Why spend money on a bus when you can ride for free? Well, that’s not really what this is about. For us, hitchhiking is mainly a sport, an adventure – the money you save is just a nice bonus. We’ve put together tips and experiences from a bunch of seasoned hitchhikers, and we’re confident that after reading them you’ll simply have to give it a try!
Hitchhiking is one of the most punk-rock ways to travel, and you never know what you’ll experience. It can be one of the best moments of your life, or a nightmare. Or just something in between. We’ll cover every variation.
Why hitchhike? And why maybe not?
There was never anything to think about. Sometimes I try a bus or a train, but nobody wants to chat with me, nobody invites me for a meal, nobody drops me off right at my door – and on top of that they want me to pay. – Slávek Král
Need to get from Central Europe to Copenhagen in 12 hours max? Then forget hitchhiking. Not that it can’t be done – you just won’t enjoy it at all. And that’s the whole point of hitchhiking: the journey has to be the destination. Hitchhiking is a bottomless well of interesting encounters, unexpected situations, constantly changing plans and, above all, adventure. The freedom of a raised thumb is irreplaceable.
And the fact you’ll save a lot of money? That’s just a great bonus that lets you stretch the adventure longer. But careful – sometimes you get stuck at a petrol station for so long that you end up spending more than a bus ticket would have cost.
I love the freedom of choice. Meeting new people. The absurd situations I end up in. Having lunch with a Greek family because our driver wanted to “scare his parents”. Drinking Dom Pérignon in Albania because we happened to flag down a friendly guy who turned out to be a British millionaire. An unplanned visit to a Slovenian reggae festival. Smoking weed in the back of a Dutch truck. Running across the rooftops of an art centre in Vienna. Singing in a car with gorgeous Israeli girls… It’s not free transport, it’s a decision to make the journey part of the experience. – Petra Voráčková
All the positive experiences were always linked to the people who picked us up – kind, friendly, open, the kind who tried to help us and advise us where to go. Sometimes they’d give us a mini tour of the town, take a detour for us, speed up just so I’d catch my train, or pull over because they saw us standing on the motorway and took us to a better spot. Once we even got two cans of tuna. But probably the best was when a couple in Liechtenstein let us pitch our tent on their meadow (right next to a llama enclosure), because there was no way we’d hide a tent from the police anywhere else. So we could leave the tent on the meadow during the day and finally head out for a trek in the Alps without our huge backpacks. – Andrea Pernik
I’d never hitchhike anywhere I needed to be within a specific time. Hitchhiking under time pressure is a pain. Getting out of cities isn’t fun either. Generally, you often end up in a spot from which it’s hard to get away, and then hitchhiking turns into waiting for mercy. But that’s the risk we all sign up for. – Petra Voráčková
Okay, let’s sum it up:
- Hitchhiking is, above all, a fantastic adventure
- To enjoy it, you need to be flexible – have plenty of time and be able to change your plans on the fly
- Most of the time you’ll save a lot of money, but it’s not guaranteed
- 99% of the drivers who pick you up are amazing people – they’ll give advice, help out, sometimes even invite you home
Where can hitchhiking take you?
Pretty much anywhere, really. Some form of hitchhiking works all over the world. In some places you may need to chip in a couple of euros for petrol, elsewhere you’ll ride on a horse-drawn cart, and sometimes you’ll even catch a boat. Plenty of people have hitchhiked around the world, through the most remote corners of Asia, and across the USA – even though it’s illegal in some states.
Below we have tips for several countries where it’s particularly easy, but first you need to realise one thing: hitchhiking will often take you to places you never planned to visit. Often places you’d never even heard of. Or hundreds of kilometres off-route – but why not seize the opportunity? Hitchhikers are the ultimate travel punks, so if on the way from one town to another they catch a guy heading to Hamburg, they jump in!
Around midnight in Germany we were at a petrol station trying to find someone heading towards England. We had a tentative deal with a trucker to take us a bit further in a few hours, when a car pulled up next to us with two Czech guys in it. They said they were on a eurotrip – they’d grabbed the car and the dogs and were driving wherever they felt like.
