Itineraries – Wolters World

The Best Day Trips from Lisbon

Posted on September 15, 2020September 14, 2020 by Mark Wolters

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about the best day trips from Lisbon, Portugal. Lisbon is one of the top cities in Europe, and well worth visiting. It also makes a great base for some incredible day trips. If you are going to stay in Lisbon for a while, make time for some of these Lisbon day trips.

Sintra

Just 30-45 minutes from Lisbon by train, Sintra is the top day trip from Lisbon that I recommend. Think of Sintra as the “Versailles of Portugal.” The best things to see in Sintra include:

Visit the Palacio da Pena, which sits on a hill overlooking Sintra. This 19th century palace is painted in many colors, and looks like something out of Disney World.
In the National Palace, see collections of art and historic artifacts inside the best-preserved medieval palace in Portugal.
Visit the ruins of the Moorish castle, or Castelo dos Mouros.
Tip: if you are traveling with two or more people, it’s more economical to take a taxi up to the palaces rather than the bus, which can be expensive.
Visit the Toy Museum, which has toys going back hundreds of years.
Go hiking or biking at the Sintra-Cascais National Park
Visit the gardens at Quinta da Regaleira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
See how the monks lived at Convento Capucho
Visit the Sintra Modern Art Museum
Try Queijadas, a local pastry treat

There are trains from Lisbon to Sintra every 20-30 minutes during the week. Many people commute to Lisbon from Sintra, so it’s easy to travel back and forth.

Six Rules for European Train Travel

Cabo da Roca

This cape is the westernmost point of continental Europe and offers a dramatic landscape of rugged cliffs dropping off into the ocean. It’s not far from Sintra, so you can combine both into a single day trip from Lisbon.

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Visiting Lisbon

Cascais

For a beach getaway near Lisbon, Cascais is the best choice. It’s easy to reach from Sintra or Lisbon. The laid back atmosphere and affordable prices have led to Cascais becoming a popular spot for retirees.

Estoril

Estoril is just one train stop from Cascais, and you can even walk between the two. Estoril has some big casinos and is best known for a major tennis tournament each summer.

Obidos

About 90 minutes north of Lisbon, you’ll find the medieval town of Obidos, one of my favorite towns in Iberia. Obidos is an old walled city, and the best thing to do is just to wander the streets and take in the atmosphere. You won’t see as many international tourists here, so you’ll get to experience small-town Portugal. Other things to do in Obidos include:

Drink Ginga from a chocolate cup. It’s a sour cherry drink, served in a chocolate cup.
Walk the city walls for spectacular views of the surrounding area
Visit Obidos during a festival. They have a ton of festivals in Obidos, so try to time your visit to coincide with one of them. My favorite is the Medieval festival each summer.
Tour the churches of Obidos, including the Church of Santa Maria, where a 9-year-old king was once married to a 7-year-old bride.
The area around Obidos is great for outdoor adventures including hiking and cycling.

Tomar

About 90 minutes from Lisbon, the city of Tomar is one of my favorite cities in Portugal. There’s a really cool pedestrianized Old Town area with many restaurants overlooking the river. Tomar is best known for the UNESCO World Heritage Site at the Convento de Christo. Once the seat of the Knights Templar, the chapel is one of the most stunning in all of Europe.

Visit the John the Baptist church in the Plaza Republica
Attend the Festa dos Tabuleiros, which happens once every four years
See the world’s largest collection of matches at the Museum of Matches

Santarem

On the same train line as Tomar, Santarem is about one hour from Lisbon. This is a good place to experience “inland Portugal.” There are some really nice squares in Santarem, and we’ve gotten some good souvenirs here. It’s a nice stop on your way back to Lisbon from Tomar.

easy day trips from lisbon — Day trips just add to Lisbon’s wonder.

Setubal

Traveling South from Lisbon, Setubal is about 90 minutes by train. They are most famous for a dish called “Choco.” It’s not chocolate, it’s cuttlefish. Choco Frito is a popular dish you have to try in Setubal. There’s also a large nature reserve here, and it’s a good place to spot dolphins.

