Europe
Travel Guides
Welcome to our European travel guides collection. We explore the continent that is a melting pot of diverse cultures, impressive history, tantalising cuisines and breath-taking natural beauty. With more UNESCO world heritage sites than any other continent in the world, there are countless attractions to see across Europe, from the ancient Greek Acropolis in Athens to the Roman Colosseum in Rome, and the Gothic works of Gaudi in Barcelona. Europe’s rich tapestry of heritage and cultures encourages adventure and exploration, and leaves you wanting more everytime.
Among the most famous cities and attractions of Europe are Paris, Barcelona, Rome and London. Although definitely worthy headliners, there lies so much more to see within Europe, with stunning beaches, epic history and delightful food. We’re on a mission to explore Europe and bring you all it has to offer so join us on our adventure below and discover your next European destination.
European Travel Guides - Where Do You Want To Go?
Our Latest Europe Travel Articles
Top Tips For Visiting Europe
When to go to Europe
Peak Season – The peak season in Europe is generally July and August, when the weather is the hottest and the majority of schools are taking their summer break, giving time for family holidays. While, for many, travelling during this time can be unavoidable, we recommend visiting Europe outside of the peak season, if you can. Accommodation prices are considerably higher in July and August as well as flight prices.
Shoulder Season – The shoulder season in Europe is like mid-season, straddling either side of the peak season from April-June and September-October. This is when we would recommend visiting Europe. The shoulder season generally offers good but milder weather (depending on where you’re going), less crowds and less expensive prices for flights and accommodation.
Winter – Winter in Europe is generally considered to be November-February. While some southern areas of Europe can still have good weather in November, generally temperatures will be much lower. In some areas, such as the Greek Islands, many direct flights will stop over the winter period and tourist areas will close up. If you’re looking for winter sports then this is obviously the best time to visit Europe but otherwise we’d recommend visiting in the shoulder season to get the most out of your trip.
We recommend using Skyscanner for checking and booking flights. You can use tools such as the flight tracker to track the price of a flight and book it at its cheapest, a big help to save some money. You can also use Booking.com to find accommodation across Europe. Booking.com’s genius programme rewards travellers who book more accommodation with them with discounts, free extras and room upgrades.
How to get around Europe
Flights – Europe is very well-connected by both domestic and international flights which makes getting from one country or city to another, incredibly quick and easy. Major country airports are generally of high quality and offer flights to much of the continent including Paris, Zurich, Madrid, London, Rome and Berlin. When there isn’t a direct flight available, connecting via one of these major airports will generally be possible to get you to your destination. Alongside a host of national carriers, budget airlines including Easyjet, Ryanair, Wizz and Norwegian connect holiday hotspots and offer flights at incredibly low prices. However, it’s always worth looking in more detail at baggage costs, reserved seating feed and meals as these extras can often pump up the price of budget flights to be comparable with higher quality national carriers. We recommend using Skyscanner for checking and booking flights.
Trains – Travelling Europe by train can be an incredibly enjoyable experience thanks to the high-speed train network that is generally of high quality, particularly across Western Europe. It will take more time to travel this way if you’re looking to cover long distances, but the views are more than rewarding enough and the option to see more of Europe is always a plus too. Western Europe is generally much better connected by train than Eastern Europe, however, there are still options in these areas, which we cover in more detail in our country-specific guides. We use Trainline to book our European trains where possible, as it is exceptionally user-friendly and covers most train services throughout Europe. You can also use Interrail if you’re planning to travel to multiple countries in Europe by train but would like the flexibility of having one ticket. The passes that Interrail offers cover 33 countries in Europe and come in various options including a one-month pass, 5 days in one month, 7 days in one month and many more. This is a great option for those without too many plans and wanting flexibility and less stress of buying tickets while away.
Bus – Certainly not the most glamorous way to travel in Europe, but probably the least expensive, bus travel in Europe is a great option for those on a tight budget. Bus routes across Europe will also generally cover more cities and towns than any other type of public transport. We recommend using Flixbus for buses in Europe as they offer many routes in well-equipped coaches with Wi-Fi, Aircon and toilets. However, always be mindful that travelling by bus will generally take considerably longer than any other type of transport so it’s not advisable for those that are short on time.
