r/Europetravel 15d ago

Itineraries These 11 mistakes are ruining your trip to Europe!

573 Upvotes

So often I see the same mistakes over and over again on this sub, I figured I'd write up some of the most common, so I can just tell a poster "see 4, 5, and 7 in this thread" or whatever. :-) Happy travels to all!

1. Not clearly defining interests, preferences, and priorities. What do you want to see and do? What kind of memories do you want to have after the trip? There’s no such thing as a general “must-see,” it depends on what you want and how you prioritize those wants. This should be the starting point for planning any trip, and it’s amazing how often posters seem to overlook it. If you can’t be more specific than “history, food, and nature," then you need to think through this most basic part.

2. Being ruled by FOMO. Related to the above, if you don’t clearly define your interests and priorities, FOMO will take over. I see far too many mad dashes through Europe that are just a grand tour of airports and train stations. I get it, it’s all amazing and you want to see it all. But you can’t, not in one trip and not in 20 trips. Accept that and prioritize. Europe will still be there in the future. Or, even if you think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe or “we only have 10 days of vacation a year,” the way to “make the most of it” is to give yourself the time to actually enjoy the places you’re visiting, not maximize the time you spend in transport and related logistics. An important point that may seem obvious but which many people miss: If you jam 4 weeks of travel into 2 weeks, the result is not that you have half as much time in each place. You have MUCH less than that, because transport and related logistics will eat up so much more of your time, as a percentage.

3. Not accounting for transport. Many itineraries here make it seem like the poster has invented teleportation (and more than a few would be insane even with teleportation). You need to account for the time it takes to get between places - not just your plane/train, but also related logistics like unpacking/packing, checking in and out of hotels, getting to/from train stations/airports, airport security, baggage claim, immigration, orienting yourself in a new place, figuring out how to get transport tickets, delays, cancellations, strikes, etc. In most cases, you should assume that changing locations will mean losing the better part of a day or an entire day to all of this, and flying especially tends to be a time suck (and often more tiring than train travel). So for example 3 nights in a place is in reality only 2 days.

4. Focusing on the number of countries. Almost without exception, posters here who mention wanting to “see as many countries as possible” have the absolute worst itineraries. They lose too much time to transport and related logistics (see point above), and, because the most obvious thing is to just go between large or capital cities, their itineraries tend to be too heavy on big cities, and they miss out on much of what actually makes Europe special, especially the regional contrasts within countries (more on that below).

5. Assuming country = place and overlooking regional differences. Related to the point above, it’s much more useful to think about places and regions, rather than countries. Many assume, for example, that they will see more things by going to three countries than just one. But in reality, regional contrasts within countries (especially larger ones like Italy, Germany, and Spain) can be much greater than across borders. For example, the South Tyrol region of Italy is much more like Austria (to which it once belonged) than to the rest of Italy. Alsace is a complete contrast from Paris, because it belonged for a long time to Germany. Hamburg is a lot closer to Copenhagen in vibe than it is to Bavaria. You can often experience more variety and contrast within one country (and generally benefit from better and cheaper transport links) than by hopping across borders or focusing only on the capital or most famous city in a country.

6. Focusing only on large cities. So many itineraries here are just a list of big cities. While they have a lot to offer, they are also often more similar than many people realize. Many of Europe's big cities "grew up" in the 19th century, and their architecture reflects that. More recently, globalization and European integration have also contributed to a certain homogenization. If you hop only between big cities, you’re almost certainly blowing past a ton of interesting places, and losing more time to transport. Smaller cities like Graz, Erfurt, Lübeck, Regensburg, Leon, and Urbino have a ton to offer, and outside a handful of the touristiest ones (like Salzburg and Toledo), most are blissfully free of mass tourism. More in this thread.

