What age do you have to be to travel south-western Europe by yourself?

Can you travel europe at the age of 17?

• I'm planning on traveling around europe this summer for a month with another friend, we will both be 17 and will be traveling by train. The only thing im worried about is accommodation, i know for hotels you have to be 18 but can you stay in youth hostels at 17? and is there any specific age restrictions for things in spain, italy, greece or france?

• Answer:

  There are hostels that allow you to stay at age 16 and over. There are hostels that allow you to stay if you can proof that your parents allow you to travel. And there are hostels that will not allow you to stay unless you are 18. There are whole countries where the Hosteling International hostels all keep to the 18 rule, (officially that is.) You can contact all hostels or check their online information. If you are going to travel alone with just one friend, both of you should be able to do your own web searches and check out info. Most will be available in English, otherwise, have a google translate of the pages. When in doubt, write an e-mail to the hostel, most will be able to react on an English language mail. I think all of the countries you mention have an alcohol age limit at 18, but I might be mistaken, you can find that again on internet. (Wikipedia has a good page with all drinking age limits.) And if you go to Italy and Greece, or England and France, you might run into age limits on international ferries. Again, check it. And check that your train pass allows you to travel when not yet 18, some might not, some might require parental approval.