Disappointing photos show what backpacking across Europe is really like

I’d seen it all over Instagram — backpackers posing in otherwise empty cityscapes and epic natural scenes, with inspirational captions about life being an adventure.

I started traveling with just a backpack before I took on the role as a travel reporter for Business Insider five years ago, when I realized I needed to lighten my load to make it easier to hit the road for longer periods.

In August 2022, I spent a week backpacking for the first time through Eastern Canada.

My backpack and I traveled from Niagara Falls to Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City by train, and it turned out to be much easier than I’d originally thought.

So, two months later, when I planned a two-week train trip through Europe, I pushed myself to travel extra light again.

I traveled across Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, exploring Berlin, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Milan, and Zurich, sleeping in shared train cabins and booking budget Airbnbs to save money.

It was my first time visiting each country and backpacking in Europe.

Initially, I felt like I was living the life of a young adult on a gap year.

But I quickly realized backpacking Europe wasn’t as glamorous as it looks on social media.

My trip was full of hardships that I rarely see posts about.