Hitchhiking in Europe is fun. There are many small countries, highways in the West are good, and hitchhiking is relatively safe.
Contents
General info
Germany and England are very easy. Germany for the large distances for a single lift, and the possibility to go really fast (no legal speed limits on many highways). England for the relative short time for waiting. Most other countries are at the European average (rather easy), e.g. Holland, Belgium and CIS-countries. Some other countries are considered bad for the long waiting times like Spain and Croatia, but even there you might get a ride with patience. Some people skip a country after standing in one place for over two hours. When this hapens more than once on suitable places for hitching, this is reasonable.
Maps
Of course, you won't go on the road without a map. For all of Europe but the East, the Marco Polo Euro Atlas is great. It contains detailed information about gas stations on highways, without unneeded stuff like an index or city maps. You can find it in Slovakia, and ...
For online usage viamichelin.com is quite good for giving you information.
Safety
Hitching is rather safe in Europe. However, a woman alone takes a higher risk anywhere south of France-Switzerland-Austria-Hungary-Ukraine line.
Tips for each country
Western Europe
Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and France.
Northern Europe
Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Central Europe
Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia and Switzerland.
Eastern Europe
Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Baltic states, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia and Ukraine.
Mediterranean Europe
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Turkey and Vatican.