So, I am likely planning a backpacking trip across Europe for next summer. I was hoping to get the opinions and input of any of my euro friends on here. I will be with my cousin who is about 23 and maybe 1 or 2 more guys if other people want to come along.  
 
What should we see, where should we visit, and would anyone like to put us up for a night during our travels?

Awesome. We will certainly be taking you up on that, mate. 2 bedrooms is plenty, as we plan to sleep in parks and hostels any night we don't have a specific plan for.
 
The timeline isn't for sure yet, as my cousin will have some military scheduling to work around, but we will likely be in Europe 6-8 weeks. We are trying to hit Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Germany, Netherlands, England and Ireland. If we can work in Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, Romania, Poland, or Denmark we would like to, plus if there a good reason to stop somewhere else (like someone on here suggests we come to their country or can crash at their place etc.) we will plan that in too.  
 
We really appreciate it.  
 
Anyone else have suggestions or offers?

Well, I'm not on it yet - I made it through customs for the cruise 2 weeks ago well enough. There's probably too many of us to monitor.  
 
I've researched Portugal and Spain so far, here is my potential list for those 2 nations (which will need to be edited down for time and the amount of nations we want to see). We will try to hit some of the festivals, though they won't all fit into one timeline. I put * on things I want to see most in an area:
 
Portugal:
 
Lisbon: (1-2 days)
Oceanarium - largest aquarium in Europe in Lisbon
Vasco de Gama bridge - longest in Europe - near Lisbon
Alfama quarter, Lisbon (old architecture)
Torre de Belem, near Lisbon (castle?)
Saint Roch Church - outside Lisbon
Flamenco dancing
 
Spain:
 
Very late nights and partying/ mid day siestas.
Sherry, Paella, Flamenco
 
Southern Spain:
 
Seville: (1-2 days)
Plaza de Espana
Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo
Alamillo Bridge
Puente de Isabel (bridge)
Seville Cathedral
 
Cordoba: (1-2 days)
Great Mosque (3rd largest in world)
Cathedrals
 
*Grenada: (1-2 days)
*Alhambra (mosque)
Grenada Cathedral (church)
 
*Alicante: (depends on timing)
*Bonfires of Saint John Festival (June 19-24)
*Castle of Santa Barbara
Luceros Square
*Palmeral of Elche (outside Alicante - palm and date plantation)
 
 
Central Spain:
 
Toledo: (1-2 days)
Lots of churches/synagogues/mosques
Alcazar (fortress)
Puente alcantara (roman bridge)
 
*Madrid: (3-4 (+?) days)
*El Escorial Cathedral and Monastery (outside Madrid - royal palaces)
*Valle de los Caidos (outside Madrid, same place as escorial)
*Aranjuez (outside Madrid - royal palaces)
Alcala (outside Madrid - Don Quixote)
*Segovia (outside Madrid - aqueduct, Alcazar castle)
 
North Spain:
 
*Las Médulas (try to pass (through?) on the way - old roman mining mountains)
 
*Bilbao: (1-2 days)
*Guggenheim Museum
Plaza Nueva
Cathedrals
Teatro Arriaga (opera house)
*Vizcaya Bridge (outside bilbao)
*Cave of Altamira (west of bilbao - prehistoric cave paintings)
 
*Pamplona: (depends on timing)
*Running of the bulls (San Fermin festival) July 7-14
*Bullfighting
Casall Palace
Cathedrals
*City walls
 
North-East Spain:
 
Zaragoza: (1-2 days)
Aljaferia Palace
Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
La Seo Cathedral and the Lonja
 
*Barcelona: (1-2 days)
La Rambla (street)
*Montserrat (mountain and holy site)
*Sagrada Familia (cathedral)
 
*Pyrenees Mountains:
*Mont Perdu - heading into france
 
Then onto France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, England, Ireland - Home.

