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Vietnam Travel Itinerary & Guide

October 15, 2020 By Hangry Backpacker Leave a Comment

A travel itinerary for one month in Vietnam can generally go in two directions: north-to-south or vice-versa. Backpackers have a little more flexibility in their Vietnam travel itinerary, and the options for visiting alternative destinations are endless.

One month of travel in Vietnam is not nearly long enough to thoroughly explore the country. Vietnam is not an especially large country, but it is very long with tedious travel required between cities. First-time visitors, backpackers, solo travelers and those looking for a thorough experience in Vietnam should plan ahead and use this itinerary to maximize time in one of the most fascinating countries in the world.

Why One Month?

The reason this Vietnam travel itinerary is for one month is because that is the most common length of e-visa granted to tourists. Be practical and check the dates on your documents. Depending on how immigration officials mark your visa, the length of stay can be less than 30 days. Mine was actually 31 days.

Citizens of some countries can enter Vietnam visa-free for 15 days, but this isn’t enough time to see more than two or three places. Were I able to enter without a visa, I would still opt to pay for the longer duration. At $25 USD (you have to pay cash in USD, euros or Vietnamese dong), it’s cheap.

One month, or 4 weeks, whatever the length of your stay in Vietnam, check your documents and eligibility. Make sure to apply for the e-visa before you travel to the country.

Travelers arriving at certain international airports can also choose a 90-day visa option. Though more expensive ($70), it allows travelers the multiple-entry option over that 3-month period. Of course, three full months in Vietnam would be an unforgettable travel experience.

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Should You Travel Vietnam North-to-South or South-to-North?

As noted in this comparison of Hanoi versus Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam differs significantly from north to south. Some of the differences are due to climate, while others are due to politics and history.

The decision of whether to set your Vietnam travel itinerary in a north-to-south or south-to-north direction depends where you arrive and where you’re going next. If the idea is to return home after the trip, the start/end point doesn’t really matter. If you’re hopping around Southeast Asia via airplanes, again, it doesn’t matter which direction you travel.

For most travelers, and certainly for backpackers in Vietnam, there will likely be further travel after visiting the country. Whether to start your Vietnam travels in Hanoi (north) or Ho Chi Minh City (south) depends on your plans after Vietnam. Overland travel means the next destination can be Laos, Cambodia or China.

Vietnam to China:

Crossing from Vietnam into China is not a common travel route. Lukewarm relations between the countries and more stringent visa policies for entrance into China mean this is not common or practical (if even possible) for most tourists.

Vietnam to Laos:

The Vietnamese border with Laos is the country’s longest international border. However, due to the rugged terrain of Vietnam, crossing the border to Laos is, at the very least, a laborious ordeal.

It is not uncommon to travel overland from Vietnam to Laos, but it is less common. The most popular route would be from Hanoi to Luang Prabang or Phonsavan. Either journey is exhausting and will essentially take an entire day on a bus. Car/motorbike will be faster, but there are vehicle restrictions at some Vietnam-Laos border crossings.

Vietnam to Cambodia:

The most popular overland, international travel route from (or to) Vietnam is to Cambodia. In southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is about 130 miles (about 210 km) from Phnom Penh. The terrain is also pretty flat in this part of Vietnam and Cambodia. Flat land means a decent road, and a decent road (by Southeast Asian standards) between the two cities means that travel from one to the other is relatively painless.

Travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh takes about three to four hours. The border crossing, though not especially annoying or frustrating, adds at least an hour to that time. It’s a fairly easy trip that costs around 200,000 VND (about $10 USD).

The north-to-south travel itinerary in Vietnam provides the easiest route of onward travel. The opposite direction, finishing in the north, is equally tiresome and more commonly undertaken by backpackers in Vietnam than other types of travelers. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider traveling south-to-north and crossing from Vietnam to Laos. It’s just a different journey, and that border-crossing takes a lot longer. Personally, I think these experiences are often more memorable and fun.

The Easiest One-Month Vietnam Travel Itinerary

This route will give you a thorough taste of Vietnam. It’s the ideal itinerary for the person who wants to see as much of Vietnam as possible without going too fast and missing things. This Itinerary is also perfect for travelers who want to delve into Vietnam for a month to figure out where in the country they may want to return and spend more time in the future.

This is a north-to-south Vietnam travel itinerary. It can be flipped around to go south-to-north should you wish to end your Vietnam travels in Hanoi.

Hanoi – 4-5 days

Hanoi is the political and cultural capital of Vietnam. The city of 8 million people and almost as many motorbikes is really old, with sites over a thousand years old. There are many points of interest in Hanoi, ranging from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) and ancient temples.

The Old Quarter of Hanoi is the center of tourism and history in the city. Despite being the tourist center, it is very much a local area. Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a chaotic, beautiful, busy, mind-boggling labyrinth of business, history, motorbikes, culture and food. Seriously, the food is incredible, and this place is wild.

During my first trip to Hanoi, I planned to stay for 3 days. After my first day, I wanted to leave. It was overwhelming. After reaching my third day in Hanoi and exploring further, I was hooked. I wound up staying for six days, and I didn’t want to leave then.

It would be easy to spend a few days only in the Old Quarter. Four days is adequate for a taste of Hanoi’s historic center and the surrounding newer parts of the city. A fifth day will be easy to do. Personally, on my next trip to Vietnam, I’ll be spending at least a week in Hanoi.

Cat Ba Island/Ha Long Bay – 3 days

About two hours east of Hanoi, along the only decent highway in Vietnam (between Hanoi and Haiphong), is Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island. Ha Long Bay, a seascape of limestone karst formations towering above the water, is the most famous natural tourist attraction in Vietnam. For clarification, “Ha Long Bay” is used in reference to the entire archipelago – Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay, etc.

The city of Ha Long is on the north side of this natural phenomenon, and Cat Ba Island sits to the south. Most tourists decide to visit Ha Long Bay from the eponymous city, but Cat Ba offers the same tours and beautiful scenery on an island with far fewer tourists. The island is still popular and developed, but it’s simply not nearly as crowded as Ha Long.

I spent three days on Cat Ba Island. One of those days was spent on a large boat with four other tourists exploring Ha Long Bay and the surrounding area. The rest of the time I used to explore Cat Ba Town.

Two days is long enough to reach Cat Ba Island, explore Cat Ba Town and spend a day sightseeing in the archipelago. If possible, I recommend a third day for extra time sailing through the islands or to visit the national park on the island.

Tam Coc/Ninh Binh – 2 days

Tam Coc is sort of like Ha Long Bay but on land. Instead of karst formations rising above the sea, there are rice fields, villages, rivers and wilderness between the towering rocks. Tam Coc is a small town where most tourists set off to tour the landscape via small boats on the rivers or by hiking.

Ninh Binh is the larger city a few miles away. There is little in Ninh Binh that will interest most travelers. Tam Coc, on the other hand, is a wonderful little town surrounded by natural beauty.

I spent a couple of days in Ninh Binh. As noted, most tourists won’t find much of interest here, and most tourists are simply here to see the countryside. Personally, I found Ninh Binh to be a cool city with excellent food and relatively few tourists. I spent a further three days in Tam Coc hiking, relaxing and enjoying a quieter setting.

Two days is plenty for the average traveler to see Tam Coc. The small town is nice, but there isn’t much to it. The surrounding landscape is the primary tourist draw, and that can be reasonably covered in a couple of days.

Hue – 2 days

Hue (pronounced: hway) is the former royal capital of Vietnam. The city is located about halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and home to about 500,000 people.

Hue is a popular stop on backpacker itineraries for Vietnam largely due to its location. Whether you’re traveling north to south in Vietnam, or vice-versa, you pretty much have to go through Hue. Thanks to the aforementioned historic status as a royal city, Hue also has a few notable points of interest. The Imperial City and Citadel are each popular attractions.

I spent three days in Hue, and this was more than enough time. Aside from the historical points of interest, there isn’t much to it. In fact, I found it to be a somewhat unpleasant place with a lot of sketchy people who all wanted to rip off tourists. Aside from great food – it is Vietnam, after all – Hue is probably the only place I truly disliked in Vietnam. The Imperial City has an annoying, extra-high price just for foreigners.

Two days is adequate time in Hue. The Imperial City, though overpriced, is cool if you’re not on a backpacker budget. There are a few other minor things to see, and the food is good, but Hue is mostly a necessary stopping point in Vietnam (because transportation in the country sucks).

Hoi An – 4-5 days

Hoi An is super touristic, but it is also one of the most beautiful, fun cities in Vietnam. The Old Town of Hoi An is picturesque, charming and all of those things. Essentially, it has a well-preserved colonial old town and is the perfect place to wander and get lost.

In addition to the Old Town, Hoi An is known for its tailors and night market. It is an excellent place to cheaply get high-quality, custom-made clothes. After fittings and measurements are complete, the night market has cheap goods and stall-after-stall of tremendous fresh food.

I spent a week in Hoi An. My initial plans did not even include Hoi An in my Vietnam itinerary, but other backpackers convinced me it was worth it. I then planned for two to three days, but backpacking is best with loose travel plans. I was in Vietnam in the middle of Tet (Chinese New Year). Travel in Vietnam during Tet comes with serious challenges. I sort of got stuck in Hoi An for longer than planned due to Tet, but I was happy to linger.

Four to five days is easy to do in Hoi An. Longer is understandable. Hoi An is touristy for a reason – it’s beautiful, interesting, historic and easy for tourists. The city is also a short bike ride (or a long walk) from beaches.

Da Lat – 3 days

Da Lat is unique in Vietnam. The former French colonial resort town is different in so many ways. The geographical position of Da Lat, about 5000 feet above sea-level, makes it cooler (relatively speaking) than other places on this Vietnam itinerary.

Da Lat is cleaner than most cities in Vietnam. It has a lot of flowers and a relaxed vibe, not something for which Vietnam is particular famous. Even the architecture in Da Lat is different, with super-modern structures in the middle of the city, the Crazy House and regular homes that have a strange Western-Asian fusion look.

I spent three days in Da Lat. Most of that time was spent eating and resting. At some point, I didn’t follow my own rules of food safety and was sick in Vietnam. Despite that, I still enjoyed wandering around and eating in Da Lat.

Three days is an ideal time for backpackers to stay in Da Lat. The unique city, despite having a population of nearly 500,000, is a nice break from the sweltering heat and nonstop commotion that is much of Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – 5-6 days

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city and economic center of Vietnam. Formerly Saigon, the southern counterpart to Hanoi is enormous, busy, loud and thriving. The city of nearly ten million people and somehow more motorbikes than Hanoi is significantly different than the nation’s capital.

Ho Chi Minh City is not only bigger and busier than Hanoi, the city is more modern and has a greater Western influence. It is home to some of Vietnam’s most famous museums, beautifully-preserved remnants of French colonial days and some of the best food in the world. Ho Chi Minh City is also a backpacker haven. Pham Ngu Lao Street is the backpacker center of Vietnam, though I’m not a big fan of the area due to the prices.

I spent 4 days in Ho Chi Minh City, and this was not enough time. The city itself deserves at least that much time to modestly sample the great food. Most of my time was spent wandering around surprised by the differences from Hanoi, sweating profusely and ticking a few major tourist sites off of my list.

Five days is a good amount of time in Ho Chi Minh City. The Cu Chi Tunnels (Vietnam War remnants) and the Mekong River Delta are popular day trips. The Mekong River Delta is especially worth a day outside of the city. The War Remnants Museum is an interesting look into the Vietnam War from the victor’s perspective. And the food in Ho Chi Minh City is worth a serious chunk of time. There is a lot more to do in Saigon, and five days is only a starting point.

Additional & Alternative Destinations

Obviously, the above travel itinerary through Vietnam does not quite add up to 30 days. Travel time between these places will likely take up a chunk of that time (more on transportation below), and many travelers may decide to linger somewhere they particularly enjoy.

