Complete Europe Trip Planner

Europe holidays are hard to beat. There are so many famous cities and sights in Europe that it can be like walking around in a movie,.  However, in addition to sightseeing, there are plenty of incredible unique travel experiences in Europe that allow you to interact with the people, culture and environment.  

Traveling through Europe is also easier than most continents because the transportation is frequent and easy and English is widely spoken (at least in the main touristy areas).  Another thing that’s great about travel around Europe is that you don’t have to go very far before you are in a completely different country with a completely different culture.  These are just some of the reasons that many people visit Europe on their first international trip. 

Europe Travel Guide

Having a great trip across Europe depends on how well you plan it.  You want to make sure that you stay in the right places, know how to get around, and plan some great activities.  And, of course, leave time for the random things that happen that make all travel so special. 

My Europe trip planner will help you when you are planning a trip to Europe.  It gives you information on experiential travel experiences plus practical travel tips to Europe to make your travels easier. 

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Country Guides

There are so many top European destinations it’s hard to narrow them down, but some of the best European countries to visit include:

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Best Things to Do in Europe

For me, the best European vacations are those that not only see the famous sights and visit the famous museums, but also have plenty of interactive experiences.  There are so many fun things to do in Europe that finding unique experiences in Europe is not difficult.

Are you wondering what to do in Europe? It’s hard to go wrong with these amazing experiences:

Top 10 Things to Do in Europe

In addition to the above five activities, add:

6. Sailing the archipelago in Stockholm, Sweden. Stockholm is a beautiful city set on dozens of islands and surrounded by an archipelago of thousands of  more islands. There is no better way to experience it than sailing around the islands.  Check out this sailing tour on a small sailboat.  You can even try your hand at sailing the boat.  Enjoy lunch at an isolated bay and even try swimming in the Baltic Sea if you dare (yes, it’s cold, but you will get bragging rights!).

Check availability for a Stockholm Sailing Tour here.

7. Making pasta in Rome, Italy. Learning to make pasta from scratch on the rooftop terrace of an inner-city apartment was one of the highlights of my visit to Rome. Read all about it on my blog post here.

Book your space in the Roman pasta making lesson here.

8. Wine tasting in Rioja, Spain. This is one of the primary wine-making areas in Spain and is incredibly beautiful. Take a wine tour through Rioja, where you will visit three wineries, drive through gorgeous countryside and have lunch in a medieval village.

Book your wine tour in Rioja here.

9. Chasing the northern lights in Norway. The northern lights (aurora borealis) are spectacular streaks of color waving through the sky at night. They are unreal and other-worldy.  Check out the Northern Lights Chase from Tromso.  It’s a small group tour.  Of course, there are no guarantees, but on a clear night, your chances of seeing the northern lights are good.

Check availability for the Norway Northern Lights chase here.

10. Hiking to a fairytale castle in Bavaria, Germany. Check out the Neuschwanstein Castle tour where you can hike up to the castle for spectacular views, take an alpine bike excursion through the Bavarian countryside and visit inside the castle.

Check availability for the Bavarian Castle with private tour here.

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Where to go in Europe: Itineraries

A Europe travel itinerary can be anything from a layover, a long weekend or several months, depending on how long you have, what kinds of things you like to do and your budget.  Classic itineraries include:

• Italian Hill Towns [2 weeks]: Rome – Florence – Venice via Umbrian and Tuscan hill towns (Perugia, Spoletto, Verona)
• French wine country [2 weeks]: Loire Valley – Champagne – Bordeaux
• Spanish Andalucia [2 weeks]: Seville – Jerez – Ronda – Malaga – Granada – Cordoba
• Swiss Alps [2 weeks]
• Scandinavia [2-3 weeks]: Stockholm – Tromso – Fjords – Bergen – Oslo
• Central Europe [2 weeks]: Prague – Vienna – Budapest

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Europe Trip Cost

The cost of traveling through Europe can vary a lot.  Eastern Europe is cheaper than the west; northern Europe is cheaper than the south; smaller towns are cheaper than big cities; hostels are cheaper than hotels; AirBnB apartments are often cheaper than hotels; lunch is usually cheaper than dinner…

I typically spend around $100-$150 on small, interesting hotels or apartments, about $30-50/ day on meals and about $10/ day on transportation (because I take public transport whenever I can).  I spend money on entrance to museums, activities and cultural tours, because this is what I like to do when I travel.  This can set me back $40-80+/ day depending on what I am doing.

