how to plan europe trip from india

A Step-by-Step Guide On How To Plan A Europe Trip From India

Europe is considered as one of the most loving travel destinations for Indians.

UNWTO reports stated that Europe sees 20% of the travellers from India’s outbound traffic. France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland are considered favourite countries in Europe.

But still, no matter who you are from India, one basic question comes to your mind before planning a trip to Europe, i.e., how to plan a Europe trip from India – without overreached the earned leaves or budget?

Before deep-diving into this matter let’s find out one thing. Why do we Indians love Europe so much as our dream travel destination?

Needless to say, one of the major influences comes from our Bollywood movies – It’s a romantic gateway for heroes and heroine to cherish their love, where we can witness some stunning landscapes across different parts of the continent, ease of travel throughout the continent, variety of culture, etc. Sometimes the influence becomes so strong that some of us planned their proposal in the ‘City of Love’ – Paris or go on to choose Switzerland as their honeymoon destination to witness the magic of Europe in reality.

I am quite sure, there are some issues with many travellers who are mostly on budget and try to do all sorts of calculations to cut off the expenses related to the trip such as flight charges, accommodation, food, and most importantly visa problem, which hold them back.

Relax! In this article, I will provide you some pro tips and a step-by-step outline on how you can go ahead carefully planning your dream Euro Trip a reality without any stress or any kind of brainstorming and most importantly on a budget.

Let’s go then!

Jump ahead to:

How to Plan A Budget Europe Trip From India

Planning an organized trip can really take as long as you want. However, if you planning to visit at least the big cities/capitals, you should have to spend a minimum of 2 full days in each city you visit and smaller cities might need only 1 full day. Write-off your arrival day to Europe for sure. It’s very natural to get a jet-lag.

Before starting your dream Europe trip plan, here are a few tips for your trip around Europe on a budget:

Choose your destinations wisely — If you have a clear idea about what you want to see like Colosseum or Vatican City in Rome and the Eiffel Tower or Louvre in Paris, you already know where you will go. Found out the main attractions you want to see and do in each city you’d like to visit. Make a list for your reference, so that you won’t miss out on anything.

Plan Your Travel Path — You might have your heart set on Prague, Rome, Amsterdam, Paris, and Athens, but if you only have two weeks or less, you’ll have to rethink. These cities are spread out and you need to spend a lot of time traveling than enjoying Europe. Plan out a travel path that is closely connected, and leave the remaining destinations for your next visit. It’s next to impossible to travel even only the big cities in Europe in a month’s time!

Figure out your budget — Apart from planning a travel path that won’t take up your entire trip, you should also plan out how much you need to spend for traveling place to place, food, stay, etc. If it’s starting to hit you hard, try to skip a destination that would be fun, but not worthy for this trip.

Plan Day Trips — Sometimes you may discover after checking your travel route that some places you want to visit are pretty close to bigger cities where you want to stay in. So, planning a day trip to the countryside instead of spending a night in a small town could be exciting and trust me, the European countryside will always surprise you with its beauty and it’s better to have a break from the bustling city.

Look for cheap and convenient travel options – One of the major portions of our budget usually goes into booking the main flights to and from India. I will suggest you use some of the flight app trackers like Skyscanner, Google Flights, or can visit the direct sites to compare the fares to keep a watch on the flight rates well ahead of your tentative travel date to get the best lowest rates or connection. Always look for a cheaper connection from major cities like Delhi or Mumbai. When you are traveling within European cities, you can also plan to take buses, trains, or budget airlines (through low-cost European carrier Ryanair or Wizz Air) on your trip but the prices will depend on how close cities are and which European budget airline you fly with.

Depending on the number of countries you choose, it is often economical to buy a Eurail Pass , an all-in-one train ticket giving you unlimited access to most trains across various destinations. Let me tell you one important thing if you manage your carry-on luggage strictly under 10 kgs, then you can fly as cheap as 30 Euro or less than that to different destinations within Europe to save time. Although, if not then, going by the bus (Flixbus) is the next best but definitely the cheapest option while travelling within Europe. My total intra-Europe travel cost including commuting to five countries through 4 flights, and 1 train travel came up to a total of ₹ 6780.

Find out budget Accommodation – Finding cheap accommodation is another aspect when you have a few days to stay in a city. Some of the best options for affordable accommodations include Airbnb, Youth hostels—or luxury hostels, hotels, and the cheapest of all couch surfing. Each of them will vary in price and location, but according to your budget, you should try to stay near to the city centre as it saves some travel time while visiting the tourist destinations.

When and Where To Visit In Europe

I planned my Euro-trip when I was doing my M.Sc. in Business Administration in Rome.  It took me two months to decide on which places to visit and finally came up with a fully packed 10-day itinerary covering 5 cities (only capital cities) with a complete estimate of what the middle-class me as a student was most worried about – Budget!

Here’s a brief outline for those who are planning a European vacation for the first time.

Now, the answer to this when and where to visit in Europe lies in the time you have available as well as your budget.

So, if you are clueless about what would be the ideal time to travel to your favourite European holiday destinations then the answer will be any time between the high season and low season (Known as Shoulder season) is often considered as the ideal time to visit Europe as major cities don’t seem to be as crowdy as in high season.

Ideally Spring (between March-May) and Autumn (between September-November) are the best time to travel but most of the cities are happen to be crowdy and sightseeing could be a bit expensive as well.

If you are travelling Europe for the first time, try to do a sampling of all the exotic locations that Europe has to offer. Keep the rest for your next visit, which may be a long stay in a destination that really close to your heart, and skip over a place you may not have enjoyed.

No need to worry about that!

Here’s a simple breakdown of the minimum duration of your stay in each country (only for 11 Schengen countries). In this chart below, we are assuming that you are going to visit at least 2 major cities and 2 minor cities in each country for your Europe trip.

Europe Trip Itinerary From India

To make your life easier I am going to suggest a 14-Day Europe trip itinerary from India, which is something like this:

Delhi (India) —> Budapest (Hungary) *

• Budapest is one of those European cities that has a little bit of everything. The main attractions are the Parliament Building, Buda Castle, Szechenyi Chain Bridge, Fisherman’s Bastion, the ruin bars etc and is perfect for the budget travellers and backpackers as many of its tourist sights are FREE! In addition, you can also visit few other major urban cities like Eger , Szeged , Pecs .

Budapest (Hungary) —> Vienna (Austria)

• Guess what! Your next destination has been ranked the most livable city in the world! You should definitely visit Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, Belvedere Palace, The Museum of Fine Art, and last but not the least, the classical Vienna Coffee with Sacher cake. Include Innsbruck and Salzburg in your list as well (Bollywood has a special inclination towards these three locations – 85 movies were partly shot in Austria in the last few years)

Vienna (Austria) —> Prague (Czech Republic)

• Capital of Czech Republic – Prague or Praha is also known as the “City of Thousand Spires”, situated at the centre of Europe. The most significant landmarks include Charles Bridge, Prague Castle Complex, The Old Town, Prague’s Astronomical Clock, and of course, the Czech beer!  Don’t miss out Brno , second biggest city and considered as one of the  top places to visit in Czech Republic. From Brno you can visit Adršpach Rock City, famous for formations made out sandstone that are pretty unusual in appearance. This one is perfect city for those who’re looking forward to an offbeat adventure. Your last stop could be Liberec, city with perfect balance of art and adventure. Adventure lovers can hike and ski at Jizera Mountains. Also, visit Jested peak that offers jaw-dropping views.

Prague (Czech Republic) —> Paris (France)

• Most people prefer to visit the ‘City of Love” – Paris during their first trip to Europe. Paris is a plethora of fashion, food, art and culture. The most popular attraction in Paris is none other than the Eiffel Tower, an engineering marvel in itself. Other popular attraction includes – Louvre Museum, Arc De Triomphe, Palace of Versailles. Finally, how you can miss the Champs-Elysées evening stroll and Ladurée’s macarons which are the perfect balance of flavours that simply melts in your mouth! A walk in Montmartre is perfect to end your day of exploration. If you are a lover of good food and wine, then Bordeaux, the capital of French wine is the place for you. Nice and Marseille are among the other best cities to visit in France.

Paris (France) —> Rome (Italy)

• There are so many incredible cities to visit in Italy alone, you could easily spend your whole 14-days’ vacation in this wonderful country with a stunning natural beauty and rich historical, architectural brilliance. The cities that you shouldn’t miss apart from Rome is Florence, which require at least 2-3 days each, while smaller cities like Naples and Venice can be seen in a day or two.

Rome (Italy) —>Delhi

*Write-off your arrival day to Europe

For internal travel between cities check options through  rome2rio , which shows the best and cheapest options for buses, flights, or trains.

Moreover, if you don’t want to plan your Europe trip by yourself, then you can travel through some Indian Tour agencies who provide some best Europe tour packages from India, like Thomas Cook, SOTC, etc, but I personally don’t recommend that as they have some pre-planned trips with time-bound.

Finally, if you are looking for a guided and expert planned vacation and travel packages and want to plan your own custom Europe trip, your best place could be ‘TravelStride’. They will match you with a local travel expert and plan, a custom itinerary for you as per your budget!

How cool is that!!

Things To Take On Europe Trip From India

Before heading out to the booking your flight, there are few very important things that you’ll need to take on a Europe trip from India.

Before you pack your bags and be ready to go, check all your travel documents and other necessary things prepared. This includes your passport (valid at least 6 months from your arrival), Europe travel insurance, travel itinerary, Europe trip package information, hotel reservations, visas (if necessary), copies of your passport, Europe travel map, and an international driver’s license if you intend to drive in countries that require one.

Visa for Europe Trip From India

For Europe, there are 26 countries that are covered under the Schengen Visa scheme. Firstly, be very clear about your plan and the number of countries you intend to visit, check whether they are covered under the Schengen scheme or not?

For traveling to Europe, you need to apply for a short-term Schengen visa under the “tourist” specification from India. Schengen Visa Fees for Indian Passport holders is around ₹ 7000.

You can easily apply through the VFS centres in your respective city. Still having doubts, don’t!

You can apply your Schengen Visa on your own through VFS Global .

It is highly recommended to apply for a visa at least two months prior to your probable travel date to avoid last minute tension.

SIM Card For Europe Travel From India

Are you planning to buy a SIM card for Europe travel from India?

If possible, try to avoid that. It’s always better to buy a local SIM card in the respective country as roaming charges do apply and network availability might vary. For example, in Italy Wind mobile is economical and easily accessible across all cities with attractive plans.

Europe Travel Insurance

When you are travelling to Europe, it is compulsory to have well-covered travel insurance for visa purposes as well as for our own medical assurance. It is recommended to always purchase insurance which covers not only the actual number of days but extra days as well. There are various approved Indian travel insurance companies (Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, etc), where you can purchase travel medical insurance for the Schengen visa process. I purchased my insurance through Bajaj Allianz at the time of my travel. It will cost you around ₹ 2000 to ₹ 3000.

How Much Does It Cost For Europe Trip From India?

Many people ask this question, but honestly speaking that is quite difficult to answer.

Firstly, Europe is not a country, it’s a continent that comprises many countries. Some of them are more expensive to travel like, Switzerland and some are relatively cheaper like, Greece, while a few of them are pretty cheap e.g., Budapest.

Please keep in mind that your cost will entirely depend on which places you visit at what season, the kind of accommodation you stay at, the modes you choose for intra-city transportation (flights, taxis, train, buses, etc.).

How much would a solo Europe trip from India cost?

Europe trip budget from India for a normal 14-day trip that covers 4-5 countries usually costs people up to 1 to 1.5 Lakhs per person. On the other hand, if you are doing the entire Europe trip backpacking (hitchhiking, staying in hostels, choosing cheap transportations wisely etc.), the costs will be substantially different from a regular trip.

You can get an idea of the costs from the posts on Eastern Europe tours from India .

I hope this gives you a clear idea about the cost of Europe trip from India.

I am quite sure that this article will help you plan a budget Europe trip with ease and serves as a complete Europe trip guide from India. If you find it useful, have any questions, or suggestions for improving the blog please write feedback in a comment.

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Planning A EuroTrip From India in 2024 (Tips, Apps and websites to Use, Budget etc)

Everyone wants to go on an ideal Eurotrip but are usually confused. Here, I write a guide on planning a Europe trip from India all on your own.

Written by: Soumya Nambiar

Last Updated on: February 10, 2024

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links we may make a commission from.

Many of us have that dream. To spend one summer, backpacking across Europe.

Even though it was not my first time in Europe , I finally got some time off to do a trip across Europe this summer. I am not sure why. But suddenly, I am getting queries from many of my readers to help them plan their trips to Europe and they see me as some kind of a Europe vacation planner.

Even though many of my readers consider me as a Europe trip planner from India, I really cannot spare the time to plan someone else’s vacation. Planning Europe trip from India is not a cakewalk but I give you pointers in this post. I had written a similar one for USA and hopefully, this guide will be as helpful as that one. Here I give you tips on planning a Europe trip from India.

I have gone more than 20 times to Europe in the past 10 years and you can find more about my favourite European destinations . This Europe travel blog by an Indian hopes to be the foremost expert on this subject.

Planning your Europe trip at the last minute?

I know everyone is busy and don’t have time to plan their itinerary to Europe. Here are some quick links to make you the best Europe trip planner.

• Booking is my go to for booking boutique hotels in Europe.
• I always use Skyscanner for all my flights to Europe.
• Getyourguide is my favourite tour aggregator in Europe.
• I use Hostelworld to book all my hostels in Europe.
• I use DiscoverCars to compare car rental prices.
• FlixBuses for all my bus transportation in Europe.
• RailEurope for all my train bookings in Europe.

Don’t want to plan your Europe trip on your own? I found many preplanned Europe tours for you to choose from:

• Europe for 12 days
• Jewel of Europe for 14 days
• Balkans for 12 days

Table Of Contents

• 0.1 Find out my recommendations for Europe
• 1.2 Read a lot of travel blogs/ travel articles online while planning Euro trip from India:
• 1.3 Booking Your Flight tickets while planning a Euro trip from India:
• 1.4 Preparing a 5-6 week Europe trip itinerary from India
• 1.5 Applying for a Schengen Visa for Indians:
• 1.6 Internal Travel within Europe during your Euro trip:
• 1.7 Accommodation while Eurotrip planning from India:
• 1.8 How to book other Activities to plan a trip to Europe from India:
• 1.9 Public Transportation in Europe:
• 1.10 What to Pack for Women for a trip to Europe?
• 1.11 Foreign Currency in Europe:
• 1.12 Europe trip cost from India / How much does it cost for Europe trip from India?
• 1.13 Which Mobile SIM to use in Europe:
• 1.14 Using Google Maps in Europe:
• 1.15 Inform all your banks and mobile phone operators while planning a Europe trip from India:
• 1.16 How do I plan a 15 day trip to Europe?
• 2 Conclusion:

Find out my recommendations for Europe

Before we go any further, find out some of my recommendations for day trips for your trip to Europe.

Hvar, Croatia

The 5 island tour from Split is a favorite

Colmar, France

Colmar is definitely one of the prettiest towns in Europe.

Algarve, Portugal

My favorite beaches in Europe are here

Tips on planning a Europe Trip From India / How to plan Europe trip from India

Find below some sample itineraries if it is your first time in Europe. You can find more details in my detailed Europe itinerary post.

Read a lot of travel blogs/ travel articles online while planning Euro trip from India:

A year ago, if you had asked me where Algarve was , I would have probably stared at you like you were from outer space. But now that is a thing of the past and Algarve has been added to my list of favourite places from around the world. I read a lot of travel blogs, national geographic/ lonely planet / Conde Nast travel articles every day.

I read voraciously any travel related content that I can get my hands on. I now have a better sense of the places that I really want to visit. So why do I ask you to read them? Because if you don’t, then you end up visiting only the famous cities like Paris , Amsterdam etc and you tend to ignore all the other gorgeous lesser-known cities/towns/villages. If you want to be your own Eurotrip planner, then no one can judge your tastes better than yourself.

As travel bloggers, we can only give you our version of how a place is and give you tips based on our experiences on how to plan Euro trip. This post gives you some ideas on how to plan a Europe trip from India.

Booking Your Flight tickets while planning a Euro trip from India:

This comprises a huge chunk of your travelling expense. So you need to find the best possible deal for this. In my case, I had made my mind to fly into Lisbon and then fly back to Bangalore via Dubai (I stayed with my sister for a few days on my way back) from one of the cities in Western/Central Europe.

With this intention in mind, I logged into Skyscanner and Kayak  to give me the best possible rates and dates for this combination. After many iterations, I finally got a good deal and picked Emirates which was my best option. Both these sites are extremely good when it comes to finding the best flight deals.

I flew into Lisbon and flew out of Frankfurt via Dubai to Bangalore . Even though my cheapest option was Oman Air, I did not want to spend a lot of time in transit and preferred a straightforward route rather than taking multiple flights.

Read this post

Best places in Mexico to visit

Preparing a 5-6 week Europe trip itinerary from India

I know that there are many people who would love to take traveling as it comes. Go without any pre-set plan and make plans on the go. I am not such a person. I always love to know beforehand where I will be staying, for how long I will be there in any particular place.

Even though it sometimes does not go according to plan , my mind is still at peace if I knew beforehand.So what did I first do? While planning my Europe travel itinerary , I made an initial list of places I wanted to visit. I did take a lot of inspiration from this post by BlondeAbroad . So my initial draft of places for my Europe tour plan from India looked like this:

• Lisbon • Porto • Madrid • Costa Del Sol • Seville • Barcelona • Andorra • Paris • Strasbourg • Luxembourg • Bruges • Ghent • Amsterdam • Frankfurt But then I decided to consult a map and realised that my geography was all over the place. I knew that I had to make some changes. A friend helped too. He was like why are you not going to Central Europe or Mallorca in Spain ?

Since I had been to Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt, I decided to cut short my days there and decided to add Vienna and Prague to the list. I had to remove Andorra also since I realised that I needed a multiple entry Schengen Visa and I had applied for a single entry.

After multiple iterations, my itinerary finally looked doable. My final Europe tour itinerary looked like this:

• Lisbon • Algarve • Madrid • Seville (This got canceled) • Barcelona • Mallorca • Paris • Amsterdam • Brussels (Took day trips from here to Luxembourg, Bruges and Ghent) • Luxembourg • Bruges • Ghent • Strasbourg (Day Trip to Colmar) • Colmar • Vienna • Prague • Frankfurt (Only went to catch a flight to Dubai since changing the port of exit to Prague meant paying a huge deal of money.) Whew, that is too many places to see. Don’t get disillusioned by the number of places. It is definitely doable. I wish I can follow the concept of ‘slow travel’ but currently, that is not an option for me. Once the places were decided, I had to decide how many days I was going to spend in each of these locations.

I had an excel sheet where I tracked all these changes and I have no clue what I would have done without that excel sheet.

Recommended Read – Where to go in Europe

Applying for a Schengen Visa for Indians:

I have already written about this in detail here . Once I figured that I was going to spend 9 days in Spain, I realised that I had to apply for a Schengen Visa through Spain consulate.

There is one thing I would like to tell my readers here. I cannot give you any guarantee that you will be granted a visa. But what I have seen is that if you have all the required documentation, then they have no grounds to reject the visa.

Internal Travel within Europe during your Euro trip:

I know the temptation of buying those Europe travel packages from India. But you need not do this and can entirely plan your travel within Europe on your own at half the price.

If you do not use Rome2rio yet, please start using it at once. It is one of the most helpful websites that I have come across. So what does it do? It gives you a list of options of how you can go from one place to another. It even tells you which mode of transportation is the shortest and the cheapest.

Many people asked me if it is required to get a Eurorail pass . There are contradictory views to this. But when I evaluated it in my case, it was coming out to be too expensive. The only advantage that an Eurorail pass gives is flexibility and it may work out to be cheaper if you are less than 26 years old. Also in some of the countries I visited, buses were cheaper and more convenient. Since my dates were already fixed, it was easier for me to pre-book all my tickets. But if you want flexibility, then a Eurail pass may be better.

Another great resource for train travel in Europe is Man in Seat 61 . This dude knows everything about train travel and you can check him out. He gives you multiple options on which trains to take from Point A to Point B. He also tells us which website is better to book trains in each country.

From Rome2Rio , I figured out if it was better to take a bus or a train. It also redirects to the websites of the various bus operators in the continent. Flixbus is a good and cheap bus service if you want to book buses within Europe. I took only one flight within Europe, that was from Barcelona to Mallorca and back. I booked through Ryan Air and they are one of the cheapest options. But there are several things to keep in mind if you are flying with Ryan Air. I will detail them out in a later post.

Accommodation while Eurotrip planning from India:

So do you want to book hostels, budget hotels or luxury hotels ? It really depends on what kind of a traveller you are. Since I was given sponsored stay in some locations, I did not have to worry about them. But for the rest of the locations, I still needed a place to stay. I went with a combination of all three.

I researched like crazy on Tripadvisor , Booking and narrowed my choices for the hotels.

In cases where I was staying in hostels, Hostelworld and Hostelbookers were my go-to guide. If you are staying in a 4-bed female dorm in a hostel, it will cost you a minimum of 25 Euros and this depends on how expensive the city is. Even in hostels, a private room can cause you around 80-100 Euros easily. In some cases, the hotels were cheaper than the hostels. All my accommodations in Europe cost me between 20 Euros – 110 euros per night during my Euro trip plan.

Need more budgeting tips. See how Amy managed to go around Europe in 45 days on a 3500$ budget .

Many people are apprehensive when it comes to booking hostels. But I really enjoyed my time in hostels this time around and I would definitely be using them more next time.

Most hostels now cater to the luxury traveller who wishes to have some privacy but at the same time want to meet new people. Hostels host a variety of fun events like bar crawls, free walking tours, traveller nights etc.

I did not opt for an Airbnb this time since I was travelling alone. Else Airbnb is an excellent choice in Europe. I was very happy with all my choices and the only one I would have changed is the one in Amsterdam .

But you cannot have everything in life and there will be few cases when all the above sites fail you. But through all the three sites, you can research which is the best locality for you and which hotel/hostel suits your tastes. All these sites also offer deals and they can be a steal if you do your research right.

How to book other Activities to plan a trip to Europe from India:

You can always book for other activities online through Viator and GetyourGuide . But for most of it, I left the day’s activities idle. This gave me the flexibility for me to go there and decide what I wanted to do and what I did not want to do.

However, for things like the Opera in Vienna , you may have to make your booking in advance if you want a good seat.

Public Transportation in Europe:

I love the public transportation system in Europe and you can always use Google maps to help you figure out how to go from one point to another. Else you can always walk, which I feel is the best way to discover a city in Europe.

I did not have much success with Uber though in Europe. They were always 15 minutes late. This has definitely become much better over the years.

What to Pack for Women for a trip to Europe ?

Carry an umbrella. You never know when it is going to rain. Since I was there during Spring/early Summer , I had carried with me a combination of clothes that would suit both weather conditions. I was able to wear shorts only in sunny Algarve . Most of the other places I had to stick to wearing jeans and tops coupled with a light sweater. I wore a lot of dresses but I had to wear tights along with it. A jacket is also ideal for colder locations like Paris. You are going to be doing a lot of walking. So it is ideal that you carry a good walking shoe and a pair of flip flops. I managed to considerably reduce the amount of baggage I was carrying this time. The thing to remember is that you can do your laundry there and most hostels will have a washing machine which you can hire for less than 5 euros. Europe uses round pins for all their electronic devices. So make sure to carry multi plugs if your devices have a square pin. Try to keep all your toiletries to the maximum allowed limit. Most of the hotels and hostels provide them.

