Travelling Western Europe on a shoestring may seem a difficult task but it was in fact an amazing experience.

Backpacking in France, Holland, Italy and Belgium was a cheaper option than Australia and America but a great way to see different lands and cultures without travelling far.

Backpacking by train to the countries is quite easy to plan, as European train timetables are easy pick up.

The first place I visited was the multicultural city of Amsterdam in Holland. This cosmopolitan metropolis is a great hangout for a chill-out session in the cities smoky cafes or as a busy sightseeing capital, boasting canal boat trips, the Anne Frank museum and the allusive sex museum.

A view of one of Amsterdam's beautiful canals

Moving south to France I tasted what the south coast has to offer: warm weather and wine tasting! The south of France is littered with small bistros and cafes in bustling towns.

Italy has always been a place I have longed to visit. The romance and the art of the cities is a wonder to see.

Venice, known for its romantic gondola filled canals and small baroques churches was the first stop in Italy. Many think of Venice and just picture the canals, but there is a lot more to the city. Venice is built on 117 small islands and boasts a grand total of approximately 150 canals.

Due to this you are bound get a little lost while wandering the street, but in a city like Venice it is good to loose your bearings as all of the wonders of this magical city are pushed into corners or hiding down back streets. When visiting true Italian cities trying the local cuisine is a must as a pizza you eat in Italy is guaranteed not to taste the same as the one in your freezer.