Evora

About two hours east of Lisbon by train, the city of Evora may actually be a better weekend getaway from Lisbon. There are so many great things to see in Evora that it’s worth more than a day trip. Some of my favorite things in Evora include:

See the Roman temple, which is really well-preserved because it was used in the Middle Ages as the foundation for a home and it wasn’t re-discovered until many years later in the 19th century.
The cathedral here was built in 1186, the cloisters are well worth checking out
Visit the Museum of Evora, which houses Flemish paintings, Ecclesiastical furnishings, Roman statues and more.
See the Chapel of Bones, where the bones of more than 5,000 people were used to build a chapel. It’s truly a macabre attraction, but it’s so interesting, you have to see it.
Hang out in Giraldo Square. This is where you’ll find the tourism office, and many cafes and restaurants. It’s an important part of Evora history, and a popular place for tourists to visit.

Fatima, Alcobaca, and Batalha

Our last Lisbon day trip is actually three destinations in one. If you opt for a tour from Lisbon, most of them will combine these three places. Batalha is an unfinished church, while Alcobaca is a monastery that you can tour. The real highlight of this day trip is Fatima, where the Virgin Mary appeared before three children in 1917. Fatima is a very important religious pilgrimage site, and the three children who saw the Virgin Mary are now buried in the Basilica here. Each May and October, millions come to celebrate the apparitions

There are hourly buses to reach Fatima from Lisbon, so it’s a great Lisbon day trip. Make sure you take the bus and not the train, as the train station in Fatima is not conveniently located to the sites.

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While living in Lisbon for five years, these day trips from Lisbon became my favorite excursions. I recommend these Lisbon days trips to anyone visiting Lisbon. Looking for more tips on travel in Portugal? Check out these other blog posts:

Two Week Scotland Itinerary for a First Time Visitor

Posted on July 30, 2020July 21, 2020 by Mark Wolters

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about how to build a travel itinerary for Scotland. Sometimes the most difficult part of travel is deciding where to go and building out a travel itinerary. There are so many cool places to visit in Scotland that it can be hard to narrow them down. This Scotland travel itinerary covers a two-week trip, so you can increase or decrease accordingly, depending on how much time you have to spend in Scotland.

Edinburgh

It’s best to start your Scotland itinerary in Edinburgh. The capital city is a great place to begin your trip and learn about the history of Scotland. Edinburgh is loaded with historical sites that are concentrated in the old town center. It’s a very walkable city, too. Some highlights of Edinburgh include:

Edinburgh Castle
Holyrood House
Walk the Royal Mile
The Museum of Childhood
National Gallery
National Museum of Scotland
Shopping on Princes Street
Hike up Arthur’s Seat

Stirling

Once you’ve brushed up on Scottish history in Edinburgh, I suggest going to Stirling, which is about an hour away. You can spend one night there and cover the highlights in a day, or you can even visit on a day trip from Edinburgh. Some things to do in Stirling include:

Stirling Castle
William Wallace Memorial
Church of the Holyrood
Stirling Smith Art Gallery

Fort William

Continuing on, Fort William is about two hours from Stirling and is a nice base for some outdoor activities in Scotland. Located near Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, there are many places to hike and explore waterfalls and lochs near Fort William. There are many cool small towns to choose from in Scotland; we like Fort William because of the access to everything nearby.

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Scotland

Isle of Skye

After another two-hour drive, you arrive at the Isle of Skye, one of the most beautiful places in Scotland. Make sure you stop at the Eilean Donan Castle on the way! If you are looking for wild and natural beauty, the Isle of Skye is the place for you! Finding accommodation on the Isle of Skye can be difficult, so we often stay in nearby Plockton. There are a lot of cool sites on the Isle of Skye. Some of our favorites are:

Kilt Rock
The Old Man of Storr

Mistakes to Avoid When You Visit Scotland

Inverness

From Skye, we head to Inverness. Along the way, be sure to stop at Loch Ness to learn the history of the Loch Ness Monster. Our boys really loved our stop at Urquhart Castle, too. Inverness is the de facto capital of the Northern Highlands, which is another beautiful region of Scotland. Black Isle is another great place to see nearby. We recommend spending a few days of your Scotland itinerary in the Scottish Highlands before continuing on.

edinburgh airport — Scotland is so much fun even the kids get along.

Aberdeen

From the Highlands, we head back East to Aberdeen. Along the way from Inverness to Aberdeen, there are several castles and ruins to check out. Aberdeen is known as “the Granite City” due to all of the granite buildings and monuments. Scotland’s third-largest city is an important shipping and fishing hub, so there is a lot of maritime history here as well.

Shetland Islands

From Aberdeen, we recommend flying to the Shetland Islands. This archipelago off the northern coast of Scotland has a lot of historic sites from the Iron Age and Bronze Age. Within the Shetland Islands, you can take ferries around to explore the various islands. The Orkney Islands are another popular destination in this region.

Glasgow

From the islands, I recommend flying back to Glasgow to wrap up your Scotland travel itinerary. While Glasgow is a more industrial city than Edinburgh, there are still many cool things to see, in addition to a growing foodie scene. Glasgow has really been undergoing a cultural revolution over the last decade or so.

Kelvin Grove Art Gallery
Botanical Gardens
Glasgow Street Art

Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!

While I do recommend spending as much time in Scotland as you can, realistically most of us have limited vacation time. This Scotland itinerary is meant to help you enjoy a two-week trip to the region, getting to know some of my favorite places. Even if you can only spend one week in Scotland, it’s well worth the journey! Looking for more tips on travel in the UK? Check out these other blog posts:

Poland Itinerary: Best Places to Visit in Poland

Posted on July 25, 2020July 21, 2020 by Mark Wolters

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about Poland, an underrated travel destination in Central Europe. I love recommending a Poland trip to our friends and followers. I’ve made many trips to Poland, so I want to share the best cities to visit in Poland. This list of the best places to visit in Poland will help you start planning your Poland trip.

Gdansk

Start your Poland itinerary in the north of Poland, in Gdansk. Gdansk is a major shipping port on the Baltic Sea. It also happens to be where World War II started. The Old Town is incredible, with monuments and churches. The harbor is also a popular thing to see in Gdansk, with harbor tours readily available. If you are looking for a good souvenir to bring home, Gdansk is a big part of the amber trade, so you will see a lot of amber for sale in Gdansk.

Baltic Beaches

Staying along the Baltic coastline of Poland, take a few days to explore the tiny resort towns of the Polish seaside. Swinoujscie and Sopot are two of the better-known Polish beach towns, but there are dozens of small beach towns known mostly only to locals and Germans who flock here in the summertime.

Masurian Lake District

Many people know of the UK’s Lake District, but did you know that Poland also has a Lake District? The Masurian Lake District in northeast Poland has more than 2,000 lakes. If you are looking for an affordable, relaxing family summer vacation, rent a lake home in this district. Be sure to stop at Malbork Castle on your way down from Gdansk!

Wroclaw

Traveling towards the southwest of Poland, not far from the border of the Czech Republic, Wroclaw has one of the prettiest town squares in Poland. Wroclaw is much less touristy than some other cities in Poland, so it gives you an authentic feel for Polish culture. The town is full of interesting historic and cultural sites.

Warsaw

The capital city of Poland, Warsaw is another fun city to explore. The National Museum has one of the best collections of art in Eastern Europe. Check out the uprising museum and the old town square, which has been completely rebuilt after WWII.

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Warsaw

Lublin

In the southeast of Poland, Lublin is a cute little town with a historic center. Like Wroclaw, not many tourists visit Lublin, so you really get a sense of Polish culture and history here, without all the trappings of more popular tourist towns.

Krakow

I think Krakow is the prettiest city in Poland. Krakow receives about 10 million visitors per year, so the tourist infrastructure is well-developed. Some of the best things to see in Krakow include the town square, St. Mary’s church (which is on the largest square in Europe,) and Wawel Castle, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world. Krakow is also a good base for a day trip to the nearby Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps.

Ten Things That Will Shock You in Krakow

Tatra Mountains

Two hours south of Krakow is the alpine paradise of the Tatra Mountains, the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains. This region is an outdoor adventure paradise in both summer and winter. The ski resorts are incredible, and a fraction of the price of skiing in Switzerland or Germany.

Getting Around Poland

Travel within Poland is primarily by bus or train, and it’s not the fastest system. However, it’s very affordable! Just be realistic with your travel times and how much time you allocate between cities.