The following are other popular (and worthwhile) places to visit in Vietnam. These can be substituted for above destinations or squeezed in if time permits. From top to bottom, the following is organized north-to-south.

Sapa (3 Days) – mountainous region known for terraced rice fields, national park and motorbike rides
Phong Nha (1-2 Days) – famous cave (only accessible by boat) and national park
Da Nang (1-2 Days) – large city north of Hoi An famous for Marble Mountains, Dragon Bridge and Golden Bridge (giant hands)
Nha Trang (2-3 Days) – beach city with a pretty bay, resorts, amusement parks and scuba diving on offshore islands
Mui Ne (2-3 Days) – small coastal town notable for beaches, watersports and huge sand dunes
Phu Quoc (3 Days) – largest island in Vietnam home to beautiful beaches and famous fish sauce

Backpacking, Solo Travel, Groups Tours & More

Backpacking is the ideal way to travel in Vietnam. Travel in the country is especially tedious. Clinging to timetables and plans is a great way to induce stress, anxiety and frustration. Backpacking provides the necessary wiggle room to keep your cool. Flexibility is key in your Vietnam travel itinerary, and patience is equally important.

Solo travel is a fun way to tour Southeast Asia, especially if you’re staying in hostels. The backpacker trail in Southeast Asia is made for solo travel. In Vietnam, though I arrived by myself, I ran into the same travelers in city after city. Most people are going one of two directions, so you’ll see familiar faces again and again. This makes Vietnam incredibly adept to solo travel.

Group tours are a waste of money in Vietnam. The country is so cheap (see below), and most group tours in the country are grossly overpriced. The rigid nature of group tours in a place like Vietnam will be another drawback of traveling in a structured setting. The one advantage I can think of for group tours in Vietnam would be more comfortable transportation.

Transportation

The biggest impact on any Vietnam travel itinerary is transportation, particularly transportation between cities. No matter which way you look at it, transportation in Vietnam is a headache. I used 12Go for a lot of transportation in Asia, and it is a tremendous help.

Vietnam’s larger cities are heavily congested with motorbikes, and the noise is constant throughout the day and night. Fortunately, most of the big cities are fairly easy to get around on foot.

Travel by Bus

The most common method of travel around Vietnam is via bus. The highway system in the country is barely existent. Buses in Vietnam are a painfully slow method of transport, but they go pretty much everywhere. And they’re pretty cheap, too.

A majority of tourists opt for “tourist” buses in Vietnam. There isn’t a clear distinction between these and local buses, but the tourist buses will cost more and should be more comfortable. Local buses are a fraction of the price but are known to pack the vehicle to the brim. You might even wind up with a stranger’s child in your lap.

Tourist buses aren’t specifically for tourists. These are just more expensive options, though still cheap for most tourists. For example, I took a “sleeper” night bus from Hoi An to Da Lat. The trip took about 14 hours and cost about $15 USD (300,000 VND).

For a large person like myself (6’3”/250lbs), it was hell trying to sleep in the tiny cubby-bed. The capsule-beds are too short to extend my legs and too small to bend them normally. By the time I reached Da Lat, I felt like a stiff pretzel.

That being said, it is the more comfortable option compared to the cramped, slow(er) “local” bus. And for backpackers trying to keep their Vietnam travel itinerary budget-friendly, it makes sense. Buses are cheap, and saving money by not paying for a room/bed for a night means more cheap Vietnamese beer the next day.

Train Travel

To the surprise of many, Vietnam has an extensive rail network. It might be antiquated, uncomfortable and super slow – yep, slower than buses – but the country has trains! Travelers who enjoy trains will be in for an interesting rail travel experience in Vietnam.

Train travel in Vietnam is not that expensive. The route all the way from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City ranges from $40-65 USD. For the distance, that’s not a bad price. The downside is that the trip takes about 30 hours.

Train travel is an option in Vietnam, but it’s not fast or comfortable. Personally, a Vietnamese rail journey from top to bottom is on my bucket list, and I look forward to it. For more info on prices and times, check out what Seat 61 has on train travel in Vietnam.

Air Travel

The fastest way to get around Vietnam is via airplane. The country has major airports in Hanoi (north), Ho Chi Minh City (south), Da Nang (central) and Nha Trang (south-central). Tourists flying into or out of Vietnam primarily land in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

Flying between cities in Vietnam is not practical if you want to see much aside from the major cities. The only reason to fly between cities in Vietnam is for travelers with time constraints. For instance, travelers may have a flight out of Hanoi but are traveling north-to-south. Rather than spending 1-2 days on buses/trains getting back up north, a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City saves significant time.

Motorbikes in Vietnam

Vietnam has a ridiculous amount of motorbikes. They’re loud. They’re everywhere. Literally, tens of millions of motorbikes. And a lot tourists decide to get in on the action.

From an individual standpoint, it makes transportation easier. You have freedom to travel wherever on a motorbike, and you’ll get to see parts of the country few tourists ever do. Buying a bike in Hanoi/Saigon, riding from one end of the country to the other and then selling it to another backpacker is a popular way to travel Vietnam. The Ha Giang Loop (north of Hanoi) is a shorter trip that is also popular.

Honestly, it all sounds pretty fun. And, full disclosure here, I’ll probably partake in some motorbike adventuring on my next visit to Vietnam.

However, from a safety standpoint, I cannot recommend riding a motorbike for most travelers. I’ve stayed at several hostels throughout Vietnam, and I’ve met at least one traveler in every single hostel that had been in a motorbike accident. Several had the scars, scrapes and casts to prove it.

Motorcycles are obviously dangerous (if you get in an accident). In Southeast Asia, poor road conditions and drivers who barely follow traffic laws make the accidents and injuries worse. Inexperienced riders and tourists not accustomed to riding in Vietnam are at greater risk. There are short, single-day to multi-day motorbike tours ideal for those with less experience who can’t resist the temptation but still want the adventure.

In addition to the inherent danger of riding a motorbike in Vietnam, it is technically illegal for many foreigners. On top of that, if you are in an accident, a lot of travel insurance companies have out-clauses where they don’t have to cover your injuries if you’re doing something illegal or especially dangerous.

A majority of motorbike-riding backpackers (BIKEpackers? Is that a thing?) never have any issues, but be aware that there are serious risks with motorbikes in Vietnam. And you may have to pay a “fine” to a cop to keep riding. Have fun, but be safe and ride at your own risk.

Vietnam Travel Costs

Vietnam is notable as a cheap travel destination. In my experience, Vietnam is actually the cheapest country in Southeast Asia.

The most obvious cost-saving measure in Vietnam is food. Local food is not only delicious, it’s cheap. A meal in a local restaurant/cafe will typically cost $2-3 USD. Street food in Vietnam is especially cheap, often 20,000 VND (about $1 USD) or less. Food in Hanoi is excellent and slightly cheaper than Ho Chi Minh City, though cheap eats can be found anywhere in Vietnam with a little patience and persistence.

A simple hotel in Vietnam (a family-run, local hotel) will cost $10-20 USD/night for a room with basic amenities. Large, international hotel chains are certainly nicer, but prices are high and beyond any backpacker budget.

Hostels are the way to go to save money. Of all the reasons to stay in a hostel, those in Vietnam are super cheap and often have much better locations than more expensive hotels. $10 USD/night is typical for a nice hostel with free breakfast and air conditioning. Rates can be cheaper depending on the city/location/amenities. Some examples of what I have paid:

Hanoi – $7/night (hostel, free breakfast, no A/C needed)
Cat Ba Island – $12/night (private hotel room, very basic)
Hoi An – $10/night (mediocre hostel, more expensive during Tet)
Ho Chi Minh City – $11/night (no A/C in backpacker district, not my favorite hostel)

Transportation is cheap. Souvenirs are cheap. Food, activities and most attractions are cheap. Pretty much everything about Vietnam is budget-friendly.

My travel costs in Vietnam, on a backpacker budget, were about $25/day. I ate local food, drank plenty of local beer and did just about everything I wanted to. My Vietnam travel itinerary was designed to be backpacker and budget-friendly. My costs could have easily been higher, but I also could have traveled even cheaper.

Like most places in the world, your desired level of comfort will dictate costs of travel. Also, your Vietnam travel itinerary can influence travel costs. Essentially, backpacking is cheaper, and a one-way travel route in Vietnam also bodes well for travel budgets.

When – The Best Time to Travel to Vietnam

Vietnam is generally a hot, humid place. Surrounded by water, the warm weather is amplified by the heavy air. Mostly.

Vietnam is really long, over 1000 miles in a direct north-south measurement. Naturally, weather differs in a range this large. The southern three-quarters of Vietnam are pretty much always hot and humid. Seasons in the northern part of the country are slightly more pronounced.

Saigon is always hot. Winter typically has fewer rainy days, but the weather is still warm. I can personally attest to being in Saigon in the middle of Winter – no rain, still felt like a sauna.

Up north, the weather in Hanoi is somewhat seasonal. Most of the year is predictably hot and humid. However, temperatures in Winter are cooler, sometimes cool enough for a jacket and pants. The mountains north of Hanoi occasionally receive small amounts of snowfall.

I wouldn’t suggest packing your puffy coat in Vietnam. That’s a serious packing commitment, and unless you’re camping in the mountains mid-Winter, there’s no need for a heavy coat. I survived cool nights in Hanoi with a long-sleeve shirt and a rain jacket.

So, when is the best time of year to travel to Vietnam? There are two ways to answer this question, and neither is wrong.

First, Winter (December-March) is the most pleasant time of year. It is cool in the north and dry in the south. Of course, better weather means more tourists.

Second, Summer (June-August) is the hottest and wettest time of year. The dead of Summer wouldn’t be my first choice, but there are advantages to traveling in Southeast Asia during the rainy season. As a trade-off for the weather, there are fewer tourists.

The ideal time to spend one month of travel in Vietnam would be late-Fall or early-Spring, basically December to April. As a general guideline, the rains tend to start in April.

Traveling on either end of that time frame will likely mean fewer tourists and better weather. Keep in mind that the climate is different in the north and south, and the weather also varies slightly from other countries in the region.

Safety in Vietnam

The most common questions I get about Vietnam are regarding travel safety. Specifically, more than anything else, I hear, “Is Vietnam safe for Americans?”

Given that the United States and Vietnam were in the midst of a bloody war not so long ago, it’s a reasonable question. The answer is a resounding “yes.” I have never encountered a local in Vietnam with any animosity towards Americans. If anything, I have heard several Vietnamese people comment that what happened is in the past and between governments, not people.

In general, Vietnam is a very safe country for tourists. There are reports of scams and street thefts, such as pickpocketing and snatch-and-go theft.

Always mind your pockets in Vietnam, especially in big cities and crowded areas. Personally, I never had any issues, but, then again, I’m always looking over my shoulder and I wear smart travel clothing to prevent pickpockets.

Snatch-and-grab theft is reported by tourists on occasion. This happens when a tourist is carelessly walking or on a street corner, usually loosely holding onto their cell phone, purse, bag etc. Someone will come by on a motorbike or on foot, grab the item and flee before the tourist realized what happened. The trick is to hold on (tightly) to your stuff and pay attention.

Violence against tourists is extremely rare. Most tourist injuries are from accidents involving motorbikes or alcohol. In rural areas, be cautious. In big cities, avoid bad neighborhoods. If you feel uncomfortable somewhere, just leave.

The “tourist tax” is the most common scam in Vietnam. This is simply the act of charging tourists more than locals. The amount is usually minimal, and there is little that you can do (unless you speak Vietnamese, perhaps). If the tourist tax levied upon you is egregious, stand up for yourself. Know and confirm prices before handing over money or getting your food. The tourist tax is one of the frustrating parts about travel in Vietnam, but smart travelers can work around it.

