Not that I am planning to hitchhike but is it done the same way in Europe as it is in the United States? I know that hand signals can mean different things in different cultures and I am curious: do you just stick your thumb out?

Not that I've done it but I hear it's usually legal (enough) as long as you're not on the highway, and to stick near gas stations and off-ramps. Maybe a piece of cardboard or paper with your destination written in the right language?

I'm just trying to think if I've ever seen anyone hitch-hiking, in the last 6 months we've been in Germany...I can't recall ever seeing anyone. In Lithuania people would stand at the on ramps to highways with signs to their destination - I guess it's legal there. I'm NOT recommending it, but if you must, be sure to read up in the guide books about the rules (ie where, when it's legal, etc).

:tumbleweed:

I haven't done it in Europe, but by all accounts, I've heard it's safe, and mostly legal. Like everyone's said, check local statutes.

In Costa Rica, hitching a ride was easy. I'd just have to be walking down the road and anyone with room in their car/truck would pull over and ask if I needed a lift. From my mom's stories back in her backpacking days, that's how it was in rural Europe, as well.

Try Bug Europe for more information.

i just hitched my first european ride in scotland last week. we just stuck our thumbs out and we were picked up by the first car.

I think the thumb is international and it's only motorways and slip roads you can't thumb on. I did once get moved on by the cops for thumbing on a A road but you won't get arrested.

Are you a M/F? I'd be doubly careful or carry some pepper spray jus in case!

I LOVE to thumb rides. It is definitly one of my favorite modes of transportation. I used to do it alot when i lived in colorado and from all accounts I've heard that hitching in europe is not as frowned upon as it is here in the states.

If you're going to do it, be sure you know the correct hand sign, deffanatly, differant signals mean differant things all over the world. Remember when Bill Clinton got in trouble for flipping off alstraila? :doh: He did the 2 finger - V- "peace" sign out a car window, which basickly means F you to austrailians, or so I've heard. It made the news all over the world.