Even though they had a tiny car, a million bags and two huge dogs, they completely rearranged the whole car just to fit us in. Their next destination was Amsterdam, so we thought, why not? The drive was amazing. The guys were absolutely wonderful, easy to talk to, exactly the kind of people you want to meet while hitchhiking. In the Netherlands they even took us to the sea (where they went swimming while we shivered in our jackets), and then dropped us at a campsite in central Amsterdam. England could wait a few days. – Pavla Wernerová
In Nicaragua I once hitched a horse, in the Bolivian desert I caught an ambulance. You never know who or where someone will stop. – Slávek Král
Practical tips for hitchhiking
How to commit to your first trip and where to start
The statistical probability of being struck by lightning is significantly higher than anything bad happening to you while hitchhiking. If you use common sense, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Hitchhiking is a brilliant way to cross most of Europe at minimal cost, and you’ll collect a lot of unrepeatable stories along the way.
Not hitchhiking out of fear of serial killers is roughly like never having sex out of fear of AIDS. Every fun thing carries some risk.
Does hitchhiking all the way to France feel like too much? Try it close to home first! Short trips between towns in your home country are completely normal. It’s also a lot of fun hitchhiking between sleepy villages in the mountains or countryside. You’ll discover that locals are actually pretty friendly people :-)
My first trip was from Prague to Greece and it was glorious. The planning literally went: my friend and I got drunk and declared we wanted to go on a donkey. We didn’t end up on a donkey, but we travelled all the way down and back up the Balkans and collected an unbelievable number of stories. We went hitchhiking because it was rebellious, we didn’t have much money, and the friend I went with had hitchhiked before. It sounded like a great idea. And it was! – Petra Voráčková
It’s also very easy to hitchhike in Germany and Austria – for starters, try a trip to Berlin, Munich or Graz. We’ve even met legends who hitchhiked to the Alps for a ski trip…
A relatively nearby hitchhiking paradise is Scotland. I hitchhiked through almost all of it in a month, and it worked even on the most remote roads in the Orkneys. It’s not only one of the safest countries in the world, but also one where you can communicate with anyone. Well… except for the most hardcore Scots.
So, to sum up:
- Hitchhiking isn’t more dangerous than any other form of transport. Just use your head and don’t get into cars with weird people
- For your first try, hitchhike close to home
- Other great starter countries are definitely Germany and Austria, Scotland or New Zealand
How and where to catch a ride most easily
Waiting hours for a ride can be seriously annoying. But if you’re smart, you can avoid it on most routes. First and foremost, it’s about choosing the right spot. We’ll get into the other factors that help, too.
Slávek says: The best spots are where cars are moving slowly and it’s obvious where you want to go – at the edge of town, past traffic lights, past a junction, or at a petrol station. The worst is the exact opposite: the middle of a (big) city where cars disappear round a corner and pass by in floods, or out on a motorway where they’re going crazy fast.
Couldn’t agree more. And always pick a place where a car can actually safely stop!
On Hitchwiki you’ll find a brilliant map with hitchhiking spots – it can make your life unbelievably easier.
Especially on motorways, we always recommend pairing the raised thumb with a sign showing at least a general direction. If you’re heading from Munich towards Prague, it’s logical to write “Prague” on your sign.
Same principle everywhere.
Signs are also handy when you don’t have much time to spare and don’t want to deviate too much. It might take a bit longer for someone to stop, but you’ve got a much higher chance of catching someone who’ll take you a long way in the right direction.
At petrol stations, definitely try asking truckers directly – they almost never stop for you on the road, but they’re often happy to take passengers, and one ride can cover hundreds of kilometres. The nice thing is you see the driver in advance and have much more time to decide. You can do the same with regular cars.
What else helps? It pays to look obviously like a traveller. A visible big backpack, a smile, ideally a guitar. You wouldn’t stop for a guy in a suit with a briefcase either… Though Slávek says he had great hitchhiking luck wearing a suit. Maybe the traveller aura radiates through a blazer too.