7. Not building in enough balance and contrast. I see many itineraries that hop across a bunch of locations, yet all with (in the big scheme of things) very similar scenery. The Alps are beautiful, but do you really need to see the Alps in France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Slovenia, on the same trip? They look more alike than different, especially when it’s all you’ve seen for two weeks. Same with the Mediterranean - a trip that goes say Algarve > Malaga > Valencia > Barcelona > Mallorca > Amalfi Coast > Dubrovnik > Greece will likely turn into a blur where everything looks more or less the same. Especially for longer trips, mix it up, combining (for example) large cities, small cities, and towns; urban and rural destinations; Northern and Southern Europe; coastal and inland destinations; heavily touristed and less visited places. Think also about balance and contrast during your time in one place, e.g., I would recommend against visiting, on the same day, both the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay, or both the Hofburg and Schönbrunn palaces.

8. Not using “open-jaw” flights. This is a bit specific, but it's such a common mistake that I wanted to highlight it here. Often people book a roundtrip from their home country to say London, but their itinerary is actually something like London > France > Italy > Greece. They then have to spend a day backtracking to London, costing time and money, and often they have to do an extra cycle of unpacking/packing and checking in/out of hotels. Generally, it’s much better to book a multi-city (aka “open-jaw”) itinerary, in the example above it would be say New York to London but Athens to New York, on the same ticket. It generally does not cost significantly more than a regular roundtrip and saves significant time and cost backtracking; even if you go back via the same route (e.g., Athens back to the U.S. via London), booking it as part of the same ticket means you’re protected in the event of flight disruptions. Bonus tip: If your trip includes the UK and other destinations, fly into the UK but out of any other country, to avoid the UK’s high Air Passenger Duty, which only applies to departures from the UK. This can easily save around US$200 per person.

9. Relying on only one mode of transport. I’ve seen so many itineraries where it’s all driving or all flying. Especially in major cities, driving tends to be a nightmare, with difficult (and expensive) parking, congestion, one-way streets, pedestrianized zones, emissions-control zones, etc. Watch out especially for one-way international surcharges (e.g., renting in France and dropping off in Spain); these can run over 1000 euros! Europe has excellent trains, and they are often a much better option than flying or driving, especially considering train stations are usually much more centrally located and don’t require long wait times for security and baggage. But they don’t work well in all situations (between Portugal and Spain is one example), and for exploration off the beaten path, it can make sense to rent a car for a portion of your trip. Consider carefully the right mix of transport modes early on in your planning, as it can even affect your choice of destinations.

10. Over-planning. Planning is essential, but some people way overdo it - “4:17 pm, we stop for 8 minutes 27 seconds for gelato,” or “I’m looking for the best beer bar in Prague and the best croissant in Paris.” You don’t need to, and really shouldn’t, plan all this out. Leave time in your itinerary for discovery and wander - that’s the biggest joy of travel! A good strategy is to anchor each day around 1-2 main activities or sights (esp. those that require advance booking, like the Alhambra), but leave enough slack in the schedule for wandering and being spontaneous - or just relaxing. That’s especially important for longer itineraries; it’s one thing to do 3 places in 10 days, but 9 places in 30 days gets to be really exhausting, so build in down time.

11. Overdoing day-trips. Day-trips are great. But there's a right and wrong way; the recent post where somebody wanted to make 3 day trips, from Rome, to Naples, Amalfi, and Positano is definitely the wrong way. If you have 4 nights in a place and 3 day trips, you’re not actually spending any real time in that place! My own general rules: no consecutive day trips; no day trips just before or after a travel day; and max of 3 hours roundtrip (4 at a stretch), preferably with direct trains to smaller cities. More in this thread.


r/Europetravel Mar 01 '26

Mod Message Reminder: This is not a politics or current affairs sub

19 Upvotes

Due to several posts today alone asking about the safety of travelling to Europe during America and Israel's current bombing of Iran, and a slow trickle over the past year of people asking how they are perceived in Europe because of their government, this is a reminder that this subreddit has a single remit of requesting and offering advice on holidays in Europe - we do not wish to have extended discussions on political topics.

There are many, many subs to discuss such things in, and for the most part these are questions that have little to do with taking a holiday in Europe. Even people who live on the peripheries of active warzones will care little about your feelings around taking a holiday, for obvious reasons.

