Europe Travel Guide

Europe Travel Guide

Europe really does have it all – history, culture, storybook castles, memorable food and, yes, a little irresistible shopping too.

Over the years, we’ve explored Europe in all sorts of ways – on cruises, by train and through countless charming stays. Here are our favorite places, experiences and tips to help you plan your own European escape.

Where to begin

best places to visit europe tips we swear by

where to in Europe?

CROATIA

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MALLORCA

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PORTUGAL

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EXPLORE MORE OF EUROPE

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Europe in a nutshell

  • Size – Europe covers about 3,930,000 sq. miles (10,180,000 sq. km).
  • Population – It’s densely populated, with about 743 to 744 million people, according to World Population Review.
  • Countries in Europe – Europe has 44 countries (depending on how you count transcontinental nations). There are 11 with a coast on the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Islands – Of Europe’s 2,400 inhabited islands, five are island countries – Cyprus, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom.
  • Smallest country – Vatican City (yes, in Rome) is its own sovereign city-state and country.
  • Languages – Europe has dozens of languages. The European Union alone has 24 official languages. English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Russian are among the most widely spoken.

Our top travel tips and resources

→ General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, with loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.

→ Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. (We especially like Booking.com’s flexible cancellation policy!) You can also find excellent discounted rates on Expedia, especially for hotels in the U.S. and Mexico.

→ Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).

→ Flights: For the best flights, we search on Google Flights first. Expedia and Kayak are then perfect for snagging the cheapest tickets. (They’re often non-refundable, though, so for more flexibility, we book directly with the airline, even if it costs more.)

→ Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!

→ Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.

→ Car rental: Renting a car can be a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies for the lowest rates.

→ Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.

→ Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)

→ Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find cool hotels and other useful trip planning info.

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About the authors

We’re Janice and George Mucalov, award-winning travel journalists who’ve explored all seven continents. We share destination guides, luxury hotel reviews, cultural adventures, cruise insights and insider travel tips here on our luxury travel blog, Sand In My Suitcase. See About.