The best of Europe
Ancient Rome, royal London, sunny Spain and castles along the Rhine, planned around the way you like to travel.
Choosing how to see Europe
The first decision is not where to go but how. Escorted tours take care of hotels, transfers and expert guides, and they are a great choice for a first trip. River cruises on the Rhine and the Danube let you unpack once while the ship docks right in the heart of a new town each day. Independent travel by rail suits travelers who like to set their own pace, with fast trains linking cities like Rome and Florence in about an hour and a half.
Then comes the where. Italy offers Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany and the coastal villages of the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast. The UK pairs London with Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands and the Cotswolds. Spain brings Barcelona, Madrid and the Moorish cities of Andalusia. Central Europe strings together Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Salzburg, with the Alps close by. Our advice: fewer places, more time in each.
Late spring and early fall are the sweet spots, with mild weather and fewer crowds than midsummer, when the south can be very hot. Winter brings Christmas market river cruises. US travelers need a passport valid at least three months beyond their departure from the Schengen area, the UK now requires an online travel authorization, and new European entry systems are being phased in. We'll keep you current on what's required.
Europe at a glance
Our favorite ways to spend your time
Not an exhaustive list, just the things our travelers come home talking about.
Things to do
- Take a river cruiseSail the Rhine past hilltop castles or the Danube from Germany through Austria and into Hungary, with a guided walk in each port.
- See the Alps by trainSwitzerland's scenic railways, like the Glacier Express, climb past glaciers, lakes and tiny mountain villages.
- Hike the Cinque TerreWalk the cliffside paths between five pastel fishing villages, then ride the train back.
- Taste your way through TuscanyA cooking class, a winery lunch in Chianti and an afternoon in a medieval hill town.
- Shop the Christmas marketsFrom late November, Vienna, Prague and the towns along the Rhine and Danube glow with stalls, lights and mulled wine.
Places to go
- ItalyRome, Florence and Venice for a first visit, then Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast and the lakes on the next.
- The United KingdomLondon's history and theater, Edinburgh's castle, the Scottish Highlands and storybook Cotswolds villages.
- Spain & PortugalBarcelona, Madrid, Seville and Granada, with Lisbon and Portugal's Douro Valley an easy addition.
- Central EuropeVienna's palaces, Prague's Old Town, Budapest on the Danube and Salzburg in the shadow of the Alps.
- The Rhine & the DanubeEurope's classic river cruise routes, lined with castles, vineyards and riverside towns.
Things to see
- The Colosseum & Roman ForumThe heart of ancient Rome. A guided entry saves time in line and brings the ruins to life.
- The Vatican Museums & Sistine ChapelMichelangelo's ceiling is worth the crowds. Early-entry tickets make a big difference.
- The Sagrada FamíliaGaudí's extraordinary basilica in Barcelona, under construction since 1882.
- Westminster & the Tower of LondonBig Ben, Westminster Abbey and the Crown Jewels, all within reach of a Thames river boat.
- The AlhambraGranada's Moorish palace and gardens. Timed tickets sell out, so we book them early.
What to eat in Europe
Dishes to order
- Roman pastaCacio e pepe, carbonara and amatriciana: simple, perfect and best eaten in a Roman trattoria.
- TapasSmall plates of jamón, croquetas, patatas bravas and grilled seafood, shared over a glass of wine in Spain.
- Wiener schnitzelThin, golden breaded veal, Vienna's signature dish, served with potato salad and a lemon wedge.
- GelatoDenser and silkier than ice cream. Look for muted, natural colors, a sign it's made fresh.
Where to eat
- Trattorias & osteriasFamily-run Italian spots with short menus and daily specials. Lunch is often the best value of the day.
- Food marketsBarcelona's La Boqueria and London's Borough Market are perfect for grazing between sights.
- Pubs & beer hallsA Sunday roast in an English pub or a long table and a liter of beer in Munich or Prague.
What to drink
- Wine where it's grownChianti in Tuscany, Rioja in Spain and crisp whites from the Danube's Wachau Valley.
- Espresso at the barDo as Italians do: order at the counter and drink it standing up.
- Czech pilsnerThe golden lager was born in the city of Plzeň in 1842, and it's still a point of national pride.
Let's plan your Europe trip
Europe is one of our top sellers, and we've been sending travelers there since 1974 on escorted tours, river cruises and trips by rail. Tell us when you'd like to travel and we'll come back with options and current pricing.