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There are many more places to visit in Poland; this is just my quick list of the best places to visit in Poland. With enough time, I encourage you to travel all over this great country and enjoy the scenery, culture, and food! Looking for more tips on Central Europe travel? Check out these other blog posts:

Spain & Portugal Itinerary: Two Weeks in Iberia

Posted on July 24, 2020July 21, 2020 by Mark Wolters

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about how to build a travel itinerary to the Iberian countries of Spain and Portugal. Sometimes the most difficult part of travel is deciding where to go and building out a travel itinerary. There are so many cool places to visit in Spain and Portugal that it can be hard to narrow them down. Since most Americans get a two-week vacation at the most, we’re going to share our recommendations for a two-week Portugal and Spain trip.

Spain and Portugal Vacation Overview

The best option for this Spain and Portugal itinerary is to buy a multi-city ticket so you can make the most of your travel time. Before we get into the details, here’s an outline of this Spain and Portugal trip planner. We recommend spending 2-3 days in each of these locations, adding more day trips as you see fit.

Fly to Barcelona
Train to Madrid
Train to Seville
Bus to the Algarve
Train from the Algarve to Lisbon
Train from Lisbon to Porto
Fly home from Porto

Spain and portugal trip — Your budget will like this trip too.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is a great place to start your Spain and Portugal itinerary. Experience the Catalan culture of Barcelona and see some of the highlights of the city:

Explore the Gothic neighborhood of Barcelona
Visit the Sagrada Familia
Go to Park Güell to see more of Gaudi’s work
Hit the Barcelona beaches and beach bars (and clubs if you can stay up late enough!)
Visit Barcelona Museums, including Museum Nacional Catalunya, and the Picasso Museum

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Barcelona

Madrid, Spain

From Barcelona, you can reach Madrid by train in under three hours. Spain’s capital city has some of the best museums in the world. Some of the best things to see in Madrid include:

The Prado Museum, one of my favorite museums in the world
Reina Sofia Museum, featuring Picasso’s Guernica
Thyssen Art Museum
The Royal Palace and Cathedral
Plaza Mayor

Ten Things That Will Shock You in Madrid

There are also some good day trips from Madrid if you have some extra time:

Segovia is a World Heritage City, just 30 minutes from Madrid by train. It’s best known for the castle and the Roman aqueduct.
Toledo was the capital of Spain before it moved to Madrid. Just one hour from Madrid by train, Toledo is still the home of the Catholic Church in Spain and has some pretty amazing architecture.

Iberia travel ideas — just hanging around Iberia

Seville, Spain

From Madrid, make your way south to the city of Seville. The train from Madrid to Seville is about 2 ½ hours and you’ll find yourself in a stereotypical Spanish village. Enjoy paella and flamenco, attend a bullfight, or visit the cathedral and gardens. An easy day trip from Seville is to visit Cordoba for the afternoon. There, you’ll see the Mezquita-Catedral, which is a church built inside of a 7th-century mosque.

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Seville, Spain

Algarve, Portugal

From Seville, take a bus to the Algarve region of Portugal in under three hours. The Algarve is the beach resort region of Portugal, and you’ll be pleased to find prices in Portugal much cheaper than in Spain, which is already very affordable. Spend as much time as you’d like to explore the various beaches of the Algarve before continuing your Portugal and Spain trip in Lisbon.

Lisbon, Portugal

I lived in Lisbon for five years, so it’s near and dear to my heart. There are so many cool things to do in Portugal’s capital city. Some of my favorite things to do in Lisbon include:

Experience the amazing nightlife in the Barrio Alto
Visit the castle on the hill for amazing views of Lisbon
Visit the Jerónimos Monastery
Tour Belém Tower, a 16th-century fortress that marks the entrance to the city
Try the custard tart at Pasteis de Belém
Visit the Gulbenkian Museum, a once-private collection of art and antiques
Visit the local beaches near Lisbon
Take the city train out to Sintra to see the palace

Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Lisbon

Porto bridge — getting some exercise in Porto

Porto, Portugal

Lastly, you will wrap up your itinerary in Porto, Portugal. Porto has much more of an “old-world” feeling to it, and it’s a great city to explore. Porto is most famous for port wine, and visiting the wine caves to sample port wine is one of the most popular things to do in Porto. Other things to see in Porto include:

Explore the food and drink of the Ribeira district
Visit the Porto Cathedral, one of the oldest monuments in the city
Go inside the São Bento train station to see the Azulejos blue tiles
Eat a francesinha, which is like a “drowned sandwich” and they are so good!

From Porto, you can fly back home to end your Spain and Portugal vacation.

Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!

While I do recommend spending as much time in each of these cities as you can, realistically most of us have limited vacation time. This Spain and Portugal itinerary is meant to help you make the most of your time on your first trip to the Iberian Peninsula while giving you the chance to experience two unique countries and cultures. Looking for more tips on travel in Europe? Check out these other blog posts:

Europe Itinerary: 2 Weeks in London, Paris, Prague, and Rome

Posted on July 23, 2020July 21, 2020 by Mark Wolters

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about how to build a travel itinerary to some of the best cities in Europe to visit. Sometimes the most difficult part of travel is deciding where to go and building out a travel itinerary. There are so many cool places to visit in Europe that it can be hard to narrow them down. Since most Americans get a two-week vacation at the most, we’re going to share our recommendations for two weeks in Europe. If you are traveling to Europe for the first time, this is the perfect Europe trip planner for you.

Europe Itinerary Overview

The best option for this European itinerary is to buy a multi-city ticket so you can make the most of your travel time. Before we get into the details, here’s an outline of this Europe trip planner.

Fly to London
Train to Paris
Fly to Prague
Fly to Rome
Fly home from Rome

Three Days in London

London is a great place to begin your first trip to Europe. There are frequent flights from many cities in the US, often for a good price. If you’ve never traveled abroad before, then arriving in an English-speaking country is a good first step.

Some of our favorite things to do in London include:

See Big Ben and the Parliament
Visit the (free!) British Museum
Visit the Tate Art Gallery
See a Shakespeare production at the Globe Theater
Visit Westminster Abbey
See the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London
Experience London pub culture and eat some pub grub
Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace

If you want to see more of England, there are some easy day trips from London. Hampton Court is the palace of King Henry VIII. The University town of Cambridge is also a fun day trip from London.

Ten Things That Will Shock You in London

Four Days in Paris

From London, the train to Paris takes less than three hours. You’ll want to spend at least three days in Paris in order to see the major highlights. Contrary to popular belief, you can see Paris without spending a ton of money. We love to buy food on the street or at the market, and just hang out in the local parks, people watching.

A few of our favorite things to do in Paris include:

If you only visit one museum in Paris, visit the Louvre. It’s a huge museum, and it can take at least half a day to see the highlights.
See the famous Impressionist paintings at Musee d’Orsay.
Take a stroll down the Champs Elysee.
Visit the Arc de Triomphe. (Enter underground; don’t try to cross the roundabout!)
Visit the Eiffel Tower. If you are claustrophobic, don’t try going to the top, the elevators are packed! You can just as easily enjoy the tower from the park below; there’s even a playground for kids to run around in.
Explore other neighborhoods of Paris; Montmartre is one of our favorites and we usually stay there. The Latin Quarter is also fun and full of students.
Take a boat tour of the River Seine; evening tours are really neat as you can see everything lit up.
Enjoy Parisian cuisine and wine. Of the four cities in this Europe itinerary, Paris has the best food, so enjoy it!

There are also many great day trips from Paris. The cathedral at Chartres, Monet’s Giverny, the Palace of Versailles, and the Loire Valley are all excellent day trips from Paris.

What to Know Before You Visit Paris

family in prague — Family time in Prague.

Three Days in Prague

From Paris, it’s easy to catch an inexpensive flight to Prague. You’ll arrive in less than two hours to one of my top three favorite cities in the world. Prague was spared from World War II more than other countries, so the historic architecture is truly fascinating.

Some of my favorite things to see in Prague include:

Old Town Square
Astronomical Clock
Charles Bridge
Jewish Quarter and the Jewish Cemetery
Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral
Sampling Czech cuisines, like duck, dumplings, and beer

Ten Things You Should NOT Do in Prague

Four Days in Rome

From Prague, we head south to Rome. The flight is just under two hours, and you’ll likely find good fares with a low-cost carrier. Rome is the perfect city to wrap up your first trip to Europe. With many iconic Roman historic sites, a trip to Rome is a must! Just make sure you pre-book tickets for the most popular attractions, or you’ll spend the better part of your time in Rome just waiting in lines.