In many countries, drivers like hitchhikers of certain nationalities more than others. So it’s often not a bad idea to flag yours up – a flag patch on your backpack, or written on your sign.
When we had a clear destination, planning the route with HitchWiki helped a lot – checking how well a route hitches, where the good spots are and which ones to avoid. Just generally looking at the route, where the main roads run, so you don’t end up stranded miles from civilisation. Also, definitely bring some food and water – you never know where you’ll get stuck. And don’t forget a marker pen! – Andrea Pernik
Basic rules for successful hitchhiking
- Watch out that nobody drops you off in a spot where it’ll be a nightmare to catch the next ride. Agree on the drop-off in advance!
- On motorways, the best places are petrol stations, sometimes on-ramps where stopping is easy. Never hitchhike directly on the motorway itself!
- In general, look for spots where drivers can see you from a distance and have somewhere to pull over.
- Smile and look drivers in the eye.
- From the city centre, take public transport to the outskirts, to a road with a clear direction. Otherwise you’ll never get out.
- If you know exactly where you’re going, write a sign. It helps a lot, especially near big cities.
- A visible backpack helps a lot. In many countries a national flag is a nice touch too.
- The best combination is guy + girl. Two guys have it brutally hard (tested, confirmed).
- More cars doesn’t necessarily mean a higher chance of a ride – often it’s paradoxically the opposite.
- You’ll find the best spots on Hitchwiki.org.
- Don’t forget to pack a small survival kit.
Which countries are best for hitchhiking?
Hitchhiking will eventually get you anywhere. We stand by that. But some countries make it almost effortless, and others demand serious nerves of steel. Let’s start with the easy ones.
We’ve already mentioned Germany and Austria. Hitchhiking experienced a massive boom there in the 80s, and today almost every driver who picks you up will tell you they used to hitch as well. Often these are managers in fancy Audis and BMWs. And then those motorway kilometres fly by. 300 km between Munich and Pilsen in an Audi A8 in an hour and a half? Checked.
In Europe, other popular hitchhiking countries are the Baltics, France, Belgium, Poland, the already-mentioned Scotland, Ireland and pretty much anywhere to the east. Scandinavia isn’t bad either, you just easily end up in places where one car passes every two hours. And it’s bitterly cold…
The same goes for Iceland, where the first car often stops too. Except it might be an hour before one shows up. So you need to be ready for a snowstorm, sunshine and 20°C, and horizontal rain all in the same wait. Waterproof gloves and a really good jacket are essential.
The true hitchhiking paradise is a bit further away. Or rather, several paradises. The most famous is, 100%, New Zealand. Hitchhikers are so common here that it doesn’t even occur to most drivers not to stop. We know several people who hitchhiked New Zealand from one end to the other, and they were all delighted.
Another perfect hitchhiking country is Australia, just don’t get stranded in the desert at 50°C.
Slávek adds: Hitchhiking heaven is definitely Hawaii, Tasmania and New Zealand. There, even an 80-year-old granny will stop for you in the middle of the night. After that, definitely Iran, Georgia and Armenia. But it’s less about the country and more about where and when you happened to be standing, and who was driving past.
Where it’s better not to hitchhike
Some countries we’d only recommend to seriously hardened hitchhikers. As we keep saying – it’s not that it can’t be done, it just takes huge patience. In some places you’d even be breaking the law.
First and foremost, you have a big problem where there are no cars. Or where “motorway” = 20 intersecting dusty tracks with one truck an hour. Mongolia, for example.
Hitchhiking in the USA can also be tricky. Not that it’s illegal, as most people think – that’s only true in a few states. The problem is the gigantic highways and finding a viable spot. Plus cops who often don’t know the laws of their own country. Hitchwiki has a perfect rundown on this, so check it out if needed.
Slávek didn’t have great experiences with Brazil or Argentina either.