Foreign Currency in Europe:

Do not carry too much cash. That is always my motto. Even though I lost all my cards this time , I will still stick to carrying the minimum amount of cash. In case you want to withdraw, you can always go to an ATM  and withdraw cash.

Only thing to note is that you have to pay around 3% on every card transaction. So it makes better sense to withdraw in bulk.

Also get yourself a cash passport. They are the most helpful cards that I have used till date.

Europe trip cost from India / How much does it cost for Europe trip from India?

Most people ask me how much it cost for my European vacation. In most places, I was able to manage with 50-100 Euros per day.

It also depends on the location you are travelling to. Places in Eastern Europe like Montenegro and Sarajevo are some of the cheapest destinations I have travelled to in Europe.

Which Mobile SIM to use in Europe:

I preferred Orange in Europe . You can use your Orange sim in all the countries in Europe. The only issue is that you cannot recharge them in another country. For instance, if you bought a SIM in Spain, you can use the SIM card in France too. However, you cannot recharge the card if it is out of balance. Initially, in Portugal, I went for a lesser-known company. But that SIM stopped working the minute I was out of Portugal. Hence it is better to stick to the known operators. But public free Wifi is the best thing in Europe. I will definitely write on that later.

Using Google Maps in Europe:

Always remember to download an offline Google map of the next city in your itinerary. You will not realise how useful this is for you. I forgot to do this for Madrid and you know how that turned out.

Inform all your banks and mobile phone operators while planning a Europe trip from India:

You are going for a long trip. So it is better that you inform all your concerned banks and mobile phone operators.

Airtel has pathetic customer care service and be prepared to scream at them for their incompetence. In spite of informing them, I still had to pay an exorbitant amount once I got back.

How do I plan a 15 day trip to Europe?

I have written extensively about planning your Europe itineraries . Use a combination of any of them to pick out the best one suited for you.

Conclusion:

These are some of my tips on how to plan a Europe trip on your own from India? Do you have any other queries regarding your trip to Europe ? You can always shoot me an email and I will get back to you at the earliest. Hopefully, I have covered most of the queries first-timers have about their Eurotrip .

Don’t forget to take a printout of every booking and leave a copy of it at home. Liked it, then pin it.

Find some recommendations for Europe guidebooks

Guidebooks for Europe

Traveling to Europe and need more guidance on which books to read? These are our recommendations for you to read before you go.

• Rick Steve’s Guide to Europe
• Lonely Planet’s Guide to Europe
• DK Eyewitness Guide to Europe

Recommended : Best DAy Trips in Europe

BOOKING RESOURCES

Looking to book your trip now? Find some of my favorite resources I use while booking my trip. You can also find my travel gear here .

Book Your Flight

I am a  Skyscanner  fan when it comes to booking international flights. I use  Makemytrip  and  Yatra  for domestic flights.

Book Accommodation

Booking  is my go to resource for booking hotel accommodation and I use  Airbnb  for booking my homestays. I also compare prices on  Tripadvisor  always. Another one I always use is Expedia .

Travel Insurance

As an Indian, I prefer  ICICILombard  and I am always insured when I am traveling outside India. In addition, I have used  World Nomads  and SafetyWing for some of my trips.

I do go on a lot of day tours especially when I am traveling solo and love going on road trips with my husband.. Depending on convenience, my choices are  Viator  or  Getyourguide .

About Soumya Nambiar

Soumya Nambiar here. I am an avid traveler, travel blogger, vegetarian foodie and entrepreneur from Bangalore, India who grew up in Tanzania, Africa. I have been to more than 60 countries and in this blog, I write about my personal experiences as an Indian traveller around the world as well as my struggles as a vegetarian. I can be reached at [email protected] .

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I'd imagine that for most travellers from India, six weeks in Europe would really tax the budget. Exchange rates would be pretty tough when you're converting Rupees to Euro. That's possibly why you're getting lots of enquiries about budget travel. What are the most popular destinations in Europe for travellers from India?

Great all-inclusive post about travel to Europe. I must admit, I had to google Algarve. Now that I've seen photos of it though, I am dying to go! Great tip about the visa, too.

Great tips about planning the trip! I must say I would have really hard time choosing just some places to visit during a trip like that. Europe offers so much, I really do not know how would I choose. What was your criteria, besides geography? 🙂

I plan my trips pretty similarly, with a lot of research and inspiration from fellow travelers and magazines. I love Rome2Rio also and I use it nearly every time I travel near or far. Hopefully I'll be touring Europe soon and I'll probably borrow some of your itinerary!

It sounds like you are super organised in planning your trip, especially using an excel spreadsheet – sounds just like me! I am a planner too and love to read up on places to go and also keep an eye out using sites like Skyscanner. Your trips are fantastic and really helpful to plan a trip to Europe, especially for first time visitors.

There was so much useful information crammed into one post! I have done both kinds of long term trips : planned from start to finish, and completely unplanned. I honestly enjoy both but I agree that sometimes it's better to have an itinerary planned, especially if traveling to areas like Europe that tend to cost more than say, SE Asia. It's definitely no fun to get to city and realize the only available accommodation is either out of your budget or already booked. I've been in those situations and sometimes you just have to bite the bullet, which ends up costing more. Plus, pre-planning your trip allows for more time to actually enjoy the place you're in instead of surfing the web. I'll definitely have to check out Rome2Rio. Thanks for sharing!

I know some friends who have done the backpacking trip and I so wish I had the energy to do it! There are a ton of amazing tips in here. I was surprised to read that you were able to find some good deals with Emirates. I thought they were the nicer airline companies that are on the pricier side 🙂

Great article abput how to plan a trip to Europe. It has all the important information one could need about visa, currancy etc. Thanks a lot! I love planning holidays. Probably my favourite past time activity.

Great itinerary for a Eurotrip, I've been to several of those cities already, a great choice of places! Also very useful info about those who travel to Europe for the first time. Thanks for sharing this!

There is definitely a lot to consider when planning a long trip especially in Europe. Hope it works out. Great list of things to research and places to visit.

Currently the most popular destinations are Paris and Amsterdam. Hopefully this will change in the coming years.

You should definitely go. It is a gorgeous place.

Well I wanted to go to Western Europe this time. So that was my criteria this time. 🙂

Hope you have a fun time in Europe when you go.

Yes I love planning most of my trip. I leave only some parts of the trip unplanned.

Yes Europe can turn out to be costly if we do not prebook in advance.

I am a frequent traveler on Emirates. So I usually have points. However this time I booked well in advance so the price difference was not much. Not as cheap as Oman Air. But the travel time for Oman Air was like 50 hours which meant I had to sleep in two different airports each way. Definitely not worth it.

Yes It is definitely a fun activity.

You are welcome

Yes I definitely did have a great trip except for a few bumps here and there.

Looks you have planned out your trip in detail very efficiently and its good to plan before visiting the place so you can utilize your time maximumly and can explore and enjoy the place.

Yes I love the planning part the best. So the trip was carefully planned.

Your article is a life saver. I can’t tell you how relieved I feel after getting all the inputs from your side. Coincidentally I started the planning thing on excel as I was bored at work :D. You’ve wonderfully attempted to explain every important aspect of travelling. Kudos !!

Thank You so much Abhishek. I am glad that you found it helpful.

You have mentioned about the Excel file with the planning here in the article. Could you share that with me please.

Even as a Swede I would probably try to mix it up a bit and put it into groups. This because some countries are easier to explore than others. Countries like France, Germany and Italy are groups one by one due to their size. Then you have the Benelux countries which is easy to travel between. You have the Iberian peninsula. You have Eastern Central Europe, with Austria, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia. You have the Nordics (Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland), Balkans and Balticum. There are of course a few more. By sorting it out in groups like this, then for a 6 week trip you have the possibility to choose three groups and really have the time to explore and enjoy each place. 🙂

I think you managed to pick a lot of lovely places, mostly very characteristic of their countries. I have realized that there is no such thing as a perfect itinerary. We need to enjoy each destination for what it is.

You definitely have some great tips here. Picking a geographical area is definitely key. Also, I’m heading to Belgium this summer, and saw you did a day trip from Brussels to Luxembourg. Now googling that for my trip 🙂

Europe is an expensive destination but if planned well and in advance definitely could be done. We have recently moved To Ireland and are planning to cover as much Europe possible by scoring some deals on flights. Downloading offline maps is a great way.

You have done a fab job listing these tips for someone looking to plan a Europe tour. Though everyone has their own set of plans but these basic tips would surely be handy. Agree public transport in Europe is awesome and they make it lot easy to travel across Europe. You have covered some of the best destination we missed looks like we need another trip planned 😉

It’s a dream for most Indians to go a Europe trip. But, money isn’t the only problem, the biggest challenge is to plan and execute the trip. You have just given the most amazing way to fulfill this Indian dream. We consider ourselves privileged to have been able to visit the lovely continent on a couple of occasions.

Totally loved your article. My Europe trip is planned in a month, and most of the planning part is done, still I am going to bookmark it for further reference w.r.t forex, google maps etc. It will help if you can add some info on some apps that might have come handy during this trip. We are also people in job, and we didn’t have time to go on a long backpacking trip. So, we are going on a two weeks holiday. Some things like booking your flight in advance, booking your hotel options in advance and making the right choice totally makes sense no matter for how many days you travel.

Great tips for travelling Europe from India. I really like the itineraries that you made. Those are some great cities with tons of stuff to see.

Great tips of planning Euro trips from India! I’ve never been to Europe but hope to visit soon. I also liked your visa tips!

I’ve lived in Europe for 4 years and travelled so much but this was still informative. I did look at your first itinerary and was like hmm that seems pretty erratic but then your second one made so much more sense haha. I agree with you on the wifi thing. I never had a functioning sim card outside of Denmark and I never needed it because wifi was everywhere!

It is a well written post with all little details. An Indian really need to plan well a budgeted trip to Europe otherwise the expenses will go beyond anything. Apart geography what else you considered for selecting the location for one week. Skyscanner is a real good option for flights and Rome2rio is new for me. Will bookmark this for my future reference.

Great post. Thanks a lot for taking so much effort to explain the things. Indians planning their first foreign trps always go through a lot of uncertanties and hesitations. As for myself, I am yet to even start planning but this should help!

Such a comprehensive guide this is. Thank you for sharing the tips. It will definitely help everyone who is planning a Europe Trip in coming days. I wish to go on a long trip like this someday

This is a very good guide not only for Indians who want to travel to Europe but for everybody. We should all spend time to careful plan our vacations in order to get the best deals and see as much as possible while also having fun. For me personally, when I backpacked Europe, the Interrail was very useful because I chose to travel a lot by train in Scandinavia. Just 2 train tickets in Norway would have made up the entire cost of the Interrail so for me it was a no brainer to buy the pass instead.

Such a long trip requires massive planning and you have good pointers to that. I usually do in smaller installments that is little easy on the pocket too and can balance with office and school schedules. But then your pointers are helpful for shorter vacations too.

Thanks for sharing this information.Europe is a dream destination of so many people to spend their Vacations. While visiting Europe we have to be careful about choosing best deals.

Wow! Amazing post for someone from india to plan a Euro trip from India. Bookmarked this post for my future travel plans.

Hope you get to visit Europe one day.

Thank you for making our knowledge more because it is most important to know about place we would like to visit once and we will see all location with is describe by you your blogs are very nice

Hi Soumya, Is Dec a good time to venture western European counties for an Indian couple?

Christmas markets and other winter activities are definitely a must in December. If you don’t mind the cold.

Many of us have a dream of travelling to euro countries from India. Thanks for this awesome post. This will definitely help many of our people and guide them.

Great tips you got there! Do Africans fit into the visa ideas?

Your blog is very informative thank you. It’s really helped me. Thank you

I have read your blog post and i found it is quite absolutely interesting. Keep up the good work!

Fantastic article, but you’re missing Europe’s most beautiful and inexpensive destination, Albania! No Schengen. easy visa

Hi A well written article How about a bus trip across europe, like landong in budapest and return from some other destinations?

Good luck 🙂

Thanks for sharing your detailed info. I love traveling very much. and I want to know which website is sharing cheap flight tickets.

Such a informative content! I hope everyone loves to travel for mental freshness. With the help of travel, we can improve health and immunity.

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FootLoose Dev

Travel blog by an Indian travel blogger.

How To Plan A Europe Trip From India

The very process of how to plan a Europe trip from India can feel daunting.

From applying visas to shortlisting destinations to following a strict budget, there is a lot to plan.

When I was thinking of my first ever backpacking trip to Europe, I was quite doubtful too. I had limited money and was travelling alone. To make it even worse, I was travelling Europe for 2-month, straight, covering 8 countries in total. But then, it helped me learn how to plan a Europe trip from India.

And now that I’ve been to Europe about a dozen times since my first trip in 2017, I think it’s time that I share some useful tips and a step-by-step guide and help others in planning a Europe trip from India, the way I did. So here we go…

Before I start, let’s see a quick Youtube video I have posted on my Youtube Channel. This is an overview of my 2 months Europe backpacking trip :

Now let’s start with TIP number 1 in our list of how to plan a Europe trip from India…

Know Your Budget

There is no denying the fact that Europe is an expensive destination for Indians. Even a basic meal in Mc Donalds, somewhere in Zurich, can cost over 1000 Rupees. Knowing how much you can spend always helps.

I suggest you take a pen and paper write down the approximate costs because thinking of budget figurately is a lot different than putting it on paper. Writing down your budget is the first step to plan a trip from India to Europe.

To give an idea, the day-to-day costs including accommodation, food, sightseeing, public transportation, and a few extra incidental costs come to somewhere between 60-100 EUR per day in Western Europe and 40-80 EUR per day in Eastern Europe, for a budget traveller. This is when you are not living lavishly but not making too many sacrifices either. If you’re doing activities like sky diving or visiting an adventure park, add those expenses on top.

If you are a little more careful, you can save about 20%-30% more. This includes cooking your own food than eating out, travelling on a bus than on a train, and so on and so forth.

Here’s a related article you may want to read: Top Budget Travel Tips for Europe .

Once you know your budget, the next things to do in this travel blog on how to plan a Europe trip from India is creating an itinerary.

Create An Itinerary

Once you are done with the budget part, the next thing is shortlisting destinations, creating a route-map and finalizing your itinerary.

If you’re planning a one week trip in Europe, for example, I suggest you start with deciding a base city for you, and travel around it, doing a loop. This allows you to not redo the same journey and travel only new places.

For example, during my Europe trip, I chose Zurich as my base city (or my starting and finishing point) and did a big circle around it. Here’s what I did:

The reason I chose Zurich was that flights from India to Zurich were the cheapest India. Zurich, Frankfurt, Paris, Berlin, Rome are a few popular destinations with cheapest flights from India. Consider starting your trip from one of these cities.

Additionally, ask yourself whether you are into history or art or culture? Or perhaps adventure. And choose destinations accordingly. Also, if you want to travel on a low budget, focus on Eastern Europe. Scandinavia and Western Europe are the two most expensive regions in Europe.

Once you’re done with a rough the itinerary, consider yourself halfway to their entire dilemma of how to plan a Europe trip from India.

Search A Flight

While there is no standard time to book a flight, doing it about 6 weeks prior to your trip is a good idea. Remember, it can also take up to 4 weeks to get your Schengen visa.

A round-trip flight is always cheaper than a one-way flight. But if you want to start from one destination and finish at the other, a multi-destination flight works the best.

If you have some time before you travel to Europe, it’s best to keep checking the flights from time to time. Signup for a reminder when the price for the flight you’re looking for becomes the cheapest. You can do that on flight booking sites like Skyscanner, Goibibo and others. For best flight deals, check the offers here as well.

And here’s a more detailed article to help you with more tips: Top Tips For Booking Flight Tickets .

Buy Travel Insurance

For Indians travelling to Europe, travel insurance is mandatory. There are several domestic companies like Aditya Birla, Bajaj Allianz and Bharti AXA, among others, I never bought my travel insurance from them.

Because they don’t cover every aspect of my trip.

When buying travel insurance you should know what kind of coverage your insurance policy entitles you to. Travel insurance is not just medical insurance. There are different types of coverage available based on your needs.

Since I carry a lot of expensive photography/computer gear I need something that also covers me in case I get robbed. Eg, I got robbed in Bratislava a few years ago, but my insurance plan covered my damages.

So if you are someone who travels alone, carry a lot of digital equipment, book too many hotels/flights in advance, and want to stay covered no matter what, I suggest you buy your insurance from this company called ‘SafetyWings’. I’ve been using them for a couple of years for all my international travels. It covers me for medical problems, accidents, travel delays, lost checked luggage, and even natural disasters.

Think of travel insurance as an investment and not an expense. It covers you if something goes wrong. A wrong (or a cheap) travel insurance is just as good as having no insurance as all.

You can check Safetywing’s website by clicking here . Check different plans, and buy the one that best suits your needs.

Apply For Schengen Visa

Of course, you cannot plan a trip to Europe from India without getting a valid Schengen visa. Apply for a single-entry tourist visa, and you can use it to cross borders across the Schengen territory.

It is advised to apply for a Schengen Tourist Visa at least 4 weeks prior to the planned trip. In most cases, however, The Embassy Consulate takes only around 10 days to process the application. A tourist Schengen visa is commonly valid for stays no more than 90 days.

Though the process of applying for a Schengen visa looks complicated, it’s rather very simple. I suggest you apply for a Schengen visa on your own and save the agent fee. Here’s a detailed article on How To Apply for Schengen Visa As Indians .

Nex tip in this blog on how to plan a Europe trip from India is learning how to travel inside the continent.

How To Travel Inside Europe

Now that you are ready for the journey, let’s figure out how to best travel inside Europe. From booking hotels to buses, in Europe, everything feels so organised and orderly done — contrary to how we are accustomed to in India — making travelling in Europe fairly easy.

One thing you want to do as soon as you end up in a new town in Europe is visiting the local Tourist Information centre and collecting the free city-map and other reading material. This allows you to know the latest tourist attractions as well as get some local information not covered in guidebooks and online travel blogs.

If you’re going to be using public transport and visiting a lot of museums, invest in a City Card. Most towns across Europe have a City Card that allows unlimited free public transport and free entry to museums. For tourists who enjoy doing too much in too little time, a City Card saves them time as well as money. It is possible to buy a City Card online as well as from the local tourist information centre.

Between your arrival and departure in Europe, you won’t find any immigration checkpoints. Just catch a bus or a train and cross borders inside the Schengen zone, just like you enter from one state to the other in India.

Here’s more information on different transportation modes inside Europe:

Flights : It is possible to find a cheaper flight ticket in Europe than a train/bus ticket, so keep an eye. And it mostly happens for prominent long-distance journeys like Rome-Paris or Paris-Barcelona or Barcelona-Amsterdam. For example, I once travelled from Rome to Paris, with Ryanair, for 25 EUR. The same journey in train and bus would have cost me 80 EUR and 60 EUR, respectively. My three favorite low-cost budget airlines in Europe are Transavia, EasyJet, and Ryanair.

Buses : Buses in Europe are a lot cheaper than trains, and most budget backpackers rely on them to keep their travel costs low. Speaking of my personal experience, during my 2-month backpacking trip to Europe in 2017, I did 18 bus rides and 2 train rides in total. By doing so (and roughly speaking) I saved around 200 EUR. Where a train ride would have cost 50 EUR, the bus took 35, sometimes even lesser. Though of course buses take comparatively more travel-time, for me time was never a problem, and speaking of comfort, I personally found buses just as comfortable as trains. Megabus, Flixbus , Eurolines, Regiojet are a few international bus operators in Europe.

Trains : Trains in Europe are faster than buses, and take a more scenic route, passing through beautiful countryside. Almost every country has its own national train service that is cheaper than EuRail. But if you’re visiting a few countries and you want to travel by train, it’s best to buy a weekly pass for EuRail.

Various bus operators also have a weekly/monthly travel pass. Compare different bus/train operators and find what suits you the best.

Car-Hire : I once did a one-week road trip across Germany and totally loved the experience. It may take a couple of days to get used to, but driving in Europe has its own charm. And if you’re a group of more than 3 people, hiring a car moreover saves you a great deal of money. Read this article for more tips: Tips For Renting A Car In Europe .

I recommend you to check deals at Discover Cars for car rental options.

How To Book Accommodation In Europe

From budget hostels to luxury hotels to b&bs, Europe has something for everyone. And the best thing is, no matter what you choose, you’re going to find it neat and clean. There will be no smelly bedsheets waiting for you in Europe.

For me, backpacker hostels are the preferred accommodation type. And this is for two reasons… 1) I travel solo and hostels allow me to meet other travellers. 2) hostels are cheap.

If you want luxury and high-standard, and you are travelling in a pair, choose to stay in a hotel. If you want luxury and high-standard, and you’re three or more people, consider renting an apartment (apartments come with a kitchen too, allowing you to cook your own food). Airbnbs are good if you want a more local experience.

Either way, your place to stay with cozycozy , the accommodation search engine, where you’ll find hotels, hostels, Airbnbs and more.

If you’re a long-term backpacker, or local experiences attract you, I suggest you try Couchsurfing as well. I have personally tried Couchsurfing in Europe and loved the experience. It is also possible to volunteer in Europe as an Indian. Use websites like WorldNomds and workaway.info to find volunteering options. Read my horse riding experience In Germany . If you’re planning to volunteer and travel, you only need to apply for a tourist visa.

Best Months For To Plan A Europe Trip From India

Honestly speaking, any time is a good time for Europe.

If you want more backpackers around and want to enjoy open/street cafes, summer is the best time. But remember that summer is the peak season for most countries in Europe, so expect more crowd and high prices wherever you go.

If you want to experience Christmas markets in Europe and cosy indoor cafes, visit during winter. Daylight remains fairly limited during winter, but that doesn’t stop locals and tourists to enjoy the charms of Europe. Winter makes for a romantic time to travel in Europe.

If you want to visit Europe in the off-season (though there’s nothing like an off-season for Europe, but only fewer tourists around) visit during monsoon. Unlike in India, it only drizzles in Europe. The rain never stops any movement in Europe.

What To Carry From India For A Europe Trip

Wondering what to carry for your Europe trip? My advice: Not too many things.

Taxis are expensive in Europe. You may have to walk. Chances are, you are moreover going to shop in Europe, so don’t carry too much.

For a trip lasting one week or more, this is what I suggest you carry:

• 3-6 pairs of T-shirts
• 2-3 Paris of party wear shirts
• 4 bottoms or pants
• Ankle boots
• 1 sweater/fleece (for all seasons)
• Thermals and a heavy jacket (for winter)
• Sunglasses (for summer and spring)
• Waterproof jacket (for monsoon)
• 5-6 pairs of socks
• Medications and first-aid kit
• Basic Toiletry

9 Tips For How To Plan A Europe Trip From India

• Use websites like Musement, GetYourGuide, Klool and Viator to book group tours in Europe.
• Don’t try to explore too many destinations in a short frame of time. You will end up missing the essence of the place.
• Learn some local phrases. Eg. people in France will behave much nicely if you start the conversation in French and then gradually switch to English. Same with Germans or Italians or Czech.
• The standard voltage in Europe is 230V and the frequency is 50HZ which is the same in India but the socket type varies. I advise you to buy an international converter to be able to use it worldwide. You can buy a converter in most airports around the world.
• Your Indian sim card is either not going to work or charge you hefty amounts for international roaming. Solution? Buy a local sim-card, or get an international sim-card. Matrix, UniConnect and WorldSIM are some of the top international sim-card providers.
• Almost all tourist towns in Europe organise a free-walking tour. Ask the local tourist information center about the timing and the starting point. Walking tours are great to get to know about a city and even make some friends if you’re travelling solo.
• I understand that the first Euro trip is always about seeing the maximum number of countries, so be it. The only advice is don’t just stick to visiting big towns, rather, explore a bit of countryside too. It is the countryside in Europe that makes it more romantic and beautiful.
• Though most people say the contrary, I find tipping in Europe isn’t mandatory — especially in Western Europe. If you do not have the money or don’t like the service, it’s okay to not tip at a restaurant or at a bar. The waiters are not going to frown upon you, as they otherwise do in India.
• Euro is the standard currency across all Schengen countries. Rather than carrying cash, I suggest you carry a travel card. An International travel card works similar to your Bank Debit Card in India — just transfer funds from your bank account to your travel card, and voila. Refill when the funds are exhausted. Countries that have their own currency like Hungary and the Czech Republic happily accept Euros everywhere.

I understand the process of how to plan a Europe trip from India can feel daunting, especially for the first-timers. But after a few trips, you automatically start understanding the continent better. Which bus service is the cheapest? How to find a free walking tour? How to survive in Europe as a vegan. All these learning come to you naturally. But whether you travel Europe as a rookie or as a savvy traveller, any time spent in Europe makes for a beautiful memory.

Also read: How To Travel World Without Money

That’s all in this blog on how to plan a Europe trip from India. If you have more questions, ask me in the comments below.

Great work! Me and my husband are planning our first Europe trip and were just looking out for this kinda content 🙂

It would be great if you can share the locations to book an accommodation in Paris, Amsterdam and Rome.. thanks!

Great blog MR Dev and i am travelling europe may be with in 2-3year acc to this pandamic and full support from me brother love u love from UP And also great explanation of blog

Hi Dev, Very nice and helpful blog I must say. I am planning to visit Europe maybe next year.. depending upon the pandemic situation. Thanks for this post. I will surely consider the points you have listed before planning the trip.

Stay safe and thank you

Thanks Shweta. Stay safe \/

Very nice and detailed blog. I am planning to visit Europe from Delhi India in 2021. Useful suggestions.

Hi dev, u did a fabulous job bro.. I needed ur help to plan my Europe trip as I am traveling along with my wife, as I am holding a budget of bout 3..4 lacs frm, “India” for about 3-4 weeks of trip. I just wanted to know from where to begin & where to end.. Like serial wise..

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How to Plan a Europe trip from India? – Complete Guide With Packing Tips, Hacks and more!

Planning a Europe trip from India?

Here is the only guide you will need.

Dazzling, artistic, phenomenal, romantic, gorgeous, historic, splendid, and inspiring, Europe means to travel. We’ll stop with that considering the fact that there aren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe the beauty of Europe. But if you are a newbie to the world of international travel, you might be a little lost when it comes to planning a Europe trip.

Time to rejoice now. We have put in all our efforts to create a Europe trip planner that will help you plan a Europe trip right from scratch and experience the continent to the fullest.

Read it, bookmark it, share it, and pack your bags. Here’s how to plan a Europe trip from India .

Plan your budget

One of the first things to do before you start narrowing on a destination is establishing a proper budget. Thinking of a budget figuratively is different and putting it on paper is different. Write your budget on a whiteboard and then plan your trip around it. So, every time you plan on doing something related to your trip, you will actually find it easier to arrive at a conclusion given you already know your budget.

Interesting read:   Top 10 affordable destinations in Europe for the budget traveller

Going on a Europe vacation or any vacation for that matter is greatly dependent on the number of days you can take off. With stringent holiday policies at workplaces, we Indians find it difficult to go on a long vacation, Euro trip included. Bring out that calendar and try to plan around long weekends and holidays that you may have. We have a solution right here for you.

Europe has four different seasons. Generally spread out like this: March to May – Spring, June to August – Summer, September to October – Autumn, and November to February – Winter. While the peak season in Europe is during the summer, the prices and the crowd will be on the higher side as well. The ideal time to visit Europe is during the shoulder season (Spring and the Autumn season) when the crowds are fewer with good day-light. Thereby giving you a chance to enjoy the perks of both peak-season and off-season.

Europe Tour Package @ ₹ 48,268

Art Galleries. Marvellous Bridges. Delectable Cuisine. Customizable Itineraries.

Alternatively, you can plan your Euro trip during the Winter which is also the off-season. The prices are at an all-time low but be wary, as most of the attractions might be closed.

Choose a destination and work on an itinerary

Now that you know your budget and the season you will be traveling, start looking for destinations that will best suit your interest. While you are at it, also ask yourself these questions. Are you a person who loves history or art or culture? Or perhaps adventure?

Moving on, look for the list of popular festivals celebrated in Europe and see if you really want to be a part of one of those. Next comes planning the itinerary. While you are planning your itinerary, make sure you give ample time to explore each destination. You will never be able to travel at breakneck speeds all the time. Especially, when you are in a major destination like Paris, London or Barcelona, you will have to stay a minimum of 4 days to experience the city. Also, never underestimate the time that it takes to travel between destinations.

With so many things to do in each destination, it is very easy to get lost and wonder what you should actually be doing. If all this seems like a tedious task, then try Pickyourtrail. You can create your itinerary to wherever you want to go, customize it according to your interest, get the split pricing for each activity. All this is done within 5 minute tops!

Look for flights and finalize the best route possible

Ready with a rough itinerary and destinations to visit? Start looking for flights. While there is no standard time to book flights, booking it 10 to 12 weeks prior is the ideal time to do it. Look for standard round-trip flights that work perfectly if your itinerary is a proper loop with the start and the end being the same destination. Standard round-trip flights are generally cheaper than one-way flights. On the other hand, if you want to add more flexibility to your plan then one-way flights are the best bet.

If you are looking to strike a deal while booking flight tickets, then the best way to do it is by constantly checking the flight prices from time to time. Also, red-eye flights are cheaper than ordinary flights. A frequent flyer who has earned decent Airline Miles? Then you can save a lot using reward points.

Also, you have to work on several permutations and combinations before you arrive at the best possible flight prices. This may also mean that you have to make adjustments to your route. At the end of the day if saving is what you are looking forward to, then be ready to put in the effort and the time.

Get your documents ready

So you are planning your Europe trip and wondering what all visas you have to apply for. The answer is this, you just have to apply for a Schengen visa. We have written an entire article that will enlighten you on the visa front. Further, if you are planning to travel to multiple countries within Europe, then you have to apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa. And remember to apply the visa to the country where you will be staying for the longest. In case, you stay at two different countries for the same duration, then address your visa to the country you will be entering first. VFS Global has also announced a helpline number which you can use to gain assistance on your Schengen visa. So, a Schengen visa from India is just a call away!

Travelling between destinations

Now that you have sorted out how to travel from India to Europe , start figuring out how to get between destinations in Europe. If you are travelling to only a single destination in Europe, then your task becomes even simpler. You just have to figure out the local transportation within the city. Metros are a very good option to use to get around the city and are highly preferred by the locals.

The first thing for you to do is to get a transit map of the city that you are in, either from the tourist office or from the subway ticketing office or from your hotel. There are also city specific transport apps which will help you with all the information that you will need. Based on the frequency of your travel, you can get metro passes that come with unlimited travel options, reloadable cards, or multi-ticket deals, which multiple people can use at the same time. Then again the best place to learn about the different options is either at the tourist office or at the subway ticketing office.

For a more cultural experience of the city, ride a bus. It’s a great way to see the city. Seek the help of the locals to understand more about the bus timings.

Most of the European countries are also bike-friendly. You can rent a bicycle for minimal cost and experience the city like never before. Some of the bike-friendly destinations include Amsterdam, Strasbourg, Copenhagen, Bordeaux, Seville, Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, and Vienna.

Other options to get around the cities in Europe include trams, taxis, and rental cars.

What if you are travelling to multiple European destinations and not one? Then there is a list of options that will come in handy.

If time is a huge constraint in your Euro trip and not money, then flight is the best way to get around destinations in Europe. Some of the budget-friendly airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, Norweigan, Wizz Air, Air Berlin, and Eurowings have deals running all the time and it is not that difficult to strike a bargain. Remember that the ticket prices increase with your baggage.

Thanks to the effective Eurail system, train travel is one of the most popular ways to get around Europe. Not to forget the wonderful landscapes that you get to see as you travel along. Western Europe is so well connected that you can get through even small towns on a train. In Central Europe, you can visit all the major cities on the train. On the other hand, travelling within Eastern Europe on Eurorail is let alone a problem. It isn’t as well connected as Western or Central Europe. If you have plenty of time on your itinerary, try taking the overnight train. They are cheaper. And if you are planning to travel extensively on Eurail? Get a Eurail Pass.

Looking to cut down on your expenses? Travelling on the bus is the best way to do it. The luxury, the extra legroom, the fascinating views, WIFI options, and the cheaper updates are few of the perks of travelling on a bus. Just make sure, the destinations you are looking for is covered on your bus journey. There might be frequent hopping in and hopping off. If you can bear it and have the time? Then, you can save huge by opting for a bus. There are also package bus excursions which you can opt for.

Some of the major long-overhaul bus companies include Eurolines, FlixBus, Polskibus, Alsa, Avansa, and Hello.

Driving a car to get around Europe might come in as one of the toughest things to do. But if you are in Europe as a group and are interested in exploring Europe on your own time, then renting a car will best suit you. While the expenses of renting a car vary depending on the country, they are generally on the higher side.

If you are ready to manage the expenses then go ahead and rent a car, make sure you get rental car insurance along with renting the car. And do not rent the car right away from the airport, you will end up paying extra money in the name of airport taxes.

Choosing the right car company is a combination of things – best rates, the range of cars, service option, pick up and drop off locations. Automatic cars always cost more than a manual car and European cars differ greatly from cars in other countries in the fact that they have lower legroom space and bigger trunk space. Also, European cars are rented out for a 24 hour period. So, in case you rent the car at 11 am and return it back the next day after 24 hours then it will be counted as one day extra. Driving in Europe is on the right-hand side of the road.

Some car companies offer the flexibility to rent the car at one location and the drop off at a totally different location. And when you are renting out a car, always pay upfront to get discounts.

There is also the option of ride sharing.

To drive a car in Europe, you must carry a valid Indian driver’s license, along with an International Driving Permit (IDP) – which is essentially the English translation of your driving license. On that topic, here’s a list of countries that don’t need an international driving license for driving.

Plan your accommodation

From luxury hotels to mid-range accommodations to bed & breakfasts, the range of accommodation in Europe will amaze you. While hotels always cost a little extra, our Europe trip planner also suggests you with some of the cheaper accommodation options.

Think budget, think hostels. A popular choice among the backpackers and the youth, hostels are highly budget-friendly and provide you with the option to interact with travelers from all around the world. And there is often a common misconception when it comes to hostels that they will be shabby and are suited only for young people. On the contrary, modern-day hostels are clean and carry rooms that are suited for solo travelers, couples, and family-travelers as well.

Stay with locals

Wondering if staying with locals is actually possible? The answer is yes, totally. Sites like Couchsurfing are a great place to connect with locals and finding accommodation during your travel. What’s more interesting is you get to understand the culture and experience the local part of the destination. Just make sure, the profile checks out on Couchsurfing and you are good to go.

House Swapping

While the concept of house exchange has been there for a long time now, not many people are actually aware of it, until recently. This is how it works – you offer your house to someone visiting your hometown and in exchange they offer theirs. House Exchange might not work for you all the time but if you find like-minded people, then house swapping is a great option to consider.

Monasteries

Staying in a monastery may come in as one of the offbeat things to do but it is a real money saver. While some monasteries demand rent or a donation, some offer free accommodation.

Short rentals

Priced somewhere between the hotels and the hostels, short rentals offer the comforts of home while in a new destination. Plus, most of the short rentals come with a kitchen so you can prepare your favourite even when you are in Europe.

Interesting read:   Five unusual hotels in Europe

At the end of the day, the type of accommodation that you want to stay depends on the budget and the type of people you will be traveling with.

Europe trip planner – Few essentials

European language.

One of the major issues, most of us Indians face when we are traveling to Europe is language. While Europeans can speak & understand multiple languages, English isn’t actually their cup of tea. So be prepared to be surprised. If you still want to get away with speaking English, then consider speaking slow and be sure to use internationally popular words.

Further, start with learning the basic phrases that you will be using during your travel. Duolingo is one of the many apps you can use to do this. Further, you can listen to podcasts and watch movies as well to cultivate the habit better. The locals appreciate you trying to learn the local language and will generally be more than willing to help you out.

European Food

Europe has a wide range of cuisines to choose from and you will be literally spoilt for choice. Eating out is generally costlier than eating out in India. Looking to save money on food? Always eat like the locals do, at cheap eateries and other local hot spots. While Europe has a decent chunk of Indian restaurants to eat from, the food is a bit expensive than what we normally pay in India. Alternatively, you can shop for local produce at the markets and prepare it by yourself to save money.

Interesting read:   15 must eat foods in Paris that will grow your obsession

Drinking is not a taboo in Europe, except for a few countries. The legal drinking age is somewhere between 16-18 and the Europeans love to wine and dine.

Adventurous Switzerland getaway

Exciting 11-day itinerary to Lucerne, Zurich, Interlaken, & Zermatt

What to pack for your Europe trip? A major question on any traveller’s mind. With each destination having its own style and culture, it is hard to come up with a default set of things to pack. But based on the season, we have tried our best to compile some of the essentials that you should be packing on your Europe trip. And remember, always try to pack light.

• 2 pair of casual comfy tops
• 4 bottoms (pants/skirts)
• 5-6 pairs of innerwear
• 5-6 pairs of socks
• Light scarf
• Ankle boots
• Waterproof jacket
• Light shaded trench coat
• 4 shorts/skirts
• 1 pair of sandals
• 1 pair of casual walking/running shoes
• 2 pair of tank tops/casual tops
• Thermals/long johns
• 1 sweater/fleece
• Layered tops
• Rain-friendly boots
• Thicker scarfs
• 1 pair of thermals/long john
• More layers
• Warm sleepwear
• Winter boots
• Thicker Scarf
• Woollen Socks

European Currency

There is a common tendency to feel insecure and rush straight to the ATM to withdraw cash the minute you land at the airport. It’s a reflux reaction. It can happen to anyone but don’t ever drop by the currency exchange booths at the airport in Europe (any destination for that matter). The currency exchange booths at the airport have the worst exchange rates. Avoid them at all costs. For best exchange rates, either head on to an ATM or use your credit card. Also, make sure to inform your bank that you will be travelling outside India and that you will be using your credit card. This will prevent your card from getting blocked if the bank detects any fraudulent activities.

How much to tip?

While tipping is not a norm in India, tipping is a part of the culture abroad. When it comes to tipping in Europe, there is no particular standard and you don’t have to tip a hefty amount as you do in the U.S. The waiters in Europe are paid well and it is up to you if you want to tip the waiter. If the service charge is already included in the bill, then you can refrain from tipping at all. But, if you still insist, tip 5-10 percent of the total bill which is more than enough. Hand over the tip right when you are paying the bill, then leaving it on the table. If you are just ordering food from the counter, don’t tip. In addition to tipping at the restaurants, you are free to tip for the extra services that you are offered. Even that is not mandatory.

Voltage requirements

The standard voltage in Europe is 230V and the frequency is 50HZ which is the same in India. But the socket type varies from country to country in Europe. In France, the socket type is C & E. In Germany, it is C & F and so on. While you don’t require a voltage converter, you will definitely require power adapters to help you use your electrical appliances.

Tips for traveling in Europe

• Don’t try to explore too many destinations in a short frame of time. You will end up missing the essence of the place.
• Look for offbeat/local things to do in each destination rather than the same touristy stuff.
• Put in an effort to blend in with the locals. This will help you get the best of the destination, not to forget the money-saving tips and the authentic experience.
• Avoid taking too many photos and rather try to be there at the moment.
• Keep your passport and other valuables safe.
• Do not skip travel insurance.

Planning an Europe trip from India all by yourself can be a little stressful. But, we are sure this Europe trip planner would have addressed all your issues. If you are still not sure about planning, then go Pickyourtrail for a hassle-free customized Europe honeymoon package .

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Make Your Europe Trip From India Memorable With This Complete Guide

Europe is a continent that holds a special place in the hearts of many travellers. Its rich cultural diversity, picturesque landscapes, and ease of travel make it one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. Comprising a total of 44 countries, Europe offers a wide range of options for travellers, from bustling metropolises to quaint villages, and from snow-capped mountains to pristine beaches.

However, with so many options comes the challenge of deciding where to go and what to do. Planning a Europe trip from India can be a daunting task, with many factors to consider such as destinations, favourable seasons, and activities. To make the process of planning a Europe trip from India less overwhelming, this post serves as a comprehensive guide for everything you need to know. From choosing the right countries and cities to sightsee to the best time to visit and things to do; this post has got you covered. So, whether you're a first-time traveller or a seasoned Euro-tripper, this guide will help you make your dream of a Europe trip a reality.

Destinations to Visit

Being the most beautiful country in Europe , Italy is a must-visit destination for travellers exploring Europe. Italy surprises visitors with its rich history and famous attractions such as Rome, known for the Colosseum and Vatican Museums; Venice, a romantic city of canals and famous islands; Pisa, home of the leaning tower; and Naples. Additionally, Milan is a top destination for shopping, particularly for fashion.

France is a must-visit country in Europe, known for its iconic Eiffel Tower and other architectural marvels such as the Louvre, Tour de France, and Montmartre. The cities, particularly Paris, are not only hubs of European fashion but also considered fashion capitals of the world, offering a wide range of designer clothing and the latest fashion trends. Visitors can indulge in their shopping desires in this city, which should definitely be included in any Europe travel itinerary. With its rich history, culture, and arts, France is a perfect destination for those seeking to explore the best of Europe.

Croatia has long been a destination of wonder, known for its stunning natural beauty and captivating cityscapes. The country is home to 1000 islands, a range of national parks, and 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Some must-visit places during your tour in Croatia include Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split, Plitvice National Park, Krka National Park, and Plitvice Lakes National Park. Croatia caters to every type of traveller, whether you're an adventure junkie, history buff, or food lover. With so much to see and do, Croatia is a destination that can't be missed.

Iceland is well-known for its striking geological diversity, featuring both glaciers and active volcanoes. The country boasts stunning landscapes that will leave visitors in awe, as well as Icelandic horses that attract many admirers. Additionally, during the winter, the northern lights can often be seen illuminating the sky. Iceland is a paradise for nature enthusiasts and those who enjoy being in the great outdoors. Iceland can be described as a masterpiece of nature and is a must-visit destination on your Europe trip.

Although not as well-known, Belgium is home to some incredible destinations that will leave visitors in awe. The country has a maritime climate, and some must-see places include Brussels for shopping and nightlife, Ghent for art lovers, Antwerp for delicious cuisine, and Bruges for its palaces and canals. Belgium is a perfect place for a fun-filled vacation while you are on your Europe trip from India.

Best Time to Visit

Each season in Europe has its own charm, and the best time to visit depends on your interests and the type of crowd you can handle. However, the most popular time for tourists to visit is between June and August. During this time, the weather is generally warm and pleasant, and many popular destinations are bustling with activity.

If you don't mind the cold, then consider visiting Europe during the winter months of December to March. During this time, many cities are magically transformed by snow, providing a unique and picturesque experience. Additionally, there are fewer tourists during this time, so you can avoid the crowds and have a more relaxed visit. Furthermore, prices for accommodation and entrance tickets tend to be more affordable during the winter months.

Christmas is also a big celebration in Europe, and many cities are decked out in lights and local Christmas markets pop up in the Old Town. So, it's also a fantastic time to be in Europe to bring in the festive spirit. Tallinn, Zagreb, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, and many parts of Germany and France have some of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

For those who want a compromise between weather and crowd levels, the shoulder months of October and April would be ideal. During this time, the weather is mild and comfortable, and the crowds are not as heavy as during the peak tourist season. This can be an ideal time to visit if you want to enjoy a mix of good weather and fewer crowds.

How to Reach?

One of the most popular ways to travel to Europe is by air. The major air travel hubs in Europe are London, Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid, Brussels, and Amsterdam, which are well connected to other European cities by major international airlines.

Another option is to travel by train. For those planning a cost-effective Europe trip from India, it can be a great way to save money and explore the continent once you arrive. High-speed trains such as the Italian Frecciarossa, Eurostar, German ICE, and Thalys are efficient and time-saving. The Inter Rail and Eurail passes connect the entire continent and make it easy to travel through 18 countries.

You can also explore Europe by road, hire a car and travel through the countryside. Europe is well-connected by roadways, making it easy to travel between cities and enjoy the scenery.

Overall, with the variety of options available, you can easily execute a European tour plan that fits your budget and preferences.

Visa Requirements

A Schengen visa is required for most tourists visiting mainland Europe, providing access to 26 countries in the Schengen region. However, some countries not part of the Schengen region, such as Albania, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro, offer a free visa on arrival with a valid Schengen visa. Applying for a Schengen visa can be quite a process, with a lot of paperwork involved. However, for travellers not visiting the Schengen region, a country-specific visa may be required, such as for Croatia, Romania, Ireland, or the UK.

• When travelling to Europe, it is beneficial to learn a few words in the local language to better interact with locals.
• The continent is generally safe for solo travellers, including women, but it is always important to trust your instincts and take necessary precautions.
• Pickpocketing is a common occurrence in major cities in Europe, so it's important to be cautious with your valuables.
• When sightseeing, it's best to avoid carrying your original passport unless absolutely necessary and instead carry a photocopy. It's also a good idea to bring along only enough cash for a day or two and to keep your money in different pockets.
• When crossing borders, whether for a day trip or a longer stay, it's important to always carry your passport with you. It's a good idea to keep it in a safe place, such as a money belt or a hidden pocket, and to make copies of it in case of loss or theft. Remembering these tips will help you to have a safe and enjoyable trip to Europe.

So, are you ready to go on a trip to Europe? Book your Europe tour package from India and immerse yourself in the beauty of this majestic continent.

We are an Indian travel company founded in 2013 and excel at domestic and international tour packages including guided group tours, specialty tours, customized holidays, corporate MICE travel, inbound travel and destination weddings.

Comments (3)

My wife and I are interested in visiting Italy and the Vatican City

I just got back from an amazing Europe group tour and I can't wait to go back!

Five senior Citizens need guidance to plan 10 days vacation preferably Australia not guided tour 10 Day Cruise options to any destination can be considered

Thank you for your enquiry. Here is the link to our Australia tour packages https://vnawld.in/SCXt. You will find all details here. If you could help us with your contact number, our team would be happy to assist you. Alternatively, you can connect with our team on 1800 22 7979/[email protected].

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'आपला महाराष्ट्र' ही पॉडकास्ट मालिका म्हणजे महाराष्ट्राची झलकच. गौरवशाली इतिहास , वैविध्यपूर्ण परंपरा आणि आकर्षक भूगोल लाभलेल्या महाराष्ट्राची ओळख करून देण्यासाठीच वीणा वर्ल्डने ही मालिका सुरू केली आहे. या मालिकेतून महाराष्ट्राच्या रोमांचक इतिहासाचे साक्षीदार असलेल्या गड - किल्ल्यांचा थोडक्यात परिचय करुन दिला जाईल. मग दर गुरुवारी न चुकता ऐका ' आपला महाराष्ट्र ' आणि तुमच्या भटकंतीला द्या नवीन दिशा. Looking to explore the wonders of Maharashtra, India? Tune in to 'Aapla Maharashtra', a podcast series that takes you on a journey through the state's rich history, captivating culture, and breathtaking geography. Join us every Thursday for a new episode and discover the many forts that bear witness to Maharashtra's majestic past. Take your travel experience to the next level with 'Aapla Maharashtra'.

