Your question is too generic. Read back the posts on this forum to get a sense what others opt for. In most countries you plan to visit rail travel is most efficient, but you may opt for (low cost) flights to cover long distances at once, and occasionally for buses or ferries.

Seva’s right. 1). We need more info.  If you’re doing the classic tourist thing of visiting Amsterdam, Paris, Prague, Rome, etc.  then you probably don’t want to rent a car.  A car is an expensive nightmare in most cities. 2)  While the train is my favorite for most transportation, most trips involve several modes.  In 4 to 6 months you’ll use ferries, buses, planes, the occasional car rental and probably a bike or motor scooter.

This is my first time on this site and I need some help….I am traveling for a year and plan on going to Europe for 1/2 and then Africa, I wanted to know what would be the best/cheapest way to get to Africa from Europe .. and maybe some suggestions on safe travel and tips for both of the
Continents because I am a young woman(18)
Thanks

It will be best to fly to Africa, but it will probably be very expensive unless you’re just talking about the tourist destinations in Northern Africa.

Train is my favorite way to get around Europe, but there are situations where flights save both time and money.  For some places in Eastern Europe and for some locales in the British Isles, the bus is a cheaper (and occasionally better) option than the train.