How to choose countries to visit on your first Eurotrip

What countries should you see on your first Eurotrip? How many days should you spend in each one? With so many places to choose from you might need some extra help to decide. 

To date I’ve visited 32 countries and 19 of them are located in Europe. Based on my travel experiences I’ve got a few go-to destinations when it comes to Eurotrip suggestions. Transportation and time are the most important factors to consider if you’re hoping to see several countries in one trip. Therefore, the destinations below are not only one-of-a-kind, they’re also well connected to other cities and countries. Even better, you can experience most of these cities’ top attractions in just a few days so you’ll have time to fit lots of stops in your itinerary. 

Check out my top destinations for first time travelers to Europe—do you agree with my recommendations or would you suggest other places too? Let me know in the comments below.

1. Rome, Italy

Nothing compares to Rome. You could visit again and again and there will always be something new to see. If I had to choose only one place to visit in Europe then Rome would be it. Plus Rome is easy to get to and has great connections to surrounding cities and countries—making it an ideal stop for anyone planning a Eurotrip.

I would suggest staying at least three days in Rome. You’ll need a whole day to see Vatican City and you’ll want to make sure you’ve got enough time to see other attractions like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Catacombs, etc. One of my favorite (and weirdest) attractions in Rome is the Santa Maria della Concezione Crypts.

When I  traveled with my family we got cheap flights from Rome to Venice. From Venice you can take a train (or fly) to Bologna—which is super close to Florence and Pisa too. If you have the chance I would strongly recommend seeing Venice and Florence while you’re in Italy because they’re amazing!

2. Paris, France

You can’t come to Europe and not see Paris. It’s as gorgeous in real life as it is in the photos and movies. As with Rome, I would try to stay at least three days. The Louvre will take at leat a half-day (depending on your pace) and you’ll need enough time to explore the rest of the city (don’t miss Montmartre). Paris is also a great point of connection with other countries so it’s a perfect stop on your trip. If you want to do off-the-beaten-path Paris check out one of my favorite bloggers —she’s got great tips on how to experience Paris like a local.

 

3. Athens, Greece

Try to spend at least two days in Athens and eat as much food as humanly possible! The Acropolis will take a few hours and you should have enough time to see a good portion of the city. If you’ve got extra days I’d take a road trip to see Meteora. Please note when I say road trip I mean get someone else to drive you, don’t drive in Greece…Greeks are crazy drivers. 😛

4. Seville, Spain

Everyone talks about Madrid and Barcelona but if you don’t see the Golden Triangle of Andalusia  you might as well skip Spain (at least in my opinion). I can’t choose between Seville, Granada, and Cordoba so I recommend visiting all three…but I suppose if I had to choose one I’d say Seville. These three cities are super close to one another and connected by train. Try to spend at least two days in Seville and two to three days in Granada —you can see Cordoba in a day or half-day (on your way from Seville to Granada for example).

5. London, England

London is a prime stop for a Eurotrip because it’s one of the best-connected international destinations. You could even take a train to Brussels from London or get cheap flights to just about anywhere in Europe. You’ll find tons of fantastic and free attractions to see as well. I’d suggest staying three days in London and if you’ve got extra time check out day excursions to Bath and Stonehenge.

 

What do you think of my recommendations?
Would you suggest other places too? Tell us why in the comments below!