Your First Trip to Europe: Top Countries (#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 experienced that mix first-hand.

George was born in Romania and raised in Germany. I (Janice) landed in England as a teenager and quickly hopped over to France.

Our first Europe trip together? Portugal – also the place 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. (Not our finest travel moment.)

It 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 ocean). And here, we share the places and countries we think are just right for a first-time European adventure.

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

But there’s something to be said for starting somewhere that sets the bar high from day one, right?

A 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 there, go island hopping by ferry through the Dalmatian Islands – visiting 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 – Pay a visit to Trogir, a tiny UNESCO-listed town set on a small island, where stone alleys, a palm-lined promenade and a stunning Romanesque cathedral give it a delightful old-world atmosphere.
• Adriatic beaches – With miles of coastline, Croatia spoils you for choice. In Dubrovnik, we like taking the 15-minute boat ride to Lokrum Island (a protected nature reserve) to sun on smooth rock slabs and climb down ladders to swim in the clearest sea. 
• Flavorful local cuisine – Expect lots of fresh grilled fish and seafood, plus inky black risotto. And Croatia’s desserts are dangerously easy to love!
• Plitvice lakes – Walk wooden footbridges over blue lakes and past cascading waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park – one of Europe’s most jaw-dropping natural wonders.  

2) Mallorca (Spain)

Sun-drenched and endlessly varied, Mallorca is a European island we return to again and again.

From hiking donkey trails in the Tramuntana mountains to swimming in turquoise coves, we can’t get enough of all the fabulous things to do here.

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 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.

It’s home to the Eternal City of Rome, plus a lineup of glorious Italian cities that reads like a greatest hits list – Venice, Pisa, Florence, Verona, Bologna.

Then layer in Tuscan hill towns, vineyard-draped countryside and those postcard-perfect seaside villages of the Cinque Terre.

Suddenly, you realize Italy has many beautiful places to visit. And your first trip won’t feel like it’s enough!

Italy highlights

• Venice – No travel guide on Europe is worth its salt without mention of romantic Venice. It’s all gorgeous palazzos, canals and charming bridges. (If you’re visiting on a cruise, here’s how to get from the port to Venice itself.)
• Matera – This UNESCO-listed cave city stuns with its ancient stone dwellings and boutique hotels carved into rock.
• Pisa – What can we say! The Leaning Tower of Pisa is an icon and a must-see.
• Food and drink – Pizza, pasta, Prosecco and gelato. Enough said.
• Cinque Terre – The only problem with these five colorful villages is that they’re too darn pretty for their own good! (Visit in the shoulder seasons to dodge some of the crowds.)
• Vatican City – Right in Rome, it’s technically a separate country. The Sistine Chapel is unforgettable.
• Sicily – This island 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.
• Amalfi Coast – Perched on cliffs that plunge down into the sea, Positano, Sorrento and Amalfi offer enough beauty for a lifetime.

Greece highlights

• Ancient ruins – Sites like Philippi are truly fascinating. What a place to explore!
• 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 walking across the spine of the island from Oia to Imerovigli, 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 few places 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!)

Strolling through Claude Monet’s gardens in Giverny (France) feels like stepping into one of his paintings.

The lily ponds, the Japanese bridge, the bursts of color… It’s all instantly recognizable.

Are they the most beautiful gardens in the world? Maybe!

5) Get gloriously lost in an old town

Sometimes, the nicest thing to do is just wander. Europe’s old towns are made for it.

Dubrovnik’s Old Town is especially jaw-dropping, wrapped within its original medieval walls. Elsewhere, Stockholm’s colorful Gamla Stan is a joy to walk, while Tallin’s Old Town in Estonia charms with its striking Gothic architecture.

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