Europe Travel Guide

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Europe is the world’s best travel destination.

That is, of course, only my opinion. And probably more than a little biased.

Europe was the first place I visited (and lived in) outside of my home continent, North America. To say I have an affection for Europe is an understatement; at times, it’s more of an obsession.

Even with the lures of some of my favorite places to visit in the world, I can’t get enough of the simple pleasures of a European vacation.

Many of the stresses of travel that creep up elsewhere—unwavering touts, cramped buses, bad plumbing, or food-borne illness—are hardly worth worrying about in Europe. Travelling around here is familiar yet exotic. No wonder Europe’s the choice for most first-time travellers.

Naturally, even with all of the places I’ve visited in Europe over two extended stints living in Scotland and Germany and numerous solo trips, there’s still plenty more to see. I have no doubt in my mind that until I’m ready to hang up my travel shoes, Europe will be a big part of my life.

When to visit Europe

Like any continent this vast, trying to nail down when to go to Europe at a glance is next to impossible. Choosing an optimal time largely depends on the European sub-regions you’ve decided to add to your itinerary. Answers will also vary from traveler to traveler.

Generally, the best times to visit Europe are in the spring or fall, specifically April to May and September to October. Throughout much of Europe, the spring and fall present drier conditions than the summer months while also avoiding the region’s sometimes oppressive summer heat.

The other major boon to traveling to Europe in April and May, and September and October, is avoiding the crowds. With school holidays on the loose, tourism high season peaks in Europe during the summer months. Visiting popular European hotspots like Paris, Amsterdam, or Prague in summer, you’ll not just face a swarm of tourists but high accommodations and airfare prices, along with lower availability.

Not sure when to go to Europe? Check out these European weather guides for more info:

Where to go in Europe

In a region as diverse as Europe, there’s hardly a shortage of incredible places to see. From the castles of Western & Central Europe to the Cold War relics of Eastern Europe, each sub-region showcases a unique character that yields vastly different travel experiences as you move along through the continent.

Not sure where to start? Here’s a quick summary of the main regions of Europe:

Western Europe

When most people dream of their first trip to Europe, there’s a good chance it’ll be to one of the top countries of Western Europe. With highlights ranging from the seaside cliffs & castles of Ireland to the Gallic charms of France, there isn’t a single thread that binds the entire region.

Either way, however you choose to plan out your Western Europe itinerary—whether it includes Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, or the United Kingdom—you’re bound to leave feeling fulfilled.

Central Europe

If there’s any place in Europe that consistently enters into my (admittedly obsessive) travel planning sessions, it’s Central Europe. The first region I ever visited, where my Anglo-Saxon familiarity no longer prepared me to survive day-to-day living, still holds a spot dear to my heart.

Like other sub-regions, defining Central Europe as a single entity doesn’t do it justice. Even within larger Central Europe, countries like Germany and Poland, a wide array of differences between landscapes and architectural styles present new travel opportunities around every corner.

Needless to say, you can’t expect to experience Central Europe as a whole in just one trip. Even on their own, getting to know each one of its major countries—Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland—is worthy of the ride.

Northern Europe

As a Canadian, I can say with certainty that few places instantly felt more like home on my travels than Northern Europe. Of course, there’s far more history in the countries of the Baltics and Scandinavia than in my fresh-faced home country. But wandering among larch-scented forests in Lithuania or pine-ringed towns in Finland exudes as much familiarity as anywhere around the bend.

Whereas Europe usually draws travellers to its cities and towns, the best of Northern Europe often happens outside them. For every awesome historical city like Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn, or Riga, there’s a little-known picture-perfect town or spirited natural attraction that’s just as compelling in its own way.

However you choose to dice up your trip—whether it’s in Iceland, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, or Sweden—Northern Europe is an exciting break from the usual tried-and-true continental routes.

Eastern Europe

For me, no region in the world is more intriguing than Eastern Europe. Perhaps it’s knowing half of my DNA once inhabited small backwoods towns in Ukraine that keeps me interested (or the fact that I have an unhealthy obsession with Cold War propaganda art). Either way, Eastern Europe’s a region I can’t get enough of—and one that’s always good for a crazy story or two.

Unlike the rest of Europe, Eastern Europe truly feels as if you’re on the edge of something completely different. Travel here is never as easy as elsewhere on the continent. In countries like Russia and Belarus, it can even seem downright hard.

But with such unique experiences to offer, there’s truly no place like it in Europe. Throw some Eastern European countries like Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine into your next itinerary, and you’ll soon see just what I mean.

Southern Europe

Aside from Western Europe, no region on the continent pulls travellers more than Southern Europe. I’d venture to say that more European travel obsessions start here than we’d dare imagine.

And, frankly, who could blame anyone for loving this spectacular slice of the earth? Whether you’re looking to discover the bella vita on the streets of small Tuscan villages in Italy, catch Atlantic Ocean sunsets along the beach in Portugal, or be dazzled by Moorish palaces in Andalusia in southern Spain, you’ll never quite shake the thrill that Southern Europe’s guaranteed to bring you.

Transportation in Europe

Getting there

By air

For most travellers outside of Europe, getting to the continent is easiest by air. Some of the most common gateways include London Heathrow (LHR), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), and Frankfurt (FRA).

Getting around

By train

There’s no denying that trains are the best way to get around Europe. Although rail systems in the continent vary by country, trains are, for the most part, a reliable, quick & efficient way to travel from city to city.

Train service tends to be faster & more frequent in areas of Western Europe, Southern Europe, and Central Europe than in Eastern Europe. If you’re planning to travel often by high-speed trains in these areas, it’s a good idea to look at getting a European rail pass for convenience and to save money on your train tickets.

By bus

In some areas, particularly in Eastern & Southeastern Europe, buses may be a more effective (and possibly the only) way to get around. You’ll find more details about whether buses or trains are best in all of our top itineraries.