How to Plan a Trip to Europe

Europe is a spectacular destination, but it can be overwhelming to try to plan a European vacation due to your wealth of choices. Which countries do you want to visit? What activities do you want to check off your bucket list? What cuisines do you want to try? All of these interests factor into planning the right Europe trip for you. There honestly is no right or wrong way to do Europe. If you’re unsure of how to tackle planning your itinerary, here are some helpful tips I’ve learned through embarking on my own European vacations.

Creating Your Perfect Itinerary

Determining your destination(s)

Which path makes the most sense for your logistics, time, budget and interests? All of these factors play an important role when adding new destinations to your itinerary. If your time is limited (one week or less), I recommend designing an itinerary that’s logistically simple and includes 1 or 2 destinations. This gives you more time to relax instead of packing in too many stops on your trip. For example, one week split between London and Paris would be ideal. You would get to explore two of Europe’s most spectacular cities while simply flying in and out of major airports.

If you have a flexible schedule with 2 weeks or more, I highly recommend adding multiple cities and countries to your itinerary. More time at your disposal makes the journey to smaller towns that are off the beaten path a lot easier and stress-free to visit. During my 3 weeks in Europe, here are all the destinations I was able to visit:

• Rome and Vatican City
• Venice
• Tuscany (Florence and San Gimignano)
• Northern Italy (Milan and Crema)
• The Amalfi Coast (Positano, Amalfi, Atrani, Capri and Sorrento)
• Santorini, Greece

If you plan on visiting multiple countries, you should research which ones are geographically close or connected by affordable flights. Since I was already visiting Italy, Greece was a logical choice because of its proximity and convenient nonstop flights from Venice.

Cultural considerations

The biggest draw for most travelers dreaming of Europe is the culture. I recommend choosing countries where you’re interested in connecting with locals and want an authentic cultural experience. I chose Italy and Greece for their rich histories, natural beauty and delicious cuisines. Language, food, culture and weather should all factor into your decision as to which countries are at the top of your bucket list.

Choosing airports

Airports are a huge factor when planning any European adventure. For logistical purposes, you might consider flying into one major airport and then flying out of another at the end of your trip. Roundtrip airfares have become quite affordable in recent years. Budget flights from major U.S. airports (LA, NYC and Orlando) range from $400-800 to major European cities (London, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam).

Sample Itineraries (7-10 days in Europe)

London and Paris

• London
• Paris
• Day trip to Disneyland Paris
• Loire Valley

Austria and Southern Germany

• Vienna, Austria
• Day trip to Hallstatt, Austria
• Salzburg, Austria
• Munich, Germany
• Day trip to Neuschwanstein
• Day trip to Dachau

Mediterranean Coast

• Barcelona
• Mallorca
• French Riviera (Cannes, Nice and St. Tropez)
• Monaco

Eastern Europe

• Prague, Czech Republic
• Bucharest, Romania
• Day trip to Bran Castle in Transylvania
• Budapest, Hungary

Taste of Europe

• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Brussels, Belgium
• Paris, France

Budgeting

One of the most frequently asked questions about planning a trip to Europe is the cost. Your budget should depend on your traveling style—are you a backpacker or is luxury travel appeal to you? Europe can definitely be done on a budget, but its honestly up to you how much you want your trip to cost. Here are a few sample budgets for each traveling style:

Accommodation

Hostels: $20-40/night

Bed & Breakfasts/Moderate Hotels and Airbnbs: $50-200/night

Luxury Hotels: $300+/night

Transportation

Flights

Transatlantic Economy: $400-800 roundtrip

Transatlantic First-Class: $1000-$2000 roundtrip

Trains

Second- and Third-Class: $15-30 one-way

First-Class: $30-75 one-way

Ferries

Vaporettos: $10 one-way

High-speed ferries: $25-50 one-way

Buses

$5-15 one way

Dining

Breakfast

I highly recommend bundling your breakfast cost with your hotel. Most hotels offer free breakfast or breakfast for a small fee, especially in Italy.

Lunch

Budget: $10-$20

Luxury: $25-$40

Dinner

Budget: $15-20

Luxury: $40-100+

Desserts + Snacks

Budget: $5-8

Luxury: $10-20

Experiences

Museum and Church Admission Prices: $10-35

Group Tours (vineyards, castle tours, etc.): $50-100/tour

Shared Experiences (Gondola rides, boat tours, etc.): $25-50

Private Boat Rentals: $100-500 for a half-day to full-day excursion

Still have questions about planning your first European adventure? Comment down below or DM me on Instagram @melodykschmidt!