I'll be backpacking Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, and Barcelona for 18 days mid-August. Any suggestions on things to see/do, eat, where to stay (hostels), transportation, etc would be greatly appreciated!

I can only say for Berlin and Amsterdam, but Berlin has tons of museums. The Museum of German History is always awesome, same as the Berlin Zoo. You also have the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate. Theres Check-point Charlie and the Berlin Wall.
Amsterdam, aside from a coffee shop experience which is whatever really, something to just brag and say you did it I suppose. Theres a canal tour you can do which is pretty sweet. There's the Van Gough Museum, Anne Franks House, could rent a bike and ride through Vondelpark, or go to Lisse,and check out the Keukenhof Gardens.
Honestly there's so much to see and do depending on budget and if you have a car or taking transit. Thats some of the things I've experienced within those 2 cities.

Red light district in Amsterdam. It is serious like Disneyland. It will be one of the oddest things you see. Totally not what you think it is, but worse at the same time...haha.

like Disneyland ? You gotta be kidding. Also, Red Light District is mostly closed now. There are very few prostitutes in the windows anymore these days.

Yep, Disneyland. It was the weirdest thing I have experienced. It wasn't sleazy like I picture North American establishments and there were people walking around everywhere. Kids even. They have a completely different view of prostitution there. It reminded me of the hustle at the Fringe festival.

When I as there a year ago, it looked alive and well when we walked up and down it at 1am.

Being Dutch, I know that the views are a lot different there. But I don't get the relation to Disneyland. Unless you like to go on different "rides" at the red light district... Amsterdam is much much much much more than a few hookers behind windows. Cool to see, but you've done it in about an hour.

I never said it was something that would take a day or two, just an interesting stop along the way. It is something that is so outside of our culture that it is worth seeing. You may not agree, and you don't have to, but aspects of it reminded me of Disneyland. "Rides" aside, it is something that is unlike anything we have here in Canada (or the US for that matter - I've even been to New Orleans, it isn't the same). It reminded me more of a fair than what we know of a red light district. To me it didn't even seem to be about the prostitutes. Regardless, I still think it is something that is worth going to see.

a fair? Maybe there was a fair in town (damsquare) when you went to Amsterdam, but there is no fair like things at in the red light district lol. Who knows, maybe you went somewhere else but the red light district I don't know. But the red light district known as red light district is far from a disneyland type idea lol. It's old buildings some of which have prostitues working the windows, there's some sexual cinema's a gazillion coffeeshops and some sex shops and souvenir shops. None of which scream Disneyland to me lol. You're the first person ever who compares the red light district to Disneyland

I love Barcelona, one of my favourite cities in Europe!! Seeing Gaudi's works are incredible (especially parc guell), la Sagrada familia is a must see, the gothic quarter is stunning, las ramblas street is a must see, the boqueria market is amazing

Absolutely stay at sant jordi Rock hostel in Barcelona it's very centrally located and excellent ppl there.

Make sure you go to central Prague at night - it's magical and less crowded

If you are backpacking you might not have a lot of money..after you see the Eiffel Tower you can cross the street and go down the area where the boats are day or night and take a tour but down there along the river the locals party with their own music and dance. It is neat to be around because young people go around selling water beer etc cheap and it is a really cool atmosphere! I believe they even sell water and beer cheaply on the main stairs down to the boats if you sit there a bit.
Barcelona is awesome, I took professional tours and hop on and off tour busses, which was all cool but what sticks in my mind was the amazing shopping, the tapas, the way the city is alive late at night with many people not eating dinner till 10 pm, and the 5 km long Beach where I was the only person in a 1 piece top & bottom bathing suit that I saw ! Lots of men and ladies completely naked. ..a little different for me. The highlight was renting these motorized skateboard things with a long pole and handlebar and zipping up and down the beach! Very cool. Really good shopping beside Hard Rock Cafe. Everything on sale in your size and so cute! Huge line up if you eat there. .put your name on the list then shop for awhile. Most people like to eat outside in the little outdoor areas attached to the restaurants. Slurpees near the beach were 7 euros for a small. In Paris you can get anywhere by subway easily and behind Note Dame Church area is a kind of hidden place that has millions of fast and normal food restaurants of every kind, forget what it is called but you can't see it from main streets.
I also really loved the Catacombs by a main subway but go earlier in the day as with the Eiffel Tower!

Hope you have the accommodations (hostels) booked already. They fill up fast, esp. in summer.There are 4 or 5 hostels in Paris. They were all full when I was there. Found one 30 min. train ride away. And have a Hostel International membership card. Some hostels will not take you without one.

I would look into a euro train pass 10 stops or a train pass unlimited for a month. One way to save is to catch overnight trains . See if you can get outside of these cities as well. The tulips just outside of amsterdam are unbelievable. The anne frank and van gogh museums are musts. Barcelona is beautiful. Be careful at night along los ramblas . The musee d 'orsay is stunning in Paris. Prague is one of the nicest cities to come into .

We toured with Busabout and they took us to each city on their itinerary safely a drink gave us hints about getting accommodation and foid at each locale recommend it highly.

We backpacked thru Europe for 7 weeks years ago and the routine that we found worked best was to immediately hit the local tourist bureau. Walking tours were always the best - most informative, funniest, great insights and hidden gems. Other than that, I'd just say, "Don't trust the salesmen/scammers as you get off the train or you might end up in the most disgusting hostels in Europe." ?

If you have time in Amsterdam, I'd recommend a day trip outside the city to Bruges or somewhere else in holland. The rijksmuseum is really awesome if you are into art! And the canal tours are really pretty to see some architecture. In Berlin definitely go to the Brandenburg tor and Reichstag. I personally liked the gate better at night. Other must sees are the Jewish memorial, checkpoint Charlie, and the east side gallery. If you like history I'd recommend the story of Berlin, it's really interesting. And there are daytrips to the sachsenhausen concentration camp from WW2.
Have a great trip!

Oh and try currywurst in Berlin, it's delicious!

Do a beer spa in Prague, it's awesome!

Michelle Sherif

Hostell in Amsterdam. All female hostel.

My boyfriend did a bike tour when in Barcelona. He just loved it. He's going with me and we are doing a pedi-cab tour (I am lazy).

Just got back from Amsterdam,Paris,Munich and Milan. Best advice I can give is be religious about using a money belt. The thieves are good. They got my family twice. Once in Paris for a lot of $$ and in Italy in the subway. Unbuttoned my dads back pocket and stole his wallet. He wouldn't have even noticed but my daughter saw