From European countries, hitchhikers occasionally complain about Italy, Spain and Portugal – the countryside is apparently fine, but motorways can be a problem. Have any experiences? Share them in the comments!
Tempted by any of these countries? Don’t forget to check out our detailed guides packed with practical tips for travellers.
What to watch out for
No, we don’t see hitchhiking through rose-tinted glasses. We know people who had something really unpleasant happen on the road – Davído is one of them. Take a lesson from his story.
Back in uni, I used to stand by the roadside with my thumb up and a sign all the time, gladly and always with a feeling of total safety. I was lucky with good people, so I used to insist there was absolutely nothing to fear. One day, however, I had to seriously rethink that ABSOLUTELY. I ignored my gut feeling because I just wanted to be at my destination. So I got into a car with people who convinced me that not listening to your instincts can backfire badly.
I’ll keep it short and skip the details. They took my money, documents and backpack with my stuff. They didn’t drop me at my destination either – they pulled over after a few kilometres and dumped me in a ditch in the woods. Besides electric shocks from a self-defence device, duct tape across my mouth and tied hands, they gave me one of the most valuable life lessons: IF YOU DON’T FEEL IT, DON’T GET IN. Even if it means sleeping in the rain in a field next to the motorway. And if you’re already in the car and don’t feel safe, immediately ask the driver to stop and get out. No exceptions! Trust your intuition.
Did I stop hitchhiking? Of course not. I can’t be responsible for the fact that some people aren’t right in the head. I still believe people are fundamentally good. What I can choose, however, is whose car I get into. And I’d recommend that to everyone.
All my things, including documents, were eventually returned. The crooks took the two hundred and chucked everything else. (They could have just said they wanted petrol money.) Good people found the stuff and took it to the police, who returned it to me. So hitchhike on – but carefully.
The (almost) ten commandments of hitchhiking
- Adventurer is your middle name
- Thou shalt not cut in front of thy fellow hitchhiker
- Thou shalt say thanks
- Thou shalt wash, thou art not a pig
- Thou shalt burn smelly (and mouldy) clothes before the trip. Or at least seal them airtight
- Thou shalt never slam the door before grabbing thy backpack from the boot
- Thou shalt not get into a car if it feels off
- If you’re already inside and don’t feel right, ask to be let out immediately
Can girls hitchhike too?
As you’ve probably noticed throughout this article – yes, they can. And lots of them do. You just need to be twice as alert and prepared for some sleazy comments. Better to let the girl hitchhikers themselves weigh in.
Every time I get into a car I tell myself it might be my last ride. It’s not that a hitchhiker is 100% sure of everything – it’s about trust and luck. Twice it happened to me that a driver started demanding sexual services in exchange for the ride. In both cases, simply saying we weren’t interested was enough (followed by getting dropped at the next petrol station). The important thing for me is that nobody ever physically touched us. The talk is unpleasant, but nobody ever tried to hurt me physically or steal anything. A certain percentage of people still don’t get that female hitchhikers aren’t prostitutes. Or, more broadly, that women don’t owe men sex for doing something for them (which is more of a general life lesson than a hitchhiking one).
Use your common sense. If someone looks even a little suspicious, it’s not worth it. Even if they don’t do anything to you, it’ll be an unpleasant ride and a waste of your time. If you absolutely have to get from A to B, it’s probably better to pay for transport – because the stress of “I have to be here, I have to be there” usually leads to bad decisions. Let the driver see that you’ve noted their licence plate (and that you’re passing it on – either by photo or saying it out loud during a “phone call”). Carry pepper spray just in case. And if someone refuses to take you further than 5 km, don’t take the ride (this was usually said by all the ones who then smoothly transitioned into asking what we cost). – Petra Voráčková
I’ve only hitchhiked solo twice. The first time from Brno to Prague, and I have to admit I was a bit scared. Luckily it was just my paranoia and everything went fine. The second time happened by chance in Georgia when I was waiting on the main road for a marshrutka.
