u/Character-Level5145

First Europe Trip After Graduation — Best Budget Route After Rome? (~$1.5k ground budget)

Planning a first Europe trip with a group of friends right after we graduate next spring, and trying to figure out how to keep it affordable and pick the best route after Rome.

We’re starting with ~4 days in Rome (Colosseum, Vatican, Trevi, etc.), staying in a budget hostel near Termini and relying mostly on walking/buses and cheap food.

After that, the rough plan is to head north:
Rome → Florence → Dolomites → Austria → Munich (fly out)

But nothing is locked in — we’ve also talked about Cinque Terre and other spots in Italy. Main goal is to find a route that:

• stays cheap (target ~$1.5k per person excluding flights, ~$2.2k total with airfare)
• has great scenery and “first-time Europe” highlights
• is easy to get around (train/bus friendly)
• has solid budget hostels + food
• ends in a good city to fly home from (Munich is current idea)

Would love advice on:

1. Cheapest way to get between cities (rail passes vs booking individually vs buses)
2. Best stops between Rome and Munich (or completely different routes worth considering)
3. Places that are especially good for students/young travelers on a budget
4. Whether we should stick mostly to Italy or branch into Austria/Germany

Appreciate any tips from people who’ve done similar trips!

Planning a first Europe trip with a group of friends right after we graduate next spring, and trying to figure out how to keep it affordable and pick the best route after Rome.

We’re starting with ~4 days in Rome (Colosseum, Vatican, Trevi, etc.), staying in a budget hostel near Termini and relying mostly on walking/buses and cheap food.

After that, the rough plan is to head north:
Rome → Florence → Dolomites → Austria → Munich (fly out)

But nothing is locked in — we’ve also talked about Cinque Terre and other spots in Italy. Main goal is to find a route that:

• stays cheap (target ~$1.5k per person excluding flights, ~$2.2k total with airfare)
• has great scenery and “first-time Europe” highlights
• is easy to get around (train/bus friendly)
• has solid budget hostels + food
• ends in a good city to fly home from (Munich is current idea)

Would love advice on:

1. Cheapest way to get between cities (rail passes vs booking individually vs buses)
2. Best stops between Rome and Munich (or completely different routes worth considering)
3. Places that are especially good for students/young travelers on a budget
4. Whether we should stick mostly to Italy or branch into Austria/Germany

Appreciate any tips from people who’ve done similar trips!

Planning a first Europe trip with a group of friends (5 give or take) right after we graduate next spring, and trying to figure out how to keep it affordable and pick the best route after Rome.

We’re starting with ~4 days in Rome (Colosseum, Vatican, Trevi, etc.), staying in a budget hostel near Termini and relying mostly on walking/buses and cheap food.

After that, the rough plan is to head north:
Rome → Florence → Dolomites → Austria → Munich (fly out)

But nothing is locked in — we’ve also talked about Cinque Terre and other spots in Italy. Main goal is to find a route that:

• stays cheap (target ~$1.5k per person excluding flights, ~$2.2k total with airfare)
• has great scenery and “first-time Europe” highlights
• is easy to get around (train/bus friendly)
• has solid budget hostels + food
• ends in a good city to fly home from (Munich is current idea)

Would love advice on:

1. Cheapest way to get between cities (rail passes vs booking individually vs buses)
2. Best stops between Rome and Munich (or completely different routes worth considering)
3. Places that are especially good for students/young travelers on a budget
4. Whether we should stick mostly to Italy or branch into Austria/Germany

Appreciate any tips from people who’ve done similar trips!

- Day 1: Arrival 12ish | bus to hotel | lunch |Pantheon | Piazza Navona | walk to trevi | Bus Home | Check in | late dinner 1ST NIGHT ROMA

- Day 2: Mid-Morning hike to coloseum 45 minute walk | palantine hill and forum | Lunch at a street vendor| other forums | Capitaline Hill | Victor Emmanuel II | Busride home| dinner | Walk around or sleep| 2ND NIGHT ROMA  

 - Day 3: Bus ride to Vatican City | St. Peters Basilica around 8ish | Dome tour | Lunch | Walk or bus |Baths of Diocletian | Explore | Dinner | 3RD NIGHT ROMA

- Day 4: Bus to Vatican museum mid-morning |Lunch |Piazza del Popolo | Piazza di Spagna | Spanish steps to Borghese Gardens | Explore (trevi area) | Dinner in trevi area | 4TH NIGHT ROMA

Most of us are just graduating next spring, and planning that trip for june of that summer. we are trying to travel for >2k (excluding airfare) so its gonna be a lot of cheaper eating and skipping some museums with expensive tickets. I travelled before, and really liked meinenger, so the plan is to stay at the one by the termini. Bus travel is probably going to be the main mode of transportation.

any recomendations for things to see or strategys to travel cheaply? or places we should go after rome? the plan is hopefully head north, end in munich, but it really could go anywhere. Also, is that itinerary too spread out? could we cram more stuff together and see rome in 3 days maybe?

https://preview.redd.it/fyunf56pr34h1.png?width=348&format=png&auto=webp&s=48ee3a82f070cdada6bb4db0be84b38f801b075c

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