r/Europetravel • • Mar 28 '26

Itineraries These 11 mistakes are ruining your trip to Europe!

665 Upvotes

So often I see the same mistakes over and over again on this sub, I figured I'd write up some of the most common, so I can just tell a poster "see 4, 5, and 7 in this thread" or whatever. :-) Happy travels to all!

1. Not clearly defining interests, preferences, and priorities. What do you want to see and do? What kind of memories do you want to have after the trip? There’s no such thing as a general “must-see,” it depends on what you want and how you prioritize those wants. This should be the starting point for planning any trip, and it’s amazing how often posters seem to overlook it. If you can’t be more specific than “history, food, and nature," then you need to think through this most basic part.

2. Being ruled by FOMO. Related to the above, if you don’t clearly define your interests and priorities, FOMO will take over. I see far too many mad dashes through Europe that are just a grand tour of airports and train stations. I get it, it’s all amazing and you want to see it all. But you can’t, not in one trip and not in 20 trips. Accept that and prioritize. Europe will still be there in the future. Or, even if you think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe or “we only have 10 days of vacation a year,” the way to “make the most of it” is to give yourself the time to actually enjoy the places you’re visiting, not maximize the time you spend in transport and related logistics. An important point that may seem obvious but which many people miss: If you jam 4 weeks of travel into 2 weeks, the result is not that you have half as much time in each place. You have MUCH less than that, because transport and related logistics will eat up so much more of your time, as a percentage.

3. Not accounting for transport. Many itineraries here make it seem like the poster has invented teleportation (and more than a few would be insane even with teleportation). You need to account for the time it takes to get between places - not just your plane/train, but also related logistics like unpacking/packing, checking in and out of hotels, getting to/from train stations/airports, airport security, baggage claim, immigration, orienting yourself in a new place, figuring out how to get transport tickets, delays, cancellations, strikes, etc. In most cases, you should assume that changing locations will mean losing the better part of a day or an entire day to all of this, and flying especially tends to be a time suck (and often more tiring than train travel). So for example 3 nights in a place is in reality only 2 days.

4. Focusing on the number of countries. Almost without exception, posters here who mention wanting to “see as many countries as possible” have the absolute worst itineraries. They lose too much time to transport and related logistics (see point above), and, because the most obvious thing is to just go between large or capital cities, their itineraries tend to be too heavy on big cities, and they miss out on much of what actually makes Europe special, especially the regional contrasts within countries (more on that below).

5. Assuming country = place and overlooking regional differences. Related to the point above, it’s much more useful to think about places and regions, rather than countries. Many assume, for example, that they will see more things by going to three countries than just one. But in reality, regional contrasts within countries (especially larger ones like Italy, Germany, and Spain) can be much greater than across borders. For example, the South Tyrol region of Italy is much more like Austria (to which it once belonged) than to the rest of Italy. Alsace is a complete contrast from Paris, because it belonged for a long time to Germany. Hamburg is a lot closer to Copenhagen in vibe than it is to Bavaria. You can often experience more variety and contrast within one country (and generally benefit from better and cheaper transport links) than by hopping across borders or focusing only on the capital or most famous city in a country.

6. Focusing only on large cities. So many itineraries here are just a list of big cities. While they have a lot to offer, they are also often more similar than many people realize. Many of Europe's big cities "grew up" in the 19th century, and their architecture reflects that. More recently, globalization and European integration have also contributed to a certain homogenization. If you hop only between big cities, you’re almost certainly blowing past a ton of interesting places, and losing more time to transport. Smaller cities like Graz, Erfurt, Lübeck, Regensburg, Leon, and Urbino have a ton to offer, and outside a handful of the touristiest ones (like Salzburg and Toledo), most are blissfully free of mass tourism. More in this thread.

7. Not building in enough balance and contrast. I see many itineraries that hop across a bunch of locations, yet all with (in the big scheme of things) very similar scenery. The Alps are beautiful, but do you really need to see the Alps in France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Slovenia, on the same trip? They look more alike than different, especially when it’s all you’ve seen for two weeks. Same with the Mediterranean - a trip that goes say Algarve > Malaga > Valencia > Barcelona > Mallorca > Amalfi Coast > Dubrovnik > Greece will likely turn into a blur where everything looks more or less the same. Especially for longer trips, mix it up, combining (for example) large cities, small cities, and towns; urban and rural destinations; Northern and Southern Europe; coastal and inland destinations; heavily touristed and less visited places. Think also about balance and contrast during your time in one place, e.g., I would recommend against visiting, on the same day, both the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay, or both the Hofburg and Schönbrunn palaces.