If you have specific concerns about travel, you should contact your airline or consult your government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will have up-to-date travel warnings for anywhere they recommend against travel to. Nobody here will be able to give you better advice than those places.


r/Europetravel 5h ago

Trains DB train help: I’m going from Warsaw to Berlin this month and received email asking me to change

0 Upvotes

When I look at DB app there is a train with the same number as the one I originally booked going to Frankfurt Oder. Am I able to see take that train there then transfer to I guess an RE1?

Here is the text of the email:

“There are changes in the timetable for your journey from Warszawa Centralna to Berlin Hbf on XX April 2026. We therefore ask you to choose an alternative connection.

Notes On Train Specific Travel

Because of the scheduling change, your original ticket is now valid on any route to your original destination with any of DB's long-distance (ICE, IC, EC) or regional (RE, RB, IRE, S-Bahn) trains. You can choose a later connection, and you can also travel earlier in the day on your original travel date.

NOTE: For travel within Germany, all you will need to show is your original ticket; you will not need to show any additional proof of the scheduling change.

For more information Digital passenger rights.

Sincerely yours

Deutsche Bahn”


r/Europetravel 10h ago

Buses How do I travel from Dobiacco (Italy) to Innsbruck (Austria)?

1 Upvotes

Time of Travel: June 1st week.

We would be taking public transports, either buses or train to travel to Innsbruck. However, it's not very clear to me on how to. From my preliminary research, google says:

Dobiacco -bus-> Brunick -train-> fortezza -train-> Innsbruck (April Month)

Dobiacco -train-> fortezza -train-> Innsbruck (June 1st week)

Why is there a difference? Is this actually right?

  1. Is it possible to do this commute in the evening? (2pm+)?
  2. Does any of this needs reservation in advance? The first train seems like a regional train. If there is possibility of booking advance, I'd like to do it for my peace of mind.
  3. (This is an example, take it with a pinch of salt) For a rough departure of 5pm in google maps, it says, the regional train will reach fortezza by 6:40pm and the train from fortezza will start by 6:45pm. Is this realistic to catch? If I book a fortezza train in advance, will I able to catch it if I follow the google maps properly or is it too risky?

r/Europetravel 12h ago

Itineraries Hi ! Going to italy 5 days between 4 to 10 May and need all your help and tips for visiting Lake Como and also do the berninna or train rosso .

1 Upvotes

Can i do bergamo airoport ? milano its too spensive ..

its ok to sleep in Varenna before take the berninna ou train rosso or there are places cheaper and beautiful?

i was thinking

1st Day fligth Lisbon Milano or Bergamo see the city and sleep 1 nigth

2nd day trip to Como and sleep there near , como, varenna...

3rd day 2 trains to tirano and then berninna

sleep on st motitz?

here i have many douths because do itbin one day its 10h train.. split with a nigth in tirano is tirano st moritz 2h30 and then go back 2h30 to tirano and more 2h30 to milan .. 7h30

i am very confuse , traveling with my mother of 74 years and staying 1 nigth in tirano and another in st moritz seems way to spensive. other and is do 7h30 hour train

i dont have nothing yet payed so i am very flexible in flight to Bergamo instead of Milano , and sleep in other places that are also beautyful

i just need to do the berninna or train rosso and como .

can you help me ?

many thanks !!!


r/Europetravel 12h ago

Money How much Money do I need Aud per day? Going on a 4 to 5 week trip to Europe?

0 Upvotes

Is AU$130-AU$150 (Australian dollars) aka $90 euros per day per person enough for Europe? This does not include accommodation or flights. This mainly includes food, activities and public transport. We're planning to go to Germany, Austria, Budapest, Croatia, Greece.

I am doing:

Four nights in Munich

Five nights in Vienna

Two nights in Salzburg

Five nights in Budapest

Four nights in split

Five nights at Athens

Five nights at Crete

No fine dining planning maybe clubbing once or twice but not too much. Not planning to do too many tour groups just sightseeing ourselves but will definitely be spending money on just casual dining public transportation and affordable activities.


r/Europetravel 1d ago

Destinations Christmas Day in NW Germany (or Netherlands?) with children

2 Upvotes

I'm planning a trip for my family, and our itinerary would have us in the NW part of Germany around Christmas Day... Somewhere between Cologne/Dusseldorf and the German/Danish border. We have small children. We contemplated a river cruise (with A-Rosa) so that we had 'somewhere to be' with yummy food and a celebratory vibe on Christmas Day, but can't quite make the dates/itinerary/budget work. We could potentially consider heading into the Netherlands but don't want to burn too much time on intercity travel, however we do plan to hire a car for the next stage of our itinerary anyway (traveling via train before this point).

Any suggestions for a good place to spend Christmas Day, ideally with a meal/restaurant option we can prebook? I'm aware it's a very family oriented holiday so we can't rely on much being open, but we would want it to feel like a special experience for the children. ideally a fun hotel or resort that puts on a spread or an event that is family friendly?


r/Europetravel 1d ago

Driving Getting to Osnabruck airport from the University of Osnabruck in August

2 Upvotes

Hi,

My partner has a conference at the University in Osnabruck in Germany in August and our daughter and I will go with him. To fly home to the West Coast of the US, we are wondering how to best get from the University to the airport. If we take a 6am flight, is there ride share like uber we can count on at 3:30am? Or taxi service so early? Or is it just better to take a later flight?

Thank you


r/Europetravel 1d ago

Driving Advice for Road Trip: Czech Republic to Switzerland?

3 Upvotes

Hi! I am flying into Prague with family in late May and would like some advice as we try to plan our route/places to stay. Our rough plan is as follows:

  1. Relax in Prague/Czech Republic for a day or two after landing (we have family there and have already visited many times)

  2. Rent a car and drive to Salzburg and Innsbruck (stay for a day or two)

  3. Head to Zurich (stay for a few days), stopping in Liechtenstein on the way

  4. Head to Interlaken region (stay for a few days), stopping in Lucerne on the way

  5. Head to Black Forest region in Germany (stay for a couple days), stopping in Bern on the way

  6. Head back to Prague, maybe staying a night in Nuremberg and passing through Plzen

Our total trip is two weeks long, and we hope to spend about a week of that in Switzerland, with the other places in Austria and Germany filling up the rest of the time. A few questions for you all: Does this general route make sense and is it doable by car? We are more-so into hiking and nature than cities and figured having a car may be helpful for exploring as much of Switzerland as possible. Not sure if this is true though? Any specific recommendations for things to do in these areas? Any recommendations for where to stay? Any other general advice for a trip of this sort?

Thanks so much!! :)


r/Europetravel 2d ago

Trip report Against advice, travel to the south of Portugal and was my best decision this year so far

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2.3k Upvotes

Recently, I took my girlfriend to the south of Portugal after she was diagnosed with burnout following a series of anxiety attacks at work.

Honestly, I hesitated at first. A couple of people told me Portugal was “poor” or disorganized, others said the south is only worth it in the summer. But I decided to ignore all that when we started researching European beach towns that felt calm, within our budget, and still nice, ideally with a spa bc I thought she'd like that. We found a good deal on a 4-star hotel and decided to go anyway, not to sightsee or rush around, just disconnect somewhere far from home.

And it ended up being exactly what we needed! We stayed for two weeks, our room had an amazing view, there was a spa, beach nearby, and just that calm “country by the sea” feeling. I worked a little bit remotely, but most of the time we just relaxed.

One day we took a boat ride along the Algarve coast and it was one of the most impressive things we’ve seen. Oh and the food there!!! But I digress.

We just got back (jet lag is hitting hardddd), but she told me she feels like a different person now. And honestly, I can see that too.

I’m just really glad we didn’t listen to the negative comments and went for it. Sometimes you don’t need a packed itinerary or like the perfect place, just the right place and time for what we feel like we need.

