european travel blog

to europe and beyond

Hello, i’m marie-eve.

This isn’t just any run-of-the-mill travel blog; it’s a travel journal encompassing over a decade of travel across Europe and the rest of the world from the eyes of an architecture-obsessed, latte-lover solo female traveler.

With this space I aim to encourage millennial women to discover the world on their own using my recommendations, practical tips, and ready-to-use itineraries in the far ends of Scotland, the bustling metropolises of Japan, the beaches of Mexico, and the charming streets of my hometown.

The world’s our oyster, ladies. Let’s get out there.

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Why i believe in, solo female travel.

Independence

Travelling alone as a woman can be incredibly empowering and also a huge confidence-booster. My goal is to trigger this urge by provoking discussions and digging deeper on why solo travel is still very much considered to be an odd choice. Breaking news: it’s not.

Whether you dream of Costa Rica’s wild jungles, Kyoto’s historic streets, New Zealand’s fjords, Paris’ nightclubs or New York’s diviest bars, there is no compromise to be made here. No schedule, no detours, no needs to cater to… but yours. Because, hey, you’re the one in charge.

Going it alone comes with unlimited freedom, but also a few additional responsibilities. Research ahead of time, pick the right destinations, do your homework, prepare accordingly, and, with my useful solo travel tips, finally have the trip you’ve always dreamed of.

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My curated travel guides.

Between the bakeries, the romantic Haussmann architecture, the natural wine bars, the lengthy strolls along the Seine and the rooftop views of the city, Paris truly is one of the best cities in Europe and certainly one of its most iconic. This travel guide narrows down the best things to do in Paris for both first and eleventh-timers, with a mix of obvious and little known.

Born and raised in Montreal, I know the city’s ebbs and flows like the back of my hand. The trendiest exhibition? The most beautiful and colourful streets? The best restaurants in touristy areas like Old Montreal? The most fun, outdoorsy day trips? I’m your girl. This guide contains first-hand, insightful Montreal travel tips that will make your trip to my hometown truly unforgettable.

The British capital’s heritage spans milleniums, and yet it still manages to surprise me every time I visit. London is a city best discovered leisurely, for its sheer size and rhythm can be astounding! With this travel guide, learn how to navigate the tube, identify which neighbourhoods are worth a visit, plan your evening in atmospheric pubs, and more!

Need more help from this travel blog?

If you need additional and specific travel tips for a destination, or if you simply are looking for inspiration and a little book-that-damn-trip pep talk, get in touch!

I’ll be happy to share my packing secrets or my newly favourite wine bar in Montreal, the best tips for skipping the queues at the Louvre or how to plan a budget-friendly road trip in Switzerland.

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A Guide to Bee Tourism in Egypt

Visiting Cyprus – Off The Beaten Path

Mini guide on German train travel

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Rick Steves’ Travel Blog

Here you can browse through my blog posts prior to February 2022. Currently I'm sharing my travel experiences, candid opinions, and what's on my mind solely on my Facebook page . — Rick

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Comrades No More: Thoughts on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Today is a profoundly sad day. Russia’s aggressive action is heartbreaking for the death, suffering, and economic turmoil it will cause in Ukraine and, indirectly at least, beyond. Here at Rick Steves’ Europe, we hope that a diplomatic solution can be found and peace will return to that fragile and long-suffering part of our world.

Our mission at RSE is to help Americans better know and understand our neighbors through travel. But when we bring travelers to another country, we also bring their dollars — dollars that would support Putin’s aggression. Therefore, as of today, we have canceled all 2022 tours that include a stop in Russia.

Of course, we will keep a close eye on unfolding events and monitor any travel impacts through the rest of Europe. But it is important to keep geographic realities in mind and remember that a war in Ukraine is as far from our European vacation dreams as a war in Guatemala would be from Texas or Florida. For 40 years now, we have lived, worked, and traveled through many periods of tragic warfare in lands far from where we lead our tours (and some closer). And at this time, we see no reason to change the rest of our travel and touring plans.

The tragic reality unfolding in Ukraine only reminds me how important it is for Americans to keep on traveling and to do so in a way that makes us better and more engaged citizens of our world. I’m flying to Europe next month for a 40-day trip through a dozen great cities from London to Athens — and I’m proud that thousands of my fellow travelers will experience the European trip of their dreams while having rich learning experiences far from home on a 2022 Rick Steves tour.

In the meantime, let’s be thankful for our blessings, support our nation’s leaders as they do their best to navigate this crisis, and keep the troubled corners of our world (Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and more) in our thoughts and prayers.

The Tour du Mont Blanc: Some Tips I Learned Along the Way

At 66, I felt a bit like the father of the hiking community when I hiked around Mont Blanc earlier this fall. But the Tour du Mont Blanc is doable for any reasonably fit hiker, and there were plenty of people on the trail who were older than me.

For total novices like Shelley and me, it’s wise to be proactive about health and safety. Here are some tips I learned along the way:

Good boots, liner socks, slippery powder, and moleskin for tender skin are essential. We kind of became gear geeks — investing in good day bags (Osprey), woolen clothes (socks, underwear, shirts), and great hiking shoes. I was never so thankful for a wool cap in Europe.

I was skeptical about a lot of “good ideas,” but two things I eventually appreciated were a daily baggie of trail mix and my metal water bottle. (I complained about its steep $40 price tag…but soon came to recognize it was a great value).

I must say, if the weather turned bad and it rained hard, I think much of the trail would become no fun at all. In fact, it would be dangerous. Hiking poles are essential, and even in perfect weather, I would have been worried about a stumble without my own trusty set.

Eat a solid breakfast. The one day we had breakfast with no protein, climbing was tougher.

Put on sunscreen, even if the weather’s bad.

After learning my lesson on other long hikes, I decided to be religious about stretching on the Tour du Mont Blanc from the start. I had a routine of six stretches and spent time throughout the day making sure I didn’t tighten up. Very important!

Don’t be a hero. If skin is getting hot, wrap it up. I did the entire TMB hike without a blister — and then just got one on purpose in the last two hours.

Good gear, smart and proactive ways to stay healthy, stretching, and taking it easy… it all worked just great.

I’ll be sharing more photos, stories, and tips from Mont Blanc on the Nov. 29 edition of Monday Night Travel. Want to come along?  Register now  for this fun — and free! — event.

Taking it Easy on the Tour du Mont Blanc

While the Tour du Mont Blanc is demanding, it’s not a particularly difficult hike. It’s just long, with lots of altitude gain and loss, and always scenic. On my recent trek around the mountain with three friends, it seemed each of us had a weak spot: knees, toes, or lungs. For some, the challenge was the uphill part, and for others (with weak knees), it was going downhill. We just took it easy, with lots of little breaks.

For long climbs, steady, smaller steps are best. The trail could be really rocky, and I can’t imagine doing it without hiking poles. The trail signs were great, and apps made staying on the trail easy: Just follow the blue dot. And I got good use out of a top-quality printed map. (I’d spend time the night before reading up on the hike and familiarizing myself with the trail on the map.)

While the weather forecast looked threatening, we hiked six days (in September, during the last week of the season) and, thankfully, had only one hour of rain. Still, each day we’d pack rain gear, and we’d add on and take off layers as we gained and lost altitude. After four days, we had it sorted out, and it occurred to us rank beginners, “We’re getting good at this.”

As we were hiking in a big circle around a big clump of mountains and sleeping in charming towns each night, every day seemed to be up and over a daunting mountain pass. A nightly treat was a stroll under a milky blanket of stars.

I’ll be sharing more photos, stories, and tips from Mont Blanc on the Nov. 29 edition of Monday Night Travel. Want to come along? Register now for this fun — and free! — event. 

The Mont Blanc Esprit de Corps

Hiking Europe’s Tour du Mont Blanc was a totally different slice of European culture for me: Coming upon a remote farmhouse-turned-thriving-cafe serving wonderful lunches…flowers and cows (with classic bells) scenically sprinkled throughout…and an esprit de corps where everyone is like family.

As nearly everyone hikes in the same direction (counter-clockwise), you become friends with fellow hikers. It seemed like half the people on the trail were from the US, and I met lots of Seattleites.

And in the interest of hiking light, lunches were very simple — just a sandwich from the hotel, maybe a carrot, a piece of fruit, and water. But upon reaching the mid-day summit, lunch was a marmot’s banquet. (Speaking of marmots, we saw no wildlife except a couple of mice that had been squished under hiking boots on the trail.)

The Best Hike of my Life: The Tour du Mont Blanc

Earlier this fall, four of us — total novices at long-distance treks — hiked around Europe’s highest mountain. (On the first day, big birds of prey circled high overhead. My hunch: They were vultures just waiting for one of us to drop.)

The Tour du Mont Blanc is a 100-mile, ten-day hike — but we cheated a bit, hiking the best 60 miles in six days from mountain lodge to mountain lodge, catching local buses through the less exciting parts, and letting a “sherpa service” shuttle our bags each day through France, Italy, and Switzerland, from Chamonix to Chamonix.

This was the first time I’d enjoyed a slice of Europe with my girlfriend Shelley, and we were joined by Sue and David from Minnesota. (I’ve worked with David Preston for 20 years at TPT – Twin Cities PBS . In the public television world, he’s considered the “pledge drive guru.”)

Each day, we’d hike what the trail signs said would be a five-hour hike — that took us six or seven.  Our mantra: “Take our time. This is why we’re here.” Generally, the day would start at a 3,000-foot climb to a pass (or “col”) 8,000 feet above sea level. Each col was a little triumph, with its cairn of rocks arranged in a pile, dramatic weather blowing across, commanding views, and congratulatory selfies.

Part of our pre-trip training was taking steep hikes closer to home. As a typical day’s climb on the TMB is a thousand meters (or roughly 3,000 feet), I’d recommend choosing a practice hike with a 3,000-foot elevation gain so you can use it as a reference point. Ours in Washington State was the Mount Si trail. We even had a term for a 3,000-foot altitude gain: “a Mount Si.”

Complete Europe Travel Blog: To Help You Plan Your First Trip

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. FIND MORE INFO IN MY DISCLAIMER.

Read more about the countries we cover on our blog by clicking on a link below or alternatively keep reading about how to plan a trip to Europe below the links.

Netherlands

Switzerland

Europe is such an incredible  destination  to visit and explore!

For those of us from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, there is something special about learning about history and exploring picture-perfect old towns, little alleys, and gorgeous castles.

We love Europe and even though this continent is so far away from our home country of Australia, we try to get visit there as often as we can. 

We have enjoyed many road trips, some of our favorites in fact, and we love visiting Europe with our kids to expose them to the different cultures and different scenery as well.

Quick side story:  Andrzej was born in Poland and lived there until he was 18. So we have a wee bit of European blood in our family.

So let us help you plan a magical first trip to Europe.

What Is The Best Time To Visit Europe?

Europe is lovely right throughout the year. The continent has varied climates, like tundras in the northern countries of Sweden, Finland, and Norway.

Mediterranean countries like Portugal, Italy, and France are also great any time of the year. 

Wherever you go, you’ll want to keep the seasons in mind. Better weather can mean more tourists.

Expect the summer seasons from June to September to be warmer and also more crowded. 

We typically try to travel to Europe during the shoulder months,  my favorite month to visit Europe is in September  however read this post if you are looking for the  best city to visit in Europe in December or if you are looking for the best places to visit in Europe for a weekend !

If you are after a winter holiday, look no further than Germany or Switzerland. Here is a helpful post on  beautiful places in Switzerland  to see on your next trip.

What Is The Cheapest Month To Travel To Europe?

Traveling to Europe can become quite pricey, but there are a few ways to curb your spending.

It’s best to travel to Europe during the fall and winter months between September and March. Although, you can expect prices to increase for December. 

Here is a great post on  how to travel around Europe for cheap .

Even when flying during the off-season, you’ll want to fly during the week as opposed to weekends.

Book a flight on a commercial airline as well and choose the busiest routes as they’ll be more affordable. From past research,  the cheapest time to fly to Europe is in February.

Subscribe to flight alerts  as this can tell you when the cheapest tickets are available so that you can book your flights ahead of time.

How Many Days In Europe Is Sufficient?

This is definitely a complicated question, especially when traveling with kids.

You would want to ensure that you’ve got enough time to see cool places and give yourselves time to rest.

But, you also don’t want to rush your stay and wish that you’d spent more time thereafter. 

If you’re looking to head to bigger cities  like Paris, Rome, Lisbon, Athens, and London, you’ll definitely want to  plan for around three to five days .

This will give you enough time to reset after the journey and explore the major attractions in the city. 

If you’re hoping to cover some of the  smaller cities or towns , you’ll want to  keep your trip to around one to two days  long.

The smaller cities/towns are lovely for sightseeing and tend to have some of the best-unobstructed views, but they won’t always have as many attractions. 

If you’re a traveling family like us, you can use the smaller cities as a pit stop on your way to bigger cities.

Visiting smaller cities in between can help you save on pricey accommodation.

As we travel from Australia, the long trip means that  we typically try to go to Europe for at least 2-3 weeks at a time.

Which European Countries Are The Friendliest?

When you spend a lot of time abroad, it’s best to choose some of the friendliest European countries so that you can feel safe and have a friendly face to ask for help or directions.

Knowing that locals are approachable makes the trip all the more exciting. 

According to  Euronews ,  Portugal is the friendliest European country  and is 20th globally. 

Other friendly countries  in Europe include  Greece  at 12th,  Ireland  at 16th, and  Spain  ranking 19th out of 59 countries. 

Certain countries are friendlier than others. In fact, 14 European nations were in the bottom 20 for friendliness—globally!

Austria was voted the least friendly, with Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic following closely.

So if the attitude of others towards you is something that can easily affect you, then I suggest you pick one of the friendlier countries for your first trip.

Which European Country Should I Visit First?

Choosing where to go will depend on your itinerary, how many days you’ve got to spend in any given country, and where you’re departing from.

But here’s a quick list of our favorite places. Make sure to even add a few of the best European cities to visit to your European travels!

The first country you choose to see has to be Italy.

We loved the beautiful scenery and enjoyed doing bucket list items like seeing the Colosseum in Rome!

Venice is also a jaw-dropping location for a romantic couple’s vacation (or even a honeymoon).

In actual fact, we love Italy so much that we have been back three times and the last time, we spent over 3 months in Italy traveling from North to South.

We love the Italian people, they are so friendly and don’t mind noisy kids. Of course, the food was an absolute delight as well. 

You can’t go wrong by picking Italy for your first trip to Europe.

Use our  Italy travel guide  to start planning your trip and make sure to see what airlines fly to Italy for the best flights.

In my opinion, the most beautiful country in Europe might just be France.

We did a massive round trip around France and we just fell in love with the little towns and the scenery.

Of course, Paris is a beautiful location, regardless of who you’re with, but there are also stunning views from the French Riviera and Alps.

There are also a ton of things to do in France, so if you are traveling with your kids, you can rest assured knowing that your kids won’t get too bored just walking around and checking out the sights. 

We took our girls to see the many castles in France and had the chance to spend some quality time in places like Colmar and Loire Valley.

You can use our  France travel guide  to start researching and planning your trip.

3. Greece 

The Mediterranean is our third favorite, with Greece as our favorite country to visit. It’s a good place for family beach days.

There is quite a bit to see in Greece, like the Acropolis, Lake Plastira, and Santorini. 

Throughout the 227 islands, there is a range of fascinating foods to try out.

It is also quite a popular destination as of late, so there are a ton of combo packages and affordable deals to keep you on track with your budget. 

Due to its popularity, it is best to book flights as soon as possible. Here are our best airlines to fly to Greece to help you decide.

Use our  Greece travel guide  to start planning your trip. Another great resource is our post on the  best places to visit in Greece for first-timers .

Should I Visit Europe With Kids?

Europe has always been a really popular destination for families. Europe is safe and offers plenty of baby and kid-friendly facilities. 

The continent is easy to explore with kids in tow. 

The best European countries for families include Italy, France, Spain, Portugal & the UK. 

You can find a list of the best places to travel in Europe with kids here, or if your kids are older you might prefer our list of the best places to visit in Europe with teens

How to Plan A Trip To Europe

There are a few things you need to sort out first before planning your itinerary.

You’ll want to gather all your documents and make sure that your budget will allow you to travel to the country of your choice. 

Once you know where you’re going, you can book your accommodation, airfare, and insurance, and plan your itinerary.

You’ll want to keep an eye out for any tours and affordable deals and keep tabs on any of the logistics sides of things.

1. Decide where to go and how long to go for

How long can you go away for? Once we know this, you can figure out how many destinations you can manage to visit on your Europe trip.

As a broad guideline, we recommend 3-4 nights for bigger cities and 2-3 nights for smaller towns. 

Now it is time to figure out where you want to go. Are you going to focus on one country or visit multiple countries?

With the amazing network of trains and cheap flights, traveling to multiple countries in Europe is a breeze. The best part? You can visit some of the most popular cities in just one trip!

For example, why not try out Paris or Rome for a unique experience? Both cities are full of culture and history, so it’s up to you to decide which one you like more.

Make a list of all the destinations you will be visiting.

If you plan on traveling long-term to different countries in Europe be sure to check out this post on the 10 most beautiful countries in Europe for long-term travel !

2. Decide where you will fly in and out of

Now that you know where you will be going, figure out where you will be flying in and out.

You could choose to fly in and out of one destination (great if you are traveling on a budget), or fly into one destination and out of another (typically more expensive than getting return tickets in and out of the same city).

And then it is time to secure those flight tickets. Here is a helpful post full of wonderful  airplane travel accessories  – so helpful for long-haul flights!

• Flights to Europe:  We personally book our flights on Cheapo Air, and we find that they are often the cheapest (even in comparison to Skyscanner).   Click to check on prices for your flights .

3. Book your travel insurance

We never travel without travel insurance with Safety Wing.

We have claimed on our travel insurance more than once, claims that would have cost us A LOT out of our own pockets. Don’t skimp out on insurance!! 

• Travel Insurance:  Safety Wing offers incredible plans and is one of the few insurance companies that allow you to grab insurance when you are already traveling!  Click to check on their plans and prices .

4. Book your accommodation

Now that you know which date you will be landing in Europe, you can start booking your accommodation for the trip.

• Accommodation in Europe:  We always start our accommodation research with Booking.com.
• We find that Booking.com offers a fabulous range of accommodations, from luxurious resorts to home rentals (and we often find the prices for these rentals are cheaper when compared to sites like Airbnb).  Click here to start your research for accommodation . 

5. How will you get around?

Lastly, think about how to want to get from point A to point B. You might prefer to simply hop on a high-speed train (if that option is available for your destinations).

Or you might prefer to travel more lightly, stopping along the way at cute towns with a car rental.

• Car Rental in Europe:  The best car rental company in Europe is Auto Europe.   Auto Europe is a car rental booking service that quickly compares car rental prices across all the major brands like Hertz, Avis, and Europcar.  Click to see prices for car rentals .
• Train Tickets:  We love to purchase our train tickets through Omio.  Click here to purchase your train tickets .

6. Plan your itinerary

Next, it is time to start planning what you will be doing at each destination. You can easily do that by using our country travel guides down below. This is the fun part that I love most. 

7. Stay Connected

When you are traveling in Europe and especially when crossing multiple borders, you may need to get a local sim card to stay connected, and so on.

Well, there is an easier way these days, an more hustle-free.

Check out our recommended Best eSIM for Europe travel options here, and see which one is best for you and your needs.

European Countries Travel Guides

Click on the links below to read a Europe travel guide on each of these European countries:

Europe Travel Blog Posts

Click on the links below to read a Europe travel post about some of the best places to visit in Europe, travel tips for Europe as well as European Itineraries. 

Top 10 Most Beautiful Countries in Europe for Long Term Travel

Have you been wondering most beautiful countries in Europe? I’ve got you covered! If you’ve ever dreamed of spending months at a time exploring Europe, … CONTINUE READING

Best eSIM for Europe Travel in 2024 (eSIM Data Plans Guide)

After the best eSIM for Europe travel in 2024? We got you covered! Exploring Europe is an incredible experience, with its stunning destinations that span … CONTINUE READING

Visiting Greece in September: Weather & Best Places to Go [2024]

Have you been wondering about visiting Greece in September? I’ve got you covered! Visiting Greece in September is a magical experience and in our opinion … CONTINUE READING

Visiting Switzerland in June: Weather & Best Places to Go [2024]

Have you been wondering about visiting Switzerland in June? I’ve got you covered! Europe is a continent full of wonders and a place that has … CONTINUE READING

35 Best Weekend Trips in Europe (Plus Where to Stay)

Have you been wondering about the best weekend trips in Europe? I’ve got you covered! Weekend trips in Europe can be a truly magical experience. … CONTINUE READING

37 The Best European Cities to Visit in 2024 (Picked by Bloggers)

Curious about the best European cities worthy of exploration? I’ve got you covered! Europe is a continent with a vast selection of countries, cultures, and … CONTINUE READING

17 Best Airlines To Fly To Europe (Complete Guide Updated 2024)

Looking for the best airlines to fly to Europe? We got you covered. How can we determine the top airlines for flying to Europe? The … CONTINUE READING

15 Of the Absolute Best Places to Visit in Europe With Kids

Whether visiting attractions or enjoying a gelato (or three), Europe with kids is the perfect opportunity to build memories with your quickly sprouting squad. When … CONTINUE READING

Holafly eSIM Review (All About Holafly Europe Travel)

When traveling through Europe, it’s ideal that your phone has easy access to the internet, so you’re never left in the dark. In our Thailand … CONTINUE READING

25 Best European Cities to Visit in December

Visiting Europe in the winter may not be on the top of your travel destination list, but many of the cities listed here are full … CONTINUE READING

5 Best European Summer Destinations For Families

If you are looking for a family summer vacation and you are craving a European holiday, you will be excited to know that Europe is … CONTINUE READING

5 Best Places To Visit In Europe With Teens

As a parent, you want to provide experiences that your teens will remember long after they’ve grown up and moved on. If you are looking … CONTINUE READING

Looking For Cheap Ways To Travel In Europe? Here Is Some Tips

The question of getting around whilst traveling in Europe has always been a significant concern for a lot of tourists and people moving to Europe … CONTINUE READING

5 Best Places To Visit In Europe In December With Family

Looking for the best European cities to visit in winter with kids? Here are our top picks for this year! Winter in Europe has plenty … CONTINUE READING

After travel guides on destinations other than Europe? A good place to start is on our Wanderlust Storytellers homepage .

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How to Plan an Epic 2 Week Europe Trip (+ Europe Itinerary Ideas!)

Ready to plan a 2 week Europe trip but not quite sure where to start?

We want to help!

Whether it’s your first trip to Europe or your tenth, there’s something simultaneously overwhelming and exhilarating about planning a trip through multiple countries that–for us and most of the readers of this blog post–lie across an ocean from home.

I’ll never forget planning our first 2 week Europe itinerary: I pored over flight schedules, bucket lists, budgets, and maps for months, desperate to pull together the ultimate Europe trip.

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There were many, many lists involved in planning that first trip, and after months of planning, I emerged with an eclectic but incredible itinerary that kicked our love of travel into high gear.

In the summer of 2015, Jeremy and I spent a little over 2 weeks in Europe exploring Krakow , Budapest , Plitvice Lakes National Park , Zadar , Dublin , and the Cliffs of Moher (I told you it was eclectic!).

We’ve now cumulatively spent years of our lives traveling in Europe, falling in love with world-famous cities and less iconic locations alike, and there’s absolutely nothing we like better than helping people plan their own unforgettable adventures.

Over the years, we’ve explored the continent in almost every way possible, from backpacking Europe on a budget for 2 weeks to checking into luxury hotels to playing tour guide for family and friends to finally spending more than a year living in Lisbon, Portugal !

We’ve put together this 2 week Europe itinerary guide to help you plan your trip–here’s what you need to know before you go.

(Also, yes–this is an incredibly long blog post! We recommend using the table of contents right below this paragraph to help you navigate to different sections depending on what you’re hoping to read first.)

Table of Contents

How to Use This 2 Week Europe Trip Guide

Exciting 2 week europe itinerary ideas, how to get around during 2 weeks in europe, important tips for planning a 2 week europe trip, faq for spending 2 weeks in europe, what to pack for 2 weeks in europe, read more about visiting europe.

This 2 week Europe trip guide is designed for someone hoping to see the highlights of a few different European destinations, spread across multiple countries, in only a couple of weeks.

We’ve primarily written it for someone planning their first trip to Europe, but if this is your second trip, third trip, or beyond, hopefully, we have some interesting ideas and tips for you, too!

And, of course, given that Europe is home to more than 50 countries and is roughly the same size as the USA, no 2 weeks in Europe could hope to cover the entire continent or all of its numerous and distinct cultures, languages, and histories.

For ease of communication, we’ll talk in general terms about traveling in Europe here, but once you pick your itinerary, of course, you’ll want to follow up with further research on the specific locations you’ll be visiting.

And, once you’re further along in your planning process, we’d love to help you with some of that planning here on Our Escape Clause, too!

We’ll link to relevant blog posts throughout this travel guide, but given the hundreds of posts we have on the site, we won’t be able to link them all.

You can use our destinations page or the search bar on the top right of the page (on desktop) or at the top of the pop-out menu (on mobile) to find our content about various specific destinations across Europe or general travel tips.

For example, a few of our most popular guides that might come in handy next include our guide to traveling Europe by train , our 75 best Europe travel tips , and our (biased) guide to the best cities in Europe .

The number of possible 2 week Europe itinerary ideas is truly infinite–just look at the odd itinerary that I cobbled together for us in 2015 as an example !

However, the sample itineraries for Europe outlined below should give you a good idea of what you can accomplish with around 14 days in Europe .

I truly struggled to narrow down these ideas–I could name 10 more excellent 2 week Europe trips in an instant, and still feel like I was leaving so much on the table.

I aimed to keep these mostly focused on destinations that are popular for first-time visitors to Europe, with just a couple of slight curve balls thrown in.

The Classic: London, Paris, Rome

As three of the world’s most beloved and celebrated cities, you can’t go wrong with splitting your 2 weeks in Europe between London, Paris, and Rome.

As the capital of an English-speaking country and home to an enormous airport hub, London makes logistical sense for a first trip to Europe hailing from North America–and, of course, it’s a truly fascinating city.

Visit Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, stroll through Notting Hill, snap photos of Big Ben, check out the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London , visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, stop by Piccadilly Circus, ride the London Eye , and tour the British Museum.

… And that’s just to get you started !

The City of Lights is one of our favorite cities in the world and was also the first place we visited on our very first trip to Europe (we spent a week there and then planned our 2 week Europe trip outlined in the introduction of this blog post the following year).

Since then, we haven’t been able to stop going back, and believe that it’s an excellent addition to any 2 week Europe itinerary!

While you’re in Paris , visit the Eiffel Tower, marvel at the beauty of Sainte-Chapelle, tour the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay, stroll the picturesque streets of Montmartre and the Latin Quarter, visit the Palais Garnier, discover hidden passages and tiny cafes, and soak up every minute of that Parisian charm.

Our full guide to planning your first trip to Paris can help you get started!

Ah, Rome –if Paris is the first European city we fell in love with, Rome is probably our deepest love on the continent.

From wonders of Ancient Rome like the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Pantheon to more recent additions like the Vatican Museums , Trevi Fountain, and winding cobblestone streets of Trastevere , exploring Rome is a captivating, engaging experience that we can’t recommend highly enough.

And, of course, you couldn’t ask for a better cuisine to savor during your 2 weeks in Europe: Rome is home to some of the best pasta in all of Italy!

Southern Europe Charm: Madrid, Rome, Amalfi Coast

Want your 2 weeks in Europe to focus on a delightful combination of history, food, and sunshine?

Head directly to Spain and Italy!

While Barcelona gets all the love (and a lot of the crowds), we’re personally smitten with the Spanish capital of Madrid… and excellent flight deals from North America make it almost irresistible on a 2 week Europe itinerary.

With a few days in Madrid , you can admire world-class art in the Prado, soak in Spanish culture with a stroll through Retiro Park, eat all the tapas and churros con chocolate you can get your hands on, tour the Royal Palace , check out an Egyptian temple, and take day trips to fairytale towns like Toledo and Segovia.

I described Rome in the first Europe itinerary on this list, so I won’t repeat myself here, but as I sit typing this Europe travel blog post out in a Rome apartment while dreaming of the carbonara I’ll eat for dinner tonight, all I can say is: you won’t regret coming to Rome (and scroll up for more details).

And, while I detailed some of Rome’s highlights above, let me also say… don’t forget to get off the beaten path in the Eternal City , either!

Amalfi Coast

The famed Amalfi Coast , with its dramatic cliffs, chic villages like Positano, delicious lemons, and jaw-droppingly beautiful hikes like the Path of the Gods, is a fabulous conclusion to any 2 week Europe trip–where better to relax than one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world?

While you’re there, be sure to make room for plenty of day trips!

Iconic locations like Capri and Pompeii , as well as less-popular but equally amazing spots like Ischia, Herculaneum , and Procida, are all at your fingertips when staying on the Amalfi Coast.

(Also, if you like page-turning novels about friendship and Italy, I highly recommend reading Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend series before coming or while visiting Europe).

Regal Central Europe: Prague, Vienna, Budapest

Sweeping boulevards, dramatic architecture, beautiful coffeehouses, and tasty comfort food: a trip to Central Europe is an absolute delight.

In my opinion, this region truly shines during the winter months when Christmas markets are in full swing and the hearty cuisine keeps you warm from the inside out.

I’ll try to keep this section quite brief, as I’ve already written a detailed Central Europe itinerary here , but suffice it to say, we love it.

Known as the City of a Hundred Spires (and also for the fact that beer is cheaper than water here–true story, at least when it comes to pricey bottled water at restaurants), Prague is easily in the running for the most beautiful city in Europe.

The beauty of Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, the famed Charles Bridge, and Prague’s well-known astronomical clock will all draw you in.

If you have enough time, consider adding a day trip to a smaller Czech town like gorgeous Český Krumlov as well!

Regal and beautiful, full of spacious, wide avenues and ornate buildings, Austria’s capital city is the perfect place to come to tour grand palaces ( Schonbrunn is one of the most popular), see a show in one of the world’s premier opera houses, and to enjoy European cafe culture at its finest.

We absolutely adore Vienna’s coffee houses–be sure to try a slice (or several) of Esterhazy Cake while there, as well as Viennese hot chocolate.

The city’s famed Spanish riding school and striking St. Stephen’s Cathedral are also worth adding to your list!

As our favorite city in central Europe and one of our top 10 cities in Europe overall, I really can’t say enough about how beautiful Budapest is! 

The city is somehow, simultaneously, both grand and down-to-earth , absolutely gorgeous while also remaining accessible, affordable, and fairly simple to visit and explore.

While in Budapest, go for a soak in the famous thermal baths, tour one of the most beautiful houses of Parliament in Europe, check out a castle, visit grand basilicas, take a boat ride down the Danube, and, if you’re up for a bit of adventure, even go on a cave tour!

Be sure not to miss the great food , either–Budapest’s hearty cuisine is a delight, and one of our all-time favorite wine tastings took place there!

Europe for Art Lovers: Paris, Florence, Venice

If you’re an art buff at heart, you can’t ask for a better sampling of some of the continent’s most beloved artistic cities than the trifecta of Paris, Florence, and Venice (and it certainly helps that each city is practically an art museum in and of itself).

From the Louvre to the Musee d’Orsay to the Orangerie to the Musee Rodin to the Centre Pompidou to the Cluny Museum, it would probably take a lifetime to enjoy all the art museums in Paris alone.

And of course, the city has so much more to offer once you need a break!

Nicknamed the Cradle of the Renaissance, Florence boasts the finest collection of Renaissance art on the planet–and claims many of its most famous artists as locals. 

Michelangelo, DaVinci, Botticelli, and more all originally hailed from Florence, and their works are scattered about the city.

Perhaps most famously, Michelangelo’s David is in the Galleria dell’Accademia and Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus is in the Uffizi Gallery .

And of course, no art-focused trip to the Cradle of the Renaissance can overlook Florence’s iconic Duomo , a masterpiece of the era!

Located an easy train ride away from Florence, Venice may be slightly less well-known for its art than the first two cities on this 2 week Europe itinerary, but there’s no doubt that there’s plenty to find!

From the utter masterpiece of St. Mark’s Basilica (don’t miss a chance to go in!) to the incredible Doge’s Palace to the famous Galleria dell’Accademia (not to be confused with the one in Florence!) that focuses mostly on Venetian artists, Venice is an art lover’s dream.

Mix it up by adding a visit to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, which holds modern art, and a gondola ride .

A fter all, Venice itself is no doubt one of the best artistic masterpieces in the city, and it deserves to be seen from all its best angles.

The Incredible Iberian Peninsula: Lisbon, The Algarve, Andalucia

The Iberian Peninsula is dominated by Spain and Portugal , and while I might be biased after spending more than a year living in Lisbon, it makes for an unforgettable Eurotrip!

(The fact that there are often flight deals from the US to Lisbon and Madrid doesn’t hurt, either).

There are infinite ways to craft southern Europe itineraries out of these two countries, but here’s one great option…

Start your trip with a few days in Lisbon , Portugal’s trendy capital city, soaking up beautiful views from its many miradouros , sampling Portuguese food (starting with pastéis de nata ), touring the incredible Jerónimos Monastery, and taking day trips from Lisbon to nearby gems like the palaces of Sintra and/or the beach resort town of Cascais .

Be prepared to head up and down a lot of hills while you’re there–but Lisbon is worth the climb.

If you’re looking for neighborhoods to wander through, Alfama, Castelo, Chiado, and Bairro Alto are particularly picturesque–keep an eye out for trams, azulejos, and peacocks as you explore!

And, while Lisbon’s top attractions are definitely worth a visit, seeking out some of the many hidden gems in Lisbon will add extra beauty to your trip.

The Algarve

After saying goodbye to Lisbon, head south of Portugal’s Algarve for a dizzying array of whitewashed villages (you’ll find many of the best beach towns in Portugal here) and a picturesque coastline.

Lagos is one of the most popular places to stay, and we can highly recommend it–don’t miss the famous Ponta da Piedade, which photos can’t do justice to.

Nearby attractions (ideally, you’ll want to rent a car in the Algarve) include the famous Benagil Cave and the unmissable Seven Hanging Valleys Trail!

For the second week of your trip in Europe, cross the border into southern Spain (note: there’s no direct train access for this journey, but there are buses).

Split your time between any two of Andalucia’s incredible cities, taking nearby day trips from there.

Seville (with its Alcazar and famous Plaza de Espana), Granada (home of the Alhambra ), and Cordoba (home of the Mosque-Cathedral , one of the most unique houses of worship in the world) are all wonderful inland options.

On the coast, options include Cadiz, Malaga, Marbella, Tarifa, and many more.

With a bit more than 2 weeks in Europe or an ambitious schedule, you may be able to squeeze in a day trip to Gibraltar and/or Tangier, Morocco while here!

Food + History: Athens, Santorini, Istanbul

Feel like heading further east–as far east as you can get during a Europe vacation?

Greece and Turkey pair very well for a 14 day European itinerary–here’s what that might look like.

Start your trip in Athens, marveling at some of the world’s most remarkable ruins, including the famous Acropolis complex and museum.

Be sure to make time to explore non-ancient aspects of Athens as well, including the trendy Plaka neighborhood, Monastiraki Square (and nearby flea market!), and Syntagma Square.

And of course, one of the absolute best things to do after you touch down in Athens is to dive into plate after plate of phenomenal Greek food –that alone is worth traveling to Greece for ( our Athens food tour remains one of my favorites that we’ve taken in Europe).

Truly, any one of Greece’s amazing islands would fit nicely into this 2 week Europe itinerary, but where better to choose than Santorini , with its iconic blue-and-white color scheme, fantastic caldera views, and excellent flight connections?

While Santorini isn’t best known for its beaches–you’re better off heading to Crete for those–you sure can’t beat the charming villages or stunning nature.

The city of two continents, where thousands of years of history blend seamlessly with modern life, and where you can eat one of the best breakfasts you’ll ever experience in your life: Istanbul tops bucket lists around the world, and there is simply nowhere on the planet quite like it.

Marvel at the Blue Mosque, step inside the Hagia Sophia, eat your weight in Turkish breakfast (seriously, I can’t emphasize enough how tasty it is), admire the views of the Bosphorus, climb the Galata Tower, and shop your way through the Grand Bazaar.

Since this Europe travel blog post focuses on, well, Europe, I won’t sketch out any other possibilities further east in Turkey in detail…

But, if you have time, you could easily add a visit to Cappadocia , complete with a sunrise hot air balloon ride, to your trip, or even a visit to the ruins of Ephesus.

Architecture + Culture: Cologne, Amsterdam, Belgium

With this small triangle of destinations, you can easily visit separate countries via train, with very little travel time between them!

And, if you were particularly motivated to add another, you could even squeeze in a day trip to Luxembourg.

If you’re looking for a winter itinerary for Europe that focuses on cities, this is a fantastic option.

Home to a stunning cathedral and what may just be the best Christmas markets on the planet, Cologne is a gorgeous German city that is a delight to explore on foot.

Don’t miss its soaring Gothic Cathedral while you’re there!

… Though honestly, that would be hard to do, considering you can see it right as you step outside the train station.

As one of the most popular cities to visit in Europe, Amsterdam requires no introduction.

The city of canals, biking, and revelry is somehow even more beautiful in person than in the billions of photos of it.

While you’re there, be sure to take a canal cruise, stroll the 9 Streets, and visit at least a couple of the city’s museums (the Anne Frank House is incredibly moving).

If you visit Amsterdam in winter , you’ll no doubt need to bundle up–but the lack of crowds in this often-packed city is also a treat to experience.

Perhaps it may be slightly unfair to list Belgium entirely while the other destinations are split into cities… but considering Belgium’s two most popular cities, Bruges and Ghent , are located less than an hour apart by train, you can cover quite a bit of the country in a few days !

With stunning architecture, canals, and carbs (bring on the waffles and frites), it’s easy to have a blast in Belgium.

Winter in Belgium brings a lack of crowds and plenty of festivities during the Christmas season!

Alpine Escape: Bavaria, Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region, Milan, and Lake Como

If your dream Europe trip involves plenty of Alpine views with a side of cities, this is the itinerary for Europe in 2 weeks for you.

Start your trip in Bavaria, the land of castles, beer, and outdoor delights.

City lovers will enjoy being based in Munich (don’t miss the opulent Munich Residenz or view from St. Peter’s Church and/or the Town Hall Tower while there).

From Munich, you can easily day trip to more mountainous areas, starting with Fussen, home to Germany’s famous Neuschwanstein Castle .

If you get good weather and want to see as many mountains as possible, a day trip to the Zugspite–the highest point in Germany–is also an option.

Really, though, if there’s one thing to prioritize in Munich, it’s to eat and drink all the sausage, pretzels, beer, and beyond you can get your hands on!

Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region

I am convinced that Switzerland’s Jungfrau region–located around (literally, above) Interlaken–is paradise on earth in the summer.

If you’re dreaming of the Alps, check into a hotel in Wengen, Murren, or Grindelwald (for the best views) or Interlaken (for a bit more selection) or Lauterbrunnen (to be in the literal center of the action) and have the trip of your dreams.

Switzerland’s legendarily efficient trains and gondolas mean that wherever you stay, the region is at your fingertips.

Hiking from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidigg, riding the highest train in Europe to Jungfraujoch (aka the “Top of Europe”), eating daily fondue, walking from Murren to Gimmelwald , and riding a historic cogwheel train to Schynige Platte are just a few of the unforgettable experiences you’ll find here.

Milan + Lake Como

End your trip to Milan and Lake Como , two of the most popular destinations in northern Italy!

In Milan , be sure to visit its legendary Duomo, stroll through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, visit Sforzesco Castle, and, if you can get tickets (plan ahead!) see Da Vinci’s The Last Supper .

At Lake Como (just an hour north of Milan by train), take a boat tour around the lake and visit delightfully charming towns like Varenna and Bellagio while admiring magnificent Alpine views.

Getting around in each city on your 2 week Europe itinerary is a question better suited to blog posts on that particular city, so this section is designed to address getting in between each destination during your 14 days in Europe.

We recommend checking several solutions for each destination, as you never know what will crop up!

Personally, our first 2 week Europe trip involved an overnight train, a budget plane ride, and a couple of rental cars.

Train travel is our absolute favorite way to travel in Europe!

I t’s much less stressful than traveling by plane, especially once you get the hang of it, far more comfortable, and for those of us hailing from North America, it’s a travel experience in its own right!

We recommend using services like Omio to compare train prices across multiple countries.

It works more or less exactly like a car rental aggregate does, searching multiple companies and generating the best routes and prices for your dates.

Keep in mind that train travel is most useful in western and central Europe–once you head into eastern Europe and especially the Balkans, train travel becomes more limited and bus travel more common (for example, popular Dubrovnik, Croatia doesn’t have a train station).

Shop train routes and tickets prices in Europe today!

For those traveling on a budget or between two smaller destinations where rail travel isn’t an option, buses can be a very affordable choice.

In addition to standard local buses, companies like Flixbus provide an easy-to-use service, and you can check their prices and availability directly or through Omio as well (that way you can compare train tickets at the same time).

Browse bus routes in Europe today!

With plenty of budget airlines and plenty of airports to choose from, if you plan wisely, it’s possible to take flights in Europe that are so inexpensive you wonder how the company pays for the fuel.

S eriously: 10 Euro flights are possible, though we’ve never actually managed to pay that since we prefer to check our bags !

When looking for flights within Europe, we recommend using Google Flights in order to search the whole continent at once (you can simply put “Europe” in as the destination, and it’ll pull up a map of prices). 

With a little flexibility on destination (for example, maybe flying into nearby Bologna is cheaper than flying into Florence ?) and even on dates if possible, you just might end up with an excellent flight deal or two during your trip to Europe.

Personally, we recommend avoiding a car rental when possible during your 2 weeks in Europe, especially if you’re following anything resembling a Europe itinerary like the ones I outlined above.

In large cities, rental cars are a hindrance and a liability, not an asset, and they add quite a bit to your bottom line.

That being said, if you’re planning on visiting any rural areas or small towns, road trips in Europe can be a delight!

Y ou could consider renting a car for a couple of days in Tuscany , for example, or to visit the villages of Provence.

If you do choose to rent a car, we recommend searching for the best prices through Discover Cars , which will allow you to search multiple companies at once and come up with a great option. 

While major international carriers like Hertz and Enterprise are available in Europe, they’re not always the best deal, and searching for a combination of local and international companies is best.

Personally, we have no loyalty to any one rental car company, and book with whoever is most affordable (and we always buy the extra insurance).

As a result, we’ve rented cars through easily more than 15 or 20 agencies over the years (I’d be hard-pressed even to estimate it), and we’ve never had any issues with surprise charges.

Price out rental cars with Discover Cars now!

Don’t forget boats when it comes to planning a 2 week Europe itinerary, especially over the summer!

While ferries between or to/from islands are obviously the most popular ( Dubrovnik to Hvar , for example, or Barcelona to Mallorca), there are longer ferry options as well!

Last summer, we took a ferry from Barcelona to Rome and loved the experience of drifting along the Mediterranean Sea for 24 hours!

Many ferry routes are seasonal, but not all.

Don’t plan to visit too many destinations.

With only around 14 days in Europe, I know it can be incredibly tempting to squeeze in as many destinations as possible (and I have many fevered outlines of ridiculously ambitious trips I planned in my college days to prove it), but your trip will go so much more smoothly if you can resist that temptation.

In most cases, we recommend an absolute minimum of two full days per major city.

By full days, I mean with limited exceptions (like a red-eye flight that lands at 8:00 AM), the day you arrive and the day you depart don’t count as a “day” in a given city–just as a travel day.

Three or four days per city is even better and will allow you to potentially squeeze in a day trip from that city to a smaller city or village if you want to mix things up.

Start and end in a major airport hub.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be the same hub–more on that below–but there are definitely airports that are cheaper to fly into and out of for intercontinental flights than others.

Budapest may be affordable once you’re there, for example, but flying from the US directly to Budapest can hurt the wallet!

For those of you coming from the USA, London, Dublin , Madrid , Paris , Lisbon , Frankfurt, Amsterdam , and Milan are a few places to check ticket prices for.

That’s not an exhaustive list by any means, but there are often flight deals to and from these cities.

If you can, use an open-jaw ticket rather than a return ticket.

This will allow you to begin and end your 2 weeks in Europe in entirely different destinations, and let you avoid doubling back!

While one-way tickets can be pricier than round-trip ones, if you’re flexible on your dates and destinations (so deciding which cities to start and end in partially based on price), you can usually find excellent deals

This is exactly how we ended up flying into Krakow and out of Dublin for our first 2 week Europe trip!

You will be exhausted at some point. Plan for it.

Two weeks in Europe may not seem like a ton, but if you’re anything like us or virtually all of the travelers we have talked to, exhaustion will set in during your trip.

Sightseeing in Europe is fabulous, but it’s also tiring.

Add in navigating cultural differences, language barriers, and moving countries every few days, and you’re bound to need a break at some point.

We recommend planning a couple of laid-back days without museum visits, tours, or day trips so that you can catch your breath and avoid burnout.

Try to be flexible with where you go.

As you start pricing train, plane, and bus tickets for your trip to Europe, you’ll likely notice dramatic shifts–for example, is it 4x the money to get to London instead of Amsterdam?

Does traveling to Prague require a long flight and 2 layovers but Rome is a quick hop away?

If you can, be flexible when you come upon these challenges: we recommend having 1-2 “must visit” destinations and filling in the rest of your trip based on a combination of logistics and desire.

After all, there’s no way you can see it all on a 2 week Europe trip anyway!

Don’t underestimate the time and energy it takes to change destinations.

“Oh, it’s only a 3-hour train ride away! That’s nothing!”

I think we’ve all said that at some point when planning a multi-country trip, but be cautious.

Three hours on the train doesn’t account for packing and unpacking, getting to and from the train station, checking out of and into a hotel… you get the picture.

If you’re looking at a high-level schedule without picking a specific date or time, you may also come to find that sure, there’s one direct 3-hour train between two cities… but it leaves at 10:00 PM or 6:00 AM, and the rest of the trains require layovers.

Or perhaps the direct train only runs 3 days a week.

Or maybe you’re looking at a plane, in which case, be sure to add at least 4 hours to your transit time: getting to and from the airport and security/check-in beforehand.

Long story short, travel days between countries are virtually always more tiring and time-consuming than they look at first glance, so don’t overcommit on those days when planning your ultimate Europe trip!

Big cities are more accessible than small towns and nature areas.

For the first trip to Europe especially, big cities are absolutely the easiest to plan your itinerary for Europe around.

They’re generally easier and cheaper to get into and out of, and there’s far more information available about them online to help plan your trips.

That’s no reason not to visit other places too, of course–but keep in mind that the more rural the area, the more logistically challenging your trip will be.

Skip-the-line tickets are incredibly useful.

I’m sure it comes as absolutely no surprise that the world’s most iconic monuments and museums tend to get a bit crowded… and that makes skip-the-line tickets invaluable, especially with only 2 weeks in Europe to squeeze in as much sightseeing as possible.

In some places (like the Arc de Triomphe ) they’re available without any additional fee, and in other places (like the Colosseum) they cost a bit extra.

Either way, though, it’s 1000% worth the price and effort to get tickets online beforehand for popular spots, especially if you’re traveling during the high season.

And, in 2024, it’s worth pointing out that given ever-changing capacity limits, it’s a better idea than ever to book in advance–and for some attractions, it’s even required!

When 2020 shook the travel industry to its core, many of the most popular museums and monuments in Europe found that life was easier with reservations and online bookings, and have continued prioritizing that system over traditional lines and ticket booths even as crowds returned to “normal”.

We use skip-the-line tickets all over the continent and book them through Get Your Guide .

Book your hotels and major transportation in advance.

Before kicking off your 2 week Europe itinerary, we recommend having all of your hotels and major transportation (so travel between destinations) booked and ready to go.

This dramatically cuts down on stress levels, makes it easier to budget and plan out your days, and generally helps your trip run more smoothly.

These days, we book virtually all of our lodging (including apartments, farm stays, houses, and more) through Booking.com .

Smaller things, like metro passes or tickets for getting around cities, can be handled once you arrive.

If you can, we recommend taking at least one food tour during your 2 weeks in Europe.

Food tours are one of our favorite ways to get our bearings in a new city while learning about the culture, history, and neighborhood through something we can all appreciate: a tasty meal.

We’ve taken food tours in several countries around the world, including many in Europe, and have never walked away unsatisfied!

You do need to pay to use the restroom… sometimes.

Throughout Europe, public restrooms are generally available for a fee (typically either half a Euro or a Euro).

If you’d like to avoid those costs, be sure to take advantage of available restrooms in restaurants and museums as you sightsee !

Also, toilet paper is far from guaranteed in public toilets on the street.

We recommend carrying a small pack of tissues with you just in case.

Will I need an adapter?

Most likely, yes!

Luckily, adapters are cheap to buy and easy to carry–we recommend picking these up before you go.

Keep in mind that the UK and a few other countries ( Ireland , Malta ) use a separate plug from the bulk of the continent.

If you’re heading to a place that uses UK plugs, you’ll want these adapters as well.

Is a money belt a good idea?

It depends, honestly.

We used a money belt for our first trip to Europe and for a couple after that.

Back then, we weren’t used to life in bustling big cities, and though we knew that thieves knew about them (because they definitely do), Jeremy found them comfortable enough to wear and it was an easy way to keep our belongings a bit more secure.

If you’re not used to traveling in a big city or watching for pickpockets, I don’t think it’s a terrible idea to use one– this is the one we used and we had no complaints–but I also don’t think it’s necessary, especially if you’re comfortable in large cities.

Is the water safe to drink?

Usually, yes.

We drink out of the tap just about anywhere in Europe.

In rare cases where the water is not safe to drink (usually in remote areas of southern and eastern Europe, or in very old buildings with iffy pipes), there will generally be large and obvious signs stating so.

If you’re worried about it, though, you can always ask your hotel concierge or host about it!

Is it worth going to Europe for 2 weeks?

This is a pretty common question, and honestly, I get it: with long and expensive flights, it’s easy to wonder if flying to Europe for “only” 2 weeks is worth it.

But yes, it absolutely is!

Two weeks in Europe is long enough that you’ll have plenty of time to get past jetlag, visit several destinations, and have a wonderful trip packed with memories.

Now whether or not it’s worth flying to Europe for just one week is a bit more controversial… but we love to travel Europe so much that we still say yes (for some people).

How extreme is the language barrier?

It varies significantly, of course, but generally, it’s not nearly as difficult as first-time visitors to Europe worry before they arrive (ourselves included).

We recommend learning basic phrases in the language of the countries you are visiting during your 2 week Europe itinerary, but this is usually more for good manners than out of necessity.

While you can absolutely find monolingual Europeans in virtually any country, especially in smaller cities and towns, the people employed in customer service roles and in the tourism industry in major cities–in other words, where most or all of your 2 weeks in Europe will likely take place–generally speak some English.

How many European countries should you visit in 2 weeks?

For most travelers, we recommend roughly 3 “base” destinations for a 2 week Europe trip, plus a couple of day trips from there to mix things up.

These can all be in one country (for example, here’s how we recommend spending 2 weeks in Italy ), or they can be in 3 separate countries!

There are plenty of exceptions to this standard layout, of course, but it’s a doable but exciting number of destinations to work with for most 14 day Europe itineraries.

When should I tip?

While this is very country and industry-dependent, generally speaking, tipping is not nearly as prominent in Europe as it is in the USA, and you’ll virtually never need to tip over 10%.

In some countries, you may also tip 5-10% at restaurants, while in others, you might round up the bill or leave nothing at all.

Frequently, a “service charge” will be automatically supplied to the bill which serves the purpose of a tip.

For tour guides, a 10% tip is common.

What’s the best month to visit Europe?

All of them, except August.

I kid–somewhat–but honestly, every single month in Europe has its perks!

For a concise answer, the late spring (April-May) and early fall (September-October) are considered ideal by most travelers.

August is specifically difficult because it’s not only very hot in many of Europe’s most popular destinations, but most Europeans take vacations then, so many places (especially in the mountains and on the coast) are at their priciest.

If we absolutely had to visit Europe only during one month for the rest of our lives, we’d pick September, though October is a very close second.

What’s the cheapest month to visit Europe?

It depends–trying to spot the northern lights in Tromso would be one exception to this, for example–but for standard first time Europe itineraries like the ones I outlined in this blog post, January and February are often the cheapest months to visit.

When the Christmas markets are over and the gray weather settles in, you can score great deals on vacations in Europe (and have plenty of room to stretch out at iconic monuments).

How far in advance should I book my trip?

For plane tickets, as soon as you can commit to dates!

Not only will this allow you to have more time to plan and budget with a bit of structure, but it will also spread out your costs a bit more.

During peak seasons, like coastal locations in the summer or popular destinations during the Christmas season in Europe , you’ll want to book your hotels as far in advance as you can commit to them as well.

Can you do Europe for $100/day?

This depends a lot on the traveler, group size, etc, but my initial, instinctive answer is:

If you don’t include plane tickets to and from Europe, yes, absolutely, without a doubt–we’ve done it many, many, many times (as a couple).

The key is to shop for deals, visit during the off-season, not shy away from less common destinations (especially in Eastern Europe and the Balkans), and travel slowly.

The fewer destinations you visit, the cheaper a trip generally is!

If you want to stick to Western Europe, southern Spain , southern Portugal, and southern Italy can all be bargains (as compared to places like Paris and London) as well.

Here’s how we manage our travel budget.

We’ve put together detailed packing lists for various seasons in Europe, so be sure to check out our complete suggestions for spring , summer , fall , and winter before you head off on your 2 weeks in Europe.

We go into far more detail on what to wear in Europe there !

To get you started, though, here are a few essentials that should definitely be at the top of your list .

Travel Insurance — We don’t ever suggest traveling without travel insurance–anything can happen, and it’s better to be safe than sorry during your 2 weeks in Europe.

Check travel insurance policy inclusions and prices for your trip here.

Pacsafe — We can’t recommend our Pacsafe enough!

This travel safe is affordable, sturdy, easy to pack, and will help keep your valuables safe in your hotel room (not that you should need to worry much about theft from your hotel room during your trip to Europe, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!).

Comfortable Day Bag  — We currently use  Pacsafe’s sleek anti-theft backpack  and love it, but if you don’t want to shell out the cash for this trip, that’s totally understandable.

Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sized–we used a  Northface Jester backpack  for years and loved it as well.

Travel Adapters for Europe — If you’re coming from outside of Europe, you’ll definitely need adapters for your electronics.

Be sure to check the requirements for any particular countries you visit–the United Kingdom, for example, is well-known for using different plugs than most of the continent.

Portable USB Charger — Don’t stress about your phone dying while you’re sightseeing!

Add a portable charger to your 2 weeks in Europe packing list.

Hand Sanitizer — We carry this everywhere, and never been sorry to have it floating around in our day bag.

Travel Journal — If you want to keep a travel journal during your 2 week Europe trip but can’t commit to a huge amount of writing each night, I can’t recommend the One Line a Day Journal enough.

I’ve been using it for more than 5 years now (I’m on my second volume!) and I absolutely love it.

In the process of booking your Europe trip and eager to keep planning?

We’d love to help!

You can browse all of our general Europe blog posts here , find articles about specific places through our destinations page , or check out these guides:

• Your 13-Step Guide to Traveling to Europe for the First Time
• The Perfect 2 Week Spain and Portugal Itinerary (+ Essential Tips!)
• How to Travel Europe By Train: The Ultimate Guide (+ Tips!)
• 11 Quick Tips for Finding + Using Toilets in Europe
• Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Beyond: Epic Central Europe Itinerary

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About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

58 thoughts on “How to Plan an Epic 2 Week Europe Trip (+ Europe Itinerary Ideas!)”

Great post! I’m actually working on my own 2 week itineraries through Europe post, but I might wait to publish until next year, when I’ve visited a few more spots. I totally agree that the key is to slow down and not switch cities every day or two. Three nights is perfect and sometimes more for the big cities. And yes, multi-city flights are so helpful so you don’t have to backtrack!

Thanks, Riana! We definitely love to slow down whenever we can. 🙂

Hi Kate! This is the BEST post related to Europe Itinerary out of the 1000 other posts that I have checked.

I am from India and I am planning for a trip in February end.

I definitely want to visit FINLAND (so that’s definitely in my list). From there, I am planning for Bupadest,Croatia OR Budapest, Prague OR Budapest/ Vienna.

Do you think this will be good for 2 weeks?

Waiting for your reply. And thanks a ton for such a beautiful detailed post.

Thank you so much, Akshay, that’s wonderful to hear!

That sounds like a wonderful itinerary. Croatia is a bit further out of the way than the other places, but it’s peaceful and beautiful during the winter and fairly simple to get to via a budget flight.

Hope you have an incredible trip to Europe!

Oh my goodness Kate, thank you so much for this post! This is exactly what I needed for my boyfriend and I to plan our trip to Europe in 2020. We want to visit Italy, Spain, France, and England but Greece and Croatia look amazing too! It’s so hard to decide.

Thank you, Jessica! So glad you found our blog helpful.

It is SO hard to decide, and honestly, it never gets any easier in my experience! All of those places are absolutely amazing, so no matter what you decide I’m sure you guys will have an incredible trip.

Italy, France, and Spain are really easy to pair together if you want to keep logistics simple, but really any combination of those would work.

What about panning around the seasons? Isn’t the Amalfi coast and Italy in general super hot during August?

It’s always nice to plan around the seasons when you can, but it depends on your availability!

Italy can be hot in August but it depends very much on where you go. It averages around 85 F / 30 C on the Amalfi Coast in August, which I have to admit isn’t enough to bother us, but it depends on where you’re coming from. It is high season there, though–very, very generally speaking, August is an expensive and crowded time to visit beaches in Europe because it’s when many Europeans tend to take their vacations and head to the coast!

Planning a trip in 2023-24 for my daughter’s graduation present. I was thinking maybe 2-3 weeks. On this trip, how much did you spend in total? I might end up being more because I usually pay for more luxurious than most, but will help with a little expectation of costs plus COLA increases obviously over the years. I figured I should start planning and saving now. lol

Hi Steven! We put this together based on years of traveling in Europe, so unfortunately I don’t have a specific figure to offer. So much varies, and can be impacted by where you go, how fast you travel (ie, how many times you change destinations), of course luxury as you mentioned, etc, etc. Generally speaking, for two people, I would say that $100/person/day is a good lower-midrange figure to calculate (excluding airfare), $200/person/day starts edging toward luxury territory, and of course, the sky is the limit.

That’s INCREDIBLY general, though. You’d be better off narrowing down which countries you plan to visit and calculating based on how long you plan to spend in each of them.

A few things to look at to give you an idea: price of hotels, price of day tours, projected cost of moving between destinations, and average cost of a meal. Those figures should give you a backbone to estimate a budget from.

What brand are the boots you are wearing in the photo “Comfortable Day Bag.” My wife loves them. Gift idea for when we go to Europe 🙂

Those are Ugg Kesey Motorcycle boots, and I love them too! Just got them out again for fall last week. 🙂

Hi kate I am planning to visit europe sometime in 2023(may/june) with my wife and son. Could you please guide me with an itinerary for 15 days Or so?? Swiss, italy, France, spain. After that we will go to a friend in England. If possible, the expenses involved as well. Thanks

Hi Abhijit! I’m not a travel agent, so that’s a bit beyond my scope. 🙂 Generally speaking, though, I’d recommend parring your itinerary down to 2 countries, or 3 at the absolute maximum. 4 countries in 15 days is a lot of travel! Luckily, all of those destinations pair well together, so you can mix and match fairly easily. Also very generally speaking, Italy and Spain will be the most affordable, and Switzerland by far the most expensive–but that depends a lot on where you go and what you do!

Hey Kate, All your pictures are amazing! What kind of cameras do you bring with you? And do you edit your photos? If so what do you use for that, they are all really bright, great pictures.

Hi Stefanie! Thank you so much! We’ve used different cameras over the years, but our main camera these days is a Sony A7 rIII. We love it, and yes, all the photos taken with it are edited in Lightroom. 🙂

Hi Kate, THANK YOU for the great article! I have booked my flights for a 2 week trip next spring, into London and out of Paris. I’ve been to both cities before, but do hope to get a few days in paris again. It’s stolen my heart.

What do you recommend in terms of getting from London to Rome, fairly quickly, and cheaply? I arrive into London mid-day and had hoped to just figure it out at the airport (Gatwick). Do you think that’s possible?

Thank you so much, Sarah! Your trip sounds fantastic.

I’d definitely plan on flying between London and Rome–it’ll be fastest and most likely cheapest, too. Check budget carriers like Ryanair, etc.

If you’re planning on flying out to Rome the same day you arrive in Gatwick, I’d absolutely recommend booking before you arrive. Be sure to double-check and make sure you’re flying out of Gatwick, too, or have time to change airports.

Hope you have an amazing time!

Oh wow I’m doing the same trip with my 3 sons. And unfortunately is the month that she said it’s the worst to go ..in August…oh well🤷🏽‍♀️ can’t do anything about it how but I am worried about the expense tho..

Love your information. I’m planning a trip to Italy and then we want to go to Salzburg as well in the summer of 2023. Our first time to Europe. We will be 60 in 2023 and we think we can plan this without going through a company. After reading your information, I feel comfortable. Two questions about hotels and transportation. What would you recommend for safe places for hotels in those two countries? We don’t need luxury but just comfort and clean. Would you recommend using rail between cities in Italy and it looks like you can travel from Venice to Salzburg by rail? Thoughts?

That’s great to hear, glad we could help!

Venice to Salzburg by rail is very doable in a day and a scenic journey. You’ll probably have to make a change, but that’s workable. Personally, we’d opt for it over flying in a heartbeat.

For hotels, I have several recommendations in our specific Venice and Salzburg posts (you can use the search bar to pull up everything we have on both cities). The centers of both places are quite safe, I wouldn’t worry much about that in a well-reviewed hotel.

Hope you guys have an unforgettable trip!

AWESOME Post!!!!

Please let me know if you have posted anything similar in 2020 or 2021. My wife and I are bringing our three teenagers and we will likely choose the Food & History trip. We both would like to speak with you if possible as we are planning our trip for December.

Hi guys! We don’t run tours ourselves, just provide information for independent travelers, but we’re always happy to answer a few questions about possible itineraries!

Hi Kate, THANK YOU for the amazing Pic ,for now i’m in South Africa Cape Town I’m planning a trip to Italy , France & Austria next year 2022 for 2weeks , Would you recommend using rail or Via Road way .

Thank you in advance & best Regards En vous remerciant d’avance et cordialement

Sounds like a fabulous trip!

Rail vs car depends entirely on where you’re going. If you’re sticking to cities, I’d recommend going by train. If you want to enjoy the countryside, a car could be helpful.

You can also mix-and-match, and rent a car for only part of your trip if you’re going to be in the countryside only part of the time.

Thank you for this awesome post, Kate! My husband and I are wanting to take our first international trip to Central Europe early spring 2022 and have reviewed your Central Europe post. What type of difficulties have you faced with international travel during COVID-19? Any issues with a country on your itinerary going into lock-down or no longer allowing tourists from the US?

We haven’t personally run into any issues with lockdowns interrupting our plans but of course, it’s always possible and things are changing constantly.

Most, if not all, countries in Europe are accepting vaccinated and/or tested US visitors now and haven’t shut their borders to US citizens again since the initial reopening. All of the countries included on our Central Europe itinerary are currently among them.

In addition to entry, some countries are requiring proof of vaccination in order to do certain things like eat in restaurants or check into hotels. Portugal, where we are now, is among them. It’s a very simple process as long as you have the paperwork in order!

Generally, if you plan to visit Europe from the US in 2022, we recommend arriving with proof of vaccination, a negative COVID test (check regularly for specifications as your flight gets closer), flexibility, and the expectation that you’ll wear a mask indoors and potentially in crowded outdoor areas.

I am not a public health expert, of course, and European countries all set their own restrictions, but in the early stages of planning, that’s what I’d keep in mind!

The reaction that we’ve seen from readers who visited in the second half of 2022 has generally been that it’s easier than they expected, but as we’ve all learned way too much in the last 2 years, none of us can predict the future!

Thanks so much, Kate! It definitely seems like flexibility is key as well as continuously monitoring each country’s individual rules for a multi-country trip. I think right now Hungary isn’t accepting tourists but fingers crossed that will change soon so we can replicate your trip. 🙂 Cheers to more adventures for you in 2022!

Hi Kate, my family is in the beginning phase of planning our first international trip and have decided on Europe! I really liked your recommendation of arriving and departing from different airports and I think departing from London would make sense (we’ll probably want to spend the most time there). All we’ve decided is to vacation for somewhere between 2-3 weeks, and we want to see London and Ireland (oh and I want to stay at least one night in a castle hotel!). Would you have any recommendations on destinations or experiences to share? Thanks!

How exciting–nothing like your first trip abroad. 🙂

We actually still haven’t been to London, which is a huge shame! Fingers crossed that 2022 is the year.

Ireland, on the other hand, is one of our absolute favorites! If you search “Ireland” on the top right corner of the blog (or on the pop out menu on mobile), all of our blog posts will come up, but this is a great one to start with: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/10-day-ireland-itinerary-ireland-road-trip/

We spent a night in this castle (slash manor house) and had a fantastic time: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/belleek-castle-county-mayo-ireland/

Ireland is one of our favorite places for road trips on the planet. You’ll love it!

Great post, thanks!

Need your advice here 🙂 We will be landing in London, staying there 3 days, then train to Paris (staying in Paris for 3 days). We fly back home from Lisbon and have 3 options: night train to Nice (spend some time there and then a few days in Lisbon), fly to Napoli (spend some time there and then fly to Lisbon) or fly to Lisbon and discover a bit more of Portugal… What would you recommend?

Oh and we are travelling with two teens who have never been to Europe… I’m trying to pack as much stuff, but wonder what would be too much :/

That’s a lot of hard choices! Each and every one of those destinations is a delight (and we’re living in Lisbon right now).

I’d opt for Nice if you’re looking for coastal views, picturesque villages, and something logistically simple. Nice is a delightful city and the day trips to nearby villages like Eze as well as Monaco are phenomenal. It is the most formal and pricey of the 3 cities and will have a resort feel near the coast in the summer.

Naples is a much less manicured city, it’s a love-it-or-hate-it place (we love it). I’d argue that it has the best food of the 3 options, but those are fighting words and many would disagree. The day trips are equally stunning but very different. If you or your family has an interest in ancient ruins, Pompeii and Herculaneum are unmatched. Visiting the Amalfi Coast or nearby islands is also doable, but it’s a trek if you’re staying in the city center. Keep in mind that there’s no train service to the Amalfi Coast proper, you will need a bus, car, or ferry to get beyond Sorrento.

Lisbon is delightful but honestly, our favorite parts of Portugal lie outside the city. Porto, in the north, has a much more regal feel while Lisbon is fairly spread out. The Duoro Valley (also in the north) is magnificent for port tastings and views, Sintra’s palaces located just outside of Lisbon are must-sees, and if you want to head to the south, the Algarve is incredibly striking.

Logistically speaking, I’d make sure you have at least 2-3 days in Portugal at the end of your trip before flying out, regardless. With 3 full days, you can spend 2 in Lisbon and take one day trip (probably to Sintra but the coastal town of Cascais is also easy and lovely).

If you have time to do that and add another stop for 3 full days, I would check detailed flight and train schedules and let that guide you–the logistics alone may make the choice for you.

That got a bit long, but I hope it helps! 🙂

Thanks a lot for the precious information!

Hi Kate! I know you said you are not a travel agent but are open to a few itinerary questions! We have recently done a European Cruise which hit almost all of Italy! We are wanting to go back independently. I am highly interested in Ireland, but would also like to see Paris. My husband is interested in Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland. With a 14 day trip wanted, what areas do you think we should do (based on best places to see, with allotted time?)

& Austria! 🙂

That is a lot of very different places, but you’ll definitely be able to pull together a great trip! I’d recommend narrowing it down to around 3 destinations, 4 if you’re comfortable moving quite fast and two of them are close together.

Ireland is definitely the odd one out geographically, but if you use two one-way tickets instead of flying in and out of the same airport, it can work (it’s what we did on our first multi-country Europe trip many years ago).

Since you’ll likely have 1-2 flights in this itinerary regardless, which destinations you pick can come down to a combination of your absolute favorites and what makes logistical sense. Paris is a very popular place to fly in and out of, so it’ll likely be easy to work in.

I’m not sure which parts of Germany your husband is interested in, but parts of western Germany have simple train access to The Netherlands and/or France.

As far as what places I’d personally visit, Ireland and Paris are two of my favorite places on the planet, so I’m biased! Switzerland’s mountain landscapes are truly beyond belief, so if you’re looking for nature (and aren’t concerned about the budget), it’s a winner.

Germany is also gorgeous, both its nature and many of its cities, though it’s quite big and varied–with a big trip like this, you’ll want to choose one small corner of it (Bavaria is a popular first stop, but you can also look at places along the Rhine, which makes more sense if you’re hoping to visit Paris or The Netherlands by train before or after).

The only part of The Netherlands we’ve had a chance to visit so far is Amsterdam, which is visually stunning but will be extremely crowded–probably more so than anywhere else you’ve listed, as there’s less room to spread out there than in, say, Paris.

When it comes to your itinerary, I’d recommend that each of you pick one place that is your absolute first choice, plan on a trip to those, and then fill in the 3rd and possible 4th destination based on what makes logistical sense as far as what planes/trains/buses are available to the spots on your shortlist.

Also, if you do need to book high-speed train tickets, book them ASAP, as prices increase as your trip gets closer.

What a wonderful blog, just when I feel like I’ve read them all I find another really helpful article. Heading to Europe for 1 month in May. Keen on Spain, definitely Italy, and probably 2 days in London and Paris respectively (arrival and departure). Feel like we have space for one more place and can’t figure out which is the better option (Portugal, Croatia or Greece) for potentially 5 days? Any recommendations?

Thank you for sharing all your wonderful insights.

That’s tough, because all 3 are fantastic but very different!

I’d probably recommend (if I had to choose), Greece for beaches/swimming and small towns, Portugal for cities, and Croatia for a combination of all. But we adore each and every one of them, so hard to go wrong!

Portugal fits nicely into your Spain section geographically, so there is that to consider.

Hi, Kate! Super love your blog. I just booked a trip to Europe for August, was thinking of going to France, Spain, and Italy in 2 weeks. Or should I cut it down to 2 countries? Hope to hear from you!

Less relevant than the countries are the destinations within them–I wouldn’t go more than 4 places in 2 weeks, max.

So if you’re hitting up Paris, Barcelona, and Rome, for example, your plan is fine. If you want to go to 2-3 places within each country, it’s time to cut it down. 🙂

HI! Thanks for the fantastic blog! My husband and I are planning our first trip to Europe from Canada and are feeling quite overwhelmed by all the choices! His family is from Holland, so we are spending one week touring with them for the first week of May, and then will stay an additional 2 weeks after that. What would you recommend? We are not keen on France but everything else looks so great, and it was good to read that you don’t recommend trying to fit everything else in, which is what we might otherwise be trying to do. Any suggestions for the 2 weeks after Holland?

Hi Michele,

That’s so exciting! You guys are going to have an amazing time.

Without knowing your tastes or the season you’re traveling, the sky is truly the limit when planning your itinerary! Anywhere that sounds exciting to you is going to be worth it. With 2 weeks, I’d opt for 1-2 countries and no more than 4 base destinations (3 would be even better).

I started trying to make a list of some of our favorite countries in Europe for you, but just backspaced the sentence because I was ending up just listing every country, LOL. But Italy is one of our special favorites that we would recommend to just about anyone!

We will be in Holland for the first week of May so we could do the other two weeks either before or after that (or split one before and one after). The suggestion to cut down to less rather than more is helpful – it’s our first time to Europe and everything looks like something we should see! We are 50 and really like most things – some scenery, some castles, etc. Do you think it would be do-able to do Germany and Italy on top of Holland? Any specifics on what you love in Italy? I am really NOT a crowd person, so we’re really going to try and avoid huge crowds or I’ll lose my mind 😉

A week in Germany followed by a week in Italy is definitely doable!

Personally I’d opt for either southwest Germany (Black Forest, Heidelberg, Burg Eltz) or Bavaria.

We love virtually all of Italy, but if you want something somewhat more offbeat that’s in the top half of the country (for geography reasons), I’d recommend looking into Emilia-Romagna.

It’s the region east of Tuscany, and has similar appeal with far fewer tourists. It’s also gorgeous and a culinary dream–Emilia-Romagna is the origin of many iconic foods like parmigiano-reggiano and traditional balsamic vinegar.

A few destinations in the region to poke into as you research: Bologna, Parma, Ravenna, Ferrara, Modena. The micronationa of San Marino is also accessible from there!

Kate-what a remarkably comprehensive, detailed and resourceful blog! I love the considerations offered from different perspectives. My family of 4 (including 2 kids ages 10 and 6) will be traveling to Paris for the second half of August for 2 weeks to visit family. We have already been to Paris a few times so this time around, I would like us to explore more of Europe for some of the time, ideally via trains. I am thinking of staying in Air B&B’s as we have been enjoying that accommodation when we travel locally within the US but would love your perspective on this (vs hotels) considering the cultural and language differences in certain destinations as well as any recommendations for either you may have. Based on some research, some destinations I came cross purely based on travel distance via train from Paris are Switzerland (3 hrs), Barcelona (6.5 hours! would probably have to be an overnight train for the kids), London (2 hrs, have family we can see), and Greece (2 hours), Belgium (1.5 hrs, also some family we can see). My goal is to show my kids/family different cultures, ways of living and experience foods, interesting architecture, beautiful cafe’s etc. Also curios if any of these can be “day trips”. I do not have specific destinations yet to see at these locations and would love your input. From your article, it sounds like limiting to 2 destinations maybe best (outside of Paris) and your thoughts may help me narrow down where to focus. Thanks so much and look forward to reading your insights on this.

So glad you found it helpful, Tez! Sounds like you guys have an amazing trip planned.

I’m sure you already know this, but August is the height of peak season for European travelers visiting the coast and mountains, so some destinations will be quite crowded and expensive (book your hotels and train tickets ASAP, especially in a group of four).

I’m assuming Greece is a typo, so I’ll pass over that one–pretty sure it’s much further than 2 hours even by plane. 🙂

Luckily Paris is a huge train hub for getting across Europe, so you have plenty of options! Most of them will take longer than it looks on the map once you navigate connections, train times, etc. We highly recommend using Omio to search exact routes and dates, and keep in mind tickets will increase in price as you get closer. With kids, you’ll probably want to search by the fastest available routes.

London, Belgium, and Switzerland all jump out at me from your list–simple to access and incredible. The Jungfrau region in Switzerland is pure paradise, though a bit further away.

You may also want to look into Amsterdam, it’s only 3.5 hours from Paris by train.

With the right schedule, you can get as far as Venice in a day from Paris (we’ve done this), so Italy is an option for you as well, as is Germany.

Essentially, the more you stick to major cities, the easier it will be to navigate solely by train. Smaller towns and cities are often connected, but you’ll virtually always need to pass back through the main city of a region to make your way back to Paris.

You may want to take a look at this post as well, we talk a lot more about train travel here: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/travel-europe-by-train/

Hi Kate Love your blog, lots of useful information. My husband and I are planning a 10 day trip to Europe end of April to early May. At the moment we are looking at flying from the US RT to Paris. We’re thinking of possibly going to Amsterdam and Belgium as well. this will be our second trip to Paris. We are open to other suggestions. Do you have any other recommendations?

Happy to be able to help, Daisy!

Paris + Amsterdam + Belgium is an excellent itinerary and doable in 10 days. It’s actually a route we recommend ourselves. We have posts on all those places, but here are our suggestions on spending 3 days in Belgium to give you an idea of what you can cover in a short time frame: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/3-days-in-belgium-itinerary/

Paris is extremely well-connected by rail (you can be in Venice in 9 hours or Munich in under 6, for example), so as far as ideas for other destinations go, the sky is the limit!

If you choose to extend your original itinerary, a few additional places that you might consider along that route are Strasbourg/Alsace, Heidelberg, and Cologne.

Thank you for your blog.. We are travelling to Europe for 14 days the end of May. Flying Calgary to Dublin, doing a couple days at the Isle of Man races then hopefully, London, Paris, Rome. Your blog shares what to pack for clothing in Summer, Fall and Winter, what would you recommend for spring? We are trying to decide if we take the trains or flights from London, Paris and Rome. We aren’t planning any beach time. Also, what do you recommend for luggage? I’m leaning towards a rolly carryon but have every size hard shell case and multiple back country camping packs.

So happy you find it helpful!

Funny you mention spring packing ideas–I’m actually working on a post for that right now. It will hopefully be up next week. But off the top of my head, you’ll definitely want a travel umbrella and to pack in layers. The end of May is a beautiful time to be in much of Europe but the weather could be unpredictable–you may want sundresses on some days and light jackets on some evenings!

As far as luggage, either is completely fine. There are advantages to both backpacks and suitcases, but as long as you’re comfortable carrying your bag up and down staircases, carrying (or rolling) it down the street for 10+ minutes, and loading it into and out of trains and/or cars, you’re good.

As far as trains vs planes–London to Paris can definitely be a train, but do a time and cost-benefit analysis between that and a plane (depending on the dates, your travel style, etc, you may choose either). Paris to Rome is better done as a flight!

Thank you very much for sharing your wisdom. We are really excited.

Hi Kate, Thank you so very much. You have provided an AMAZING amount of helpful information. Can you pretty please help me with the best location to travel to 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th and the best way to get to the locations? (We will NOT be doing any driving).I’m a 55 years old woman. I live in USA. I’m planning the 1st International trip for me and my husband for either the 1st or 2nd week of September 2023. My biggest challenge is knowing where to start and end the trip, based on logistically traveling to the different destinations, as well as, the best way to get to each destination.Here are the the things I have planned. I know you mentioned you’ve never been to London but i’m hoping you can assist based on me providing the area I want to be in. *LONDON-7 NIGHTS I’m a theatre/adrenaline junkie person so Theatreland West End of London near (North of the River Thames. 3-Plays (evening events) 2-Hour Sherlock Holmes museum (near West End) 1-Hour Ghost Bus tour (nearest tube stations are Embankment and Charing Cross) 4-Hours-day walking tasting tour (near London Bridge Station) 1-day Harry Potter Studio Tour (Leavesden London) 2 -Nights Theme park “Alton Towers” located Alton, Staffordshire near Manchester and Birmingham. (stay onsite at the parks resort)*PARIS-3 NIGHTS Moulin Rouge (BD de Clichy area) L’ATELIER DES LUMINERES -DIGITAL ART MUSEUM I would like to visit just one of the haunted castles in Paris (depending on recommendation) Château de Puymartin Château de Brissac Château Lagorce Château de Chambord Château de Versailles* GERMANY 3 NIGHTS-Phantasialand Theme park (located Bruhl Germany) Stay onsite at the parks resortThank you for any advice or suggestions you can provide.

Hi Melvina,

I definitely can’t speak to getting around London in detail, though a combination of the tube and buses will likely be doable! You can add cabs as needed as well.

In Paris, the metro is so dense you should have no issue getting around. Assuming you are planning to do the usual Paris sights (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc), our Paris itinerary might be able to help you out (and has hotel recommendations): https://www.ourescapeclause.com/3-days-in-paris-itinerary/

For the chateaus, Versailles is by far the closest to Paris and you can get there by RER train. Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley is doable via an organized day trip like this: https://www.getyourguide.com/paris-l16/loire-valley-castles-wines-day-trip-from-paris-t70389/?partner_id=1OI4D21&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle

The others are way too far from Paris for day trips, so I’d focus on Versailles and/or Chambord this time.

Hope you have a wonderful time! 🙂

Thank you so very much.

Hi, thank you for this comprehensive post! We are planning a trip this summer and will be going to Paris, Rome, Florence and Amsterdam. My question is about changing money. We were in Iceland last year and used Apple Pay or credit card everywhere, never needed cash and didn’t get any. Is that possible in either France, Italy or Netherlands? Should I plan on getting cash for taxis, tips, etc?

Happy to help!

I’d definitely recommend having some cash with you as you travel, especially for small purchases like coffee, gelato, etc. Most hotels in Italy will require the city’s tourist tax in cash, too. Some taxis and tips will be best done in cash as well, and occasionally very small, offbeat tourist attractions.

While cash-only restaurants definitely aren’t the norm in any of those cities, they’re not unheard of, either.

Overall, I’d say you’re most likely to avoid cash entirely in Amsterdam and most likely to use some of it in Rome and Florence, but that’s not a hard and fast rule by any means (I used some cash on my trip to the Netherlands last spring, for example).

We find that the easiest way to get cash, by far, is to withdraw Euros from any bank’s ATM once you’re already in Europe (avoid Euronet–use an ATM branded by an actual bank). Luckily, since all the places you’re visiting use the Euro, you won’t need to worry about changing currency beyond that. 🙂

Hi Kate, thank you for this great, and helpful post! We’re are planning a trip to Europe for the first time in September for next year in 2024. My plan is to visit Spain, Italy and I’m still undecided on the third country to visit. What country would you suggest or advised that we can visit that has beautiful scenery, mountains, lakes, etc. We like the city, but we also want something where we can hike out in nature like Iceland maybe, Switzerland. Any tips on that? Also, is it cheaper to stay in hotels, Airbnb’s? Thank you!

Spain and Italy–two of our favorites! You guys are going to have a great time. 🙂

The hardest part about picking a third country with your criteria will be narrowing it down between many excellent choices–you really can’t go wrong.

Switzerland is absolutely spectacular, if the Alps are what you’re looking for, it’s iconic and hard to beat in every category except the price tag.

Germany and Austria also offer beautiful mountains and lakes and are a more budget-friendly than Switzerland.

The French Alps are also wonderful–towns like Chamonix and Annecy offer plenty of mountains, lakes, etc.

And, for a a wild card, you don’t necessarily need a third country at all: the Dolomites in Italy have everything you’re looking for.

Any of those that appeal to you and fit your budget will be a great addition to your trip. They’re well-connected to Italy and each other by train, the travel times aren’t too far, and they’re all phenomenal places to visit.

One small thing to keep in mind if you’re planning to travel by train a bunch is that Spain isn’t very well connected to the rest of the places you’re considering by rail–you may want to consider flying in and out of there.

Iceland is definitely far out of the way, but assuming you’re traveling to and from North America, look into the Icelandair stopover program if you want to add it on! I will say that while it does offer mountains, lakes, and beautiful scenery, it’s a very different vibe than Switzerland or any of the surrounding Alpine countries, so take a close look at the specific destinations and see if it’s what you’re looking for. It’s a stunning place, just very different than the others. Here’s one of our Iceland posts if you want to get a feel for it: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/10-day-iceland-ring-road-itinerary/

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Europe Travel Guide

The ultimate guide to the coolest things to do and see when traveling in europe – only from travels of adam.

Europe is one of the most dynamic and interesting places to visit in the world—from the picturesque villages of southern Spain to the arctic villages in Scandinavia. Europe’s charms lie not just in the big metropolis cities but also in the small-town villages, the nature trails, the ski resorts and the Mediterranean beaches. There’s truly something for every type of traveler and in every season, too. Whether it’s Europe’s best gay cities or travel tips for Europe’s secret hotspots, get the juiciest and coolest tips here. Start here with my basic travel tips, or jump down below to read the latest travel blogs from Europe.

Top Europe Travel Guides

Popular Europe Travel Blogs

• Europe’s Top 12 Most Gay-Friendly Cities
• How to Find the Coolest Things to Do in Europe
• Europe’s Coolest Small Cities
• 8 Best LGBT Events & Festivals in Europe
• 3 Money-Saving Tips for Backpacking around Europe
• Orientalism & Chinoiserie architecture around Europe

When to Visit

Basically: visit Europe anytime. There’s always going to be something great to see or do. And the museums (some of the best in the world) never close…

Two Weeks in Europe

• London – Paris – Brussels – Amsterdam – Berlin : Plan to stay longer in London, Paris and Berlin, with short stopovers for one or two days in Brussels and Amsterdam. But be careful in Berlin; you might never want to leave!
• Madrid – Barcelona – Nice – Florence – Rome : Spain is one of Europe’s best destinations for travelers (and one of the most gay-friendly, too!) so you might find it challenging to leave. Madrid and Barcelona are both world-class cities, but make your way from Spain to Italy and you won’t be disappointed. Just make sure to pack some sunscreen and schedule plenty of time to relax on the beaches!

LGBT – Gay Europe Guide

Europe as a whole is one of the most liberal and LGBT-friendly destinations. Each country has their own specific laws and societies, however, so it is important to know a little bit about local, country-specific safety before traveling in Europe.

Any Lonely Planet guidebook or other will include basic LGBT travel safety tips and recommendations for each destination, but if you’re looking for gay travel tips for each city or country, it can be more useful to check this website or other LGBT-specific travel resources. Make sure to check out my list of Europe’s Top 10 Most LGBT-Friendly Cities  for my favorite bars, clubs and queer events in Europe.

Hotel Deals

You can find all kinds of accommodation across Europe, from budget hostel rooms to luxurious hotels fit for a king! I’ve always found that using Booking.com, Agoda.com or Hotels Combined I get the best deals especially for last-minute trips.

Follow @ travelsofadam on Instagram for more Europe travel tips!

Europe Travel Blogs

Lgbtq+ friendly places to visit in london.

London is one of the greatest cities on the planet and has plenty of LGBTQ+-friendly places to visit. The city always has a welcoming atmosphere for LGBTQ+ travellers. Whether you are interested in nightlife or just checking out the city’s vibrant streets, London is a place you can never forget. London caters to everyone and …

The Ultimate Guide to Car Hire at Malaga Airport for the LGBTQ+ Traveler

Malaga is one of Spain’s best gay travel destinations and a fantastic place to start a road trip through Andalusia for LGBTQ travelers

15 Fun (and often Funny) German Words You Need To Know

15 German words worth knowing whether you live in Germany or you’re just visiting for a holiday – from funny words to useful ones!

Here’s Why Berlin is the Best City for Expats (Especially for Working Professionals)

Berlin is the absolute best city in the world for expats and working professionals because of great city infrastructure & a high quality of life

7 Essential Travel Tips for Germany

Use these 7 Germany travel tips to make your holiday infinitely easier. Germany is a great and beautiful country, but travel smart with these tips!

6 of the Best Cities for Hipsters in 2024 (Excluding Brooklyn & Portland)

After exploring vintage shops, bookstores, bars & cafés around the world, these are some of the world’s most hipster cities & neighborhoods

Go East! Guide to the 10 Things to do in East London

Ten reasons why East London (the “East End”) is so cool and why you need to visit on your next trip to London

10 Tourist Things To Do in Central London

Central London may be the City of London’s business centre, but it’s also where you can find many tourist attractions and unique things to do and see

Muggle Tours Review: The Search for Harry Potter in London

Obsessed with Harry Potter, I took a tour with MuggleTours to find Harry Potter film locations and learn new trivia from JK Rowling’s books & films

An Introduction to Dutch Design Week

One of Europe’s biggest design events, the Dutch Design Week showcases thousands of unique and innovative designs covering a number of different subjects—from fashion to sustainability, art to robotics. Explore some of the best designs in this beginner’s guide to the festival

Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

2 Weeks in Europe – The Perfect Europe Itinerary

Last updated: January 28, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 30 Comments

Are you visiting Europe and looking for the perfect itinerary? Well, you’re in the right place! We’ve travelled extensively in Europe, and based on our experiences, we’ve put together a detailed 2 week Europe itinerary to help you plan.

This Europe itinerary will take you to many of the highlights that we think first time visitors to Europe will want to see and explore for themselves. These include many of our favourite destinations that we’ve visited multiple times over.

This itinerary is aimed at those of you visiting Europe for the first time, or those of you looking for an easy itinerary to follow that covers some of the major highlights of Western Europe. It’s not overly rushed as we think you will get more from your experience if you focus on a few major locations rather than trying to see everything in one go.

The trip as outlined is for 14 days in Europe, but you could make it longer or shorter depending on how much time you have. For example, with 10 days in Europe, you could clip off a day or two in some of the cities, and maybe even skip one of the cities to make it a more comfortable experience.

As well as the itinerary, we’re also going to share everything you need to know to help you plan the perfect European trip. Tips about currency, what to pack, where to stay, how to get around and other considerations.

Hopefully this guide will give you everything you need to know to plan your own perfect European adventure, and of course, we’re always happy to answer your questions in the comments. Now, let’s get started!

2 Week Europe Itinerary

This two week itinerary has you visiting four European countries and five cities. We think these cover some of the top highlights of Europe.

The destinations on this itinerary are all cities, so this trip is aimed more towards those of you looking to explore the cities, which are all full of cultural highlights, fantastic restaurants, and plenty of photo-worthy sights!

But if have your eye more on smaller towns, secondary cities, and rural locations, this might not be the best itinerary for you.

If you’d prefer to focus on one country, take a look at our two week UK itinerary , and our 10 day Italy itinerary for some inspiration.

Days 1 – 3: London

We’re going to start your European adventure with 3 days in London . London makes a great starting point for your European itinerary. It has a number of international airports to choose from, so getting here is easy, and there are a wealth of sights and cultural attractions to immerse yourself in. I lived in London for a number of years, and it’s still one of my favourite cities in the world.

If this is your first overseas trip and you are coming from an English speaking country, London is a good place to ease yourself into the experience. You can acclimate yourself to the time difference and get used to travelling in a new country, without having a language barrier to work with as well.

We think 3 days is a good amount of time to spend basing yourself in London. We’d suggest spending at least two days exploring the capital, and perhaps one day trip outside of London. This might look as follows.

On your first day in London, we’d suggest seeing the major sights around Westminster. This includes the Houses of Parliament , Westminster Abbey , Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, the Churchill War Rooms , Buckingham Palace and the London Eye .

On your second day, which will be a full day, we’d suggest starting at the Tower of London . Get here when it opens to avoid the crowds if you can. Included on the London Pass , or y ou can buy a ticket online in advance here . Using our link saves you some money on the adult admission price for the Tower of London, meaning these discounted Tower of London tickets are some of the best value we’re aware of.

We also recommend checking prices via GetYourGuide here , and on the official website  here , as pricing can vary. You can also see opening times and other information for your visit on the official site.

Once you are done with the Tower of London, you can see more sites in the area like Tower Bridge , Borough Market (a London Harry Potter filming location ), St. Paul’s Cathedral , the Tate Modern , Shakespeare’s Globe and the Shard .

You certainly won’t run out of things to occupy your time! For some more inspiration, see our guides for 2 days in London and 3 days in London . We also recommend picking up a two day London Pass to save money on your sightseeing while in London. You can do that here .

On your third day in the UK, we recommend taking a day trip out of the city. This could be to somewhere like Windsor Castle or Hampton Court Palace , neither of which are too far.

If you really want to get out a bit further, we can recommend perhaps taking a trip to Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, Bath or Oxford. There are a variety of companies who offer easy day trips from London which include a number of these highlights like this or this , or you could do it yourself.

See our guide to taking a day trip to Stonehenge and a day trip to Oxford for some inspiration. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, then you may instead consider a trip out to the Harry Potter Studios where the films were made.

Of course, you will want to adjust this schedule depending on when you arrive and depart London. Our suggestion would be to take the day trip on your last day, overnight in London, and then take an early morning train to Paris.

Whilst you’re in London, we recommend getting around by public transport. It’s the most cost effective and also generally the most efficient way to get around. See our guide to public transport in London for some tips, as well as our overview of how to pay for public transport in London .

If you enjoy walking tours, there’s no shortage of options to choose from in the city. We love taking a walking tour when we first arrive in a new city – it can be a good way to get familiar with the city, plus you can ask your guide for local tips on places to eat and less well-known attractions.

If you do decide to take a walking tour, we suggest Take Walks for small group tour (tours range in length from a couple of hours to full day tours), and Context for private tours. We’d specifically recommend this full day walking tour with Take Walks as a possible option to consider.

You’ll most likely be arriving into London by plane, into one of London’s major international airports. London actually has six airports, but you’re most likely to land in either Gatwick or Heathrow. Whichever one you do land at, we have a guide to how to get from the airport to London .

Well, that’s your time in London covered. Now we’ll suggest a few places for you to stay, before giving you some tips on getting from Paris to London.

Where to stay in London

Some of our favourite hotels, from budget to luxury, in London are as follows:

• The Walrus Bar and Hostel  – A well reviewed centrally located hostel
• The Z hotel in Shoreditch – Excellent value in a popular part of London with great dining options
• Point A Hotel – We’ve stayed here; the rooms are tiny but clean and it’s a great budget option.
• Lime Tree Hotel – A well reviewed boutique hotel, around nine minutes walk from London Victoria
• The  Resident Victoria Hotel – A well reviewed and centrally located hotel offering excellent value for money. The room we stayed in was quite compact, but it had everything we needed
• The Savoy  – true luxury as close to the city centre as you can get!

If you prefer an apartment, then we recommend Plum Guide .

Plum Guide doesn’t have quite so many choices as some other UK based websites , but they carefully curate their listings so their options tend to be of a very high quality whilst still being available at a range of price points. We’ve used them on a number of trips and always had a great experience. See their listings for London here .

If you can’t find what you want on Plum Guide or you want some new options to try out, we wrote a whole post on the best alternatives to AirBnB which you should check out!

How to get to Paris from London

We’d recommend taking the Eurostar train service from London to Paris. This departs multiple times a day, and the journey takes 2 hours and 16 minutes.

This is a lot quicker than flying, especially once you consider you’ll have to get to and from the airport on either end. The Eurostar will take you directly to Gare Du Nord. Get your tickets for that journey in advance here .

We also have a guide to getting from London to Paris which lists all the options you have.

Days 4 – 6: Paris

Welcome to Paris – the city of lights and love! We’re going to suggest three full days exploring Paris, as the city has so much to offer.

After you’ve dropped your bags off at your hotel (or at a luggage storage location ), it’s time to start sightseeing. As with London, the plan is to see the major sights in the city.

We’re going to start off with the Eiffel Tower . This is without doubt Paris’s most famous landmark, and a must-visit when you come to Paris. You can either enjoy the views from below or head up inside the tower to one of the various stages.

If you do decide to go up the Eiffel Tower, we highly recommend you book your tickets in advance. The best place to do this is on the official website . There are often huge lines for tickets on site, and you don’t want to waste time unnecessarily. For a lot more tips for your visit, see our complete guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower .

From the Eiffel Tower, we suggest taking a cruise on the River Seine , which will let you see many of the highlights of the city from the river. You can book a discounted Seine River cruise which departs from near the Eiffel Tower with our link .

Alternatively, you might prefer to do an evening Seine River dinner cruise , in which case this will happen later.

After the cruise, you might consider a walking tour of Paris or a Hop on Hop off bus trip. Alternatively, consider visiting the Musee d’Orsay .

On your second day in Paris, we suggest you start bright and early with a visit to spectacular Sainte Chapelle , one of Paris’s prettiest churches. The stained-glass windows here have to be seen to be believed. Just be sure to turn up at or just before opening time, as the lines get very busy.

From here, you can pop across to Notre Dame if you want. Due to the fire in 2019 this is undergoing significant reconstruction work, so do keep that in mind. From Notre Dame, head across to the Louvre , one of the most famous art museums in the world.

There’s a huge amount to see here, including highlights such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. You could spend a whole day here, but you may want to limit yourself to 2 – 3 hours so you can see more of the city! Book your tickets online in advance here .

From the Louvre, if you have time, you might consider sneaking in a wine tasting session , or going for afternoon tea in Paris . From here, it’s time to head up the most famous shopping street in Paris, the Champs Elysees, where you’ll finish up at the Arc de Triomphe .

This massive archway stands in memory of those who died in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. The view from the top is one of our favourite views in Paris, so do head to the top if you have the time.

For your final day in Paris, our suggestion is that you head out to Versailles . This was the palace of French royalty, and is a stunning place to visit. You can book your tickets for Versailles in advance here .

Between exploring the palace and the extensive gardens, there is more than enough to do here to fill from half a day to a full day, which is why we suggest allocating most of the day to it. Then perhaps plan a nice dinner or show for your final evening.

We can recommend the evening show at the Moulin Rouge, and you can read about our experience at the Moulin Rouge here , and book tickets here .

And that’s all your sightseeing for your time in Paris on our European itinerary! For more detailed inspiration for your time in Paris, see our itinerary for 3 days in Paris and 2 days in Paris , which should give you lots more ideas.

For your visit in Paris, we recommend either the Paris Pass , or the Paris Museum Pass . The former includes a number of activities like the hop on hop off bus tour, guided Eiffel Tower climb, and Seine River cruise, as well as all the museums and sights included on the Paris Museum Pass. These both include most of the attractions we’ve listed, including Versailles.

You can buy the Paris Pass on the official site here , and the Paris Museum Pass here .

Again, for those of you who enjoy walking tours, we recommend Take Walks and Context . The former offer small group walking tours, whilst the latter primarily focus on private tours. We’ve taken tours with both companies in cities around the world and are always happy to recommend them.

As an example tour, check out this full day Paris tour , which includes a Skip the Line Louvre Tour, Eiffel Tower, Montmartre & Seine River Cruise.

As with London, the easiest way to get around Paris is to take public transport. Specifically, the Metro is likely going to be the fastest and most cost-effective way to get around.

We have a full guide to how to get around Paris , which should help you plan your transport in the city.

Now, we’re going to share some tips on where to stay in Paris, as well as how to get to the next city on your itinerary of Europe – Barcelona.

Where to stay in Paris

Our itinerary has you spending 2 nights in Paris, arriving by train on the morning of the first day, and departing either by plane on the evening of the third day. We suggest the following options for accommodation in Paris.

• 3 Ducks Hostel .  A well-rated boutique hostel just 2 minutes from the nearest metro and a 22 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower
• Hotel Dress Code & Spa , A highly reviewed centrally located 4 star hotel
• Hotel Ekta Champs Elysees – a well rated 3* hotel just off the Champs Elysees
• Hôtel Eiffel Turenne , A well rated 3* hotel within a ten minute walk of the Eiffel Tower
• Ateliers de Montmartre , An apartment in Montmartre with views of the Sacre Coeur
• Vintage Paris Gare du Nord by Hiphophostels , A hostel located just next to Paris Gare du Nord
• George V – A fabulous centrally located 5* hotel, an excellent luxury pick

We’ve also stayed in Paris with Plum Guide in a gorgeous apartment with Eiffel Tower views. See their listings for Paris here .

How to get from Paris to Barcelona

You have two main options for travelling from Paris to Barcelona, you can take the train, or you can fly.

There used to be a direct night train from Paris to Barcelona, but this was discontinued in 2013. So you can take a train in the daytime (around 6.5 hours journey time) or you can travel by a slower overnight train (around 13 hours).

We think flying is likely going to be the easiest option. There are a number of direct evening flights from Paris to Barcelona, taking just under two hours. Just try to book a flight from Paris Orly or Paris Charles de Gaulle. Many budget airlines operate from Paris Beauvais, which is quite a long way outside the city, and requires a lengthy coach journey.

Check flight times and prices online here . If you’d prefer to take the train, you can check train times and prices here .

Days 7- 9: Barcelona

It’s time for the third city on your European adventure – Barcelona! Barcelona is full of incredible sights, including architectural gems from Antoni Gaudi, a gothic city center, and even a beach!

Again, we think you’ll need 3 days to do justice to all the sights in Barcelona. We’re also going to suggest a day trip from the city to explore some of the surrounding highlights. Here’s how your three days in Barcelona might look.

We suggest starting your first day with a trip to the Sagrada Familia . This was master architect Antoni Gaudi’s final work, and whilst construction was started in 1882, he didn’t live to see it completed. It’s getting there now, but still has some way to go!

The Sagrada Familia is a very popular attraction and they operate a timed entry system. It’s vital that you reserve your timeslot in advance, as otherwise you will end up in a very long queue, and at busy times of year, tickets sell out far in advance. You can reserve your tickets online here .

We also have a detailed guide to visiting the Sagrada Familia which we recommend reading in advance of your visit.

After spending a couple of hours at the Sagrada Familia, we recommend heading across to the nearby Recinte Modernista Sant Pau , a beautiful Art Nouveau style hospital building which has UNESCO world heritage status.

After the Recinte Modernista Sant Pau, continue on to Park Güell . This is a large public park which was also designed by Anton Gaudi, and there’s a lot to see here. Again, this is a popular spot with timed entry, and we highly advise booking this online in advance here .

Near Park Güell is the Gaudi Experience , where you can learn a bit about the man behind some of the wonderful architecture you have been experiencing. You can get tickets for that here if you are interested.

From the Gaudi Experience, you have a few options depending on your interest. If you are using the hop on hop off bus to travel around Barcelona (included on the Go Barcelona Pass ), it continues from Park Guell on to a number of other attractions.

These include the hill top fairground Tibidabo , the stunning Monastery of Pedralbes , and Camp Nou , the home of Barcelona’s football club.

We’re sure one or more of those will be of interest!

For your second day in Barcelona, we suggest starting with a visit to some of Gaudi’s famous houses near the city centre – Casa Batlló , and Casa Milá . These are popular, so try to get here by opening time so as not to have to queue for too long.

Then, continue your day by exploring the oldest part of Barcelona – the Gothic Quarter. Here you can visit the incredible Barcelona Cathedral , the UNESCO world heritage listed Palau de la Musica Catalana , and the Picasso Museum .

For your third day, you could continue to explore Barcelona. You could visit the beach, Barcelona Zoo , the attractions on Montjuic Hill – the list goes on! See our 3 day Barcelona itinerary for more ideas.

However, we think you might enjoy heading out of the city on a day trip to explore a bit of Catalonia, the region which Barcelona is capital of.

A popular day trip from Barcelona is a visit to Girona and Figueres, two lovely towns which are rich in history. Girona is home to stunning medieval architecture, and Figueres is known as the birthplace of surrealist artist Salvador Dali .

You can see our guide to visiting Girona and Figueres in a day here . In terms of tours, we suggest this full day tour which includes Girona and the coast, or this full day tour which includes Girona and time to visit the Dali Museum in Figueres.

The other popular option is to visit the spectacular monastery and mountains of Montserrat, around an hour from Barcelona. You can see our guide to visiting Montserrat here for all the tips you need to do that.

Of course, there are lots of other tour options. You could go hot air ballooning , visit the Vall de Nuria , go skiing (if you visit in winter), go hiking in La Garrotxa , visit the Montserrat monastery – the list goes on!

That just about wraps up our suggestions for what to see and do with your three days in Barcelona.

To further help you with your planning for Barcelona, we have some guides we think you’ll find useful. See our itinerary for 3 days in Barcelona , our guide to Gaudi sites in Barcelona , and our favourite photography locations in Barcelona to get you started.

There are a few city passes for Barcelona, including the Barcelona City Pass , the  Barcelona Card , and the  Go Barcelona Pass . These work slightly differently, and so one or the other might be better for you. See our full break down and review of all the passes in our comparison of the Barcelona Discount Passes .

For most visitors we think the Go Barcelona Pass will offer the best value as it includes the main attractions like the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and hop on hop off bus tour. We also have a full review of the Go Barcelona Pass to help you decide if it’s going to save you some money.

Finally, it’s worth bearing in mind that Barcelona has a bit of a poor reputation when it comes to petty crime, specifically around pick pockets, and items like phones being swiped off cafe tables. We have not personally experienced this, but have heard firsthand accounts from readers and friends who have.

We have more on this in our section below with tips for safety when travelling in Europe, but just try to keep your valuables out of sight all the time, ideally in zipped and secured pockets.

Now, let’s look at some options for where to stay in Barcelona, before planning how to get to the next city in your Europe itinerary.

Where to Stay in Barcelona

Here are a few options for your stay in Barcelona across a variety of price points, including a number of hotels we’ve personally stayed in and can recommend.

• Hotel Barcelona Catedral – A 4* property in Barcelona in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. We’ve stayed here, and enjoyed the roof top pool and incredible central location.
• Hostel One Ramblas – A very well reviewed and very central hostel option
• The 8 Boutique B&B – A highly rated and well located bed and breakfast
• Duquesa de Cardona – A 4* property on the waterfront with a roof top bar
• Leonardo Hotel Barcelona Las Ramblas – Part of the good value Leonardo chain, this 3* property is a few moments from Las Ramblas. We enjoyed our stay here, and the breakfast in particular was excellent.
• Ohla Barcelona – A very central 5* property with a roof top pool and excellent reviews.

How to Get from Barcelona to Venice

From Barcelona, the next stop on the trip will be Venice, Italy. If you are travelling for less than two weeks, you might want to skip Venice, and head straight to the last city on this itinerary, but for two weeks in Europe, we think Venice is a great addition.

The main option you have for getting from Barcelona to Rome is to fly. Of course, you could take the train, but as the average journey is around 22 hours and requires a number of changes, we’d suggest a flight is going to make more sense.

A direct flight from Barcelona to Rome is just under 2 hours. You can either go on your evening of your final day in Barcelona or the morning of the following day, it’s up to you. We think travelling in the evening makes more sense so you don’t lose time sightseeing in the morning.

Check times and book your flights here .

Days 10 – 11: Venice

You’ve arrived in the fourth and final country of your 2-week European itinerary – Italy! Home to amazing gelato , delicious coffee , and oodles of history.

We’re going to visit two cities in Italy on your European itinerary, both of which are favourites with visitors to Italy – us included! Of course, it’s hard to pick a second city in Italy from all the amazing options, but we think Venice is a must. Naturally, this will be followed by Rome.

We’ve put Venice ahead of Rome for the simple reason that it’s relatively easy to fly to Venice from the rest of Europe, but a little bit harder to fly onwards from Venice to international destinations. Ending the itinerary in Rome should make it easier for you to travel onwards to international destinations.

Anyway, we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

The next city on your European adventure is the beautiful city of Venice. This car-free city is famous for being built across a number of islands, with waterways and boats replacing roads and cars.

Venice is definitely one of our favourite cities in Europe, and was where we had our wedding ceremony with friends and family. So it’s definitely a city that is close to our hearts.

We’re going to recommend you spend two days in Venice. Many people visit the city for a day, which is do-able of course, but to really get a feel for Venice, we think you’ll enjoy spending two days here.

Our recommendation for your two days in Venice is to spend the first day exploring the highlights of the city – places like St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace and the Rialto Bridge. Take a Gondola ride , listen to musicians playing in the cafes, and get lost down the countless winding alleyways.

For your second day, we recommend taking a boat out to one of the islands around Venice, like Murano or Burano. These are much quieter with a different vibe to Venice itself, and we think you’ll enjoy this as a way to finish off your grand European adventure.

For more inspiration on what to do in Venice, see our guide to spending a day in Venice . We also recommend reading our guide to visiting the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica .

Of course, if you would prefer to visit another city in Italy other than Venice, you could spend these two days in any number of destinations, including the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, Naples or Florence . You could even do a one day stopover in Florence on your way to Rome, rather than spending the two days in Venice. It’s entirely up to you, and depends on the flights you can find.

Where to Stay in Venice

Venice has a great many options for accommodation. Just be aware that many of the properties are old (as is much of the city!), and so elevators are not always standard. In addition, there are no vehicles allowed, so to get to your hotel from the train station you’ll need to take a ferry boat, water taxi, or walk.

• Casa Cosmo – a great value well rated budget option, five minutes walk from St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge. Rooms are air conditioned and are en-suite
• B&B Bloom Settimo Cielo – A highly rated and good value B&B breakfast, 10 minutes from St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge. Individually designed rooms have en-suite facilities, and there’s a rooftop terrace
• Leon Bianco on the Grand Canal – this historic property with Grand Canal views is where we stayed for our wedding ceremony in Venice. The views are fantastic, and it’s amazing value for the location
• Hotel Saturnia & International – a lovely 4* hotel just moments from Saint Mark’s Square, this turn of the century hotel offers en-suite rooms, a terrace with views, and an on-site restaurant.
• The Gritti Palace – a 5* luxury property right on St. Mark’s Square – this is the place you stay if you want to be in the middle of everything

How to Get from Venice to Rome

The best way to get from Venice to Rome is to take the train.

As always, you’ll get the best prices if you book your tickets in advance. You can check train times, prices, and book online here .

There are also flights, but by the time you have gotten to the airport, checked in, and then collected your baggage at the other end and gotten from Rome airport to the city center, you might as well have taken the train!

Days 12 – 14: Rome

Your next stop in Italy, and the last stop on your Europe itinerary, is the Italian capital of Rome. Founded almost 3,000 years ago, Rome is absolutely stuffed full of historical wonders and attractions.

We think that to do Rome justice, you should spend three days here. Here’s how those days might look.

Start your first day with a visit to the Colosseum . Built during the height of the Roman Empire, and nearly 2,000 years old, this is the largest amphitheatre in the world. It’s a must when in Rome.

Do be aware that like many of the other popular attractions in our itinerary, the Colosseum operates a timeslot system for entry, and you absolutely need to book in advance. See our complete guide to visiting the Colosseum for more on that.

After the Colosseum, we recommend visiting the Roman Forum, which is next to the Colosseum, and usually included on the Colosseum entry ticket. This was the heart of the Roman Empire, and is also a must when visiting Rome.

You’ll likely already be half way through your first day already. We suggest spending the rest of the day exploring the historic city center, with attractions like the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain.

For your second day in Rome, we recommend you head to the Vatican City. This is a city-state inside Rome itself, and is home to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican Museums are home to world renowned works of art as well as the Sistine Chapel – a masterpiece of Renaissance art.

Both these attractions are very popular, and you will want to plan in advance to ensure you don’t waste time standing in line if you are visiting at a busy time of year. You have a few options.

First, you can take a guided tour which includes the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica like this one .

This will give you loads of information about what you are seeing and ensure you don’t waste time standing in line.

Another option is to invest in a pass which includes skip the line entry or a tour of these attractions. We would suggest looking at the Rome Tourist Card which includes skip the line access to the Vatican, Colosseum, and St. Peter’s Basilica.

You can also consider the Omnia Vatican and Rome Card , although this doesn’t currently include skip the line access to St. Peter’s Bascilica.

Finally, you can book individual tickets here for the Vatican via their official website (or here on GetYourGuide , which is easier to use in our experience).

As of early 2023 St Peter’s Basilica doesn’t actually have an entry fee, but nor does it have skip the line tickets (skip the line tickets used to be an option and we hope they come back soon!). So the best option if you want to skip the line is to invest either in a tour or a pass which includes a tour like the Rome Tourist Card .

You can also book Vatican tickets here , using our link gives you 5% off their usual price for Vatican tickets. It’s a little more expensive than the official website but somewhat more user friendly in our experience.

We recommend allocating at least half a day to explore the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.

For lots more information on visiting the Vatican City and its attractions, see our complete guide to the Vatican , which has everything you need to know, including all the highlights, tips for visiting, how to buy tickets and lots more.

From here, head along to the Tiber River, and explore Castel Sant’Angelo (get tickets here ). Afterwards you can head back towards the city center, and visit locations like the Piazza Popolo.

If you have time and are interested you could also visit the Borghese Gallery. Note that this is also a timed entry system – see our guide to visiting the Borghese Gallery for more.

For your last day in Rome, we recommend spending some time exploring the Appian Way. This was one of the major routes in and out of the city, and is home to a number of ancient Roman ruins, as well as catacombs. A stop at the Baths of Caracalla on your way out of the city is also recommended.

Another option for your last day in Rome (or your first day, depending on how you decide to structure your itinerary) is to take a walking tour.

We’ve taken a number of walking tours in Rome with both Take Walks and Context , and enjoyed them all. As an example, see this introduction to Rome which includes gelato tasting!

For more inspiration for your visit to Rome, see our itineraries for 3 days in Rome , 2 days in Rome and a day in Rome .

In terms of saving money, there are a number of passes available for sight-seeing. For 3 days, our recommendation would be the Omnia Rome and Vatican Card. This includes public transport in Rome, a hop on hop off pass, and skip the line entry with timed reservations at the major attractions.

There are other passes as well, including the  Roma Pass , the  Rome Tourist Card and the  Best of Rome All Access pass . Which is best for you will depend on how many sites you are interested in visiting, and whether you plan on using the specific features they offer.

That pretty much finishes up the itinerary section of this post. We’ll share with you our tips for where to stay in Rome, before moving on to some practical information to help you plan this trip perfectly.

Where to Stay in Rome

We recommend the following hotels in Rome. The first three are near the main train station, which will make for an easier transfer when you arrive from Venice.

• Gioberti Art Hotel  – 50 yards from Termini Station, a well rated excellent value 4* hotel
• NH Collection Palazzo Cinquecento  – Awesome value 5* hotel just a few steps from the train station
• Hotel Valentino Palace  – a fantastic mid-range 3* property, just 150 yards from the train station
• The  Navona Theatre Hotel – a well reviewed and very centrally located 3* hotel
• The  Mimosa Pantheon Hotel – an excellent value budget hotel just around the corner from the Pantheon
• The  Hotel Navona – a well reviewed 3* hotel next to the Pantheon
• Di Rienzo Pantheon Palace – a centrally located well reviewed boutique hotel within walking distance of Rome’s highlights

2 Week Europe Itinerary Map

To help you visualise this itinerary, we’ve put together this overview map of the stops and route.

2 Week Europe Itinerary Summary:

• Day 1: London. Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Churchill War Rooms, Buckingham Palace and the  London Eye .
• Day 2: London. Tower of London , Tower Bridge, Borough Market, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Shard.
• Day 3: London. Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, Stonehenge
• Day 4: Paris. Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise, Musee d’Orsay, Walking tour
• Day 5: Paris. Saint Chapelle, Notre Dame, Louvre, Arc de Triomphe
• Day 6: Paris. Versaille, Moulin Rouge
• Day 7: Barcelona. Sagrada Familia, Recinte Modernista Sant Pau, Park Güell, Gaudi Experience, Camp Nou
• Day 8: Barcelona. Casa Batlló, Casa Milá, Barcelona Cathedral, Palau de la Musica Catalana, Picasso Museum
• Day 9: Barcelona. Girona & Figueres
• Day 10: Venice. St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, Gondola ride
• Day 11: Venice. Murano, Burano
• Day 12: Rome. Colosseum, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain.
• Day 13: Rome. Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica, Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza Popolo, Borghese Gallery
• Day 14: Rome. Appian Way, Baths of Caracalla

How to Get Around Europe

Europe has no shortage of transportation options to get you from place to place. For this itinerary, we would suggest you primarily use the train to get from city to city.

The high speed trains in Europe run frequently, are very comfortable, and are more environmentally friendly than short hop flights. If you book in advance they can also be cost effective. They also have the advantage that there are fewer baggage restrictions, and train stations tend to be in the city center – unlike airports.

Of course, not every segment of this trip would suit a train. For example, from Barcelona to Venice would take at least 24 hours by train. Also, Paris to Barcelona is a fairly lengthy journey. There is the option to take an overnight train, however it isn’t direct so it takes a while. It does save you the cost of a hotel night though.

For train travel across Europe, it’s important to book your tickets in advance as this will get you the best prices. We recommend thetrainline which supports booking tickets in all the countries visited on this itinerary.

For flights, we suggest you try Kiwi , which includes the major low cost airlines as well the more traditionally priced carriers.

When to Visit Europe

You can certainly visit Europe year-round, although visiting at different times of year will give you different experiences.

For the most part, summers in Europe are quite warm, with temperatures likely to be between 25C & 32C (77F – 90F) on average. Whilst the weather is going to be most reliable in the summer months of June through August, this is also going to be the busiest time of year to visit.

The cities in particular are very popular with visitors, and lines for attractions can be long at these times of year. We wouldn’t say you shouldn’t visit at this time of year, but you should definitely plan ahead and arrange all your entry tickets so as to make the most effective use of your time.

Our favourite time to travel in Europe is the shoulder months of April / May, and September / October. These months tend to offer a combination of reasonable weather and less busy attractions.

We’ve also travelled extensively throughout Europe in the cooler winter months, from November through to March. It never gets much below freezing during this time, so as long as you dress appropriately, we think you will have a great time.

See our guide to what to pack for London to give you some ideas of what you might want to bring along.

We don’t think there’s a bad time of year to travel in Europe. It’s just a question of planning and preparing properly in advance. It is also worth checking if there are any events happening in the city when you visit that might cause it to be busier.

For example, Venice has a major Carnival celebration near the start of the year, and the city is always busier at this time. Other cities also have events, and if you visit during them you will find accommodation prices will be higher, and the city will be busier.

Practical Advice for Travelling in Europe

Europe uses a 220-240V electrical system, so if you are travelling from the USA, Canada, or any other country that uses a 110V system, you will need to check that your electrical items are compatible.

In our experience, lower power items like laptops and smartphone charges are compatible from 110V – 240V, but higher power items like hair dryers and hair straighteners are usually not. The power rating and acceptable voltage should be marked on the device somewhere.

It’s really important you don’t plug a device into a voltage it doesn’t support, as it will damage it. Its best to leave non-compatible items at home and purchase a dual voltage appliance if you need it during your trip, such as a dual voltage hair straightener .

In addition, the UK and continental Europe have two different plug types. Mainland Europe generally uses a two pin system with round holes, whilst the UK has a three pin system with rectangular holes.

For travel, therefore, you will need a travel adaptor like this which will let you plug your devices in. Note that most travel adaptors are not voltage convertors. You would need something like this to convert the voltage.

Internet in the form of free WiFi access is fairly easy to get access too across all the cities mentioned in our article. In addition, since the EU has abolished roaming charges, if you buy a SIM card in one EU country, you should be able to continue to use it in other countries without any additional charges.

Depending on the device you are travelling with, you will have a number of options for accessing the internet when you travel, from picking up a local SIM, to renting a WiFi hotspot, to just using WiFi as you go.

We have a detailed guide to getting online when you travel to help you figure out which is best for you.

The two currencies that you’ll need for this trip are the pound sterling (GBP) and the euro (EUR). The UK (London in the case of our itinerary) uses the pound sterling and the rest of the European destinations on our itinerary use the Euro. Euros from one country can be used in any of the other countries.

In our experience, you should be able to pay for the majority of your travel spending using a credit or debit card. We’d advise getting one of these that doesn’t impose foreign transaction fees if that is an option. Ideally it will also support contactless technology, which will make using it for smaller payments easier.

We would also suggest you always have some cash in the local currency on you for small purchases, tips, and places that don’t accept credit cards (or if there is any issues with your credit card).

There are cash machines available in all the major cities on this itinerary where you will be able to use your bank card to withdraw a local currency. Depending on the policy of your bank at home, you might be able to withdraw cash from these without a fee, but do check in advance of your travel so you don’t pay fees unexpectedly. Some ATM’s also charge a fee.

If there is a fee from your bank for withdrawing cash, you might find it is more cost effective to order some money at home before you leave – or to find a bank account that lets you withdraw cash fee free.

All the cities that we have listed are relatively safe, but of course you should take the same safety precautions when travelling that you would at home. Avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas and don’t leave valuables lying around where they could be easily snatched.

It’s also a good idea to read up on some of the common scams that you might encounter in each city – for example, we wrote a guide to common scams in Paris to give you an idea of what to look out for.

We’d also suggest keeping your valuables locked in your hotel safe when possible, and to avoid carrying large amounts of money on you. We’d also suggest having a good travel insurance policy. Basically, just apply the same safety principles that you would at home to your personal belongings and safety, and you should have a safe trip!

Drinking Water

Unless otherwise indicated with a sign, the water in the taps in all of the cities on our list is safe to drink. In some cities, you’ll also found water fountains where you can refill your water bottle.

The water in Barcelona does have a slightly strange taste due to the high mineral content, and many local people prefer to drink bottled water. However, the tap water is safe to drink unless otherwise noted.

We very much recommend that you travel with a high quality reusable water bottle like this and fill it up as you go. This will be friendlier to the environment, and save you having to spend money on a resource that is available for free.

Walking Tours in Europe

One of our favourite ways to explore a new city is to take a walking tour. It’s a great way to get oriented, learn about the city, its sights and its culture, plus get local tips on places to eat, drink and see from the guide.

We’ve taken walking tours in cities around the world, and we nearly always use one of two companies – Take Walks , and Context . Both of these companies offer small group walking tours in all the cities we’ve covered.

Take Walks offers tours with groups of up to around 14, whilst Context offers more private and semi-private tours. Here are some example tours to consider for the various cities in this itinerary.

• This London In a Day tour visit the highlights of London in one day, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey & Changing of the Guard.
• This introduction to London Tour which includes many of the highlights of the city
• This tour of the Chruchill War Rooms in London
• This full day tour of Paris which includes a Skip the Line Louvre Tour, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre & a Seine River Cruise
• An introduction to Paris Tour , which includes the Louvre, Opera Garnier and the Champs-Elysees
• A full day tour of Barcelona which includes a visit to La Sagrada Família, Casa Milà & the Gothic Quarter
• This Rome In A Day Tour which includes a guided visit and skip the line entry to the Vatican, the Colosseum & a tour of the Historic Center of the city
• A full day tour of Venice which includes St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, & a Gondola Ride

Of course, this is just a sample of some of the many tours available, which vary in length from a couple of hours to a full day. We suggest taking a look at all the walks on Take Walks here and Context here . Note that all bookings through our Context links save you 10% on the tour price automatically.

Finally, there are of course a multitude of other options for walking tours. If you would like more options, we suggest looking at the listings on either GetYourGuide or Viator. These two sites have tour options from a wide range of companies, and you can read reviews from other travellers prior to booking to decide if it’s a good option for you.

Saving Money in Europe

Europe, and western Europe in particular, is not exactly known for being a budget destination. The cities in particular are fairly expensive. Your main costs on this trip are likely to be the flights (biggest cost for most), accommodation, attraction entry, transport between the cities, and eating out.

To help you control these costs, we wanted to share some of our tips from years of experience travelling in European cities, so you don’t spend money unnecessarily. Even if you’re not on a tight budget, there’s no need to waste money when you don’t have to!

Use City Passes

All the cities in our itinerary have one or more city passes to choose from. City passes generally include either free or discounted admission to the major attractions in the city, and may also include other benefits.

These other benefits will vary, but will generally include things like fast track entry to some attractions, inclusive public transport, hop on hop off bus tickets, and discounts on meals and other activities like walking tours, wine tastings, and so on.

We have used a number of city passes during our travels in the cities in this itinerary, and our recommended passes for you to consider are as follows:

• For London: The London Pass. Available in durations from one to ten days, covers all the major attractions in London. See our full review of the London Pass here , and buy yours here .
• For Paris: The Paris Pass or the Paris Museum Pass. The Paris Pass includes entry to most of Paris’s major museums, plus includes attractions like a HOHO bus and Seine River Cruise. The Paris Museum Pass just covers attraction entry fees. See our full review of the Paris Pass here , and buy your Paris Pass here . We also have a full review of the Paris Museum Pass here, and you can buy it here .
• For Barcelona: The Go Barcelona Pass , Barcelona City Pass and Barcelona Card . These vary in what they cover, and whilst we suggest you pick up at least one of them, the best one for you will depend on your interests. See our full comparison of the Barcelona City Passes for more information.
• For Rome: The Omnia Rome and Vatican Card or the Roma Pass . Both these passes include free public transport in Rome, as well as free and discounted admission to attractions across the city. The Omnia Rome and Vatican Card also includes skip the line access to the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as other Vatican attractions. It also has a hop on hop off bus.
• For Venice : We have never used a discount card in Venice. However, there is a Venice Pass which includes many of the museums and churches that is well worth checking out.

If you are planning on seeing a number of sights in each city you visit, a city pass can definitely save you money. Some of them will also save you time, as they offer skip the line benefits. However, we do recommend doing a little bit of reading on each pass to make sure it makes sense for your specific trip.

Note that city passes are often not as good of a value for children (especially young children) and those who are eligible for discounts at many attractions (seniors, disabled, EU university students), so do check if you qualify for any discounts before buying a pass.

Book accommodation and transportation in advance

The two major costs on your trip are likely to be accommodation and transportation. Our major tip for both of these is to book them in advance.

For transport in Europe, the best deals are nearly always to be had if you book as far in advance as possible. The cheapest tickets on flights and trains always sell out first, and then the prices will increase.

We recommend you check your flights and book in advance here , and your trains here .

Accommodation is not quite so straight forward, as prices can dip and rise depending on demand. However, in our personal experience, prices tend to be lower if we book further in advance. Plus, you can often take advantage of free cancellation policies, and re-book if the prices drop.

Also, don’t forget to look at accommodation options beyond hotels. Short term apartment rentals can be very cost effective, plus they will allow you to prepare some of your own meals if you want, which will also save you money.

We generally use booking.com for booking our hotels, and they also include apartments. We also use Plum Guide regularly. There are plenty more options though – see our guide to some AirBnB alternatives to give you some ideas.

Invest in a Guidebook

We recommend investing in a guidebook, especially if this is your first trip to western Europe.

Investing $15 to $25 in a guidebook can save you much more in time and money. A guidebook can cover much more in-depth information than we can in this blog post, and means you’ll have all the information you need at your fingertips.

For this trip, we recommend the Rick Steves Best of Europe guide . If you had to pick one guide book, that would be our favourite – it covers all the destinations in this itinerary (plus many more!) and has lots of practical information, tips and advice to help you plan. We use and love it.

If you have room in your bag, we can also recommend the Europe through the Back Door book , which has a lot of general travel advice for Europe.

Other options to consider include Lonely Planet’s Western Europe guidebook and/or the Insight Guide to Western Europe .

Be sure to purchase a recently edited/updated version of the guidebook. So make sure it was updated in the last year or so. Most guidebooks are updated every year or two to make sure the information is as up to date as possible.

If you are not sure which guidebook may be best for you, you might want to browse in your local bookshop or library before picking one.

Use Public Transport Effectively

The cheapest and most effective way to get around the cities listed in this post is to take public transport (well, after walking of course!).

Each city has its own public transport network, with various fares and ticket options. Learning how to use these properly will save you money.

For example, in London, it’s possible to buy individual tickets using cash. However, this can be twice as expensive as using an Oyster Card or Contactless bank card for your travel. In Paris, you can buy tickets individually, or you can save money by buying booklets of ten tickets.

In addition, many of the city passes we recommend come with some sort of travel card, which can also save you money.

Basically, each transport system has its own quirks, and having a handle on these will likely save you money. We also recommend always checking to see how far your destination is on foot before taking public transport.

The public transit maps are unlikely to match up to the reality of geography, and you might find it will take the same amount of time to walk somewhere as it would have to take a bus or metro, plus walking is free!

Find restaurant deals

Our final tip covers the last major expense, which will be eating out. Of course, eating out is a major part of travelling, but the costs can quickly add up.

The good news is that you can also save money on eating out. The secret is to figure out when the restaurant deals are likely to be happening.

For example, in France and Spain, it’s very common for lunch time menus to be offered. These are usually two or three course meals, which sometimes include wine, bread and coffee, and which are usually priced under €20 per person.

For Paris, see our guide to some of the best Michelin starred restaurants for lunch deals .

In London, these aren’t as common, however, many restaurants offer theater deals. These are special priced menus offered either late in the afternoon (5pm – 7pm generally) or late in the evening (10pm and onwards), designed for theatre goers who want to get a meal before or after the show.

Of course, you don’t have to be going to the theatre to take advantage of these deals!

Other options for saving money on dining out include taking advantage of street food, picking up “meal deals” at supermarkets like M&S in London, putting together picnics from markets in Paris – the list goes on. It is certainly possible to eat on the cheap quite easily if you make a little bit of effort to do so.

Further Reading for your Trip to Europe

Well, that’s pretty much the end of this post to help you plan your own perfect Europe itinerary and trip.

As you can see from the links shared throughout the post, we have a lot of content to help you plan your own trip to Europe. To make it easier for you, I wanted to put some of the most useful content here, for easy reference. I’ve also included some third party resources you might find useful in planning.

• For London , we have a guide for a day in London , 2 days in London , 3 days in London and 6 days in London
• We have a guide to the London Eye , Tower of London , Harry Potter filming locations in London , Winston Churchill locations in London , London’s War Museums , London’s UNESCO sites and tips on taking a walking tour in London
• We also have a guide to public transport in London , a guide to getting from the airport to London , a guide to what to pack for London , a guide to the cost of travel in the UK and a review of the London Pass
• For Paris , we have a guide to a day in Paris , 2 days in Paris and 3 days in Paris
• We have a guide to the best photography locations in Paris , afternoon tea in Paris , thoughts on the best Seine River cruises , a guide to making perfume in Paris , and advice for visiting the Moulin Rouge
• We also have a review of the Paris Pass , a review of the Paris Museum Pass , a guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower
• For Barcelona , we have a guide for 1 day in Barcelona , 2 days in Barcelona and 3 days in Barcelona .
• We have a guide to the best photography locations in Barcelona , the Anton Gaudi sites in Barcelona , and the Sagrada Familia
• We have a review of the Go Barcelona Pass and a comparison of the major Barcelona city passes
• For Rome, we have a guide to things to do in Rome , a day in Rome , 2 days in Rome and 3 days in Rome
• We also have a guide to the best gelato in Rome , the best cafes in Rome , visiting the Borghese Gallery in Rome, visiting the Colosseum in Rome and our thoughts on taking a walking tour in Rome
• For Venice , we have a guide to spending a day in Venice
• We also have a guide to visiting the Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica , as well as our thoughts on a tour of Casanova’s Venice
• Investing in a guidebook can help save you time and money on your trip and help you be prepared. For this trip, we recommend the Rick Steves Best of Europe guide , Lonely Planet’s Western Europe guidebook and/or the Insight Guide to Western Europe

And that’s it for our guide to spending 2 weeks in Europe! As always, we’re open to questions, comments and feedback – just pop them in the comments section below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

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Kirsten says

1st April 2023 at 1:43 am

We just came back from this exact trip on 3/26/23. We followed your itinerary and most of your suggestions on what to do in each city. Thank you so much for putting this together. My husband and I aren’t the best planners and this step by step guide was so helpful and perfect for us! We really couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you!

Laurence Norah says

2nd April 2023 at 10:33 pm

Hi Kirsten!

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and share your experience! I’m delighted to hear you guys had a great time in Europe and that we were able to help with your trip planning, it really means a lot to know that our content is helpful 🙂

Safe travels!

Laurence & Jessica

12th February 2023 at 3:08 pm

This is an awesome itinerary. Thank you so much for sharing! We hope to make our first trip to Europe in the future.

12th February 2023 at 4:18 pm

My pleasure Sara, I hope you get to visit Europe soon and do let me know if you have any questions when you start to plan your trip!

6th February 2023 at 12:20 am

Hello, Thank you for great posts on Europe trip. Really help a lot when I’m trying to plan for mine. Do you mind sharing apartment name you stayed in Paris, the one with Eiffel tower view? Im looking for nice apartment to stay with Eiffel tower view for my honeymoon this year. Really appreciate it if you could share. Thank you 🙂

9th February 2023 at 8:15 am

Thanks very much. So the apartment was this one which we booked via Plum Guide. I’m not sure it’s still bookable, although there is an option to message the host. I’d also recommend the Eiffel Tower guide we have here , as that as a selection of accommodation options with good views. We’ve also stayed at the Pullman Paris hotel which has excellent Eiffel Tower views for example.

Have a great trip to Europe!

19th January 2023 at 4:05 pm

I’ve subscribed, but still cannot gain printing access…please help – thank you!

23rd January 2023 at 2:17 pm

Sorry for the slow response, we’re travelling in Uganda and Internet access has been sporadic! I can see you are an active subscriber, does it still not work when you put your email address in on the print page? If not, if you could let me know what device and browser you are using and I’ll see if I can figure out what is going on!

2nd July 2022 at 3:39 am

This was a great blog. I am trying to put together a surprise trip for my wife’s 40th next year. I am gonna try to do it myself based off all the deals y’all have given. Bless

2nd July 2022 at 10:58 am

My pleasure Wayne, have a great trip and do let me know if you have any questions 🙂

alex47_in_downtown says

8th February 2022 at 2:16 pm

This was the most detailed, informative & hence the most helpful travel blogpost I’ve ever read… 🙂 Perfect itinerary for first-timers (like me)…! Lots of love from India <3

10th February 2022 at 12:11 pm

Thanks very much Alex, I was delighted to be of help! I hope you have a great time in Europe, and do let me know if you have any questions!

Ashley Salgado says

8th October 2022 at 7:19 pm

Why not have a pdf versión to be able to print. Tried to print this but it’s a whopping 100 pages with all the ads and comments. Great info I’d love to print and read with time not on a screen.

8th October 2022 at 11:23 pm

Thanks for your message! Every post is available in printable format, if you look at the bottom of the post on mobile, or the side on desktop, there is a little print icon. If you press that you can go through the steps to access a printable version without ads, comments or images. You can then print it to PDF, most devices these days let you save a webpage as a PDF from the print option.

Have a great time in Europe!

Michelle says

2nd November 2021 at 1:49 am

I’m so glad I found this blog. This is so helpful and fantastic. It really gives us a clearer picture on how to plan our first trip to Europe (16 days) and it hits the cities we want to start off with and we plan on doing. Thank you!!!

2nd November 2021 at 11:06 am

My pleasure Michelle! Have a wonderful trip across Europe, and do let me know if you have any questions!

Penny Hampton says

2nd January 2021 at 2:42 pm

Loved your blog on traveling to Europe. We have never been to Europe so this would be our first time. What you write is exactly what we are looking for. Great advise on everything from where to go-where to stay and where to visit. If Covid ever dies down, we will try to make the trip.

2nd January 2021 at 2:46 pm

Thank you so much Penny! I certainly hope you get to take a trip sooner rather than later 🙂 If you have any questions when it comes to the planning, just let me know. Happy 2021!

20th February 2020 at 4:03 am

Hi Lawrence and Jessica,

Thank you so much for this article, it has been very helpful as I try and plan out our first trip to Europe. I will be taking my sons ages 24 and 18 this summer and are hoping to say about 18 days. We are planning to go to every location except Barcelona, and would like to add a city in either the Netherlands, Belgium or Switzerland. Which would you recommend? Also we are planning to travel at the end of July/early August, so I’m sure our costs will be quite high. Any thoughts on how much I should expect a 2 week trip to cost? I know that may be a difficult question to answer, but even if it’s a broad ballpark it would be very helpful.

20th February 2020 at 12:43 pm

Our pleasure, sounds like you have a great trip coming up! So yes, this is a really hard question to answer 😉 I would suggest taking a look at our suggested costs for a UK trip here , which should help with your planning. Prices in continental Europe are fairly comparable to the UK. Everyone has a different travel style and budget, and idea of what is expensive or acceptable, so it’s hard to know. There would be a huge difference depending on if it was hostel accommodation of 5* 😉 Just be aware that capital cities tend to be more expensive as a general rule of thumb.

In terms of saving, definitely check out apartment rentals which might work out cheaper as you are in a group. Also, booking transport well in advance (planes and trains) will make a huge difference to the cost. Flexibility in timing is also useful.

In terms of adding another city, Amsterdam is obviously nice but busy. Ghent and Bruges are lovely in Belgium. We’ve actually just come back from Switzerland. There’s a lot to choose from and a great transport network, but Geneva is a good starting point.

Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to try and help!

12th February 2020 at 4:36 pm

I’ve sent this to my wife, this looks amazing! I think ill try to see if we can get an overnight Rail between the far trips however, this looks fantastic! and Exciting!

It will be our 1st trip to the EU, so hitting up all these locations at once will give us a great taste of so many locations!

12th February 2020 at 5:38 pm

Thanks Ryan! I hope you guys have a great trip, and do let me know if you have any questions!

10th December 2019 at 4:46 pm

Amazing article! You have inspired me to explore Europe soon! Thanks!

10th December 2019 at 4:58 pm

Thanks very much – I hope you get to visit soon and have a great trip when you do!

19th November 2019 at 4:03 pm

Loved this article and found it very useful. I’m in the process of trying to plan a trip for next year with my 18 and 19 year olds. I can’t quite committ to exactly where I want to take them. This will be our first trip overseas and I’ve been driving myself crazy googling different locations and ideas. This article has been one of the best as I feel like I really need a step by step guide to create and book whatever vacation I decide to go with. Any tips on what you think would be a great trip for that age bracket would be very appreciated.

20th November 2019 at 3:06 pm

Awesome, delighted to have been able to help. So I think this itinerary will work for your family, the only thing might be to tweak the attractions you visit based on your interests and the interests of your family. So if they aren’t into lots of museums, or art, then maybe cut those back a bit. Perhaps they’d be more interested in food tours or more interactive things like that. The best option would definitely be to just have a chat with them and find out what they might like to do, and then you can try to make everyone happy 😉 Communication is definitely key, and if they feel they have input and control then I think everyone will have a better time.

I hope this helps a bit!

Have an amazing trip and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions!

Natasha says

4th October 2019 at 1:19 pm

I might suggest taking skipping at least Barcelona. It’s not that it’s not beautiful, it definetly is. The city can’t handle all the tourist coming its way…Please do some research beforehand. I might opt for a longer stay in one city than trying to do too much. Or focus on one region. You probably wouldn’t do New York, California, Chicago and Grand Canyon in 2 weeks… It may not look like it on the map, but these aren’t such small distances.

4th October 2019 at 7:40 pm

Hi Natasha,

Thanks for your feedback. I’d disagree about Barcelona as I think it’s a beautiful city (we have visited many times – this article is based on our experiences not research). We would agree that folks should try and spend longer in each place rather than moving too fast for sure, and slower travel is something we prefer ourselves. That said, not everyone has the luxury of longer vacations, and wants to see quite a few places, hence we’ve put this itinerary together. Compared to some itineraries, we think it’s actually pretty relaxed and achievable 🙂

Thanks again for taking the time to comment!

14th September 2019 at 4:57 pm

Thanks for this detailed itinerary and plans. I really liked reading this. We are planning for a Europe trip on coming December. Do you think the itinerary you mentioned can be a difficult one to choose because of weather in December?

14th September 2019 at 5:47 pm

I think the itinerary is do-able at any time of year. December is a good month for visiting Europe as you have the pretty Christmas lights and Christmas markets. Obviously it will be colder and there’s more chance of rain, but appropriate clothing will solve that issue!

Have a great trip and let me know if I can be of any more help 🙂

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23 Best hidden gems in Europe: off the beaten path places for 2023

Home » Destinations » Europe » 23 Best hidden gems in Europe: off the beaten path places for 2023

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Updated: 12th January 2023

Exploring the best hidden gems in Europe often means slow-rumbling scenic bus journeys through less-traversed valleys, epic hikes to almost-forgotten hamlets, or heart-thumping sailings to windswept isolated isles.

Some may call that inconvenient. I call it winning.

If you’re happiest pointing to a random place on a map called Počitelj – as I am often inclined – and dutifully heading there on a whim, then this list, my friends, is for you.

Of course, going off the beaten path in Europe will mean something different for everyone. Thus, I’ve aimed to include a decent balance between remote isles , secluded villages, under-the-radar sustainable city breaks , and lesser-visited lofty peaks.

Whether you’re looking for unique places to visit in Europe or just a city break that isn’t one of the usual suspects, I hope you’ll find a favourite amongst my picks of the best places to visit in Europe this year.

In no particular order, enjoy my 23 best Europe hidden gems for 2023 – let the new year of adventures commence!

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In this article...

1. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Remotest Corners

One of the best hidden gems in Europe for adventure activities, Ottoman architecture and remote communities

Can I get away with calling a whole county a hidden gem? Maybe not. Yet, for the most part, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a relatively off-the-beaten-path – and affordable – destination in Europe.

After two deep dive visits, I’m convinced the country’s greatest asset is the mesmerising near-photoshopped lakes, the lush countryside, and the lofty hiking trails.

While Mostar is rightly famed for its Ottoman architecture and history-defining bridge, ‘doing’ B&H as a day trip from Dubrovnik will never give the nation the justice it deserves.

Some of my favourite lesser-visited spots ripe for adventure activities include the Neretva River and Zavala. Konjic is the place to go for relaxing river rafting – the water is so clear it might as well be Evian. Kravica Waterfall is another epic water-heavy spot, and the cascades are beyond photogenic.

In Zavala – population two – you can spend the night sleeping in a converted railway station. The abandoned tracks have now been reimagined as an epic cycling adventure. Heaven-reaching Bjelašnica mountain is also rich in trails, leading you to Lukomir , the most isolated hamlet in the country. Here, 1,495 meters above sea level, a community of shepherds, ancient tombstones, and timelessness await.

But the real magic for me in Bosnia and Herzegovina is those little moments. Whether it’s being serenaded by guitar as a chatty host pours homemade wine in Zavala, or sipping a sand-boiled Bosnian coffee overlooking the minarets of Ottoman Počitelj, it’s those journey-defining memories that capture the essence of ‘hidden Europe’ at its best.

Read more: Reasons to visit B&H

Plan your trip: Don’t rush; 7-14 days allows for a deeper dive into these unique places. Late spring through autumn is most suited for outdoor adventures, while winter brings snow and skiing to the peaks. Off-road jeep tours to the mountains can be good for reaching the remote villages, and Highlander Adventures offer a 5-day hiking tour on the Via Dinarica.

Top tip: If you’re struggling to find Sarajevo flights , check Tuzla or Dubrovnik as an alternative.

2. Graz, Austria

One of the most underrated European cities for a sustainable city break, served with a first-class culinary scene and architectural treasures

Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, is still something of a hidden gem on Europe’s city-break scene. Partly due to the lack of direct flight connections, but also because it doesn’t have the legendary status that Salzburg, Vienna or even the Austrian Alps commandeer. Don’t let that deter you; it’s very much the green city’s appeal.

Not only is Graz an extremely sustainable city break (especially if you arrive flight-free), but its setting, surrounded by the Styrian countryside, promises plenty of farm-to-fork dining. Prepare to reconsider all your ideas about Austrian cuisine, as this city takes fresh produce, creative recipes, and vegetarian plates to another level.

Unsurprisingly for a city which has earned two UNESCO designations, there are plenty of things to do in Graz .

On the one hand, Graz’s historic World Heritage-listed core delivers everything you’d expect from a grand European city. There are Italian-esque courtyards aplenty, medieval cobbled streets, the remains of a hilltop fortress, frescoed facades, grand avenues, and church spires climbing to the heavens.

Then you have the other side, where Graz’s status as a ‘City of Design’ shines through. A floating artificial island doubles as a small gallery, a somewhat out-of-place modern art museum presents like a tentacled alien, and up-and-coming neighbourhoods capture the best of off the beaten path Europe.

Graz is a city best savoured slowly; indeed one of my favourite unusual European destinations for a city-cum-countryside getaway.

Read more: Graz travel guide

Plan your trip: Stay at least two nights to soak up the city’s atmosphere; Graz is one of those places where it is just a pleasure to be and explore slowly. Summer and autumn are my suggestions.

Top tip: Trains are the best way to arrive to this Europe hidden gem, either from Vienna (2:30 hours) or Salzburg (4 hours). FlixBus also has long-distance connections.

3. Pico Island, The Azores, Portugal 

One of the best places to visit in Europe for lofty hikes, lava tunnel exploration, Atlantic swell and inspiring wines

With a flurry of new flight routes launching in 2023 – from as far afield as Boston and NYC – the Azores are enjoying a moment in the spotlight. While most attention is focused on São Miguel, the largest isle of the nine-strong archipelago, for a more off-the-beaten-path experience venture to Pico.

Literally called ‘peak’, it should be no surprise Portugal’s highest mountain crowns this verdant-cerulean speck in the Atlantic Ocean.

Towering up to the heavens – and often piercing the clouds – Mount Pico’s summit rewards with far-reaching vistas from 2,351 metres. New restrictions have come into force in 2023 to protect the fragile landscape, and a guide is highly recommended, especially on a night hike .

Adventures also continue far below the surface at Gruta das Torres. Here, you can venture inside the dark depths of the largest lava tube in Portugal and explore more of this unique island .

Back at ground zero, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pico’s vineyards provides a delicious curiosity. Weathered vines rise from the black volcanic rock, telling the back-breaking story of creating viniculture in such an adverse setting.

Then, out in the deep blue, marine-biologist-led boat tours will help you spot dolphins and whales in the wild. This hidden gem of Europe isn’t so easy to visit, but it certainly delivers the goods. 

Read more: Things to do in the Azores

Plan your trip: If you don’t want to DIY-it, Intrepid Travel offers this fast-paced 7-day tour of the Azores , including Pico. Sao Miguel is the primary international airport of the archipelago. Allow at least a week to hop the central three island group of Pico, Faial and São Jorge. Winter can be windy and wet – you’re isolated in the middle of the Atlantic.

Top tip: If you want to travel across the majority of the archipelago by ferry, the long-distance route only runs in summer.

4. Villa Romana del Casale, Italy 

One of the the best hidden gems in Europe for Roman mosaics on the grandest scale

At Villa Romana del Casale, you’ll find what UNESCO call “the finest mosaics in situ anywhere in the Roman world”.

While it might seem that such treasures should be in and around Rome , this well-preserved example is actually in the sun-kissed southern island of Sicily.

As you slowly stroll through the vast villa – constructed in the 4th century AD – you’ll have a constant stream of story-depicting tiles to admire which decorate every inch of floor below the raised walkways. It’s an absolutely mind-blowing site, deserving of its UNESCO recognition, and delivers a cultural side to everything else that Sicily , one of the best islands to visit , offers.

If you aren’t that far south but still want mosaic marvels, head to Palestrina, a 70-minute bus ride from Rome. Here, inside the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Palestrina , you can see the Hellenistic Nile Mosaic, which pre-dates christ. It’s a remarkable and detailed artwork depicting mythical scenes of Egypt.

Read more: Italy’s best experience

Plan your trip: Most of the site is covered, so good year-round. Allow at least two hours for a visit. Day tours from Palermo, which combine Villa Romana del Casale and the Valley of the Temples, can be worth booking if you’re short on time.

Top tip: On arrival at Piazza Armerina, shared taxis usually wait if you don’t want to walk. The cost is around €5pp.

5. Vipava Valley, Slovenia

Perfect for a mountain-backed eco-escape cycling between vineyards and private cellars

Slovenia’s finally getting the attention it deserves. The green city of Ljubljana is becoming a popular weekend break, and the mystical magic of Lake Bled is now a firm traveller favourite.

However, as I see from my Slovenian friends on Facebook, their beloved capital is starting to suffer over-tourism and the related property rent issues that always follow.

Thankfully, much of this lush country remains blissfully off the beaten path, and Vipava Valley is undoubtedly one of Europe’s best hidden gems for now.

Slow travel and sustainability aren’t buzzwords in Slovenia; they are a way of life, and nowhere is this truer than in Vipava Valley. A gorgeous canvas of greenery, hills and vineyards, you could easily mistake this for a Tuscan painting at first glance.

The joy of visiting Vipava is found while cycling or hiking between the hamlets, heading into the art-inspiring mountains, Paragliding powered by the valley’s beloved wind – affectionately nicknamed The Burja – or sampling every zero-kilometre food morsel that is put in front of you.

Then, there are the home-grown wines. With an unknown number of wine cellars here – everyone seems to have one under their house – even the most inauspicious homes often double up as a restaurant. Sipping these signature grapes, such as the indigenous Zelen, while hearing stories of times gone by in candle-lit cellars, is a travel memory you’ll treasure.

Read more: Exploring Vipava Valley

Plan your trip: Ideal for a long weekend or even one week – this underrated destination in Europe is a slow travel destination. Visit from spring through autumn. Trieste, in Italy, is a good arriving point, given Sloevenia’s limited flights.

Top tip: If you want to side trip from Ljubljana without a designated driver, there are day wine tours available. Or, get in touch with my friend Jani at Wajdusna for an active e-bike trip between the vines.

6. León, Spain

One of the best hidden gems in Europe for architecture-admirers seeking a laid-back city break

Spain is home to many of Europe’s hidden gems , even though they are often significant and famed cities. There are just frankly too many destinations in the country to visit, which makes even places like León something of an unusual Europe destination for many travellers.

But it shouldn’t be. This city has the lot.

There’s a great food scene, with an abundance of mouthwatering free-tapas bars packing out the pedestrianised centre. The nightlife is excellent while staying reasonably laid-back, and the city is compact, with the pumping bar quarter a labyrinth of delicious treats and late-night laughter.

León’s main draw, however, is its architecture – and being home to one of Gaudí’s designs has ensured it’s not an off the beaten path European destination for fans of the flamboyant architect. Casa Botines, one of his only works outside Catalonia, brings a Modernist contrast to the city’s otherwise aged-architectural treasures.

From marvelling at the impeccable 13th-century stained-glass windows in the cathedral – some of the best in Europe – to taking in the Romanesque frescoes of the basilica, grandeur and superb artistry are on full display here.

León might not be the most secret spot in Europe, but it steps up to the challenge of diverting people from the likes of Madrid with glee.

Read more: León in a weekend

Plan your trip: León’s architecture makes it one of the best cities in Spain at any time of the year, although winters can be chilly. Using high-speed rail, the journey from Madrid takes around 2 hours by train.

Top tip: Book a night in the Hotel Real Colegiata San Isidoro for an incredible heritage stay.

7. The Georgian Caucasus Mountains

One of the best Europe hidden gems for an affordable mountain retreat of epic hikes

Spanning from Georgia to Azerbaijan and connecting two continents, the Georgian Caucasus Mountains offer incredible hiking trails in the warmer months, while winter brings snowy escapades.

Georgia, especially the capital city of Tbilisi, has been gaining popularity in the digital nomad community for years, thanks to the one-year visa and low nomad tax rates. Still, you’ll find the real community magic of the nation amongst the highest peaks.

Dormant Mount Kazbek, climbing to an elevation of 5,055 metres, is a real sight to behold. The surrounding area around Stepantsminda – a starting-point town – is one of the most popular year-round destinations thanks to its position on the principal Georgia to Russia highway keeping this range (usually) accessible.

Monasteries sit above the clouds, friendly dogs will volunteer to be your trekking ‘guides’, and hospitable homestays will start as a place to crash, before quickly becoming a home with new Chacha (home-brewed brandy) plying friends. The food, from twisted-dough Khinkali dumplings to the cheese-stuffed Khachapuri bread, is the pièce de résistance.

Plan your trip: Outstanding year-round, the snowy peaks can make road access in winter an occasional challenge. Kutaisi airport usually provides more affordable flight connections than Tbilisi. Either come for a couple of days or a more extended hiking escape.

Top tip: Public buses are cheap and relatively frequent from Tbilisi, while group day tours provide an easy, and still affordable, option.

8. The Hague, The Netherlands

One of the best places to visit in Europe for politics and history, beach bars and brews, and plenty of learning

The Hague is one of my favourite underrated European city breaks, and it’s fair to say I was shocked by how cool it is.

For many, Amsterdam is the one-stop go-to in The Netherlands, leaving much of the nation’s other destinations as Europe hidden gem. While that might not be the case here – the city’s world-famous for its international courts – it makes for a great weekend without the often unbearable crowds of the capital.

I was impressed with the fantastic food and bar scene, especially for vegetarians . Then there are the in-depth and fascinating museums such as the refugee-focused Humanity House (currently closed) and the Mauritshuis, home to Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Along the golden sand beach, there are plenty of chic beach clubs, and of course, the critical work the city does internationally for Peace and Justice .

It might not have as many canals or the coffee shops of Amsterdam, but it makes up for it with the laid-back vibes, friendly locals, and culture to gorge on. Seriously, if you are looking for a new European city break in 2023, you can’t go wrong with The Hague.

Read more: The Hague weekend guide

Plan your trip: The Hague makes a decent year-round visit. The beaches are best in summer, and September is a great time to visit. It’s also a more laid-back base to Amsterdam for day trips.

Top tip: The Peace Palace only opens for general public tours a few days of the year. If you want to visit, plan dates around the Peace and Justice weekend .

9. Berat, Albania

One of the best Europe hidden gems for an enchanting village escape after the beaches

Berat – Albania’s cutest village – is often called the ‘City of a Thousand Windows’. On arrival, it’s obvious why, as you gawk at the whitewashed Ottoman houses hugging the side of the fortress-crowned hill.

Atop it all is Berat Castle, with its more than 2500 years of history. Much of what you see today dates from the 13th century, though Byzantine churches are still visible. We arrived here intending to spend one night in the castle walls, but quickly extended our stay to enjoy two days in Berat .

Albania, in general, has recently gone from a lesser-visited hidden gem in Europe, to an in-the-know paradisiacal beach escape. Still, the country’s interior has plenty more to offer, including Gjirokaster, Lake Komani and Bogovë Nature Park – especially the secluded waterfall.

If you don’t have The Balkans on your radar, take a virtual tour of Muslim Europe in the delightful book Minarets in the Mountains . Written by my fellow LP-writer Tharik Hussain, it provides a look at the Muslim history of Europe that’s often not spoken about. 

Read more: Things to do in Albania

Plan your trip: Many people visit Berat as a stop between Tirana and Ksamil’s beaches. But do yourself a favour and stay at least one night – the wide windows under the orange hue make for a magnificent evening setting.

Top tip: Stay in the castle walls. I adored Guesthouse Kris , and the hosts were super friendly – we’re still in touch years later.

10. The Asitz Mountain, Austria

One of the most unique places to visit in Europe for a sustainable summer hike of culture, art and escapism

One of my most recent Europe hidden gem finds is the region of Saalfelden Leogang , set in the Austrian Alps. While many would think of this corner of the world as the ideal winter ski destination, I visited at the start of summer and boy, am I glad I did.

The two towns that make up this region are adorable. Saalfelden is more urban, Leogang is more rural, and the entire valley is absolutely stunning. However, the main reason to venture to this part of Austria is for an unforgettable mountain experience atop the lofty peaks of the Asitz Mountain .

Reaching 655 metres at its highest, this beautiful winter ski destination is also renowned for exhilarating and intense mountain biking routes. Locally known as ‘the mountain of senses’, there is much more to this part of the jagged range than just extreme sports.

Something of a secret European destination still, culture lovers will be well rewarded after riding the gondola to the top. Summer sees art and sculpture trails through the forest for the eyes, water features for paddling, herb gardens for the senses, a ‘nature cinema’, and most magically, outdoor concerts performed against an incredible mountain lake backdrop.

You’ll also find cultured wooden huts – TONspurs – on the mountain. Inside, you can lay back and enjoy the panorama while listening to previous concerts playing through the headrest. Honestly, it’s one of my new favourite European destinations.

Read more: Exploring the Asitz Mountain

Plan your trip: A long weekend or even longer – this is a slow travel destination. In summer, it’s all about hikes and the arts, while the winter snow brings skiing and snowboarding. Train travel from the UK is possible by overnighting and then taking the Alpine Express. The nearest airports are Innsbruck and Salzburg.

Top tip: Stay at the Stockinggut Leogang. It’s a great spot with grand views. See my review here .

11. Porto Santo Island, Portugal

One of the hidden gems in Europe for lazy beach days and winter sun 

Madeira, one of my favourite islands, is another Portuguese destination enjoying its moment in the spotlight. But the largest isle, renowned for its epic hikes and volcanic coastline, isn’t the only option in the archipelago. 

A three-hour ferry away is Porto Santo, the ‘baby-sister’ if you will. Here, it’s a whole other vibe and picture, and the country’s newest biosphere reserve remains one the best off the beaten path Europe beach escapes.

Lauding a nine-kilometre stretch of golden sands – hard to find on the main island where darker shores prevail– this is a perfect place to bury yourself in a book and top-up the tan. For some soft adventure, the rolling hills backing the island make for easy hiking routes.

With a mixture of accommodation options, ranging from upscale resorts to down-to-earth home rentals, Porto Santo is all about easy days relaxing, rounded off with fresh-seafood and spectacular sunsets. Honestly, it’s more of a beach with an island than an island with a beach.

Read more: Madeira in photos

Plan your trip: You could enjoy a beach week or make it a short visit combined with Madeira. The climate is fairly decent year-round. In winter, I basically had the whole beach to myself – though it wasn’t quite tanning weather.

Top tip: It’s often easier and cheaper to fly to Madeira and take the ferry than into Porto Santo directly. In summer, a ferry service operates from mainland Portugal to Madeira for a flight-free choice.

12. Castelmezzano, Italy

One of the most unique places to visit in Europe for that dream mountain village getaway

Perched against the backdrop of the Dolomiti Lucane, Castelmezzano is one of Italy’s most beautiful small villages.

We stumbled upon it after a last-minute detour decision during a southern Italy road trip , and my heart leapt the second the cluster of ochre roofs came into view. Set in the lesser-visited European region of Basilicata, head here for a countryside bolthole.

On the opposite mountain, you’ll find Castelmezzano’s ‘twin’ – Pietrapertosa. Linking them both is The Angel’s Flight – a high-speed zip wire that whisks you between these two beguiling peak-snuggled villages.

While the town is mesmerising – especially when viewed from a distance to admire its unique location – the surrounding area is full of epic hikes, forests and a national park. The age-old charm of an overnight stay in Castelmezzaono’s 10th century settlement makes it a firm Europe hidden gem favourite.

Read more: Italy’s hidden gems

Plan your trip: This is a real ‘get away from it’ kind of village. You can either stay a while and become part of the furniture or call in on a road trip around southern Italy. The zip-line usually shutters from November until May.

Top tip: Don’t miss the city of Matera, a magical land of caves, ancient underground living, and storied streets.

13. Durham, England

One of the best places to visit in Europe for the quintessential British experience

If you are looking for a slice of English city-life with countryside charm, head to Durham.

Most famed for the UNESCO World Heritage-listed castle and cathedral – the oldest being from the 9th century – you’ll want to allow at least a half-day to tour both. There’s also a large university here, meaning plenty of good bars and decent restaurants – including ample vegetarian options.

Outside the city, you can ramble along the Durham Heritage Coast, a European hidden gem for its sea glass-strewn beach . Raby Castle – a privately owned medieval gem which has starred in Downton Abbey – can also be toured. 

Lastly, be sure to visit Beamish Museum , a living museum. I spent a full day here solo; it was that impressive! With an interactive museum-meets-theme-park vibe, you’ll discover the history of England from the 1800s onwards.

From fully staffed old-school sweet shops and dress-up photography studios to vintage trams and buses driving around, the experience is very much ‘lived history’ history. There are even actors in the ‘homes’ and ‘schools’.

Read more: Durham travel guide

Plan your trip: I’d suggest at least three days or a packed weekend. Then you can experience the city, a couple of castles and the fantastic Beamish Museum. As with everywhere in the UK, it’s best in the warmer and dryer months.

Top tip: Always book your train tickets in advance in the UK, it will save you a lot of money. Buses in the region are surprisingly decent, making sights easy to explore.

14. Erfurt and Thuringia, Germany

One of the most undiscovered cities in Europe for quaint corners, classical culture, library lovers and adapted accessibility 

Historic, charming and relatively compact, Erfurt is the capital of the Germany’s lesser-visited State of Thuringia.

The city dates back to around 700 AD and slowly became an important trading destination in the Middle Ages. Thanks to the Old Town surviving WWII, you can still experience it very much as it once was.

Home to Germany’s oldest university, it’s a classic city with a youthful vibe. In the summer months when I visited, the beer gardens were overflowing, walks along the river were divine, and an energy floated through the warm evening air that I hadn’t felt in other German cities. 

The main attractions are the hulking Gothic cathedral and the Petersberg Fortress. Krämerbrücke – a unique arched bridge with a central cobbled street and boutique stores – also deserves a special mention.

You can easily visit more of Europe’s hidden gems nearby, using Erfurt as a base. Weimar is especially worth the journey for the Renaissance-style Anna Amalia Library .

Read more: Exploring Erfurt

Plan your trip: Spend a weekend in Erfurt, or one week exploring some of Thuringia’s highlights. Spring through autumn is the nicest. Frankfurt is the nearest major gateway (2:30 hours), and discounted train tickets are offered for those with booked hotels in the region. Erfurt is also one of the best barrier-free city breaks in Germany.

Top tip: Bundle up the regions of Thuringia and Saxony, Germany into a road trip. Combined, these two states are known as the Cultural Heart of Germany.

15. Bansko & Pirin National Park, Bulgaria

One of the best places to visit in Europe for excellent value skiing by winter and summer hiking

Bansko was meant to be my first skiing trip. Shortly after arrival, I discovered that I was terrible at the winter sport, and quickly resigned myself to being an avid après-skier instead.

Thankfully, a ski trip in Bansko doesn’t break the bank, making it one of the best choices for first-timers who don’t want to commit to expensive options in the Alps – or pros who seek a more off the beaten path Europe experience. 

For example, my chalet room, including dinners, breakfasts, transfers and drinks with Snomads , was around £300 for the week. Lessons and lift passes are also decently priced. Then – away from the slope’s inflated yet not too steep prices – the €1.55 G&Ts went down rather well too. 

Before the pistes, which begin a 30-minute Gondola ride from the resort town, you’ll find all you need in Bansko Old Town. Some streets are lined with heritage buildings, while house museums and a small but stunning Orthodox church provide the culture.

If you visit outside the ski season, you’ll still be able to enjoy the old town and head into the Pirin National Park for some much more verdant hiking to lakes.

Read more: Skiing in Bansko

Plan your trip: Come for the hiking in summer or a skiing week in winter. An overnight stay is enough if you just want to explore the town and take a day hike. 

Top tip: If you want to continue to Plovdiv, the slow and scenic narrow-gauge train provides a pleasant meandering journey.

16. The Frosinone Valley, Italy

One of the best non touristy places to visit for a Rome side trip of verdant walks, offbeat villages, and vineyard vistas

Around halfway between Rome and Naples, the idyllic Province of Frosinone is situated in the southern part of the Lazio region.

Perhaps the most famous attraction here is the Abbey of Montecassino , a vast complex atop the hill in Cassino, which, following its destruction in World War Two, has subsequently been rebuilt.

However, I spent most of my time around the Valle di Comino. Some of Europe’s fiercest battles have taken place in these forested heartlands, but it’s now a serene setting of olive groves, mountains, and beautiful small villages.

If you’re seeking that dreamy and verdant Italy-from-the-movies feel, Frosinone will oblige. Sip delicious award-winning Cabernet in the vineyards of Atina. Discover Arpino – the ‘city of Cicero’ – and explore the ancient L’Acropoli di Civitavecchia. Then head to pretty-as-a-postcard San Donato Val di Comino for mountain-backed village views and overflowing tables in an agriturismo s’ (rural farm accommodation) farm-to-fork restaurant.

Read more: Villages near Rome

Plan your trip: Spring through Autumn are great times to visit – I especially enjoy late September during the wine harvest. You could make this a little post-Rome getaway or a stand-alone extended vacation.

Top tip: Arpino is perhaps the best town to base yourself in for decent restaurants and a bit of life. For a more rural village stay, opt for a farm base in San Donato Val di Comino .

17. Nisyros Island, Greece

One of the best hidden gems in Europe for a whitewashed village escape on an Aegean-enveloped active volcano 

The volcanic island of Nisyros was one of my most accidental discoveries. In fact, I didn’t even know I was going to Greece until I got invited there on a second date. Sadly, the romance never blossomed, but I did replace it with a new lover: this European hidden gem in the Aegean Sea.

While the whole place is rather unique – it’s one hulking volcano – it is hugged by idyllic whitewashed villages serving up typical Greek traits. Tavernas dish out the staples, white and blue set the scene, and bright bougainvillaea adds a splash of colour.

But, what makes this hidden gem of Europe particularly impressive is Stefanos – one of the world’s largest hydrothermal craters. It’s not the only one, either; there are a handful of them on the island. Walking into the caldera, and standing on the space-like floor, is something of a surreal – and sulphur-filled – bucket list experience.

If you stay a while, you can explore the island’s coastal villages and lounge on the dark sand and pebble beaches. Nisyros is a solid pick for that laid-back Greek lifestyle without the overwhelming crowds of, say, Santorini.

Read more: Visit Nisyros Island

Plan your trip: You can day-trip from Kos – combing the two makes for a great multi-centre Greece holiday – or spend a couple of days hiking, or enjoy a week or more escaping it all. While Greece is one of Europe’s warmest winter destinations , I’d suggest avoiding the chillier months.

Top tip: Ferries leave from Kardamena, Kos, or you can book a day tour in advance.

18. Monsanto and Central Portugal’s Schist Villages

One of the most quirky places in europe for mind-boggling boulders, creative retreats, and near-empty trails

In Portugal’s parched interior, Monsanto is a pretty village lauding some unusual features. Boulders call all the shots here, making it a rather unique hidden gem of Europe.

Perched atop a volcanic massif with far-reaching views to the Spanish borders, the hamlet is littered with giant rocks. Not to be deterred from making it their home, previous residents have constructed houses alongside, between and even underneath precarious looking boulders.

Monsanto isn’t a place you come to do much, and that is very much the charm. There are excellent panoramas, the remains of the fortified castle, and a timeless air that sadly is getting lost in Portugal’s ever-growing tourism scene. Side trips include admiring ancient fossils in Penha Garcia, and visiting the remains of a Roman settlement in Idanaha-A-Velha.

Closer to Coimbra, you’ll find more Schist Villages in the Serra da Lousã. Cerdeira , which has been lovingly restored, now provides a bolthole for creativity, with some of hidden Europe’s most tucked-away workshops and retreats.

Read more: On my Portugal website

Plan your trip: Monsanto sits in the central sun-bleached heartlands. Intense heat defines summers, and cold snaps the winter. Come in spring or march, and stay at least a night or two to enjoy the magnificent sunsets.

Top tip: Day trips from Lisbon on public transport are almost impossible, so stay a night. You’ll need to book a tour if you just want a flying peek at Monsanto. 

19. Annecy, France 

One of the best places to visit in Europe for a pretty-as-a-postcard lakeside getaway 

Annecy, in southeastern France, was my last ‘Europe off the beaten path’ visit of 2022. On a gloriously sunny day, the Christmas markets I came for felt slightly out of place, but the charm of this small alpine town shined as brightly as the rays from above.

Walking the excellently preserved medieval centre – the Vieille Ville – you’ll cross canals flanked by pastel-coloured facades. On an island in the largest channel, Le Palais de I’Île, a small castle, hosts a mini museum and provides a prominent photo point. Château d’Annecy – a historical monument and castle – sits higher still and serves as a more impressive museum.

But, I found the real joy in simply ambling – both along the canals and cobbled streets and the lakeside Jardins de l’Europe. The town sits on the edge of Lake Annecy, one of the country’s cleanest, lending itself to waterside strolls. Beyond, the nearby mountain trails help you go off the beaten path in the Haute-Savoie surrounds. 

Read more: Weekend breaks in France

Plan your trip: Annecy is a pretty France weekend break year-round. In December, a Christmas market visit is one of the best things to do in France during winter. It is fairly small, so it could be a day trip, or you can use it as a base to explore the nearby snow-capped peaks.

Top tip: If you’re a fine art enthusiast, take the 80-minute side trip to Grenoble for the Musêe de Grenoble . For a regional museum, it’s incredibly well stacked with masterpieces.

20. Sutherland and Moray, Scotland

One of the best places to visit in Europe for castle touring, coastal walking and clan learning  

Without heading to Scotland’s far-flung isles, it’s getting harder to find ‘hidden gems’ in the ever-popular nation. The mountainous country rich in lochs , legends, myths and munros is one of the most scenic escapes in Europe, and unfathomable crowds descend on the likes of Skye and Edinburgh Festivals in peak summer. 

Sutherland and Moray are two parts of Scotland I love, and you can base yourself bang in the middle in Inverness if you want to explore by public transport. While Inverness isn’t as grand as Edinburgh , the cathedral and castle make for a stately setting to call home.

In Sutherland, the show’s star is Dunrobin Castle, a grand – if relatively modern – turreted delight, set amongst perfectly manicured gardens. Moray brings the older sights, with the impressive ruins of Elgin Cathedral dating back to 1224.

Along this stretch of coast, you’ll find quaint villages and killer views, and hopefully, avoid the crowds heading to the West Highlands and famous valleys such as Glencoe. That said, the NC500 coastal route has become very popular in recent years, so it might be best to skip the high season.

Read more: Scotland road trip

Plan your trip: Either use Inverness as a base to experience the area, or even better, make it a Scotland road trip . Showers can come any time of year in Scotland, but avoiding winter weather and summer crowds is advisable.

Top tip: Dunrobin Castle is closed from November until March.

21. Lake of the Four Cantons, Switzerland

One of the best places to visit in Europe for spectacular backdrops with border-defining history

Switzerland’s lakes, mountains, timepieces, chocolates and banks have long appealed to those with the budget to travel the country. While it’s certainly not a cheap destination, free activities in the great outdoors can make it more palatable for your purse.

Lake Lucerne, or the Lake of the Four Cantons, is one of the country’s prettiest bodies of water. On the edge of the lake, you’ll find some Europe hidden gems such as Tellskapelle, the chapel honouring William Tell , Switzerland’s national hero.

While Tell himself is most likely mythical, the nearby towns provide genuine and important history for this famously neutral nation. In the cantons of Uri and Schwyz, the country established its independence – and two museums share the stories of those crucial days. 

Hiking trails along the water’s edge link some smaller towns together. Beyond the settlements, the backdrop of soaring mountains – with their elevations often reachable by cable car – captivate. 

Round off your visit in the larger city of Lucerne, where medieval architecture makes the Altstadt (Old Town) a pretty setting. Highlights include the Kapellbrücke – a 12th-century wooden bridge decorated with a series of triangular paintings – and the ‘saddest Lion statue’ in the world, a memorial monument dedicated to the Swiss Guards who died in the French Revolution.

Plan your trip: Spring through autumn is an excellent time to visit – I found October great. Plan a couple of days for village-hopping and at least one day in Lucerne. The public ferry pass could be good value if you want to see a few stops around the lake.

Top tip: Private boat tours allow for short sightseeing trips or more indulgent luxury lunch cruises .

22. The Ore Mountains, Saxony

One of the best places to visit in Europe for Christmas traditions, mountain fare, and festive markets 

Look no further than the Ore Mountains for one of the best winter hidden gems in Europe . Located in the eastern state of Saxony, close to the Czech border, a winter wonderland renowned for its festive traditions awaits.

The village of Seiffen is the place to start after you’ve ticked-off the best things to do in Dresden . Here, carpenters, toy-makers, candle crafters, Moravian Star-stitchers and Angel-artists work year-round, creating something of a real-life Santa’s grotto. But, when winter – and the inevitable snow – rolls around, it’s at its finest. 

Long standing seasonal traditions are very much alive, and mainly come courtesy of the surrounding ex-mining towns. Don a hard hat and heat into a decommissioned underground quarry for a candle-lit carol concert. Settle in at the table for a typical miners’ feast using age-old recipes. Then, get your fill of Glühwein and handicrafts at one of the region’s countless markets with marching band parades. Even just in Dresden, the region’s Baroque-heavy capital, you’ll find eleven themed markets, and Leipzig’s market is equally as storied, dating back to 1458.

The Ore Mountains are one of the most unique places to visit in Europe, and make for a great alternative to the continent’s most famous festive destinations. 

Read more: Christmas traditions in Saxony

Plan your trip: This is a land best experienced in the lead-up to Christmas. Plan to stay a night or two as part of a longer Christmas Market road trip so you can visit more of the best places to visit in Saxony, Germany – public transport is more limited around the mountains.

Top tip: If you want to attend some special events – such as parades or miners’ concerts – check for updates on this local website .

23. Kutna Hora, Czech Republic

One of the best places to visit in Europe for a bone-chilling gothic city trip

Whilst Prague may be one of the hottest must-visit cities in Europe, and South Bohemia famous for its castles , the historic and impressive Bohemia city of Kutna Hora is still a relatively under-the-radar gem.

Discover the cobbled streets and grand Gothic architecture – especially the brawny cathedral – and then pay a respectful visit to the unique ‘Bone Church’, which is, as you might have guessed, adorned with bones.

Sedlec Ossuary shares its nearly 1000 years of history with a no-holding-back approach. Some 40,000 human skeletons form the walls, ceilings and even chandeliers. It’s quite the macabre sight.

Read more: Kutna Hora’s chapel

Plan your trip: Decent year-round, but summer is best for exploring the surrounding nature. Make it an overnight visit, or come on a day trip from Prague. Group tours are offered from Prague and cost around €50 , though it’s easy and cheap to go DIY – the train takes approximately one hour. 

Top tip: The Ostuary closes at 4 pm in winter and 6 pm in summer.

+ For the future: Kyiv, Ukraine

Read more: Two days in Kyiv

On my previous European hidden gems list, Kyiv was one of the top entries. Tragically the Russian invasion has caused misery and suffering for those living in Ukraine and, obviously, made tourism impossible. However, I leave this entry as a mention for future travel plans when we can return to Ukraine and help support and rebuild the nation through tourism.

And that’s a wrap for this 2023 edition of list underrated destinations in Europe. Got any suggestions of where I should head next to add to this list or have you visited somewhere above? Let me know in the comments and safe travels!

For my Europe adventures, discover my favourite secret Spain spots , hidden gems in Italy , or these beautiful and lesser visited villages near Rome . Or, find your own favourite amongst all my Europe travel articles .

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Awesome places. Some of the destinations, I came to know about it for the first time through your post. The European ambiance has a different charm to it and it gets tweaked from one country to another. Thanks for sharing these tidbits of information, loved reading it.

I hear so many positives about visiting Slovenia. The Vipava Valley is just another reason to visit and probably significantly cheaper and less crowed than France.

It’s amazing, simply loved this region!

Thanks for sharing this amazing list of places. Really helpful :)

informative blog. thanks a lot spending time to share it with us. really appreciate it. keep up the good work.

What is missing here is one of the best places to go when you go to France. The Dordogne, the place to be, so much to do and the food…….. Checkout and see for youself

Hi Great list and super nice site 😃 I have been to Alentejo, Portugal the cathedral has a great view. Kutna Hora is also a place that I remember for sure. Awesome! 🤩

This is another great guide as always. Europe is definitely the perfect choice if you want a memorable trip, I recommend it for many people especially for couples or honeymoon.

This Guide is full of the most interesting and stunning sites, and I want to thank you for sharing this and give us the inspiration to travel again.

Always dreamed to visit Ukraine and Poland.Great countries.

There are such beautiful places in Europe that you must go there once in your life.In general, I prefer to appreciate the architectural style

What a find! Amazing places being featured here! You should also visit The Old Railway Station in England too

Great site. With all the restrictions on travel it is really nice to virtually explore. I love the options in Italy and will make them an objective post my Positano trip. Also great to see another option for Czech Republic in addition to Prague! Look forward to more stories as you hit the milestone of 60+ countries and counting!

Thank you, hope you have a wonderful time in Italy!

amazing list with usefull information of places to visit in europe

Hey there, this is really very interesting article with great pictures. Thanks so much for sharing such amazing content. Keep up the good work all time.

Wow!!Great post. Thanks for sharing this.

Wooww…Really amazing places. Italy, Greece & Spain are in my bucket list. I want to tick off these places very soon. Your list is quite helpful especially the way you have mentioned the means for travel and how much time we should give to that place. Thank you for sharing it. Waiting for the next list!

Excellent tips! Thanks for sharing

Europe is like a dream. It has so many offbeat places that it becomes impossible to travel to all the destinations in one’s lifetime. Probably we have to take birth once again to travel to all of these beautiful locations.

thanks for the list

Such an amazing list of hidden gems in Europe, Thanks for sharing. Brisighella is one of my favorite place in Italy.

list also gets top marks for including Colchester – I live so close by!

Have you been to Santorini?

I would recommend going and staying at Parrissa Beach. This is not the hill side pictures you see with the amazing views on all the postcards. Although you can rent a four wheeler ($10 euro/day) and get there in 15 minutes. We stayed in Parissa Beach in 2011 in an apartment on the beach for about $400/month (yes per month) when rooms were going for 10x that in the tourist spots of Ios. It’s a cool scene too, tons a great beach bars, a boardwalk of restaurants, out door theaters and best of all it is all cheap as can be.

Hey, i haven’t no – I’d love to go, but it’s so touristy these days I’m not sure I would love it so much. Thanks for the tips.

When I can suggest a great place to go which really offers a real great stay for families with kids, go and see Glamping-Dordogne. They offer safaritents but really, with so much comfort.

Really a place to go.

I really enjoyed reading your go on. I’m waiting for next one

I also enjoyed myself while I was visiting this kind of places.

Hey Daniel, Amazing & Informative list of Europe best visit places. Any Europe Traveler must read this. Thanks!

Well in Europe there are lots of places where you can spend time moreover one of the most tourist island is Mljet island where you can spend your time with your partner beside this there are lots of things too which you can plan during your Day tours in Mljet .

Much appreciate the places of Europe that you have mentioned. Each county of Europe is known for its unique kind of beauty and is generally appreciate for what they have. Besides that, these nations are totally safe.

Very interesting blog. Great review. Thanks for sharing! I love Slovenia, but I want to visit other places on your list!

List is amazing, It is just wonderful getting knowledge about these places and will definattely add it in my bucket list. All these places look amazing!

i really love your article but i am so nervous everytime i go solo to a country but now i am more confident now because of you and you mind checking out my vidon on my youtube channel https://youtu.be/OwuNpq_1N-U

Hello Dan! Last summer I happened upon Monte Isola, an island in the middle of Lago d’Iseo in Lombardy. Have you ever been here? When I went, immediately fell in love with its small town vibe and stunning views. Definitely one of my lesser known places that is a must visit!

It looks amazing, but I haven’t been there yet sadly – hopefully the next time I travel through Milan I can take some days to head there :)

Such a cool round-up! Totally want to add these to my bucket list now. I visited London in the summer of 2017 and was absolutely stunned by the cobble-stoned sidewalks, the countryside and the food.

If you REALLY want to see the prettiest and most fascinating sidewalks in the world, you should defiantly take a vacation to Portugal, here the streets are well preserved and unique

As someone living in Portugal, I have to agree :)

Wow, thanks for the suggestions, guys! Will definitely plan a trip to Portugal :)

I think that Europe might be the only continent in the world that never runs out of its places to visit. The continent itself is covering with beautiful culture, medieval heritage exotic place and legacies of kingdom to read for. You can check out our Europe’s best

Some places I’ve been to, but The Hague is next! Cool write up

The hague is not so nice as Amsterdam

It’s also not so hectic, I love Amsterdam but it’s just hit oveflowing now for much of the year I think.

Definitely bookmarking this post, It’s Very helpful for planning a trip

“The gladdest moment in human life, methinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton , Your posts are amazing Dan

Dear Daniel! I enjou reading your content, please keep up the good work. Youssef.

Planning to visit Portugal in 2020. I cannot imagine how thrilling it must be. I have to say that your list has some pretty cool destinations. If my budget allows, I might add in Albania. Great post!

Food for thought for upcoming trip. Appreciate your time and effort in writing this

I am reading this post in 2019. These places look no less captivating in 2019 :) Thanks for compiling this list.

You wrote awesome. I really read your all story about unique places this is interesting.

Im so glad that i stumble upon this article. Definitely bookmark this for future trips. So many beautiful places i havent visited according to your post. Thank you and keep up your good work!

Definitely pinning, great pictures! Looking to connect with other bloggers and get some tips for my new site.

Hi Dan, It’s so breathtaking! I have some experience in Albania. While visiting my friend there, she get a paddle board from this and suddenly took me to Lake Komani.cause she knows that I love paddling board so much! How impetuous she is!!

wow! The scenery of these trips is so beautiful, I also want to try these places once in a lifetime, thank you for sharing this wonderful thing.

Hey love this post quick question though how do you take your pictures traveling solo?

If I’m in them with a tripod, but I mainly don’t take photos of me.

Czechoslovakia hasn’t been a country for quite some time now. Good pictures and lots of good destinations, though, for sure.

Yup, but I think a few cities still have the celebrations I was told.

I have been telling people about Camogli since I visited this amazing place in 2014. Glad to see it is on your list.

It’s a gem, isn’t it?!

Lagoa beach look GORGEOUS, I’m already in love! Definitely put it in my travel bucket list for this year!

I appreciate your effort. I must say that your shared all these places are the best to have great fun in Europe and tourists can enjoy some time with family and friends. I have a good experience of Lake Komani because I have been there couple of the times in my whole life to enjoy my holidays and every time had a blast of fun at this most amazing and alluring destination.

These are some really beautiful places, I have been wanting to take a vacation to the UK just couldn’t make time, after seeing these images all I wanna do is pack my bags.

Great post, thanks for sharing these awesome gems. I plan to visit Slovenia this summer and Piran wasn’t on my bucket list. I will surely add it now after seeing those wonderful photos of the place.

The pictures are so cool ! I want to go everywhere now, all the places look different and unique.

Wonderful list of amazing places in Europe. I would love to visit Skadar Lake National Park, Montenegro in upcoming days. Thanks, Dan, for sharing such a beautiful place of Europe.

Trough dordognevakantiehuizen.nl I have found a great place to stay in the Dordogne France. A real great area to visit when you go to France.

Nice people and a great place for getting to know the real French life.

Thanks for this post. I’ve recently moved to Leipzig (Saxony) and it’s nice to see it appearing on some blogs now as an area to visit. Gose beer is also from Saxony and one of Germany’s largest Sekt producers (I think it’s in Weimar). I’m looking forward to getting out to the Dresden area soon, especially for a trip over to Bastei. I’m also excited to check out more of Eastern Europe, especially Montenegro, now that I’m so much closer (than Canada). I’ve enjoyed your suggestions!

Thanks Chrissy, I’m really excited to get the chance to visit Leipzig myself in the summer, I’ve heard so many cool things about the city. Hope you enjoy living and travelling in Europe while you are here :)

Beautiful! :) Pluzine from Montenegro is my favorite. All country Montenegro have beautiful nature.

Wonderful! Your List is amazing. Great work keep it up.

Hi! Amazing and inspirational! I live in London now but I would love to show you around Romania and see it through your lenses 😃. Keep walking!

Thanks Teodora! Thats a super kind offer :)

Amazing post, read it for first time and was fascinated by the photos and the true information that you don’t get very often. If you visit Costa Rica, Please Visit this amazing Beach Resort

amazing photos and inspiring travel destinations. I also suggest St. Wolfgang in Austria :)

Thanks for the tip, will check it out :)

What a great list of places. Even though these are written for 2017, they will still be great gems in 2018. I’m heading on a Eastern Europe trip for 4 months in the Summer so unwell certainly be checking out some of these places. Thanks for the ideas !

Thanks Katie. I need to update for 2018 :)

Safe travels!

There is a lot of wonderful places you behind in the post that I need to check out.

Hi Dan, love the article. Two years ago, during a European road trip, we stayed in Schwangau, with the intention of visiting Neuschwanstein Castle. There wasn’t much there, to be honest. Just a nondescript main road. We couldn’t even find the castle when we first arrived, due to the mist obscuring it. It wasn’t until the next day when we were leaving that we saw it peeking out from behind its shroud. We both exclaimed “It was behind us all this time!”.

As we were leaving we drove through the neighbouring town of Füssen. It looks like a much more characterful town and we wished we had stayed there. Next time!

This year’s road trip took in Riquewhir/Colmar/Eguisheim, all stunning. Then onto Lauterbrunnen :0, Orta San Guilio – beautiful and quiet, Sirmione – hot, bustling and lovely. Postojna – dig those caves, through Istria, taking in Buzet and Motovun until we reached Rovinj, which we absolutely love. Stunning old town and the unrivaled Punta Corrente park.

Our return journey took in Venice – on the cheap, there is a campsite on the other side of the lagoon where you can camp for approx €20-30 per night. Then onto Menaggio (Much nicer than Belaggio, not so geared up to selling you expensive baubles). From there to Freiburg, then over the Black Forest high road, across a bit of France, up the length of Luxembourg to Clervaux for the Family of Man exhibit. Clervaux was/is a unique place. I don’t know quite how I’d describe it. They seem to have a thing for anthropomorphic furniture and decorations. They were also pumping Yello’s “The Race” from the town’s PA system, for no discernible reason. Last stop was Bruges, but this isn’t a hidden gem, just a gem.

Sounds like such an amazing trip, hoping to do it myself next year so will keep Fussen in mind as a base.

And also wow, thank you for all these amazing tips of places. Moving back to Europe in 2018 so this has given me lots of new places to adventure too.

Hope the next trip is just as exciting for you :)

Love the list, I definitely need to save some of your recommendations for my next trips:) I would also add Polish capital, Warsaw. Even though I didn’t expect much from it, it turned out to be one of the most amazing destinations I have been to. It is traditional and very modern at the same time, it is such an unique and great combinations. It is truly a stunning city. And the gastronomic aspect of it is incredible – there are tens of amazing restaurants worth visiting. My personal favorite is called the Akademia, a place with modern versions of traditional Polish cuisine. So creative and delicious! I will for sure go back one day :D

I loved Warsaw too, sadly I visited in January and it was just too cold to do anything! Excited to go back and see it in the summer one day. Safe travels :)

If you like visiting cities, I recommend it again Gdańsk, Wrocław, Kraków, Toruń, Zamość, Poznań. In addition to cities, we have mountains and depression, beautiful beaches, many lakes, forests and even dunes and a desert … :) We have all

These little gems look amazing, adding them to our visit list! Thanks for sharing

They are some of my favourites, hope you get to some of them soon :)

Agree with your list of most affordable destinations in 2017. Croatia ,England are going to be in any list of cheap travel destinations……I have been to these places and I can’t forget the wonderful experiences I had…..some countries with unique cultures, amazing nature and exceptional food (very cheap yet delicious)

Dan a great list of which I have visited a number. I went to Hvar from Australia for the first time 16 years ago, it has always had great affordable high quality B&B accommodation. I have been back to Croatia three times since then as it is my favourite summer destination in Europe and Hvar now has more 4 & 5 star hotels and the B&B places are more expensive but are still the main source of accommodation in all of Croatia. Everybody does this and is most peoples major source of income. Some rooms are superb and have views and all for 100 dollars night.It is however a very popular place as is Lake Bled. Another few gem in Croatia that I will let you in on are the town of Betina on the island of Murter and the town of Komiza on the island of Vis. Popular but not over busy. Check them out on Google

Thanks for the tips Dan. I’m really hoping to get back to Croatia this summer and explore more of the Islands so will add these to my list. It’s such a beautiful country to explore.

Another good Spanish town would be Lekeitio, Spain up in Basque country. An adorable little town with a beautiful beach surrounded by those massive cliffs that are sprinkled all over the Basque coastal area, plus this awesome little island right inside the bay that you can walk out to and explore. And pintxos everywhere :) We rented a car and drove all along that coast, there are so many awesome little villages and towns up there it was hard to pick one to stop at!

This places sounds beautiful, I really need to spend some more time in Spain. Thanks for the tips :)

Ahhh Kutna Hora was such a weird and cool town! That bone church was unreal, and I think it was still low season because I felt like I was the only person in town so the whole trip gave me a badass, kind of eery vibe. And Hvar is totally not just for rich people with yachts! My boyfriend and I brought camping gear and camped out by the water for three nights on Hvar and it was gorgeous (getting all glammed up for a night out at a nice restaurant in a tent was a fun little first for me too!). Great post Dan! I can’t wait to see some of these other towns in my future travels :)

Haha, yeah it does have a very forgotten about eiry feel to it. Haha, I loved that you camped in Hvar, people always assume its for the rich and famous but think you proved them wrong :D

So many beautiful places to visit! So little time… ;-) I need to finally get to Gdańsk – it would such a nice weekend trip, as I live just 3h by train from it. Some of those photos are just unbelievably beautiful! Thank you for making this list!

Ahh you really should, and head over to Sopot whilst you are there (especially in summer). Thanks for reading :)

You’ve 100% fuelled my list of “must visit’s” this year. As a side note. I once fell asleep on a train in Liechtenstein and seemingly did the opposite of what you did! I then had to sneak back on a train (platform in the middle of nowhere. With no ticket office) and back into the country (with a “slight” wait in the freezing cold snow.)

Haha, it must be something about the trains there! Who knew it would be so hard to find the country properly ;)

I like this list very much! I was so schocked to see Colchester on there (or Colch as it is locally known). It’s a town I visit sometimes and is only an hour away from me so I never really saw it as a tourist spot before!

Good old Colch. Had to through a few of my home favourites on there :)

Hi, glad to see the list they are all really awesome places. I like to travel to hidden places like you. Here is one, I think you would like it. “Blooming cherry tree street”, Bonn, Germany. It’s not that well known to people but it is one beautiful street. The city Bonn is okay, but this street grabed my attention. It’s best to go in the fall around August and September to get the view of the cherry trees.

This sounds beautiful, just had a quick Google. Germany is somewhere I really owe a longer visit. Safe travels :)

Glad to see Kutna Hora on your list – doesn’t get much mention and the town itself is often overshadowed by the bone church (which is honestly not fair, it’s a great little town).

Although the church is interesting I agree, the town itself deserves a lot more credit. It’s a great spot. Safe travels :)

The walk up to Saint Barbara’s church with all the statues lining the street was so pretty, and a little spooky in a fun sort of way because it was foggy and it the sun was starting to go down. Loved Kutna Hora :)

All of these places sound fantastic,I have visited many european countries but I see you don’t mention Greece! So much to discover there. You must visit Kalavrita. It can be reached by a narrow gauge railway as its at the top of a mountain.The train takes you through natrow gorges snd beautiful scenery until you reach the top. It’s history during world war 2 is tragic but I’ll leave you to gen up on that.

I really do need to get back to Greece. I have only been to Athens and Corfu so I have a lot more to explore there. I will certainly be sure to visit Kalavrita next time, sounds like the scenery is a must visit.

Neuschwanstein in Schwangeau is not really a town. The only thing there are the two castles, which are amazing. But the actual town is called Fussen, which is one of the most beautiful and quaint towns I’ve ever been to. It’s surrounded by amazing mountains and trees. Just make sure to get there early enough during the day because they will sell out of tickets, and close fairly early. I was only able to tour one of the castles because they sold out. But Fussen is incredible. The train ride there from Munich isn’t that long. I think it was about an hour and a half, and the ride is as equally beautiful and relaxing. It was definitely a great day trip.

You should also check out many of the small towns in Turkey. It’s one of my favorite countries (I’ve been to 16 so far). On the Mediterranean there is a town called Bodrum. There is a really cool castle there I spent the whole day exploring it. My boyfriend has a house in the town next to Bodrum, called Turgetreis. It’s a small town, but so beautiful. All along the Mediterranean. You can see the Greek islands from pretty much anywhere in the town. We rode scooters around the town and through the sidewalk, ate ice cream and drank fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and ate fresh bread, walked through the bizarre. It’s the place I always think of when I want to escape life. You can take a ferry ride to any of the Greek islands. You can take a bus ride to fehtiye (the Turkish dead sea). There are also small towns next to Turgetreis that are just so small, but beautiful. With little bracelet stands and homemade dishes and locally done paintings. All the beaches along these towns are great for relaxing. You’ll never want to leave, some tourists never do.

Ahhhh, I was misled into thinking Schwangau was a proper town – great to know, thank you. I’m all about castles so if there are two I’ll be a happy man.

Turkey is somewhere I really do need to explore more, three visits to Istanbul and still not made it out of the city. I think I’ll take your scooter tip and go for an explore along the coast, it sounds incredible. Safe travels :)

Great list! Love your top tip for Hof in Iceland, and interestingly I’ve been to Hvar years ago and thought it was incredible too. However friends went this year and thought it was over crowded now

Yeah, I bet most of Croatia is much busier than I remember it being. Hof is a must if you head to Iceland!

I did a Euro Trip in May-June and you hit the description of Bled and Ljubljana spot on – both amazing cities and Bled is a hidden gem. I have been to the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles and I stayed in the adorable little town of Fussen, Germany. It was only a short, inexpensive local bus ride away. I don’t recommend paying to see the inside of the Neuschwanstein because they don’t give you very much access and the beautiful views outside are well-worth it. I HIGHLY recommend walking around the lake (Alpsee) because it is absolutely incredible. Enjoy!

THANK YOU! Love more tips like this, will have a google and try to fit them in :) Safe travels in 2017!

I love that you have Carvoeiro in this list. I stayed in Carvoiero for a few days this summer and I just did not want to leave. I loved Port De Soller too but Pollenca in Mallorca is equally gorgeous and hidden.

Oooh Pollenca, I missed that one but it looks lovely. And yes, it is such a beautiful places – I used to live there and worked at Mungos Bar (if you had a chance to visit) – very overdue a return trip!

Meteora, Greece – beautiful monasteries – 5 or 6 of them. Easily accessible by train from Athens (4 hours). Quaint towns with fabulous restaurants, friendly people and great/inexpensive places to stay.

YES! This is so high on my list, I am sure once I finally visit it will make it onto next years copy :)

Armona island. A ferry ride from Olhao in Portugal. A taste of paradise. No cars!

WOW. Looks beautiful, thanks for the tip. Will see if I can fit it into my Portugal plans for next year :)

These are such great tips for when we don’t have too much time to jet around the world.

I grew up close to Bled and even remember ice-skating on the lake in winter, too bad it doesn’t really freeze anymore. Grmada is my favorite dessert there, a bit different and messier than the famous kremsnita ☺ Bohinj is another beautiful little area close to Bled, even wilder and perfect for a (cold) swim, while the Soča Valley is just completely stunning.

Maya | londondamsel.co.uk

Oh no, I missed a dessert?!?! Haha. Thank you, Bled is just so special I can’t wait to return and travel much more of the country.

Thanks and happy travels :)

Slovenia (and Lake Bled) is one of my most favorite places in Europe and is highly underrated.

I think that is going to change pretty quickly, it is getting a lot of attention now!

I would recommend the Alsacian region in France, particularly the town of Eguisheim, but also Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé and Obernai. While Equisheim, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé are beautiful but very crowded with tourists in the high season, Obernai is a bustling market town, with many nice restaurants, wine bars and little shops, as well as nice architecture.

Thank you for such different suggestions. They have gone on the list :)

Montenegro really surprised me at just how incredible the landscape was, especially around Pluzine :)

I love visiting smaller towns! Gdansk is high on my list — was just daydreaming about a (hopeful) 2017 trip to Poland. I’d also add Lviv in Ukraine — coffee and chocolate capital of the country! It also has a military themed bar and a secret Masonic restaurant. It’s on the western side of Ukraine, easily accessible from Poland and Hungary.

Gdansk is fantastic cause you have Sopot nearby too. I haven’t made it to Ukraine yet but hear a lot of positives about Lviv. – will check it out. Thanks :)

What a fantastic list! I want to go to them all ha ha! I’m hoping we can do a Scandinavia/Arctic trip maybe next year, and Iceland will most definitely be on that list so Glacier Beach looks incredible. Love your photos – stunning & inspiring.

I love Bled! The cake is a must see! Well, eat. I also recommend Beilstein in Germany – tiny and adorable and enticing. I went to Schwangau last month – book a tour so you can make sure you get in to the castle!

Ahhh the cake, ate far too much haha. Thanks for the tip, will check it out. Safe travels :)

Could definitely make a great European road trip of this list! So much fun would that be! Even though I was born and raised in Europe, this continent knows to surprise in the most wonderful ways each and every time

It is one of those continents that just keeps giving for sure! AND wow, what an epic road trip that would be.

Hi Dan, great list! I have been lucky enough to have been to a few of these myself. I have mapped the list out and shared it on my website, check it out if you like … http://www.thetravelblogs.com/europe/southern-europe

Keep up the amazing work and happy travels!

Hey Matt, Thanks so much – safe travels :)

Love this list! Of all the towns that I’ve visited on this list, I can definitely confirm that they are worth a visit! Especially Bled!! This list also gets top marks for including Colchester – I live so close by!

Haha, Colchester needs a little more internet loving I figured. Bled is just magical right? :)

OMG these photos…incredible!

Thank you Tamara :) Such beautiful places to visit!

Amazing list!

Thank you! Love all these spots :)

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15 days Europe Tour Itinerary: A must have for every Traveler

Hello fellow Travellers! Are you ready for the trip of a lifetime across Europe? Gear up for a 15 days Europe tour itinerary of iconic monuments, delicious cuisine and some hidden gems that you won’t want to miss. Let your amazing itinerary begin!

Table of Contents

Imagine you, me and a bag full of dreams are about to go on a 15 days adventure across the exciting continent of Europe. Grab your sense of wonder, your taste buds (trust us, you’ll need them) and your camera, because this isn’t just a trip; This is a once in a lifetime adventure!

But here’s a catch: We’re just not going to scratch the surface. We’ll uncover hidden gems, teach you some handy phrases and equip you with the ultimate list of travel essentials.

So put your everyday routine aside because this is your ticket to adventure! Get ready to plunge into the fascinating world of European exploration.🌍🚀✨

Day 1: Bonjour, Paris! 🥖🗼

• Your adventure begins in the city of love. After check-in, take an evening stroll along the beautiful Seine River.
• Dinner in a delightful French café includes flaky croissants and escargot (yes, snails). Don’t forget to stop at Shakespeare & Company Bookstore.

Day 2: Parisian Dreamland! 🗺️🎨

• Day two is a frenzy of the wonders of Paris! Climb the Eiffel Tower for breathtaking views and images. At the Louvre Museum , immerse yourself in art and culture.
• Explore the pretty streets of Montmartre, ending at the awe-inspiring Sacré-Coeur Basilica. As the sun sets, be mesmerized by the glitz and glamour of the Moulin Rouge.
• Enjoy coq au vin and other French specialties. Also, discover the hidden courtyards in Le Marais.

Day 3: A Parisian Paradise! 🥐🛶

• Start your day with a quintessential traditional Parisian breakfast of buttery croissants and pain au chocolat at a local café.
• Explore the old streets and alleys of the Marais neighbourhood before returning to the Shakespeare & Company Bookstore. In the evening, take a romantic sailing down the Seine River.
• For our cat-loving friends, don’t miss De Pozenboot, a cat sanctuary set on a beautiful houseboat.

Day 4: Dutch Delights in Amsterdam! 🌷🚲

Tour Amsterdam, the city of canals and bicycles!

• Explore the gorgeous Jordan district, home to charming cafes and unique businesses. Visit the historically important site Anne Frank House.
• End the day with a meal overlooking the canals. If you’re interested in art, NDSM Wharf is a hidden gem that’s artsy, industrial, and oh-so-cool.

Day 5: Art and Culture Galore in Amsterdam! 🎨🚲

• Explore the art and culture of Amsterdam by visiting the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the artist’s masterpieces.
• Rent bicycles and discover the green oasis of Vondelpark. Don’t miss trying Dutch delights like haring (herring) and poffertjes (mini pancakes).
•  And remember, there’s always time for cat cuddles at De Poezenboot!

Day 6: Artistic Amsterdam Adventures! 🎨🚲

• Marvel at Dutch artistry with a morning visit to the renowned Rijksmuseum. Dive into the quirky and creative atmosphere of NDSM Wharf.
• For a unique experience, check out De Poezenboot, a cat sanctuary on a houseboat.
• Satisfy your sweet tooth with Dutch apple pie and jenever (Dutch gin). Before leaving, don’t miss the thrilling A’DAM Lookout, featuring a swing with stunning panoramic views of the city.

Day 7: Buongiorno, Rome! 🍕🏛️

• Buongiorno, Italia! You’ve arrived in Rome, the Eternal City.
• Explore the Colosseum and Roman Forum, where history comes to life. Don’t forget to toss a coin in Trevi Fountain for good luck!
• For dinner, savour a mouthwatering Roman pizza. And when you need a break, escape to the tranquil Villa Borghese Gardens.

Day 8: Roman Renaissance! 🏛️🍝

Today is a day of Vatican wonders!

• Explore St. Peter’s Basilica and the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel. Wander through the picturesque streets of Trastevere. Satisfy your sweet tooth with authentic Italian gelato.
• As the night falls, discover the hidden charm of the Roman Ghetto district.
• And for an Instagram-worthy moment, peek through the Aventine Keyhole for a unique view of St. Peter’s Dome.

Day 9: Roman Renaissance Continues! 🏛️🍝

• Start your day with an Italian breakfast at a local pasticceria.
• Embark on a day trip to Tivoli, a charming town with the stunning Villa d’Este.
• Savour Roman Jewish cuisine, including Carciofi alla Giudia (Jewish-style artichokes) and Saltimbocca alla Romana (Veal Saltimbocca).
• For art lovers, the Borghese Gallery in Villa Borghese is a hidden treasure trove.

Day 10: Hola, Barcelona! 🌆🍷

• Barcelona is calling!
• Check out the architectural marvel of La Sagrada Família. Explore the unique Park Guell.
• Enjoy the sun and sangria at a beachside chiringuito. Savour paella, tapas, and churros with rich chocolate sauce.
• And for breathtaking panoramic views of Barcelona, head to the Bunkers del Carmel.

Day 11: Barcelona Bliss! 🏰🍤

• Dive into Barcelona’s rich culture! Explore the historic Gothic Quarter.
• Discover Picasso’s masterpieces at the Picasso Museum.
• Embark on a tapas-hopping adventure in El Raval. Optionally, immerse yourself in the passion of Flamenco.
• Try gazpacho, Crema Catalana, and the iconic Jamón Ibérico. Don’t miss the exquisite Palau de la Música Catalana, a Modernist concert hall.

Day 12: Barcelona, Spain 🏰

• Castle Conquer: Climb Montjuïc Castle in the morning – it’s like your own real-life Game of Thrones adventure with epic views!
• Beach Bum Mode: Hit Barceloneta Beach for some serious relaxation. Sun, sea, and sand – pure beach bliss!
• Rambling Around: Evening means it’s Las Ramblas time! Stroll, shop, and soak up the lively vibes. Maybe even catch a street performance or two!

A dose of history, sun-soaked relaxation, and city buzz. Barcelona knows how to keep the fun rolling! 🏖️🚶‍♂️

Day 13: Vienna, Austria

• Hello, Vienna! : Arrive via flight or train. Vienna, here we come! 🚄✈️
• Palace Perfection : Visit the stunning Schönbrunn Palace, where history meets grandeur. Be ready for jaw-dropping opulence! 👑🏰
• Musical Magic : The Vienna State Opera awaits with a classical concert. Time to get your Mozart and Strauss on! 🎶🎻
• Café Chic : End the day with dinner at a historic Viennese café. Sip coffee, savor pastries, and soak in that old-world charm. ☕🍰

From palaces to concerts and coffee, Vienna’s got it all. 🇦🇹🎼

MUST-READ: 7 Enchanting Places to Visit in Switzerland

Day 14: Vienna, Austria

• Art and Gardens : Get your dose of culture at Belvedere Palace and its stunning gardens. It’s like stepping into a painting! 🎨🏞️
• Viennese Sweet Tooth : Start your day with a coffee and a slice of Sachertorte. Vienna does coffee and cake like no other! ☕🍰
• Clip-Clop Adventure : Take a classic horse-drawn carriage ride through the charming city streets. Clip-clop, here we go! 🐎🏙️
• Night Market Delights : As evening sets in, hit up Naschmarkt for some epic street food. Try a bit of everything – it’s a foodie’s paradise! 🍢🍜
• Vienna continues to dazzle with art, coffee, carriage rides, and street eats.

Day 15: Departure

• It’s time to pack those bags and fly back home. But don’t forget, you’re carrying unforgettable memories in your heart and a whole bunch of incredible stories to tell about Europe ! 🌟✈️

21 days Europe tour itinerary

Western europe tour itinerary, 1 thought on “15 days europe tour itinerary: a must have for every traveler”.

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Spain Travel Guide

Last Updated: April 18, 2024

Spain is a country that moves slow. This is the land of the siesta. It’s a place for foodies, night owls, history buffs, religious pilgrims, and anyone not in a rush to do just about anything!

It’s a huge country with a lot of variety: Madrid and Barcelona are hip and energetic cities, Granada has a Moorish touch, Valencia has its own vibe, Catalonia has its own language and culture, and the Basque region (an autonomous community in northern Spain) feels like you’re in an entirely different country.

And, as an added bonus, Spain is an incredibly affordable place to visit. I’ve been traveling to the country for over a decade and I never break the bank while I’m there. It’s really easy to get by on a budget.

This budget travel guide to Spain can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time in this vibrant country.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Spain

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in spain.

1. Enjoy Barcelona

Barcelona is famous for its all-hours partying, late-night meals, and historic streets. Embrace the nocturnal lifestyle and you’ll fit right in. Don’t miss the Museu d’Història de la Ciutat — it’s one of the best in Europe and contains the largest Roman excavation outside of Rome itself. Other highlights include the Picasso Museum (Museo Picasso), where you’ll need some time to peruse 5,000 or so of the artist’s works; the towering and iconic Basilica De La Sagrada Família , one of a number of striking buildings across the city by famous architect Antoni Gaudí; Barri Gòtic (the Gothic Quarter), where winding streets create a welcome maze built for wandering; and finding your way through the actual labyrinth that is the city’s oldest green space, Parc del Laberint d’Horta.

2. Explore the history of Granada

Granada is one of my favorite cities in Spain. It’s a place where culture, architecture, and ideas from North Africa and Europe collide in a unique way, and no trip to the south of Spain is complete without a visit. Don’t miss the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Moorish palace and fortress built in the 13th century, and the Fajalauza ceramic factory, which dates back to 1517 and still remains in the same family. There are also a number of cathedrals and monasteries, including the peaceful Monastery of San Jeronimo, with leafy cloisters and a lavish chapel (5 EUR). Be sure to watch a flamenco show while you’re here (they’re usually around 20 EUR) and visit a Moorish tearoom for mint tea (locals recommend it with plenty of sugar).

3. Wander Madrid

Madrid , the capital of Spain, is famous for its museums, tapas, and nightlife. Like Barcelona, this is a city that doesn’t get going until midnight, which makes for quiet mornings with empty streets if you want the city all to yourself. Make sure you visit Museo Del Prado, one of the largest art museums in the world (get skip-the-line tickets from Get Your Guide ), and the Royal Palace — with nearly 3,500 rooms, it’s the largest palace in all of Western Europe. Other highlights include the Temple of Debod (an Egyptian temple from the 2nd century BCE), El Retiro Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the 15th-century Plaza Mayor, the city’s central square, and El Rastro market every Sunday — a mix of flea market finds, clothing, and jewelry.

4. Revel in La Tomatina

La Tomatina is an epic hour-long tomato fight that draws upwards of 20,000 people to the small town of Buñol (only 9,000 people live in the town itself). Started in 1945, this festival is held on the last Wednesday of August, and over 360,000 pounds of tomatoes are thrown during the event. It starts when water cannons fire, and it ends after exactly one hour. It’s the most amazing and messy festival I’ve ever been to! (Tip: Stay in Valencia for more overnight options.)

5. Discover Seville

Other things to see and do in spain, 1. lounge on the costa del sol.

Hang out on the beach and enjoy the laid-back lifestyle for which Spain is famous. This slice of southern Spain is renowned for its beaches, nightlife…and tons of tourists. That said, it’s still a fun place to eat great food in seaside restaurants (the region is famous for pescaito frito , or deep-fried fish), enjoy watersports in the clear Alboran Sea, drink sunset cocktails, and relax on beautiful beaches. Malaga is one of the go-to destinations on the coast, but I think there are better places further down, like El Bajondillo’s white sand beach and the incredible seafood surrounding La Carihuela beach. To beat the crowds, visit during the shoulder season. The weather will still be warm, but it won’t be as crowded.

2. See Valencia

Valencia is a pretty amazing town. Initially, I wasn’t attracted to Valencia — I simply went for the tomato fight in nearby Buñol (most participants use Valencia as their base during the festival). However, Valencia grew on me as I explored the city, as it makes for a quiet stop between Spain’s more lively cities. Originally a Roman colony and once the capital of Spain, it has delicious seafood, a unique local paella (rather than seafood, the recipe uses chicken, rabbit, and beans), a popular soccer club (Valencia CF), and a giant food market (Mercado Central) housed in an extravagant domed building that looks like a cathedral. It’s a cool city that straddles the past and future with historic streets, futuristic museums — there’s literally a museum focused on “enlightenment and modernity,” and an awesome seaside boardwalk that passes plenty of great tapas spots and the historic fishing district of Cabanyal.

3. Walk the Camino de Santiago

El Camino de Santiago, or The Way of St. James, is one of the most popular pilgrimage routes in the world. The path most people take, the French Way, runs from the border of France all the way to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. Stretching 800 kilometers (500 miles), you need around a month to complete the entire route. The mostly flat Camino is best done in May¬–June or September–October (July and August are both very busy and very warm). If you have the time, it’s a really great way to see the country and some of the less-visited areas of Spain. Of course, you can also walk sections of it if you just want to see what it’s like on a day hike.

4. Tour the islands

Spain has some of the most beautiful islands in all of Europe. Unsurprisingly, during July and August, they’re crowded and expensive, so try to avoid peak season. If you love beaches, surfing, hiking, or cycling, then be sure to hit up Gran Canaria, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve filled with beautiful landscapes and wildlife, including dolphins. If you’re coming to Spain to party, a stop in Ibiza for its all-night clubs is a must. Other islands worth checking out are Tenerife (home to Teide National Park and the highest peak in Spain), Majorca (for turquoise water and medieval architecture), and La Palma (a certified Starlight Reserve). Ferries from Barcelona and Valencia run frequently from late spring to early summer. In the winter, ferries only run a few times a week.

5. Visit Gibraltar

Bordering Spain on the Iberian peninsula, Gibraltar has actually been an overseas territory of the United Kingdom since 1713. It’s known as “The Rock,” owing to the 426-meter-high (1,397-foot) limestone ridge that dominates the island — you can ride a cable car to the top, or get great views by climbing the 18th-century Mediterranean Steps. There’s an interesting mix of cultures here too, with influences from Britain, Spain, and North Africa. With sunny days year-round, views of two continents (Europe and Africa), wildlife galore (including Gibraltar monkeys, which are actually Barbary Macaques and the only population of wild monkeys in Europe). There are also plenty of sandy of beaches and caves to explore (St Michaels Cave is probably the most popular), it’s a small swatch of land with enough to see and do to make a short visit worthwhile.

6. Play in the Sierra Nevadas

This mountain range, located within Spain’s largest nathional park, is in southeastern Spain near the Mediterranean Sea. It’s the perfect place for summer hiking, winter skiing, and exploring small towns year-round. The area is one of the prettiest and most rugged regions in Spain and one of the better areas for outdoor activities in the country. There are plenty of trails ranging in length and difficulty, as well as the possibility for guided tours. Popular hikes include Mulhacen (6 hours), El Chullo (4-5 hours), and Pico de Veleta (4-5 hours). Lift passes for skiing at Sierra Nevada resort in the winter start at around 50 EUR per day.

7. Visit San Sebastián

Known as Donostia in Basque, San Sebastián is at the center of the Basque area of Spain. This place has killer nightlife and beaches (La Concha beach is the most popular), as well as loads of history throughout the city. It was founded in 1180 in the area that’s now become the Old Quarter. = The architecture — a cool mix of 16th-century Gothic churches, 19th-century mansions, and ultra-modern buildings — makes it one of the most beautiful and unique cities in all of Spain. For stunning views of the coast, hike up one of the 4 trails of Monte Urgull, located at the tip of La Concha. The city sees a fraction of the visitors compared to c Madrid or Barcelona so it’s much less crowded (and less expensive ). The regional Basque cuisine here is delicious, so be sure to take a food tour while you’re here.

8. Admire the Great Cathedral and Mosque

The Mezquita de Córdoba (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption) is by far the most exquisite example of Muslim influence in Spain. Located in Córdoba just east of Seville, its giant arches, jasper columns, marble floors, richly gilded prayer niches, and the awe-inspiring domed shrine of Byzantine mosaics take you back to when Córdoba was under Muslim influence in the 12th century. Admission is 13 EUR and skip-the-line guided tours are 24 EUR.

9. Unwind in Salamanca

Salamanca seems to be in the middle of nowhere (it’s 2.5 hours northeast of Madrid by car), but it’s worth the detour for the history (it dates back to the Celtic era), and its historical Old Quarter which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university town has a mix of small-town atmosphere, great nightlife, and plenty of backpackers. In the old quarter, join the other tourists trying to spot the frog carved into the 16th-century university facade — said to bring professional success. The main square, Plaza Mayor, is one of the largest in Spain and is great for soaking up the city, and the nearby cathedral is gorgeous. It’s actually two cathedrals —an Old, from the 12th and 13th centuries, and New, from the 16th — joined together.

10. Hike the Pyrenees

The majestic mountain chain that walls off France is laced with medieval villages, high mountain walking trails, and great skiing. It’s also the traditional start of the Camino (see #3 above). You can hike through the Pyrenees on one of three established routes, but it takes most people almost two months to complete the entire trek (choose spring or fall, summer will be extremely hot). Of course, you can also just hop on the Camino for a single-day hike or weekend hiking trip along one of the moderate routes. If you don’t want to go solo, you can take a full-day hiking tour of the Pyrenees from Barcelona with Get Your Guide .

11. Visit the Guggenheim Museum

One of the most famous museums in the world, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (a port city in northern Spain) always has some interesting exhibitions on modern art (including a permanent sculpture, “Snake,” that’s made of hot-rolled steel and spans more than 100 feet long!). There is also the iconic (and giant) spider sculpture outside the museum, and pieces by Rothko hang inside. Even if you’re not a modern art fan (I personally don’t love it), it’s still worth stopping by because the building is art itself. Frank Gehry, arguably one of the most famous living architects, designed it to have an eye-catching, undulating style, and the grand atrium alone is worth a visit. Admission starts at 16 EUR.

12. Explore Basque Country

Basque Country is an autonomous region in Spain, a place with its own unique culture and heritage. (The Basque people inhabited the area before Spain became a nation.) Located in the northeast corner of the country, you’ll notice the cultural and linguistic differences as soon as you step foot in the region. If you’re into off-the-beaten-path locations, be sure to tour Basque Country, which offers coastal areas, small towns, and mountains. Don’t miss the 153-year-old La Bretxa market in San Sebastian (open every day except Sunday), the Gothic-style St. Mary’s Cathedral in Bayonne, and Le Grand Stroll in Biarritz while you’re here. (The start of the Camino passes through the area as well.) La Rioja wine region can also be found in Basque Country — try its famous drink, a white wine called txakoli . Expect lots of seafood, lamb dishes, and pintxos (Basque tapas).

  For more information on specific cities in Spain, check out these guides:

• Barcelona Travel Guide
• Granada Travel Guide
• Madrid Travel Guide
• Seville Travel Guide
• Valencia Travel Guide

Spain Travel Costs

Budget hotels begin around 125 EUR for a twin or double and go up from there. Prices are slightly lower outside of the major cities and tourist areas but are about 20-30% higher during peak season. For larger cities during the summer high season, expect to spend closer to 200 EUR or more a night.

Airbnb is common in most major cities, with a private room starting around 60 EUR per night. For an entire home or apartment, expect to pay at least 120 EUR per night (often double that in the big cities or during peak season).

For those traveling with a tent, there are hundreds of campsites across Spain. Campground costs around 20 – 40 EUR per night. They can be as low as 5-10 EUR for a basic tent plot without electricity, while other costlier sites (around 50 EUR per site) often include extra luxuries like a pool, electricity, and Wi-Fi.

Food – Spain has a strong food culture. Meals can last for hours, and dinner often isn’t served until after 8 p.m. Each region in the country has its own local dishes and food culture, but there are some common favorites, like paella (originally from Valencia), gazpacho, churros, jámon ibérico (cured pork), patatas bravas (fried potatoes with sauce), gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), and tortilla (Spanish omelet).

You can usually find tapas and sandwiches for 5–10 EUR. Assembling a meal of tapas at a casual bar usually costs around 15-20 EUR, including a glass of wine. Cheap fast food (think McDonald’s) costs around 9 EUR for a combo meal. Chinese food is around 10 EUR for a main dish, while pizza costs 10-14 EUR.

Beer is 3–4 EUR, a glass of wine is 2-4 EUR, and a latte/cappuccino is around 2 EUR. Bottled water is about 1.50 EUR. (In general, tap water is safe to drink in Spain.)

A decent casual restaurant meal costs around 25-30 EUR with a drink. If you go out for paella, drinks, or appetizers, plan to spend around 35-45 EUR for a meal.

Spain has a lot of expensive restaurants if you want to splash out. Meals at finer establishments begin around 55 EUR.

If you plan on cooking your own food, groceries cost around 45-65 EUR per week. This gets you basic staples like pasta, rice, seasonal produce, and some meat or seafood. You can find the cheapest (and freshest) produce and meat at local markets.

Backpacking Spain Suggested Budgets

On a backpacking budget of 90 EUR per day, you can afford to stay in a hostel dorm or private Airbnb room, cook most of your meals, limit your drinking, take public transportation to get around, and do mostly free activities like free walking tours and relaxing in the parks. Add at least 20 EUR per day to your budget if you plan on drinking or partying a lot.

On a mid-range budget of around 215 EUR per day, you can stay in a private room in a hostel, or a 2-star budget hotel, eat out at inexpensive restaurants for most meals, have a few drinks, take the occasional taxi, and do more paid activities like cooking classes and museum visits.

On a “luxury” budget of 350 EUR or more per day, you can stay in a nicer hotel or entire Airbnb apartment, eat out regularly, drink more, take more taxis, and enjoy more guided tours. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get an idea of how much you need to budget daily. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you spend more, some days you spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget work. Prices are in EUR.

Spain Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Overall, Spain is pretty affordable. While accommodation costs in most touristy as well as larger cities have risen greatly in the last few years, everything else is still affordable. Individual city guides have more specific information on how to save in each city, but here are some general ways to save money while traveling around Spain:

• Get the menu of the day – Most restaurants offer a cheap and filling “menu of the day” ( menu del dia during lunch for around 10–15 EUR per person. They are a good way to save money while enjoying some delicious Spanish food. Wine or water are generally included, too. Look for more crowded spots — that’s how you know the food is good. Skip eating out for dinner — it’s too expensive!
• Eat free tapas – In some cities (like Granada), you can find bars where free tapas are given out when you order drinks. Bounce around the bars to eat cheap while enjoying a few drinks.
• Stay with a local – Couchsurfing is a great way to save money on accommodations while also getting some insights from locals. You might have better luck in the larger cities, but be sure to book early as the major cities also see the most requests.
• Take the bus – While the train system is fast, it’s expensive, with high speed trains double (or more) the cost of buses. If you have the time and want to save money, take buses to get around the country. It will take longer but, if you’re on a budget, it will be worth it. And look at booking your tickets online and in advance — it can save you money.
• Get a city pass – Most of the major cities have multiple museums, attractions, and activities worth checking out. Buying a city pass — like the Madrid City Card (from 8.40 EUR) or Malaga–Costa Del Sol Sightseeing Pass (starting at 14 EUR) — can save you money on these activities and also get you free transportation. These passes will save you a lot of money if you’re planning on visiting the major sights.
• Ride a bike – Tourists can use public bikes in cities such as Madrid and Seville for a daily or weekly fee. Take note, Barcelona’s red city bikes (Bicing) are for residents only, but you can find shops that offer daily or weekly bike rentals.
• Use BlaBlaCar – This app connects you with drivers who have room in their cars for additional passengers. Drivers are vetted and verified, so it’s a cool way to get out of stuffy trains and buses, meet interesting characters, and take a mini road trip. It’s one of my preferred methods of travel for medium- and long-distance trips.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink, so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. Spain now offers more water fountains and bottle-filling stations than in the past. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Spain

Spain has plenty of budget-friendly hostels and hotels all around the country. Here are some of my recommended places to stay:

• HelloBCN Hostel (Barcelona)
• Hotel BestPrice Gràcia (Barcelona)
• OK Hostel (Madrid)
• Petit Palace Puerta del Sol (Madrid)
• The River Hostel (Valencia)
• Red Nest Hostel (Valencia)
• Oasis Backpacker’s Hostel (Seville)
• Onefam Centro (Seville)
• ECO Hostel (Granada)
• Hostal Antares (Granada)

For more places to stay, check out the city specific destination guides.

How to Get Around Spain

Bus – The bus is the cheapest option for getting between cities in Spain. FlixBus has tickets starting as low as 6 EUR. Most buses come with outlets and free Wi-Fi. A 9–hour trip from Madrid to Barcelona starts from about 35 EUR, while the 4–hour trip between Seville and Granada costs around 25 EUR. Alsa is another popular bus company for travel throughout the country.

Trains – RENFE is the national rail line in Spain. High-speed trains are more expensive, but you can travel between Madrid and Barcelona in just 2.5 hours. Even on the more expensive high-speed train, however, you can find tickets from Madrid to Barcelona for as low as 55 EUR during off peak times in the offseason. The trip from Madrid to Seville is around 2.5 hours and costs 35 EUR, while Madrid to Valencia is just under 2 hours and costs 30 EUR.

To find routes and prices for trains around Spain (and Europe), use Trainline .

A Eurail Pass , which allows travelers to explore Europe by providing a set number of stops in a specific time period, might also be a good option depending on your plans. For more information, here’s a detailed breakdown of how Eurail passes work and can save you money .

Flying – If you’re pressed for time and are looking to hop from one city to the next, a budget airline. You can find really cheap fares on most routes.

However, be aware that you have to pay for all the extras on these cheap flights (such as checked baggage, picking your own seat, etc.) So, while flights are cheap (Madrid to Barcelona can be found for as little as 65 EUR round trip), the little expenses add up. And when you factor in getting to/from the airport, most flights really aren’t much faster than the train.

Car rental – Car rentals can be found for as little as 25 EUR per day for compact vehicles when booked in advance. Make sure to check if the car is standard or automatic when reserving. Renters will need an International Driving Permit prior to book. The minimum age for renting a car is 21. For the best rental car deals, use Discover Cars .

Ridesharing – If your schedule is flexible, use a ridesharing service and catch rides with locals between cities. Drivers are verified and it’s perfectly safe. BlaBlaCar is the biggest company.

When to Go to Spain

Spain is lovely year-round, but the peak season — meaning, busiest and most expensive— is in the summer, from June to August. Popular destinations like Barcelona and Ibiza experience a massive influx of tourism — so much so that Barcelona’s residents have started clamping down on overtourism. Accommodations in the larger cities require serval months of advance booking is summer, and small shops may be closed in August for family holidays. The weather is fabulous this time of year, with high temperatures well into the 30s°C (90s°F)

The temperature in Spain doesn’t often drop too low, with winter temps between 4-10°C (40-50°F) country-wide. However, Northern Spain does sometimes experience snowfall — especially in the mountainous areas. While I wouldn’t aim to visit in the winter, if you’re already in Europe, this is going to be one of the warmer destinations on the continent, especially in the south. Madrid and Barcelona have plenty of holiday festivals in December and early January for Christmas and Three Kings Day. If you are in Spain during the holidays, visit a bakery to try traditional, seasonal desserts.

The shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) are great times to visit. Tourist sites are less congested (think Gaudi attractions in Barcelona)and prices are a bit cheaper, especially accommodations in Barcelona or Madrid. Temperatures are pleasant, although it’s not exactly beach season. Beach destinations like Ibiza and Mallorca tend to get very quiet during this time, but there is still plenty to see and do around the rest of the country. If you plan on outdoor activities or hiking the Camino de Santiago, this is the time of year to do it.

How to Stay Safe in Spain

Spain is pretty safe to visit. Violent attacks are uncommon, and the country is safe for solo travelers However, petty crime is really widespread and pickpocketing is very common in the larger cities, especially near major tourist sites (such as La Rambla in Barcelona) and on public transportation. Always keep your valuables secure and out of sight when on public transportation and when out and about. The thieves here are incredibly quick here. Report thefts to the local police, or ask your hotel or hostel how to file a report.

Be extra careful in Barcelona, especially in high season, where people may try to snatch your phone on the street or grab your stuff in crowded subways (pickpocketing is not as bad elsewhere in Spain). Also, never leave your backpack, phone, or laptop out and unsecured when at a cafe or restaurant. They can disappear in the blink of an eye.

Scams are also very common, especially in the larger cities (not that common though in smaller cities). Keep an eye out for kids in groups who might try to distract you before lifting your wallet, as well as people who might offer to “help” carry your luggage or take your photo, only to expect a hefty tip as thanks. You can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here. However, the standard safety precautions apply (always keep an eye on your drink at the bar, never walk home alone at night while intoxicated, etc.). Many hostels also have female-only dorm rooms. For specific tips on staying safe, check out one of the many solo female travel blogs on Spain. They’ll be able to provide specific advice that I, a man, can’t.

If you experience an emergency, dial 122 for assistance.

Always trust your gut. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID, and keep them separate from your originals. When you’re walking around, take minimal cash and one form of ID.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Spain Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
• BlaBlaCar – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!
• Take Walks – This walking tour company provides inside access to attractions and places you can’t get elsewhere. Their guides rock and they have some of the best and most insightful tours in all of Spain.

Spain Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Spain travel and continue planning your trip:

The 7 Best Hotels in Madrid

The 7 Best Hotels in Barcelona

The Best Walking Tours in Barcelona

The Best Walking Tours in Seville

The Perfect 3 Day Granada Itinerary

The 7 Best Hostels in Seville

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What you need to know about European travel this summer

With headlines warning of everything from flight delays to wildfires, summer travel is changing. Here’s how to make sure your trip this summer goes smoothly.

Record numbers of tourists are expected to visit Europe this summer. In the first three months of 2024, the number of international arrivals has already risen by 7.2% compared to 2019’s pre-pandemic figures, according to the European Travel Commission , with 120 million international tourists visiting the region in that time. Yet while this is welcome news for the tourism industry, some challenges remain for visitors, especially during the summer’s busy peak season, when potential flight delays, high temperatures, new laws and major events could all impact travel. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your European trip this summer goes smoothly.

1. What you need to know about flight disruptions

Increased passenger numbers, staff shortages and strikes meant there were 106.7 million delayed air passengers in Europe during peak summer months last year. More than 700,000 passengers were affected over the August bank holiday in the UK alone following a technical meltdown at air traffic control. This year, EasyJet has had to cancel over 100 flights from Paris due to a no-fly zone during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Ryanair has also cut flights from its summer schedule after the delivery of several of its new Boeing aircraft was delayed. If you’re due to fly, visit the airport’s website for the latest information, and check social media for real-time updates from other travellers. Remember that you may be owed compensation if you face disruption, but rules vary, so take out a travel insurance policy as soon as you book flights.

( What should you do if your flight is delayed or cancelled? )

2. Why you should consider travelling by train

Keep your carbon footprint low, avoid airport hassle and see even more of Europe this summer by taking advantage of a whole host of new and expanded routes across the continent. New services include a high-speed route connecting Barcelona to Madrid and Seville , a sleeper train from Brussels to Prague , a daily train between Vilnius and Riga , a relaunched night train between Paris and Nice and a sleeper train from Rome to the Dolomites . Following the success of Germany’s €49 unlimited monthly travel pass last year, France has also introduced its own nationwide rail pass for the same price. However, this is only valid for those under 27 and excludes high-speed TGV trains and travel in the greater Paris region of Ile-de-France.

( 6 of the world’s best coastal rail journeys .)

3. What to do you if you’re affected by wildfires

Following unprecedented high temperatures, wildfires swept through some of Europe’s most popular tourist spots last summer, scorching parts of Tenerife, mainland Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy. This year, protective measures have already been put in place that aim to prevent a repeat of the disaster, with Greece banning all outdoor fires from April and increasing investment in fire detection and water tankers. To ensure you’re protected if the worst happens, arrange travel insurance at the time of booking, then keep an eye on official travel advisories for up-to-date information. If you’re affected by wildfires or any other natural disasters when you’re away, follow the advice of the emergency services and evacuate when instructed, then contact your tour operator or airline for help getting home.

( What to do if you’re caught in a disaster while travelling. )

4. How big events could disrupt your travel  

From Taylor Swift’s tour across Europe to the UEFA European Championship in Germany, Europe is limbering up for a summer of major cultural and sporting events. The Olympic Games in Paris are expected to attract three million more visitors than usual . This is likely to mean a greater demand for accommodation, higher prices, crowded public transport, unexpected road closures and even increased security checks in response to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks. If your holiday does coincide with an event, try to explore beyond the city itself, visit nearby tourist attractions that could be quieter than normal, or just enjoy the inevitable citywide buzz surrounding the main event.

( How to explore Paris this summer beyond the Olympics. )

5. Why you should think about overcrowding

While many destinations welcome a return to pre-pandemic levels of tourism, others are actively trying to deter visitors. In Barcelona , tour groups have been capped at 20 people, while entrance to Athens’ Acropolis is now limited to 20,000 tourists each day. Dubrovnik has already cut the number of souvenir stands by 80%, while thousands attended an anti-tourism protest in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in April. All are concerned that overcrowding leads to skyrocketing prices for locals and causes environmental damage, with increased plastic pollution, erosion of heritage sites and traffic congestion. Consider less-visited destinations instead, swapping Santorini for Folegandros an hour’s ferry ride away, Dubrovnik for Šibenik with its medieval centre and fortress, or Barcelona for the Spanish seaside city of Valencia.

( What’s the problem with overtourism? )

6. How to deal with heatwaves

2023 was the hottest year on record globally, with temperatures in Europe above average for 11 months of the year. The Mediterranean was the worst area affected, with temperatures soaring above 40°C across Italy, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus and Greece. Consider travelling outside the hottest months, between July and September, or visiting destinations further north such as Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Lithuania or Ireland which should escape the most intense heat. If temperatures do climb, wear high-factor SPF, avoid being outside in the middle of the day and wear light-coloured clothes made from breathable materials. Avoid alcohol and drink plenty of water, and keep a close eye on vulnerable people, including young children and the elderly.

7. How to avoid being caught out by local laws and taxes

Do your research before travelling to make sure you don’t fall foul of new laws. A €5 tax for day-trippers was introduced in Venice in April, for example, and will be enforced on selected dates until July. It can be paid online in advance, and those staying overnight are exempt but do still need to register. A second tourist tax of €1 to €5 per night is already applicable to overnight stays and should be paid at your hotel. Be aware that some Airbnbs ask that this is paid in cash. Other new rules in parts of Mallorca and Ibiza ban drinking on the street and prevent shops selling alcohol at night, though you will still be able to buy drinks in bars and restaurants.

Related Topics

• FAMILY TRAVEL
• CITY GUIDES

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Canada issues travel warning to popular European destinations

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Canadian travellers headed to some popular European destinations this summer should be aware of an important travel warning issued by the Government of Canada.

On June 4, 2024, the federal government changed its travel advisory for Italy , stating visitors should "exercise a high degree of caution due to the threat of terrorism."

The government's advisory notes that there is currently a "threat of terrorism in Europe."

"Terrorists have carried out attacks in several European cities and further attacks elsewhere in Europe are likely. Attacks in Italy cannot be ruled out," states the warning.

It adds that possible targets could include government buildings, places of worship, airports or other transportation hubs, and public areas such as tourist attractions, eateries, bars, markets, and shopping centres.

Government of Canada/Screenshot

The federal government has issued the same "high degree of caution" warning for other European holiday destinations like Spain , Germany , and France .

The French government has raised its threat level within its "Vigipirate" plan — a set of measures to protect its citizens, infrastructure, and institutions in the event of an attack — to its highest level.

Those travelling to Paris for the Olympic Games from July 26 to August 11 and the Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8 should expect an increased presence of security forces, major traffic disruptions, and large crowds.

The Spanish government has a public alert system in place for terrorism. Its current level is four (high) on a scale of five.

Canada's guidance for those visiting Germany emphasizes that travellers should "exercise caution," especially during the EURO 2024 soccer tournament from June 14 to July 14, due to the threat of terrorism in the country, as well as theft and "rowdy behaviour" from fans during post-game celebrations.

According to the Government of Canada's travel warning levels, "exercise a high degree of caution" means that there are or could be "certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly."

A full list of Canada's current travel advisories can be found here .

 aquatarkus / Shutterstock.com

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International travel documents for children

See what documents a child needs to travel to or from the U.S. alone or with a parent or relative.

Children traveling to the U.S.

All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents such as a passport or document from a Trusted Traveler Program to enter the U.S. If you travel or are going to travel with a child, consider taking the following documents:

• If the child is traveling with only one of their custodial parents, they must have a letter of consent, preferably in English and notarized, from the other parent or signed by both parents. The letter should say "I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission."
• If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
• Parents who frequently cross the border by land with a minor must always carry a letter of permission from the other parent.

U.S. citizen children traveling abroad

Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction . If you are traveling alone with your child, you may be required to present documentation proving you are the parent or legal guardian. You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. 

If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian. If a minor is traveling abroad and is not accompanied by both parents or a legal guardian, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting and ask about entry and exit requirements for that country.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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19 - 20 June 2024  •  London ExCeL

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Netsuite Advert Slot 1

The impact of nomadic technology and experience on visa success rates.

I believe that fully understanding clients’ needs and demands is the first step in delivering products and services that can make a real difference for an organisation. Pairing this commitment to partnering with our clients with the knowledge and experience of Nomadic’s technology and global team makes it a truly transformative force in the industry.

The Nomadic technology solution was developed by experienced and innovative immigration professionals from Fragomen, the world’s leading provider of immigration services.

It is a streamlined solution that alleviates the challenges associated with organising international trips and securing the necessary travel documentation, while ensuring compliance with travel and immigration regulations.

We deliver pre-trip assessments, online ordering, in-depth reporting, and top industry professionals to provide a seamless and reassuring user experience for the traveller and travel manager.

Nomadic's web portal is the primary access point for all services. Users can seamlessly run assessments and place orders for support for travel documents including visa applications within the system.

Once an order is initiated, the user immediate receives the information required to get started compiling application documents.  Upon receipt of a new order, a Nomadic professional personally contacts the traveller with instructions and provides continuous support throughout the process, fielding questions and concerns that could arise along the way.  The order status can be tracked in real time using the Portal Application Tracker and clients directly communicate with their assigned Nomadic consultant.

Nomadic continues to support the traveller even after document processing is complete. Traveller profiles are updated with details from the application and the newly issued document, including:

• Expiry tracking of visas and passports with advance alert notifications;
• Complete record of documents stored and assessment history;
• A traveller profile for future applications, reducing time-consuming data entry; and
• For those requiring robust reporting, Nomadic offers customisable dashboard reports and detailed data analytics, enabling insight and oversight for clients.

It’s a truly end-to-end service that marries the latest technology with Fragomen’s vast global knowledge.

The impact on the industry as it progresses at speed towards increased digitalisation cannot be underestimated.

In one client case study that I am particularly proud of, a modern staffing arrangement required a modern solution.

This client is a global technology company with a fully dispersed, at-home workforce and is passionate about providing opportunities to all staff.  They host in-person events several times a year in different locations in Europe, North America and beyond. Many of their staff require visas for this international travel and rejections of visa applications was a cause for concern for an organisation that wanted to offer equal opportunity for networking and development.

This is where Nomadic stepped in.

We are in the Americas, we are in the Middle East, we are in Europe, we are in Asia ...and that’s where our clients’ people are. We offer a truly global service.  Our clients receive support from a local subject matter expert who speaks their language, is familiar with their organisational set-up and understands its unique employment arrangements.  That expert understands better than anyone the common pitfalls with visa applications in their regions and helps applicants to improve their chances of being successfully issued a visa for travel.

The results since the Nomadic partnership began with this client are notable.  As experts in visa applications locally and globally, our team is able to provide world-class advice and solutions on a case-by-case basis.

Visa success rates over the course of the past year have improved by more than 37% and continue to climb - giving our client improved attendance numbers and better global representation at their events.   

This is a prime example of a client who is everywhere globally and the successful working relationship demonstrates why it is so crucial that we are too.

This outcome is not unusual for our clients.  Across the board we see an improved overall experience for travellers and travel managers alike, as well as an improved success rate for applications. This is why Nomadic continues to be a transformative force in the industry.

About the author: Nomadic Director Jen Fackelman is a recognised thought-leader in short-term cross-border business travel. An industry innovator, Jen brings extensive experience to the business travel conversation and opens new and exciting debates on topics. She is based in London.

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