Backpacking: travel on a small budget

In short: Backpacking refers to flexible, usually longer travel with a backpack as the only luggage and a deliberately small budget. Cheap accommodation, public transport, and flexible route planning make this travel style affordable for many people.

In more detail: Instead of booking everything in advance, backpackers often only plan the first few days firmly and decide the rest of the route spontaneously, based on other travelers’ recommendations.

In detail

• Hostels instead of hotels: Shared dorm rooms in hostels are significantly cheaper than hotel rooms and often offer good opportunities to meet other travelers.
• Light luggage: A well-thought-out backpack with only the essentials significantly eases long walks and frequent transport changes.
• Local public transport: Buses and trains instead of taxis or rental cars significantly cut travel costs and allow more authentic insights.
• Street food: Cheap, local food at market stalls saves money and often offers a more intense culinary experience than restaurants.
• Travel communities: Finding other backpackers in hostels or through travel apps reduces costs for shared accommodation or tours.
• Travel insurance: Despite the frugality, health insurance abroad should never be where you cut costs (reiseversicherungen-ueberblick).
• Safety awareness: Hiding valuables well and securing important documents digitally protects against the typical risks of backpacking (notfall-im-ausland).