpacking route:

Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore , Indonesia and the Philippines

#2 – Southeast Asia itinerary (inc Myanmar and Malaysia)

This 3 month Southeast Asia itinerary is similar to the one above but it spends a little less time in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to allow for a month exploring Myanmar and Malaysia .

Overview: 2 weeks in Malaysia, 3 weeks in Thailand, 2 weeks in Myanmar, 10 days in Laos, 10 days in Cambodia, 2 weeks in Vietnam

Weeks 1-2: Malaysia

Malaysia is truly one of my favourite countries which is why I recommend visiting during your 3 months in Southeast Asia. In my 2 week Malaysia itinerary , I share three different itineraries suited to city, beach and nature lovers. Here’s a quick overview:

Days 1-2: Kuala Lumpur. Explore highlights in the Malaysian capital like the Petronas Towers, Chinatown, the Batu Caves and Little India. Use my 2 day KL itinerary to plan your trip. Days 3-5: Taman Negara . This ancient rainforest and national park in central Malaysia makes a great escape from the big city. You can stay overnight (I spent 3 days trekking and spotting wildlife on guided nature walks) or if you’re short on time, take a day tour from KL . Days 6-8: Cameron Highlands. Drink tea in the cool, lofty climate of this ex-British hill station. Days 9-11: Penang. Stay in Georgetown and explore the vibrant capital of Penang Island. Once you’re done with street art , street food , cool cafes and culture, you can take a day trip to Kek Lok Si Temple .

Days 12-14: Langkawi . Spend a few days snorkelling, beach-basking, taking boat trips and other activities in Langkawi , Malaysia’s most beautiful island.

How to get from Malaysia to Thailand: Of course you can fly from KL or Penang airports but this Southeast Asia backpacking route is all about overlanding! You can travel by bus and boat from Langkawi to the Thai islands without catching a flight. The Langkawi ferry arrives into Koh Lipe from where you can catch another ferry to Koh Lanta.

Week 3-6: Thailand

Spend 2-3 weeks in Southern Thailand depending how much you like beaches and nightlife. An itinerary could look like this (for descriptions about these places, see my #1 itinerary above). Days 16-19: Koh Lanta . Relax in island paradise. Days 20-21: Koh Phi Phi . Party and snorkel. Days 22-23: Krabi . Visit beaches and rock climb. Days 24-26: Koh Tao . Try your hand at diving or check out Koh Samui or Phangan instead. Days 27-30: Bangkok . Explore the Grand Palace and eat street food. Days 31-34: Chiang Mai . Visit temples and night markets. Head from Chiang Mai to Myanmar by bus or flight.

Week 6-7: Myanmar

Note – in 2022, Myanmar is not safe for travel due to the political situation. I will update this post if this changes. One of the most captivating and culturally rich countries I’ve been to is Myanmar, a must for your 3 month Southeast Asia itinerary. Tourism is still fresh compared to Thailand and it’s the perfect place to get off-the-beaten-track and see how locals live. Here’s how to spend 2 weeks… Days 35-36: Yangon. Explore the vibrant and busy city of Yangon. Visit 99-metre Shwedagon Pagoda, eat barbecued seafood on 19th Street, walk around Kandawgyi Lake and take a trip to pilgrimage site, the Golden Rock. Days 37-40: Bagan. With 1,000 years of history and hundreds of ancient temples to explore, there’s nowhere quite like Old Bagan. Stay within the temple site and explore the countryside by e-bike or day tour , finding shrines and pagodas as you go.

Days 41-43: Kalaw to Inle Lake trek. Arrive by bus into Kalaw and locate Sam’s Family restaurant and trekking company. They’ll take you on a multi-day adventure through the countryside destined for Inle Lake. Days 44-45: Inle Lake. Spend a few days exploring Inle Lake by boat, watching local fishermen row with their feet and visiting floating markets. Finish your day with a sunset Inle Lake tour . Days 46-48: Mandalay. Visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, travel to U Bein Bridge and watch sunset from the top of Mandalay Hill.

From Myanmar, fly back to Northern Thailand. When you arrive back in Chiang Mai, you can continue your Southeast Asia backpacking trip by taking a bus to Chiang Rai and boarding the slow boat to Laos. Alternatively, fly into Luang Prabang.

Week 8-9: Laos

Spend 2 weeks exploring the highlights of Laos. For descriptions about these stops, see my #1 itinerary above. Days 50-52: Luang Prabang. Visit temples and swim in Kuang Si Falls. Days 53-54: Vang Vieng. Try adrenaline activities and explore the countryside. Days 55-56: Vientiane . Visit the Laos capital. Days 57-58: Kong Lor . Cruise through this enormous cave complex by boat. Days 59-60: Pakse. Stop overnight. Days 61-63: Don Det, Four Thousand Islands. Relax and kayak to see river dolphins.

