First Trip to Europe? Best Places to Visit (#1 May Surprise)

So you’re planning your first trip to Europe? Where do you even begin?

With 40+ countries – each with its own culture, cuisine and unique appeal (not to mention swoon-worthy romantic hotels) – choosing isn’t easy. Some are all about sun-soaked beaches. Others pull you in with storybook villages and fairytale castles.

We’ve spent a lot of time exploring Europe.

George was born in Romania and raised in Germany. I (Janice) was born in England and visited France as a teenager.

Our first Europe trip together? Portugal – where our luggage, passports and money were stolen from our rental car on a beach day! We were left with just the bikini and swim trunks we had on. (Remarkably, based on a tip from police, we found most of our belongings tossed by the roadside.)

This misadventure didn’t deter us from returning to Europe (or Portugal!) though. Since then, we’ve been back countless times – on slow savor-it-all vacations and on cruises (both river and Med voyages).

Here, we share the places and countries we think are just right for a first-time European adventure.

Europe isn’t going anywhere.

Think of your first visit as a delicious introduction – not the whole feast. Bite into one or two countries, explore them well and leave yourself wanting more.

We understand the temptation to do it all. On our first Europe vacation, I wanted to squeeze in multiple countries before we settled on just Portugal. In the end, slowing down was the best decision.

It’s not usually the country suggested for a first visit to Europe. (Most people point you straight to Italy or France for Rome or Paris.)

But there’s something to be said for starting somewhere a bit more relaxing, right?

One idea… This great 14-day itinerary kicks off in Dubrovnik. Walk atop the city’s medieval walls, get happily lost in the Old Town, then cool off with a swim at one of Dubrovnik’s lovely beaches. 

From Dubrovnik, go island hopping by ferry through the Dalmatian Islands. Visit Korcula, Hvar and Brac (with their delightful beach towns) before continuing on to Split.

Croatia highlights

• Split’s living palace – “Where is Diocletian’s Palace?” visitors often ask in Split. Shopkeepers laugh and say, “You’re in it!” These 1,700-year-old Roman ruins aren’t just a site. They’re the beating heart of the city, filled with cafés, homes and hidden corners to explore.
• Trogir – On a day trip from Split, visit Trogir, a tiny UNESCO-listed town set on a small island. Stone alleys, a palm-lined promenade and a stunning Romanesque cathedral give it a delightful old-world atmosphere.
• Adriatic beaches – In Dubrovnik, we like the 15-minute boat ride to Lokrum Island (a protected nature reserve), where you can climb down ladders to swim in the clearest sea. On Hvar, Mlini Beach (a 10-minute taxi boat ride from Hvar Town) is the quietest beach in the Pakleni Islands.
• Plitvice lakes – Further north on the mainland, walk wooden footbridges over blue lakes and past cascading waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park.
• Flavorful local cuisine – Expect lots of fresh grilled fish and seafood, plus inky black risotto. And Croatia’s desserts are dangerously easy to love!

2) Mallorca (Spain)

Mallorca highlights

• Old Town of Palma de Mallorca – Wander honey-colored lanes and don’t miss the show-stopping cathedral (La Seu is even more impressive up close).
• Puerto Pollensa – Whether you stay or just visit briefly, we challenge you to not fall for this laid-back seaside resort favorite.
• Vintage train to Soller – Ride the historic train from Palma, then stay a while in Soller for hiking, tram rides to Port de Soller and other fun activities.

Portugal highlights

• Porto – Wondering is Porto worth visiting? Absolutely! (Especially if you read our tips on how to avoid the crowds.) We mixed beach bicycling, wine tasting and sightseeing for a fun not-so-typical Porto itinerary.
• Madeira – This lush Atlantic island is made for hiking, especially along its famous levadas (old irrigation channels that crisscross the landscape).
• Port wine – We spent three wonderful days in the Douro Valley, the birthplace of port wine (after a teaser on a Douro day trip from Porto).
• Algarve – Golden beaches, dramatic cliffs and hidden sea caves – this coastline is pure eye candy.
• Sintra – Visit Sintra, a dreamscape of regal splendor, where palaces like Pena and the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira stand amid lush forests.

Prefer to mix city sightseeing with time to slow down by the sea?

Visit Rome, then head to the Amalfi Coast or the five colorful villages of the Cinque Terre. (We’d go in the shoulder season to dodge the heaviest crowds.)

Italy highlights

• Venice – It’s all gorgeous palazzos, canals and charming bridges. (If you’re visiting on a cruise, here’s how to get from the cruise port to Venice itself.)
• Matera – Long on our wish list, we finally spent a few days in this UNESCO-listed cave city, with its ancient stone dwellings and boutique hotels carved into rock. (It’s best reached by a private transfer from Bari.)
• Pisa – Yes, the Leaning Tower of Pisa really does lean. It’s easy to visit from Florence.
• Food and drink – Pizza, pasta, Prosecco and gelato. Enough said.
• Sicily – It’s a destination in its own right. We were drawn in by 3,000-year-old Ortigia and its stunning Baroque beauty. Mount Etna (Europe’s largest active volcano) is big for hiking and wine tasting – and Taormina’s beaches are still on our list.

If you’re going to Europe for the first time for both beaches and culture, Athens paired with one or two Greek islands (like Mykonos or Santorini) works beautifully.

With hundreds of islands across the Ionian and Aegean Seas, it’s easy to mix lazy beach days with a hit of history in the capital.

There are also plenty of lesser-known and unique spots if you want to wander a little further. (Kythera, we’re coming for you next!)

Start your travel planning with these fun facts – like Santorini being the only inhabited caldera in the world!

And timing matters: July and August can be sizzling hot. We much prefer September – warm, sunny and far more relaxed.

Greece highlights

• Ancient ruins – Sites like Philippi are fascinating and bring Greece’s history to life.
• Greek food – Hands down some of the best in the Mediterranean. Feta cheese, honey, olive oil, Greek yoghurt… What’s not to like?
• Santorini – From watching the sunset in Oia (with zillions of other sunset worshippers!) to hiking along the spine of the island, Santorini is just plain fun.

Turkey doesn’t always make the shortlist for a first trip to Europe.

But it should.

Straddling two continents, it blends East and West in a way no other place can.

One minute you’re wandering through ancient Roman ruins, the next you’re sipping cocktails on a terrace as the call to prayer echoes across the rooftops. Add in mountains, beaches and some delectable food, and you’ve got a destination that surprises at every turn.

Turkey highlights

• Istanbul’s hammams – Sink into the steamy ritual of a traditional bathhouse at one of these luxury hammams. It’s part relaxation, part cultural experience and completely unforgettable.
• Cappadocia – Sleep in a cave hotel, explore rock-cut churches and float above those famous fairy chimneys at sunrise on a hot air balloon ride.
• Ephesus – These ancient Greek and Roman ruins are astonishingly well preserved. And yes, they left us (almost) speechless.

You’ll find world-class museums, opulent palaces and scenic bike rides along the Elbe River. In Bonn, you can visit the house where Beethoven was born. Come winter, you can ski or snowboard in the Alps and browse some of the best European Christmas markets over the festive season.

And of course, we can’t forget Oktoberfest!

Germany highlights

• Berlin – Give yourself at least one day in Berlin! Take an art tour, see the Berlin Wall and visit one (or two) of its many museums.
• Baden-Baden – Get your spa on in Baden-Baden. Try Friedrichsbad. Yes, it’s nude and co-ed. But it elevates the simple act of getting clean into a decadent 3½-hour ritual.
• Dresden – Spend a couple of 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!)

And just like that… you’re hooked on Europe

Europe has a way of getting under your skin – and one trip is never enough.

Our biggest tip? Sort the practical stuff early – book your hotels, lock in your flights and trains, and have a plan.

But leave room for spontaneity. Because the best times often happen in between – the strolling, long lunches and those unexpected little moments that end up being your favorites.

And don’t be surprised if, before you’re even home, you’re already dreaming up your next trip.

(There’s still Stockholm in Sweden, with its colorful Gamla Stan old town and elegant Drottningholm Palace. And France, where we were charmed by Chateau de Chantilly and author Victor Hugo’s Villequier home. And…)

See? That next trip is already taking shape!

Pin our first-timer’s guide to visiting Europe!