City events in Europe:
Most of the places you visit you will know nothing about the city, very little about the culture, and have no idea where to go or what to see. It is a very overwhelming feeling at first, but with some patience you will get a feel for the city. Most hostels and hotels give you a map of the city when you check in and give you a few key sites you need to see. The maps usually have these labeled also. Almost all hostels have information on various historical and cultural tours you can take through the city, and these are cheap and great options to learn a lot about the city; I highly recommend them. For going out at night, most cities have beer tours (aka pub crawls), which is exactly what it sounds like. You and a group of people pay for the tour (usually around €15) and a guide takes you from bar to bar for the night. Usually the first drink is free at each bar and any additional drinks you need to pay for, and most of the tours end in a nightclub. These are some of the most fun ways to go out in a city. You meet many different people and get a good taste of what the nightlife is like. The people who work at the hostels usually are young people and have a good sense of good places to go out when not on a tour.
When you get to the city, try to find out as much about the culture as you can. You do not want to inadvertently offend anyone, and having knowledge of the culture will give you a better perspective of the city. Most of the locals will be more inclined to help you if you attempt to speak the language and show you have a respect for their culture. Most of them will want to practice their English anyway, so you don’t have to worry about getting too far into a conversation in another language.
If you’re looking for local events, go on whatsonwhen.com or a similar website. You can put in the dates you’re at a certain city, and it will give you all the local events happening during that time. These really enhance the backpacking experience.
My favorite way to really see a city is to just get up one morning and just walk. Don’t have a specific destination, just start at the hostel or middle of the city and just walk around, see where it takes you. You will get the best sense of direction from the city this way, and you will likely run into a lot of sights you would not normally see. Pick a random restaurant to eat at when you’re hungry and have a good time exploring! Bring your map so you can get home, but being lost is good, that’s the point.
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