Expert Guide on How to Decide Where to Go in Europe for the First Time (2024)

Although Europe is the second smallest continent in the world, it’s still filled with incredibly diverse cultures and countries. You could spend years exploring and still not see it all. So because of that, it may be hard to decide where in Europe to go if you’re planning a trip, especially if it’s your first.

The first thing to know about Europe is that you will have a great experience in most places, so you don’t need to stress about picking a precise destination. One of the best things about visiting Europe is it’s generally quite easy to travel between countries, so if you’ve booked your flight to Paris but decide last minute that you’d really like to add a day or two in Germany, it’s not impossible to find a way to make that happen.

For your first trip to Europe, it’s helpful to stick to major cities where you’ll encounter more people who speak at least some English. It’s always advisable to learn some phrases in the local language when you travel, but if you’re new to traveling, it may be helpful for you to know that if you have an emergency or forget the phrases you’ve learned, you’re not completely out of luck.

Related Posts:

As Europe is filled with incredible things, it may be hard to pick the destination that you want to visit the most. Ultimately, your ideal destination in Europe depends on you and what you want to do, it’s easier to decide what you want to do and then determine the best locations to go to do those things.

If you want to go on a shopping spree…

…you’ll want to consider a trip to Lisbon! You can find unique boutiques and stores featuring local goods or items available globally in many European nations, but Lisbon, Portugal’s capital city, has a variety of options where you can buy luxury goods, antiques, and more. One of the most famous bookstores in the world is located in Lisbon and if you are a reader or writer, it’s a can’t-miss stop on your trip. It’s called Livraria Lello, and it first opened in 1881.

Lisbon also offers shopping experiences such as LxFactory, a refurbished warehouse that now houses restaurants, cafes, and an array of shops featuring local artisan goods. The Avenue de Liberdade is the place to go in Lisbon for high-end shopping.

Lisbon Travel Guide and Resources:

Find thebest flights,traintickets, orrent a carfor your trip to Lisbon. Also, find the list of thebesthotels inLisbon to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Lisbon itinerary? Findtop attractions and things to doinLisbon in addition to what already mentionedhere.

If you want to explore the great outdoors…

…you’ll want to consider a trip to Iceland! The landscape of this beautiful country is defined by glaciers, fjords, volcanoes, lush nature, and powerful waterways. You can explore on foot or by bike and experience stretches of land that have been left alone for centuries and have avoided human intervention. Although the Icelandic landscape is untouched, there are still established trails to explore. Plus, if you’re interested in trying to see the famed Northern Lights, Iceland is a great place to get a glimpse at this colorful light display.

One of Iceland’s most famous destinations is the Blue Lagoon. This geothermal pool is known for its cloudy blue waters set against black volcanic rocks, as well as the water’s healing properties. It’s a popular place, but if you visit during the off-season or in the early hours, you’ll be able to enjoy the lagoon with fewer crowds.

Iceland Travel Guide and Resources:

Find thebest flights,traintickets, orrent a carfor your trip to Iceland. Also, find the list of thebesthotels inIceland to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Iceland itinerary? Findtop attractions and things to doinIceland in addition to what already mentionedhere.

If you want to try some incredible food…

…you’ll want to consider a trip to Italy! This incredible country has consistently made significant contributions to the world in terms of art, architecture, culture, and, of course, food! Not only are there many places where you can taste some incredible cuisine and sip on some delicious wine, but you can try these things in the region they originated from.

In Naples, you can get a slice of pizza at Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba which is widely considered to be the world’s first pizzeria! Cacio e Pepe is another famous dish that originated in Italy. The combination of pasta tossed with pecorino romano cheese and black pepper may sound too simple, but it’s a beloved local dish.

Italy Travel Guide and Resources:

Find thebest flights,traintickets, orrent a carfor your trip to Italy. Also, find the list of thebesthotels inItaly to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Italy itinerary? Findtop attractions and things to doinItaly in addition to what already mentionedhere.

If you want to learn about the history of Europe…

…you’ll want to consider a trip to Croatia! Not only is it full of fascinating history, but it’s also a relatively affordable place to visit! The town of Dubrovnik dates back to the 7th century and was a prominent seaport and trading site for many years, as well as a hub for creatives such as writers. Dubrovnik became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. If you’re interested in seeing some ancient ruins, head to the Diocletian’s Palace in Split. It was built in the year 300, and many elements of the complex are still remarkably well-preserved to this day.

Croatia Travel Guide and Resources:

Find thebest flights,traintickets, orrent a carfor your trip to Croatia. Also, find the list of thebesthotels inCroatia to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Croatia itinerary? Findtop attractions and things to doinCroatia in addition to what already mentionedhere.

If you want to relax on the beach…

…you’ll want to consider a trip to Greece! More specifically, the Greek Islands such as Mykonos and Santorini. There are approximately 6,000 Greek Islands, but only 227 of them are inhabited and a selection of those are options for tourists. Santorini is one of the most popular islands and is known for its white-washed buildings topped with blue domed roofs. It’s also one of the most famous places to watch the sunset over the ocean. People come from all over the world to get a glimpse at the beautiful sight.

Mykonos has beautiful beaches, but also provides its guests with an overall incredible island experience. You can relax on the beach or in the crystalline waters of the ocean during the day and go to clubs and bars in the evening!

Greece Travel Guide and Resources:

Find thebest flights,traintickets, orrent a carfor your beach trip to Greece. Also, find the list of thebesthotels inGreece to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Greece itinerary? Findtop attractions and things to doinGreece in addition to what already mentionedhere.

If you want to see some fine works of art…

…you’ll want to consider a trip to Paris! The most obvious place to go is the Louvre, which is one of the most famous art museums in the world, if not the most famous. You can see works of art like the Mona Lisa, which is just one of 35,000 works of art and 380,000 objects and displays at these incredible museums. You could easily spend days exploring it without getting bored.

While Paris has art museums you can visit, you can see some works of art just by stepping outside. Sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe are free to see from the ground and you can witness some of the incredible works of art that make up this famous city.

Paris Travel Guide and Resources:

Find thebest flights,traintickets, orrent a carfor your trip to Paris. Also, find the list of thebesthotels inParis to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Paris itinerary? Findtop attractions and things to doinParis in addition to what already mentionedhere.

Related Posts:

If you still unsure where to go in Europe…

With personalized travel planning such as the one offers by MultiCityTrips, you get to embark on the European travel journey while everything from the itinerary to all the logistics is planned and even booked for you by an experienced travel expert who has first-hand knowledge of destinations you will be travel to. Plus it includes all the support you might need before, during, and after your trip. If you are planning to visit multiple destinations and want to experience the best each city has to offer without the hassle of researching, planning, and booking you might find this option more suitable for your trip.

To learn more about travel planning options available at MultiCityTrips and how this option can help you get the best and the most out of your vacation while saving you time and money, check out our “Trip by Travel Experts“ page today.

Travel Resources for Planning a Trip to Europe

Still would rather plan your own trip? There is nothing wrong with that. If you have decided where to go in Europe, we want to make planning your own trip to Europe easier! Here are some of our favorites and recommended travel resources perfect for any destination you are planning to visit. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip.

Flights:

Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.

CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!

Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.

JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.

Hotels:

Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.

Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.

Transportations:

Airport Transfers:KiwiTaxi,Viator or GetTransfer( offer both airport transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)

Train: EuRail,TrainlineorRailEurope

Bus:Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.

Car Rentals:AutoEurope,EconomyBookings,or GetTransfer(transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)

Bike Rental:BikesBooking(Bikes & scooter rentals)

Transportation Comparison:Omio(search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)

Tours & Activities:

TakeWalks(WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.

Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.

Musem*nt: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.

GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities

Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.

Related Posts:

Need help planning a trip to Europe?

Want to plan a trip and visit multiple destinations in Europe but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!

AtMultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a multi-city, multi-country trip to Europe are our specialties.Contact ustoday to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists canpersonalize your multi-city tripand craft the best vacation package for you.

Don’t want to start from scratch and need some trip inspiration? Check out ourmarketplacefor customizable pre-designed packages available right now for many amazing destinations.

To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our“How It Works”page or check out our video on“How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in 5 Easy Steps” here.

Have questions for us? Try our 24/7 live chat, call/text us at(888)223-2316, Schedule a FREECall, or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at[emailprotected].