Some of the best things to do in Rome include:

The Colosseum
The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
Villa Borghese Art Collection
Flip a coin into Trevi Fountain
Climb the Spanish Steps
Explore the smaller streets and squares just off the tourist plazas to get a sense of the “real Rome”

Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!

While I do recommend spending as much time in each of these cities as you can, realistically most of us have limited vacation time. This Europe itinerary is meant to help you make the most of your time on your first trip to Europe while giving you the chance to experience four unique countries and cultures. Looking for more tips on travel in Europe? Check out these other blog posts:

10 Day France Itinerary

Posted on July 22, 2020July 21, 2020 by Mark Wolters

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about all of the amazing places to visit in France. Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, but there’s a ton of other places to go in France. There are so many variations of France travel itineraries that it can be hard to narrow down. So today we’re sharing our favorite French destinations to help you plan 10 days in France.

Three Days in Paris

You will likely start your France itinerary in Paris, as it’s where most international flights arrive. We recommend spending three days in Paris, exploring the major sights of the City of Lights. A few of our favorite things to do in Paris include:

Visit the Louvre, but have a plan ahead of time for the items you want to see. Otherwise, this can take up a whole day of your trip!
See the famous Impressionist paintings at Musee d’Orsay.
Take a stroll down the Champs Elysee.
Visit the Arc de Triomphe. (Enter underground; don’t try to cross the roundabout!)
Visit the Eiffel Tower. If you are claustrophobic, don’t try going to the top, the elevators are packed! You can just as easily enjoy the tower from the park below; there’s even a playground for kids to run around in.
Explore other neighborhoods of Paris; Montmartre is one of our favorites and we usually stay there.
Take a boat tour of the River Seine; evening tours are really neat as you can see everything lit up.
Enjoy Parisian cuisine and wine. Don’t forget all of the sweet desserts, too! (Remember, taxes and service is already included in the menu price!)

Day Trips from Paris

You can stay in Paris and still enjoy some excellent day trips out of the city. Disneyland Paris and Versailles are two of the more popular day trips from Paris.

Three Days in Normandy

Normandy is a beautiful spot in Northern France, best known for the D-Day beaches. Americans especially will want to visit this important historic site from World War II. I recommend taking the train from Paris to one of the towns in Normandy, and renting a car from there to explore the countryside.

Rouen is a great home base in Normandy, as it’s a larger town with good public transportation connections. Bayeux is another good spot to stay in Normandy, as it has some great museums and easy access to the D-Day beaches.

silly tourists — Got to love a rain soaked visit to Versailles.

Some of the best things to see in Normandy include:

The D-Day Beaches: Omaha Beach, the American cemetery at Omaha, Utah Beach, and the Paratrooper Museum.
The Battle of Normandy Museum in Bayeux, as well as the Bayeux tapestry
Rouen and the cathedral that was painted by Monet several times
Sample the local apple cider and fresh seafood.
Visit Mont St. Michel, the famous abbey on an island and one of the most famous pilgrimage sites for over 1200 years.
If you are visiting France with kids, Normandy has some really great carnivals.

What to Eat in Normandy, France

Three Days in Loire Valley

From Normandy, either drive or take the train to the Loire Valley. This is the former playground of French royalty. The valley is dotted with dozens of ornate castles and estates. Amboise is a good home base for your stay in the Loire Valley. We recommend only seeing one or two chateaux per day. Otherwise, they all start to blend together.

In addition to visiting the chateaux of the Loire Valley, there are many cool things to do in the region.

It’s one of the best wine-making regions of France, so a wine-tasting tour is a great idea.
Duck is a local specialty, so make sure you try some while visiting
Tour the chateaux by bicycle or hot air balloon! There are specialty tours of all kinds in the Loire Valley

From here, it’s only about 90 minutes by train to get back to Paris for your flight home. If you have more time to spend in France, then we recommend heading south to Provence and/or the Cote d’Azur for a few more days.