Boat – What better way to see Europe than by boat? Whether it’s by cruise or ferry, there is plenty of opportunity in Europe to get from A to B via the water. From major ports, there are generally options to get ferries from country to country but in smaller ports, there are often only domestic ferry options. We recommend checking and booking ferries on Ferryhopper. The site is really simple to use and offers some great features such as a map of Europe with various ferry options available.
Car – Driving can be a great way to get around Europe and see more of the continent. It also offers visitors more freedom and the chance to travel on their own schedule. Roads in Europe are generally of good quality and driving is generally safe but this varies from country to country. Cars drive on the right-hand side of the road in mainland Europe. Speed limits vary from country to country, you can read about these in more detail on our country-specific pages. Generally, cars in Europe are expected to carry a first-aid kit, a reflective/safety jacket, a hazard triangle and a fire extinguisher. If you’re renting a car from a reputable company, they should provide these for you.
General tips for visiting Europe
Travel insurance – We always recommend getting travel insurance for any trip to cover you for any unexpected medical expenses as well as flight delays, cancellations and your valuables. If you’re an EU citizen then make sure you get and travel with your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), which covers you for most medical expenses across Europe and Switzerland. For UK citizens, the GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) is a similar thing and is something we highly recommend getting before visiting Europe. SafetyWing is our top recommended travel insurance company as they offer comprehensive insurance packages with lots of options and they will cover you if you have already started your journey.
Tipping – Tipping is not compulsory in Europe but it is very common. In the UK and many other western European countries, it is becoming more common for chain or large restaurants to add a service charge to your bill automatically. This will generally be 10-12%. Aside from this, it’s very common to tip up to 10% for meals, if the service and food was good, across Europe. For taxis, you can generally round up the fare or leave a small tip. We’ve got more detailed tipping info on each of our destination-specific travel guides.
Currency – The major currency across Europe is the Euro (€) but many countries in Europe do not use the Euro. Check out our destination-specific travel guides for more information on the currency in that country.
Cash & Cards – The use of credit cards are becoming more common across Europe and you’ll generally be able to locate a foreign card-friendly ATM in most towns and cities. However, there are still many smaller restaurants, cafes and bars that do not take a card, especially in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. We would recommend always carrying some cash with you for these occasions.
Language – The language varies from country to country in Europe and while many locals in tourist hotspots can speak some English, it’s wise to learn a few key phrases and words for each destination. Check out our travel tips section on each country page for more information on the local language.
Visas – Citizens of EU countries and countries in the Schengen area can move freely across the Schengen area and there are no restrictions on the length of stay. Many global citizens including those from the UK, USA, Singapore and Canada are eligible to enter Europe and the Schengen area on a visa-waiver system which allows travel in the EU for up to 90 days in any 180 days. There are countries in the EU, such as Croatia and Bulgaria that have different 90-day periods. Countries outside of the EU and Schengen area have various visa policies and we recommend checking what the entry and visa process is for any country before you visit
Safety – Europe is generally safe for most travellers, however, with such a diverse range of countries, the safety level can vary from country to country. Wherever you are in Europe, it’s always advisable to keep an eye on your personal belongings and be wary of pickpockets and scams, which can be particularly common in some of the most touristic areas of Europe.
Europe Packing Essentials
While you can get most things you’ll need on the road when travelling in Europe, it’s good to take some essentials with you to make visiting Europe just that bit easier. Here’s our top picks of what to pack for Europe including one of our favourite carry-on suitcases:
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Europe Walking Tour Videos
Check out our Youtube Channel to see more city walks and walking tour videos from European destinations. Subscribe to our channel to get updates on all our latest videos. You can also visit our destination-specific travel guide pages to find a route map to match each walking tour video, so you can walk the same route as us and see which landmarks and attractions are on route