Week 9-10: Cambodia

Spend 2 weeks exploring the highlights of Laos. For descriptions about these stops, see my #1 Southeast Asia itinerary above. Days 65-67: Siem Reap . Explore Angkor Wat. Days 68-69: Kep . Relax and hike. Days 70-71: Kampot . Eat Kambot crab. Days 72-73: Koh Rong . Party and snorkel. Days 74-75: Koh Rong Samloem . Chill in paradise. Days 76-78: Phnom Penh. Catch a boat and bus combo ticket towards Saigon or for a quicker journey, a bus from Phnom Penh to Saigon.

Weeks 10-12: Vietnam

With two weeks in Vietnam, following this itinerary. Check out my 2 week Vietnam itinerary for more details. Days 80-81: Saigon. Explore War history and eat street food. Days 82-85: Hoi An. Soak up Hoi An Ancient Town and take day trips. Catch a night train from Da Nang to Hanoi. Days 86-87: Hanoi. Shop and eat in Hanoi Old Quater. Days 88-90: Ha Long Bay. Take a 1 or 2-night boat cruise. Days 91-93: Sapa. Hike in the mountains to finish this Asia itinerary.

#3 – Southeast Asia itinerary (inc Indonesia and the Philippines) 

For this final Southeast Asia backpacking itinerary, I’ll include two of my favourite countries: Indonesia and the Philippines. If you’re keen for beaches, diving and island-hopping, this is the Asia itinerary for you!

Overview: 2 weeks in Thailand, 1 week in Laos, 1 week in Cambodia, 2 weeks in Vietnam, 3 weeks in Indonesia, 3 weeks in the Philippines

Weeks 1-2: Thailand

Spend a week in the Southern Islands and a week in the North. For descriptions about these places, see my #1 Southeast Asia itinerary for 3 months (above). Days 1-2: Bangkok . Visit temples, museums, eat and party. Days 3-4: Krabi . Hike and rock climb. Days 5-7: Koh Lanta . Relax, snorkel and hike. Days 8-10: Koh Phi Phi . Enjoy the nightlife. Catch a ferry to Phuket and flight to… Days 11-13: Chiang Mai . Take cooking courses and visit temples. Days 13-14: Chiang Rai. Board the slow boat to Laos from Huay Xai.

Week 3: Laos

For a flying trip to Laos, stick to three locations. For descriptions about these places, see my #1 itinerary above. Days 16-17: Luang Prabang . Eat, temple-hop and chase waterfalls. Days 18-19: Vang Vieng. Take eco tours. Days 20-23: Don Det, Four Thousand Islands . Relax, unwind and spot dolphins.

Week 4: Cambodia

For a flying trip to Cambodia, stick to three locations. For descriptions about these places, see my #1 itinerary above. Days 25-26: Siem Reap . Marvel at Angkor Wat. Days 27-28: Kampot. Beaches and seafood. Days 29-30: Phnom Penh. Museums and history.

Weeks 5-6: Vietnam

Spend a glorious two weeks catching the highlights of Vietnam. Follow my 2 week Vietnam itinerary mentioned above. Days 33-34: Saigon. History and street food. Days 35-37: Hoi An. Wander lantern-lined streets and visit Hoi An cafes . Days 38-40: Hanoi. Explore the vibrant capital. Days 41-43: Ha Long Bay . Take a boat cruise . Days 44-45: Sapa. Hiker’s paradise!

Weeks 7-9: Indonesia

The captivating country of Indonesia is comprised of 17,000 islands, of which Bali, Lombok, the Gili trio and the Nusa islands are the most popular and accessible on the Southeast Asia backpacking route. While there are countless lesser-visited islands to explore, with just 3 weeks in Indonesia , I would suggest exploring both Java and Bali. Follow my Asia backpacking itinerary…

Week 7 (days 46-53): Java . Fly into Yogyakarta (you may need to transfer in Jakarta), the culture capital of Java island. Spend up to four days in Yogyakarta to explore the city’s highlights, sample Javanese food and take a day trip to Borobudur and Prambanan temple sites. Head overland towards Mount Bromo, an active volcano that you can hike for sunrise. Fly from Juanda Airport into Denpasar, Bali. Alternatively, take an overland tour (usually lasting 9 days) from Yogyakarta to Bali visiting Malang and Mount Bromo en route. This arrives in Bali by ferry. Weeks 8-9 (days 54-68) Bali : Spend two weeks in Bali to get the best of the island, from rich Hindu culture, unique Balinese architecture and fresh, veggie-friendly Balinese cuisine . Be sure to get off-the-beaten-track and find the Bali hidden gems especially in North Bali !