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‘Exchange a coin and you make no difference but exchange a thought and you can change the world.’ Hi! I’m Veena Patil... Fortunate enough to have answered my calling some 35 years ago and content enough to be in this business of delivering happiness almost all my life. Tourism indeed moulds you into a minimalist... Memories are probably our only possession. And memories are all about sharing experiences, ideas and thoughts. Life is simple, but it becomes easy when we share. Places and people are two things that interest me the most. While places have taken care of themselves, here’s my podcast, which I consider to be a great platform, through which I can share some interesting stories I live and love on a daily basis with all you wonderful people out there. I hope you enjoy the journey... Let’s go, celebrate life!

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How To Travel To Europe From India? The Complete 2024 Guide

So how do you actually travel to Europe from India?

Planning a trip to Europe can be a daunting task, especially if you are travelling from India.

With so many different countries and cultures to explore, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Fortunately, with some careful planning and research, it is possible to have a seamless and enjoyable travel experience when visiting Europe from India.

It doesn’t matter if you are planning a solo trip to Europe or a family holiday, we have got you covered!

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about visiting Europe and planning your trip. By the end of this article, you will be confident about anything a trip to Europe could throw at you.

Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned pro, this guide will help you navigate all the ins and outs of travelling to Europe from India.

So what are we waiting for? Let’s get started!

Short on Time?

No worries- I’m here to help!

THIS 7-Day Taste of Central Europe Tour  is great if you want to see Europe with an expert

✔️ Accommodation

✔️Transport

✔️Great Guide

Planning A Europe Trip? Check Out These Resources

🚖  Need to book an airport transfer?

Get door-to-door service with  Kiwitaxi .

📍  How to find the best tours and experiences?

Check out the most amazing tours and activities with  Viator .

🚗  How to hire a car?

Road trips are my jam and the only company I use is  Discover Cars .

🏨  How to find hotels?

I always find great deals for accommodation with  Booking.com .

How much does a Europe trip cost from India?

Unfortunately, there is not a direct answer to this question, as the cost of a European trip from India will depend on a number of factors, including the length and type of travel, the time of year you plan to visit, and your budget preferences.

A budget-conscious traveller can expect to spend around $1000, whereas those who are seeking a more luxurious trip can spend upwards of $10,000 for a trip to Europe from India.

If you are looking for a more affordable option, there are many budget-friendly travel packages available that can help you plan an exciting and memorable trip at an affordable price.

These packages may include basic transportation, accommodation, and activities such as sightseeing tours.

There are a lot of great tours around, but if you want to save money, it is best to book everything yourself .

When is the best time to visit Europe from India?

Most will instantly say the summertime (June-early September)

Without a doubt, the summer months are the most popular time to plan a trip to Europe.

However, it does depend on your preference. And planning your trip from India to Europe will be a lot more expensive during the summer.

Your visit during the warmer summer months will be filled with plenty of festivals and outdoor activities all across the continent. Or you might want to opt for winter to see the festive decorations and enjoy some of the cosy, winter-inspired activities on offer.

The best time to visit Europe does depend on what you want out of your trip. But if you want warm weather and cheaper prices , I recommend visiting in April , May/ early June.

The best way to get to Europe from India

There are a number of different ways to travel to Europe from India for your travels.

If you’re looking for the most affordable and fastest option, consider taking one of the many low-cost airlines that operate between India and various European cities.

These airlines include WOW Air, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and IndiGo.

No matter what you decide is the best way to get to Europe for your trip, make sure you have the best luggage for exploring Europe .

👉 This is my #1 option because it is really durable and can handle a lot!

What is the best way to tour Europe?

There are countless ways to explore this beautiful continent.

Whether you prefer a luxury tour bus with all the comforts of home, an adventurous solo backpacking trip through the countryside, or anything in between, there is something for everyone when it comes to travelling around Europe.

There are a few different ways to travel between countries. One option is to fly from one destination to another.

This can be a quick and easy way to get around, but it can also be expensive.

The most popular option is to take the train. This can be a great way to see the countryside and meet other travellers, but it isn’t always the fastest way.

One of the most popular ways to tour Europe by train is by using an interrail pass.

There are so places in Europe like the Balkans and Greece where getting the train can be hard work, so to make your life easier, take a local bus or hire a car.

I hire a car for most of my trips to Europe, it’s a great way to save money and see a lot of places in a short amount of time.

👉 When looking to rent a car in Europe, I recommend and  always use   Disc over Cars 

How to plan a solo trip to Europe from India

Solo travelling to Europe can be a long and expensive journey- But it’s worth it!

It can also be a bit daunting, especially if you’re not used to it. If you’re thinking of taking a solo trip from India to Europe, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind before you go:

✅ Start by researching the visa requirements for both countries. Indian citizens will need to apply for a Schengen visa in order to enter Europe

✅Make sure you do your research and pick a destination that you’re comfortable exploring on your own. Places like Copenhagen have epic tours and I find it easy to visit alone.

✅ Start planning your itinerary and booking your accommodation and transport in advance. If you’re on a budget, look for hostels or Couchsurfing, they are fantastic options!

✅ Make sure you have a good travel insurance policy in place.

✅ Check you have all vaccinations that you may need for visiting Europe

✅ Learn a few key phrases to use at the destinations you are visiting.

✅ Share your plans with a family member or friend so someone knows where you are.

✅ Grab a beer and check out the best places to eat in Europe

Planning a couples trip to Europe from India

So how do you travel to Europe from India as a Couple? – pretty easily!

Couples travelling from India to Europe for the first time often have a lot of questions. How do you plan an efficient and cost-effective trip? What are the best places to visit? And how can you make the most of your time together?

Here are a few tips to help you plan the perfect couple’s trip from India to Europe:

✅Choose your destinations carefully. Do some research and decide on a few must-see sights.

If you are looking for Europe’s most romantic places to visit, take a look at this guide

✅ Then, start planning your route. Look for flights and accommodations that suit your budget and schedule.

✅ Take a look at what visa options you need and if you need any vaccinations

✅ Once you’ve got the basics sorted, it’s time to start thinking about what you’ll do on your trip.

✅ Make a list of activities that both of you will enjoy, and try to include something for every taste.

Applying for a Schengen Visa

If you’re visiting Europe from India, you’ll need to apply for a Schengen Visa .

The Schengen Visa is a short-term travel visa that allows you to visit any of the 26 Schengen countries for up to 90 days . The visa is valid for six months from the date of issue, and you can apply for it up to three months before your trip .

The process is relatively simple, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First of all, make sure you have all the necessary documents.

You’ll need your passport, as well as evidence of travel insurance and proof of financial means. You’ll also need to fill out the Schengen Visa application form and submit it, along with the other required documents, to the consulate or embassy of the country you’re visiting.

Once your application is processed, you’ll be issued a visa that allows you to travel freely within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days . So don’t forget to apply for your Schengen Visa before planning your trip to Europe from India!

How To Book Accommodation In Europe

It doesn’t matter if you are on a solo trip from India or taking the whole family, it is really easy to book accommodation throughout Europe.

There are a few different options available, and it can be tricky to know which one is best for you. Here’s a quick guide to help you make a decision.

One option is to stay in a hotel . This can be a good choice if you’re looking for somewhere comfortable and convenient, with all the amenities you need on-site.

This is one of the popular options as you’ll have someone to help you with any questions you might have about the area. Plus, most hotels offer breakfast, so you won’t have to worry about finding a place to eat.

However, it can also be quite expensive.

Another option is to rent an apartment or house . This is usually cheaper than staying in a hotel, and it gives you more space and freedom. However, it can be more work, as you’ll need to cook and clean for yourself.

If you’re looking for something relatively cheap, hostels are always an option. You can usually find them in most major cities, and they’re a great way to meet other travellers.

✅ To Find The Best Accommodation In Every Location In Europe, Use Booking.Com!

What To Pack For A Europe Trip

Whether you’re going to Europe for business or pleasure, you’ll want to make sure you dress appropriately .

And when it comes to packing, you need to remember that Europe has a wide range of climate zones.

From snow to sun, Europe can hit you with anything during your trip, so it is best to be prepared!

Here are a few things you to consider when packing for your visit to Europe:

✔️ The weather in Europe can be unpredictable, so it’s important to pack a mix of light and heavy clothing-Layers are always a good idea.

✔️If you’re visiting during the summer, remember that the sun can be intense. Pack sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from sunburn.

✔️ Packing comfortable walking shoes is a must – you’ll be doing a lot of walking!

By following these simple tips, you’ll make sure you’re prepared for anything – and ready to enjoy your trip to Europe from India!

FAQs about travelling to Europe from India

You have probably realised that there are lots of things to consider when you are trying to figure out how to travel to Europe from India.

And I am sure a few more questions about visiting Europe have popped into your mind. To help you plan the ultimate trip, here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers:

Can you go to Europe by road from India?

Sure, you can road trip it from India all the way to Europe if you’re feeling ambitious (and have a trusty vehicle)!

It’ll take some serious planning and effort, but it’s doable.

Before you hit the road you will need to have the right documentation and make sure your vehicle is up to European standards.

You’ll likely need to obtain a visa for the countries you drive through and make sure your vehicle is up for the long journey – you’ll be doing a lot of driving!

Once you’re all set, map out your route and hit the open road. travelling by road from India to Europe is an adventure in itself, and you’ll get to see some amazing scenery along the way.

If you’re prepared to put in the planning and legwork, visiting Europe from India by road is definitely possible. So whether you’re dreaming of touring the French countryside or experiencing the nightlife in Berlin, start mapping out your route – Europe awaits!

What should I include in a 10 days Europe tour from India?

How Can I travel to Europe from India in Just 10 days? – it’s pretty easy!

If you’re visiting Europe from India, there’s a lot to see and do in just ten days. Here are some of the highlights you should consider adding to your Europe itinerary :

📍Start your trip in London, one of the most iconic cities in the world.

📍From there, head to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and enjoy some French cuisine.

📍Then it’s on to Amsterdam, where you can explore the canals and visit the Anne Frank House .

📍From Amsterdam, fly to Barcelona to experience the unique culture and architecture of this vibrant city.

📍 Finally, end your trip with a few days in Rome, visiting ancient ruins like the Colosseum and exploring Vatican City.

With so much to see and do, you’re sure to have an amazing time on your ten-day Europe tour from India!

Should I get a sim card for my trip?

If you need to use the internet for google maps or to book an uber without WIFI, I highly recommend you purchase a sim card just for your trip.

You can get some really cheap sim-only cards all across Europe for as little as €10 .

Buying a European sim card will make your trip go a whole lot smoother!

Final thoughts on how to travel to Europe from India

For many people, visiting Europe is the ultimate travel dream. And if you’re lucky enough to live in India, you can make that dream a reality!

Planning a trip to Europe from India is easier than you might think. There are a number of direct flights from major Indian cities to European destinations, and with a little bit of planning, you can ensure a smooth and stress-free trip- And this guide is here to help .

No matter how long you spend in Europe or what you want to do, it has so much to offer. Just make sure you apply for your visa in advance to avoid disappointment!

Here are some more posts that will help you make the most of your trip to Europe:

The Best European Food To Try On Your Next Trip

Can You Drink Tap Water In UK? Everything You Need To Know

The Best lightweight luggage for international travel

What Countries In Europe Speak English?

What Are The Best Greek Islands To Visit ?

Lowri Thomas is the founder of Many Other Roads. She lives and travels in Europe and has explored more than 40 countries. She is joined on her travels with her dog Scout and they explore Europe mostly by road. Born in Wales, she also shares the best things to do in Wales, UK and beyond. She helps over 50,000 people per month plan epic Europe adventures and road trips.

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Europe is one of those dream continents for many. The variety of culture, and romantic landscapes, and ease of travel makes it one of the top destinations to travel.

A total of 44 countries make up Europe — some as big or small as some of the states in India.

However, with variety comes a burden of choice.

Starting from which countries and cities to choose from, planning logistics, stay, and deciding on things to do in each country, it can get overwhelming pretty soon!

Introduction on Planning a Europe Trip from India

Europe is a popular tourist destination, with millions of tourists visiting the major European cities every year. And few popular European cities serve as an introduction to Europe for the majority of the tourists like Paris, Rome, Venice, Prague, Vienna, Barcelona, Amsterdam,  Budapest , or London.

Given that Europe has world-class public transport infrastructure, a variety of accommodation options from affordable hostels to swanky 5-star hotels, and a new country only a road-trip away, it’s quite easy and safe to find destinations that will appeal to the explorer in you.

Destination & Things to do in Europe

While every European city is unique and appealing in its own way, detailing all the destinations is well beyond the scope of this post. So, I’m going to give a brief lay-down into some of the top cities.

Most people prefer to visit the romantic French city of Paris during their first trip to Europe. Paris is a cornucopia of art, fashion, food, and culture. One of the most popular attractions in Paris is none other than the Eiffel Tower, which is an engineering marvel in itself. Also visit the  Louvre museum, Arc De Triomphe, Palace of Versailles, in Paris  to start with.

Amsterdam is yet another popular destination among tourists. The capital city of the Netherlands, also known as the city of canals.  Canals, beautiful houses, ‘coffee’ shops, and the Red Light District are some of the most apparent reasons why tourists visit the city . But there’s plenty of artistic heritage, rich history, and culture if you decide to explore further. Also, be it summers or winters, cycling acts as the main lifeline of transportation in the city.

Prague (capital of the Czech Republic), also known as the “City of Thousand Spires” is another popular city in Europe. Cobblestone alleyways, colorful baroque buildings, Gothic architecture, makes the city all the more charming and fairytale-like. And also cheap compared to other popular European cities. Stop by at the  beautiful Prague castle that overlooks the city, iconic Charles Bridge, Old Towns square, and Astronomical clock , to name a few.

Berlin is growing in popularity every year as a touristic spot, and it’s easy to see why. Rich World War II history makes it a prime attraction among history lovers, a variety of food options makes it the ideal place for foodies, and its fascination towards contemporary and modern art makes it a uber-hip city.  East Side Gallery (the longest open-air gallery in the world), Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag building, numerous museums, and expansive parks  only scratch the surface of the things to do in Berlin.

Did you know that the capital city of Austria – Vienna has been ranked the most livable city in the world, the 10th year in a row? While that’s just one aspect, Vienna, with its music, art, and cafe culture, only makes it a perfect city for visitors. Do visit  St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace, Naschmarkt (outdoor market), House of Music (Haus der Musik)  — among other things when in Vienna.

Scandinavia or Nordic Countries

I wanted to specially mention the Nordic countries – Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and  Iceland . While it’s far more expensive and characterized by lower temperatures than the rest of Europe – it has its own charm. If you visit here when the nights are long — that is between November and March, you have a higher chance of witnessing the magical Northern Lights as well.

However, with most of these cities facing overtourism issues like Venice, Rome, Paris — it’s probably is a good idea to either visit these cities during the off-season or finding destinations that are off the tourist radar to get the best out of Europe.

Things to do in Europe

• Go on a free walking tour, which gives you an introduction into the city — history, culture, food, and its main attractions. While it says free, the tour mostly runs on donations. The idea is that, at the end of the tour, you can make a donation to the tour guide based on how you find it. Typically, around 5-10 Euros.
• Like I mentioned before, public transportation in Europe is top-notch. So, a lot of people go on day trips from the city. So, check out if you’d be interested in any day trips from your city.
• While cities are popular among tourists, the countryside of Europe is picturesque and quite fascinating. Consider staying in the countryside and experience the humdrum of daily life which is much slower-paced than in the cities.

Best Time to Visit Europe

While each season has its own charm and the best time to visit depends on your interest, and the kind of crowd you can handle, the most  touristic time in Europe is between June and August.

If you can manage the cold, then try visiting in the winter months between December and March, when you can witness the cities magically clad in snow. It’s a whole different experience altogether, and of course, you end up skipping the tourist crowds. Also, the entrance tickets and stay prices are far more affordable in winters.

Also, Christmas is a big thing in Europe, and you’ll see every significant city decked in lights and local Christmas markets popping up in the Old Town. So, it’s also a fantastic time to be in Europe to bring in the festive spirit.  Tallinn, Zagreb, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, and many parts of Germany and France have some of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

On the other hand, if you want a  compromise between weather and crowd, then the shoulder months of October and April would be ideal  for you.

Visa for Europe Trip from India

Most tourists visiting mainland Europe usually apply for a Schengen visa.

Equipped with a Schengen visa, you have access to 26 countries that are part of the Schengen region. Apart from this, 23 countries are not part of the Schengen region. Still, some offer a free visa on arrival with a valid Schengen visa, including Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and so on.

However, the Schengen visa is one of the most elaborate when it comes to applying for a visa. It has quite a lot of paperwork involved. To make it simpler for you,  here’s an extensive guide on applying for a Schengen visa from India.

If you are not traveling to the Schengen region, chances are you’d have to apply for a country-specific visa — say Croatia, Romania, Ireland, or the UK.

Flights to Europe from India

You’ll find a reasonable number of flights flying to Europe from major metro cities in India.

Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru are the top places to fly out to Europe .  And Paris, Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Vienna are the major flight destinations in Europe from India.

KLM has direct flights to Amsterdam from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. And AirIndia has direct flights from Delhi to Paris and Air France from Mumbai and Bengaluru to Paris.

The expected duration is about 12-13 hours by flight one way.

On average, flight costs about INR 45,000 for a return ticket. With a little research, you can find flights for about Rs. 30,000 return as well.

Accommodation in Europe

Again, accommodation varies based on which city you’re visiting. Starting prices for accommodation can be much higher in Western Europe than in Eastern Europe.

Having said that, here’s what you can expect in major cities in Europe:

Europe is well-known for its backpacking culture thanks to its closely-knit group of budget-friendly hostels. Usually, dorms range from 4-beds to 16-beds dorm — either categorized by gender or mixed. Also, hostel culture allows you to interact with some cool people from all around the world. Also, it offers numerous activities, like group tours and pub hopping. Some hostels offer free breakfast and usually come fully equipped with a kitchen where you can prepare your meals if you like. Hostel accommodation typically ranges between 15 and 25 Euro per night.

More and more people now prefer to stay in  Airbnb  in a home away from home. Ideal if you are looking for your own space for a private holiday either with friends or family. Airbnb usually comes fully equipped with a kitchen, which makes making dishes all the more convenient. Prices typically start from 20 to 30 Euros per night. Also, check out Airbnb experiences for more exciting experiences with locals.

Here is a definitive guide on how to book an Airbnb for a perfect stay abroad

If neither a hostel or Airbnb is suitable for you, then the next best option would be to stay at a hotel. Hotels usually come with free breakfast, and a concierge service — so it’s quite a convenient means of traveling. Hotel accommodation usually starts at about 35 Euros to 50 Euros per night. Also, prices can vary by where you prefer staying in a city.

Pro Tip: While booking stays for a visa, make sure that your name and all your travel companions’ names are mentioned clearly in the booking to avoid visa problems.

Transportation in Europe

The best part about Europe is that its quite convenient to travel between countries — it’s mostly as easy as traveling domestically.

If you are traveling between countries or cities, plan your itinerary such that you can utilize the extensive public transport network in Europe, either buses or trains. The best and most convenient is to opt for rail pass through services like Eurail.

Eurail Pass

There are different categories of Eurail Passes based on the countries you are planning to visit, and the number of days of travel. Single country passes are cheaper than multi-country passes. Usually,  Eurail Passes costs upwards of 400 Euros for seven days travel in a month per adult on a Global Pass, and around 200 Euros for eight days travel in a month for a single country pass.  With Eurail Pass, you have the flexibility of choosing your days of travel, and it’s not fixed like when you book tickets. If flexibility is what you are looking for, then it can’t get any better than Eurail Pass.

If you are looking for a more affordable way to travel across cities, then check out  Flixbus, which has bus connections throughout Europe . You can find tickets at around 25 Euros for an 8-hour journey if booked a week or two in advance.

Renting Cars

When in Europe,  go on road trips  whenever possible. It’s a fantastic place to go on road trips between countries and enjoying the beautiful scenery at your own pace. Especially helpful when you are visiting small towns where public transportation may not be frequent. Typically, it costs between 50-100 Euros per day of rental.

Local Travel

As far as traveling within a city is concerned, each city typically has trams, buses, a subway, or a metro network. Either you’d have to buy a transport card before your travel and reload it as much as you want, or buy a single ticket within the city limits. And in most major cities, there are multi-day passes that you can avail from the local tourist office or website. And, use Google Maps for public transport suggestions (trams, buses, or subway/metro) within city limits.

Food & Drinks in Europe

The variety of countries in Europe is reflected in its food culture as well.

Typically,  doner kababs are cheaper pretty much everywhere (about 5 Euro). Some of the other more affordable food options include — pizza slice (3-5 Euro), sandwich (4 – 8 Euro), burgers (5 – 8 Euro), or Hummus (5 Euro).

And also, eating out in a fancy restaurant with a couple of drinks will easily set you back by 20 Euros or so.

Also, do try the local food specialty when you can. Usually, a simple google search will bring you recommendations on the best places to eat and drink. Also, check TripAdvisor and Zomato for reviews.

Vegetarian food in Europe

Due to a wave of vegan culture in Europe, vegetarian food is more readily available now than ever. And you usually wouldn’t face many issues in Western Europe. But, in Eastern Europe, it could be a problem as vegetarian food is quite limited there. Even then, you’ll find vegetable burgers, sandwiches, Margherita pizzas, or salad at the least. And also if you don’t have a vegetarian dish on the menu, you can request them to make a dish without meat. Some times, it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But there’s no harm in trying!

Currency in Europe

While the majority of Europe uses Euro, there are quite a few countries which have their own currency as well. Ideally, you can carry Euros from India and then convert it into the local currency in one of the currency conversion centers.

The currency rates differ from one to another, and it could be tricky to find the best and authentic places to convert currencies. Instead, I’d suggest withdrawing cash from your forex card, which dispenses cash in the local currency. Using a debit card would be the next best option to withdraw some money.

Also, for transactions, it’s better to use forex cards over credit cards as credit cards usually levy about 2.5-3.5% extra (currency conversion, and forex charges). You can request a forex card from the bank you have an account with.

Or the best I’ve found so far from India is to signup for a NiYo Global Card – which is a prepaid card, and you can reload money on the card and use it pretty much like a forex card. But the advantage is that the foreign exchange rates are much better than a forex card, and also they don’t have any additional charges signup charges for the same.

Not all places accept card — like transport ticket when you are paying inside the bus or tram, or small shops or markets. So, it’s better to carry some cash along with you.

Europe Trip Cost from India

This is a question that is quite difficult to answer.  Keep in mind that Europe is not a country, but a continent that comprises of many countries. Switzerland is way more expensive than Greece and Spain, while Budapest is pretty Cheap.

Also keep in mind that it varies quite a bit based on the places you visit, the kind of accommodation you stay at, the modes you choose for inland transportation (flights, taxis, ferry etc.).

That said a normal 10 day trip that covers 2-3 countries usually costs people about 1 to 1.25 Lakhs per person.

You can get an idea of the costs from the posts on Budapest and Iceland.

Also, if you will be doing your entire Europe trip backpacking (hitchhiking, staying in hostels etc.), the costs will be substantially different from a regular trip.

I hope this gives you a fair idea about the cost for Europe Trip.

What to wear in Europe

Since the temperatures could be in Europe depending on when you are visiting, it’s essential to plan your travel wardrobe accordingly. Do check the weather forecast to get an approximate idea of the temperatures before visiting.

Spring (March to May)

Most of Europe is pleasant during spring which temperatures typically ranging from 11-19 degrees Celsius. It’s the season when the flowers bloom — so it’s one of the most beautiful seasons to travel in. Pack thermals and jackets depending on the temperatures.

