My Europe Grad Trip

5 weeks 10 countries visited 13 train rides

I will give you a brief review of my Europe Grad Trip (only brief review, as this trip was over 4 years ago). Having planned this trip since my first year of university, I saved a lot through my numerous part time jobs. I felt like being able to do this kind of trip with my closest friends can only be done right after graduation as its the only time when you and your friends can have that much time off. Once we start working full time, it will be close to impossible to coordinate a trip of this magnitude.

Paris

Notable Sights & Activities

  • Sacré-Cœur Basilica & Montmartre
  • L’Arc de Triomphe (too bad half of it was covered in scaffolding)
  • Eiffel Tower
  • Notre-Dame
  • Eating Duck Confit

Zurich

Notable Sights & Activities

  • Uetliberg
  • Bahnhofstrasse
  • Eating delicious chocolates!

Milan & Como

Notable Sights & Activities

  • Duomo di Milano
  • Sforza Castle
  • Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
  • San Siro
  • Lots and lots of pizza

Pisa

Notable Sights & Activities

Cinque Terre

Notable Sights & Activities

  • Hiking between villages
  • Eating amazing seafood!

Venice

Notable Sights & Activities

  • Piazza San Marco
  • Rialto Bridge
  • Grand Canal

Vienna

Notable Sights & Activities

  • Schönbrunn Palace
  • Hofburg
  • Belvedere
  • St. Stephen’s Cathedral
  • Karlskirche
  • Mozarthaus
  • Eating the best cake I have ever eaten!
  • Watching an orchestra

Budapest

Notable Sights & Activities

  • Buda Castle
  • Hungarian Parliament Building
  • Bath Party at Széchenyi thermal bath
  • House of Terror Museum

Bratislava

Notable Sights & Activities

  • St Martin’s Cathedral
  • Old Town Hall
  • Main Square
  • Blue Church
  • Slavín monument
  • Cooking Halušky at the hostel
  • Watching X-Men: Days of Future Past at Eurovea

Prague

Notable Sights & Activities

  • Charles Bridge
  • Prague Castle
  • Church of Our Lady before Týn
  • Astronomical Clock
  • First time trying Absinthe at the Prague Pub Crawl

Berlin

Notable Sights & Activities

  • Brandenburg Gate
  • Reichstag building
  • Checkpoint Charlie
  • Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
  • Berlin Wall
  • DDR Museum
  • Topography of Terror
  • Deutsches Historisches Museum
  • Playing table tennis in a bar while at the Alternative Pub Crawl
  • Eating Currywurst

Amsterdam

Notable Sights & Activities

  • Red Light District
  • Oude Kerk
  • Checking out a “Coffee” shops
  • Eating a stroopwafel

Brussels

Notable Sights & Activities

  • Grand Place
  • Manneken Pis
  • Eating Belgian Waffles and Fries

The Sum Of My Europe Grad Trip

Overall, I think I was able to spend wisely during my travels. The five week trip cost me $5,033.05 CAD. We got the Eurail Pass, which we took full advantage as we took trains for getting around the cities. Also going in May saved us from high season flight and accommodation prices. Even though I spent all the money that I had and came back broke, I definitely had no regrets!

Categories $ (CAD)
Total 5,033.05
Flights 1,361.73
Food & Drinks 967.49
Train & Metro 1,165.24
Accomodation 953.42
Other 259.57
Activities 325.60