With plenty of mesmerizing destinations, versatile cultures and hypnotising architecture, Europe is a great destination for endless inspiration. There are so many similarities and connections, yet also huge differences, between the geographical areas and countries of Europe. Locals used to tell me they like living here because of feeling like home in all of Europe, not just in their own home country. However, one can easily notice the huge cultural and lifestyle differences between the north and the south, and the west and east of Europe. Below you can see seven of the most popular Europe trips, along with recommended itineraries and transportation tips.
Interrail trip - all of Europe
One of the most convenient and popular ways to get around Europe is using the railway passes for unlimited train rides within Europe during a limited period of time. Interrail passes are for EU citizens, and non-EU citizens can get a Eurail pass. These passes are quite expensive, even though there are some discounts for young people below 26 years old. You can get a map of the routes with and without reservation needed. For example, most tracks in Western Europe do not require a reservation and do not have extra booking fees, except for night trains.
Getaway along the coastline: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece
Mediterranean countries are good places to relax, enjoy the world’s top cuisine and have great nights out. Living and travel prices are less expensive than the northern and western parts of Europe. Spain, Portugal and Italy also offer great seasides for a romantic getaway. Do not hesitate to invest in tasting alcoholic beverages like Porto wine and sangria here, as you would not find better quality drinks than these anywhere else in the world. Ryanair, along with other airlines, offers tempting deals between these countries regularly.
Road-trip in the north: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland
If you love camping in nature and experiencing various winter sport activities, northern Europe is the land to be! Traveling in the north is often far from affordable, so one of the cheapest way to get around is probably renting a car and splitting the gasoline fee with your fellow travelers. Some of the must-do experiences are watching the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), going to a sauna, riding huskies, sleeping in igloos (small dome-shaped houses made from snow and ice) and enjoying plenty of winter sports, including skiing, snowboarding, skating, etc.
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
Western Europe trip: the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany
If you asked where in Europe I would like to live, I would answer western countries, like Germany and the Netherlands, without thinking twice. Both countries offer great living standards, cultures, lifestyles, cuisine and plenty of beautiful destinations that you can reach with less money spent than in northern Europe. Some highlight cities you must visit are Amsterdam, Bruges, Paris and Cologne. Belgium is an interesting country with mixed influences from all of the surrounding ones, and it is known for its awesome fries, chocolate, beer, waffles and mussels. There are plenty of low-cost bus connections with Flixbus and Megabus between these countries.
Eastern Europe trip: Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary
If you love meat and beer, go to Germany but do not forget to stop by eastern Europe as well. There are many similarities in cultures and languages between Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, though Hungarian is not in the Slavic language group. Prague and Budapest are some of the most romantic capital cities in the whole continent. Poland is by far my favourite due to its exceptional old town of Krakow, great cuisine and warm-hearted people. When in eastern Europe, do not forget to try goulash soup. Public bus, train and car-sharing are common in this area.
Backpacking through the Balkans: Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia
If you love to travel cheaply and conquer adventurous destinations in a less-developed part of Europe, hop to the Balkan Peninsula. The area is still very off-the-beaten path so there’s a good chance to experience the local life and get away from the tourist crowds. There are lots of dazzling waterfalls, gorges, mountains, lakes and coastlines in those remarkable countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Kosovo. You will find these countries distinctly different from the rest of Europe. Bus is the most popular means of transportation in the Balkans, so don’t waste time on trains unless you want to enjoy the landscape when transiting more slowly between cities.
Baltic trip: Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia
You will notice Finland is quite distinctive and pricey in comparison with the rest of the countries in my suggested itinerary above, as it’s more northern Europe. Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia appear to have similar architecture, nightlife vibes and market squares. Vilnius and Latvia are stunning cities with many churches associated with mysterious legends. From Finland to Estonia, take a cruise ship with Tallink or Silja Lines instead of flying to experience a night of partying and sleeping on a cabin.
How long should you stay in one country?
It’s very common that many travelers choose to stay in a city for two to three days to explore only the most popular attractions, and move to another one once they checked all the places off their bucket list. However, to have more real-life experiences of Europe, you should try to stay for a bit longer. Hang out with locals for a drink. Join art events and cultural festivals. Try all the typical cuisines. You can never get enough experiences out of big countries like Italy and Germany. For example, I stayed in Italy for over a month and still did not visit all the popular cities, but had a great and long enough time here to feel attached to the country. Use these recommendations and start planning your memorable trip through Europe!
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to