Europe Travel Guide
Plan your trip with people who’ve been there
Planning a trip to Europe and not sure where to start? Which countries, how many, trains or flights, and how to fit it all in without wearing yourself out?
We were both born in England, have lived and worked in Europe, and have now travelled in 29 European countries, mostly by train. We’ve also got plenty wrong along the way. One year we arrived in Budapest on Christmas Eve to find nearly everything shut, and lived on cheese and crisps for two days!
This page brings together our country guides, the routes we’ve done, how to get around Europe by train, and what to sort before you go.
Us at the Plaza de España in Seville
Our Europe tick list
29 down, 13 to go
- ✓United Kingdom
- ✓Ireland
- ✓Spain
- ✓Portugal
- ✓France
- ✓Italy
- ✓Vatican City
- ✓Switzerland
- ✓Liechtenstein
- ✓Austria
- ✓Germany
- ✓Luxembourg
- ✓Belgium
- ✓Netherlands
- ✓Denmark
- ✓Norway
- ✓Sweden
- ✓Finland
- ✓Poland
- ✓Czechia
- ✓Slovakia
- ✓Hungary
- ✓Slovenia
- ✓Croatia
- ✓Bosnia and Herzegovina
- ✓Montenegro
- ✓Malta
- ✓Greece
- ✓Türkiye
Coming in 2027
- Iceland
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Monaco
- Moldova
- Serbia
- North Macedonia
- Albania
- San Marino
- Andorra
Our Europe travel tips
- Don’t rely on hand luggage only. Budget airlines are strict on 7 kg, and we’ve seen people taking things out of their bags at the gate.
- Stay near a tram, metro or train stop, especially over Christmas when some transport doesn’t run.
- Not everywhere uses the euro. Sweden, Poland and Hungary don’t.
- Check the amount on the card machine before you tap.
- Book a food tour in your first day or two. You find out what to eat and where, and you get a bit of history too.
- We’d avoid June, July and August, and we check school holidays, public holidays and festivals before booking.
- In winter, pack thermals, hand warmers and shoes with good grip. The pavements in Helsinki were sheet ice.
Getting around Europe by train
Trains are our favourite way to get around Europe. On the train from Amsterdam to Berlin we shared a compartment and spent the journey chatting to a lovely German gentleman.
Trains in Europe
We use Omio for train tickets around Europe. The site is in English and easy to use, and the app keeps your e-tickets on your phone.
Interrail Pass
For a lot of train travel around Europe, an Interrail Pass may be the most economical option. Since September 2026, one pass covers everyone, wherever you live, across 40 railway and ferry companies in 33 countries.
Europe routes and itineraries
Trips we’ve done and routes we’d happily do again.
Europe in December
Our three-week route through Berlin, Stockholm, Helsinki, Kraków and Budapest.
Europe by train in three weeks
Narelle’s rail trip from Normandy through Switzerland and Austria to Kraków.
Scenic rail journeys in Europe
23 of the best train rides across Europe.
Switzerland by train
8 scenic train trips in Switzerland.
The Golden Round Trip
Lucerne to Mt Pilatus by boat, cog railway and cable car.
The Bernina Express
Over the Alps from Switzerland into Italy.
Copenhagen to Malmö
Across the Øresund Bridge by train.
Flåm and the Flåm Railway
Norway’s famous mountain railway.
Before you go
What we sort out before every trip to Europe.
eSIM
Get data as soon as you land with a Saily eSIM. You set it up on your phone before you go.
Travel insurance
We never travel without travel insurance. Icy pavements in winter are very easy to slip on.
VPN
A VPN keeps your banking and bookings safer on hotel, station and café Wi-Fi.
Listen: Europe on the podcast
Europe comes up a lot on the Global Travel Planning Podcast. These are the episodes to start with.