Taxi scams, especially motorbike taxi scams, are the worst scams that get tourists. Exercise caution before you hire a cab. Your hotel/hostel can help with a taxi if need be. Do not take a random motorbike taxi.

Common sense is the most valuable travel safety tool in Vietnam and everywhere else. No matter where you are, be aware and watch your back. Don’t do stupid things like stumble around drunk alone at night. Drugs are illegal, so maybe don’t be an idiot. Common sense, though shockingly uncommon, goes a long way.

Vietnam is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. The chaotic country will test the patience of many travelers. Whether backpacking, traveling solo, traveling with a significant other or even an organized group tour (but yeah, don’t do the group tour), those who wisely plan their Vietnam travel itinerary will find a country full of beautiful scenery, kind people, incredible food and culture.

First-time visitors to Vietnam are warned of crazy scams and stereotypes based on ignorance or the misfortunes of the very few. Travel in Vietnam for a few days, a month or several months is all about patience and common sense. No matter when or where you go, a stop in Vietnam is a must when traveling in Southeast Asia.

Joseph, Oregon Travel Guide

September 30, 2020 By Hangry Backpacker 6 Comments

The small town of Joseph is an oddity among Oregon travel destinations. In Wallowa County, in the northeast corner of Oregon, the tiny town of Joseph sits roughly 4000 feet above sea-level and attracts tourists with a wide variety of interests.

With a little over 1000 people, Joseph is the second-largest “city” in Wallowa County. The large, rural county (about 7,000 people in an area larger than Delaware) is out of the minds of most Oregonians and unknown to most tourists. The attraction of Joseph and the surrounding area is the exception.

Despite being tiny and remote, there is a lot going on in Joseph. Local history is tied to the Nez Perce tribe (the city is named after Chief Joseph) and Oregon’s early history. The Wallowa Mountains are one of Oregon’s best natural wonders. And tourism is the backbone of the economy in Joseph, thanks not only to the natural beauty, but also a burgeoning art scene and a remarkably well-preserved old town.

What to Do in Joseph, Oregon

What to do in Joseph depends on your interests. There are several reasons to spend a day or so enjoying the town itself, and there are even more reasons to explore the surrounding area.

Shopping

Joseph has a thriving art scene. There are a surprising number of galleries selling artwork of all kinds. Bronzework is a particular local speciality. There are several galleries showcasing (and selling) curious bronze pieces and sculptures, and there are prominent bronze sculptures along the street too.

Aside from local art, like many older small towns, Joseph has plenty of shops full of antiques and old junk. The artsy nature of the town sees these various trinket shops laid out in an appealing presentation to lure in those who enjoy sifting through peculiar secondhand stuff.

On the less expensive end of the shopping spectrum, Joseph has a few souvenir shops that sell local goods of the cheaper, more lighthearted variety. For instance, Sasquatch (Bigfoot) is prominently featured on every souvenir imaginable.

With the exception of the occasional flea market, I kind of hate shopping. Joseph has a lot of cool stuff, though, and it’s one of those endearing small towns that is still dominated by local businesses. While I may not find joy in gingerly stepping through secondhand trinket shops – I’m petrified of the whole “if you break it, you buy it” mantra of these overpriced, cluttered spaces – I can get behind supporting local business.

Wallowa Lake

The picturesque Wallowa Lake sits on the southern edge of Joseph. With a stunning backdrop of the Oregon Alps shielding the lake from the south and west, Wallowa Lake is a major tourist draw in Northeast Oregon.

There is a public beach and boat launch on the north end of the lake, in Joseph. Kayaks, paddleboards and glass-bottom boats are available for rent here if you want to enjoy some time on the water.

On the south shore is Wallowa Lake State Park. This state park has campsites and cabins for rent, though these are in high demand during Summer months. There is also a marina, gift shops, food and another area for swimming.

The lake is sourced by the Wallowa River, which itself is largely sourced from snowmelt in the surrounding mountains. In other words, the water in Wallowa Lake is quite cold. Even on the warmest of Summer days, the lake isn’t ideal for swimming. Some people can handle a little cold water, but I can’t imagine spending very long in the chilly lake. Thankfully, it is a wonderful place to enjoy the scenery on a sunny day.

Wallowa Lake Tramway – Mount Howard

Open from late-Spring to early-Fall, the Wallowa Lake Tramway is a fun, unique experience a few minutes outside of Joseph, Oregon. The changing views from top to bottom are incredible, as riders are taken from mountain forests up to the peak of Mount Howard and an alpine environment.

Operating for about 50 years, the Wallowa Lake tram is surprisingly fun. Not only are the views unforgettable, the shaky ride will challenge acrophobics and weak-stomached individuals. But don’t worry. The tram is safe and regularly inspected.

The Wallowa Lake Tram climbs 3700 feet (vertically) and takes about 20 minutes. The only downside to taking the easy way to the summit of Mount Howard is the price. It costs $36 per adult (up and down), but the view at the top is worth every penny. There is a small cafe at the top, which would certainly be an excellent place for a drink with a view, but the prices here are as steep as the tram ride.

Mount Howard isn’t the highest peak in the Wallowa Mountains (Oregon Alps), but it is the ideal setting for the best view of the range. From the peak, the highest snow-capped peaks of the Wallowas are visible to the west and south, and the Seven Devils Mountains in Idaho are visible dozens of miles away to the east.

There is probably a trail for hiking to the summit of Mount Howard, but it would be an incredibly difficult trek and a long day. Take the tram and enjoy an easy day in nature with unbeatable views.

**Note: Joseph, Oregon is already 4000+ feet above sea-level. The tram climbs nearly 4000 feet more. Those not accustomed to higher elevation should take it slow.

Eagle Cap Wilderness

The Eagle Cap Wilderness is one of the wildest, most untouched places in Oregon, which is already a largely-unspoiled state. It is popular with backpackers (the outdoorsy, nature type of backpacking) for serious backcountry treks and hiking. As the only town near the area, Joseph is the natural start/end point for backpackers.

The Eagle Cap Wilderness is remote and rugged. The area is home to an abundance of wildlife hiding in the mountains including rams, cougars, black bears, elk and even Oregon’s small (but growing!) moose population.

At more than 500 square miles, the Eagle Cap Wilderness is not only the largest protected natural area in Oregon. The rugged terrain and remote location mean that the area is also far less busy than other popular hiking/trekking areas of the state.

Wallowa County Barn Tour

Not every tourist has the time or desire to get lost in the wild for days on end. For a much more comfortable and easier exploration of Joseph and the surrounding rural area, the Wallowa County Barn Tour is a self-guided driving tour of historic and picturesque barns in the county.

There’s something appealing about lonely old barns in tranquil settings. The Wallowa County Barn Tour makes it easy to track these scenes, though getting lost on the tiny backroads in the sparsely-populated, rural counties of the American West is even easier.

Joseph is home to several stops on the Wallowa County Barn Tour, perfect for those who don’t want to stray too far from the road and get lost in middle-of-nowhere Eastern Oregon.

A driving tour of barns may not appeal to many travel tastes, but Joseph is in a part of the country dominated by agriculture. These barns are more than photogenic relics of local history. The fact that most of Northeast Oregon is agriculture or timberland, if not altogether empty, means that a tour like this is an excellent way to explore the culture and really get off the tourist trail. It’s the perfect way to see a side of the United States that too few travelers, American or otherwise, ever witness.

If you’re only interested in rustic barns without the rural America part, that’s okay, too. Several of these historic barns are located in and around the town of Joseph.

Where to Eat in Joseph, Oregon

Joseph, Oregon isn’t known as a hotspot for food-focused travel. As stated, the surrounding natural beauty and the town itself are the primary draws. Fortunately for tourists in Joseph, this little town punches above its class when it comes to food.

Thanks to tourism and the artsy nature of Joseph, there are far more dining options in town than comparable cities. And these aren’t restricted to diners or small town cafes (which, by the way, I love and make places like nearby-ish Baker City a surprisingly enjoyable place to eat).

Joseph has several notable restaurants, ranging from brick-oven pizza to gourmet chocolates. When it’s time to eat, start here:

Old Town Cafe – breakfast, brunch and coffee
Gold Room – wood-fired, brick-oven pizza. I mean, what more do you need to know?
Arrowhead Chocolates – gourmet chocolate shop (honestly, I hate chocolate, but my girlfriend loved this place for the quality and low prices, an usual feature of chocolate shops)
Embers Brewhouse – great patio, lots of beers, decent food
Stein Distillery – if you’re not driving…
Stubborn Mule – local recommendation #1
Cheyenne Cafe – local recommendation #2

The most popular restaurant in Joseph is Outlaw. While I did not dine here, it was explicitly not recommended to me by several locals. It has a very touristy look. Another popular restaurant, The Dog Spot, is highly-rated, but it goes against my rules – how can a restaurant make such a large variety of food and make it all well? That menu is a bit strange.

Travel & Transportation in Joseph, Oregon

The best and easiest way to travel to Joseph, Oregon is to make a stop on the Great American Road Trip. Frankly, Joseph and the rest of Wallowa County are out of the way and especially rural. Of course, that’s one of the great things about the area, but a car is pretty essential to reach this corner of Oregon.

The Wallowa Mountains have no roads traversing through the range. For instance, if you’re coming from Baker City, even though it’s only 50 miles away, the drive still takes about two hours as you have to drive completely around the mountains.

Other travel times to Joseph are roughly as follows:

From La Grande (OR) – 1.5 hours (where drivers exit Interstate-84 to Joseph)
From Pendleton (OR) – 2.5 hours
From Boise, Idaho – 4 hours
From Portland – 5.5 hours

There is no public transportation in Joseph, but you don’t need it. The town is so small that everything is within reasonable walking distance.

There is some, albeit limited, public transportation to Joseph. During summer months, the Wallowa Link runs bus services from La Grande to Enterprise and Joseph. It’s cheap ($5 each way), and you can find more information on their website.

Greyhound runs buses from Portland to Boise with stops in Baker City and La Grande, so it would be possible to reach Joseph this way. That would make for an especially slow, unpleasant journey. Joseph is also only be in reach with the Wallowa Link in Summer, meaning travelers in other times of year will still need to rent a car.

Joseph is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. While that makes reaching this part of Oregon more tedious, it makes the visit better. The remote location means that fewer tourists are willing to undergo that travel to Joseph, so even the most popular times of year aren’t terribly busy.

Hotels, Motels & More

Joseph is small. There aren’t many hotel options, and there are no motels in town. There is a small hotel and a few bed and breakfasts:

The Jennings Hotel
Bronze Antler B&N
Belle’s Pepper B&B
Kokanee Inn

Enterprise, Oregon is a typical small town in the rural American West. About 10-minutes from Joseph, Enterprise is a nice town, but there isn’t much happening (aside from Terminal Gravity Brewing). There are a few more motel options, though:

For a more nature-oriented stay, look towards Wallowa Lake. The community on the south end of the lake has a few accommodation options including:

Eagle Cap Chalets
Wallowa Lake State Park (camping, RVs, yurts)

If you want a memorable Eastern Oregon experience (and plan on only visiting Joseph as a day trip), stay in Baker City. Yes, it’s a two-hour drive, but the Geiser Grand Hotel is the most remarkable, historic and peculiar hotel in this part of the United States.

When to Visit

The continental location and elevation of Joseph mean that it gets cold. Temperatures in Summer are typically mild with cool-to-cold nights. Winter is cold.

The best time to visit is the middle of Summer. The weather is perfect, and July 4th brings a big celebration to town and Wallowa Lake. Late-Spring to early-Fall are decent times, depending how well you handle the cold temperatures.

The first snows usually fall in October and the last of the season is normally in April or May. Snow tends to stick, but it’s not at the heavy depths of the Cascades or Rocky Mountains. Basically, Joseph is cold with a little snow for several months. Winter is not the best time to visit unless you plan to partake in Winter sports.