A car with three young men pulled over – they didn’t speak any English, and I wasn’t even sure I was standing on the right side of the road. I just said “Kutaisi” and they took me in. I’d heard from a Georgian woman that hitchhiking in Georgia is completely fine and that even as a woman travelling alone I shouldn’t worry. But you never know, and until they called a friend who acted as our interpreter, I was pretty scared. In the end the guys drove me into town, showed me some sights, bought me local food and even drove me back to the airport. – Andrea Pernik
So, to sum up:
- Double rule: don’t get into a car with someone who feels off
- If the driver tries something on, make it clear you’re not interested and ask to be let out
- Carry pepper spray, just in case
Also read our guide on how to travel safely as a solo female traveller: Solo Female Travel: 22 Tips for Travelling Comfortably and Safely.
Hitchhiking level 2.0
Already done some hitchhiking and want to take your raised thumb to the next level? We’ve got several tips on how.
Arrange rides with truckers
You definitely know someone who drives – a truck, a van, doesn’t matter. You don’t? You’ll definitely know a friend of a friend. And because most drivers today work under the banner of small or large logistics companies, there’s a good chance you can arrange a ride with someone going over a thousand kilometres. That way you can comfortably get to Spain, Rotterdam or even Istanbul in one go. And it’s worth it.
You can even email a haulage company and ask if they’d post a notice on their bulletin board. Need to get from here to there, ideally on this date. Going that way? Take me with you! Slávek tested it and that’s how he caught a ride to Turkey.
Hitch a boat
Most people don’t get how hardcore hitchhikers cross oceans. Quite simply – they hitch a boat. How? Captains in ports are often looking for crew, you just need to know how it works. You basically have two options: helping out on a yacht that’s sailing your direction anyway, or finding a deckhand spot on a bigger ship – cargo or transatlantic liner. You can even hitchhike boats on inland canal systems, for example in Germany, the Netherlands or Scotland – wait at the locks, where every boat has to stop while the water rises or drains.
Roman wrote a bit about this in his article on yachting on our blog.
You’ll find loads of tips and tricks for boat-hitching on Hitchwiki and on the blog of the magnificent madman Tomislav Perko.
Boat hitchhiking isn’t about speed at all. Not even a bit. Boats are usually extremely slow. But the experience is worth it. And it’ll probably impress just about anyone you meet afterwards.
Take a train. A freight one!
Hopping freight trains used to be hugely popular, especially in the USA. It’s a bit uncomfortable, but it’ll get you REALLY far. Today you’d probably get kicked off pretty fast, but there’s another option. Try asking the engine driver if they’ll take you along.
Most will refuse, but it’s definitely not unrealistic. Especially if you show at least some interest in railways and bump into a driver who loves their job. With private operators in Europe your chances are noticeably higher – state operators usually forbid drivers from taking anyone into the locomotive.
Border stations are particularly good, where freight trains often stop at the platform – entering the tracks themselves is forbidden, mind. You can also try a similar approach with passenger-train drivers – we’ve pulled it off several times. It’s a totally different experience from sitting in a carriage! Just don’t tell anyone in too much detail afterwards, the driver could get in trouble.
And finally – you can also try asking the conductor if they’ll let you ride for free. If they see you’re a genuine lowcost traveller and they’re in a halfway-decent mood, there’s a fair chance they’ll take you. Maybe you’ll help load some bikes at a station in return…
Want a lift in a stranger’s car but hitchhiking isn’t your thing?
Don’t worry – ride-sharing services like BlaBlaCar have your back. On BlaBlaCar you just pick a route and a driver in advance (it works on a similar reference system to Airbnb, Couchsurfing or Uber), you know what you’ll pay, and you have a clear pick-up time and place.
You’ll find rides on short hops between cities as well as long international routes – Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Strasbourg. From there you can chain rides further. It’s faster and more comfortable, but of course it costs something, and you miss out on the best part – the adventure.
That just leaves one closing message: Drivers, pick up hitchhikers! They’re great people! :-)
What are your hitchhiking experiences? Share them in the comments!
