19-Year-Old Charlie Hitchhikes from Sweden to Italy: A Journey of Adventure

Charlie Klang, a 19-year-old from Växjö, recently graduated from high school. Unlike his peers, his graduation trip was quite unique. He hitchhiked all the way from Sweden to Italy without spending any money.

When Expressen reached Charlie, he had just arrived at his final destination: Pisa in northern Italy. He made the journey solely by hitching rides with strangers.

"The goal wasn't really Pisa itself; it was to accomplish this big thing. Being here feels surreal," he says.

The journey began in his hometown of Växjö, then moved down to Malmö, through Germany and France, finally reaching Italy. In total, Charlie hitched rides with 23 different vehicles.

"I've met people along the way who liked what I was doing and wanted to give me some money for accommodation and food, so it feels crazy to say, but I've spent zero of my own money."

During the seven nights on the road, he stayed with friends, in hostels, and on people's couches. One night, he even slept in a car with one of the drivers.

The Biggest Risk

The idea was sparked last spring when high school ended, and the dream of a bigger adventure could become a reality. Charlie says he has always wanted to challenge himself, and such a trip was a perfect opportunity to do just that.

The best part of the hours on the road has been all the people he met—the conversations with folks he would never have met otherwise. He is aware of the risks of hitchhiking but says he hasn't experienced anything unpleasant.

"I want to see the good in people and actually believe that the biggest risk in doing something like this is ending up with someone who's a bad driver and crashes," says Charlie.

Seeking New Challenges

He has documented the entire journey on his TikTok channel, receiving cheers and followers eager to follow his adventure. Now, he plans to rest for a few days in Pisa—but he's already excited about the next adventure.

"It will definitely be something else exciting, but I don't think I'll hitchhike back to Sweden," he says with a laugh.