Explore Europe Like a Pro! (Travel Guide)

Quick look: Our Europe travel articles by country

Croatia | Estonia | France | Germany | Greece | Italy | Norway | Portugal | Spain | Sweden | Turkey

Some Europe facts

About: Europe covers about 3,930,000 sq. miles (10,180,000 sq. km).

Population: It’s densely populated, with about 742 million people (in 2024).

Countries in Europe: It comprises 44 countries. There are 11 European countries with a coast on the Mediterranean Sea.

European islands: Of the 2,400 inhabited islands in Europe, five are island countries – Cyprus, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom. Sicily is the largest Mediterranean island.

Smallest country in Europe: Vatican City – yes, the Vatican City in Rome is its own sovereign city-state and country!

Languages: Europe has 24 official languages, with the most common languages being English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Russia.

Documents and Schengen area

An essential part of your Europe travel planning is making sure you have the right documents to go. For one, you’ll need a valid passport.

Do you need a visa to visit Europe?

Travelers from a long list of countries (including the U.S. and Canada) can stay in the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Learn more on the US government website.

Croatia is amazing!

Any guide to traveling in Europe will tell you that this Mediterranean nation serves up a sizeable dose of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, natural wonders and intriguing history.

Croatia highlights

• Pay a visit to Trogir, a tiny, charming town that’s nicknamed “Little Venice.”
• Hit the beach! With hundreds of miles of coastline edging the Adriatic, Croatia has no shortage of coves and sandy beaches to explore.
• Don’t miss Croatian cuisine, a blend of Slavic traditions, rich Venetian influences and fresh ingredients making use of the coastal location. We particularly love Croatian desserts!
• Walk the wooden footbridges and paths than wind around the lakes and waterfalls in the UNESCO-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Where to stay in Croatia

• Dubrovnik: Offering spectacular views of the sparkling sea, the 5-star Hotel Excelsior is just a 5-minute stroll to Dubrovnik’s Old Town. It’s the perfect place to base yourself for an island-hopping Croatian adventure.
• Split: Occupying a Renaissance-era palace, Judita Palace Heritage Hotel is our favorite place to stay in the heart of Split. The boutique hotel is within walking distance of all the city’s cultural sites and attractions.

Where to stay in Greece

• Athens: The deluxe King George, a Luxury Collection Hotel has a prime city location across from Syntagma Square. Its restaurant offers fantastic views of the Acropolis.
• Rhodes: We just can’t choose one amazing hotel in Rhodes, so here are 10 boutique hotels in Rhodes to choose from!
• Crete: A picture-perfect place to stay, St. Nicholas Bay in Crete is tucked into the coastline and boasts amazing sea views. We had a dreamy time staying here.

Mallorca highlights

• Spend some time in Puerto Pollensa. Whether you stay or just visit briefly, we challenge you to not fall in love with this laid-back seaside resort area.
• Hikers and food lovers can’t get enough of picturesque Soller. Wandering narrow lanes, eating in pretty restaurants, trekking in the hills, tram-riding, days spent at the beach – there are so many activities in Soller you can enjoy!
• Go out on a catamaran and see the island of Mallorca in all its glory from the sea.

Where to stay in Mallorca

• Palma de Mallorca: There are several great areas to stay in Palma – the The Old Town is our recommendation if it’s your first visit. Can Bordoy is a 5-star boutique hotel right in the Old Town, with historic sights on its doorstep. Bonus: It has both a small rooftop splash pool (with Old Town views) and a small shady garden pool.
• Deia: Hotel Es Moli is a great 4-star option. Its La Muleta beach club on a private beach cove is heaven.
• Puerto Pollensa: For an elegant seaside boutique hotel, Hotel Illa D’Or is a good pick.

Portugal stands out in Western Europe. It’s celebrated for its cuisine, culture and history.

And that’s not even mentioning nature – its beaches, mountains, and the Douro Valley.

Speaking of urban landscapes, which is better: Porto or Lisbon? Tough one!

But if you only have time for one, we’d say Lisbon. As it’s a bigger city, it has more historic sites and attractions.

Portugal highlights

• Is Porto worth visiting? Absolutely! (Especially if you read our tips on how to avoid the crowds…) Check out our unique Porto itinerary on how to spend 3 fabulous days in the city, bicycling, wine tasting and sightseeing.
• Head to the Atlantic island of Madeira to hike along some of its levadas (historic irrigation channels that lace the island).
• Soak up the sun in the Algarve, famous for its stunning Atlantic coastline, dotted with limestone caves and golden beaches.
• Drink port wine from the source! (That’ll be in the storied port wine cellars of Porto.)
• Visit Sintra, a dreamscape of regal splendor, where palaces like Pena and Quinta da Regaleira stand amid lush forests.

