25 ARTS AND LIFESTYLE Put Backpacking through Europe on your Bucket List

Co-Lead of Investigations, Emma Hanrahan, offers a delightful piece detailing her interrailing experience last summer.

Hanrahan describes her trip last summer which included stops in Italy, Germany and France. She discusses her facourite parts of the various places she visited, reflects on what she wants to do differently next time and sells you on the interrailing experience.

Ah January, the most boring month of the year in my opinion. It is dull and grey and filled with reluctant exercise. I told myself that this time next year I will be able to run a 5k… let us all laugh. However, I also told myself that I will continue to travel and try to leave Ireland as many times as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I love our little island, but nothing helps ease the pain of a rain-soaked commute to college like planning a summer holiday.

Last year, I bought my first Interrail ticket. I had always wanted to travel but following 2 years of lockdowns and online school I yearned to go somewhere new. Growing up I had heard so many stories about others running after trains, contorting languages beyond comprehension, falling in love with new places and befriending new people. If you are a European citizen, the Interrail experience is a rite of passage, and last June it was my turn to carry the massive backpack.

I began my Interrail journey in Rome, as a former student of art history and a current lover of pasta; I was delighted to begin my adventure in Italy. I still remember the giddiness I felt knowing that I wasn’t going home after 4 whole days of exploring the capital!

I took my first train from Rome to Milan, where I stayed for only a few hours, leaving the aforementioned backpack in a locker at the train station. I was there just long enough to walk through the Galleria and take a photo in front of the famous Duomo before I had to leave.

My next destination was Salzburg. I was sad to leave Italy but happy to leave the heat as although I managed to escape sunburn, I didn’t escape the mosquito bites! My train from Milan to Salzburg was an overnight train, which would be perfectly fine if I had the foresight to book a cabin – I didn’t. All I will say is that people who choose to ride public transport in bare feet are not good people.

Salzburg was a last minute addition to my route but I was delighted that I stopped there, one day was enough to see most of the main tourist attractions and enough time to sing the entire Sound of Music soundtrack out of tune, in my case anyway.

The next destination was Germany. I spent the day in Munich before travelling to Berlin. I was pleasantly surprised by the Bavarian food, but I solidified my aversion to beer. Berlin was overwhelming, there is so much to see and do. I definitely need to go back.

The next stop was Amsterdam. I’ll tell you what I told my mom; I didn’t eat any brownies. But I did rent a boat to drive along the canals. I highly recommend such a unique way to see the city and you don’t need a license!

I went from Amsterdam to Brussels where I ate my weight in chips and chocolate and they definitely lived up to the hype. The trip then culminated in Paris. It was amazing to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle in real life, but honestly I expected more of the Mona Lisa…

Before I started organising my trip I thought that the Interrail package consisted of predetermined routes through Europe that travellers could choose from, but the reality was far more flexible! I bought the “Interrail Global Pass” that allowed 7 travel days. This was perfect for me as I only spent a fortnight abroad. However, there are many different passes available online.

One of the main things that I learned during my trip is that not everything will go to plan, regardless of how thoroughly you organise in advance, but that’s ok! Some of my best memories resulted from unexpected situations. In fairness, I would have never anticipated that the French rail drivers would go on strike! But as long as you download the Rail Planner app, Google Maps, Google Translate, and Revolut all obstacles will quickly be overcome. (The joys of technology!)

This summer, I plan to pack the massive backpack again and travel another route. That’s the joy of Interrailing, there are so many different places to visit! I really want to see Vienna and Lake Bled in Slovenia, perhaps even Croatia? I still haven’t decided, but as I said, that’s something to think about on the 46A on the way to my first lecture.