Joseph, Oregon is a peculiar travel destination in a remote, often overlooked corner of the state. The town has a little bit of old American West, some rural Oregon and a dash of Western Oregon. This all comes together to make a unique, pretty tourist town in Northeast Oregon.

Today, Joseph is becoming known more for its artistic qualities and boutique shops. It even has some decent food. Despite that, the city itself and the incredible natural beauty right outside of town remain the dominant tourist attractions.

Northeast Oregon may not be known as a travel destination, but Wallowa County, particularly Joseph, is well worth a visit. This is one unique, out-of-the-way road trip stop that shouldn’t be missed.

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Baker City, Oregon Travel Guide

September 18, 2020 By Hangry Backpacker 2 Comments

Baker City, Oregon is an underrated travel destination. To be fair, Baker City may not be on many tourist radars or even rated at all. There’s something unique about this place, though, and it is well worth a stop for roadtrippers, American culture enthusiasts and anyone who wants to see a different side – the real side – of Oregon.

Baker City, Oregon may not be a sought-after, world-famous or major travel destination. The small city of less than 10,000 people may not even be the most popular place to travel in Northeast Oregon. (I would look to the little town of Joseph and the Wallowa Mountains for that distinction.)

Why Travel to Baker City, Oregon

In Northeast Oregon, on the 45th parallel of the Northern Hemisphere – for all intents and purposes, essentially a different country, a different world, and a long way from the Willamette Valley and Interstate- 5 population centers – Baker City quietly sits about 3500 feet above sea-level. This is not a luxurious tourist town, and the only kind of backpacking is the outdoorsy, backcountry variety.

So why travel to Oregon and take a detour to Baker City? Why would I – the Hangry Backpacker – a food-minded, backpacking-focused travel enthusiast (bordering on obsessive and annoying, I freely admit) want to go to way out to rural Oregon?

For one, Oregon is far more than Portland. As fun as the weirdness of Portland can be, there is more to Oregon than eccentric counter-culture, vegan everything, coffeeshop madness and dispensaries galore. After living in Portland for years now, it becomes more apparent by the day how much the rest of the state has to offer.

Eastern Oregon is full of natural beauty, history, culture, cool towns and nice people. And small towns and cities are really where our true cultures remain intact, unaffected by the changes in faraway big cities. Oh, and these places are usually pretty cheap.

Main Street Downtown Baker City Oregon — *Main Street*

Tourists typically travel to Baker City and Northeast Oregon for the wondrous natural scenery, but that’s only part of the allure. Though often overlooked, this is the quintessential town for a taste of the American West.

Baker City is more than a pit stop, and it’s more than a base for exploring areas outside of town. From nature to history and even food, there is a lot more to Baker City than one witnesses speeding by on Interstate-84.

Attractions & What To Do in Baker City

Baker City, Oregon is more than a rest stop on the Great American Road Trip. There is a lot to do in the area. The small city is historic, pretty and interesting, and the surrounding area is an oasis of natural beauty in the largely uneventful terrain of Eastern Oregon.

Historic Downtown

Downtown Baker City is nationally recognized as a historic district and has plenty to interest visitors for a day or two. Personally, the most interesting parts of the downtown area are the various delicious restaurants, but there is more to do than stuff your face.

Baker City’s historic downtown is full of beautiful buildings, many of which are surprisingly old for this part of the country. There are stately hotels, classic movie theaters, historic churches and plenty of charming early-19th-century homes.

Exterior of Saint Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City on a sunny afternoon — *Saint Francis de Sales Cathedral*

Downtown is complete with antique shops, boutique coffee/vintage stores and plenty of local places selling random trinkets and junk. If you enjoy sifting through thoughtfully-arranged oddities and wares found in an old town of the American West, there is an abundance of that.

Aside from shopping for secondhand junk or eating your way through town, the historic nature of Downtown Baker City is a travel allure in itself. The city is one of the oldest in Eastern Oregon, and it’s history is aligned with that of the American West – ranching, railroads, gold and, of course, the Oregon Trail.

Eltrym Movie Theater in Downtown Baker City — *Eltrym Movie Theater*

The history of Baker City is largely overlooked, but it is visible downtown and beyond. This small city in Northeast Oregon is an excellent place to visit to sort of step back in time and imagine what it was like back in the wilder, boomtown days of the West. (To be clear, it’s not some run-down, forgotten hellhole. There are simply elements, reminders and feelings of those eras.)

Anthony Lakes

Though not in Baker City – travel time to these lakes in the Blue Mountains of Oregon takes about an hour – Anthony Lakes is worth the drive to visit for a day trip. The Blue Mountains are a natural spectacle of Oregon, and this is one the best spots (that is easily accessible) to experience the scenery.

Anthony Lakes are a series of mountain lakes and marsh about 7000 feet above sea level. The area is popular for camping, hiking, fishing and other outdoorsy/water activities. Winter sees Anthony Lakes turn into a destination for snow sports, with the Anthony Lakes Ski Resort receiving quite a bit of snow to enjoy the 20+ ski runs.

There is a really easy hiking loop around the lake, about a mile in length, with several offshoot paths into the woods if you want to explore further or find different views of the mountains. There is a longer, 8-mile loop that goes all the way around Gunsight Mountain, the peak that looms above the lake. This longer hike is more difficult but offers a fun, scenic challenge.

Anthony Lakes isn’t exactly in Baker City, but it is a popular area for outdoor recreation for locals in the area. For tourists in Baker City who want to spend some time with Mother Nature, this is an ideal place. It’s fairly easy to reach, the air is crisp and the landscapes are truly stunning.

Geiser Grand Hotel

The famous and historic Geiser Grand Hotel is an oddity. It’s a beautiful, old hotel that seems peculiarly set in, of all places, Baker City, Oregon. The reasons behind that alludes to the history and importance of Baker City in the late-1800s.

Today, this unique hotel actually attracts tourists to travel to Baker City just to stay here. It was famous in centuries-past as the “finest hotel between Salt Lake City and Portland,” and today, restored to its former glory, the fancy Geiser Grand Hotel attracts travelers from afar.

Gesier Grand Hotel dining room and lobby — interior of the Geiser Grand Hotel

This is another landmark in Downtown Baker City, but the Geiser Grand Hotel is an attraction in itself and worth mentioning.

Northeast Oregon Heritage & Culture

Eastern Oregon is probably one of the most overlooked parts of the United States, especially for travel and tourism and especially Baker City. It’s not exactly the place many people think of when it comes to culture and history.

As mentioned above, there is a lot of history in Baker City, and it’s just sitting there along the streets. There are some notable museums that provide more insight and depth into what life was like way-back-when in this region of forgotten America.

The Adler House Museum is small in comparison to the next two museums mentioned here. However, this old home is an excellent example (and tour) of the glory days of Baker City’s history. Located on Main Street, the pretty house dates back to the late-1800s and was the home of a very important figure in local history.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is one of the more unique and informative museums depicting and explaining the harrowing experience Americans encountered on their westward journeys in search of a better life. This large, state-of-the-art museum is a haven for Oregon Trail historical information and even has some easy hiking trails.

The Baker Heritage Museum is an excellent source for local history and information. The museum specializes in the local history of the Oregon Trail, as well as other local history, wildlife and culture.

Where to Eat in Baker City

Where to Eat in Baker City is probably the most common question travelers have as they’re passing through or resting in town for the night. Fortunately, there are some good answers.

The cuisine of Baker City is not the biggest tourist draw to this part of Oregon, but the dining options in the city are a pleasant surprise for many visitors. Baker City, especially the historic downtown, and the surrounding area are home to plenty of quality eating options.

As I often repeat, “food and drink is an open window into another culture.” This holds true in Eastern Oregon, too. Life is different in this part of the United States, especially compared to Portland and the Willamette Valley region, and that lifestyle is reflected in the great local food.

Whether it’s local restaurants highlighting local agriculture or one of Oregon’s best breweries – and that is really saying something, but Barley Brown’s is that good – Baker City has great eating and drinking options. For a more detailed and thorough breakdown, read the Hangry Backpacker’s Guide to Eating in Baker City.

Transportation

Baker City is not the easiest place to reach. It’s a small city, and there are no commercial flights and no passenger trains stopping in town. A car is pretty essential to visiting the area.

You can take a Greyhound bus from Portland ($40-50, 7+ hours) or Boise ($20-30, 2+ hours), and, technically, there is a tiny commercial airport in Pendleton about 90 minutes away.

Even if you decide to take a bus to Baker City, there’s not really any way to get around without a car. Downtown is easy enough to traverse on foot, but anything outside of those few blocks will require a set of wheels.

Baker City, Oregon is a small town in the rural American West. A large, sparsely-populated region. In fact, it is the seat of Baker County, which has less than 20,000 residents and is larger than Delaware. Public transportation is all but nonexistent, and, no matter which direction you come from, reaching the town requires a bit of windshield time.

It should also be noted that there is nowhere in Baker City, Oregon (at least nowhere that I have personally seen or been able to locate online) that has rental cars. Baker City is an excellent road trip stop, but make reservations for rental cars early and practically.

Hotels in Baker City

Hotels in Baker City are largely limited to typical interstate motels. American highway mainstays like Motel 6, Super 8, Rodeway Inn and Quality Inn are examples of the majority of accommodation options in the city. Most of these are located near Interstate-84.

Aside from these, one motel stands out a bit. The Oregon Trail Motel is one block from Main Street in Downtown Baker City. The exterior of the motel screams rural, small town USA (in a good way), but the rooms are simple, cheap and clean.

The Oregon Trail Motel is far from fancy, but it has the perfect location; and the price is the best when factoring in location and the free breakfast. It feels like Eastern Oregon, the staff is great and the on-site restaurant has good food in an awesome local atmosphere.

As far as hotels in Baker City, Oregon go, none is more notable or prestigious than the Geiser Grand Hotel. This hotel was once of the top hotels in the entire northwestern United States.

Today, the Geiser Grand Hotel is one of the major tourist draws in Baker City. The turn-of-the-century style and decor is an homage to luxury in centuries past – back in the times when getting to Baker City took days, not hours.

The Geiser Grand Hotel is the most iconic landmark on Main Street, even if it is dwarfed by the 150-foot Baker City Tower. In a simple, unpretentious town, the Geiser Grand emanates luxury accommodation and fine dining even today.

Of course, staying in this fancy relic of glory days past will cost. Rooms go for more than $200/night. The historical element and fancy nature of the Geiser Grand Hotel is an attractive reason for many people to spend a day or two in Baker City. If you’re not looking to spend that kind of money, the hotel’s restaurant and bar are open to the public and absolutely worth a visit.

The Best Time of Year to Visit

The best time of year to visit Baker City depends mostly on what you’ll be doing. If skiing is of interest, Winter is best. If camping is the goal, then a warmer time of year will be smart. It is important to note that snow sticks in higher elevations longer than in town.

Baker City is pretty dry and fairly sunny. There are ample opportunities throughout the year to enjoy the town and surrounding attractions, be that beneath a blanket of snow or baking under the dry, Eastern Oregon sun.

From a strict weather point of view, the late-Spring to mid-Summer seasons are ideal. This time has warm days and cool nights, without temperatures being too extreme on either end of the thermometer.

Baker City, Oregon isn’t a flashy travel destination. It’s not a backpacker town, a hub of some obscure microculture or a remote sanctuary of luxury.

Baker City, Oregon is the place to visit for beautiful scenes of the real American West. This is the place to visit for travelers and roadtrippers seeking somewhere pretty, real, unpretentious and unique.

Tourists are more likely to travel through Baker City than to Baker City. What the Interstate doesn’t reveal is a cool town in an interesting part of the United States. Baker City is the perfect visit for roadtrippers that want to see another side of Oregon complete with an historic old town, beautiful mountains and great food. As an added bonus, this part of America is pretty darn cheap.