Where to stay in Portugal

• Lisbon: The historic Olissippo Lapa Palace definitely has the wow factor. The former home of a count dating back to 1870, it’s positively dripping with opulence. Read our review of Olissippo Lapa Palace to see why we love it.
• Porto: We picked The Rebello Hotel & Spa on the Gaia side of the Douro River, with spacious suites, river views and a rooftop restaurant. It was first-class! Or if you fancy staying in a former 500-year-old palace in the heart of Porto, you can – at PortoBay Flores.

Turkey doesn’t appear on everybody’s travel guide to Europe.

But it should – it’s special.

Where to stay in Turkey

• Istanbul: The crossroads of culture that is Istanbul has a wealth of high-end hotels and luxury stays. See our guide on our favorite boutique hotels in Istanbul.
• Cappadocia: The way to stay in Cappadocia is in a cave hotel. Esbelli Evi is truly special. One of the first of its kind to open in the region, it’s furnished with antique pieces. Another option is the luxurious Argos, which is situated at the highest point in Cappadocia. And you know what that means – unreal views. 
• Bodrum: This coastal resort is the place to stay for sun, sea and sand in Turkey. Try Macakizi for a chic deluxe beach resort, or Casa dell’Arte for something more classic.

Feel like you need some dolce vita? Then Italy beckons.

It’s where you’ll find the Eternal City of Rome, and a long list of glorious Italian cities besides. Think Venice, Pisa, Florence, Verona, Bologna… Well, you get the idea.

Add Tuscan hilltop villages and watercolor seaside towns like the Cinque Terre to that – and you’ll agree that Italy has many beautiful places to visit!

Italy highlights

• No travel guide on Europe would be worth its salt without mentioning Venice. It’s all romance and gorgeous palazzos. (Well, after you’ve figured out how to get from the cruise port to Venice itself.)
• The UNESCO-listed stone city of Matera dazzles with its ancient cave dwellings, boutique hotels and cinematic charm.
• See the Leaning Tower of Pisa. What can we say, it’s an icon – and the rest of this handsome city deserves some attention too!
• Pizza, pasta and Prosecco. Enough said.
• The only problem with the Cinque Terre’s five colorful villages is that they’re too darn pretty for their own good!
• We have to mention the Vatican City – not technically part of Italy, but accessed from Rome. Who can deny the unmatched beauty of the Sistine Chapel? This isn’t just an Italy highlight, it’s a must-do in Europe as a whole.
• The island of Sicily beckons with its fiery heart, Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano – where hiking and wine tasting are popular. Taormina’s beaches are also legendary.
• Perched on cliffs that plunge down into the sea, the Amalfi Coast towns of Positano, Sorrento and Amalfi on the Amalfi Coast offer enough beauty for a lifetime.

Where to stay in Italy

• Venice: There are some seriously romantic hotels in Venice that should be on every discerning traveler’s radar. 
• Rome: Don’t ignore the Italian capital. Treat yourself to a luxury stay somewhere like the St. Regis Rome, an elegant affair set inside an historic palazzo.

Germany highlights

• Make sure you spend at least one day in Berlin – a vast city! Take an art tour, see the Berlin Wall and visit the many museums.
• Get your spa on in Baden-Baden. Try Friedrichsbad. Yes, you go naked. And, yes, it’s co-ed. But this spa elevates the simple act of getting clean into a decadent 3½-hour ritual. (Just leave your modesty behind.)
• Spend at least 2 days in Dresden to enjoy what this delightful city has to offer. (Hint: Ogle exquisite treasures in the Green Vault, one of the world’s most extraordinary museums!)

Where to stay in Germany

• Berlin: One of Europe’s major cities, Berlin is a modern metropolis with an energy and vibe all its own. Basing yourself here on a trip to Germany makes sense – it’s a hub for transport connections to many places in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. While you’re here, stay at the Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome. The location is excellent (a stone’s throw from the Brandenburg Gate and central train station), and the rooms and spa are sumptuous.
• Baden-Baden: We stayed at the gracious Hotel Belle Epoque. Built in 1874, it’s within walking distance to most of Baden-Baden’s sights.
• Dresden: The 5-star Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski offers elegant rooms in the heart of historic Dresden.