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Essential Info for a Euro Trip

There are some essential things to know about Europe. 

Currency

One of the things to know before going to Europe is the currency of the countries you will be traveling to.  The most common currency in Europe is the euro (EUR €).  The area where the euro is used is called the Eurozone, and it comprises 19 of the 28 EU countries, plus Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, Montenegro and Kosovo.

Other major currencies in Europe include the British pound (GBP  £), Russian ruble (RUB  ₽), the Swiss franc (CHF) (also used in Lichtenstein) and ‘crowns’ in several countries including the Czech koruna (CZK), Norwegian krone (NOK), Danish krone (DKK), Swedish krona (SEK) and Icelandic króna (ISK).

Check here for the exchange rate of the countries you are visiting.

Visas

Other things to know before traveling to Europe are about the visa requirements.   If you are wondering “What do I need to go to Europe?”, well, visas are easier in Europe than most places, in general, but Europe travel requirements are not the same throughout the entire continent. 

A huge chunk of Europe is a passport-free zone, so you travel between these countries without needing an additional visa.  This area is called the Schengen Zone.  If you are from a country that doesn’t require a visa to these countries, then you won’t need a visa for any of them, and can travel freely between them.  If you are on a train from Austria to Germany, for example, you won’t even notice that you have crossed an international border (until you get a cell phone alert that you are accessing a different telephone company).  If you need a visa, you can get one for one country and that serves all of them. 

Currently, the Schengen Area consists of 29 member countries:  most of the EU countries, except Ireland, which opted out and Croatia and Cyprus, which are in the process of applying to be included.   Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are also part of the Schengen zone, although they are not members of the EU.  The Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands are special members of the EU and part of the Schengen Zone.  Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are not members of the Schengen Zone, but also have open borders.  The UK is not part of the Schengen Zone.

Bulgaria and Romania have officially joined the Schengen Area in March 31st, 2024. This change includes the implementation of Schengen rules, such as visa issuance and the removal of internal air and sea border controls in both countries, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.

There are some Eastern European countries that you will almost certainly need a visa for.

This is not such an issue these days with so many Schengen area countries, but always check visa requirements for countries you are transiting through if you are travelling overland.  I was kicked off a train at 4:00am because I didn’t have a transit visa for a country I was going to be in for about two hours. It never even occurred to me to get a visa for that country because I wasn’t getting off of the train there, but it turns out I still needed a transit visa! 

For visa requirements, check out your home country’s official government visa websites:

• U.S.A. citizens
• Canadian citizens
• U.K. citizens
• Australian citizens

For citizens of other countries, use this helpful website (though it’s best to always check with the embassy as well). 

Time Zones

Another of the things to know when traveling to Europe is the time.  There are several time zones in Europe. 

• The UK, Portugal and Iceland are in one time zone (Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is 4 hours ahead of the United States’ Eastern Standard Time (EST).
• Most of Western Europe is 1 hour ahead of GMT and 5 hours ahead of EST.
• Finland, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Turkey are 2 hours ahead of GMT and 6 hours ahead of EST.
• Belarus and the European part of Russia are 3 hours ahead of GMT and 7 hours ahead of EST.

Languages

Almost all countries in Europe have their own languages.  However, English is widely spoken, especially in Western Europe, in the main tourist areas and by young people, who learn it in school in most countries. 

In some parts of Europe such as Scandinavia, all you need to do is say “hello” in English and whoever you are talking to will know to reply to you in English.  When I was in Finland, I asked several people if they spoke English and they all replied “of course!”, so I stopped asking.  In other places, it is polite to ask people if they speak English. 

