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
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: