I backpacked through Europe for the first time and learned the hard way that resting is more important than sightseeing

A first-time backpacker across Europe learned that prioritizing rest over constant sightseeing is essential for an enjoyable trip. After a sleepless overnight train ride from Berlin to Vienna, the traveler was too exhausted to appreciate the city and had to book an expensive hotel room just to nap. This experience taught the author that adequate sleep improves mood, health, and the ability to fully experience and enjoy travel destinations.

Dazed, depleted, and desperate to doze — this isn't how I wanted to feel when I set foot in Vienna for the first time. But I couldn't help it. It was 7 a.m. after a sleepless night on an overnight train. This was in October 2022, when I took a two-week backpacking trip across four European countries Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland that included a red-eye flight and two sleeper train rides. I decided to travel through the night to maximize my days in each destination, but I quickly learned that prioritizing my rest was crucial to having a good time. On the train from Berlin to Vienna, I rode in a regular seat in a six-passenger carriage. Though the seats reclined, they didn't lie fully flat, and the small space felt like a tight squeeze for six people with limited legroom. I got zero sleep during the 12-hour ride. I'd planned to spend my morning seeing the sights around Vienna until I could check in to my Airbnb at 3 p.m. But as I stepped off the train, it was apparent that my body needed rest. I started going into nearby hotels to book a room. By the third hotel, I got one. I had to pay for the whole night even though I was only taking a nap, but I thought it was worth the price for a safe, comfortable place to rest. Without rest, traveling is a drag This backpacking mistake taught me an important lesson: Sleep makes everything better. And if I don't take time to rest, my body will force me to — even in the least convenient times. In Vienna, that last-minute hotel booking changed everything. When I first got to the city, I didn't even pay attention to how it looked or felt, because I was too tired. But after some much-needed rest, I was able to appreciate where I was and take in the unique architecture surrounding me. Walking to my Airbnb after my nap, I remembered why I was there and felt a new wave of excitement about my travels. Getting sleep also made me feel more in touch with what my body needed. As soon as I woke up in the hotel, I chugged my water bottle while trying to remember the last time I had anything to drink. I realized that I must have been so dehydrated. From that point on, I took every opportunity to make sure my bottle was always full. When visiting a new country for just a couple of days, it's easy to pack exploration into every hour without planning for rest. But without it, I find it's not enjoyable. Keeping myself in good health became a priority for the remainder of my trip — and all my travels since.