In smaller villages and less popular tourist countries and the further east you go in Europe, you may still meet people who don’t speak English (though hotel staff usually speak at least a little).  It is always a good idea to learn a few basic phrases  of the local language at least.  Even if people do speak English, they will usually appreciate your efforts to speak their language. 

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How to get to Europe

Getting to Europe is easy, though it can be far depending on where you are coming from.  From the east coast of the United States, flights are only about 6 or 7 hours, so it is even possible to take a visit to Europe over a long weekend.

Most countries have the main airport in the capital city and also have  smaller regional airports in other cities.  Many major cities have a second or even third airport, though these are often for short haul flights or budget airlines.  The national airlines of each country have hub cities, so you can often end up changing flights in those cities.  For example, Germany’s main airline, Lufthansa, has its main hub in Frankfurt, not Berlin.  London has two main airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, but two other smaller airports.

You can check prices on flights on Skyscanner or Momondo.

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How to Get Around Europe

​What’s the best way to travel Europe?  Well, there are several options and which one you choose will depend on your budget, how much time you have and where you want to go. 

There are so many incredible places in Europe to visit that it can be tempting to try and cram them all in, but I tend to stick to one or two countries or cities and explore them in more detail, so that I can get to know them better and have time for more cool experiences. 

However, if you want to get an overview and see as many of the best places to go in Europe as possible, then you will want to cover a lot of ground quickly.  There are several options:

Plane

If you are wondering how to travel Europe quickly, then a good option is to fly.  There are several really cheap budget airlines in Europe.  Flights are often much cheaper than land travel.  However, take notice of which airports they fly in and out of.  Budget airlines often use small airports that are much further away from the center of town than the main airlines.  If you have a connecting flight, ALWAYS check that you are flying in and out of the same airport.  Even if you aren’t, check how much it costs to get from the airport to the center.  The additional ground transfers cost may outweigh the savings by flying a budget airline.  Even more mainstream airlines often have very cheap flights to nearby cities.

I like to use Skyscanner and Momondo to check for the cheapest flight.  Both of these websites search budget airlines and regular airlines to find the cheapest flights for you.

Bus

Europe travel by bus is slower – and cheaper – than the other options.  Most countries have their own national bus company, but you can take international buses too.  I did this when I was younger and took the bus from Amsterdam to London and from London to Paris, for example.  If your main concern is budget, then Europe bus travel is probably your best choice.

Train

I love to travel Europe by train.  Rail travel in Europe is still very popular and common, so trains are frequent.  European rail travel  networks are extensive in almost every country, and there are many international lines.  They also give you the chance to see the countryside, which flights obviously don’t.  High speed trains like the TGV in France make traveling between two cities very fast too.

Train travel in Europe can be expensive, but doesn’t have to be.  There are several rail Europe ticket options.  The EuRail Pass makes it very affordable.  The pass is best for trips where you will be doing a lot of Western European rail travel especially.  Eastern Europe is cheaper and the rail pass may not be your cheapest option there.   Check out different EuRail options here.

For rail travel in Europe when I am just taking a few train trips or when I am mostly in Eastern Europe, I buy tickets through Omio.  You can buy seat allocations for many trips.  You can also buy international tickets.  They have explanations of the tickets in English, so it is easy to see the carriage and seat number.  Buying tickets online before you go saves time lining up at a ticket office at a train station in Europe and also gives you peace of mind knowing that you have a seat on the train you want.  Buy train tickets on Omio here.

Car Rental

If your budget extends a little further and you are happy to drive, then the best travel in Europe can be by car.  Having a car gives you greater flexibility for where you can go and where you can stop along the way.   A road trip through the hill towns of Umbria in Italy is more flexible than taking the train, for example.  You can stop and take photos, visit wineries, and stop off for a snack along the way.  The journey is as good as the destination!

Car rental is easy, but not always cheap.  The most common – and cheapest – cars tend to be manuals/ shift sticks.  I only drive an automatic and have paid extra for an automatic car.  I also like to rent a small car, as streets in the historic center of old medieval towns in Europe can be extremely narrow and difficult to navigate in a bigger car.

