r/Europetravel • u/TrampAbroad2000 • Mar 28 '26
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 • u/rybnickifull • Mar 01 '26
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 • u/stuartcory • 14h ago
Been trying to figure out my packing system for an upcoming trip. Curious whether people actually bring something dedicated for dirty clothes or just wing it.
What do you do?
I’m thinking of bringing a simple nylon string backpack and then using that as a laundry bag that could also be a light day pack for the beach, etc?!
r/Europetravel • u/Timely_Walrus_388 • 20h ago
Loved Munich for its very local feel. Liked it more than Vienna (sorry /wien ;)
No issues travelling here for the first time as a solo female traveler.
- Stayed at Hilton Munich City (Haidhausen)
- Took public transit; so easy
- Walked whenever I ate too much, haha
- Visited the Pinakothek Musem (modern art lover!)
- EUR1 Museum Sundays, amazing
- Skipped the palaces as I’ve had my fill from Vienna (first leg of journey)
- HBF chaotic just like any other major city train stations
- Asian food representation strong, woot woot
- Munchen locals are nicer than Wien locals
Will happily return to this amazing city. Heading to Prague now on the Alex 😎
r/Europetravel • u/raulynukas • 7h ago
Hi All,
my dad, 65 and I, 30M are going to visit Amsterdam for the first time - staying for around 3 days - nearby airport
on first day, we were thinking to:
- visit Rijksmuseum
- take a walk in Vondelpark
- explore Nine Streets, Jordaan district
- canal walk
- explore central area
on second:
- visit Hague
on third:
- visit Rotterdam
or if we lucky and possible, we could explore Hague and Rotterdam in the same day, hence asking if there is anything nice to do in/around Central Amsterdam
if we get free time we might consider coffee shop / muffin, but thats last resort, dont want plans to be ruined ahaha
thank you for any help!
p.s. not sure about van gogh museum or stedelijk - we like art and i believe Rijksmuseum is enough, especially when tickets cost 30 euros per person :)
r/Europetravel • u/Frequent_Middle_2409 • 9h ago
Heading on a 14 day trip to Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro June 2027
I have an itinerary, I plan on staying in hostels mostly, and utilizing public transportation.
For those who have been. Is this too much? Or doable. I’ll be traveling from the states and it’s to early to determine flights. I have a few tours planned as well since I won’t be renting a car.
*Day 0 - Arrive in Slovenia (Time TBD)
*Day 1 - Ljubljana
*Day 2 - Lake Bled - day trip
*Day 3 - Lake Bohinj - day trip
*Day 4 - Piran - day trip
*Day 5 - Zagreb
**Night train to Split*
*Day 6 - Split
*Day 7 - Split - Blue Cave, Hvar, Mamma Mia, 5 Islands boat Tour
*Day 8 - Hvar - Beach Day *stay overnight*
*Day 9 - *Ferry to Dubrovnik*
*Day 10 - Dubrovnik
*Day 11 - Kotor *Bus 3 hours*
*Day 12 - Montenegro: Durmitor, Tara & Ostrog Monastery Day Trip tour
*Day 13 - Budva *beach*
*Day 14 - From Budva/Kotor: Boat Trip to Blue Cave, Kotor and More tour
*Day 15 - Depart
r/Europetravel • u/JasmineDragon22 • 12h ago
Hi, planning a trip to Spain/portugal this summer for me and my husband (34 y/o). We are thinking Barcelona 4 days > train to Seville 2 days > train to Lagos 4 days > train to Lisbon 3 days (Sinatra day trip) > train to Porto 3 days (Douro valley day trip). We mostly care about eating and wandering, not big on seeing the sights. Would this be too rushed?
r/Europetravel • u/SeniorPapiFuego • 15h ago
Hey everyone, I’m heading to Europe for the summer from Australia. I’ve got around $10k ~ AUD and I’ve never been to Europe so I have no idea what to expect for cost of living. My dream would be to spend 3 months there, and I’m curious if $10k would cover flights to and from, plus all expenses for that time. Also, would I be coming home flat broke or with some money to buffer? I’d rather come home with some money left over while I look for new work to start saving again. I’m very flexible where to go, just super stoked to explore new cultures and places. Generally I like to rock climb, surf, hike and overnight camp, but I also like exploring cities. Eventually cities overwhelmed so I’ll be seeking nature foshoooo. Some countries that are on my dream list include Portugal, France, Italy, Spain, Poland and Türkiye. Very happy to explore other countries too and honestly prioritize cheaper destinations. Any and all recommendations very appreciated! Thanks
r/Europetravel • u/metaharsh • 16h ago
Hi all,
We are a married couple in our late 20s from India planning our first Europe trip in September. Total budget is about INR 4–5 lakhs for both of us including return flights. Our priorities: romantic vibe, great views, walkable cities, and a relaxed pace (not city-hopping every day).
Draft plan (10–12 days):
*Paris – 2–3 nights
*Lucerne + Interlaken – 3–4 nights total (lakes + Alps focus, likely base in Lucerne)
*Venice – 2 nights (stay overnight, not a day trip)
*Rome – 2–3 nights
Key questions:
- Is September a good time for this route (weather + crowds + prices)?
- For a first trip, is 10 days enough or is 12 days noticeably better with this budget?
- Lucerne + Interlaken vs Zurich as a base – what would you choose and why?
- Is Jungfraujoch worth the cost, or would you prioritise Harder Kulm / Lauterbrunnen / Titlis instead?
- Would you keep both Venice and Rome, or swap one out for something more relaxed given our budget and days?
If you’ve done a similar route, what 10–12 day itinerary would you suggest for a late-20s couple with our budget and priorities?
Thanks a lot for any advice
r/Europetravel • u/Difficult-Mistake-61 • 19h ago
When departing the European Union from Rome, Italy, we went to Customs to obtain validation. Customs requested to inspect the purchased goods and receipts, but the goods had already been checked into our luggage. Therefore, the customs validation could not be completed.
We still possess the purchased goods, original receipt, Tax Free Form, boarding pass, and passport information. We can also provide photographs of the purchased items and supporting documents if needed.
the key thing is we were not able to get stamped in tax refund form in airport because we were not able to show receipts/goods .
Is the game over?
r/Europetravel • u/ayu_ssh • 1d ago
As per my research, it won't matter much when I visit Italy in October. But I am not able to decide which time would be better for Switzerland, the first week or the second week of October?
I know I am overthinking as it won't be much of a difference in a week's time and it is not possible to predict the weather either.
But if given a choice, which time would be preferable for visiting Switzerland?
Thanks in advance.
r/Europetravel • u/FijiTheTurtle • 1d ago
We are travelling to Milan for a long weekend and our Friday flight arrives 23.40 local time. We would usually jump on a train but there are none available at this time.
I have found Flibco/Flixbus and Terravision bus options into Milan centrale but the reviews seem to be overwhelmingly negative. Has anyone used these buses for late night/early morning transfers?
The main issue in the reviews is overselling tickets and huge queues, is this likely to be the case at this time of night?
Thank you in advance for any input.
r/Europetravel • u/MaxDmitrie • 1d ago
A few years ago someone tried to unzip my bag on a crowded street while I was traveling, and ever since then I've been much more conscious about keeping my belongings secure. I'm heading back to Europe soon and would love to find a better solution, but I still want to feel like myself and not carry something that looks overly tactical or touristy. How do you all balance security and style when you travel?
r/Europetravel • u/prp_1708 • 22h ago
I'll be visiting Kraków for 2 full days later this year.
For Switzerland, we have the Swiss Travel Pass, which makes getting around quite straightforward. I'm trying to understand what the equivalent is in Kraków and how both locals and tourists typically travel around the city. What are the best transport options, and are there any passes or cards that make sightseeing and public transport easier?
A few questions:
For trains (if needed):
Basically, I'm looking for a Kraków public transport guide for complete beginners. I would love to know how locals and experienced travelers would spend 2 days in the city without wasting time or money.
Any tips, recommended itineraries, transport hacks, or mistakes to avoid would be greatly appreciated.
r/Europetravel • u/Jszelzzyy • 1d ago
Hi there, just wondering what people’s experiences are like in July with getting seat reservations for Portugal’s train system. You can only reserve seats in person with an EUrail pass in Portugal, and I’m just wondering how safe I’ll be with not being able to make the reservation until about 36-48hrs before I plan to take the train (land in Faro on the 6th and train to Porto on the 8th). I already have an EUrail pass so ideally id like to not have to buy tickets from the official Portuguese inter-rail. Thanks!
r/Europetravel • u/Caiman_2 • 1d ago
Basically, me and my friend are in Germany for the next two weeks and we planned to visit many cities. We decided that the Deutschland-Ticket was the best option for the diversity of the available public transport and also the affordability. My research suggested that there was a way to buy it as a Canadian resident with third party apps, but I don’t know if they are trustworthy. Can anybody give me some information or possible solution? Thanks in advance!
r/Europetravel • u/External_Tale3103 • 1d ago
Hi all!
Looking to travel with my 8 month old baby and my husband around the end of September. Our home airport flys non-stop into 3 locations we’re interested in: amsterdam, rome and paris. Does anyone have experience/preferences for which city would be the best for a baby at this time of year, and any recommendations for areas/things to do?
Our priorities:
- mild weather
- walkable area or public transit
- baby friendly culture
- good cuisine
- easy to get to other areas - Note that I don’t necessarily want to stay in those cities for the whole time but use them as a jumping off point. ie. fly to rome - train to florence, fly to paris - train to normandy, fly to amsterdam, explore amsterdam and belgium.
- we are also considering doing a 1 layover flight and doing copenhagen instead due to lots of recommendations - would this be worth it?
I also love the idea of staying at a villa/chateau with breakfast included and a bit of a property or patio to enjoy, so that when the baby is sleeping or napping, we are still able to enjoy our time at the accommodation.
thank you!
r/Europetravel • u/IndividualHuman6937 • 1d ago
I was reading in another post that a lot of publicly accessible toilets in Europe require payment via change. Our itinierary will be taking us through Paris, Strasbourg, Basel, Rome, Venice, Milan, Heraklion, and Athens, What should I be expecting the charge to be in those locations and what coin denominations do the machines typically accept? I would hate to be stuck with the wrong coinage in an emergency.
r/Europetravel • u/Fun_Temperature_8495 • 1d ago
Hey! I’m 22F from Australia and planning my first solo trip after graduating at the end of this year: 30 days through Berlin, Prague, Bucharest, Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich over December/January.
I’m staying in hostels the whole way through and my main goal is actually meeting other travellers and making friends. I know winter is quieter for tourism, so I’m wondering whether the social atmosphere in hostels on this route drops off significantly in December/January compared to peak season.
Specifically, are there hostels on this route that are known for having a social or communal atmosphere even in winter, especially for someone who is a bit shy/not great at starting a convo? Also, I am not rly into the party style travelling, would this be a problem lol?
I’m less concerned about location or facilities and more about actually having some people to hang out with, obviously not all the time but during periods such as christmas and new years. I’ll be doing Christmas markets, museums, cafes and castles along the way, so ideally somewhere with common areas or organised events would be ideal.
Any firsthand experience with the hostel scene on this route in winter would be really appreciated!
r/Europetravel • u/jewelszoey • 1d ago
Hi! We are in the early planning stages of our honeymoon - trying to get a rough plan together of where we will be/for how long.
We originally were thinking we would do Switzerland + Central Europe but after consideration, we’ve decided to remove Switzerland and spend more time in Austria to optimize the amount of time on a train between places. We were looking for the dramatic alps and lakes scenery and relaxation and spa days with Switzerland (Lucerne) but think that Austria can achieve what we were looking for. This itinerary doesn’t have dramatic alps like Innsbruck but this is ok with us.
One thing I’m hesitant about with this itinerary is maybe being a day short in Vienna and Prague. If we added a day, should it be to Prague or Vienna? Considering removing a Salzkammergut day, but not sure. We love that Salzkammergut will be very different/a reset compared to our time exploring the cities. Please let us know thoughts on if time in any of the countries is too short/long, if we are over doing it, or any tips on this.
We are in our late-20s from the US, and are looking for both a mix of beautiful landscape and exploring the cities. Ideally we have a mix of slower days and busier days, allowing for some relaxation and slower exploration in all the busyness! I think this itinerary gives the best of both with time in Salzkammergut region and bigger cities. Any recommendations on where to stay in Salzkammergut? It sounds like Hallstatt is very populated, so considering Bad Ischl. Wolfgangsee looks beautiful. Looking for somewhere that allows us to go between the various areas without too much train/bus time so a more central location.
_______
Overview: May/June
• Prague, Czechia
• Vienna, Austria
• Salzkammergut, Austria
• End in Budapest, Hungary (spending a bit longer here as I have a best friend living here, likely do some day trips)
_______
Day 1 (Wed May 24): Travel
US → Prague
Day 2 (Thu May 25): Travel / Prague
• Arrival in Prague
Day 3 (Fri May 26): Prague
Day 4 (Sat May 27): Prague
Day 5 (Sun May 28): Travel
Prague → train (~4hrs) → Vienna
* Stores closed in Vienna on Sunday
Day 6 (Mon May 29): Vienna
Day 7 (Tue May 30): Vienna
Day 8 (Wed May 31): Travel
Vienna → train (~3.5hrs) → Salzkammergut
Day 9 (Thu Jun 1): Salzkammergut
Day 10 (Fri Jun 2): Salzkammergut
• Spa day
Day 11 (Sat Jun 3): Salzkammergut
Day 12 (Sun Jun 4): Travel
Salzkammergut → 3 legs of train (~8hrs) → Budapest
Day 13 (Mon Jun 5): Budapest
Day 14 (Tue Jun 6): Budapest
Day 15 (Wed Jun 7): Budapest
Day 16 (Thu Jun 8): Budapest
Day 17 (Fri Jun 9): Travel
Budapest → US
r/Europetravel • u/Theunknownmagicspell • 2d ago
Hi everyone,
I'm planning my first Europe trip in June and would love some advice on optimizing the route.
I'll be leaving Switzerland (Zurich/Interlaken area) and want to visit:
What's the most logical and cost-efficient order to do these 3 cities?
Happy to use trains, FlixBus, or cheap flights if they make more sense. My priorities are minimizing transport costs and avoiding backtracking.
What route would you recommend and why?
r/Europetravel • u/Ok-Celebration-3270 • 2d ago
My husband and I (both 25) are going to Italy (long time wish of his) and Denmark to see Rømø where my grandfather grew up in September. We have a total of about 21-22 days, is it worth it to try to stop in Switzerland or Germany (especially for Oktoberfest) on the train ride from Italy to Denmark? Or should we just take a short flight, or no stops on the train?
This is our first trip to any countries in Europe and I've heard many people say they tried to fit too much in, but I'm also worried about not having stopped when we had the chance. We're Americans and haven't done much international travel beyond North America but are active in a walkable city (eg walking 6-10miles a day will not be physically exhausting) and are go-go-goers on domestic travel typically anyways.
Any and all advice is appreciated!
r/Europetravel • u/Prize-Interest8845 • 2d ago
I’m heading to the Dolomites in Sept but I am coming out of Munich from USA.
I decided not to rent from Germany to Italy so I’d like to train there. Is there a direct train from Munich airport to Bolzano airport? I’m picking up my Hertz rental at Bolzano airport?
I searched on google but it says minimum there’s 2 changes. DB regio AG S-Banh S8 > DB EC > Suditrolmobil altoadigemobilita REG. I had thought there was a direct train
r/Europetravel • u/brielovinggirl • 2d ago
To be frank, we picked Oslo because it was the cheapest flight right now. But here’s our rough itinerary we came up with.
*Arrive Oslo, spend 1 day there
*Travel from Oslo to Bergen, by trains and ferries, seeing fjords and hiking 2-3 days
*Fly from Bergen to Tromsø, see the artic circle, spend 2 days there
*Fly from Tromsø to Copenhagen, spend 3 days in Copenhagen
*Rent a car or take trains up from Copenhagen to Goteburg, sleeping there
*Get from Goteburg to Oslo, fly home.
Is this plan too crazy for 10-12 days? The other option we thought of is cutting out the artic circle and looping Stockholm to our plans. Let me know!
r/Europetravel • u/Adventurous-Cup5369 • 2d ago
I'll be in Munich for work for several weeks in October and am looking for weekend destinations that might not be on my radar.
Constraints:
What I'm looking for:
Places I've already visited on these weekends:
Suggestions I've received most often are Prague and Malta. Prague is certainly possible, but at the moment I'm leaning toward somewhere with more access to nature and green space. Malta also comes up frequently, but I'm not convinced it's the right fit.
A few places I've considered:
Given the October timing, what destinations would you suggest that fit these constraints and aren't among the most obvious Munich weekend trips? I have spent a lot of time looking already (including on Google Flights) without a lot of success, but perhaps there is somewhere I haven’t considered/isn’t on my radar yet.