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Guide to Planning Your Trip to Europe

Plan the Ultimate European Trip

Research. Plan. Book.

Athens Barcelona Florence London Madrid Milan Paris Pompeii Rome Vatican Venice
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  • Guide for Planning Your Trip to Europe

Planning a trip to Europe can be intimidating and can require tons of research. We’re travel experts who have lived throughout Europe and have friends and co-workers throughout the countries. We’ve put together all our knowledge on Europe and converted it into easy-to-use guides about each country, city, museum, and attraction. Our goal is to make it easier for more people to visit Europe. Enjoy our tips in the ultimate guide for planning a trip to Europe!

Where to Stay by City

After you’ve decided the city you’d like to visit, your next step is to decide which neighborhood to stay in. Many people choose the hotel first, but we highly recommend deciding on a few neighborhoods that meet your interests before looking at hotels. Often, a great hotel and a great price are in a not-so-great area. For us, it’s location location location!

where to stay in Rome guide Europe
Where to Stay Rome
Where to stay in Paris, France guide Europe
Where to Stay Paris
Ponte Vecchio Florence 340 x 415
Where to Stay Florence
Where to stay in  Venice, Italy guide Europe
Where to Stay Venice
Where to stay along the Amalfi Coast guide Europe
Where to Stay Amalfi Coast
Where to stay in Barcelona guide Europe
Where to Stay Barcelona

Top Tours

Structured activities and experiences enrich a vacation and make it more memorable. You can walk through a museum on your own or you can be guided by an expert who loves that museum and takes pride in bringing it to life for visitors. Art is beautiful but it is the story behind the beauty that makes it interesting and memorable. Here are our best-guided tours with excellent reviews from thousands of travelers.

Rome Tours

Online traveler reviews say we have the best tours in Rome. More start times and better guides who’ll take you on a journey at the Vatican, Colosseum, and more.

Paris Tours

Exclusive access and entrance times combined with great tour guides give you the best experience possible.

Florence Tours

Florence is the ultimate Renaissance city that’s waiting to be explored. Do it right with a local by your side!

View More Tours

Best Restaurants by City

One of the biggest challenges when traveling is finding a great restaurant or place to eat when you’re hungry. We all know the feeling. You’re walking around and all a sudden you are starving, and every restaurant has a tourist menu outside. That is when people get hangry and annoyed because they don’t feel comfortable with any of the restaurant choices. Bookmark our recommendations below so you can circle back when you visit!

Best Restaurants Rome
Best Restaurants Paris
Best Restaurants Near Santa Croce
Best Restaurants Florence
Al Portego Best Restaurants in Castello Venice
Best Restaurants Venice
Best Restaurants Amalfi Coast
Best Restaurants Gothic quarter Barcelona
Best Restaurants Barcelona

Getting Around by City

One of the biggest challenges when traveling is finding a great restaurant or place to eat when you’re hungry. We all know the feeling. You are walking around and all a sudden you are starving and every restaurant has a tourist menu outside. That is when people get hangry and annoyed because they don’t feel comfortable with any of the restaurant choices. The below list of restaurant recommendations should be bookmarked so you never have to worry about a decent meal.

Guide to Visiting Rome
Paris Metropolitan Tips
Navigating Florence
Getting Around Venice
Moving Around Amalfi Coast
Barcelona Mass Transit Tips

More Activities

Barcelona Tours

Barcelona might not be the capital, but it’s absolutely worth visiting to see Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and so much more.

Venice Tours

From St. Mark’s Square to Murano and Burano (and everything in between), skip-the-line access and transportation included makes it a no-brainer to book our tours.

Vatican Tours in Rome

Vatican City Tours

It may be the smallest country in the world, but that doesn’t make it easy to explore. Skip the lines with us and get to know the real stories of art with passionate guides!

Traveler-Favorite Tours in Europe

Latest Articles

The Absolute Best Tours of Notre Dame to Book in Paris And Why

Danielle Strayer

Entry to Notre Dame is free, so the best Notre Dame tours have to earn their price with more than a ticket. The four picks below do it with scheduled group access, guides who read the rose windows panel by panel, and routes that fold in Sainte-Chapelle and the rest of Île de la Cité.…

Continue Reading The Absolute Best Tours of Notre Dame to Book in Paris And Why

Is a Tour of Mont Saint-Michel Worth It?

Danielle Strayer

The first thought most people have is, wow, that’s a four-hour drive. Fair. So is a tour of Mont Saint-Michel worth it, or is the day mostly road? The short answer is yes, and the first view is the reason why: I stepped off the shuttle, turned around, and it landed the same way the…

Continue Reading Is a Tour of Mont Saint-Michel Worth It?

Is a Tour of the Pantheon Worth It?

Danielle Strayer

Almost everyone stops dead in the doorway of the Pantheon, and that traffic jam is exactly the effect Hadrian’s architect was going for. It’s also the reason a tour of the Pantheon is worth it: the building hands you the awe instantly, then leaves you standing there with no idea what you’re actually looking at.…

Continue Reading Is a Tour of the Pantheon Worth It?

Is a Tour of Buckingham Palace Worth It?