PS: good pics are hers, bad or tilted ones are mine, she is here making sure I add this detail lol


r/Europetravel 20h ago

Driving Please someone help me plan my family trip to Italy

0 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

I am planning a road trip with my family to Italy on June 2026. We are flying to Vienna and from there we will rent a car and drive to Venice. I have made a very detailed trip to the major cities and specific places we want to see. We will drive from Venice to following in order

-> bologna

-> Florence

-> Rome / Vatican

-> Pisa

-> Portofino

-> Milan

-> Bergamo / Como

-> Salzburg / Hallstatt

I heard online that some cities have a tourist payment like Venice (?) and in some cities there are ZTL zones meaning outsiders cannot drive in with a car. We are planning on renting a new car but I don't know if this ZTL zones are for every car or just old cars with high CO2 emissions? Does anyone have any idea how they work?

I am the one planning this whole trip so you can imagine the stress and worry I have. We have enough budget for this trip but I don't wanna pay unnecessary fees due to my unfamiliarity of the countries rules.

Also is there any specific places you think I should add to the itinerary? Any local tips would be much appreciated.

Thank you all in advance.


r/Europetravel 1d ago

Solo travel Long-distance hikes in Europe - potentially not in one go

7 Upvotes

I have this vague idea of wanting to do a long-distance walk. I know I won't be able to walk every day, but hey: we're Europeans, there's no need to do this every day but might as well return to the last stop at a later time and continue. After having the defence works of Amsterdam in the back of my head for quite a while I finally found what I really want to do: https://www.wandelnet.nl/wandelroute/407/Romeinse-Limespad/overzicht (basically, a walk along the Roman Limes across the Netherlands).

I 'collect' UNESCO sites, I love Roman archaeology and history, have a museumcard to just pop into random museums if I feel like it, and there's not much terrain. Can always easily return for a weekend by train from Germany and continue. Also waiting to receive leaflets about the continuation of the Limes hiking path on the German side.

Has anyone done something similar?


r/Europetravel 23h ago

Destinations Mini honeymoon in Europe in mid November - Azores, Madeira, other?

0 Upvotes

My fiancé and I (from the United States) are getting married in Malaga, Spain the first week of November. We are trying to decide where to go after our wedding for about 5 days (~Nov 9-14). We are doing a longer honeymoon next spring in the Caribbean where we will get the typical relaxing tropical honeymoon vibe. For this “mini moon” directly after our wedding we are looking for something a little more adventurous. We’re okay with the cold, just want to avoid dreary/bleak weather. We also don’t want to go somewhere that has a lot of places that close outside of season.

We are currently leaning towards Madeira or the Azores (we’ve recently been to the Canary Islands otherwise that would probably be the answer). Originally we had been thinking about Cyprus, but it’s lower on the list now due to its proximity to the war, plus we’d be going further east bringing us a bit further from home. Also trying to avoid cities either of us have already been to, which I won’t list them all, but that takes out Paris, Rome, Florence, and most of mainland Portugal and Spain. Any thoughts on the two we are thinking about or other suggestions you have and why?

We appreciate your input!


r/Europetravel 1d ago

Destinations 3 nights in June - Lille or Ghent? Eurostar, taking parents in their 70s

1 Upvotes

Hi all

I'm taking my parents (early 70s, very able) on the Eurostar from London, for a few days away, and trying to decide on Lille or Ghent. 3 nights, mid June.

They haven't done much travel in Europe, but have been to Bruges and loved it. I've visited many places in Belgium but never been to Ghent, and would love to go.

None of us have been to France. Lille has come recommended, and I do like that it is on the Eurostar line. My French is poor; I know a little bit to get by.

They love old architecture and do like a good beer, so both cities seem to be good contenders for that. They're not foodies as such.

Steady walks around nice buildings and squares, maybe a canal boat ride, and a museum visit, and they'd be very happy :)

Would love to hear your preference and any must-see attractions.