The other thing to be aware of is that in some cities, the drivers are kind of crazy and if you are a timid driver, it can be overwhelming.  I did NOT drive in Rome, but at the end of my Roman holiday, took a taxi to the airport and picked a rental car up there, so that I didn’t need to drive in the city.

I like to use RentalCars.com because they search for the best prices from many companies.  Check out car rental options here.

Another option is to tour Europe in a motorhome/ RV.  You’ll have flexibility and save money on accommodations.

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Where to Stay in Europe

Accommodation is easy to find and comfortable in most of Europe, but not that cheap, especially in western Europe.  As with everything, the further east you go, the cheaper it gets.

For those on a budget, there is an extensive system of hostels across Europe.  When I was younger, I always stayed in hostels.  Some in large cities can seem very institutional, but some in the countryside are in old farm houses and mansions and have lots of character.  In Stockholm, there is even a hostel in a ship.

There are also plenty of campsites and some countries like Sweden have a rule that you can camp anywhere for free as long as you aren’t within site or sound of any permanent houses.

For those seeking more comfort, there are plenty of hotels.  There are chain hotels, of course, but plenty of cute pensions (small hotels, often family run) and boutique hotels.  In some places, people rent out rooms in their houses.  With the Internet, you can easily find an apartment on AirBnB or other booking sites like booking.com.

Unique Hotels in Europe

There are also options for something more unusual.  Check out just of a few of the hotels that are an experience in and of themselves:

• Utter Inn, Sweden.  A tiny one-room red cabin built on a platform in a lake.  Check prices and availability here.
• Langley Castle Hotel, UK.  Stay in a traditional English castle and feel like royalty. (4 stars).  Check prices and availability here. 
• Icehotel, Sweden.  An iconic winter adventure where the entire hotel is made of ice. (4 stars) Check prices and availability here.
• Treehotel, Sweden.  This takes the ‘tree house’ to a whole other level.  A modern rectangular block perched high in a tree. (4 stars) Check prices and availability here.

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Best Time to Travel to Europe

You can visit Europe any time of the year, but depending on the country you go to, some times of the year are better than others. 

The peak travel season is summer (June – August).  In summer, opening hours are often longer, transportation can be more frequent and the mountains are free of snow for hiking.  However, most Europeans have long breaks during this time, so it can be very crowded.  It is also the hottest time of year; prices are highest and some things can even be closed in July or August because everyone is on vacation.  That being said, this is a great time to visit northern areas like Scandinavia, as the days are long (and seeing the midnight sun is fun!).

My favorite time to travel to most countries is actually the shoulder seasons spring (March-May) and fall/ autumn (September/ October).  Most people are back at work, so it is less crowded and cheaper and the weather is still great and things are still open.  May and September are my favorite months to travel to Europe. 

Winter (November – February) can be cold and dark, especially in the north, but the southern countries can be cool and lovely.  December sees lots of holiday markets and seasonal festivals, so this can be a magical time to visit many countries.  Plus, if you like skiing and snowboarding, this is the time to do it, and you can enjoy many winter experiences such as chasing the northern lights, dog sledding in Scandinavia and enjoying a sauna or thermal bath.

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Travel Tips for Europe

Europe is generally safe to visit.  Streets and transportation is mostly safe and tap water is fine to drink.  In fact, many countries in Europe are trying to reduce use of plastics, so tap water is freely available in restaurants.  Take a water bottle (I like this one) and fill up in your hotel for the day.

However, you should take the usual basic safety precautions.  For example, when taking trains, don’t fall asleep and leave your bags unattended.  Petty theft can happen and you don’t want to wake up to find your luggage gone.  Use a Safepack (I have this one) and/ or chain your luggage to the rack (you can buy a light metal wire for this purpose here).

Of all the Europe travel tips I can give, my main one is to get travel insurance.  Europe is generally pretty safe, but things can happen anywhere, anytime, and you want to make sure that you are covered if you get sick or lose something.  I have written a detailed Guide to Buying Travel Insurance, so if you have questions about travel insurance, read more here.

I recommend Travelex.  It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:

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Best Booking Resources for Travel to Europe

Are you ready to plan a trip around Europe?  These are the resources I use to plan my Europe holidays.

For booking tours and activities

• Viator They have great activities. You can search by categories such as Classes & Workshops and  Cultural & Theme Tours.
• Get Your Guide My other go-to activity company. They also have subcategories you can use to filter out tours you aren’t interested in taking

For booking flights

• Skyscanner They search a huge database of flights, including many budget airlines, to find the cheapest price
• Momondo I always check this website too, as sometimes there can be a difference of a few dollars between the sites.

For booking trains

• EuRail Get a EuRail Pass if you are travelling by train quite a bit.
• Omio Great for isolated train trips. Saves money and time spent lining up at train stations when you are on vacation.

For finding a rental car

• Rentalcars.com I use this website to find the cheapest cars for my trips. Europe is a great place to drive around, as having a car gives you so much independence.

For booking accommodations

• booking.com They have a huge selection and you can filter by price, location and type of accommodation.
• Air BnB For longer stays in the same place, it can be nice to live like a local and stay in an apartment. They can also often be cheaper than a hotel.

For buying gear

• Amazon A huge selection of travel goods.
• REI They have a great mission and great products, especially for outdoors and hiking.

For travel insurance

• Travelex My go-to travel insurance company

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Packing for a Trip to Europe

The things you need when traveling to Europe are included in my Essential Packing List.  This list actually covers everything you need for a regular trip.

Extra things to pack for Europe specifically include a Europe travel book.  I like the Lonely Planet.  Order the Lonely Planet Europe Guide Book here.

For a Europe travel bag, Kevin likes the Safe Messenger Bag for carrying around during the day, as it is more chic than a regular day pack.  It has built in safety features, e.g. it’s slash resistant and clips closed and can be used with a padlock easily.   Check out the Messenger Bag here.

Other things to bring to Europe are:

• a set of nice clothes if you want to go out to a nicer restaurant or the theater. Europe travel clothes can be casual during the day, but Europeans tend to dress up at night.
• Sunglasses (one of my absolute Europe travel must haves). Check styles and prices on Amazon here.
• A prepaid European SIM card for your phone. Buy one here.

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Best Travel Guides for Europe

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Suggested Reading: Best Travel Books for Europe

Here are some of my favorite books about Europe and books set in Europe.  A mix of serious and fun, fiction and non-fiction.  I hope they will inspire your trip and they are good books to read while traveling.

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Book your European Vacation Now

If you are ready to book your trip across Europe, here are some resources to help you.  I use these resources for my own travels and find them incredibly helpful.

For booking tours and activities

• Viator They have great activities. You can search by categories such as Classes & Workshops and  Cultural & Theme Tours.
• Get Your Guide My other go-to activity company. They also have subcategories you can use to filter out tours you aren’t interested in taking

For booking flights

• Skyscanner They search a huge database of flights, including many budget airlines, to find the cheapest price
• Momondo I always check this website too, as sometimes there can be a difference of a few dollars between the sites.

For booking trains

• EuRail Get a EuRail Pass if you are travelling by train quite a bit.
• Omio Great for isolated train trips. Saves money and time spent lining up at train stations when you are on vacation.

For finding a rental car

• Rentalcars.com I use this website to find the cheapest cars for my trips. Europe is a great place to drive around, as having a car gives you so much independence.

For booking accommodations

• booking.com They have a huge selection and you can filter by price, location and type of accommodation.
• Air BnB For longer stays in the same place, it can be nice to live like a local and stay in an apartment. They can also often be cheaper than a hotel.

For buying gear

• Amazon A huge selection of travel goods.
• REI They have a great mission and great products, especially for outdoors and hiking.

For travel insurance

• Travelex My go-to travel insurance company

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What’s on your Europe bucket list?  Comment below.

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