Avignon, where the Papal Palaces were
Arles, with the Roman ruins
Nimes, with more Roman history
Visit the French Riviera beaches of Nice, Cannes or even Monte Carlo

kids in france — many years of visiting France

We love exploring all of the regions of France, including Paris. We have visited many times with our kids, and we look forward to visiting many more times in the future. Narrowing down a France itinerary to ten days is difficult, as there are just so many cool things to see in France.

Looking for more tips on travel in France? Check out these other blog posts:

The Best 2 Week Central Europe Itinerary

Posted on June 27, 2020June 21, 2020 by Mark Wolters

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about the countries of Central Europe. Sometimes the most difficult part of travel is deciding where to go and building out a travel itinerary. There are so many cool places to visit in Europe that it can be hard to narrow them down. Today we’re going to share our recommendations for a 10 to 14-day itinerary through central Europe.

Budapest, Hungary

We recommend starting in Budapest, Hungary. It’s one of the best cities in Europe to visit, so it’s a great place to start your Central Europe itinerary. There are so many cool things to see in Budapest. A few of our favorites include:

Buda Castle
The Parliament Building
The Terror Museum

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Budapest

Vienna, Austria

Less than three hours by train from Budapest, our next stop is Vienna. In terms of culture, Vienna is one of the top places to visit in Europe. It was once the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as the Habsburg Dynasty. Some of our favorite things to do in Vienna include:

St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Walking the pedestrian street along Graben
Visiting the Vienna State Opera, Wiener Staatsoper
Visit some of Vienna’s palaces, including Schönbrunn Palace and Belvedere Palace
Experience Vienna’s famous cafe culture, with a cup of coffee and a slice of sacher torte.

Five Mistakes to Avoid When You Visit Vienna

Bratislava, Slovakia

Slovakia’s capital city is worth a visit and is an easy day trip from Vienna. It’s only about an hour by bus from Vienna and is like a miniature Vienna. However, Bratislava is a really interesting juxtaposition of old Europe and mid-century Communism. One one side of the Danube, you have Old Town and the Bratislava Castle As you cross the “UFO bridge” you’ll see Communist-era gray block buildings.

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Bratislava

Prague, Czech Republic

From Vienna, make your way to Prague. It will take about four hours by train to get from Vienna to Prague. Prague is really the jewel of this Central Europe itinerary as it’s one of my best cities in Europe to visit. In fact, Prague is one of my top three cities in the world. Some of my favorite things to see in Prague include:

Old Town Square
Astronomical Clock
Charles Bridge
Jewish Quarter and the Jewish Cemetery
Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral
Sampling Czech cuisines, like duck and beer

If you are planning a ten-day tour of Central Europe, these three destinations (plus a Bratislava day trip) will round out your Central Europe itinerary. If you have an extra four days, I recommend adding Salzburg, Austria, and Munich, Germany to your Central Europe itinerary.

Ten Things You Should NOT Do in Prague

Salzburg, Austria

From Vienna to Salzburg, it’s about three hours by train. It’s the home of the “Sound of Music” movie. The town has been very well-preserved, and even the more modern places like McDonald’s have been built to fit the 18th century aesthetic. This is also the home of Mozart, so there are many Mozart attractions to see in Salzburg. Some other things to see in Salzburg include:

The Hohensalzburg Fortress on the hill
Christmas markets if you visit Salzburg in the winter
Sound of Music Tour to hit all the movie highlights

Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Salzburg

Munich, Germany

Munich is another amazing city in Central Europe, and it’s only 90 minutes by train from Salzburg. Known best for Oktoberfest, Munich is fun year-round. Some of my favorite things to do in Munich include:

Visit the Hofbrauhaus for a liter stein of beer
Munich has three really great art museums, each of which is worth visiting
Nymphenburg Palace
Residenz
Visit car museums

Munich also has some great day trip opportunities, including Neuschwanstein Castle.

What NOT to Do in Munich

Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!

I hope this is helpful as you start to plan out your Central Europe itinerary. There are endless destinations to visit in Central Europe, but these are some of the highlights from my years living in Europe and traveling there with my family. Looking for more tips on travel in Europe? Check out these other blog posts: