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Ultimate EUROPE Travel Guide

Europe is easily the most popular place in the world to visit across multiple generations of travelers. This has to do with the diversity that the continent offers including nature, outdoors, city life, nightlife, culture, food, drink, and history. There’s a little something for everyone in Europe.

As such, this means you’ll find much of Europe full of tourists, especially in the high season. Don’t let this scare you off, however, as there are still plenty of places to seek out that offer some reprieve from the crowds that flock to the major cities.

There is a well-beaten trail and this is because there are cities in Europe that you simply cannot miss including the likes of London, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Munich and Dublin, to name a few.

We’ve spent more time in Europe than we care to admit, thinking hard on it we’ve taken no less than 10 trips to Europe at the time of publishing this guide.

We’ve been across all 4 seasons and while we haven’t been everywhere or to every country (yet!), we’ve done enough leg work to offer you some useful insight on travel to Europe.

EUROPE COUNTRY GUIDES

EUROPE TRAVEL: QUICK TIPS

Europe Travel map
  • Do you need a visa? Generally, US citizens will receive a free 90-day visa in most countries upon arrival. This allows movement between the countries that are part of the European Union. Something to keep in mind is that you may only stay for 90 days within 180 days. Leaving the EU and returning does not start this count over. Be sure to check requirements prior to travel.
  • Currency: Varies by country, but most countries deal in the Euro (EUR) or will accept the Euro.
  • Climate: Temperate with four distinct seasons can be found across the continent. That said, some areas experience milder or more extreme weather too.
  • Primary Religion: Christianity
  • Local Languages: You can find a wide variety of languages spoken across the continent including German, Dutch, Spanish, French and a variety of others. English is widely spoken.
  • Etiquette Tips: Research and follow local tipping practices, treat locals with respect, do not throw trash on the ground & stay relaxed when things are operating slower than you might be used to in your home country.
  • WIFI: Available in most, if not all, accommodation throughout the state. Many restaurants and tourist offices offer free WIFI too.
  • SIM Cards: If you have an unlocked phone, it is possible to pick up a local SIM card at most European airports on arrival. This will enable you to have data like you would at home. Another alternative is a universal SIM card that works in multiple countries.
  • Travel Insurance: With all travel, we highly recommend you take out a travel insurance policy when you book your trip. This will cover your trip in case of any unforeseen events happen.

Don’t Visit EUROPE Without:

UNIVERSAL TRAVEL ADAPTER

GET A GUIDEBOOK

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE

EUROPE BUCKET LIST

MORE THINGS TO TRY IN EUROPE

There is no shortage of great things to do in Europe during your visit and the biggest problem you’ll face is fitting them all into your itinerary.

Each city has it’s own offering and unique things to check out during a visit, so be sure to look at our city guides once you decide where you’re itinerary will take you.

DRIVE THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY:  (Ireland) The 2500km Wild Atlantic Way leads you to the very best on the west coast of Ireland. This includes Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, the Skellig Islands, the Dingle Peninsula, Donegal, the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, the Connemara Peninsula and so much more.

HIKE THE ALTA VIA 1: (Italy) One of the most famous hikes in Europe takes you along the Alta Via 1 through the best of the Italian Dolomites. It’s challenging but highly rewarding and the total thru-hike will last around 2 weeks. There are mountain huts to stay in and you’ll meet people from all around the work.

LEARN ABOUT WWII: From Germany to Poland and reaching from France to the Czech Republic, you won’t be able to escape the WWII history that emanates in Europe. Our advice? Take the time to learn about it, visit the monuments, visit the concentration camps and allow yourself to ponder the realities of that war. It will not be the most glamourous thing you do in Europe and you’ll likely have some uncomfortable moments, but it’s our duty to be educated so history doesn’t repeat itself.

TOUR PARIS: (France) Developing an obsession with the Eiffel Tower is perfectly acceptable, at least in my eyes. Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, featuring a rich history and a wide variety of districts, each serving up its own unique flare for you to discover.

VISIT LONDON: (England) Since it was the very first city I ever visited in Europe, London holds a special place in my travel resume. Not only is it a fabulous city, but there are so many things to do there that you could spend a week just scratching the surface. You’ll definitely want to hit the highlights like Buckingham Palace, the Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Picadilly Circus, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, to name a few, during your visit.

DRIVE THE NE250 IN SCOTLAND: Uncover the whiskey and castle route of Scotland on the NE250 drive that starts and ends in Aberdeen. This route exposes not only the classic Scottish countryside you yearn for but also the history of the nation. You’ll see coastal villages, Highland Coos, warm up in pubs, come across castles, hike in the Cairngorms and much more on this fascinating route.

TAKE AN EXPEDITION CRUISE IN NORWAY: This is easily one of the most stunning countries in Europe and much of the beauty can be found along the coastline. This means that taking a cruise in Norway will give you access to towering fjords, glaciers, islands, fishing villages and coastal cities. Since the topography of the country can take hours to navigate by land, sailing will give you the most bang for your buck if you’re short on time.

SAIL FROM ST PETERSBURG TO MOSCOW: While it’s overlooked by most, you can take a river cruise along the Volga River between Moscow and St Petersburg. The route takes roughly 2 weeks and visits places you wouldn’t be able to access otherwise, such as Kizhi Island.

TAKE THE TRAIN AROUND ITALY: This is a country that is incredible to explore by train as even the smallest of villages are connected to the train network. This means you can hit all the iconic sites but also get off the beaten path and uncover the heart of Italy. Popular routes start in Venice and end in Rome, taking in Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Assisi, the Italian Riviera and more.

DRIVE THE RING ROAD IN ICELAND: Even if you’re short on time when you visit Iceland, this road trip that follows the coastal ring around the country will be time well spent in the country. You’ll see many of the best natural sites on your own schedule. Starting and ending in Reykjavik, you’ll tour the Golden Circle before heading to Iceland’s south coast and then onwards.


Lina & David Stock in Salzburg, Austria

EUROPE FESTIVALS

CHRISTMAS MARKETS: Europe hosts excellent Christmas markets, and in most major cities across the continent, you’ll find vibrant markets brightening up the winter months with local food and drink and wonderful festive shopping opportunities.

NEW YEAR: Europe goes wild for the New Year, and in the capitals and cities, you can find huge celebrations and endless parties on 31st December, that carry on well into the next day.

SUMMER FESTIVALS: When the sun comes out, Europe loves to enjoy itself and when summer comes around you can rest assured that everywhere across the continent there will be summer festivals and celebrations. These range from music festivals to traditional celebrations of the summer solstice.

OKTOBERFEST: Taking place in Munich, Germany every year from mid-September to the first Sunday in October, this festival is the world’s largest Volksfest. More than 6 million people from around the world attend this event every year.

PLAN THE ULTIMATE ITALY ITINERARY!

POPULAR REGIONS IN EUROPE

EUROPE TRAVEL BUDGET

Setting a budget for travel to Europe is highly dependent on your travel style. It is possible to visit just about anywhere across the continent on any budget and still have a great trip. That said, you can make your trip as basic or as luxurious as you desire.

To help you set your budget, we’ve included some base range price estimations for Europe travel. Of course, keep in mind that prices can fluctuate based on seasons, availability and festivals.

If you’re looking to travel on a budget, be sure to check out the 10 Cheapest Places to Travel in Europe before you start planning.

ACCOMMODATION: Varies by type and rating. Generally, you can expect hostelsto be between 10 to 30 Euros per night, mid-range hotels from 50 to 100 Euros per night and luxury hotels to be from 100 Euros per night.

ATTRACTIONS: Costs can vary immensely depending on the country. Western Europe and Nordic countries will charge more for museum entrance and activities, while in the Balkans or Eastern Europe things are much, much cheaper comparatively.

TRANSPORTATION: The most popular method of travel around Europe is by train, bus or rental car. The intercity buses start at 20 Euro. Car rental varies by length of time and generally average around 15 Euro per day for a compact. Taking flights withing the EU will vary depending on route, but tend to be around 50 Euro and up (Barcelona to London).

FOOD: Food will vary widely depending on your tastes and what restaurants you choose to visit on your trip. Generally, though, you can expect to find fast food for around 5 to 15 Euro per meal, take a meal in a mid-range restaurant for 10 to 25 Euro per person and pay around 5 Euro for a beer.

BUDGET


50 EURO PER DAY

Sticking to cheaper countries like the Balkans or Eastern Europe. Staying in Hostels, eating fast food and only paying for a few activities.

MID-RANGE


100 EURO PER DAY

Staying in hotels or guesthouses in Western or Northern Europe. Traveling by train or flying, eating at restaurants & enjoying some tours.

LUXURY


200 EURO + PER DAY

Staying in four or five-star hotels, eating at restaurants every day, renting a car and enjoying plenty of tours and activities.

WHERE TO STAY IN EUROPE

Below you will find some of the places we have stayed during our travels in Europe. These are in-depth guides to cities and properties that we enjoyed and would recommend to other travelers.

HOW TO GET AROUND IN EUROPE

There are a few ways to get around Europe during a visit, including bus, train, car, cruises, ferries and flights. Despite most of the countries being small, there is a surprising number of ways to move around.

TRAIN: Train travel in Europe is a classic way to journey around the continent, and while the glory days of rail travel may be over, you can still reach almost any European city on the rail network. Fares and standards vary from region to region, with fast intercity trains in Western Europe, but slower, Soviet-era trains in places like Ukraine. If you are up for a real adventure, then you can even travel from Europe all the way across to Asia by train on the Trans-Siberian, or from Western Europe across the continent to Istanbul, in Turkey. The options are vast and varied. Booking systems also vary massively from country to country, and you’ll need to check up on fares for each destination you might be visiting.

BUS: Europe is well connected by bus, and you will find both short and long-distance bus routes both domestically and internationally. Many fares are cheaper if booked in advance. FlixBus has the most comprehensive European travel, with modern coaches and online booking. In Eastern Europe, bus travel may be more rustic, and less scheduled.

CAR RENTAL: If you rent a car, then you will have much more freedom to travel, and in many cases, it can be just as cost-effective as public transport. Europe, aside from the UK and Ireland, all drive on the right. You’ll need to also check if you can take your rental car over international borders. Check out Discover Rental Cars for great deals.

FLIGHTS: Thanks to budget airlines like Ryan Air and Easy Jet, Europe is incredibly well served by low-cost carriers offering regular flights and cheap fares. Major cities, and increasingly, many more regional airports, have connections between one another. In most cases – particularly over longer distances – flying is cheaper than taking the train or bus.

CRUISES: Europe River cruises are a popular way to experience many cities while not having to change hotels during your tour. An expansive collection of river cruise boats, at all price points, prowl the waters of every major river on the continent. Some of the most popular include the Danube and Rhine while lesser-known rivers, like an Elbe River cruise, can offer a more intimate experience.

FERRIES: There are many ferry connections in Europe, from crossing the English Channel, traveling from Stockholm to Helsinki and island hopping around Greece. There are also plenty of boats that ply the major European rivers, particularly the Danube.

TOP EUROPE TOURS

WHEN TO VISIT EUROPE

Europe has a generally temperate climate, with colder weather in the north and a warm Mediterranean climate in the south. Travelers flock to the European continent year-round but there are very distinct high and low seasons across the continent.

The most popular time to travel in Europe is most definitely summer. This is when the weather is at its best, but it’s also when popular destinations are at their most crowded. It is not uncommon to find the most popular cities so packed with tourists during these months that you can hardly move. Don’t say we didn’t warn you, summer will give you the best weather but it will be packed.

If you’re planning a summer trip, be sure to check out our Practical Summer in Europe Packing List.

Traveling in the shoulder seasons, either in spring or fall, will be quieter than peak season. But we won’t sugar coat it for you, this secret is out there and to be honest, we find Europe in the shoulder season to be just as busy as summer now.

Winter brings with it the cold and thus fewer crowds. The exception to this is December when you’re looking at the peak holiday season. Christmas Markets pop up all across Europe during this month and with it brings the crowds. If you’re looking for a true off-season experience, plan your visit between January and April.

If you are heading to northern Europe, then unless you want to see the Northern Lights, it’s best to avoid the cold, dark winters. In the southern areas, you can find pleasant getaways in winter, on the Greek Islands or in the Canaries where the weather will still be relatively warm.

For more in-depth information, check out When is the Best Time to Visit Europe?

PACK LIKE A PRO ON YOUR NEXT EUROPE TRIP!

SAFETY IN EUROPE

When you travel to Europe, the safety and security situation can vary depending on the country or even just the city you are in.

In very popular tourist destinations, you need to be aware of pickpocketing and theft, which can be a common occurrence (Barcelona for instance, is notorious for the pickpockets and bag snatchers on the metro and on the streets).

Petty scams in major tourist cities are also an annoyance, and in cities such as Budapest you can easily find yourself in an unlicensed taxi, being charged through the roof, or in Prague, there is a proliferation of unofficial money exchangers looking to swindle tourists.

Terrorism in Europe is always a possibility, but you are highly unlikely to be caught up in an attack, while natural disasters are thankfully, very rare in Europe.

As with any destination, we recommend learning and adhering to certain safety practices when you travel. Be sure to read our personal travel safety tips, compiled from our travels across 7 continents.

EUROPE TRAVEL: BOOKING RESOURCES

  • SkyscannerA fantastic flight search engine that searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss. Every single flight search we do starts here.
  • Hotel Seach Engine – Our custom-built hotel search engine allows you to search hotels all over the world and compare prices before booking. It pulls the best prices from all the major online travel agents, such as Expedia, Priceline, Booking, etc. to one place.
  • Discover Car Hire – Allows you to search car rentals across multiple rental agencies worldwide.
  • Viator – The best trips are made up of multiple smaller tours to really dig in and get to know the places you are visiting. Our preferred place to book day tours, day trips and shorter multi-day tours is Viator.
  • G Adventures – If you want to do a group tour around Europe, go with G Adventures. They offer great small group tours that use local operators and leave a small environmental footprint. If you go on a tour with anyone, go with them.
  • World Nomads – We don’t travel without insurance and you shouldn’t either! Be sure to read: Travel Insurance for Europe Vacation: Do You Need It?

EUROPE TRAVEL GUIDE: RELATED ARTICLES

Looking for more info? Check out all the articles we’ve written on travel to Europe and start planning your dream trip.

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