Of course you should drop by the Stratego WC if you're there during that time.
 
http://www.isfstratego.com/images/WC%20Stratego%202010%20English.pdf

If u reach Rome I think it would be worthwhile to go further south. Pompeii is the most fascinating and interesting archeological site Ive visited, and that comes from a Greek guy. +lots of other places of interest in Calabria. Sicily is fantastic too it has Roman villas, Roman arenas and theaters, medieval cathedrals n castles, Mount Etna ( you can go up with 4x4's), the Cosa Nostra...  
 
You can cross into Greece via ferry which can take you to one of the Ionian islands, Corfu is the most beautiful IMO (we debate that a lot with some friends who descend from the others) or Patras which is close to ancient Olympia. You can easily reach Athens from any of these places with a bus. From there I would recommend that you visit the Cyclades, they are the quintessential Greek islands  and especially Santorini. Crete is also a popular destination  
 
 
Quote:
And war Museums Mc Lovin!!!!!! I visited the R.A.F. museum in London and my jaw had dropped to the floor: spitfires , b-17's, lancasters the lot!!!. I dont think theres another nation which promotes history in general and especially military history like the British do.  
 

i thought those clips were very funny indeed. especially the last clip. Got i love harry enfield i wish he was back on television. on a serious note, ug offering gherkin a place to stay in shefield would be handy if he was going anywhere on the right hand side of britain. Sheffield is a great place to access most parts of britain quite easily due to it positon bang in the centre of the uk and easy access to the m18 i think or is it the the m1? im not too sure though.
 
Its actually quite an interesting story how people from liverpool got stuck with the thieving tag?
 
When liverpool football club was followed by proper scousers in the 70s and 80s and not the scandinavian and irish supporters they have now, they were a very successful team, and constantly in european tournaments. Due to this fact of being in europe, it meant liverpool fans constantly travelling abroad to places where very few typical englishmen would go for holidays as it was still fairly expensive to go on holiday abroad. So when liverpool ended up playing teams like ac or inter milan in milan, liverpool fans discovered how naive the shop keepers were over there and ended up robbing places like france and italy blind everytime they went over there to watch liverpool play. Also this was how fashion really took of in britain regarding forgein brands like la coste etc, because liverpool fans used to rob all the top designer clothes over there and hence why hooligans still wear top designers clothes today. All teams hooligans now wear different labels to other teams hooligans whcih basically acts as a type of uniform really. A little history for ya boys.  
 
and ug why do you want to ruin this post aswell?
 
Also ive genuinely only ever known 4 people to have their car stolen in liverpool so basically its just a myth and stereo type that us scousers have to live with because of thieving liverpool hooligans in the 70s and 80s. But dont get me wrong liverpool can be a ruff ass city but all english cities and towns(town actually have worse probs with herion and crack than cities and also proverty) have the same problems and car theft is certainly worse in every other major city. Plus if you do come mate then you will be with me so you will be fine. Also im sure the ruff ass parts of were you live is well worse than what you would ever see here. I seen some bad ass documentries about places like L.A and detroit. You americans know how to take things further. Plus the documentries on your prisons even scare me lol.

Well, I haven't yet researched England, but I imagine places with free lodgings will be visited unless they are quite far from anything interesting.
 
Remember, we're Americans. The level of culture which will impress us is likely to not be as high as yours. In America, if a building stands for 50 years, we're surprised, and only the east coast has anywhere close to a comparable level of history that Europe does. Yes, we have sweet, huge houses - but they're brand new - and won't last 20 years before someone wants to knock it down for a car park.
 
Plus, it seems what my cousin wants from Europe and what I do seem to be slightly disconnecting. I want to see history, architecture, live life a little precariously. I have a sentiment he wants to meet some euro girls lol (of course I wouldn't mind). I asked him what kind of things he wants to see and if he wants a schedule - and he said he doesn't know who he might meet so he doesn't want any real schedule.  
 
Still we have a year to get it worked out, so hopefully it will all come together.