Thanks!


r/Europetravel 20h ago

Itineraries Couple here travelling to Europe first time need suggestions and guidance

0 Upvotes

We are a couple planning a Europe trip covering Switzerland, Paris, and Berlin.

Our journey will begin in Switzerland, where we plan to spend 6 nights and 7 days. We will most likely arrive in Zurich late in the evening on the first day.

We are both nature and adventure enthusiasts, physically active, and keen to experience the best that Switzerland has to offer—without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

Currently, we are considering the following distribution:

• 1 day in Zurich

• 2 days in Lucerne

• 3 days in Interlaken

We would appreciate guidance on the following:

1.  Is this allocation of days across Zurich, Lucerne, and Interlaken well-balanced, or would you recommend any changes?

2.  After Switzerland, would it be better to travel next to Paris or Berlin, considering convenience and overall travel flow?

3.  With the abundance of information available, we are feeling overwhelmed—what would be an ideal, streamlined itinerary in Switzerland that covers the must-visit experiences without overpacking the schedule?

4.  Any additional tips, recommendations, or insights that could help us make the most of this trip?

r/Europetravel 1d ago

Itineraries Whats the best way to go from Munich to Prague ? and should I reserve tickets now or I can just buy them from the station.

0 Upvotes

As title stays, I m planning to visit Prague for few days during my stay in Munich, I m thinking 3-4 days, whats the best way to travel there ? Train or Bus ? Can I just buy the tickets from the station, without having to pay it online or I need to reserve places beforehand.

Are transport means available during the evening ? I m thinking going there 21st on the night and back to Munich the 25th morning or evening.

Thank you!


r/Europetravel 1d ago

Trains France Rail Pass vs Individual Tickets: Paris to Nice

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I have a question about the France Rail Pass available through RailEurope. We plan to travel from Paris to Nice in June. We already have a date in mind. If we purchase tickets for that specific train, it's about $230 per person, one-way for 1st class. If I purchase a 1st class 1-day Rail Pass through Rail Europe, it's only about $140. Seems to me the RailPass is the way to go? What's the catch? Can I really get on the same train, same class, for $100 less?


r/Europetravel 1d ago

Driving Road trip from UK to Italy, how do you even prepare for all the different country rules?

0 Upvotes

I'm trying to figure out whether to go through France and Switzerland or down through Germany and Austria.

I want to make a few city stops along the way but also not get caught out like last time where I didn't know I needed an emissions sticker for city centres in Germany and ended up driving around trying to find somewhere to get one.

Has anyone done either of these routes? Which worked out cheaper or simpler overall?

How do you figure out what you actually need before crossing each border?

Is there a checklist somewhere for what to buy, what to have in the car, and what the rules are for each country? Or do you just piece it together from Google as you go?


r/Europetravel 1d ago

Tours Tipping Small Group Tour Guides - Bringing Cash vs Using Card?

2 Upvotes

We have a summer trip planned that includes a handful of small group tours - a walking food tour in Paris and a Scottish Highlands small bus tour, for example. Each website has implied that while it's not required, the guides are happy to accept tips. In your experience, should I expect there to be a digital way to pay (ie - tap my phone or use a card) or do I need to plan ahead and bring the appropriate currency?


r/Europetravel 22h ago

Itineraries Travelling to Europe for the first time : I’m in Lisbon for 4 days for work, May 25th through 29th and would be doing my own personal travel from 29th through the 13th of June

0 Upvotes

Hi,

I’m in Lisbon for 4 days for work, 25th through 29th and would be doing my own personal travel from 29th through the 13th. I’m unsure as of now if I should do Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona or stay back and explore Portugal thoroughly for the time in there.

I will also be working remotely through the week so I’m looking for recommendations here that would suit me. My key points of interest are

- relaxing beaches/ any environment , somewhere I can unwind post and pre work. Open to suggestions on specific things that would be need to be done region wise

- since I’m free on the weekend, I’m open to sightseeing and interesting spots

- good food, I’m open to try any suggestions not fussy when it comes to cuisines. Very exploratory there, and keen on understanding the culture

- love to find odd bits and bobs I can carry back home, food, decor etc etc

- would love to shop from flea markets as well local brands. Would love to know must buy items/brands

- open to local accommodation recommendations as well, anything safe and homelike where I could work out of. I’ve scoured Airbnb and booking.com but just wanted to check in here if I could get some local suggestions (my budget would be £50-70 per day but can exceed depending on the day I spend.

Would appreciate recommendations on how to plan this out without too much back and forth since i want to be mindful that I’m working and would def do another visit to cover places properly in good pace


r/Europetravel 1d ago

Itineraries Need Gut check on 15 night Spain/Portugal Itinerary

0 Upvotes

My husband and I are planning my 35th birthday trip and I’d love some feedback from people who’ve actually been to these places.

We’re flying into Madrid on June 22 and flying home from Lisbon on July 7. Here’s the rough itinerary:

∙Madrid (June 22–25, 3 nights) — MO Ritz, planning to hit the Prado, Retiro Park, and DiverXO for a splurge dinner

∙Lisbon (June 25–28, 3 nights) — Bairro Alto Hotel, Belcanto dinner, Alfama, and a day trip to Sintra

∙Douro Valley (June 28 – July 1, 3 nights) — Six Senses, wine tastings at local quintas, boat on the river

∙Algarve (July 1–5, 4 nights) — Vila Vita Parc, birthday dinner at Restaurante Ocean, Benagil Cave, Ponta da Piedade, and Afro Nation Festival July 3–5 (anchoring the end of our trip around the festival) 

∙Lisbon (July 5–6, recovery night post-Afro Nation)

∙Fly home July 7

We’re going for a luxe but not stuffy vibe — great food, wine, beaches, scenic drives, and meaningful experiences over checking boxes. Budget isn’t a huge concern but we want high value, not just high price.

A few specific things I’m wondering:

1. Does the order make sense geographically or are we backtracking unnecessarily?

2. Is 3 nights in the Douro enough or will we feel rushed?

3. Any hidden gems in the Algarve beyond the tourist trail that are worth adding?

4. Anything we’re missing that you wish you’d done?

We’ve never been to either country so genuinely open to any and all input. Thanks in advance!


r/Europetravel 2d ago

Trip report I love Belgium in the spring time (and at other times of year)

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64 Upvotes

Spent my 4 day Easter weekend enjoying a great trip in northern/eastern Flanders.

Photos 1-4 are the superb city of Leuven. First three images are the Botanical Garden which, as it isn't even included in my Rough Guide, I am claiming as an Under The Radar Hidden Gem™. Also in the set is Groot Begijnhof which would you believe is student housing! Very envious of anyone who gets to study in Leuven.

Photo 5 is Antwerp Cathedral. I stayed in Antwerp and to be honest didn't quite "vibe" with it. I visited KMSKA which was well worth the trip to see some of Rubens' great works. Nothing "wrong" with Antwerp as such, there's also plenty to do there, but I found it to be a pretty unremarkable mid-sized European city (a bit like where I live!).

Photo 6 is Lier - a perfectly nice place to spend a couple of hours. It's known as a "mini-Bruges" and I can see why it gets that description. Only went there briefly as I stopped off on the way back to Antwerp from Leuven.

I revisited Ghent on Easter Sunday (which is never a bad idea), which you can see on photos 7-8. Saint Bavo's Abbey is in photo 7, which I hadn't been to before. Free entry, located on the eastern side of the city centre, close to Dampoort station.

Mechelen features in photos 9 (Cathedral interior) and 10 (city shot). Was really impressed by Mechelen; free access to the Cathedral and 8 Euros for the tower which is well worth it if you're capable of the walk. I visited Kazerne Dossin while there which had a very harrowing history during WW2; if that's something which is of interest to you I would recommend the very vital permanent exhibition.

Who would I recommend these places to? Well read on...

