A One-Month Europe Trip from Ireland: Travel, Hostels, and Student Life

Travelling Europe for a month was one of the most defining experiences of Keziah’s time living in Ireland. Originally from South Africa, she spent her student years based in Ireland, which gave her the freedom to move easily between countries, cultures, and cities across Europe. What started as a degree in Graphic Design at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) quickly became the launch point for a journey that took her through Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, France, and Spain. At the end of this article, Keziah also shares practical travel tips in a video, including where to stay, what to avoid, and insights she wishes she’d known before setting off.

Travelling Europe as a Student Living in Ireland

Keziah explored Berlin’s historic architecture, pictured in front of the Berlin Cathedral

After finishing her studies, Keziah spent a month travelling across Europe with her boyfriend, visiting cities including Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Lake Bled, Rijeka, several places in Italy, Montpellier, and Málaga. The scale of what she experienced in such a short time still stands out to her. She says she had “never seen so many things in such a short amount of time and so quickly,” describing the experience simply as “amazing.”

She genuinely believes that “everyone should travel Europe for a month in their lives,” regardless of age, because of the people you meet and the way it changes how you see the world.

Getting Around Europe on a Student Budget

View of Bled Island at Lake Bled, Slovenia

One of the biggest surprises for Keziah was how easy it was to travel across Europe using public transport. Compared to Ireland, she found that “public transport is so much better everywhere else in Europe,” making it simple to move between cities and even reach airports without stress.

She recalls that they “didn’t have to use taxis” at all, relying instead on trains, buses, and metro systems. Even when money became tight near the end of the trip, long journeys became part of the adventure. A 21-hour bus ride into Spain stands out, which she describes as exhausting but still “an experience” and something she wouldn’t change.

Hostels, Accommodation, and Making Friends While Travelling

Berlin’s Space Night Capsule Hostel left a lasting impression

Accommodation played a huge role in shaping Keziah’s experience. She stayed in everything from a capsule-style hostel in Berlin to private rooms in Prague and Vienna, often finding that places were “shockingly cheap.” In some cities, private rooms even worked out better than shared dorms, which surprised her. She remembers being “really shocked at how easy it was to find accommodation everywhere for an affordable price,” especially considering how central many of the locations were.

The Lake Bled hostel Keziah stayed in gave her a "proper hostel experience."

Lake Bled in Slovenia became one of the most memorable stops, both visually and socially. Staying in a proper hostel there meant bunk beds, shared spaces, and organised social activities. Keziah recalls how the hostel hosts arranged nights out, with pre-drinks, trips to local bars, and even restaurant discounts if you brought your hostel key. In that environment, she says, “you are kind of forced to make friends,” which led to meeting people from Canada and the United States who she’s still close with today.

Some hotels, like the one pictured here, in Vienna had cheap private rooms

Not every stay was the same, and that variety became part of the experience. Some hostels offered private rooms with shared bathrooms, while others felt more unconventional, including one stay in Vienna where multiple shower heads were shared in one room. She describes it as “a bit of an adrenaline rush,” never quite knowing who you might run into. Those contrasts, from social hostels to quieter private rooms, made each destination feel distinct and gave her trip a rhythm that balanced rest, exploration, and connection.

Food, Culture, and Everyday Life Across Europe

One of Keziah’s favourite parts of the Euro trip was tasting different foods

Food became another way for Keziah to connect with different cultures. She laughs about being “really naughty” and eating out every night, even while trying to stick to a budget. While most meals were great, she was surprised to find that the worst food she had was in Italy, admitting that “the worst food I had was in Italy, and it was pizza.”

She loved the small cultural details, especially in Italy, where ordering a drink often came with complimentary snacks. One evening, those snacks turned into what felt like an entire meal, something she still finds unbelievable considering how little they paid.

Life at IADT as a Graphic Design Student

Studying at IADT meant you were never far from the beautiful Irish seaside

Back in Ireland, Keziah describes her experience at IADT as transformative. After struggling during high school, college felt completely different. For her, “college was like a breath of fresh air,” a place where she could reset and grow.

The Graphic Design course itself was intense, with projects running constantly. She explains that you might “finish a project on a Friday and then on the Monday you’re straight back into another project.” While demanding, the workload never felt pointless. The pressure was real, but it was, in her words, “stress in a good way,” driven by passion rather than burnout.

Portfolio Reviews, Internships, and Real-World Preparation

What stood out most to Keziah was how well the course prepared students for life after graduation. Portfolio reviews took place twice a year, giving students the chance to present all their work directly to lecturers. She found this invaluable when thinking about future jobs.

Beyond that, IADT placed a strong focus on professional development. Students were guided through CVs, cover letters, and real studio applications. Keziah notes that they were “actually made to apply for real studios,” which helped bridge the gap between college and the working world.

Final Year Projects and Sustainable Fashion at IADT

For her final-year project, Keziah combined graphic design with her passion for sustainable fashion. Over three months, she developed a concept based on an extreme sustainability-focused group, with strict rules around clothing and consumption. In her project, participants “had to always wear second-hand clothes” and were not allowed to throw anything away.

She describes the concept as intentionally unsettling, saying it had “a bit of a cult vibe,” but that was part of what made it exciting. The final months of the project were intense and fast-paced, to the point where she says “those three months are just a blur.”

Living in Ireland and Looking to the Future

Outside of college, Keziah fell in love with Ireland itself. In summer, she describes the country as “five million different shades of green,” something that still amazes her. Even in winter, she enjoys the atmosphere, from cosy pubs to live music and quieter evenings.

Looking ahead, she plans to stay in Ireland for another year or two while building a sustainable fashion community with a friend. After that, cities like Lisbon, Montpellier, Berlin, or Barcelona are on her radar. While she admits it’s “nerve-wracking to actually do the things,” she’s excited by the possibilities ahead.

In the video below, Keziah talks through her month travelling Europe, sharing honest advice on accommodation, destinations, and what she’d do differently.