2 weeks in Bali

– 3 days in Ubud . Visit temples, rice fields, do yoga and indulge in the Ubud food scene. – 3 days in Canggu . Relax, eat, surf, repeat! – 3 days in Uluwatu . Visit Uluwatu Temple for sunset. – 4 days on Nusa Penida island. Swim with manta rays!

Weeks 9-12: The Philippines

I spent two whole months in the Philippines and can safely say it’s one of the most beautiful countries on earth. If you don’t have that long, no worries – just follow this Southeast Asia itinerary for 3 months. This condensed version whizzes around the Philippines’ highlights in just 3 weeks. There are countless Filipino islands to visit so do your research and pick the ones best suited to you. This 3 week Philippines itinerary includes Coron, Palawan, Cebu and Siargao. Day 69: Manilla. I didn’t love this city so I would recommend moving on fairly quickly to… Days 70-73: Coron . On this picture-perfect island, you can dive a shipwreck and explore beaches aplenty. Day 74: Ferry to El Nido , Palawan .

Days 75-77: Island hop in El Nido . Spend a couple of days taking boat trips, hiking to Taraw Peak and visiting Nacpan Beach. Days 78-79: Port Barton . Take more boat trips in Port Barton and find hidden gems in this less touristic version of El Nido. Days 80-82: Puerto Princesa . Visit the Underground River and watch prisoners perform hip hop dance shows to aid their rehabilitation at Iwahig Jail . Day 83: Fly to Cebu . This busy city isn’t the greatest so I’d suggest boarding a bus to… Days 84-86: Moalboal . Here you can snorkel with turtles and sardine shoals, hike to Osmena Peak and swim in Kawasan Falls. Days 87-90: Siargao. Finish your Southeast Asia itinerary in paradise! Things to do in Siargao include learning to surf and taking boat trips to nearby islands. To spend more time here, consider skipping Cebu and Moalboal.

Essentials for 3 months in Southeast Asia

• A power bank to keep your devices alive
• Copy of Lonely Planet Southeast Asia
• A GoPro if you’re into making videos – I use the HERO8 Black
• Sustainability: stainless steel reusable water bottle to reduce the use of plastic bottles
• Alternatively, a filtering water bottle that allows you to safely drink tap water
• Travel luggage: Osprey Farpoint backpack ( men’s ) ( women’s )
• Microfibre quick-drying towel
• Security: A handy bum bag with secure zip .

Southeast Asia bucket list

Check out my ultimate Asia bucket list including 101 experiences to tick off during your Southeast Asia itinerary for 3 months. For a quick rundown, here are my top 15… – Go temple-hopping in Chiang Mai – Take a Muay Thai boxing class – Celebrate Songkran Festival in Bangkok – Cruise through Ha Long Bay by boat in Vietnam – Watch sunset over Angkor Wat – Trek through misty mountains and earn about minority groups during a Sapa tour in Vietnam – Eat famous Penang street food in Malaysia – Climb the rainbow staircase at the Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur – Visit the world’s largest Buddhist temple site, Borobudur on Java Island, Indonesia – Dive with manta rays around the Nusa Islands, Indonesia – Dive a shipwreck in Coron, the Philippines – Take a cooking class in Hoi An, Vietnam (or anywhere else!) – Stay in a hostel and explore the nightlife with new friends – Learn a few words of a new language – Learn a new skill like kayaking, surfing or boxing.

Thanks for reading my Southeast Asia backpacking itinerary!

I hope you find it easy to follow my Southeast Asia backpacking route and have countless fantastic experiences along the way! Let me know how you get on.

If you liked it, please share it!

See you next time for more adventures,

Ps. Liked my 3 month Southeast Asia itinerary? Pin it for later! 

Rose is a solo traveller from the UK who has been on the road since 2015. She wants to show other women that solo travel isn't scary and doesn't have to be expensive! Rose has lived in Mexico, Canada and all over Asia, seeking out food, bubble tea and street art wherever she goes!

41 thoughts on “ 3 Month Southeast Asia Itinerary & Backpacking Route ”

What was your daily budget in SO Asia?

Probably about £30 per day!

The last plan is insane! i genuinely think i wanna follow it and do it! one thing tho, how do you commute between all these spots? it will be my first time travelling solo, so a bit nervous as you can imagine

Hello! Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam can all be done by land (mainly bus), Bali you usually need taxis to get around, and Philippines is about flights and boats! Most things can be booked there: just ask at your accom! 🙂 enjoy your trip!

Suuuuch a great website – thank you so much for the insanely helpful info ✌️

Thanks Raph! Enjoy your trip

Hi such great itineraries! i would like to follow the last plan but im a bit unsure how to get from sapa to Indonesia ive tried googling flights but cant find any. Any help would be great thank you!

Hi Elle! Glad you liked them. I would suggest bussing it back to Hanoi to get a flight 🙂

Hi, I’m looking to do the same route for 3 months, do you know how much money you left more or less between everything, to have an idea of the budget to take, thanks.

Hi Mark! On a backpackers budget, I’d say you could do it for as little as $1000 a month 🙂

Hi, thank you for these itineraries they’re amazing! I’m thinking of doing the last one including the phillipines/indonesia – in terms of budgeting does the above budget of approx 1000 dollars a month include flights between countries etc? I can see for some of these they’re super cheap but some a bit pricier so just wanted to triple check. Thank you!

Hi Lara! Great question, I would say my budget of 1000 did not include flights as I mainly took buses where possible. Best add a bit to the budget for them!

Hi, your blog has been so useful for me in planning my backpacking trip next year, they’re great itineraries! I’m probably going to follow your 3 month itinerary for the big 4 to start with, as then have another 3 months to spend in Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. I was wondering if you had a map or link to map of your 3 month itinerary with all the locations you visited? As would be great to see how all the locations look on a map to plan travel between those. Thanks

Hi B! I just made and added a map for each itinerary so check back:)

Hey Rose, I love your plans!! Just a quick one about the big 4 how did you get between them without flights and how much did it cost you. Thankyou so much!

Hello! Cambodia to Thailand can be done by bus; Northern Thailand to Laos can be done by bus and boat; Laos to Cambodia can be done by land too and so can Southern Vietnam to Cambodia by bus and boat. The only place you’ll want to fly is Laos to Northern Vietnam as the bus is hellish.

Check 12go for prices!

Hey Rose, really enjoyed reading through your guide as i am preparing my trip to the south at the end of this year. I will do slight the opposite, as i will start in Hanói and make my way down these countries as i plan to end my trip in Australia!

My question is related to Visas! do you have a guide or any advice how i can easily manage to get visas between the different countries? I am slightly worried about this. Apologies if you have this information in your guide but could’t find it.

Hi Jay, glad you liked the guide and hope you have an amazing trip!

All the visas vary per country and depending on what your passport is, and they change from time to time. So I don’t like to give advice and it be wrong – so I would recommend researching them individually 🙂

Hi Rose! This post has been super helpful learning the must see spots and some suggestions with routes. I am planning to go to South East Asia starting Oct/Nov until end of April. Do you have any suggestion on where to start so the weather works in the countries along the way. (Wanting to hit the 6 countries you listed)

Hi Sophia, sounds like a great trip! To my knowledge, they are all pretty good in that season… Apart from Northern Vietna which is cold in winter so maybe you want to save that region until like March!

Hi Rose! How far would you book accomodation and flights in advance?

Hello – accommodation you can do last minute, but flights between Asian countries I’d do a month in advance. For your flights out to Asia, try and do a few months before!

Hi Rose Very helpful post! Would you say that May-July might be too hot/humid/rainy for doing Thailand (including the gulf-side islands), Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam? Ideally would be a better trip Jan- April but timing means I’m likely to travel in May/ June from the UK. I know Malaysia and Indonesia are fine/great May- Sept but seems less so for Thailand/Indochina. Any thoughts?

Hello! I have only been in Vietnam in that season and it’s pretty hot but you can work around it. Not too sure about the others, sorry!

Hey Rose, awesome itineraries thank you 🙂 How far in advance would you recommend booking cross-border trains, boats and buses between South East Asian countries?

Hello, just a day or so before is fine!

Really great article. Thanks for taking the time to explain things in such great detail in a way that is easy to understand.

Absolutely Brilliant Rose Old fart going solo and planning 9-10mths. It’s given me the heads up ive been looking for to look into. Its either 1 or 3 Tks

Hey David! Have a amazing time!

Hey! I love this itinerary. I want to travel to SOA beginning of next year and want to take a very similar route to this one. I initially planned Feb – Apr, but someone warned me about burning season in north Thailand & Laos. Do you have any experience with this issue & how bad is it? If I start in January, are my chances of avoiding this better? Anyway, thanks for this post, it’s helped me tons with planning!

Hello, yes it’s pretty bad! I would avoid the region in Feb and March. Hope you can work around it and have a fab trip!

Hi Rose, this is super helpful – thank you! My wife and I will be spending 6 months in SE Asia next year and want too also include Borneo to go and try and see the orangutans. Would you recommend going from Bali or after the Philippines (potentially on the way back to KL or Bangkok)

Hi Laura, thanks for reading! I think you’ll find it easier and cheaper to get a return flight from KL so maybe do it as a side trip from there? That’s what I did anyway!

Incredible post thank you! Saved for our trip in a year’s time!

Woah, I got tired and anxious whilst reading? Btw, how did you manage accomodations? Did you book them in advance or book them as you arrive to the place? There’s a lot of jumping.

Lol, yes a lot of travel can be tiring and I’m sure anxiety-inducing for some. I usually just book on Hostelworld on my phone the day before arriving!

Hi! Thank you for such detailed itineraries. I’m thinking of doing the last one but only Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Philippines (leaving out Laos and Vietnam). But I only have 6-8 weeks. Do you think this would be possible?

Hi Emma, yes I think so, I would spend the most time in Thailand and Malaysia… Maybe just pick 1-2 places in the Philippines as moving around islands is time consuming!

Hi Rose, Thank you so much for this itinerary! I was wondering (in terms of the 3-month big four trail) if it could work better to fly from the UK to Phuket and start there then work our way up to Bangkok so that we don’t have to double-back on ourselves? Then follow the rest of the trail from there. We are yet to book our flights and thought this could be a good option?

Hello yes great idea! Enjoy!

Thanks Paula!

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Despite a fortified border, migrants will keep coming, analysts agree. Here's why.

Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Border Patrol picks up a group of people seeking asylum from an aid camp near Sasabe, Arizona, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Justin Hamel/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

Border Patrol picks up a group of people seeking asylum from an aid camp near Sasabe, Arizona, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

The U.S. southern border is as fortified as ever and Texas is carrying out its own enforcement to stop people from crossing illegally, yet observers and analysts agree on this: migrants not only will continue to come, but their numbers will likely increase in the coming months.

The expected surge can be attributed not only to seasonal migration patterns, but an increase of people displaced by war, poverty, and climate factors in all continents.

And why do these analysts say this?

They keep a close eye on the Darién Gap in Panama and the borders between Central American countries, two key points to gauge the number of people venturing up north.

"In most countries (outward) migration has increased ... particularly in Venezuela, and that's not really reflected yet in the U.S. numbers," said Adam Isacson, an analyst of border and migration patterns at the Washington Office on Latin America, a nonpartisan research and advocacy organization based in Washington D.C.

Despite Mexico's cracking down on migrants, Isacson said people are still making their way up north, even if they need to pause for months at different points during their journey.

"There must be a huge number of people from Venezuela bottled up in Mexico right now," he said.

The Darién Gap serves as a good barometer for migration flows.

This 100-mile-long tropical jungle between Colombia and Panama has claimed the lives of hundreds of migrants, according to a report from the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

Yet the dangers at this jungle are not a deterrent, said Ariel Ruiz Soto, a senior policy analyst with this organization. The majority of people migrating are from Venezuela.

"The reason why I referred to Venezuelans in particular is because they represent a key challenge for removals from Mexico and from the United States to Venezuela," Ruiz Soto said.

Mexico and the U.S. had been flying Venezuelan migrants back to the South American country . However, earlier this year, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stopped accepting flights from the U.S. in response to economic sanctions imposed by the Biden administration.

Panama reported a 2% increase in crossings through the Darién Gap in February compared to the previous month.

Aerial view showing migrants walking through the jungle near Bajo Chiquito village, the first border control of the Darien Province in Panama, on September 22, 2023. LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Aerial view showing migrants walking through the jungle near Bajo Chiquito village, the first border control of the Darien Province in Panama, on September 22, 2023.

What the numbers show

Analysts are projecting the increase in the remaining months of the fiscal year, even though U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a 2.2% decrease in encounters with migrants along the Southern border in March. An encounter is every time a migrant is picked up by immigration authorities.

These numbers are consistent with cyclical patterns of illegal crossings that dip in the winter months, followed by more migrants attempting to get to the U.S. as warm weather arrives, said Ruiz Soto.

In a statement, CBP Spokesperson Erin Waters said the agency remains vigilant to "continually shifting migration patterns" amid "historic global migration."

Waters said the agency has also been partnering with Mexico to curb the flow of people migrating to the U.S.

Mexico has commissioned its National Guard to patrol its borders with Guatemala and the U.S.

"CBP continues to work with our partners throughout the hemisphere, including the Government of Mexico, and around the world to disrupt the criminal networks who take advantage of and profit from vulnerable migrants," Waters said.

Where are migrants crossing the border?

For the last few months, more migrants are attempting to cross through Arizona instead of Texas, according to CBP.

In 2023, the El Paso and Del Rio sector in Texas saw more crossings than any other place across the 2,000-mile Southern border. But this year the Tucson sector in Arizona has seen a 167% increase in crossings, more than any other.

Tiffany Burrow, operations director at Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition, an assistance organization for newly border crossers in Del Rio, said she has seen the shift.

"It's empty," Burrow said, pointing to her organizations' office. "There are no migrants."

In March, she helped only three migrants after they were released by CBP pending their court date. In December, they helped 13,511 migrants.

Burrow said that's how migration works — it ebbs and flows.

"We have to be ready to adapt," Burrow said.

Texas Department of Safety Troopers patrol on the Rio Grande along the U.S.-Mexico border. Eric Gay/AP hide caption

Texas Department of Safety Troopers patrol on the Rio Grande along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Texas' role

Burrow and other immigrant advocates are closely observing Texas' ramping up of border enforcement.

In 2021 Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star initiative and deployed the Texas National Guard. Last year the state started lining up razor wire in sections of the Rio Grande.

Texas is also asking the courts to be allowed to implement a law passed last year by the Republican-controlled legislature, known as SB4, which requires local and state police to arrest migrants they suspect are in the country illegally.

It might be too early to know if all these efforts will have an impact on migration patterns, analysts said, considering that Texas saw the highest number of illegal crossings last year.

But, Mike Banks, special advisor on border matters to Abbott, said the state's efforts are fruitful.

Texas has spent over $11 billion in this initiative.

"The vast majority of the United States' southern border is in Texas, and because of Texas' efforts to secure the border, more migrants are moving west to illegally cross the border into other states," said Mike Banks in a statement to NPR.

Ruiz Soto, from the Migrant Policy Institute, said the impact of Texas' policies on arrivals "is likely to be minimal over the long term."

Carla Angulo-Pasel, an assistant professor who specializes in border studies and international migration at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, said that even with Texas' policies in place, migrants are likely to continue to cross.

"You can't claim, as much as I think Gov. Abbott wants to claim, that Operation Lone Star is going to somehow mean that you're going to see less numbers in Texas because that hasn't held true," Angulo-Pasel said. "We could also argue that things are going to progressively get more and more as the spring months progress."

Business | Key Bridge collapse: First large ships leave…

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Business | Key Bridge collapse: First large ships leave Port of Baltimore using deeper temporary channel

The first of 11 ships trapped for a month behind the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge left the Port of Baltimore Thursday using an alternate shipping channel that opened earlier in the morning.

Balsa 94, a cargo ship, sailed just before 10 a.m. with the help of two tugboats, passing chunks of the fallen steel bridge and the still grounded Dali freighter that crashed into and destroyed the span March 26. The Balsa is headed to Saint John, Canada, where is should arrive by early next week.

It was followed shortly before noon by the Saimaagracht, a Netherlands-flagged general cargo ship.

Coast guard officials said Thursday the channel had a depth of 38 feet, not 35 feet as originally announced. It is the deepest yet of four temporary, alternate routes in and out of the port. But the new Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel, for commercially essential vessels, will stay open only through 6 a.m. Monday, or through Tuesday if weather adversely affects transit.

“The primary focus of this four-day period is to allow the ships that have remained within the Port of Baltimore since the March 26 incident to leave,” port officials said in a statement Wednesday.

The port has been blocked to most vessel traffic since the Dali struck a bridge support column March 26, causing the 1.6-mile bridge to collapse and killing six construction workers.

Five of the vessels stranded in the Baltimore harbor, including a car carrier, are expected to get out during the four-day window, said Capt. David O’Connell, the Coast Guard’s Captain of the Port for the Key Bridge Response Unified Command. Inbound vessels are expected include a small bulk carrier and a ship carrying aluminum, he said.

Four of the 11 cargo ships docked at berths in the port have no “immediate” plans to depart just yet. They are part of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force, a fleet established in 1976 to quickly supply American troops around the world. A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration said Wednesday that he knew of no immediate plans to move those ships from the port.

Several vessels also were headed toward Baltimore’s port as of Thursday morning. They included Strategic Tenacity, which stopped south of the Bay Bridge and was approached by a pilot boat a little after 8 a.m. but was then at anchor, and Frisian Ocean, a cargo ship that had been at anchor south of the Bay Bridge for several days.

Other that might arrive in the coming days include the Fu Quan Shan, which is in Bermuda but reports an estimated arrival in Baltimore late Saturday and Lake Wanaka, a vehicle carrier near Canada estimated to arrive in Baltimore on Sunday.

Here’s more of what we know:

— The nonmilitary vessels trapped behind the wreckage are berthed around the harbor from Seagirt Marine Terminal and the Canton industrial waterfront to a coal pier in Curtis Bay.

— Two likely need to wait before they can leave, based on their required draft depth, including the bulk carrier Klara Oldendorf, sailing under the flag of Madeira, and the coal carrier JY River, sailing under the flag of Liberia. Both need a nearly 50-foot channel to sail when loaded.

The bulk carrier Klara Oldendorf tied up at Consol Marine Terminal in the Canton Industrial Area is one of several large ships stuck in the port following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)

— Others that have been stuck in port but may be able to depart include:

Palanca Rio — an oil/chemical tanker sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands Carmen — a vehicle carrier sailing under the flag of Sweden Phatra Naree — a bulk carrier sailing under the flag of Thailand

— The Carmen, owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen, needs 37 feet of water when fully loaded but likely will be able to depart using the new channel. The Norway-based shipping line said earlier this month that it estimates a monthlong financial impact in the range of $5 million to $10 million from the Carmen being stuck in Baltimore.

“Our vessel M/V Carmen is still at berth in the port awaiting clearance to sail once the channel reopens,” that statement said. “Planned cargo operations were completed at the port prior to the bridge collapse, and the vessel and crew are ready to sail as soon as the channel is reopened.”

— The other four ships all require less draft than the 38 feet that the newly opening channel offers. The Saimaagracht needs nearly 35 feet, but only when fully loaded. The Phatra Naree needs 33.5 feet when loaded; the Palanca [Rio needs as many as 29 feet; and the Balsa 94 needs just 22 feet.

– The newest channel is available along with three other temporary channels, with depths of 11, 14 and 20 feet. The new channel will be marked with lighted aids and limited to transit at the discretion of the Coast Guard’s Captain of the Port based on weather conditions.

— Vessels must be operated by a Maryland State pilot and escorted by two tugboats at speeds at or below 5 knots because of the channel’s proximity to the grounded Dali. Ships with more than 60,000 long tons of displacement will most likely not be allowed through the channel.

— After shutting down next week, the 35-foot channel will not reopen until around May 10, to allow salvage crews to begin lifting steel off the Dali and using a hydraulic grabber to clear debris from the harbor’s main 50-foot shipping channel. The Army Corps of Engineers expects to reopen the Port of Baltimore’s permanent 700-foot wide, 50-foot deep channel by the end of May.

— The first three temporary channels have been in use by smaller vessels and barges. Domino Sugar, which has a refinery on the Inner Harbor in Baltimore’s Locust Point, posted on Facebook that the sugar barge Jonathan, which regularly delivers shipments of raw sugar to the refinery, returned Wednesday using the 20-foot navigation channel.

“Thank you to the Coast Guard and the entire Unified Command who made this possible,” the manufacturer said in its post.

Baltimore Sun reporters Angela Roberts and Dan Belson and photographer Jerry Jackson contributed to this article.

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Mother's warning after son's 8-month Turks and Caicos prison sentence: ‘It's not behind us'

Three american tourists are detained on turks and caicos islands for violating a strict firearm and ammunition law, and a mother whose son was imprisoned for months is warning tourists not to go to the popular vacation destination, by leslie gaydos • published april 24, 2024 • updated on april 24, 2024 at 7:35 pm.

NBC10 Boston first broke the story about American tourists who have been charged with possession of ammunition after vacationing on the islands of Turks and Caicos . Upon conviction, the charge comes with a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years in prison, except where the court finds exceptional circumstances.

There are currently three U.S tourists being held on bail for firearms and ammunition prosecutions, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Turks and Caicos Islands Attorney General’s Chambers and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Consumer investigative reporter Leslie Gaydos spoke with Teresea Pfau, the mother of an Indiana man who was released in February after receiving an eight-month prison sentence on the Island. She is speaking out after learning there are more U.S. citizens potentially facing a similar fate as her son.

“It has been one of the most traumatic times of my life,” Pfau shared.

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She says she is closely following the story of Americans Ryan Watson and Bryan Hagerich, who are currently detained in Turks and Caicos Islands on charges of possession of ammunition.

Pfau’s son Michael Grimm was sentenced last year for the same offense.

“It's very heartbreaking because I know the pain that they're going through,” Pfau said.

Her family was vacationing in the British Overseas Territory last August when her son mistakenly brought ammunition in a bag he used during a previous trip, according to Pfau.

“He did not have a gun. And, you know, there was no violence involved. And so we really did hold out hope that he would possibly get a very hefty fine,” said Pfau. “Maybe he would get, you know, barred from ever returning. But once everything was set into motion, you know, it was a devastating experience.”

She said the family spent more than $100,000 on an extended stay, bail money and attorney fees and were constantly worried about Grimm’s safety.

“It was the hardest time in my life and for our immediate family, and feeling helpless that there was nothing that we could do,” Pfau said.

“Just the trying to arrange to see him or speak with him was the biggest, I think, barrier,” Pfau shared about the experience of having her son in prison on the Island, adding, “knowing the conditions — the prison had been sanctioned by the U.N. for unsanitary conditions.”

She told Gaydos she often worried about whether or not her son was safe or healthy.

Grimm spent more than five months in prison in Grand Turk before being released in February. Pfau said she and her son are still processing their traumatic experience.

“We both have sought professional services to help us deal with this trauma and this PTSD, so it's not behind us. So we're just trying to figure out how we can be helpful to others who may be in this situation and how we can make a change, whether it's through the embassy, the travel alerts or in any way that we can. We don't want anyone else to ever have to experience this,” Pfau said.

At a State Department news conference, a representative addressed the detainment of Watson and Hagerich: “We're aware of the arrest of U.S. citizens in Turks and Caicos. When a U.S. citizen is arrested, we stand by ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance, but in a foreign country, U.S. citizens are subject to the country's laws, even if they may differ from what is law in the United States.”

On Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas re-issued an alert urging all travelers going to Turks & Caicos Islands to carefully check their luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing from the United States.

And the Turks and Caicos Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions issued a statement Wednesday saying the islands’ firearm ordinance “requires the Supreme Court to impose a mandatory minimum sentence and fine for certain firearm offenses, except in circumstances where the court finds that there are exceptional circumstances.”

The statement went on to add that there have been five separate cases within a two-year period where the Supreme Court of the islands found exceptional circumstances: only four of the offenders were fined and one was given a custodial sentence below the mandatory minimum.

Grimm’s eight-month sentence was below the mandatory minimum of 12 years in prison.

The director of public prosecutions said in their statement, “8 firearms and ammunitions prosecutions in total were done involving tourists from the United States, 3 of which are currently before the court with each of the defendants on bail.”

pic.twitter.com/Kz31Ng5wJk — TCIG Communications Directorate (@TCIG_Press) April 24, 2024

Ryan Watson is one of those three. He was let out on bail today pending his next hearing.

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Mass. gas prices currently under national average, but expected to rise this summer

Though it feels like spring has just arrived, the summer travel season is right around the corner. As school lets out, drivers will be hitting the road for vacations, family get-togethers and graduations.

And leading into the summer travel there's one question that is always on people's mind: What will gas prices look like?

Prices enter an upward trajectory simply based on demand in the spring and summer, said AAA North East spokesperson Mark Schieldrop, starting to increase late winter and ramping up in the spring before peaking in mid-June. After this point they stabilize before lowering in the fall.

New England gas prices to rise this summer

Based on current projections, Schieldrop believes this year that the fuel gouge will not be a price gauge for New England drivers.

"(Prices) should stay where they are before rising about 30 to 40 cents in the next couple months, assuming steady increase in demand with summer driving season," he said.

Massachusetts gas prices as of April 23 average $3.574, according to AAA. The national average is $3.667.

Schieldrop qualified that hard numbers are tricky to come by, as the oil and gas markets are commodity-based, which means prices are determined through anticipation of changes in supply and demand.

As a result, the "market can be emotional and reactive," said Schieldrop, such as rising in responses to geopolitical tensions in oil producing countries.

Domestic oil production at 'record high'

Though there was initial concern following the drone attacks against Israel by Iran, Schieldrop said he has not seen prices rise due to the news. Part of that, he said, is due to a particularly high domestic inventory in the New England region.

"If anything, oil prices have been falling and that helps," he said. Oil is trading below $90 a barrel, which is on the low side and good for drivers, as the price of oil directly impacts the price of gas.

Gas prices are going back up: These states have seen the biggest increases lately

"We have more in reserve than we had last year," he said. Which means there is no danger of a supply crunch in the Northeast driving up prices.

Not only that, but demand is actually trending behind numbers from this time last year. Naturally, this will change as the season progresses; however, there is "room for demand growth without impacting inventories." This translates to a buffer for increased demand this summer without raising prices.

Quick tips to save on gas

This isn't to say you're completely at the mercy of forces outside your control when it comes to lowering your gas expenses. There are still things you can do while driving to maximize fuel economy.

Barring a summer scorcher, take a moment to consider if you really need that air conditioning for the whole trip. Air conditioning consumes gas, so try to open the windows first.

Also, being a speed demon can add up, so avoid hard acceleration and braking whenever possible, according to Consumer Reports . Once you reach the desired speed, drive evenly — smooth driving, acceleration and braking all help conserve fuel.

With any luck, this news means that the gas mileage won't take too much of a bite out of your travel budget this summer, whether it's going to see mom for Mother's Day or that long-awaited post-graduation road trip.