Summers (June to August)

Sunny weather, long days, and flourishing nightlife makes summer the high season among tourists. July and August are the hottest months with temperatures reaching up to 32 degrees Celsius. Wherever you are in Europe during this season, a single layer of clothing would be enough.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumns in Europe are a sight to watch with leaves changing colors to myriad shades between yellow and red. There’s usually a nip in the air during this season — and it could vary greatly based on where you are located. Autumn is usually characterized by positive single degree temperatures and rains, so it might be necessary to pack a raincoat or an umbrella.

Winters (December to February)

This season is mostly about snow and temperatures are usually below 0 degrees. It’s essential to pack extra layers – thermals, sweatshirts, and a winter coat along with your usual item of clothing. Also, carry a winter cap, shawl, gloves, socks, and winter-proof shoes. Very important to cover your extremities so that you don’t fall sick.

Tips While on a  Europe Trip from India

• Most of the countries in Europe have their own language, so it would be better if you learn a few words in advance to better interact with locals.
• Europe is pretty much safe for solo travelers, including women. But of course, like always, trust your instincts, and take necessary precaution – like not roaming around in deserted alleys, or going for drinks alone in a bad neighborhood, and such.
• Many people don’t realize that pick-pocketing is quite common in the major cities in Europe. So, be cautious about where you keep your valuables. While you are out sightseeing, don’t carry your original passport preferably unless absolutely necessary — leave it at your accommodation and take a photocopy instead. Also, bring along just enough cash that will last you a day or two. And don’t carry all your money in one pocket.
• Always carry your passport when crossing borders, even if it’s just on a day trip.

BTW, Have you checked out our other posts on Planning trips to Europe from India? 

Raksha is a travel and adventure blogger at therovingheart.com. She is always collecting experiences. She has spent around 3 months in Europe (most of it solo) after taking a career break.

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A Detailed Guide To Plan A Perfect Europe Trip From India

If you have always wanted to wander through medieval castles, take a stroll along cobblestone streets, or experience the breathtaking beauty of natural landscapes, you should plan a visit to Europe. This beautiful continent is home to numerous magnificent and culturally diverse countries you must visit at least once.

Anyone willing to explore different cultures, food, attractions, activities, etc., can start their international travel journey from Europe. If you’re ready, this guide can help you design the perfect Europe trip from India. So let’s quickly learn more about the tips shared below.

• Pick the Ideal Destination

Europe has 40+ countries, each offering its unique charm and grandeur. You should pick a country with plenty of attractions and activities of your interest. If you aren’t time and budget-restricted, you can plan a trip to multiple European countries. The continent has a designated Schengen area consisting of 26 European countries offering a common visa policy.

Anyone willing to explore much of the continent can apply for a Schengen visa and enjoy access to Austria, Hungary, Denmark, Netherlands, Portugal, Norway, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Belgium, and other Schengen countries on a single visa. We recommend picking a country based on your interests. For example, Spain is perfect for sun-seekers and party enthusiasts, while France is ideal for art and culture enthusiasts.   

• Create a Personalized Itinerary

If you want to plan your trip without compromising your travel experiences, you must give yourself enough time to research and prepare a personalized itinerary. It can help you optimize your travel time, ensuring you don’t miss out on anything significant. Start by learning about the top attractions of your shortlisted country, and mix them with some off-beat gems for a balanced experience.

People on a restricted budget should first search for all the free attractions, cheapest european country to visit from India , group tours, budget-friendly accommodations, etc. If you want to add adventure and unexpected discoveries, don’t be too rigid with your itinerary. Always keep some room for flexibility and on-the-spot changes to accommodate better experiences.

• Book the Flight Tickets & Accommodation

The sooner you book flight tickets and accommodation, the better. Early booking will help you save money while ensuring your favourite accommodation doesn’t get pre-booked by other tourists. Getting flight tickets can become challenging if you plan to travel during the holiday season. So once you’ve finalized your travel destination, prioritize booking the flight tickets and accommodation.

If you have decided to visit multiple European countries on a Schengen visa, study the best routes before booking any flight. Once you reach a European country, especially the ones in the Schengen area, you can take the train route to reach other countries faster and cheaper.   

• Start Learning Some Local Lingo

A mistake some travelers make while visiting Europe is assuming that English is the common language in all European countries. While English is spoken in many European countries, it isn’t the case everywhere. For example, if you’ve decided to visit France, learn some local lingo in French. If you’re visiting France, learning words like Bonjour (Hello), Excusez-moi (Excuse me), Merci (Thank you), etc., can help.

On the other hand, when visiting Spain, learn some basic lingo like Por favour (Please), Gracias (Thank you), Hola (Hello), etc., for easy communication with the locals. We recommend learning about the official language of the European country you’re visiting and learning some basic lingo for convenience.   

• Apply for Travel Visa

Since the European continent has 40+ countries, you have to check the visa requirements of the shortlisted country. People willing to explore multiple European countries in the Schengen region can apply for a Schengen visa for Indians , as it will allow them to travel between different Schengen countries without any additional visa.

For example, if you get a Schengen visa, you can travel to Latvia, Poland, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece, and other countries within the Schengen region without individually applying for tourist visas. It will save you time, visa money, etc., ensuring you can explore more in a single visit.  

Get Ready to Explore Enchanting European Countries

If you’re an ardent traveler, you must have some European countries on your bucket list. The continent is a treasure trove of unforgettable experiences. Be it Italy or Spain, Austria or the United Kingdom, every country is unique and has something special to offer. Although the continent is vast, strategic travel planning can help you explore most of Europe. If you’re ready to explore the beauty of this region, follow all the tips discussed above and plan for your next trip to a beautiful European country. Since European countries offer diverse experiences, we recommend starting with a budget-friendly location.

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Vacation Timeline for Planning Your First Trip to Europe

Start Planning Six Months in Advance if You Can

If you're thinking about taking a first-time or independent trip to Europe, it can be fun just planning, researching, and finding the best spots to check out like hidden gems or "must-sees."

Independent travel is usually cheaper and more rewarding than signing up for a coach tour of Europe. Yes, you have to do some digging, but in the end, you end up planning the things you want to do, not the things someone else wants you to do.

A timeline, divided into time segments with deadlines, ensure that you handle all the basic tasks required and helps keep your costs in check.

Six Months in Advance

The time is nigh. The idea has been in your head for months, maybe even years. You want to go to Europe. You have some extra time, you have some extra money. Start planning for your trip in six months—right now.

• Choose a destination : This is obviously your biggest task. Once you pick a place, then you can start setting a budget. You can start determining how long you can spend there, what you want to see, and how you plan to travel. Set the date, the rest flows from that.
• European guidebooks: Once the location is selected, then get your guides, read online about  Europe's top cities  and compare costs between places. If this is your summer after high school graduation, check out some of the best European destinations for the younger scene .
• Rent a vacation house: If you plan to stay for a week or more, look at weekly rentals or (if staying longer) a monthly rental at a vacation house. A vacation house rental can be a big money saver for traveling families.
• Learn some of the languages: It is courteous in all countries to learn the basics like polite greetings or general statements like, "Do you speak in English" in another language.

Three Months in Advance

Three months have gone by since you decided you were going away. If you haven 't already, now it is the time to get flights booked. 

• Find the best airfare: Booking flights between three and four months before you leave is typically the best bet for the best fares. The sooner, the better.
• Apply for a passport : If you do not already have a passport, then now is the time to put in that application and get it going. The passport office says to allow six to eight weeks for processing time, but add a few weeks in case it gets lost in the mail or an error hangs you up.
• Jot down an itinerary: Plot out some highlights you want to see while at the destination. Mapping this out now will help you figure out if you will need to get a car rental, learn public transportation, or if you can walk it.
• Make sure you have good walking shoes: You'll be walking a lot in Europe, so it's time to think about good, solid walking shoes that you can wear in several situations like day and evening.

Two Months in Advance

Two months before you go, you will need to figure out where you will stay and how you will get around.

• Hotel reservations: If you did not book a vacation house several months beforehand, then now is the time to make sure you have accommodations. Since you've been planning which sights to visit, look at getting a hotel near your list of must-sees.
• Transportation: You need to determine what will be your main mode of transportation while at the destination. Will you take public transportation? Will you rent or lease a car? Will you visit several countries and need to travel the rails ? Book it.

One Month in Advance

Time is ticking down. You should already have your airfare booked, your accommodations should be reserved, and your transportation plan is locked down. These are still many small, but important details that require attention.

• Luggage: You need to determine how much luggage you will need, how much you will bring, and how you will lug it around.
• Money and budget: This is a good time to check your bank balance and make sure that you will have the money you estimate you will need per day once you develop your spending budget.
• Travel Insurance: If you're going to Europe, then chances are high that you spent a lot of money on this trip. Protect your investment. If anything goes wrong on your trip or before you leave, it's a good idea to spend a little to potentially save yourself hundreds of dollars if something should go wrong. Check with your credit card company to confirm what is covered by default.

Final Checklist

All your planning has paid off. You are just about ready to go. Look over a final checklist to make sure that you do not miss anything important. 

• Call your credit card companies: Credit card companies need an alert that you are planning to leave the country. It can be so embarrassing if your card gets frozen when you go to use it and you really need to. In an effort to protect your account against fraudulent use, foreign country usage is a red flag for credit card companies.
• Take Medications? Write down the details of your medications, brand name, generic name, dosage, and usage instructions. If you should need a refill abroad, this is important for foreign pharmacies.
• What to bring: Pack light, pack right. Use a  packing list  and stick to it. If you have a tendency to overpack, then tell yourself that. Go back to your bag, remove items.
• Take a look at the Department of State travel warnings  (if any) for your chosen destination.
• Have a wonderful trip!

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Planning A Europe Trip: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Trip You’ll Love

by  Annie  

Published:  January 4, 2022

So you want to start planning a Europe trip. Where do you start? There are so many questions running through your mind -- where should I go? How much time do I need? What will I do while I’m there? How do I get around? What do I pack? The list seems never-ending. I feel you, my friend, and that’s why I wanted to create this guide for you! Though these examples are specific to Europe, you can apply these same steps to any international trip. 

The first trip I ever planned was for work. My supervisor told me I needed to leave the next day and I’d visit five different facilities in four countries across Europe. Talk about trial by fire! After three hours of booking flights and hotels, shooting off emails, and packing up my desk, I sped home like a madwoman to pack the biggest suitcase you’ve ever seen. I still cringe when I think about that mammoth I hauled around for eighteen days. 

Even though it was totally rushed and I had zero experience, everything went smoothly! The biggest takeaway from that experience was that planning an international trip isn’t nearly as difficult as it seems. This is true even if you know next to nothing about the place you’re going, and don’t have time to research! If I can pull it off in twenty-four hours, I guarantee you can do it with much less stress if you give yourself time to bring it all together. 

*** This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a booking using the link, I receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. This helps me keep the lights on around here. I ONLY recommend products and services I personally use and love. ***

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How to Use this Guide for Planning a Europe Trip

In this guide, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about planning a Europe trip so you can create the experience you’ve always wanted! We’ll talk about what to do before you even start researching, the process of creating your itinerary, booking all the necessities, and how to have a great time once you arrive.

This travel planning guide is for independent travelers who want to travel to Europe on their own terms. You won’t find information about multi-day group tours, or cruises. In each section of this guide, I’ve answered the most common questions people have at each step of the process when planning a Europe trip. 

There are four parts to this guide that follow the steps for planning your trip: 

• What to do before you start researching and booking. 
• What goes into creating your itinerary and booking the necessities. 
• What happens between booking and leaving on your grand adventure! 
• All the info you need to make your trip to Europe run smoothly.

Bookmark this post so you can come back to it at each step of your travel planning process!

Planning a Europe Trip Part 1: Getting Started

An incredible view of Prague Castle and the city from Petrin Hill

For international travel, I like to start laying the groundwork at least six months before I plan to leave. You can do it in less time, but having plenty of time to find the best deals, research your destination, book accommodations before they sell out, will keep you from feeling overwhelmed. You won’t be booking everything that far in advance because there are decisions to be made before you start researching and booking anything at all. In this section, you’ll find answers the most common questions and everything you need to lay the foundation for an amazing trip. 

3 steps to start planning a Europe trip:

• Passports and documentation
• Setting the parameters for your trip
• Choosing your destination(s)

What documents do I need if I’m traveling to Europe?

The most important thing you’ll need for your trip is your passport! I know this seems totally obvious, but hear me out. Depending on the backlog, the process can take up to six months if you don’t have a passport already. 

When going to Europe, you’ll need to make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after you arrive. Many countries want to ensure your passport won’t expire while you’re visiting. The renewal process is pretty simple. The last time I did it, I went to my local Walgreens to get updated photos and sent them in with my old passport and renewal paperwork. I had my shiny new passport in about three weeks. Super simple!

Consider applying for Global Entry (US Citizens)

Global Entry is a program for US citizens that allows you to have a fast pass through passport control when you’re returning to the United States. It also comes with TSA Pre-Check, making getting through security a breeze for domestic and international flights. 

It’s $100 for five years and well worth the money if you plan on traveling internationally just once a year! Since I got mine, it’s never taken me more than ten minutes to get through passport control and customs. Previously, I’d be stuck in these lines for hours! Honestly, this is one of the best tips I can give you in this travel planning guide to make your trip to Europe less stressful. 

The application process is simple. You can get all the information and start your application from this government website . You’ll have to complete a full background check and then meet with a TSA agent for an interview. My interview was at the airport, but other options may be available in your area. The interview was about ten minutes long, and they asked questions about my travel plans. It was really easy!

Global Entry is especially handy if you’re like me and piece together flights on different airlines to get the best deals. Having the “fast pass” through passport control and customs makes the whole process of switching airlines and getting back through security much easier and more predictable. 

What’s the best way to start planning a Europe trip? 

The first step to planning a Europe trip is to decide how much time and money you have to spend. This will make every other decisions easier! Time and money are the parameters every part of your Europe trip will fit within. This article will help with planning your travel budget . Once you know how much money you have to spend determine the priorities for your Europe trip . 

When it comes to maximizing the time you have to spend, build around long weekends and holidays if you’re using PTO. Look for holidays that aren’t celebrated in your destination to avoid crowds. This article about planning an itinerar y can help you decide how to spend your days once you arrive. Research the most popular times to visit - or the peak season - and plan to go when fewer tourists are there. Traveling just outside these times (aka shoulder season) will help you save money and avoid huge crowds. If you go when everyone else is visiting, it’s harder to find deals and reservations book up faster. 

You don’t need to have multiple weeks available to create an incredible trip to Europe! All you need is 7 to 10 days. Seven days in a place you’ve wanted to visit for so long is better than zero days, I promise! If you have a more flexible schedule and can work remotely or take long periods off, your primary consideration will be budget. Your budget will go much farther in Romania than in Norway!

Where should I travel in Europe?

If this is your first time planning a Europe trip, destinations that speak your native language will be the least intimidating. If you’re a native English speaker, the United Kingdom and Ireland are great places to start! However, there are plenty of other considerations when deciding where to visit, so keep reading. 

Choosing a destination is the hardest part of planning a Europe trip, in my opinion. It’s tough to take all the amazing places and narrow your trip down to only a few you can string together! Also, there’s no one place that’s going to be perfect for everyone. 

Knowing which type of traveler you are can help you choose a destination you’ll love. If you’re a Nature Lover, then a bustling city may not be the most enjoyable experience for you. You can use this article to learn about different types of travelers and discover which one(s) resonates with you. Once you understand your travel style, it’s easier to decide which European destinations will provide the experience you want. 

Another thing to consider is the average daily cost of visiting. If your destination is less-popular, it may cost more to get there and back so look at flight prices. Also, consider how long it will take to get to your destination and home again if your timeline is less than ten days. These are important considerations, but there are a few other questions to think about.  Here’s an article that covers choosing a destination in more detail. 

Additional Considerations for Choosing Your Destinations

There are a few other elements to think about when deciding where to go on your Europe trip. The climate and any local events happening are two big ones. If you want to go to Scotland in August, the weather is lovely, but you may not know that the city will be packed because the Fringe Festival and Military Tattoo are both in full swing. Taking the time to learn a little more about the places you’re considering before making your final decision will help you choose the best place for your trip. 

There are some easy ways to get information about your top destination choices. Start by looking at the tourism site for the country or city. You’ll learn more about things to do there, how to get around, and other details that can help you plan. Then get a guidebook for the destination(s). Personally, I love real books, so I buy used guidebooks at Thriftbooks.com to read through. The big things don’t change that much over time -- what to see, different regions, history, etc., so I don’t mind having a book that’s out of date. Plus, I’m a fan of reusing rather than purchasing new when I can. 

Finalize Your Destination

Do some basic research on flights and accommodations. This will help you fill in your travel budget and outline your itinerary options. 

1. Research entry requirements for each place on your list.

Do you need any specific documents or health screenings? Do they have a cost associated with them? When I start this phase, I create a spreadsheet to organize the information for each place to compare them easily when it’s time to make a final decision. 

2. Get an idea of what flights and accommodations will cost.

Skyscanner.com is my go-to for finding a ton of flight information in one place. You can search for multi-city and open jaw flights on this site too. Here’s an article with tips for finding cheap flights for your trip to help you get started. For accommodations, Booking.com is my favorite for finding awesome places to stay in Europe. You can see a variety of accommodations all in one place! There are different types of accommodations to choose from, so check out this article for information about each and ways to save money. 

3. Research how you’ll get from place to place.

You’ll need to get from the airport to the city, around the city itself, and from one place to another if you want to visit multiple places on your trip, which isn’t nearly as intimidating as it sounds, I promise! In this article, you can learn about the different ways to travel around Europe and how to decide which is best for your trip. Right now, all you need to know is what options you have, an idea of what they will cost, and how long they take. 

Once you’ve done this preliminary research, it’s time to finalize your destination choices so you can start building your Europe itinerary. You can map out an itinerary for more than one option; just know that’s going to take extra time. 

For the rest of this guide planning a Europe trip, we’ll assume you’ve chosen one place or a few close together for your trip.

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Planning a Europe Trip Part 2: Creating Your Itinerary

Getting off the beaten path to see the Callanish Standing Stones in Scotland.

Now that you’ve chosen a destination, we’ll start putting together the itinerary for your Europe trip! In this section of the travel planning guide, we will cover the six steps that go into creating your itinerary. You’ll find answers to common questions that include details steps for filling in the details of your travel plans. 

6 steps to planning a Europe trip Itinerary:

• Entry requirements
• Basics of building an itinerary
• Mapping out dates for flights and accommodations
• Booking flights and accommodations
• Planning for transportation
• Planning for sights and activities

What do I need if I’m traveling to Europe?

Some European destinations may require a visa to enter or documentation regarding your health, especially with Covid on the scene. A quick internet search should provide all the information you need. A website from the local government will have the most accurate and up-to-date information. There may be certain timelines for applications, so set a reminder in your phone calendar for any dates you need to remember.

The requirements are subject to change quickly when it comes to health information. Make sure you know what the process and timelines are for your destination. Some require testing, even if you’re vaccinated. Others require you to complete a health form in advance like I had to do when traveling to Turkey. This site will help you find a test in your destination for testing while traveling. Also, at-home tests can work in many situations. This article has great information on at-home tests and other resources. 

How do I make an itinerary?

There are an endless number of ways to spend your days in any European destination. First, decide any “must do” items for your visit. You’ll build your timelines around these. You can always refer to which type of traveler you are and look at the suggested activities. If you’re not sure what’s available in your destination, start by looking at the tourism board website (or your guidebook). They have great information about attractions and events. Locals run tourism board sites to promote their home to tourists, so they know!

Once you have a list of your “must-see” activities and sites, plan to do one or two per day. I know, you’re thinking, “But I can do WAY more than one or two things in a day!” Yes, you can. However, you’re going to find more things that interest you once you arrive. 

Also, leaving time for a pint in the pub around the corner and a stop in the interesting little shop you find yourself walking past will make your trip to Europe all the more enjoyable. Honestly, the highlights of your days will often be the things you didn’t plan but stumbled upon as you went from one of your must-do activities to the next. 

If your trip includes major cities, look at where the attractions you most want to see are located. You can bookmark them on your Google maps, so they’re easily accessible on the go. You’ll probably find things you want to see clustered close together in different parts of the city. Dedicate a day to each area rather than going back and forth. Spending most of a day in one area gives you time to get off the beaten path and see what else is around. 

Did I mention leaving time for wandering? Trust me on this one. 

There are many different ways to get around while you’re visiting, so research what’s available. Here’s an article that tells you more about each one and how to decide what’s best for you.

What is the best way to plan flights and accommodations?

Always start this part of your travel planning with affordable flights! Here’s an article with tips for finding cheap flights . Because flight prices vary widely from day to day and week to week, building around the most affordable flights will help you maximize your travel budget. 

Start your search on Skyscanner by looking at a whole month at a time to see which block of days will be the cheapest. If you insist on specific dates, then you’re at the mercy of airline prices. There are plenty of other ways to save money on your trip!

Once you’ve found cheap flights , look at accommodations that match up with those dates; make sure to note any date changes for your arrival if you’re flying through multiple time zones. Booking.com   is where I start because they have so many types of accommodations in one place, and it’s easy to see prices. Here’s an article where you can learn about the different types of accommodations , tips for saving money, and how to choose the best option for your experience. 

Choose the top three accommodations for your dates based on your priorities. Make a pro/con list for each or send a message to the property with any questions you have. This is why an early start to planning a Europe trip is really helpful. It gives you plenty of time to get the information you want to make the best decision for your experience! Last-minute planning can leave you scrambling, feeling overwhelmed, and getting stuck with whatever’s left. 

How soon should I start booking things while planning a Europe trip?

After you’ve mapped out your timelines, it’s time to start booking your trip. This is where we go from just planning a Europe trip to making it reality! Hitting the “purchase” button for those flights is its own kind of adrenaline rush. Keep a spreadsheet or document that you’ll organize by date to help you make sure everything lines up so you’re not accidentally without a place to stay one night or double-booked somewhere else.

Start by booking your flights. I always book directly through the airline rather than one of the online travel sites. This way, if there’s any kind of problem, you can work directly with the airline instead of having to go through a third party. 

Once you’ve booked, make a note in your spreadsheet or document of:

• the airline
• your confirmation number
• departure date and time
• any layovers
• your arrival date and time

Next up, it’s time to book places to stay. Match up the arrival date of your flight with the check-in date of your accommodation. If you’re staying in more than one place, match the next check-in date with the check-out date of your previous stay. Sometimes this can get confusing, which is why having your planning document organized by date is helpful. 

Make a note in your spreadsheet or document of: 

• the property name
• check-in and check-out dates
• phone number
• confirmation number. 

Then bookmark your accommodation on Google Maps, so it’s accessible when you arrive.

A note on booking multiple accommodations and then canceling what you don’t want -- this puts the local accommodation in a real bind. If you prefer to stay in a small, locally-owned place, it can be difficult for them to fill last-minute cancellations, affecting their livelihood! Please, choose the place you want to stay and only book one.

What is the best transportation in Europe?

There are a number of transportation options for planning a Europe trip. I’m always a fan of public transportation because it’s affordable, efficient, and a more sustainable option. You can reference this article for more information about planning for the different types of transportation . 

You’ll need to plan for getting from the airport to your accommodation and around your destination. If your itinerary includes multiple stops, you need to plan how you’ll get from one place to the next. There are many different ways to travel around Europe , so make sure you explore your options. A rail pass or bus pass can be a great way to save money, if you want to create a multi-city itinerary. 