Then there are the lesser visited palaces like Hampton Court Palace in England, Drottningholm in Stockholm and France’s Chantilly.

We’ve set out our preferred European countries to visit above. But if it’s your first Europe trip, obviously, you have to choose what tickles your fancy.

• If you want a trip that includes a lot of history (and we mean a lot), then try Greece or Turkey on for size. The ancient Greek and Roman ruins here are something else.
• For beaches, we’d recommend Croatia, Portugal (in the southern Algarve region) and the Greek Islands. Croatia especially is an island-hopper’s dream, with plenty to choose from in terms of beaches.
• For ease of travel, and for visiting other nearby countries, head to Germany. It’s got some great international rail and flight connections that make it simple to travel further afield. Plus, you can easily hop over the border into Poland, Switzerland, Czechia (Czech Republic) or France.
• Italy is ideal for romantics. There’s nothing quite like Venice or Florence.
• France is perfect for foodies.
• And for a little bit of everything – from beaches to hiking to historic towns – we’d recommend Mallorca. It’s compact and easy to get around, and there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

Essential to any Europe trip planning: When should you visit?

It’s a good question. And a complex one, given that the regions of the continent are wildly different from each other.

Summer

This is peak travel season in Europe.

School summer vacations (over July and August) see scores of Europeans leave cities behind for beaches and resorts. Temperatures soar in places like Rome, Greece and Turkey – be prepared for sometimes scorching sun, heat and humidity!

In Northern Europe, it’s a different story – relatively mild, with only occasional heatwaves perhaps.

Winter

You may not think it’s the best time of year to visit Europe, but winter can be great!

Join locals and cozy up in London pubs, Athenian tavernas and Roman trattorias. Museums galore save you from the rain and cold and offer a good dose of culture. 

You also have the luxury of not rubbing shoulders with crowds of tourists.

And, of course, it’s the season for winter sports – skiing, anyone?

Some more top tips for renting a car in Europe:

• Smaller is better: Rent a small car! This is the best piece of Europe travel advice we can offer when it comes to car rentals. Roads can be winding and narrow, especially in cities and rural areas. (We sorely regretted the free “upgrade” to a bigger vehicle given to us on one of our Mallorca trips!)
• Left-hand driving: Don’t forget – it’s not just the UK where you’ll have to drive on the left. There’s also Malta, Ireland and Cyprus.
• Driver’s license: Make sure you have the correct license or permit. Depending on your current license, you may need an international driving permit to drive a car in Europe.

Booking.com

This is a great site to find a good hotel in Europe.

Choose your city, and filter search results according to your preferences (for example, a superb 9+ rating, budget, distance from downtown, etc.). Or search with their map view to find a hotel that’s convenient for your travel needs.

We use Booking.com all the time for our hotel needs. We especially love the flexibility offered by their free cancellation policy – so we choose hotels that offer free cancellation on Booking.com

Once you’ve chosen your European travel destination(s), we recommend you search Booking.com for your ideal hotel(s) there. Then you can figure out the best transportation options between your destinations. 

Vrbo

Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner) offers a more local way to stay in Europe.

It’s like Airbnb, except all accommodations are completely private and self-contained (either a whole house or apartment). If that sounds good to you, simply put in your destination and when you want to travel, and see what’s out there!

1) Don’t try to see all of Europe in one trip

One of our top Europe travel recommendations for a first-time visit?

Don’t try to see absolutely everything in one trip when planning a vacation to Europe. Use your first trip as an introduction to the continent and work out what you would like to see the next time you travel there.

Dragging huge bags around Europe is no fun at all.

Keep your packing list to a minimum and leave those high heels at home. Bring comfortable walking shoes or travel sandals for all of those miles you’re going to be walking around all those incredible European cities.

Is it better to use cash or credit cards in Europe?

Both are fine.

Most places will accept a credit card unless they’re super local. Then again, it’s always good to have a bit of cash in case you need it for taxis, souvenirs or snacks from a food vendor. For booking hotels, credit cards are mainly used.

We’re more into slow immersive travel. So on a two-week trip, we’d prefer to pick one country (like Italy) – ideally one area in that country (like Sicily) – and spend our time really getting to know that particular part of Europe. 

The time of year that you travel will also affect how much you spend on your European trip.

Summer has peak prices for travel to places such as Italy, Greece and Croatia, while prices for accommodation and transportation drop in the low season.

Pin our guide to visiting Europe for later!