Granada vs. Seville: Full Travel Comparison

August 27, 2020 By Hangry Backpacker Leave a Comment

Granada vs. Seville – it’s not a simple comparison. This isn’t a debate of choosing Granada or Seville in a soccer game. Which Andalusian city should you visit on your trip to Spain?

If possible and time permits, Granada and Seville (Sevilla) are both excellent places to travel in Spain. When time is not on your side, choosing a travel destination can be more complicated.

These two Spanish cities are both popular with tourists for a reason. Before you choose – if you have to choose – compare Granada vs. Seville in this analysis. Decide which one is the better place to travel for you.

Seville vs. Granada – The Main Attractions

Granada and Seville both have fantastic attractions that draw tourists. What about the top attractions? Does Granada or Seville have the better landmark travel highlight?

Granada:

The Alhambra complex is the major tourist draw in Granada. The grounds consist of palaces, a ruined fortress, extravagant gardens and even an art museum. All of this comes with great views over the city of Granada.

Alhambra is an enormous source of tourism. Millions of tourists visit each year, and it is a place that I could easily spend half a day wandering around (again).

Seville:

The famous Cathedral of Seville is the most prominent and popular tourist attraction in Seville. This massive church, one of the largest in the world, draws thousands of tourists and religious pilgrims on a daily basis. Seville Cathedral has tons of history, jaw-dropping interior decor and even the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

Seville Cathedral also has the best view in the city. The bell tower, a former minaret, provides marvelous views of the city center in Sevilla.

Granada vs. Seville – which has the better major tourist attraction? Both of these sites are stunning, picturesque and full of history. The Alhambra is more difficult to visit and more expensive, but it is the clear winner here.

Seville Cathedral is cool, but there are a lot of massive churches in Europe. That’s not a bad thing; Seville Cathedral is different from other large European churches, but the Alhambra is definitely the more unique attraction.

Other Tourist Attractions

Aside from the major attractions in each city, which place is better for a variety of tourist attractions?

There are plenty of interesting things to do in Granada. Granada has big beautiful churches, too, and the hilly city also has several fantastic view points. But, truthfully, there aren’t that many significant, landmark tourist attractions in Granada aside from Alhambra. It is a city to visit for other reasons, which we’ll cover below.

On the other hand, Seville has tons of noteworthy tourist attractions. Aside from the imposing cathedral, Seville has the beautiful Plaza de Espana, Roman ruins scattered in and around the area, a famous royal palace (alcazar), modern architectural curiosities and a host of several impressive museums.

As far as significant, “noteworthy” tourist attractions, Seville is the clear winner versus Granada. Seville’s larger size and greater historical importance are the reason there are so many notable attractions in the city.

Seville vs. Granada – Where is the Better Food?

The Granada vs. Seville battle for best food is a terribly difficult and complicated contest to judge. Picking a clear winner will surely anger someone from one of these places. Both of these cities have phenomenal cuisine that represents everything travelers love about Andalusia.

First off, I want to make it clear that neither Seville nor Granada has explicitly better food. In fact, I genuinely want to return to both of these cities for no other reason than to eat. Of course, I’ll squeeze in other tourist activities, but food is my primary motivation.

However, despite each city having delicious cuisine, that doesn’t mean they’re equal. Both cities might be in Andalusia, and both are known for a culture of tapas, but there are significant differences that can tip the scales in one direction for hungry travelers.

Granada is known for tapas. Eating tapas in Granada is not just about filling your belly. It is an experience. There are few instances where tourists dine with locals in an authentic environment like the tapas scene in Granada.

It doesn’t matter whether a restaurant in Granada is popular with tourists. That’s not enough to scare locals away. Locals dominate the clientele at good tapas hotspots, and tourists are welcome to join.

The best part of the lively tapas culture in Granada is that it’s free. Patrons pay for a drink and, moments later, a plate of food comes out. In the less-touristic places, the small plates are bigger and better.

Eating in Seville is every bit as enjoyable as in Granada. Tapas in Seville are a big deal, too, though slightly different than Granada. For starters, they aren’t free, but tapas in Seville are cheap and usually larger portions.

As a larger city, there are more options for eating in Seville. And the city has several notable local specialties. However, with its larger size and greater number of tourists, there are also a lot of tourist restaurants crowding the plate in Seville.

Granada vs. Seville in terms of food is a draw. There may be no clear winner, but there is, more importantly, no loser. Each city has delicious eats and a lively tapas scene.

Personally, I want to go back and eat in Granada more than Seville. Eating in Granada is one of my all-time favorite travel experiences. That being said, I would probably head to Seville shortly after a few days of eating in Granada.

Granada or Seville – Which City is More Touristy?

The unfortunate truth is that both Seville and Granada are very touristic cities. Spain, in general, is a popular destination for tourists with Andalusia being one of the more popular regions within the country.

The deep history of these cities means that there are a lot of attractions. A lot of tourist attractions means, obviously, a lot of tourists.

The center of Seville may be incredibly lovely, but it is extremely touristic. Between the charm and beauty are tour groups, souvenir shops and thousands upon thousands of tourists sprawling out from the center.

Tourism in Granada is more concentrated. The Alhambra’s position perched atop a hill surrounded by a park means that other tourist activities are down below in the city itself. Some of these streets are flooded with tourists, but the “tourist sprawl” in Granada is significantly more contained.

The larger size of Seville makes it easy to lose crowds and escape touristy scenes. Large chunks of the city are especially touristy, though. Granada may have some serious tourist business, but the city is less touristy than Seville.

Keep in mind, though, that comparing Granada versus Seville in regard to which city is more touristic is a bleary comparison. It is easy enough to escape tourist crowds in each city, but each also has more than its fair share of visitors.

Which City is Better for Wandering

Words like “beautiful” and “charming” and “picturesque” are more commonly associated with Seville than Granada. Part of this is due to the fact that the buildings are a little more colorful. Another reason is simply the greater volume of tourists visiting Seville.

Seville is not inherently more attractive than Granada. The two cities are just different. Though they are both in Andalusia, the differences of these two cities are significant. Granada is hilly and nestled next to a mountain range, whereas Seville is mostly flat. Both of these cities are pretty and places where it’s difficult for tourists to put the camera down.

So which city is better for a casual stroll of getting lost and wandering around?

Seville is larger, so it has that going for it. It is also one of those cities where you’ll turn a corner and, seemingly out of nowhere, there is a postcard scene or striking piece of architecture. Seville’s popularity also means more crowds.

Granada is hilly, meaning that there are a lot of unique views. The hills also deter lazy travelers. Aside from the most popular viewpoints, most are not crowded. The central, popular area of Granada is beautiful but busy. The farther you wander from Alhambra, the less likely it is that you’ll see many other tourists.

Granada is an ideal city for aimless wandering, but Seville has the edge. Ultimately, it comes down to size. Seville is larger, and most tourists congregate in and around the center of the city.

Wandering around Seville is a treat. Whether it’s on the tiny side streets near the center or across the river in Triana, the labyrinthine nature of the city makes it the perfect place to get lost and lose the crowds.

Travel Costs – Is Granada or Seville Cheaper?

Depending on the season, Spain can be a fairly cheap travel destination. The weather dictates a lot of the costs. Rainy, colder times of year stifle demand for the most part. The exception is something like holidays or festivals. These can cause demand (and prices) to skyrocket regardless of weather.

Granada vs. Seville in terms of travel costs is pretty clear: Granada is cheaper. The big city effect, the same factor that influences popularity and food, also causes Sevilla to be slightly more expensive.

Compared to Granada, costs in Seville are not significantly higher. Food, which can be a hefty part of my budget, is slightly more expensive. Beer is clearly more expensive, though still pretty cheap.

All of the popular tourist attractions in Seville also add up. The Alhambra is more expensive than any of these, but there are more places of interest with admission fees in Seville.

Hotels can be as expensive as you want them to be. There are more pricey hotels in Seville, but there are plenty of affordable options, too. As far as hostels go, prices are similar, but Seville has more options.

Overall, Granada is cheaper. But prices in Sevilla are not so high that you’ll want to avoid the city or shorten your stay.

Transportation – Better in Granada or Seville?

Cities in Spain typically have good public transportation. Not all cities are the same, and if ease of getting around is a concern for your visit, consider the quality of public transportation in Granada versus Seville:

Intra-city Transportation

Both Sevilla and Granada are walkable cities. Most of the top tourist attractions are centrally located and easy to reach on foot.

Granada has a greater change in elevation than Sevilla. Its location at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains means portions of the city contain fairly steep hills. With a lot of narrow streets, public transport is limited reaching some of these areas.

The bus system in Granada is adequate enough for tourists, but there isn’t really much need to use it. Granada has a light rail network that is severely limited and only useful if you’re arriving at the bus station.

Seville is pretty much flat. Walking in the city is the simplest way to get around. The exception would be in the high heat of Summer, during which time Sevilla is notoriously hot.

Otherwise, Seville is one of the most bike-friendly cities in Spain, and it has the best public transportation network in Andalusia. This includes trams in the city center, a metro system and an extensive bus network.

Inter-city Transportation

The biggest difference in transportation for Granada vs. Seville is the regional and national transportation network. Seville is the clear leader in this category.

Granada has a train station that is all but useless to tourists. Trains from Granada do not connect to any other major cities. Forget what the internet says, there is not a direct train from Granada to Seville, Cordoba, Malaga or Madrid. Not even the slower “media distance” train.

To reach Seville by train from Granada, you have to first take an hour-long bus to Antequera. In my case, I had to take a bus from Granada to Antequera, a second bus to Osuna and finally a train to Seville.

It’s not difficult to get around Spain from Granada, but the schedule is unreliable and inconsistent. It is much easier (and faster) to travel by bus, such as ALSA, from Granada to reach Seville or other cities in Andalusia.

Seville has similar regional bus connections as Granada, so there is minimal difference in that transportation option. Seville’s Santa Justa train station can transport travelers across Spain. It has several high-speed, long-distance routes. These tend to be expensive but save a lot of travel time.

Should you want to rent a car and drive yourself, a road trip in Andalusia is also an excellent way to see the region. The freedom to get around and go for a hike or stop at any of the alluring villages or beaches is tempting to say to the least.

Air Transportation

Granada and Seville both have international airports. The destinations served and capacity of the airports are another big difference between the two cities.

Granada has an airport about 20 minutes west of the city. The airport is essentially good for flying to Madrid and a few other cities in Western Europe.

Seville Airport (Aeropuerto de Sevilla) has a much larger operation than Granada. Aeropuerto de Sevilla is one of Spain’s busiest airports and has regular flights to several Spanish cities and dozens of cities in Europe.

In regards to transportation, Seville is the clear winner vs. Granada. The city is flat, bike-friendly and has excellent ground and air connections to Spain and Western Europe. Granada isn’t remote by any stretch, but it is a little more tedious getting to/from the smaller city.

Granada or Seville, Who Wins?

The comparison of Granada vs. Seville is a difficult competition to judge. Both cities have positives. Seville is easier to reach and has more specifically notable attractions. Granada is smaller, has better tapas and has a beautiful backdrop of mountains.

On the surface, Seville seems like it would be the clear winner. It has everything a tourist looks for in a travel destination – food, history, culture, pretty sights – and that’s why it is so popular.

Granada has the intangibles, though. In addition to being an aesthetically pleasing city, notable attractions and having great food, there’s something about the city that stands out. Maybe it’s the feeling that local life not only exists in the tourist bubble – it thrives. Tourism and local life coexisting in this manner is a rarity in the 21st century.

Neither Seville or Granada is the better city to visit. They’re both great, but I do have a preference.

Granada is one of my favorite cities in the world. My visit was supposed to be two or three days and I stayed for over a week. I almost rented an apartment to stay for a month, but prior commitments, life and all that got in the way.