If you’re choosing an option other than flying, you may not be able to purchase tickets more than 90 days in advance. Set a reminder in your calendar for train or bus tickets for when tickets will be available, so you don’t forget to book them. Make a note in your spreadsheet or document of departure and arrival locations, dates, and times. Bookmark these on your Google Maps as well. 

You may need to print a physical paper ticket for some of these before leaving like I had to do for my bus rides in the Balkans. For other options, you may be able to access everything from an app. Make a note of what’s required, so you’ll know what you need when it’s time to start gathering everything before you leave. 

What should I see and do during my Europe trip?

Research any popular attractions or activities you want to include on your trip. Find out if you can or need to pre-book tickets. I made the mistake of trying to book tickets to the Anne Frank House only a few days before my first trip to Amsterdam and missed out because all the visiting times were already booked for two months out! Lesson learned. 

Also, check out the Go City passes available for major cities. They include many of the most popular sights and sometimes let you skip the line to get in. The pass can also save you money over paying each entrance fee separately, and some include public transportation!

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Planning a Europe Trip Part 3: Preparing for Departure

Soaking in an iconic view of the canals in Amsterdam

Whew, we’ve already covered a lot of information for planning your Europe trip, but there's still more! I told you this was a complete guide! You’ve chosen an amazing destination for your European vacation and laid the foundation for an incredible experience. Now that you have those big pieces in place, let’s fill in the details. 

What needs to happen between booking and getting on the plane? In this section of the travel planning guide, you’ll find nine things you’ll want to know before leaving on your trip. I’ll answer the most common questions and give you all the information you need to feel fully prepared when it’s time to go. 

9 tips to prepare for your Europe trip:

• Decide on travel insurance
• Resources for researching your destination
• What to know about packing
• Make sure you can charge your devices
• Decide how you’ll using your cell phone
• Get your home ready
• Print documents to take with you
• How to get ready for departure day
• Getting ready for a long-haul flight

Do I need travel insurance?

In my early years of traveling, I never purchased travel insurance. Thankfully, I never needed it, though there were times it could have helped with canceled flights or delayed luggage. Over the years, I’ve seen how things can go sideways, and now I’m a fan of having the extra peace of mind. Travel insurance is really affordable, making it easy to insure your trip without too much additional expense. When you're planning a Europe trip, making room for this in your budget could save you a bundle in the long run.

World Nomads is my favorite for general travel insurance. Some of their policies cover Covid-related expenses, but not all, so double-check. If you want to make sure your trip is covered for Covid-related expenses, look for policies that cover “Cancel for Any Reason.” Here is a great list of travel insurance options that do cover Covid . 

I chose one of these for my 40-day trip through the Balkans, and the comprehensive policy was less than $200. Thankfully, I didn’t need it, but it would have saved me much more than that if I had! Honestly, I don’t remember the specific one I went with. I made quite a few coverage comparisons and chose the one that worked best for my needs. 

How do I find cool things to do in my destination?

You’ve already done preliminary research about your destination, and now it’s time to get into the details. 

As I’ve mentioned, when planning a Europe trip, you can use Google Maps to bookmark different places you may want to visit in your destination. I love this feature! It means you don’t have to make a rigid plan for your days but can bookmark a bunch of things and decide what sounds awesome in the moment. 

If you’re at an attraction on your “must-see” list, when you’re finished, you can look at your map and see what else is nearby! Don’t get so focused on going from place to place that you miss the magic in between, though. 

If you are using public transportation, check to see if there’s an app you can use, which will often have a map of the system and allow you to purchase tickets directly on your phone. If you want to take a guidebook, you can cut out the pages you need instead of lugging the whole thing around. 

Personally, I’ll put the important information on my phone or a separate paper to take and leave the book at home. For big cities, the DK Top 10 guidebooks are a great option. They’re lightweight and small! Here’s a great collection of ones for Europe . 

Other things to research about your destination

Map out the best way to get to your accommodation from the airport, so you’re not trying to figure it out when you arrive tired and jet-lagged. Use this post to help you find the way that makes the most sense for you. 

Find out if cash or credit card is preferred where you're going. You can get local currency from an ATM at the airport when you arrive. Depending on where you’re going, a taxi may not take credit cards. 

Finally, save the numbers for your accommodations, local emergency services, the airlines you’ll be using, and the customer service numbers for your credit cards in your phone contacts. 

What should I pack for a trip to Europe?

Packing is one of the most overwhelming parts of planning a Europe trip! It really deserves its own type of travel planning guide, which I’ll get working on for you right away! 

You will want to take anything there’s even a chance you’ll need because you’re not sure you’ll be able to get it at your destination. This is not the case at all! Packing only the necessities is especially important if you’re traveling on a budget flight where there are restrictions for the size and weight of your luggage. 

I fly with only a carry-on whenever possible. Spending three days wearing the same clothes in Copenhagen because our luggage didn’t make it with us was less than ideal. So, I usually do a round or two of practice packing to see how much will fit. Then I have to make the hard decisions about what to leave behind. If you trip is more than a week, plan to do laundry along the way.

If you have any prescription medications, talk to your insurance about getting a vacation refill. Usually, they will let you get one extra refill, so you have everything you need for your trip. Find out far enough in advance that you can make other arrangements with your doctor, if necessary. 

Additional Packing Tips

You’ll probably have a souvenir or two to bring home with you, so plan to have a little extra room for this. I have a duffel bag that folds down flat to pack in the bottom of my luggage, just in case I want to check a bag on the way home. I’ll fill the duffel with my dirty clothes since I don’t care if those are delayed and put fragile items in my carry-on. I don’t buy many souvenirs anymore, but this has been useful over the years! You can find them at Target or REI. 

No extra room to spare? Tickets to attractions and maps make great, lightweight souvenirs, plus you don’t have to spend anything extra. 

Perhaps you want a smaller day bag for when you’re out sightseeing instead of the personal item you took on the plane. Because I travel with my laptop and don’t want to haul it or the bigger backpack every day, I have a little backpack from REI that folds in half so it can be flat in the bottom of my carry-on. When I’m out and about, I prefer that to the laptop backpack. It’s low-key and much smaller, so it doesn’t stand out. 

Do I need an adapter for my electronics?

You’ll need an adapter to plug in your electronics when traveling abroad. I take two with me -- one for my laptop and one for my USB block that plugs into the wall. My husband has a small powerstrip he takes with him, which means you’d only need one adapter! Most of Europe uses the same adapter, except for the United Kingdom, but double-check, just to be sure you have what you need.

Ladies, if you have hair styling tools you want to pack, there are some things you’ll need to consider. The voltage is different, and using them overseas can ruin your products if done incorrectly. I did this on my first trip! My blow dryer sparked, let out a puff of smoke, and died. The end. 

Since that first experience, I’ve gone the natural route, and now my hair takes approximately 30 seconds to do, so I’m not the best person to give beauty advice for traveling! Your accommodation may provide a hairdryer. If not, don’t worry; I did find some information for you! Here’s an article about using styling tools overseas .

How do you I access my money while traveling in Europe?

It’s quite easy to access your money and use your credit cards while traveling to Europe. 

First, let your bank know where you’re traveling and the dates. Ask them if there are any special requirements for accessing your money while you’re gone. When you take money out of the ATM, your bank will calculate the exchange rate and charge you a fee for using an out-of-network ATM. I usually get a few hundred dollars at a time if I’m in a destination that prefers cash. That means I don’t need to use the ATM as often, which saves money on fees. 

You’ll want to alert your credit cards as well. Many of them have a place where you can enter this information online. Others don’t need you to notify them because they have systems set up to detect fraudulent activity on their end. If you’ve never done this with your card, call to find out. They’ll let you know, and it will make things easier for future trips. 

How do I use my cell phone in Europe?

There are a few different ways to do this, depending on your carrier. If you’re planning a Europe trip that's longer than a month, you may want to consider getting a SIM card when you arrive at your destination. This will allow you to access data and make local calls like you would at home. It also changes your phone number to a local one, so having a Google Voice number set up at home is helpful. Here’s an article with more information about using a local SIM card .

Because my trips are usually less than two months at a time, I go with one of the plans my carrier offers. I’m a Verizon user, and they have a monthly add-on that gives me a little bit of data, text and call minutes to use while I travel. Since I want to spend my time being present while I’m out and about, my phone time is reserved for when I’m in my accommodation or a cafe with wifi. The data has come in handy when I need to map my way somewhere or call an accommodation, but I don’t use it otherwise. 

Check with your carrier to see what options they offer, then choose what makes the most sense for you. 

What do I need to do with my home before I go on a trip?

This is one of the easiest parts to forget when you’re getting ready to travel! We get so focused on going to the place, and we forget to make sure everything is taken care of at home. 

Make sure you put a hold on your mail, so you don’t come back to a pile overflowing your mailbox. If you have plants or pets, make arrangements for their care. I assume you wouldn’t leave your pets without care, but you’d be surprised what can slip your mind when you’re getting ready for a big trip! If you’re going in summer and have a yard, get someone to take care of that as well. 

Find a low-wattage light you can leave on somewhere in the house for security purposes. It’s a good idea to make it look like someone is home, or at least like someone might be home. Let a neighbor you trust know that you’ll be gone and ask them to keep an eye on things for you. If you have a friend or family member nearby, see if they’ll stop over to check things out once a week.

What travel documents do I need to print?

As you're planning a Europe trip, keep any digital files in one place on your computer. Also keep your physical documents (passport, global entry, visas, etc.) together so they'll be easily accessible when it's time to go. It’s recommended to make a color copy of your passport and keep it somewhere separate from your actual passport. It’s also a good idea to give a copy to a family member or friend you trust.

Once you’ve finalized all your arrangements, you’ll want to make sure you have all the details easily accessible. Print any tickets you need for transportation or entry into attractions. Also, turn your document where you listed your reservation information into a one-pager (front and back) that you can print to keep with you. I share this document with the same friend or family member that keeps a copy of my passport, so someone knows where I’m supposed to be and when. If you’re traveling alone, this is an especially good idea. 

What should you do before leaving for the airport?

Have a plan in place to help things run smoothly. On the day of your departure, your mind will be going a thousand miles a minute, if you’re anything like me.  Jet lag can be a beast, but thankfully there are apps to help you start the transition to your destination’s time zone before you leave home. I’ve heard great things about Timeshifter , though I haven’t used it myself yet. It’s one of those things I forget and just have to deal with once I arrive. Someday I’ll remember!

Ensure you know how you’re getting to your departure airport and how much time you need. I always build in extra time to ease the anxiety when I travel. Nothing makes me want to crawl out of my skin more than worrying I’m going to miss a flight! I would much rather sit in the airport with a drink in hand for an extra hour than feel rushed and anxious as I start my epic trip.

If you don’t have someone to take you to the airport, you can schedule a pickup time hours in advance with Lyft , use a park and ride facility, pre-book an airport transfer, or call a traditional taxi. Here’s a post about the different ways to travel to and from the airport . 

When I was flying home from Istanbul, my flight was at 6:55 AM, and the airport was at least 45 minutes from where I was staying. Having a transfer already arranged and the ability to confirm it the night before let me actually get some sleep until my 4 AM pickup. 

What should I bring on a long haul flight?

• Refillable water bottle.
• Books, music, games, and movies loaded on your devices.
• Snacks in case you don’t like the food or get hungry between services.
• A pair of socks and underwear in case of delayed luggage, if you’re checking a bag.
• Medication or toiletries you will need during the flight. Pack a few day’s worth, just to be safe, if you’re checking a bag.
• Any documentation you’ll need to show at your destination. 

If you’re crossing an ocean, you’ll most likely be spending the next eight hours or more in the process of getting to your destination. I wish I could say something to make the time pass more quickly. Long flights are one of the parts you just have to get through to get to the places you want to visit. Below you’ll find a few more tips for making your transit and arrival in Europe easier. 

Tips for Making Travel Days More Comfortable

If my flight has more than ninety minutes until boarding, I’ll see if I can visit one of the lounges. Accessibility varies by airline, your frequent-flier status, etc. The lounge is a much more pleasant experience than sitting in the main terminal. 

I have the Delta Platinum American Express because that’s the largest airline in my home airport. This card gives me access to the lounge for $39 where all the drinks and snacks are free (remember to tip your bartender!). I spend way more than $39 sitting at an airport bar for the same amount of time, and it’s not nearly as comfortable.

You’ll be asked to turn your phone on airplane mode before departure. Depending on how you’ve decided to use your device when you arrive, you may want to turn off your data as well. You can map the route you’ll take to get to your accommodation and download it, so you’ll have it available when you arrive. You’ll be able to see your location and surrounding area on Google Maps without data or wifi as long as you’ve looked at the area previously and leave your location on.

Planning a Europe Trip Part 4: Arriving In Your Destination

Exploring Triglav National Park in Slovenia

Woohoo! You've spent all this time planning a Europe trip and you’ve made it! Now it’s time for all the fun! In this part of the travel planning guide, we’ll answer your questions about making the transition to your destination as smooth as possible. 

 In this section of the travel planning guide, you’ll find seven tips that will make your arrival go smoothly and set you up to have the most amazing time! I’ve answered the most common questions and provided all the resources you need to make things super easy. 

7 tips for a smooth arrival in your destination:

• Navigating passport control and customs
• Getting local currency
• Securing your belongings
• Gathering essential items for your stay
• Overcoming any language barriers
• Finding your way around
• How to get to your next destination, if you have one

What should I expect at passport control and customs in Europe?

Going through passport control is a simple process, though it can take a while. You’ll wait in line with the other passengers and approach the border control agent with your travel companions when it’s your turn. They’ll ask how long you’re staying, the purpose of your visit, and possibly where you’re staying, so have that information ready. 

Once you’ve received your shiny new passport stamp, you’ll go through baggage claim and customs. Look around for an ATM, just in case they have them in this part of the airport. As long as you haven’t packed anything you plan to sell or more than $10k in cash, you can just go through the “Nothing to Declare” lane, which will be marked in green. As a standard traveler, you’ll always use this lane. I only mention this now in the travel planning guide because I didn’t know what to do when I encountered this on my first trip. 

Can I get currency at the airport?

Yes! You can find ATMs in baggage claim or in the main terminal when you exit the secure area. I’ve never been to an airport that didn’t have one, but you may have to look around for a bit. 

Once you’ve got your cash, it’s time to find your ride. You planned for this, so look for the signs pointing you in the right direction -- taxis, public transportation, etc. 

How do I protect my belongings when traveling?

Let me start by saying that, in my experience, most people are kind and helpful. There isn’t a thief lurking around every corner waiting to mug you and steal your things. When planning a trip to Europe, the absolute best security is common sense. Do what you would do when visiting a big city in your home country and you should be just fine. Paying attention to what’s happening around you and who is in your space will deter the most questionable activity. 

Safety is one of people's biggest concerns when visiting a place they’ve never been. First of all, don’t bring a bunch of valuables with you. Depending on your accommodation, there are different options for keeping your things secure while you’re out sightseeing for the day -- safes, lockers, etc. If you take more cash from the ATM than you want to carry around, stash it in a random place in your luggage that no one would find, like inside a pair of socks. 

Tips for Securing Your Belongs While Sightseeing

When you’re getting ready to head out for the day, make sure your wallet and passport are somewhere you have to dig them out. The idea is that a thief would have to take your entire bag to get them. For me, this is inside a pocket inside a zippered part of my backpack. The only thing I ever carry in my pockets is my phone and loose change, and my pockets have zippers. 

If you’re not going to carry a bag, make sure your pockets have zippers, and you keep your valuables in your front pockets. When I sit down in a park, at a café, etc., I make sure my bag isn’t in a place where someone can walk by and grab it. Sometimes I’ll set it on the ground and put my chair leg through one of the straps, just for another level of security. 

How do you shop in a foreign country?

You’re definitely going to need to eat, but you may also find yourself needing toiletries, pain killers, or a bottle of wine. Depending on the destination, you might find what you need in separate shops instead of a grocery store like in the US. Even food items can be separated -- a cheese shop, an open-air produce stand, a butcher, and a dry goods store. For me, one of the fun parts of experiencing life in a foreign land is this simple act of gathering what I need. 

Use your Google Maps while you have Wi-Fi to look for the different shops and bookmark them. It’s also fun to wander around your neighborhood to see what’s there. Sometimes small shops won’t be listed on your app, but you’ll find them tucked away on side streets. In my experience, the shopkeepers are helpful and kind. Depending on where you find yourself, you may be a novelty to them! On more than one occasion, I’ve found myself engaged in conversation because they’re curious about why I’ve chosen to visit and want to tell me about awesome things in the area. 

How do you overcome language barriers in Europe?

Typically, people who work in tourism will speak some English, but it’s never guaranteed. When planning Europe trip, it’s helpful to learn a few basic phrases in the local language before you arrive, even if it's just “hello,” “please,” and “thank you.” Those few words and your willingness to try can go a long way. That being said, I’ve found that the language barrier has rarely been an issue when traveling in Europe.

You’d be surprised at how much you can actually communicate with pointing and a few hand gestures. Once, at a campground near Plitvice National Park in Croatia, I managed to get my clothes washed even though the washing machine labels were in German and my host was trying to explain to me in Croatian! 

The Wordless Travel Book is a great little resource to take along if you’re concerned about the language barrier. It’s full of pictures you can point to and use to communicate. Plus, you can always turn on your data and use Google Translate in a pinch, too. 

Will my Google Maps work in Europe?

Yes! Google Maps makes getting around in Europe easy. Make sure your phone is fully charged before setting out for the day. If you’ve bookmarked places, you’ll still see them on your map even if your data is off. You can pick up a paper map at the local tourist information office, which is always worth visiting. They’ll be able to tell you about any fun events and answer questions you might have. I’m a fan of walking, so that’s always my go-to for getting around a new place. However, in larger cities, a bus or metro may be a better option. This article has a ton of information about the different ways to get around and how to choose the best one(s) for your needs. 

Tips for Getting to Your Next Destination

If your itinerary includes multiple stops, you’ll need to do the whole departure and arrival thing over again. If you’re using a different mode of transportation than you did on the first part of your trip, I recommend scouting out the place you’re leaving from, especially if you have an early departure. 

When I was taking the bus from Albania to Montenegro, I went to the bus station the day before to know exactly where I needed to go the next morning. It’s a good thing I did because the bus terminal was tucked behind a gym, and it took me a bit to figure out that it was around the back. 

The next morning, I knew how long I needed to get there and didn't feel stressed about finding the right place. Bonus, it’s a chance to do more exploring! I found more cool places around the area that I may have missed otherwise. 

Go Forth and Adventure!

At this point, I hope you’re feeling more confident about planning a Europe trip. There’s a ton of information in this one travel planning guide, so be sure to bookmark it so you can come back at the different stages of putting your trip together. 

If you’ve made it this far and found this information helpful, I’d love to stay connected! You can find me over on Instagram , where I share travel tips for creating your trips, my own adventures, and highlights from other travelers worldwide. You can also subscribe to the newsletter where you’ll receive updates, travel deals, inspiration, and resources for your upcoming adventures. 

If you’d like to talk about the details of your travel plans or destination to get more insight, you can schedule a one-hour consultation with me. I love helping other indie travelers like you create the travel experiences they’ve always wanted to have! I’ll answer your questions and give you every last resource and bit of insight I’ve collected over the last thirteen years. You can schedule and purchase a consultation using this link . 

Now get out there. The world is waiting for you!

What have you done to plan your own trips in the past?  

Share any tips with your fellow indie travelers in the comments!

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About the author 

Fun Lover. Food Eater. Bold Explorer. Big Dreamer. Annie is a fiercely independent traveler who loves to create unique and interesting experiences. She thrives on finding the magical moments and hidden gems waiting around every corner. Her passion for helping others make their travel dreams come true fuels her work as a travel planner, consultant, educator, and community builder.

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Thank you very much for the greeting!Happy New Year for you too…! Thanks for the very comprehensive travel tips/step by step guide too…!I have read it with a absolutely great interest.

Happy New Year to you! I’m so glad it was useful! 🙂

That is quite a comprehensive guide. I plan to visit Ireland on my next visit to Europe.

Ooh, Ireland is lovely! You won’t be disappointed!

What a beast of a post! This is such a great resource for newbie travellers – amazing!

Ha! I know, it’s a big one! I wanted to create something that has all the basics in one place. 🙂

fantastic points altogether, you just gained a new reader. What could you recommend in regards to your post that you just made a few days ago? Any sure?

I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! I’m not sure which recommendations you’re looking for. Feel free to fill out the contact form to send me an email!

I was recommended this website through my cousin. I am no longer positive whether this post is written by means of him as no one else understand such specific approximately my trouble.

You’re amazing! Thank you!

Thank you! I’m glad he recommended it. 🙂

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How to Plan Europe Trip from India

• September 10, 2021
• Europe How To Travel Guides

Traveling is the best way to explore new places, make friends, and have unforgettable memories. For Indians, in particular, traveling in Europe can be an expensive affair because of our low currency compared to Euros.

Due to this reason, most Indians prefer to travel by road across Europe, which takes more money and time than flying around.

If you are one of those who want to explore the most amazing places, Europe has to offer but are not ready to break the bank, here are some pointers so that you can plan your trip right.

1) Plan your budget 

Figure out how much money you can save and spend during your trip. Just because you are traveling in Europe does not mean that you become a sava-holic and start spending like crazy.

Keep your expenses minimal and reasonable to maximize the fun quotient of the trip without worrying about the cost at the end of it. Also, prioritize the places you want to visit in Europe and decide on how much money you can spare for each place. It helps to decide on a rough budget and stick to it.

2) Plan your trip by day  

This is the first thing you need to do, figure out how long you can travel without getting bored or homesickness creeping in? Fill up the entire itinerary with things that interest you and not just for the sake of planning an expensive trip.

You can even plan a month-long trip or a forty-eight-hour one. It all depends on your comfort level. When you know how many days you can spend in a particular place, you can plan your sightseeing and other activities appropriately.

Also, keep in mind the distance between two places and how much time it will take to reach your next destination.

3) Choose a destination and work on it

You can plan a trip anywhere from Paris to Iceland. When you have multiple options, it is always advisable to choose one place and work on your plans from there.

4) Check for cheap flights

No matter how expensive a place is, there are ways to get around and explore it on a shoestring budget, but make sure that you do not compromise on entertainment or sightseeing. It is very important to do thorough research before you head out for cheap flights. Many websites like Makemytrip, Expedia, Goibibo offer attractive discounts on airfare depending on the time of year and demand of seats in that particular region. You can also check for free days or offbeat places to visit in Europe. Make sure to book your flights at least four months in advance because booking early helps you save the most.

5) Check the documents  

Make sure that you carry all the essential documents before heading out on an adventure. When crossing the borders of France, Germany, or any other country in Europe, your identity proof is your biggest defense.

Carry a valid passport and visa with proper ID cards to avoid hassles at airports and borders. Also, keep photocopies of all your documents and credit cards so that you can easily fetch them in case of emergency. Also, always carry your original documents with you because it is extremely difficult and time-consuming to get photocopies from the embassies. Another important thing to carry is a list of emergency contact details that includes your embassy and consulate contacts in the country you are visiting.

6) Choose an ATM over cash

This is something you should keep in mind when traveling alone, especially for women. You never know when you are stranded without any money, so always choose to withdraw cash from ATMs rather than carrying it with you.

Also, keep in mind that most airports have cash machines where you can withdraw euros for a nominal fee. Europe is very safe for women traveling alone, but always carry enough cash with you just in case.

Also, it is advisable not to carry all your cash in one place to not lose it all in case of an emergency. The best way is to keep your passport, euros, and credit card separately so that you can easily hand over the former two when required.

Also, travel insurance is extremely important if you are headed for Europe because it offers financial security in case of emergencies.

7) Plan your accommodations

There are many options available for accommodation in Europe. You can either go for hostel-style living or five-star luxury, but make sure you plan well before executing the same.

Get recommendations from your friends who have previously visited the country or check online reviews to choose a suitable place to stay.

Also, keep in mind the budget constraints when choosing your accommodations. Always book in advance to get the best deals on room rentals and hotels because they are usually very economical during months like January, February, or September.

When choosing a hotel, carry all your requirements and preferences with you to choose from a variety of options as per your needs.

8) Enjoy your trip

From the tower of Pisa to the Louvre museum, Europe is full of tourist attractions and sightseeing opportunities for you.

Every city in Europe has something unique to offer to its tourists, so explore as many places as possible.

Make sure that you do not miss out on any entertainment options because they are free. Also, make sure to enjoy some local entertainment in the country you are visiting because it is usually very different from what you are used to in your country.

So it’s a wrap on this article on 8 Tips to help you travel safely in Europe. I hope that you found this article useful and informative. Please leave your comments below and let me know if there is anything you would want us to cover in our next articles.

Mohit Rajora

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Planning a Trip to Europe: 30 Tips to Help You Plan a European Vacation

May 19, 2020 · In: Austria , Belgium , Bosnia & Herzegovina , Croatia , Destinations , England , Estonia , Europe , Faroe Islands , France , Germany , Greece , Iceland , Ireland , Italy , Netherlands , Northern Ireland , Norway , Slovenia , Svalbard , Sweden , Switzerland

Planning a trip to Europe is incredibly exciting but it can also be a bit overwhelming. After living in Europe for 6 years I frequently get asked questions about how to plan a trip to Europe.

In this comprehensive guide I will give you lots of tips on how to plan a European vacation. Everything from deciding which countries to visit, how to create an itinerary, when is the best time to go, money saving tips and more!

Creating a plan for your European travels in advance will make your trip far more enjoyable and way less stressful. So grab your pen and paper and lets start trip planning!

DON’T HAVE TIME TO READ NOW? PIN IT FOR LATER!

Table of Contents

Is Europe a Country or a Continent?

One common misconception is that Europe is a country. It is, in fact, an entire continent made up of many countries. Europeans find it hilarious when other people say that they went on summer vacation in Europe and not specify the name of the country they traveled to.

1. Where to Travel in Europe: Make a List of Your Top Choices

This is probably going to be the toughest decision to make when planning a trip to Europe. Before you even begin the planning process, you’ll want to narrow down your choices of where to go in Europe. The best way to do this is to start by making a list of about 5-7 different countries that you dream of visiting. Then choose a few different cities within those countries that you’ll want to see.

If you’re list is starting to get pretty long and you feel like it’s all over the place don’t worry. It’s completely normal to get excited and feel overwhelmed. There are so many incredible places within Europe that you’ll no doubt want to squeeze in as much as you can.

However, the main goal of writing a list is not to create jam packed itinerary but to help with narrowing things down later. You will use this list plus a number of different factors that I will discuss to help you figure out your exact European itinerary!

If you are having a difficult time deciding on a few destinations try thinking about what kind of places and experiences you’d like to have. Are you interested in doing a city trip which would include more history, architecture, cafes & restaurants, shopping and sightseeing.

Or are you interested in creating an itinerary that revolves around nature and outdoor adventures. Exploring waterfalls, kayaking in fjords, hiking mountains and road tripping through the countryside.

Maybe you’d like to combine a bit of both, city and nature? These are all important factors that will help you make your decision of where to go in Europe.

How Many Countries are There in Europe?

Let’s start by discussing how many countries does Europe have? There is a total of 51 countries within Europe. This number does not include the other territories or archipelagos that are governed by countries within Europe. Those include destinations such as the Faroe Islands, Svalbard, Gibraltar and Isle of Man just to name a few.

What Countries are Part of the European Union?

There are 27 countries that are included in the European Union. These counties abide by the same rules, regulations and policies that are agreed upon unanimously by those within the member states.

These 27 countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

What are the Schengen Countries & What is a Schengen Visa?

The Schengen Agreement was created in 1985 and is essentially a treaty where certain countries within Europe have chosen to remove their internal borders to allow free movement within what is called the Schengen Zone.

There are officially 26 countries that are part of the Schengen zone. These countries are Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

What European Countries Require a Visa?

What does this mean for travelers visiting from countries not within Europe? First thing you need to do is to check whether you actually need to apply for a visa to enter Europe or the Schengen Zone. You can find a list of all the countries that require and do not require a visa here.

If you do need to apply for a visa you can do so by filling out the proper paperwork and applying at your local Embassy or Consulate. You can apply for a single entry visa, double entry visa or a multiple entry visa.

If you apply for a single entry visa you are allowed to visit any of the countries in the Schengen Zone during your one entry, not just one single country.

However, be sure to guarantee that the country you are visiting is within the Schengen Zone or you could run into some issues. You can find more details about the different types of Schengen Visas, fees and validity HERE .

The best thing to do if you need a visa to visit Europe is to make an appointment with the closest embassy or consulate and discuss the details with a professional.

Make Sure You Have a Valid Passport When Planning a Trip to Europe

The most important thing that you will need to do before even booking your trip to Europe is to confirm you have a valid passport . Your passport will need to have at least 6 months validity or you could be turned away at the airport before even boarding your flight. Additionally, you will need to have at least 2 full pages in your passport that are completely free without any stamps.

2. When is the Best Time to Go to Europe?

Now that you have created your list of the top places you want to visit in Europe you can start to narrow it down based on a number of other factors. The next step in planning your trip to Europe is deciding which time of year you will go. Are you flexible or are you locked into specific dates?

This is very important because different countries and cities are better to visit depending on the season. There may be flowers in bloom you’d like to see, a festival or event that happens once a year or maybe you’re interested in attending the Christmas Markets.

You also may want to avoid the rainy season in some cities like Amsterdam or London. These are all factors that need to be considered when planning a trip to Europe.

3. Figure out your budget for a European Vacation

The third major thing to consider when planning a trip to Europe is budget. In fact, this may be the most important part of planning your European vacation once you’ve decided on a location and time frame. You’ll want to establish your budget long before you even step foot onto the European continent.

Now the key part of setting a budget is actually sticking to it once you are in Europe. I know just how easy it is to convince yourself that you need to buy that dress or have that expensive latte because when in Rome, right?

However, doing this over and over during the duration of your stay in Europe will quickly blow your budget and probably stress you out.

This is why it is important to set a budget which will include the upfront costs of the trip plus a little extra for those unexpected purchases and experiences.

How much does it cost to travel Europe?

The cost of traveling around Europe depends on a lot of different things. The destination will be one of the top deciding factors in regards to budget. Scandinavian countries are going to be more expensive than those in Eastern Europe for example.

When planning a trip to Europe consider that the popular destinations within countries like France, Italy or Spain are going to be more expensive. However, if you visit some of the lesser known spots within those same countries your expenses will be lower and you can find more budget friendly options.

If you are trying to decide on a destination within your budget you can start by researching how much accommodation is in that particular city. Another way is check out different restaurant menus and search for public transportation costs. This will give you a quick and relatively easy idea of the approximate amount you will spend once you are there.

How to Travel Europe on a Budget

There are a few easy ways that you can plan a trip to Europe on a budget. For starters look for accommodation that isn’t at the top of your budget.

Another way that you can cut costs is by visiting local markets or supermarkets and purchasing food or snacks there. This will save some money since dining in a restaurant is always more expensive.

In Italy for example, you can save money by standing at the bar to have your espresso or cafe. This will save you the cost, albeit small, of the coperto or cover charge that they add to the bil if you choose to sit down.

You can also save money while traveling in Europe by using the public transportation systems. Most airports have public buses, trains or underground metros to get from the terminal to the city center.

This will cost much less than taking a taxi or hiring a private car through your hotel. The only reason to take a taxi is if you are with a large group and the cost ends up the same once you split it.

Where to Go in Europe on a Budget

Within Europe you will find that certain countries are less expensive than others. Some of the more expensive destinations will be the big cities such as Paris, London, Amsterdam and Rome. Of course that is only a small sampling of the most popular places to visit in Europe.

Luckily, just because those particular cities are expensive it doesn’t mean that the entire country is expensive either.

You can easily travel around small towns or lesser known cities in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, etc on a budget. That’s not to say you can’t find accommodation within your budget in the bigger cities as well. You’ll just have to do a little more research and read the reviews carefully.

The most expensive countries within Europe will be the Nordic countries, Switzerland and the UK.  The Nordic countries include Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

The cheapest countries to visit in Europe are the Eastern European countries. These typically include the top destinations like Hungary, Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and many others.

Some of the mid-range countries budget wise would be France, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Greece, Austria, Spain and others. While this is by no means a complete list, I hope that it helps gives some perspective on the different places you might consider visiting based on your budget.

4. Determine How Many Days You Have to Travel Around Europe

Narrowing down the actual amount of days you’ll have when planning a trip to Europe will help you decide where to go and how long to spend in each destination. This is a key part of mapping out your itinerary so make sure you know the exact number of days you have before settling on your final destinations.

Don’t Forget about Travel Time

One thing that you don’t want to forget about when creating an itinerary for your European travels is travel time. Determining how long it actually takes to get from one destination to the next is hugely important when deciding all the locations you want to visit.

Keep in mind that when traveling around Europe you will spend quite a bit of time in transit if you are hopping between different countries and cities.

When you travel by plane you will have to arrive at least 1.5 to 2 hours early to the airport. Then you have to consider how long it will take to reach your final destination from the airport. If you travel by train the transit time could potentially be similar.

How to Travel Europe by Train

If you are planning to spend a month or more traveling around Europe then I would recommend checking out the Rail Europe Pass called Eurail . However, the pass is really only necessary if you plan to cover a lot of distance.

Therefore, if your itinerary doesn’t include a ton of country hopping than purchasing a European Rail pass is most likely an unnecessary expense.

An alternative option is to use the local train systems within each country. Booking train travel in Europe is not only easy but also safe, efficient and very convenient. You can check timetables, purchase tickets and inquire about other information online.

Most of the train stations have either a ticket counter and/or a kiosk where you can purchase your ticket inside the train station as well

These are a few of the common local train companies within Europe:

• SNCF (French National Railway Company) in France
• Trenitalia in Italy
• Renfe in Spain
• Deutsche Bahn in Germany
• SNCB in Belgium
• NS ( Nederlandse Spoorwegen) in the Netherlands
• CP (Comboios de Portugal) in Portugal
• ÖBB in Austria
• SBB (Schweizerische BundesBahn) in Switzerland
• VY (ACP Rail International) in Norway
• DSB in Denmark

*This is not a complete list of all the national and regional train companies throughout Europe.

How to Travel Europe by Plane

Traveling around Europe by plane is incredibly easy and relatively inexpensive. With budget airlines like EasyJet and RyanAir you will be able to find flights to your desired destinations at a very reasonable price.

Typically the budget airlines will arrive and depart out of a smaller airport rather than the main international hub. Luckily, these airports will also have very easy public transportation to get you to the city center so it is 100% worth it to fly the budget airlines.

Remember that if you book flights with a budget airline there are no extras included. This means that you will need to purchase checked baggage, food, drinks and a few other things separately. Most of the airlines will include a small carry on bag but be sure to check the dimension and weight restrictions as they are very strict.

In addition to the budget airlines, you can also book your travels through a number of main airline companies. It is worth it to check fees for both the budget airlines and the main airlines.

Sometimes you’ll be able to find that the prices are similar but with the non-budget airlines you’ll have luggage allowance and would fly into a main airport.

The Best Budget Airlines in Europe Include:

• Transavia (mostly for flights in the Netherlands)
• Norwegian Air
• WOW Air (cheap flights to Iceland)

Many of these budget airlines run special deals throughout the year. Therefore, if you are planning of traveling around Europe by air I would suggest signing up for their email list. They will send you direct emails with their exclusive deals. You can always unsubscribe later!

The best website to use when browsing for flights within Europe is skyscanner.com . The website aggregates most of the budget airline options for you with one easy click.

You can quickly navigate through the website by selecting one way, roundtrip or multiple destinations. Another feature that I love about Skyscanner is that you can select a specific departure airport but type in ‘everywhere’ as your arrival destination. The site will then show you all the cheapest destinations for your selected dates based on your departure airport.

Additionally, you can select the departure and arrival airport with no specific dates. Click the month you will be traveling and the website will show you all the cheapest flights on each day within the month. Honestly, it is a great European travel planning tool and I always recommend using it!

With that being said I almost never book directly through skyscanner, instead I go directly to the airports website and book through them. If you have the time you can manually go to each of the airlines I mentioned and search their websites.

You can definitely find the best deals doing it manually since some flights and airlines might not show up on skyscanner. However, using a 3rd party website will save you a significant amount of time.

Budget Saving Tip for Air Travel In Europe:  If you are traveling roundtrip within Europe be sure to check multiple airlines for your departure and return flight. For example, I took a one way flight via Volotea for €7 from Venice to Mykonos with a return ticket through EasyJet for €23. Traveling roundtrip using different airlines saved me a ton of money.

I’ve always been able to find great deals both through skyscanner.com and by searching manually. I’ve traveled from Venice, Italy to Paris, France roundtrip for €50 once, not even kidding! I cannot stress enough the importance of checking with multiple airlines and websites to find the best deals possible.

Should You Rent a Car in Europe?

Renting a car in Europe will depend entirely on the destination that you choose. I have personally rented a car in Europe many times and found it very handy for destinations where public transportation is not easily available. Renting a car is really only necessary if you plan on driving to destinations a bit off the beaten path or you want to do a road trip style vacation.

During my travels I always use the rental car company Europcar . Their prices are fair and their customer service was always very good. When you rent a car you can always add additional insurance and coverage to the rental policy. I would check with your credit cards prior to renting a car to see what they cover. I have the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card and they cover quite a bit so I never added extra insurance through the car rental company.

Some of the times that I’ve rented a car in Europe was to do a road trip though the Netherlands , drive around the Faroe Islands , a road trip through Southern Spain and so much more! I will also note that I previously resided in Italy for 6 years and so I used my own personal car to travel around as well. Having your own car is beneficial if you have the time and prefer to have a loose itinerary where you can add additional stops along the way.

I’ve also rented a camper van twice in Iceland to circumnavigate the country which was such a fun experience and one that I would highly recommend!

5. Create a Rough Itinerary of your European Travels

Now that you’ve narrowed down your list, determined the time when you can go and laid out your budget it’s time to create an itinerary for your trip! Use a calendar and jot down where exactly you want to be on each given day. Then dive in a bit further and start making a list of the sights you want to visit or things you want to do on each day.

This will help to give you a better understanding of how much time you’ve actually allotted in a day to see and do the things you want. Be sure not to pack too many things into one day as you will end up being overwhelmed and have to skip something anyways. You will always need to take into account the time it’ll take you to move around as most of the sights aren’t right next to each other.

When creating a rough itinerary for your European travels you’ll also want to play around with the flights. While you may be set on arriving in Paris and departing out of Rome you should also check flight prices the other way around. There are times where just by switching your starting and ending point you could save hundreds of dollars!

Which brings me to my next point. Do you want to visit multiple countries during your European travels? Or do you want to stick to just one country but travel amongst multiple cities?

6. Visiting Multiple Countries or Cities on One Trip

If you have your heart set on visiting multiple countries during your trip to Europe it can actually be quite easy to arrange. The key part of the equation is to choose destinations that are geographically close to each other. This will significantly reduce travel time and allow you to make the most of each day.

Below are a few sample itineraries that you could use to plan your European travels strategically while still visiting multiple countries:

• Northern Italy, Slovenia and Austria
• The main cities of Paris, London & Amsterdam
• Southern Spain and Portugal
• The Netherlands & Belgium
• Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia
• Finland, Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
• Stockholm, Copenhagen & Oslo
• Norway (Bergen & Lofoten Islands) and the Faroe Islands

These are just a few ideas and all trips that I have personally done. If you want to visit non-neighboring countries the most efficient way to do so is to visit larger cities with easily accessible airports.

One of the main take aways about creating a multi country trip in Europe is to not over plan and plan strategically.

7. Start Booking Your Trip to Europe

Once you’ve created your rough itinerary and finally decided on the dates and destinations you’ll be visiting you can proceed with booking your trip to Europe. This is one of the most exciting parts of planning a trip to Europe and once you’ve hit purchase on those flights to can begin counting down the days till your trip!

Book Your Airfare to Europe

A good rule of thumb is to begin checking flights at least 6 months in advance. You can book directly through an airline or use one of the websites that aggregate ton of possible flights options. I personally use Expedia because in the past they usually have the best deals for international flights plus they offer free cancellation within 24 hours. Other reputable options are Google Flights , Kiwi.com , Cheapoair.com and Kayak.com .

Budget Saving Tips:

• If you have a VPN or IP blocker you can set it to a lower income country. Then open a new private or incognito window to check flight prices.
• Another way that you can potentially save month on flights is to search on different days of the week. Be sure to use the private or incognito window on your browser.
• Hopper app is something that you can use to track flight prices. On the app you will input the dates and airport codes of where you want to go and it will send you updates with changes in flight prices. It will also advise you if now is a good time to purchase or if they predict that prices will decrease.
• Arrive in one city and depart from another, this is called a multi-city or open jaw option. Essentially it saves time from back tracking plus its more economical and efficient.

Book Your Accommodation in Europe

Choosing the perfect accommodation in Europe is an important part of creating your itinerary. The two main booking sites that I use are booking.com and airbnb.com . There are many other booking sites out there but I used these two exclusively during my 6 years in Europe. I’ve also used only these during my year long travels throughout Asia.

Safe to say that I trust booking.com and airbnb.com although there is always that chance that you could have a bad experience. It is extremely important to read the reviews and the small print. Find out if taxes are included or what other charges may be applied upon arrival so that you aren’t blindsided by extra fees.

You can also book directly through a hotel or guesthouse website if you prefer to do so.

Travel Tip: Stay centrally located. If you’ve found a hotel that is €20 cheaper a night but 30 minutes outside the city center you’ll end up spending the same once you’ve added in transportation costs. Plus you’ll have to add on the additional travel time which will take away from your exploration of the cityIt’s always better just to spend the little bit extra to be within the city.

Book Local Tours Within Europe

When planning a trip to Europe you might want to book a few local tours. While I’m not usually a big fan of large group or guided tours, there are a few that can be pretty fun. For example I’ve done small group bike tours in both London and Amsterdam. I’ve kayaked the Norwegian fjords near Bergen with a tour, twice! . And I’ve also done glacier hiking in Iceland , just to name a few!

In addition to adventure style tours, you can book guided tours for some historical sights you might be visiting. This would be extremely beneficial when visiting places such as Pompeii, the Colosseum and many other sights within Europe that have historical significance.

Book Tickets in Advance to Some of the Main Attractions

While not everything you do in Europe needs to be pre-booked or planned in advance there are a few places that you might want to purchase tickets for before you arrive. This is different from booking a tour as these are solely entrance tickets to some of Europe’s most popular sights.

A few places that you’ll definitely want to consider pre-booking tickets would be to climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris , visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and the Vatican. Of course there are many other places that you would benefit from pre-purchasing you ticket.

Additionally, some sights may offer discounts if you purchase online. Follow the instructions of obtaining either a printed or electronic ticket and come prepared with all necessary documentation.

8. Must Haves for European Travel

Now that you’ve booked your flights, accommodation and tours it is time to start thinking about what to pack for your trip to Europe. There are some things that you’ll want to take care of prior to your trip so getting organized a few weeks out is key.

What to Pack When Traveling to Europe

Deciding what to pack for a trip to Europe or anywhere in general is usually one of my least favorite things to do before a trip. It is so hard to remember all the essential things that you may need and often times you end up overpacking. Just remember that if you forget to pack something you will be able to find it easily in Europe once you arrive.

One of the main things you’ll want to purchase and pack is a universal plug adaptor. These adaptors come in super handy when traveling around Europe as the plugs aren’t always the same in each country.

Another key thing that you’ll want to check is if your appliances (hair dryer, straightener, curling iron, etc) are dual voltage. In Europe they use 22 volts while in America they use 110 volts. If you check your appliance and it says “110-220 volts” then you will be just fine. If you want to use a 110 volt appliance in Europe or any country which uses 220 volts then you will need to purchase a travel converter which is different than a travel plus adaptor. 

Be sure to pack all of your daily medications as well as some additional medications that you may need. I always pack some cold medicine, sinus & allergy medication, stomach medication and headache medication. The reason is that you never know when you might feel sick and you don’t want to be out searching for medication in those instances. I also recommend packing a small first aid kit with some additional bandaids.

Figuring out how to dress for travel in Europe can be one of the most challenging parts of packing up your suitcase. After living in Italy for 6 years and traveling extensively around Europe I can tell you that wearing neutral colors is the best way to not stand out as a tourist.

By all means pack whatever you’d like but if you are like me and prefer to blend in, then I would leave the sports team t-shirts and neon colored athletic tops at home.

I also recommend that you pack a light sweater during the summer months for cooler nights. Additionally, be sure to wear a comfortable pair of shoes since you will probably doing a lot of walking around the cities.

Get a Small Amount of Euro Cash from Your Bank

Only get a small amount of euro cash out from your local bank at home if that is an option. And by small I mean no more than €200. Once you arrive in Europe you won’t have a problem finding an ATM to withdraw euros. Plus the exchange rate will be way better than your bank back home.

Additionally, most places in Europe will take debit or credit cards so there shouldn’t be any problems. You can even purchase your train tickets via credit card through their machines.

Also, be sure to call your bank or go online and put a travel alert on all the cards you will use while in Europe. This way they won’t get immediately flagged as fraud and you won’t have to make an international call to unlock your credit card.

International Phone plan or get a SIM card when you arrive

Since we are all connected through our phones you’ll most likely want to have some kind of internet connection while traveling throughout Europe. Most cell phone providers offer an international phone plan option which you can add as an extra service. Those fews however can really add up depending on how long you’ll be traveling.

An alternative to adding an international plan to your phone is to purchase a SIM card in the country where you are traveling. Keep in mind that this will only work if your phone is UNLOCKED. Most phones in the states are locked while they are under contract with your phone company. The phone will be unlocked if you have completely paid it off.

During the time I was traveling through Europe I was living in Italy. Therefore I had a SIM card from the Italian internet provider called TIM. Through TIM I was able to purchase a SIM card and then add money to my phone as needed for internet or minutes. TIM also has an inexpensive plan which you can purchase allowing you to use a certain amount of minutes and data in other countries.

You can easily do the same with any European country that you are visiting. If you purchase a SIM card I recommend getting around 8-10 GB of internet usage and adding some minutes in case of an emergency.

While wifi is widely available in most European countries it is not always advisable to rely on that for your main source of connection.

Download the free app WhatsApp. You can use your current phone number to send messages or make phone calls off of wifi or data.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is an absolute must when planning a trip abroad. There are plenty of different companies out there offering a variety of plans to fit your individual needs. Make sure you do your research and decide which plan best suits you and your travels.

You can also purchase plans that cover travel costs if you have to cancel for an emergencies. One of the companies that I can recommend is Safety Wing . They have great customer service and offer packages as low as $37 for 4 weeks of coverage.

As always when purchasing travel insurance make sure you thoroughly read the coverage details and fine print.

Download an Offline Map

Whenever I know that I am heading to a new destination I always download an offline map. For the majority of my travels I use Google Maps. However, there have been plenty of times where the data on my phone switches to no service and Google Maps stops working. Therefore an offline map can really save you in these moments!

An offline map is also super handy if you are traveling to Europe for a short amount of time and are only relying on wifi. The offline map that I use and have used for years is Maps.me . It is a free, downloadable app that you can get on an iPhone or android.

You can save space on your phone by only downloading the cities that you need and then off load them when you are done. Even when you off load the destination Maps.me will still save all your pinned locations so you can always re-download again later.

Get a Guidebook and a Paper Map of the Destination You are Visiting in Europe

In a world that revolves around technology, we have become dependent on using our phones for just about everything we do. Before your trip to Europe you’ll probably have downloaded that offline map and pinned a bunch of must see places on it. You’ll create lists on your phone of tips and tricks to remember when traveling around and you’ll probably have saved some blog posts to read later.

However, if you have the space in your luggage I would highly recommend packing a paper guidebook. Or at the very least a paper map of the destination you are visiting. You never know when your phone (and your power bank) may run out of battery and you don’t want to be stranded without your map.

The best thing to do is pack a back up paper map and jot down your must see list, places to eat and the address & phone number of where you are staying. This will help out so much if you happen to run into any issues while abroad!

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May 30, 2020 at 11:21 am

Love this in-depth guide! Thank you for sharing all this info 🙂

June 2, 2020 at 3:49 am

Thank you so much! I am so glad that you found it helpful!

May 30, 2020 at 12:44 pm

A trip through Europe is such an amazing experience! Some of my favorite countries in the world are in Europe like Italy and Greece. <3

June 2, 2020 at 3:50 am

Yes, I completely agree! Those are some of my favorite as well! Even after living in Italy for 6 years I would love to go back and spend more time there!

May 30, 2020 at 2:00 pm

Haha I’m one of those Europeans that find it hilarious that non-Europeans say they went to Europe… or don’t know that it’s a continent!! This is such a great guide though, I really need to explore more European countries. There’s so many incredible places to visit!

June 2, 2020 at 3:51 am

Thank you Sophie! It is really funny, isn’t it! And yes, Europe has so many wonderful and unique destinations that I would also love to go back and explore even more!

May 30, 2020 at 4:35 pm

Haha it’s so funny to think that many people are thinking about Europe as a country. You post has so many useful information, it will be so helpful for a first timer in Europe!

June 2, 2020 at 3:52 am

Thank you Kriszti! I’m so glad that you found the information useful and feel that it would be helpful for someone traveling to Europe!

May 31, 2020 at 5:28 am

Thank you for sharing such a detailed, useful post to help anyone plan out their next epic European holiday! There really are so many factors to take into consideration when planning and your article covers everything! I’ll be bookmarking this one for later 🙂

June 2, 2020 at 3:43 am

Thank you so much Ann Kelly! It’s great to hear that you found the post useful!

May 31, 2020 at 6:56 am

This is a very comprehensive and useful guide. I definitely will keep it handy.

Thank you so much! Hope it is helpful for the next time you go to Europe!

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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.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

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

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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Best Ways to Plan a Budget-Friendly Trip to Europe from India

Traveling to European countries can be exciting for many, but the process of preparing for the entire trip is quite intimidating, especially for first-time travelers. From visas to flight tickets, accommodation to the itinerary- a lot of planning goes behind a successful foreign trip. Things can become slightly challenging when you’re planning a budget-friendly trip to one of the supposedly expensive tourist destinations.

If you don’t want to break your bank, but at the same time, don’t want to compromise with your upcoming Europe trip, we have some great travel tips for you. When it comes to planning for budget-friendly vacation packages in Europe from India, it is best to narrow down the places you must visit. Check out cheap European countries to visit from India to know more. After you have decided the places you must visit, follow more tips mentioned below, you’ll be able to enjoy a worthwhile trip to a beautiful European country well within your budget. So let’s head straight to the tips.  

Also read: Five Reasons to Invest in a Student  Travel Insurance Right Now

• 1 Choose European Cities that are Affordable for Indian Tourists
• 2 Consider the Travel Season
• 3 Do Some Research & Work on Your Budget
• 4 Start Saving Early for a Worthwhile Trip to Europe from India
• 5 Commute Within Budget
• 6 Look for Value Entry Passes to Touristic Locations
• 7 Make Airfare & Accommodation Bookings Wisely
• 8 Eat at Local Small Eateries, Instead of Luxury Restaurants
• 9 Search for Activities on a Budget
• 10 Try Your Luck with Hitchhiking
• 11.1 Get Travel Insurance
• 11.2 Be Aware of Scammers
• 11.3 Stay Away from Phishing Travel Websites

Choose European Cities that are Affordable for Indian Tourists

There is no denying that Europe is expensive. But luckily, there are some European countries that offer a stellar travel experience for a small to moderate budget. Though Western Europe is very expensive compared to the Eastern Europe side, you might want to shortlist countries based on your travel preference.

Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia are some of the cheap European countries to visit from India, but you can look for more affordable options based on your interest. Depending on whether you’re an art person, adventure lover, history buff, nightlife explorer, foodie, or something else- choose a European city that will satisfy the travel lust in you. 

Consider the Travel Season

One most often neglected aspect by budget travelers is the travel season. It is a known fact that hotels and flights charge a lot on the higher side during the travel season. If you truly want to enjoy the best of everything, try to schedule your trip to Europe from India during the offseason.

Besides lower prices on accommodation, flights, and even activities, you will also get to enjoy lesser crowds around. Not all European cities will have the same travel season, so conduct your research based on the European country you’re planning your travel to. 

Do Some Research & Work on Your Budget

Europe is a place where you can easily spend a little over $20 for just one burger or add in a few more dollars to have a hearty full meal. It all depends on the type of locations you choose within your selected European country. Let’s understand this with an example. If you’re heading to Eastern Europe, you might need around 40-80 EUR per day, including the food, sightseeing, commute, and a few other expenses for cheap travel.

However, the same estimate might double if you travel to Western Europe. Hence, always do the research with regards to the place you plan to visit. Note down the approximate expenses on a piece of paper as it’s more effective than just thinking about the budget or expenses figuratively. Once you’ve done the research and allocated your budget to each activity, you’re sorted for most of the Europe trip from India.

Start Saving Early for a Worthwhile Trip to Europe from India

It might sound cliché, but saving does help a lot. Traveling abroad does require a lot of time for planning. The best time to start saving for your dream Europe trip is usually a few months before the scheduled travel date. Cut down on any unwanted or unnecessary expenses and keep them aside exclusively for your trip. When you club these savings with some money-saving tips shared below, you’re sure to have the best travel experience of your lifetime.

Commute Within Budget

Irrespective of the European country you choose to visit, you’ll find abundant commute options. While taxis are mostly expensive, buses and metro are relatively affordable. If you have the itinerary ready, use online maps to understand the travel routes from your booked accommodation to the places you’ve planned to visit. Check what metro or bus route would be near and how much would it cost.

Thanks to the internet, travelers can get all this information online. The only con is this step will take much of your time. But ensure your entire commute activity is planned as per your budget. Besides buses and metro, also check if you can reach some places on foot, exploring the local scene in a better way.

Look for Value Entry Passes to Touristic Locations

If you plan to visit multiple landmarks and tourist destinations, you should look for a travel pass that includes entry to all those locations. The best part of getting such passes is you don’t have to stand in line to get tickets for each landmark, and you also get to enjoy discounts–which wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

There are various reliable and popular travel websites that offer value travel passes for different European cities at great discounts. So make sure you get them for a convenient and budget-friendly travel experience.

Make Airfare & Accommodation Bookings Wisely

Airfare and accommodation expenses make up for the biggest expenses in the entire travel budget. If you can save here, you’ll end up having a pretty decent travel budget. You can save on your airfare and accommodation by making the booking months in advance of your travel date as prices are affordable in the early months.

Another way to save is by planning your travel, and hence, booking the flight and hotel during the off-season. If you’re traveling during the main season, look for some discounts or deals available online to claim instant discounts at checkout. 

Eat at Local Small Eateries, Instead of Luxury Restaurants

A great way to explore the local flavors without burning a hole in the pocket is by eating at local, small eateries. Fine dining in any European city will cost you a lot, so always look for small shops, cafes, bakeries, or even roadside stalls that serve the local cuisine. If you’re still willing to try a plush restaurant at least once during your trip, look for dining passes online as you might get some discount with it.

Search for Activities on a Budget

The best part of traveling to Europe is finding activities in all price ranges. If you’re spot on with your research, you can even find some activities that are free or cost a negligible amount. You can search for such activities by asking for information from fellow travelers who have been to the place you’re planning to visit.

You can easily find and connect with them on online travel forums, communities, and social media platforms. Those who have hard luck finding suggestions on forums can refer to the resources put up by seasoned travel vloggers and bloggers.

Try Your Luck with Hitchhiking

Want to blend adventure and excitement in your Europe trip? If yes, you should try hitchhiking your way to certain places. Hitchhiking is prevalent in Europe, so don’t worry about resorting to this option.

You can easily find friendly people giving you a lift without asking you for any money in return. This can turn out to be a real fun adventure and the most memorable part of your trip. However, be careful and avoid taking a lift from any person that looks suspicious. Also, avoid doing this at odd hours of the day.

Tips for a Safer Travel

Besides keeping the above crucial points in mind, you should also be mindful of the following tips for a pleasant travel experience.

Get Travel Insurance

Though not mandatory, having international travel insurance ensures you have peace of mind during your travel. This insurance will cover you against financial losses in events of baggage theft, lost passports, change in travel dates, flight delays, etc. It will also cover you under a COVID emergency in the tourist destination.

Be Aware of Scammers

Although all European countries are safe, you should not take the risk of leaving your bag and other valuables casually on the park bench or any other place. Always be mindful of your belongings while traveling.

Stay Away from Phishing Travel Websites

If you’re making all the travel bookings yourself and not taking the help of travel agents, make sure you make the bookings from reliable and popular travel websites. Avoid any travel website that looks suspicious or is offering deals that are too good to be true.

When you take into account the above tips, you can expect to have a memorable and budget-friendly trip to Europe from India with your loved ones. You can also add more pointers to the list if you want and keep them handy while preparing for the trip to avoid missing anything important.

4 thoughts on “Best Ways to Plan a Budget-Friendly Trip to Europe from India”

Nice post. The ‘View of split Croatia’ looks awesome.

Thanks Abhisek

Many great ideas, thank you for sharing and happy traveling through the Europe 🙂

Glad to be of help

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The Travel Tales of a Travel Addict

Solo Backpacking Europe From India on a Budget, A Complete Plan

It is quite common to be confused while planning your first Europe Trip Itinerary especially when you are doing Europe on a Budget. Many people take the help of the travel agencies which suggest only the overrated and highly touristic areas. Backpacking to Europe solo from India can be a task as you need to prepare for a lot many things for the Visa process. However, this blog which is a result of my own planning for my 83 days long solo backpacking trip to Europe from India , would be your step by step guide for your long-awaited Europe Trip on a Budget.

Following is the self-followed ways to begin with ’The Great Europe Trip Plan’.

Table of Contents

First of all you must know the following points before moving ahead

• Schengen Visa for the tourists is available for a short-term of only 3 months at a time. Not sure how to score a visa? Well, here is a complete visa guide for you .
• The visa approves your unrestricted movement to only 26 countries in Europe.
• Geographically, if you observe the map of Europe, it can be divided into western, eastern and central Europe. You must choose the countries based on their vicinity in order to make your commute easier.
• Before planning and booking your flight, do research a bit about the best time to visit each country + offseason too, so that you can check for less expensive flights.
• The selection of time also depends on what do you exactly wish to see. For an instance, European cities face extreme cold, snowfall from November- March but it is also the best time to get cheap flights and hotels. You can even enjoy the Christmas extravaganza during December and January.
• The continent is in full bloom and in its best beauty from April to July. However, each country has its own time of celebrations which must not be missed.

The Big Fat Europe Budget

Considering the low value of INR or any other Asian currency, you may definitely feel Europe (Especially western and Northern) but there are ways to reduce the cost while having the best local experience. Read the detailed guide for the same.

On average, if you don’t spend much on any luxury and follow my budget travel guide to Europe , the following can be your budget for western/Central and Northern European Countries.

• 15-20 Days – 70,000- 80,000 INR per person (Food + Transport + Stay + sightseeing)
• 30-40 Days – 1,20,000 – 1,50,000 INR (Food + Transport + Stay + sightseeing)
• 60-80 Days – 1,20,000 – 1,50,000 INR (Food + Transport + Stay + sightseeing)

(Note: Slower the travel, lesser the expenditure)

My 83 days backpacking trip to 8 countries could be done in 1,10,000 INR including flight, visa, stay, food, internal commute and some gifts and chocolates for irritating friends and relatives 😐 Actually gifts and chocolates cost more than anything else, so my personal advice is, better don’t share any of your plans with anyone and save on useless gifts hahaha 😉 . I could do with spending 56K for 83 days , and you can definitely do for an even lesser amount. There were many couch surfers who were running at a lower budget than mine and doing it better.

Wanna Know How to do it in Budget? Check my budget travel tips

Note : Don’t mail or comment for any travel package, I am not any travel company. However, I would always be happy to help you with the itineraries and can suggest the places to stay and explore. For regular updates, You can subscribe to my blog (Fill in your mail-id at the end of the page). This way you will get regular useful updates of my travel. 

Where to Stay in Europe?

If you are traveling with friends, then hostels are the best options in Europe. A hostel in Western and Central European Countries may cost you around 20-25 Euros including breakfast.

Most of the hostels in Europe have family rooms and private rooms for couples. And if you wish to go for a culture exchange (Read the Last two words again), you can use Couch Surfing in Europe. You can read all my personal tips on Couchsurfing while in Europe here . Couchsurfing didn’t only help me in traveling on a budget but it also helped me in experiencing the unusual places and of course, the company of a local helps you the most. Read how I ended up traveling to unexplored places with my Couchsurfing hosts .

However, the hostels are not advisable for honeymooners, they can opt for apartments or budget hotels.

How to Plan a Backpacking Trip to Europe from India (Or anywhere else)

While most of us would be confused while choosing the countries and cities to travel in Europe, it is as easy as making a list while traveling anywhere in your own country.

Step 1: Find out the best countries in Europes/ Countries for the Budget Travellers in Europe Step 2: Google the must-visit places in each chosen countries. Step 3: Put the cities of your choice one by one in google maps and it will show you the route to travel. You can drag the places up or down seeing the convenient route.

Just for your info, the Eastern European countries are way cheaper than Western and Central.

Europe Itinerary for backpacking solo: Here is an Itinerary that I followed & you can follow too

I had simply ticked the countries in a downloaded map of Europe. Also, check if the country falls into the Schengen Area.

Spain – (add Portugal if you wish) –>   France –>  Luxembourg –>  Belgium –>  Netherlands –>  Denmark à Germany –>  Czech Republic –>  Austria –>  Germany –>  Switzerland /(You can also continue to) –>  Austria to Slovakia –>  Hungary –>  Slovenia –>  Italy

The above list makes you cover most of the Western and Central Europe..

You can choose a small group of countries from the above list.

Now comes the biggest question of where to go within these countries and when? So, here is a crisp guide for you.

Enlist the Must Visit Places In Each European Country

Once you have enlisted the places of your choice in each country, put it in the google map in the following manner, this would show you where to start and where to exactly end in order to reach the next destination.

Adviced route to be followed: Barcelona (Catalan Capital City) –>Valencia (For its Sea Coast) –> Granada (For the love of Flamenco & Zambra, & the Gypsy Caves) –>  Malaga(For the Sea Lovers again) –> Ronda (For its giant bridge and natural vistas) –> Seville (Andalucian capital and a quiet beautiful city)  –> Cordoba (For the Flowery Streets and an ancient Mosque-Cathedral)–> Madrid (Another Spanish city) –>then either move towards Pamplona if you are interested in the La Tomatina or Bull Race or move towards France (Paris).

The best time to visit Spain : Mid or After May when the spring sets and the Spanish streets are adorned with colourful flowers.

Best Mode of Transport : AlSA Buses or just check the Go Euro App.

Adviced route to be followed: Paris –> Either you can move southwards towards the Provence region in the south or can head to Strasbourg –> Colmar (For the beautiful Alsace villages like Ribeauville, Riquewihr and Eguisheim & the Petite Venise or Little Venice) –> You can move either towards Switzerland from Colmar or can take a bus to Luxembourg (Country) via Metz from Strasbourg.

The best time to visit France : Mid or After May when the spring sets and the French streets are adorned by colourful flowers. If you wish to see the vineyards in full bloom before its harvest then August-September are the best months to visit.

Best Mode of Transport : OUI Buses (The Cheapest one)  or just check the Go Euro App.

Being a small country, Luxembourg provides the feel of a little city embellished with the fresh spring flowers. Luxembourg city must be visited if you are planning to take this route.

The best time to visit Luxembourg : Mid or After May when the spring sets and the city of Luxembourg has pleasant weather.

Best Mode of Transport : OUI Buses (The Cheapest one)  or just check the Go Euro App.

Adviced route to be followed: Brussels (The European Capital City) However, the city doesn’t have much to see and I can honestly advise not to spend more than a half day here –> Ghent (For its historic buildings) –> Brugge (For the Flowery Streets and fairytale-like streets) –> Antwerp (for its famous diamond market – it can surely be skipped if you are not much interested in museums) –> Dinant (For its giant bridge and natural vistas) à Move to Amsterdam

The best time to visit Belgium : Mid or After May when the spring sets and the cities of Belgium have pleasant weather.

Netherlands

Adviced route to be followed: Amsterdam –> Explore the city of Amsterdam on cycle or the nearby fairytale villages of Edam, Marken, Volendam, and Giethoorn . Also, take a cycle tour for some offbeat exploration and cheese tasting or cycle to the colorful Tulip flower fields . Trust me, it would be an experience to cherish forever. –> Move to Aarhus (Denmark)

The best time to visit the Netherlands :  May end or After when the spring sets and the Netherlands weather isn’t too harsh. However, please note that the weather in Netherland is very unpredictable and it can rain at any time.

The adviced route to be followed: Aarhus (The happiest Danish District)–> Copenhagen (the Danish Capital City with a colorful harbor) –> Take some day trips to the nearby hamlets like Hillerod, Dragor –> Move to Berlin

The best time to visit Denmark : June and after when the spring sets and Denmark has pleasant weather.

Adviced route to be followed: Berlin (However, I feel that Dresden is a good alternative to visit) –> Cologne –> Frankfurt  –> Munich (Take day trips to Rothenburg, Bamberg, and Zugspitze) –> Move down to Salzburg (Austria)

The best time to visit France : Mid or After May

Best Mode of Transport : Bla Bla Car, Flix Bus or just check the Go Euro App.

Czech Republic

The city of Prague itself has a lot to offer but one unique place that you must not miss is the chapel in Kuntahora that is decorated with the skulls and bones of more than 2000 people.

The best time to visit Czech Republic : Mid or After May when the spring sets and the city of Prague has pleasant weather.

Best Mode of Transport : Bla Bla Car or just check the Go Euro App.

Adviced route to be followed: Salzburg (Visit Hallstatt) –> Vienna

The best time to visit Austria : After May/June when the vineyards are all set to bloom.

Best Mode of Transport : Bla Bla Car. (Trains and buses do not have direct routes to most of the places)

The other guide blogs that you might need for backpacking How to Score a Schengen Visa on an Indian Passport; An Ultimate Visa Guide Europe Trip on a Budget!! How to Make it Possible Europe Food Guide for (Non/) Vegetarians and Budget Travelers Couchsurfing in Europe – Tips, Request Samples and More How Couchsurfing helped me Explore Europe Better – My Experiences

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• Europe on a Budget!! How to Make it Possible →

4 thoughts on “ Solo Backpacking Europe From India on a Budget, A Complete Plan ”

Helpful guide! If one could do a 20 day trip in Europe for 70,000 it isn’t bad!

Definitely not bad Renuka. It just depends on personal choices, I personally feel that budget should not be a matter of competition. However, I have learnt that slower the travel, lesser the money you spend.

thank u for sharing your experience, and it also inspires others too. i also want to plan so can u help me?

Sure Arpit, let me know what help you need besides whatever I have put up on Travel hippies. Would definitely guide you.

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How to Travel Through Europe by Train Like a Pro

Last Updated on June 8, 2023

Traveling through Europe by train is a wonderful experience that offers a unique and authentic way to explore the continent. It is a cost-effective and sustainable way to travel that gives you a chance to see the breathtaking scenery of Europe. 

However, train travel can also be overwhelming for first-timers. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on traveling through Europe by train like a pro.

Make an Itinerary

The first step to traveling through Europe by train like a pro is to plan ahead. Research your destinations and create a rough itinerary of the places you want to visit, as well as the duration of your stay. You can use websites such as Rail Europe or Eurail to plan your train journeys and book tickets in advance. This can save you money, time, and heartache on your adventure!

Buy a Rail Pass

If you plan to take multiple train journeys during your trip, buying a rail pass is worth considering. A rail pass allows you to travel on most trains in Europe without purchasing individual tickets for each journey. Different types of rail passes are available, depending on the length of your trip and the countries you want to visit.

Utilize Nearby Luggage Storage

When traveling through Europe by train, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to store your luggage temporarily. This can happen if you arrive at your destination before your hotel check-in time or want to explore a city without carrying heavy bags.

Fortunately, many train stations in Europe offer luggage storage facilities. For example, if you’re spending the day in St. Pancras, simply look for luggage storage in St. Pancras . Now, you can explore the city with peace of mind — and no heavy bags weighing you down.

Choose Your Train

When traveling through Europe by train , you can take high-speed trains, regional trains, or overnight trains. High-speed trains, such as the Eurostar or TGV, are faster and more expensive than regional trains. However, they are a smart option for longer journeys or days you want to travel between two distant cities in a short amount of time.

Regional trains, on the other hand, are slower but cheaper. They are an option if you want to explore smaller towns and villages along your route. Overnight trains, such as the Nightjet, allow you to save time and money by combining transportation and accommodation.

One of the advantages of traveling through Europe by train is the ability to easily move from one place to another. However, this can be difficult if you are carrying a heavy suitcase. Therefore, it is important to pack light and only bring the essentials. A backpack or a small suitcase is ideal for train travel.

Arrive Early

You should arrive at the train station at least 30 minutes before your train departure time. This allows you to find your platform, check the train timetable, and board the train stress-free. After all, when a train says it leaves at 10:00, you best believe it’ll be on the move promptly at 10:00.

Additionally, arriving early can give you time to grab a coffee or a snack from one of the many cafes at the train station.

Validate Your Ticket

If you have purchased individual train tickets, don’t forget to validate them before boarding the train. You can do this at the yellow validation machines located at the train station. Failure to validate your ticket can result in a fine if you are caught by a ticket inspector on the train.

Keep Your Ticket Handy

Once you have boarded the train, it is important to keep your ticket handy. Ticket inspectors may ask to see your ticket any time during the journey, so it is best to have it easily accessible. Additionally, some trains have a designated area for luggage storage, so be sure to keep your bags in the appropriate area.

Bring Your Own Food

While some trains have dining cars or food carts, it is always a good idea to bring your own food and snacks for the journey. This can save you money and ensure that you have something to eat if the train has no food options or limited options.

Enjoy the Scenery

Last but not least, one of the most important things to remember when traveling through Europe by train is to take the time to enjoy the scenery. Europe is home to some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes and architecture, and traveling by train allows you to see it all from a unique perspective.

Happy Travels!

Traveling through Europe by train is a fantastic experience that offers a unique and authentic way to explore the continent. With these tips, you can travel like a pro and make the most of your journey. Remember to plan ahead, pack light, and most importantly, enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

Related posts:

• Why you should travel by train in Europe (and how to book tickets)
• Exploring France by train: Our top five train rides in France
• How to Travel around Europe on the Cheap
• Things to Know Before You Board a Train from Vienna to Prague

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