Danielle Strayer

Planning a London trip and wondering if a tour of Buckingham Palace is worth it? Short answer: yes, mostly because these are some of the hardest tickets in the city to get your hands on. The State Rooms open for just a few weeks each summer, entry is timed, capacity is capped, and slots disappear…

Continue Reading Is a Tour of Buckingham Palace Worth It?

Is a Tour of the Acropolis Worth It?

Danielle Strayer

Heading to Athens and wondering whether a tour of the Acropolis is actually worth it? The short answer is yes, and not just because we sell them. The site is enormous, the signage is almost entirely in Greek, and without a guide you will wander past some of the most significant ruins in human history…

Continue Reading Is a Tour of the Acropolis Worth It?

Is a Tour of Park Güell Worth It?

Danielle Strayer

Heading to Barcelona and wondering if a tour of Park Güell is worth it? Short answer: yes, and mostly for reasons that have nothing to do with the mosaics. The first time I went hunting for the secret motifs tucked into the serpentine bench, the coffee cups and Catalan flags hidden in the trencadís, I…

Continue Reading Is a Tour of Park Güell Worth It?

Is a Tour of Notre-Dame Worth It?

Danielle Strayer

Heading to Paris and wondering if a tour of Notre-Dame is worth it when walking through the door costs nothing? The short answer is yes, for most people. I’ve stood on the parvis watching a hundred people angle for the same photo of the west façade, and the gap between seeing Notre-Dame and understanding it…

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Is a Tour of the Alhambra Worth It?

Danielle Strayer

Heading to Granada and wondering if a tour of the Alhambra is worth it? The short answer is yes. What surprised me most was the sheer size of the complex and how much walking it takes to cross it, and by hour three I was glad someone else was deciding where we went next. Here’s…

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Best Apartment rental agencies in Rome

Fabrizio Barile

Visiting the Paris catacombs and in search of a nearby hotel? Each year, we invest weeks exploring the city to find the finest accommodations, and here’s our curated list of the best hotels near the catacombs in Paris for every budget. 

Continue Reading Best Apartment rental agencies in Rome

Lisbon 2-Day Itinerary: What to See, Eat, and Experience in 48 Hours

Danielle Strayer

Steal this Lisbon itinerary to see the very best of the city in just 2 days. Includes tours, walking routes, dinner recommendations and more!

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1-Day Lisbon Itinerary: The Best Plan for First-Time Visitors

Danielle Strayer

Steal this Lisbon itinerary to see the very best of the city in just 1 day. Includes tours, walking routes, dinner recommendations and more!

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Best Tours to Take in Lisbon (And Which Ones to Skip) 2026 Guide

Danielle Strayer

Our local experts have hand-picked the very best tours to take in Lisbon, including the best city tour, best day trip, best food tour, and best boat tour!

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Are Tours Worth It In Lisbon? 2026 Guide

Danielle Strayer

This guide breaks down when tours in Lisbon are worth paying for and when your time (and money!) are better spent exploring on your own.

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How to Plan a Trip to Paris – 2026 Video Guide

Danielle Strayer

Stop stressing and watch this video guide to learn how to plan the perfect 2026 Paris trip.

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Arezzo at Christmas: Inside Italy’s Biggest Christmas Market in Tuscany

Fabrizio Celli

Plan the perfect winter trip to Arezzo, Italy. Explore the Christmas market, historic sites, festive food, and easy travel tips from Florence or Rome.

Continue Reading Arezzo at Christmas: Inside Italy’s Biggest Christmas Market in Tuscany

quiet, cute town during christmas season

The History of Christmas: From Ancient Rome to Santa Claus

Danielle Strayer

Discover the real history of Christmas, from ancient Roman festivals to St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Santa Claus, and modern holiday traditions.

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Europe Travel FAQs: Everything First-Time Travelers Need to Know Before Visiting

Danielle Strayer

Planning your first trip to Europe? We’ve answered the most common questions about planning, transportation, tipping, scams, and more!

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Spooky Sightseeing: Top Ghost Stories in History and Where to Find Them

Danielle Strayer

Explore the spookiest and most fascinating ghost stories from history’s most notorious figures, from Marie Antoinette to Nero and beyond.

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The Louvre Heist: What Was Taken & Why Does It Matter?

Danielle Strayer

A daring daylight heist at the Louvre left Paris stunned as thieves stole priceless Napoleonic jewels in minutes. Here’s how it all unfolded.

Continue Reading The Louvre Heist: What Was Taken & Why Does It Matter?

How to Plan a Trip to Italy: Step-by-Step Guide + Local Tips

Danielle Strayer

Learn how to plan the perfect trip with our guide to top cities, best times to visit, and insider tips for an unforgettable Italian adventure.

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Europe’s 8 Wildest Rulers Who Took Power Too Far

Danielle Strayer

Discover the mad monarchs of Europe: popes with poison, emperors with egos, and kings who turned paranoia into policy.

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What Is The Europe EES (Entry/Exit System) & How Does It Work?

Angel Castellanos

On October 12, 2025, Europe rolled out a new digital border control system called EES (Entry/Exit System). If you’re visiting the Schengen Zone (for tourism or short stays up to 90 days), your passport stamps are being replaced with a biometric record. This guide walks you through exactly how it works, what changes on your…

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