8. Not using “open-jaw” flights. This is a bit specific, but it's such a common mistake that I wanted to highlight it here. Often people book a roundtrip from their home country to say London, but their itinerary is actually something like London > France > Italy > Greece. They then have to spend a day backtracking to London, costing time and money, and often they have to do an extra cycle of unpacking/packing and checking in/out of hotels. Generally, it’s much better to book a multi-city (aka “open-jaw”) itinerary, in the example above it would be say New York to London but Athens to New York, on the same ticket. It generally does not cost significantly more than a regular roundtrip and saves significant time and cost backtracking; even if you go back via the same route (e.g., Athens back to the U.S. via London), booking it as part of the same ticket means you’re protected in the event of flight disruptions. Bonus tip: If your trip includes the UK and other destinations, fly into the UK but out of any other country, to avoid the UK’s high Air Passenger Duty, which only applies to departures from the UK. This can easily save around US$200 per person.

9. Relying on only one mode of transport. I’ve seen so many itineraries where it’s all driving or all flying. Especially in major cities, driving tends to be a nightmare, with difficult (and expensive) parking, congestion, one-way streets, pedestrianized zones, emissions-control zones, etc. Watch out especially for one-way international surcharges (e.g., renting in France and dropping off in Spain); these can run over 1000 euros! Europe has excellent trains, and they are often a much better option than flying or driving, especially considering train stations are usually much more centrally located and don’t require long wait times for security and baggage. But they don’t work well in all situations (between Portugal and Spain is one example), and for exploration off the beaten path, it can make sense to rent a car for a portion of your trip. Consider carefully the right mix of transport modes early on in your planning, as it can even affect your choice of destinations.

10. Over-planning. Planning is essential, but some people way overdo it - “4:17 pm, we stop for 8 minutes 27 seconds for gelato,” or “I’m looking for the best beer bar in Prague and the best croissant in Paris.” You don’t need to, and really shouldn’t, plan all this out. Leave time in your itinerary for discovery and wander - that’s the biggest joy of travel! A good strategy is to anchor each day around 1-2 main activities or sights (esp. those that require advance booking, like the Alhambra), but leave enough slack in the schedule for wandering and being spontaneous - or just relaxing. That’s especially important for longer itineraries; it’s one thing to do 3 places in 10 days, but 9 places in 30 days gets to be really exhausting, so build in down time.

11. Overdoing day-trips. Day-trips are great. But there's a right and wrong way; the recent post where somebody wanted to make 3 day trips, from Rome, to Naples, Amalfi, and Positano is definitely the wrong way. If you have 4 nights in a place and 3 day trips, you’re not actually spending any real time in that place! My own general rules: no consecutive day trips; no day trips just before or after a travel day; and max of 3 hours roundtrip (4 at a stretch), preferably with direct trains to smaller cities. More in this thread.


r/Europetravel • • Mar 01 '26

Mod Message Reminder: This is not a politics or current affairs sub

23 Upvotes

Due to several posts today alone asking about the safety of travelling to Europe during America and Israel's current bombing of Iran, and a slow trickle over the past year of people asking how they are perceived in Europe because of their government, this is a reminder that this subreddit has a single remit of requesting and offering advice on holidays in Europe - we do not wish to have extended discussions on political topics.

There are many, many subs to discuss such things in, and for the most part these are questions that have little to do with taking a holiday in Europe. Even people who live on the peripheries of active warzones will care little about your feelings around taking a holiday, for obvious reasons.

If you have specific concerns about travel, you should contact your airline or consult your government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will have up-to-date travel warnings for anywhere they recommend against travel to. Nobody here will be able to give you better advice than those places.


r/Europetravel • • 11h ago

Itineraries Help with Solo 21 night Itineraries April/May 2027

1 Upvotes

​

I am an Australian male solo traveller in my mid 40s and I’m planning to go to Europe for three weeks in April/May next year.

While I have travelled a fair amount on my own I’ve not really been to Europe (apart from London for an event). I always thought when I went to Europe for a proper holiday it would be a longer, more relaxed travel experience, but time is getting away from me so unless I want to put it off until I’m retired, I will need to do a shorter trip and three weeks is about the maximum amount of time I can take off in one go.

There are so many places I’d like to visit that I’m a bit paralysed by choice and, I don’t know what to prioritize.  So I thought I’d ask people who have experience with these places, which of the following itineraries might be the best for what I've listed as my likes or if you think another city might be a better fit for me as a destination than one I already have included.

I like exploring historic and cultural things during the day (museums, galleries, architecture that kind of thing) and live music, (rock, metal and industrial in particular but I’m open to most things) and relaxed bars (preferably cocktail, but I don’t have an issue with beer) late into the night.  I like a place to have at least some nightlife, so if you know one of my choices is just dead at night or if I have too many days allocated for a place could you give me a warning? 

I expect a usual non transit day to go something like: Wake up somewhere between 8 and 10, hit a café for a late breakfast check out a neighbourhood/museum/site or two in the late morning into the evening, grab dinner, then bar hop or see a show/gig at night.

Things I can cut or avoid:  While I do appreciate nature and food and I can be partial to a day spent shopping, I am not prioritizing getting out into nature, shopping, or foodie destinations on this trip.

 

I’m probably doing a mix of flying and train travel but I think I’d prefer shorter train trips than spending hours in transit or in airports I don’t want to have to take a lot of connecting flights or trains. That also means I’m probably not getting out of the cities I visit so places that are only good because they are near day trips are probably not for me on this trip.

There are four cities that feature in my itineraries quite often, Berlin, Rome, Paris and London. Berlin because it’s probably the one non-negotiable place I want to visit and the other three are the only cities that have direct flights to/from my home and I’d prefer direct flights.

I’m tossing up a few different 21-night itineraries based around different things, and I am seeking advice if they are unrealistic, or actually awful,  won’t work or if there are better locations for what I want to experience.

 

*Big Hitters, this is the default that I started with:

Rome: 5 nights, Venice 3 nights,  Berlin 5 nights,  Bruges 3 nights,  Paris 5 nights.

Emphasises the two major cities I can fly directly to/from that I haven’t been to before, Then Berlin and the two smaller but most popular places I wanted to visit that stayed on my list after doing research and accounting for overtourism.  This is probably the easiest one but also the one in which I can’t get away from crowds and I worry that its too generic and I’ll be bored in my hotel room at night.

 

*Nightlife focus:

Rome 4 nights, Budapest 4 nights, Prague 4 nights, Berlin 5 nights, Paris 4 nights

This removes more of the historical/aesthetic interest and replaces it with a focus on bars and nightlife, A minimum of 4 nights in each location due to almost all of this being air travel requiring hours at airports. All locations are suffering from overtourism just like the first itinerary, but maybe not as bad as Venice.

 

*Live music focus:

Paris 4 nights, Berlin 4 nights, Leipzig 3 nights, Oslo 4 nights, Helsinki 4 nights, London 2 nights.

This one came from looking up the best cities to see gigs but a lot of the info I found was either old or read like AI slop, so I have no idea if this is accurate.  Spain and Portugal were featured pretty heavily in the info I found as well but I’m more interested in Norway and Finland overall. I want to stay 4 nights if I’m flying somewhere, So Oslo and Helsinki get 4 nights even though they may not warrant that amount of time,  London gets two nights as I’ve been there before and I just need to fly out. I also think this might be too rushed but at least it’s a little less touristy.

 

*A mix of stuff/no rest days:

Rome 3 nights, Florence 3 nights, Berlin 3 nights, Amsterdam 3 nights, Dublin 3 nights, Edinburgh 3 nights, Paris 3 nights.

These are places I find very interesting for one reason or another but were cut from the other itineraries at some point due to logistics or duplication.  I would usually not want to travel at this pace but I wanted to put it out there for consideration as these places hurt to cut.

 

*Other places:

Here is a list of other places I researched that I liked but that didn’t make it into an itinerary. I am unsure if any will suit me better that the ones that did make it.

Athens, Stockholm, Nice, Munich, Manchester, Bucharest, Tallinn, Dubrovnik, Bordeaux, Lyon, Riga, Krakow, Gothenburg and Warsaw.

 

 


r/Europetravel • • 13h ago

Events Viennese balls (or similar event) available in the summer time?

2 Upvotes

I've always loved the idea of attending a Viennese ball. The problem is, anything I look up brings me to the fact that ball season is in January/February, and I am only planning a trip for sometime June/July/August.

Are there any Viennese balls or adjacent events that aren't insanely spendy and are welcoming towards foreigners? They don't need to be insanely fancy, either. I love waltzing, but I also (probably even more so) love polkas haha. I'll hopefully be bringing a partner. I'd love a fun evening to dress up and experience something new.

Is there anything like this in Austria during that time frame? ​Where should I be looking on the internet? ​


r/Europetravel • • 1d ago

Trains What's the 6-person cabin like on the OBB Nightjet?

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83 Upvotes

I'm taking the OBB Nightjet (the old train I guess) from Salzburg to Brussels in November. The price difference between the 4-person and 6-person couchette was quite large so I booked the 6-person cabin.

While I see plenty of Youtube videos with reviews for the premium cabins, I can't find a single one for the 6-person layout. Does anyone have experience with this? Normally I'm an easy sleeper but I'm on the taller side (188cm/6"2) so it's quite important there is room to stick my feet out.


r/Europetravel • • 18h ago

Itineraries Visiting Liberec for a week in December – any recommendations from locals?

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

I'm planning a trip to Liberec from November 30 to December 6. I'll be exploring on my own for the first few days, and then a friend is joining me for three nights.

I've been looking into the area and it honestly looks beautiful, especially around Christmas. I'd love to hear some recommendations from people who actually live there or know the area well!

I'm really into discovering smaller towns, interesting architecture, beautiful scenery and places with a bit of character. Hejnice and Jablonec nad Nisou are already on my list, but I'm sure there are plenty of other places worth checking out.

I'd also love some tips for the evenings. Are there any nice bars, places with live music or jazz, or somewhere good for a relaxed drink?

And of course, food! I'm a big fan of small, family-run restaurants, traditional Czech food, cozy cafés and little hidden gems that locals love.

I'm also curious about the Christmas atmosphere. Are there any seasonal events, markets or special places worth visiting around that time?

I won't have a car, so ideally I'm looking for places I can reach by train or bus. I don't mind taking a longer trip if it's worth it.

I'm staying for almost a week, so I'd love to find enough interesting things to do without rushing around.

Any recommendations would be really appreciated, even if it's just your favourite café or a little town nearby that you think deserves more attention!

Thanks in advance! :)


r/Europetravel • • 1d ago

Trains Would a rail trip from Copenhagen to Venice be easy to plan?

2 Upvotes

We are thinking about taking about two weeks to travel from Copenhagen to Venice via rail and were wondering if it is possible to plan this trip by ourselves or do we need a travel planner. Would like to spend a couple of nights in a few cities on route and would also appreciate any suggestions for those. Thank you.


r/Europetravel • • 12h ago

Money I'm not American but have USD cash in hand - best way to get Euro cash for Christmas markets in France and Germany

0 Upvotes

Sorry for the overly long title but I keep getting recommended withdrawing with Schwab when I cannot access this bank.

Edit- I should have been more specific, my bad! I guess I'm asking about which exchange places are the best - if anyone has certain brands (?) of exchange places or locations. Sounds like I should avoid the airport and touristy spots. Thank you to those who managed to decipher my meaning.

As the title says - I'm in posession of 2k US dollars in cash, given to me as payment for a debt. Assume I cannot deposit them in any kind of bank account.

I'm going to the Christmas Markets in France and Germany and I've heard smaller market vendors take only cash.

What's the best way to exchange them in France and Europe to reduce fees and exchange fee loss?


r/Europetravel • • 1d ago

Destinations Good October travel destinations, inexperienced traveler

0 Upvotes

Hey sorry if this is the wrong flair, I’m planning to travel to Europe next October for around 2 weeks and I’m having trouble deciding where to go. I’ve been to Europe once before (italy specifically Florence, Venice, Rome) so I’m not a complete stranger to foreign travel but not exactly a expert

Generally I’m more interested in historical things (museums or ruins) particularly antiquity through medieval but the world wars are interesting too, I’m less fond of hiking or activities similar to that.

I have family ties to Norway and Germany but Norway so their pretty big contenders but Norway seems like a place where hiking is the main thing while I’m a bit wary of going to Germany in October since I figure Oktoberfest would make things very crowded/overwhelming.

Also if you have any locations to recommend would you please mention common foods that would be on most menus? I’m naturally picky but I can train myself on certain foods if I have prep time and know which foods to practice


r/Europetravel • • 1d ago

Public transport Will this 4 weeks travel plan work? Prefer mostly public transport

0 Upvotes

Stockholm 2 nights -> Gothenburg 3 nights (including day trip to Oslo) -> Copenhagen 2 nights -> Hamburg 2 nights -> Berlin 2 nights -> Prague 3 nights -> Vienna 5 nights (including day trip to Bratislava) -> Salzburg 3 nights (including day trip to Hallstatt) -> Munich 3 nights (including day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle). TIA


r/Europetravel • • 1d ago

Other 28 nights in Europe over Christmas and New Year — London, Alsace, Vienna, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Madrid.

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

We're a family of three (two adults and our 7-year-old daughter) from Uruguay, planning a 28-night trip around Europe from December 15, 2026, to January 12, 2027.

Our main goals are to experience beautiful Christmas markets, charming European villages, Christmas decorations, historic towns, and hopefully some snowy Alpine scenery.

We especially love picturesque villages, medieval architecture, Christmas lights, and places that feel magical during winter.

We've put together the following itinerary, but we'd really appreciate honest feedback from people who know these destinations well.