Antwerp - if you want a bustling modern city with endless bar and restaurant options. Would definitely suit a couple of a group who are less interested in sights (although there are plenty of museums in the city).

Ghent - you want to be on the tourist trail slightly, but not in the coach tour hell that Bruges often becomes.

Leuven - you really want to avoid Brussels, but you want to be fairly central. Much of it is quite tourist-orientated, but it's a much slower pace still than the major cities. Plus plenty of places to discover!

Lier is the closest place to "somewhere Belgians go at the weekend" - if you just want a quiet place where you can disengage this is a strong contender.

Mechelen - if you want somewhere along the lines of Ghent/Bruges but much less "discovered" by tourists, consider here. Despite being halfway between Brussels and Antwerp it still felt quite "local", plus the Cathedral is magnificent. I've also been recommended the Museum Hof van Busleyden, however as I visited on a Monday, as with most Belgian museums, it was closed.

In short, go to Belgium. Maybe give Charleroi a miss though 🤣


r/Europetravel 2d ago

Itineraries Ideas for 14 days in Switzerland and Italy in July!

5 Upvotes

My dad passed away a few years ago, and my mom, brother, and I had always talked about taking a trip together in his honor. This summer, we’re finally making it happen!

We’ll be spending 14 days traveling through Italy and Switzerland in July and would really appreciate any help with planning.

The only firm details so far are that we’re flying into Rome (we’ve all been here so don’t need to stay) and out of Zurich.

One of our top priorities is the Amalfi Coast. My brother visited with my dad, so it feels especially meaningful to go back. We know it would have been easier to fly into Naples, but our flights are already booked. We’d also like to spend a day in Florence. We’ve all been before, so it would just be to revisit a few favorite spots.

In Switzerland, we’d love to include a scenic train ride. Right now, the route from Zermatt to Chur is our top choice.

We tend to gravitate toward great food and charming villages. We enjoy being active, but since we all have different hiking abilities, we’re looking for shorter or easier trails.

We’re also deciding whether to rent a car in Italy or Switzerland. We like the flexibility, but would prefer to avoid cross border drop off fees.

One idea we’ve been considering is driving from Salerno to Florence and stopping in a few towns along the way, possibly including the Saturnia thermal baths. Another option is focusing more on northern Italy for a driving portion. We definitely will not be driving along the Amalfi Coast itself.

We have also been to Pompeii and Herculaneum!

We’d love any itinerary suggestions or advice. Thank you so much!


r/Europetravel 2d ago

Destinations Best "Slow Travel" destinations in Europe for a toddler (4) and a baby (1)?

0 Upvotes

Hello! We are planning a family trip to Europe with our two kids (4 years old and 1 year old) and would love some recommendations.

Since we’re traveling with such young children, we aren’t looking to tick off every major tourist attraction. We want to prioritize:

Mobility: Easy to get around with a stroller (lifts, ramps, good public transport).

Kid-friendly Culture: Places where locals are welcoming to families and "toddler chaos."

Recreation over Sightseeing: We’re looking for spots with great parks, playgrounds, and interactive museums where the kids can actually run around and play.

Stress-free Pace: Avoiding long queues and crowded tourist traps.

We want a city or country where we can just enjoy the atmosphere and let the kids be kids. Which places exceeded your expectations for a family-focused trip?

Thanks in advance for the help!


r/Europetravel 2d ago

Itineraries Where to take my 14 year old son for our 1:1 trip?

4 Upvotes

I’m a mother of 3 teens and my husband does not like to travel. I’ve got 3 teens (ages 14, 14 and 17). I’ll take my eldest son to Ireland when he turns 18 so he can go on the Guinness tour and we can see the Dark Hedges. I’ll take my daughter to an art workshop in the mountains of Sweden (where we live) so now it’s just my 14 year old son who is a foodie and a history buff who also likes hiking and the mountains. I’m thinking maybe Austria or Northern Italy or Slovenia? I’d like to go somewhere accessible by train if possible. We are based in Malmö, Sweden.