I also loved Seville. Despite its more-touristic nature, Sevilla is a beautiful, lively city. It has phenomenal food, too, but there’s just something extra special about Granada.

Complete Guide for Solo Travel in Madrid

August 15, 2020 By Hangry Backpacker Leave a Comment

Madrid, Spain is an excellent candidate for solo travel. The vibrant city attracts millions of tourists each year, and it’s position as the Capital of Spain elicits a cosmopolitan vibe throughout the city. The popularity of Madrid does not mean it should be discounted as a destination for solo travel.

Whether you’re in Madrid as a budget backpacker or with a little more spare change in your pocket, visiting as a solo traveler is a fantastic way to spend time in the city. There is a reason to visit Spain’s capital for every traveler. This guide will help in your preparations and expectations for visiting Madrid:

Tourist Highlights

Madrid’s position as a national capital is an obvious tourist attraction. The location of Madrid in the center of Spain is an added travel bonus. It is essentially at the geographic crossroads of Spain, and this has positioned Madrid as an ideal place to start a solo travel journey into the culture and action of the country.

For any traveler, be that a solo backpacker or someone in town for a short travel stay, there are a few highlights of Madrid that cannot be missed on a first visit. These are some of the main tourist attractions in Madrid:

Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid is an imposing sight and the official residence of the King of Spain. Although the Spanish Royal Family wields virtually no power or authority – they seem to be shrouded in scandal more often than politics – it still exists. For whatever reason, Spain still has a king.

Without getting into the politics of it – if you’re not a Spanish citizen, does it really matter? – the Royal Palace of Madrid is a great place to visit at the right time. Portions of the palace are open to visitors throughout the year (with holiday and other exceptions).

Unfortunately, admission costs €13. There is a free admission period each day for EU citizens and citizens of certain Latin American countries. For the rest of us, don’t expect a discount.

The Royal Palace is spectacular, but the admission price isn’t really in line with a solo travel backpacker budget in Madrid. Photography is also not allowed inside. Take the time to see the exterior of the palace, and wander the surrounding grounds. Skip the entrance fees and the crowds.

Prado Museum

The Prado is the most famous museum in Spain and one of the most well-known art museums in the entire world. Famous artists represented include Goya, Raphael, Titian, El Greco, Rembrandt and many more. The Prado is home to some of the world’s most famous works of art and the world’s largest collection of Spanish art.

If you’re even slightly interested in art or museums, the Prado is a must-see for a first timer in Madrid. The benefit of visiting the Prado for solo travel in Madrid is seeking out the art that interests you and going at your own pace. To state the obvious, art museums don’t appeal to everyone. A solo traveler can freely spend an hour or half a day in the Prado.

The only downside to visiting the Prado is the no photography rule. While it makes sense with flash, it puzzles me that some art museums allow non-flash photography and others fiercely prohibit snapping pictures of any kind.

Visiting the Prado is a good deal. Admission is only €7.50, and entrance is free from 6-8 PM, Monday-Saturday and 3-5 PM on Sundays. My advice is to arrive at least an hour before the free period begins. The crowds and lines are quite large.

Travelers with an especially keen interest in art will love the area around the Prado. There are two other art museums, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofia, nearby. These galleries contain art that is not featured in the Prado, such as modern and contemporary art, as well as art from other historical periods.

The Prado (and other nearby art museums) is on nearly every Madrid travel guide for a reason. It is a terrific display of Spanish history and culture at a reasonable price.

Other Notable Museums in Madrid

Madrid’s status as a large city, an old city and national capital means there is a lot of culture and history in a single area. For travelers and tourists wanting to explore a little deeper into that culture, here are some other good museums in Madrid:

National Archaeological Museum – prehistoric, ancient, medieval and Moorish history in Spain
Museum of the Americas – great museum for insight into Spain’s once-illustrious empire
Naval Museum – Spain once had the greatest navy in the world
Madrid History Museum – local history galore
Museum of the Royal Mint – for coin lovers and fellow numismatists, this place is a must!
Dozens more including museums of tapestries, anatomy, rocks, transportation and so on

Almudena Cathedral

Almudena Cathedral, officially Santa María la Real de La Almudena, is the center of Catholicism in Madrid. As a heavily Catholic city in a largely Catholic nation, that’s a significant distinction for a church.

Visiting Almudena Cathedral doesn’t have to be a pilgrimage, and it’s not as incredible as Seville Cathedral. It’s just a large, pretty church that holds an important cultural position in the city. The cathedral is also conveniently located directly across the small Armeria Plaza from the Royal Palace.

Almudena Cathedral is big and beautiful, the kind of church that is popular for a reason. The best part of this church is that admission is free – like visits to all religious sites should be.

Puerta del Sol

All tourists in Madrid will eventually find themselves standing in Puerta del Sol. The de facto center of Madrid, Puerta del Sol is where all roads in the city meet. The large plaza is teeming with people, shops and street performers.

To be frank, the area around Puerta del Sol isn’t that interesting. If the plaza was empty, it would be a cool sight. As it is, Puerta del Sol is incredibly crowded. This is great for people watching, but travelers need to mind their pockets and bags around here.

If you’re into shopping at the same stores (or very similar ones) that are found in every big city in the world, this is the place to go in Spain. And if you need to purchase a silly souvenir, this is the area.

There’s also the famous bear statue – The Bear and the Strawberry Tree – where tourists congregate waiting to take a picture. It’s a fun statue with a little bear craning up to the top of a little tree, but apparently it is representative of Madrid. The statue has definitely become a symbol of the city.

Puerta del Sol is one of those places you have to see on a first trip to Madrid. It’s on all the travel guides, and it’s certainly a “thing to do” in Madrid. It’s a lot like Times Square in New York City – it’s a center of tourism with shops of overpriced crap and an absurd amount of people. Puerta del Sol is only useful for people watching and ticking something off a list.

I enjoy getting away from dense crowds when I travel solo, and that’s generally easy to do in Madrid. Puerta del Sol is one exception. It’s a place you kind of have to see at least once, but that’s probably enough. See it, use it as a reference point to get around and then explore the rest of the city.

Plaza Mayor

Where Puerta del Sol is the center of Madrid, nearby Plaza Mayor is the historic main square. Plaza Mayor is equally as touristy, but it is a much more attractive scene. The buildings appear older and are certainly more photogenic.

Plaza Mayor is attracts crowds. Despite being smaller than Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor isn’t usually as busy. The square isn’t as open, and it’s also free of public transit stops.

Plaza Mayor has a few restaurants with outdoor seating into the square. These are almost certainly going to have a tourist element about them, including tourist prices, but the location is hard to beat. If you’re going to splurge for one touristy meal in Madrid, this is a good spot.

Live Sports

Controversy aside, bullfighting is popular in Spain. It is often seen as an artform and has deep cultural ties to the country. Madrid is home to the largest bullfighting ring in Spain, Las Ventas. The stadium is located in Salamanca, with the season running from March-October and the peak in late Spring.

Attending a bullfight may not be for everyone. Let’s just say that the bull rarely wins and doesn’t live to fight again. If you’re up for it and in Madrid during the season, there are few activities to experience local culture better than attending a bullfight.

Far more popular and world-renowned than bullfighting is soccer. Or futbol, football, whatever you want to call it. Madrid is home to one of the world’s best, biggest, and wealthiest soccer clubs, Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid is the second best team in town, and both clubs play in enormous stadiums.

Madrid has other teams, too, including two other clubs playing in Spain’s top soccer league. In other words, soccer in Madrid is a really big deal.

If you can get tickets to a Real Madrid game – well, if you can afford them – this would surely be an incredible experience. Atletico tickets are also going to be expensive and in high demand, though slightly more attainable.

Even if you can’t make it to watch one of the famous teams, catching a game for one of the smaller teams will be an exciting affair. Soccer in Spain is serious business, and the atmosphere at the games is exciting. Even if you’re not a soccer fan, casual sports fans will thoroughly enjoy this opportunity.

Parks & Green Spaces in Madrid

Madrid has a fair amount of parks. If you count public gardens and other (calm and quiet) public spaces, there are a lot. But there are two parks worth checking out for tourists in Madrid.

Casa de Campo

The largest park in Madrid is Casa de Campo. The enormous park, located near the Royal Palace, was originally on royal land, but today it is open to the public. The park is predominantly green and natural, but it is dotted with historical landmarks, points of interest and even an amusement park.

Casa de Campo is the perfect area to get away from the city without actually leaving the city. Solo travel in Madrid may be overwhelming for some, and others may just want to escape the constant grind of big city traffic and crowds.

Casa de Campo is made for wandering. Pack a helping of jamón, bread, cheese and a cold Mahou, and it’s a great area to spend half a day. At over 4000 acres, it is full of trails and quiet spaces. Casa de Campo is the ideal retreat in Madrid for nature, hiking and a decent view of the city.

El Retiro

The prettiest park in Madrid is El Retiro. This park, located in Salamanca, is more organized and planned than Casa de Campo. The lake in the middle is popular for paddle boats, street vendors selling cheap (probably counterfeit) goods and just hanging out.

Although it’s not as “untouched” as it’s larger counterpart, El Retiro is an equally pleasant escape from the city. The paths are perfect for an easy walk. It’s quiet. And the design of the park is attractive, too.

Best Neighborhoods for Solo Travel Wanderings in Madrid

Centro is the oldest district in Madrid. As the name clearly implies, it is also the central district in the city. This is where visitors will find most of the major tourist attractions in Madrid, such as the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor.

Aside from the obvious highlights of Centro, the district is also home to some of the coolest neighborhoods (wards) in Madrid. The Cortes and Embajadores neighborhoods are especially interesting.

This is the area made for solo travel in Madrid. It’s apt for aimless wandering, and the narrow streets are lined with interesting shops and hundreds of tempting places to pop in for a drink or a bite to eat.

The age of this part of the city is apparent in the architecture. Most of Madrid has older buildings, but a lot of the city looks fairly new or recently renovated. The small side streets of Centro is the area to find slightly older buildings lining stone streets that were never intended for cars. It’s definitely the prettiest part of the city and the best area to get a distinctly Madrid feeling when walking around.

For solo travelers who want to get a real feel for Madrid and find a less touristy part of the city, there are plenty of options. Madrid is a huge city by population and area. There are several neighborhoods to walk around aside from Centro, though it is the most conveniently located and most photogenic. Each district and neighborhood is unique from the next.

I especially enjoyed walking around Salamanca, which is an upscale district to the east of Centro. Salamanca is nicer and more expensive, but that is mostly for people living in Madrid. It still has its fair share of cheap food, and the whole area is a pleasant place to take a stroll.

Solo travel in Madrid would not be complete without checking out areas less frequented by tourists. During my three visits to Madrid, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring more of the city. In addition to Centro, I recommend checking out Retiro, Prosperidad, Salamanca and Charmartin to see another side of Madrid.

Madrid is much more than Centro and much more than these few districts. Solo travelers who like to get away from the crowds and tourist attractions will find Madrid an ideal place to wander.

Eating & Drinking in Madrid

The best activity for tourists – be that backpackers, families, couples or solo travel in Madrid – is eating. Food in Madrid is excellent. Eating in the city offers a wonderful blend of cuisine from around Spain. There are also a lot of international options thanks to Madrid’s size and international status.

Solo travel foodies in Madrid don’t have to worry about the city lacking authentic local eats. Madrid also has plenty of local specialties, and pretty much everything is exceptional.

For first-timers in Madrid, there are a few important things to note: This is not the part of Spain where tapas are free and famous, and this is not the paella capital of Spain, either. Lastly, jamón is everything. Eat it. Those are the main points.

For a thorough breakdown of costs, eating cheap, local dishes, drinking the good stuff and a lot more, read the Hangry Backpacker’s Guide to Eating & Drinking in Madrid.

The Best Time to Visit Madrid for Solo Travel

Summer is the most popular time to visit Madrid. This is when the bulk of visitors, tourists of all types, show up en masse. Summer is ideal for the traveler who wishes to travel Spain in the sunshine and include a beach visit or two.

Winter can be more challenging in Spain. It’s not like Winter in Siberia, but mountainous areas are snowy. Winter in Spain also sees popular attractions alter hours and even some smaller tourist businesses shut down for the season.

For independent travelers and solo travel in Madrid, the best time to visit is Spring or Fall. The weather in the city ranges from cool to warm and is pleasant overall. The low season has yet to inconveniently alter operating hours, but the numbers of tourists are significantly lower than the peak season.

Mid-Spring or early Fall is ideal for solo travelers who still want some sunshine and possibly a bit of beach time. It would be wise to expect rainy days and plan accordingly, though. The nice days are made even better by smaller crowds, especially in Fall. The weather in late Fall is inconsistent and unreliable, but the crowds are significantly smaller.

Spain’s climate varies a lot considering the relatively small geographical area. For instance, Summer in the north is pleasant and even cool at night. On the other hand, Summer in Seville is notoriously hot. Madrid is warm during the summertime, occasionally very hot.

For the most part, Madrid is a fairly temperate city. It’s never Bangkok hot or Moscow cold. Solo travel is easiest when there are fewer tourists, and this is the main factor for deciding when to visit Madrid.

How Long Should You Stay in Madrid?

Madrid is a really cool city, but how long is long enough?

Madrid is big, and it’s a national capital. And it’s old. All of these things mean there’s a lot to do. In fact, there is as much to do in Madrid as you want to, so it just depends where your interests lie.

History & Culture Enthusiasts

For travelers interested in history and culture, you could easily spend weeks in Madrid. There are enough museums, galleries, ruins and historical sites to occupy your time for quite a while.

Outdoorsy Travelers in Madrid

Travelers interested in nature and outdoor activities won’t find much need to stay in Madrid for long. It’s a big city, pretty much a concrete jungle, so any sort of hiking, trekking or other outdoor fun will require nature-loving travelers to go elsewhere.

Foodies in Madrid

Food-focused and hungry travelers will love Madrid. There are thousands of bars and restaurants, and the gastronomic scene in Madrid is absolutely top notch. A few days is adequate to get a thorough sampling of cuisine in Madrid. A week of eating in Madrid would be an awesome, thorough way to taste the city. You’ll probably get fat, though, so maybe do some walking.

Solo Travelers in Madrid

Madrid is an excellent choice for solo travel or those who want to escape tourist traps. Yes, there are a lot of tourist attractions (and tourists, at times) in Madrid, but the city is large enough that solo travelers in need of an authentic detour can easily get lost.

There are also several great day trips from Madrid that are ideal for solo travel, such as Segovia and El Escorial. A week is long enough to stay in Madrid if you plan to use the city as a base for day trips, otherwise 3-4 days is enough to see the sights and do some wandering.

Ultimately, how long you should stay in Madrid depends where your travel interests lie. A couple of days is not enough, but a week is probably pushing it for most people. Somewhere right in the middle, about 3-4 days, will be the optimal length of stay in Madrid for most travelers.

Transportation in Madrid for Tourists

Transportation in Madrid is easy and efficient. The city is largely walkable, and there aren’t that many steep hills. Public transportation within the city is easy to use and reasonably priced. Transportation to nearby cities, destinations farther away in Spain and international destinations are also pretty easy to reach from Madrid.

For a full, thorough breakdown of getting around Madrid, including airport transfers, bus/subway prices and more, read the Hangry Backpacker’s Guide to Transportation in Madrid for Tourists.

Is Madrid Safe for Solo Travel?

This is a surprising question that comes up a lot before and after my trips. People are always curious about safety abroad, as if I was heading off to trek through cartel territory or an active warzone.

I guess it’s a reasonable question if it keeps coming up. So is Madrid a safe place to travel solo?

To my American friends, Madrid is far, far safer than most of our big cities. Hell, most of the world is statistically safer than Chicago, New Orleans, St. Louis, Detroit, D.C, Baltimore – should I continue? No, that’s depressing. While tourists aren’t at danger of being hacked away in American cities, rest assured knowing that Madrid is not a dangerous place to travel.

Like any city in the world, travelers should always exercise caution and remain aware of their surroundings. And getting stumbling drunk late at night is not something I would advise.

The only instance in Spain’s capital where I felt uncomfortable was in Plaza Mayor where a non-local vendor got mad that I didn’t want to buy his cheap, fake sunglasses. I walked away when he yelled, and he left me alone. Otherwise, I had no issues whatsoever.

So, yes. Madrid is totally safe, and solo travel in Madrid is totally safe. In fact, traveling alone might be even safer because you don’t stick out and scream “I’m a tourist!” like the mere presence of a tour group. Solo travel is the best way to see Madrid, and it’s very safe to do so.

Best Hostels in Madrid for Solo Travelers

Madrid is made for solo travel. For backpackers and other long-term travelers, social interaction or someone to explore the city with (or a dinner companion!) is an important factor to consider.

Thankfully, Madrid has hundreds of hostels, and most of them are less than €20 for a bed in a dorm. Private hostel rooms can be as low as €25. These are a few of the great hostel options in Madrid:

Is Madrid Worth Visiting for Tourists?

Madrid is not known as being the most culturally rich, quaint or picturesque city. It’s known more as the big city in Spain. If it’s not spectacular, is it worth your time?

Yes and no. Madrid is not as photogenic as Seville, and it’s not as lively as Barcelona. That doesn’t mean you should skip it. There’s a lot to be said about the national capital and largest city of a country as old as Spain. The cultural impact from those distinctions means there is a lot of important stuff going on. It means there will be a lot of interesting sites and places to see.

Madrid has its pros and cons. More extensive impressions and whether or not I think Madrid is worth visiting for tourists are coming soon.

Madrid is a cool, fun city with tons of attractions and activities for tourists to enjoy. Solo travel in Madrid comes with the bonus of getting around easier, the ease of wandering, exploring the city beyond the touristy areas and traveling cheaper.

Whether it’s a brief stay or a longer trip, Madrid has something for every traveler. There are few cities with such a high concentration of culture and history that also have fantastic food and are incredibly clean. Madrid is the gateway into Spain for solo travel, and it’s an excellent starting point for anyone heading to the country for the first time.

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15 Tips to Travel Cheaper & Longer

August 2, 2020 By Hangry Backpacker Leave a Comment

Too many people write off travel as prohibitively expensive, with the idea that cheaper travel is unattainable. That’s simply not true. Cheaper travel and longer trips are possible for anyone willing to reconsider the travel process, from research and bookings to the return flight home.

Budget travel doesn’t mean sacrificing the best parts about travel. Affordable travel doesn’t have to be uncomfortable, either. It means making a few simple decisions that save money. Here are some of the ways I personally travel cheaper, which also enable my travels to last longer:

1. Travel Cheaper – Forget the Fancy Hotels!

Traveling cheaper doesn’t mean you have to stay in a 20-bed hostel dorm room. Hostel dorms are usually only a few beds and nicer than most people presume anyway, but saving money on travel accommodation doesn’t have to mean staying in a hostel, either.

Guesthouses, short-term apartment rentals and smaller hotels are easy ways to save on travel. Many hostels even offer private rooms for the fraction of the cost of a typical hotel room.

Nice budget hotel in Malaysia — clean, A/C, great location – less than $10/night

Name brand hotels usually offer consistency, amenities and comfort. That’s not always a guarantee, though. On one occasion in a South American capital city (before I discovered hostels), I stayed in a hotel that is known around the world for being comfortable, expensive and fancy. It was not. As it happens, a recognizable brand and more than $150 a night in South America guarantees nothing.

2. Travel Independently, Travel Longer

Tour groups are expensive. It may be easy and carefree to travel in a tour group, but this is not the most economic way to travel. If you want to travel cheaper and longer, independent travel is the way to go.

Group travel has its place, but that place is not in the realm of budget travel.

Most group tours cost several thousand dollars and typically last a week or two. These tours rarely include the cost of flights. It’s not uncommon for travelers to drop $3000, $5000, $7000 or more on a 10-day trip. Before buying a plane ticket! It’s no wonder people think travel is too expensive.

If you’re willing to spend a tiny amount of time researching and booking things yourself, you can save thousands of dollars. Travelers still hesitant to wander by themselves can hire a personal guide to lead the way. In most places, a personal guide for a few days is still far cheaper than a group tour.

Group tours are easy. Tourists in structured group travel don’t have to think about anything or do any research. If that’s the kind of trip you’re looking for, go for it! For those who want the ability to travel cheaper and longer, travel independently. It’s more economical and, honestly, a lot more fun.

3. Travel Solo

Better than traveling independently – that is, outside of a group but with other people – is traveling by yourself. Solo travel is a wonderful experience. Granted, long-term solo travel isn’t for everyone, but you never truly know until you give it a try.

Solo travel has a rewarding and freeing impact on travelers. You won’t have to constantly worry about appeasing someone else. Solo travelers can go at their own pace. They can eat when and where they want. For many travelers, this will save money.

When I travel solo, I don’t have to waste time shopping. I stay in hostels. I eat cheap and spend loads of time just walking around. In short, I save money and do what I want.

Everyone who can should travel solo at least once in their life, even if it’s only a short weekend away. It’s a great way to learn about yourself, and it’s also another great way to travel cheaper.

4. Eat Local

Eating local is a great way to cut costs abroad and make your travels cheaper. To be clear, “local” does not mean local fine dining. For instance, eating at a Michelin-star restaurant in Bangkok (yes, there are several) is not what I mean when I encourage local eating.

Don’t get me wrong. If you have the means, desire and appreciation to enjoy a world-class meal at any time, take the chance. But if you are trying to travel cheaper, fine dining is not the answer.

Eating local with the aim to save money is all about finding the little holes in the wall, the mom-and-pop shops and street food. Forget about the table cloths. Find a small, unassuming cafe. Not only is the food in these “hidden” places often better, it’s budget-friendly. For adventurous eaters, apply these guidelines to safe eating in Southeast Asia. The tips are useful for eating abroad in many places.

Eating local food is a great way to experience a more local side of a destination, but it is also an easy way to save money so that you can travel longer.

5. Sign Up for Rewards Credit Cards!

Without a doubt, the single most expensive part of traveling abroad is the cost of airfare, at least most of the time. Lodging/accommodation is another major cost of travel. These two aspects of travel can quickly add up and make a trip considerably more expensive. To many people, the costs of airfare and hotels is enough to write off traveling altogether.

There are easy ways to defray – or outright eliminate! – these expenses. How? Travel rewards credit cards.

No, it’s not a scam, and there is a card for just about everyone. Picking the right card for you can mean easily earning enough points/miles to cover flights or hotels for your entire trip.

If you (wisely, of course) transfer as much spending as possible from debit cards/cash/checks to credit cards with travel rewards, the rewards can easily cover substantial travel costs. This is only sensible if you spend normally, avoid big purchases you wouldn’t otherwise buy and pay your bill ON TIME.

There are a ton of options, so take the time to research appropriately. This review from Money is an excellent place to start diving into the world of travel credit cards. Imagine turning everyday spending into free travel. That is how you travel cheaper and longer.

6. Stick to a Travel Budget

Too many travelers set off without a budget. For the average traveler, that is not a good idea. The constant swiping adds up, and when you’ve got the distractions and excitement of exploring a new place, it can be difficult to keep track of all the spending.

What if you’re in a cheap location? Well, that’s a great start! However, disregarding a budget, even in a cheap destination, can quickly lead to spending a lot more than you realize.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t splurge here or there. You can stick to a budget and do all the fun stuff, too. The key is to have simpler, cheap days to offset the more expensive days/activities.