Our current itinerary

  • December 15–17: London, UK — 3 nights We're planning to fly to London shortly after arriving in Madrid. We'd like to visit Winter Wonderland, Covent Garden, Regent Street, the Southbank Christmas market, and some of London's main attractions.
  • December 18–20: Colmar and the Alsace villages, France — 3 nights This is one of the parts we're most excited about! Places we'd like to visit: We're particularly interested in visiting Kaysersberg and Riquewihr during the December 19–20 weekend, as some Christmas markets finish around then. We're considering renting a car and staying in one apartment for the entire Alsace portion of our trip.
    • Colmar
    • Kaysersberg
    • Riquewihr
    • Eguisheim
    • Turckheim
    • Ribeauvillé, if worthwhile
  • December 21–22: Strasbourg, France — 2 nights We'd like to explore Strasbourg's Christmas markets, the cathedral, Petite France, and the historic center. We might also visit Obernai or Sélestat along the way. One question: Would it be better to stay all five nights in one central location such as Sélestat or Obernai, rather than changing accommodation between Colmar and Strasbourg?
  • December 23–25: Vienna, Austria — 3 nights We specifically want to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Vienna. We're interested in the Christmas markets, Schönbrunn Palace, the historic center, Christmas lights, and the general festive atmosphere. We know some Christmas markets close on December 23 or 24, so we'd appreciate recommendations for things to do on December 24 and 25, especially with a child.
  • December 26–27: Rome, Italy — 2 nights Our plan is to visit the main historical attractions, walk around the city, and enjoy the food. We know two nights isn't much, but we'd like to spend more time in smaller Italian towns.
  • December 28: Orvieto / Umbria, Italy — 1 night We'd like to rent a car and explore Orvieto and possibly some nearby villages.
  • December 29 – January 1: Tuscany, Italy — 4 nights We're thinking of staying in a countryside apartment or agriturismo and exploring: We'd also love recommendations for where to spend New Year's Eve. Would Siena, Montepulciano, or a smaller Tuscan town be a better experience for a family?
    • Montepulciano
    • Pienza
    • Val d'Orcia
    • San Quirico d'Orcia
    • Bagno Vignoni
    • Siena
    • San Gimignano
  • January 2: Florence, Italy — 1 night A short visit to Florence before continuing north.
  • January 3–4: Venice, Italy — 2 nights We'd like to explore Venice at a relaxed pace, especially early in the morning and in the evening.
  • January 5–6: Black Forest / Baden-Baden, Germany — 2 nights We're interested in visiting Baden-Baden's Christmas market, which we understand continues into early January, as well as picturesque Black Forest towns such as Gengenbach. However, we're not sure whether traveling from Venice to this region is worth the long journey.
  • January 7–9: Swiss Alps, Switzerland — 3 nights We're considering staying around Interlaken and visiting: Our main goal is to enjoy the Alpine scenery and hopefully see snow. We're not planning a skiing holiday.
    • Lauterbrunnen
    • Wengen
    • Grindelwald
    • Mürren, weather permitting
  • January 10–11: Madrid, Spain — 2 nights We'd like to explore Madrid and possibly take a day trip to Toledo.
  • January 12: Flight home

Questions we'd love advice on

  • 1. Is this itinerary too rushed? We know there are quite a few destinations, but we're comfortable moving around if the experiences are worth it. Which part would you cut or extend?
  • 2. Alsace: Would you recommend staying five nights in one central location, or splitting our stay between Colmar and Strasbourg? We'll probably have a rental car.
  • 3. Christmas in Vienna: Is December 23–25 a good choice? What would you recommend doing on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with a 7-year-old?
  • 4. Tuscany in winter: Which villages are the most beautiful in late December, and where would you spend New Year's Eve?
  • 5. Venice to the Black Forest: Is this a bad idea logistically? Would you replace Baden-Baden with somewhere else?
  • 6. Switzerland in January: Is Interlaken a good base for exploring Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, and Grindelwald, or would you stay directly in one of the mountain villages?
  • 7. Transportation: Which sections would you do by train, plane, or rental car? We're considering renting a car in Alsace and Tuscany, but we're flexible.
  • 8. Hidden gems: Are there any beautiful small towns, Christmas markets, scenic routes, or family-friendly experiences we're missing?

We're not trying to see every museum or attraction. We mostly want to enjoy the atmosphere, beautiful streets, scenery, local food, and Christmas decorations.

Any suggestions, criticism, or alternative routes would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!


r/Europetravel • • 2d ago

Solo travel Solo trip into Copenhagen, leaving from Prague, help me decide how many days and add Krakow?

2 Upvotes

Hello, I’m 25m from the United States and I’ve never left the country so last month I stopped thinking about it and booked flights to Europe and I’m so excited. In my short research along with the fact I’m bringing my skateboard, two cities that really appealed to me were Copenhagen and Prague. I’m making this trip much harder on myself by bringing a skateboard, but it’s something I love to do and I think it would be a great way to meet locals. So pretty much I have to take a train from Copenhagen to Prague, then I realized it goes through Berlin anyways, then I researched a bit and turns out Berlin is a city worth staying in for at least a few nights as well.

And now after watching some more YouTube vids and research, also realized Krakow, Poland also seems like it’s my type of my city. But it’s kinda far out of the way by train and even if I did fly and ate the fees, I only have 12 nights to spare. At the time of booking these flights I thought 12 would be plenty, and I lowkey regret getting delta basic cause now I can’t change my flight dates if I wanted to, although I did save like $300 by doing that.

Anyways I need some suggestions for a basic plan. My general plan as of now is still 3-4 nights in Copenhagen, 3-4 nights in Berlin, then finish with 5 nights in Prague cause I still think that’s gonna be my favorite place. Also wanna know if it would be worth to add Krakow given the limited time or save that for my next Europe trip. If it is worth it, how many nights there and where to sacrifice those nights? I’m prolly overthinking this but I’m so anxious but also so excited and it’s killing me I gotta wait 6 more months. I’d also love to hear recommendations or general advice in these particular cities I may not know about yet


r/Europetravel • • 3d ago

Things to do & see Seeking guidance on family trip to Spain trip in June 2027.

7 Upvotes

Greetings everyone!

I am looking for recommendations for a 10-day trip to Spain.

What two cities would you recommend based on this information?

-Traveling from USA.

-Trip will be June 4-16, 2027.

-Total trip is 12 days, 10 days after accounting for travel.

-Second trip to Europe. Previously visited Rome and Venice and had a great time in both.

-Two adults and two children (17 and 15). All are in good physical condition. No health or dietary limitations. One fluent Spanish speaker (Mexico variation) in the group.

-Prefer to use high speed train to travel between locations.

-Willing to do day trips.

-Interests include art, history, architecture, music, and outdoor activities on land or water.

-Food is important. We love to eat and try new cuisines.

-Initial considerations are Barcelona and Madrid.


r/Europetravel • • 2d ago

Itineraries Considering one of three European trips - help me decide between Spain, Portugal or Netherlands/Czechia itinerary

2 Upvotes

ETA - more details about the potential plans in each place.

Family of 5 (kids are all university students) travelling from Canada and we're trying to plan a trip to Europe next spring.
- travel dates are around April 24 - May 2 to high the break between semesters
- we are looking for a blend of history, doing something active but like not crazy but bike tours, hiking or kayak tours combined with good food (maybe a cooking class), possible live music.
- we travelled to France a few years ago and some of the highlights were the Juno Beach Centre, seeing a stage of the Tour de France, pretty much all of Paris, a food tour in Lyon, stumbling upon a live music event at an old church. We also learned that we tried to cram way to may places in a single trip.

Here are the four regions/plans we are considering:

  • Amsterdam and Prague - travel in between would be by overnight train. In Amsterdam - thinking about a city tour either by bike or kayak, maybe a food tour or cooking class, a few museums look interesting. Honestly a day or two wandering the city sounds so interesting. In Prague - probably another city tour either on foot or bike, couple museums and seeing the architecture would be interesting. My husband has always talked of going there.
  • Lisbon - Sintra - travel up the Atlantic coast by car. On this trip we'd be looking at some cooking classes, market tours, kayaking around the Arrabida coast, hking in Sintra, some museums, wandering the city, maybe the beach (might be too early?)
  • Porto - Matosinhos + the Douro by car. On this trip, we're thinking about cooking classes again, winery visits, a bike tour around Matosinhos, museums. I am interested in Matosinhos specifically because it's a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and so is the city I am from in Canada.
  • Seville - Jerez - Cadiz by car. In Spain, we're thining about seeing the Roman ruins, some museums, food tours, learning about sherry. THere's a festival in Jerez during that time which also looks interesting.

I'm looking for perspective on costs, things to do in those areas, if my internet searches are guiding me in the wrong direction. Any major concerns with any of those places in terms of safety?

My hope would be to have a couple of days pre-booked with activities and then explore the rest of the time. We'd probably plan to stay in a couple of interesting guest houses or airbnb given the family size and stage. We're trying to stay on a reasonable budget but also welcome recommendations for specific activities, restaurants that are off the tourist path and totally worth the trip, cool places to stay.

I've gone through a number of the other threads in this group for ideas and suggestions so now just consolidating into one.

Thank you in advance :)


r/Europetravel • • 2d ago

Itineraries Croatia and Austria in late December & early January

0 Upvotes

We are a family of 4 (2 kids of 12 and 3 year olds) visiting Europe later this year. We are still a bit unsure about the last half of our trip, which is as below at the moment (we are also visiting Munich & Slovenia for the first half of our trip):

- 4 days in Zagreb including celebrating NYE there.

- 2 days in Graz (train or bus from Zagreb)

- 1 day in Vienna

- 2 days in Bratislava

- 1 day back in Vienna

- Flying out from Vienna

This would be our 3rd time to Vienna and we have also done Christmas/winter there a couple of years ago, hence, didn't want to spend too long in Vienna. We understand that Bratislava will be very quiet as the Christmas markets will be over by the time we get there.

One thought is to extend Zagreb for another day and make Bratislava just a day or even day trip from Vienna. We have not been to the city, hence, thinking of staying there overnight.

Any other suggestions would be great. Thank you.


r/Europetravel • • 3d ago

Itineraries Netherlands & Belgium - November trip - Need Suggestions

8 Upvotes

Hi there!

We're flying down to europe this November second week. Yes, we are very well aware of the weather conditions and attractions being closed, but I do appreciate if anyone could give their inputs on the current itinerary that we have planned. We are arriving in Amsterdam Schiphol and flying back from Brussels.

3 nights - Amsterdam

2 Nights - Bruges

2 Nights - Brussels

We aren't much into Museums and rather spend time on attractions, activities and parties.

Thanks in advance!


r/Europetravel • • 2d ago

Itineraries What do you guys think about the plan? Traveling around Christmas!

0 Upvotes

Day 1 – Paris
Flight: india → Paris 11:05 AM
Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe at 6 PM, Champs-Élysées dinner
Day 2 – Paris
Louvre Museum at 10 AM, Montmartre at 2:30 PM, Tuileries Christmas Market
Day 3 – Paris
, professional photoshoot, Eiffel Tower summit, Rue Cler picnic
Day 4 – Amsterdam
Eurostar 9:24 AM–12:50 PM, A’DAM Lookout swing, EYE Film Museum, Amsterdam Light Festival
Day 5 – Amsterdam
Barbie Experience, Moco Museum, Madame Tussauds, Jordaan, Winter Paradise
Day 6 – Amsterdam
Zaanse Schans windmills, Zaandam, Anne Frank area, Dam Square, shopping
Day 7 – Zurich
Flight: Amsterdam 9:50 AM → Zurich 11:15 AM
Bahnhofstrasse, Lake Zurich, Old Town, Christmas market
Day 8 – Zurich
Lindt Museum, Augustinergasse, Lindenhof, Zoo
Day 9 – Interlaken
Travel from Zurich by train
Lake Brienz, Harder Kulm, romantic dinner
Day 10 – Interlaken
chill day
Day 11 – Interlaken
Jungfraujoch full-day excursion
Day 12 – Lucerne
Travel from Interlaken by train
Chapel Bridge, Old Town, Lake Lucerne, Lion Monument
Day 13 – Lucerne
Mount Titlis, Titlis Rotair, Swiss Museum of Transport
Day 14 – St. Moritz
Travel from Lucerne by train
Lake St. Moritz, Badrutt’s Palace area, evening walk, Cresta & Bob Museum
Day 15 – Paris
Travel from St. Moritz to Zurich by train, then flight to Paris
Shopping
Day 16 – Paris
Disneyland Paris
Day 17 – Paris to India
Flight departs


r/Europetravel • • 2d ago

Trains OBB vs DB which one is better from Vienna to Munich

0 Upvotes

Trying to book a one way ticket from Vienna to Munich and OBB is more expensive than DB, is it worth the price difference?


r/Europetravel • • 3d ago

Itineraries Late August- Lake Como vs. Courmayeur after 8 nights in Switzerland—relaxation or more mountains?

3 Upvotes

Hi all! My wife and I are having decision paralysis about how to finish a Switzerland–Italy trip in late August 2027.
We’re in our late 20s and have previously visited Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Siena, plus Mürren, Interlaken, and Bern. We loved Italy, and Mürren was one of our favorite travel experiences.
On previous trips, we’ve sometimes packed in too many cities and reached the point where another beautiful church, charming square, or historic street starts to blur together. This time we want nature, good food, a distinctly Italian atmosphere, and some relaxation. We’re limiting ourselves to four overnight bases.
Our current itinerary is:
• 6 nights Grindelwald — 5 full days, primarily hiking.
• 2 nights Interlaken — we liked it on a previous brief visit and want time for the town and a lake/outdoor excursion.
• 5 nights Varenna, Lake Como — arriving relatively late after the transfer from Switzerland, so 4 full days.
• 1 night Milan — arriving early enough for sightseeing, then flying home to the US the following day. The Duomo and Last Supper are our main interests.
The alternative would be to replace Como/Milan with:
• 4–5 nights Courmayeur.
• 1–2 nights Turin, then fly home.
Flights are similarly priced, although the Milan options are more convenient.
Why we’re considering Lake Como:
We’d like a swimming/lounging day, good meals, some exploring by boat, and hiking when we feel like being active. However, we’re unsure whether four full days would feel repetitive if we tire of visiting villages. We don’t need a major attraction every day, but we’d like worthwhile alternatives to town-hopping.
Why we’re considering Courmayeur:
Mont Blanc and the surrounding hiking look incredible, and we know we love Alpine scenery. But after Switzerland, we may want a break from hiking. We’re also wondering whether another Alpine town would provide the change of atmosphere we’re hoping for in Italy.
Our priorities are:
• A strong sense of place and Italian atmosphere.
• Good regional food.
• Opportunities to relax.
• Outdoor activities, especially hiking and swimming.
• Not relying on museums or repeated town visits to fill the stay.
For people who know both areas:
1. Is Varenna a good base for four full days with a mix of hiking, swimming, boat outings, and relaxation?
2. Does Courmayeur feel sufficiently different from the Bernese Oberland to make it a rewarding next stop?
3. Which would you choose after a hiking-focused Switzerland stay?
We’ve considered the Dolomites but ruled them out because of the travel time on both ends.


r/Europetravel • • 2d ago

Other Italy travel, never done this before - advice please

0 Upvotes

Hi! My mother and I are planning to travel around Italy in mid-January from USA. We do not mind the cold for the most part and prefer it to the hot weather of the summer. Our budget is around $5000 for around 6-7 nights or so (we’re not super materialistic and just want to experience the country (museums, restaurants, nature) and take a few nice photos). We’re thinking of Lake Como, Rome, and maybe Venice if our budget allows. I’ve never done this before so I’m clueless about everything, and my mother has left it up to me.

My main concern is about flights: we can’t fly in something with super cramped seats/longggggg (4+ hours) layovers since it’s an issue for my mother. I’ve heard Air France is bad and we’ve had an issue with Discover Airlines in the past so I’m not sure where to look for budget friendly flights. Are there any recommended ones? We plan on flying into Rome.

I’m also worried about hotels, since we’re both women. Is there anywhere I can make sure I’m picking a hotel in a safer area? Is there a best spot to have them in? (Like near a train station??)

Is there anything else I should be taking care of? I’m a complete beginner at this and don’t want to mess anything up since it costs so much. I apologize if I sound naïve. Thank you all so much.


r/Europetravel • • 3d ago

Itineraries Pakistani couple planning first Euro trip - seeking advice

0 Upvotes

Hey fellow travellers, hope you're all doing well. So we've been to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, UAE, Qatar and Azerbaijan. Now we're planning our first (hopefully, of the many) Eurotrip for March 2027.

Thing is that we want to visit Athens, Switzerland, Rome, Paris, Berlin, Luxembourg and Amsterdam in the 24 days that we have. We'd love some advice as to how should we plan our nights and modes of transport, not only intercity but intracity as well (scooters vs Uber vs renting a car).

Any and every advice/help would be wholeheartedly appreciated.


r/Europetravel • • 4d ago

Itineraries Traveling Vienna to Munich on Railjet. Thinking of stopping at Salzburg for a few hours on the way. Thoughts?

4 Upvotes

We are considering getting off at Salzburg, putting our suitcases in lockers at the station and spending 4-5 hours exploring Salzburg. Is this doable/recommended? I know people will say you can spend days here but we won’t ever have another chance to visit this area again for at least 15 years so spending multiple days is not an option.

Anyways, what recommendations do you have for Salzburg in December? And is it common to not book our ticket from Salzburg to Munich ahead of time? And just buy it when we get to the station whenever we decide we are done in Salzburg? We would prefer first class or business seating though. Not sure if that’s going to be difficult to book day of.

Thoughts?! Concerns?! Thank you!

Edit: actually will plan for 6-7 hours.


r/Europetravel • • 3d ago

Things to do & see naturally beautiful places I can visit from amsterdam

3 Upvotes

I will be visiting amsterdam and rotterdam in june next year. I plan to stay there for 4 days. my total trip will be around 7-8 days and I want the remaining 3-4 days to be among the nature. what would be the ideal places like that with easy access from amsterdam that won't cost me a whole day of just getting there.


r/Europetravel • • 4d ago

Trains Paris to Rome by Train in March? Should we pre-purchase tickets?

6 Upvotes

My wife and I want to travel from Paris to Rome by train in March. Should we pre-purchase tickets. Or just buy them at the train station?


r/Europetravel • • 4d ago

Accessibility First time traveling with limited mobility - any tips?

4 Upvotes

We'll be traveling to Vienna, Innsbruck, and Munich this winter. My mom got into an accident which now limits her from walking long distances and sitting for too long. It's our first time traveling after the accident and also her first time using a mobility scooter I rented for the trip.

  1. Is it normal practice for museums to have wheelchair rentals?
  2. how would taking public transport be like?
  3. Would we encounter any problems with bringing the mobility scooter inside cafes or restaurants?
  4. Any mobility scooter/wheelchair etiquette we need to be aware of?

I've checked all the places we'll visit for mobility access and have decided to forego long day trips and places that will require multiple transfers and such. I want to make this as easy as possible for her so any leads are appreciated.