Hiking Trail in the mountain woods Anthony Lakes Eastern Oregon — *Nature, usually pretty close to free*

You can save on food for a day or two by cooking for yourself or shopping at the supermarket. Instead of taking an organized day trip, using public transportation to reach a trailhead is a cheaper alternative. Offset hotels with time in hostels. There are so many ways to have budget travel days to offset the occasional splurge without sacrificing the fun.

Set a budget. Stick to it. It might not sound like a fun thing to worry about when you’re staring at delicious food and wandering the streets of postcard-perfect little villages, but responsible and disciplined budgeting is important to travel cheaper and longer.

7. Pay with Cash

I know, as mentioned above, credit cards can be a great way to earn miles/points/rewards for your spending. A lot of these cards will offer the same rewards abroad, but using cards abroad can also be frustrating.

The reason I use credit cards sparingly when I’m abroad is for practical reasons. I don’t spend that much money when I travel, and it’s one less thing I have to worry about monitoring. My credit card spending when I’m traveling is generally kept to secure online spending like transportation and accommodation. It’s easier to stick to a budget and track daily spending when I’m not swiping for every purchase.

Unless you’re earning killer perks with a credit card on every purchase, pay with cash. Even then, I’ll often sacrifice the few miles/points to make my life easier or avoid using my card somewhere sketchy.

Physical money is always a better way to keep track of finances. On a subconscious level, paying with physical money registers as spending more than swiping the plastic over and over.

Another simple way to save is efficiently using ATMs. Foreign ATM charges can add up, and most banks charge foreign “processing” and “conversion” fees on all international card purchases. Withdraw cash sparingly.

It’s certainly greedy of banks to charge people to access and use their own money, but there’s no way to avoid this. There are, however, some banks/credit card companies that charge customers less (or nothing at all) for these foreign transactions. Find and use one of these banks. You’ll save money on card purchases and ATM withdrawals abroad.

8. Don’t Travel in Peak Season

What if I told you that Amsterdam is a more expensive place to travel in summertime? And so is Prague and the South of France? What if I said that Munich is crazy expensive during Oktoberfest? Or that prices in Southeast Asia are higher in November and December?

These are examples of peak season. Almost every tourist destination in the world has a peak season, when, for one reason or another, tourists visit in higher numbers.

The simple law of supply and demand applies to travel, too. When the demand for services is higher, so are prices. That means hotels, excursions and even restaurants raise prices because they can.

If cheap travel is the goal, don’t travel during peak season. Visit Southeast Asia during the shoulder season. Go to Munich after Oktoberfest.

How about an air-conditioned, clean, beachside room on the island of Koh Lanta (Thailand) for about $6USD/night? That’s the offseason for ya, and that’s how I managed to travel cheaper and stay longer in paradise. Sure, it was hot, but the water was the perfect way to cool down from the sun on that EMPTY beach.

Empty low season Koh Lanta Thailand Beach in Southeast Asia — *people-free tropical paradise*

Yes, better weather is tempting, but at what cost? Literally. How much are you willing to pay to ensure Thailand is not as hot during a trip? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s always hot there. And the sun still comes out during the rainy season in Southeast Asia. The main differences in peak season are higher prices and larger crowds.

Eventually, I will make it to Oktoberfest. In the meantime, I’d rather spend a couple of weeks somewhere else for the same price as two or three days at Oktoberfest. Traveling in the offseason or shoulder season is a great way to travel cheaper and extend the length of a trip.

9. Choose Cheaper Destinations

The easiest way to save money on travel is to choose cheaper destinations. A little bit of research and an open mind can mean saving thousands of dollars and enjoying longer travels.

Famous and popular tourist destinations are almost always more expensive than necessary. But similar experiences can often be found in lesser-traversed places. At the same time, some places are simply cheaper than others no matter how popular they are.

For people who just want to travel somewhere and are discouraged by the apparent high costs of travel, consider alternate destinations. There are stunning mountains, vast deserts, enormous cities, pristine beaches and great food in every corner of the world.

For cheaper travel, expand your horizons. Widen the search. What’s the point of having the same travel experience as everyone else anyway? A small amount of research can lead to the most exciting trips and save thousands of dollars. There is always a cheaper travel alternative.

Zagreb Croatia street, a cheaper travel destination — *the Balkans, beautiful & cheap*

Here are a few examples of cheap travel destinations where your money goes further on the ground:

Southeast Asia
South Asia
Central America
Eastern Europe

10. Flexible Travel Dates Saves Money

Traveling with flexible dates is challenging for most people. Not everyone has the liberty to freely pick and choose their departure dates, and I understand that.

Popular tourist destinations – for instance, places in Europe like Paris, London, Amsterdam, Madrid, etc. – are busier on weekends. Arranging to be in these places in the middle of the week means accommodation rates will be lower. I try, though not always successfully, to spend my weekends in smaller, less touristy destinations.

If you are able to be more selective with departure dates, you can travel cheaper. Flights departing in the middle of the week are generally cheaper. Some of the best travel deals are last-minute deals. For those who don’t have the flexibility to drop everything and travel with little notice, booking far ahead with a little wiggle room is the best option.

Having a rigid schedule usually makes travel more expensive. With flexible travel dates/plans, you can take advantage of cheaper airfare, hotel rates and other costs when demand is higher. Flexible travel dates are a great way to travel longer and cheaper, and you might even find your destinations less crowded.

11. Start Walking

I save money when I travel by walking as much as possible. Taxi fares and Uber charges add up. Local buses or subways, while typically a cheap way to get around, are not free.

Walking instead of paying for transportation can save a few bucks a day. Over time, the savings add up and are an easy way to travel cheaper. In addition to savings, walking is a great way to see more of your destination.

Getting around on your own two feet is also an easy way to avoid gaining travel weight. Travel is often an unhealthy undertaking for many people, but it doesn’t have to be. Best of all, extra walking means I earn more of the beer with which I reward myself. At least that’s what I tell myself.

When I travel, I rarely hold myself back when it comes to eating. And I’m not known for passing up that second beer, either. That’s one reason you can always find me in the gym before and after a trip. Walking ten miles a day when I travel might negate a fraction of what I consume, but it eliminates almost all of the guilt! And I save a few bucks a day that goes towards spending money where I enjoy it – experiencing my destination with food and drink!

12. Pack Smarter, Travel Better, Travel Cheaper

Not everyone has the freedom to spend months at a time traveling. For many travelers, a day on a bus here or a half-day on a train there cuts into time that could be spent sightseeing, wandering and eating – all the best things about traveling somewhere new.

It’s not uncommon for tourists to take short flights to maximize time spent in the actual destination. These flights can add up, but there are ways to minimize the financial impact.

Lose the bag fees.

Checked bag fees can be expensive starting with the first bag. Occasionally, bag fees are as low as $15 – in rare instances, free – but in my experience, $25-40 is normal for a domestic flight in the United States. International (transoceanic) flights regularly charge more than $50 for the first checked bag. The cost to check a bag on my last transoceanic flight was $60 each way.

Black Osprey Travel Backpack — travel cheaper with a practical backpack

If you purchase a bag that is small enough to be a carry-on, you’ll save money. What I did was buy a backpack that splits into two pieces: A small backpack that I use as a personal item; and a larger part that zips up like a duffel bag. Before I get on a plane, I break down the bag into two pieces. It takes 1-2 minutes to disassemble or reassemble the backpack.

I spent about $200 on this backpack, but it’s even CHEAPER now! The first trip in which I used the new backpack consisted of three flights that had a total of $160 in bag fees for the first checked bag. My bag conveniently splits in two, so it appears (and functions) small enough to be my carry-on and personal item.

In a single trip, this bag nearly paid for itself by helping me avoid checked bag fees. Pack lighter and smarter, and invest in a practical bag. This is an easy way to shave a few hundred bucks off of a trip. By my estimations, I’ll save thousands of dollars in bag fees by the time this backpack wears out.

13. Leave the Kids at Home

No, I don’t have kids (yet). We’re not talking about Summer vacation, either. I’m just saying, if you’re not going to Disney World and you want to save money on travel, leave the kids at home.

Honestly, what benefit is there to bringing a 5-year-old to Europe? They’re not going to remember much, if anything, from the trip. Even most 12-year-olds aren’t going to appreciate traveling in foreign lands.

Traveling with kids means it will be more difficult to go for a hike, visit a winery or have a nice dinner. Most kids don’t like museums. Walking several miles a day isn’t easy for them. And you’ve always got to keep an eye out. I’ve never hired a babysitter, but doing so in a foreign country must be difficult and unnerving.

Perhaps I’ll feel differently when I have children, but I think saving a couple thousand dollars now – this includes flights, larger hotel rooms, souvenirs and extra admission prices – will benefit kids later.

I’m not suggesting anyone withhold their kids from the world of travel. Rather, travel can be expensive, and I don’t understand the reasoning behind spending gobs of money traveling with small children when they might appreciate it better (and, ya know, remember some of it) a few years down the line.

Leave the kids at home. Your own travels will be cheaper, more enjoyable and less stressful. A couple of weeks with the grandparents (or whomever) is good for everyone.

14. Cut Out the Extra Stuff

Why is it that when people travel they suddenly decide to go on shopping sprees, eat expensive food for every meal and live some imaginary Beverly Hills lifestyle?

Why do people who can’t afford to live that way at home suddenly turn on the switch to burn money abroad?

If the goal is to travel cheaper, and, by doing so, enable yourself to stay abroad longer, then stop wasting all that damn money! Cut out the extraneous fluff. The same methods you employ at home to cut back on expenses or save for something special work for budget travel, too.

Not to sound too cliche, but skip the expensive coffee. Sure, slowly sipping an espresso on a corner in Paris is a moment to savor, but spending a few bucks every day on coffee will quickly eat into a budget.

Budget travel abroad is very much like being cheap at home. Choose the right moments to splurge, and don’t make it a habit. To travel cheaper and longer, you’ll have to exercise discipline and a bit of sense.

15. Stop Buying Souvenirs!

No one cares that your new scarf is from Milan. And do you really need that $20 t-shirt that says the name of whatever city?

When I travel, I hardly shell out for souvenirs. I certainly don’t seek them out. I keep a few bottle caps and a few coins. Sometimes I buy one of those pretty, albeit touristy, canvas paintings. They roll up nicely into my bag, and I make sure to get a good price. Otherwise, I’m not interested in more junk cluttering my life. I never go out of my way to buy a souvenir.

cheap travel souvenirs, beer caps of the world — *a cheap, fun way to collect souvenirs*

If you’re going to buy a souvenir, make sure it’s cheap, small, lightweight and not breakable. Larger souvenirs – things like rugs, lamps or other useless junk – are a waste of money. At the very least, it hinders an attempt at budget travel. Buying anything that doesn’t fit inconspicuously into your bag is not the way to travel cheaper.

Most of the things I buy when I travel are practical items. In Hoi An, Vietnam, I bought a water buffalo leather wallet. It was useful and less than five bucks. Naturally, like an idiot, I lost my wallet in Bangkok.

I also try to take pictures with myself in the frame. What better souvenir is there than an image capturing a memory of a place with yourself in the image? Seeing yourself in an image is a great way to look back and reflect on past travels. Added bonus: pictures are free and don’t take up space in your bag.

I used to buy magnets, cheesy tourist hats and the occasional trinket. Now, I don’t waste time or money on such things. Instead, by traveling a little cheaper, that extra money goes towards something better. Something like longer travels.

There aren’t many ways or tricks to simply cut travel costs by 50% in the blink of an eye. Some money-saving measures are more tedious than others, but there are several steps to travel cheaper and longer.

Each step you take to travel cheaper adds up, and, eventually, there’s a surplus. Whether that surplus is used to travel longer, splurge on a fancy meal or put back into savings, the options are there. Better, longer and more interesting travels starts with cheaper travel.

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