Hello,

I will visit Italy with my wife, flying to Florence starting on December 5th until the evening of the 13th when we will have the return flight also from Florence.

For the period 5-8th we have booked accommodation in Florence, which we visited already 7 years ago, where we will stay with other friends, who will return home on the 8th.

We still want to visit other cities, preferably nearby. We visited already the Emilia Romagna area 3 years ago (Bologna, Ferrara and Modena), as well as the big cities in Italy over time (Rome, Milan, Turin, Venice) . For this trip, however, we would like to see new places and some advice in this regard would be helpful.

We mention that we do not have a car, we would prefer not to rent one, but if necessary we will do so.

We are in our mid 30s, passionate about visiting cultural cities, as well as landscapes, culinary visits, but also relaxation.

Any advice is welcome, thank you.

Do you guys have any recommendations how on to get really cheap tickets when you wake up and just decide to take a spontaneous trip that day? I imagine there’s something out there for people who can pack up in one hour and go anywhere.

Hello all,

I'm planning to backpack across Europe next year from April to June and I think I've cooked up a seriously good itinerary. Looking to do this order roughly: turkey-greece-albania-montenegro-croatia-serbia-romania-hungary-checz republic-poland.

That's 10 countries within 3 months. So around 10 days in each country which I'm happy with. If any of the countries I've mentioned qualify as somewhat expensive I'd prefer to avoid it so let me know. So, how much do you think this will cost considering these factors:

-Would mainly stay at hostels with the occasional cheap hotel room/apartment

-I don't eat that much

-Travelling will likely become the biggest expense considering I'm going through 10 counties

-I'd try and go out every other night

I'm 22M from France.

I want to travel for the New Year's Eve, but none of my friends wanna move this year. So I'll do it alone.

Any recommandations for a vibrant city, where i'll meet new friends and have a good night for the new year's eve ?

I'm thinking of Berlin, Glasgow, Edinburgh or Dublin, but i'm open to any other suggestion!

Hi all

We are planning our first trip to Europe (besides Iceland) in January. I’ve been to a lot of other countries, and I prefer to explore in a car and cross borders by land when possible. We always have fun with unexpected stops and detours to random villages and small towns. “Slow travel,” as some call it. We plan to be there for about ten days, flying in and out of Amsterdam. We plan to visit Belgium and Luxembourg, and possibly France and Germany.

I had one question about hotels. How challenging will it be to find last minute hotels during the first two weeks of January? Last minute deals? Last minute price gouging? No chance of availability? I can book ahead, but it would suit our schedule even better if we can do our trips and see where we’d naturally be in about five hours (at least on some days).

As far as car rentals go, just the basics. Do you recommend a company? Bundles I shouldn’t skip out on? I always get wifi and insurance.

I’m looking ahead at public transportation. In big cities with great public transportation like Amsterdam I won’t use our rental to get around. Just to get from town to town and navigate easier to drive cities with less transportation.

Anything I should know I probably didn’t think of?

Hi. I booked flights for spring 2025 to visit some of the Baltic countries. My flight will arrive in Vilnius and then buses to Riga and Tallinn. I'll will be able to spend 3 days in 2 cities but only 2 days in one. Which city should I plan for the shorter 2 days?

I like walking around the old towns, visiting museums, trying food and drinks.

Thanks

Husband and I want to take our first trip to Europe but are so stuck on picking a country. He’s never been, and I’ve only been to Switzerland for work (and loved it).

We’re more interested in history and nature/hiking (easy to moderate day trips). Not big city people.
We’re thinking we would go for 7-8 days in May. We have a pretty large budget.

Any suggestions on where to even start?!

I’m looking for what charming towns and cities to visit near Avignon or Aix-en-Provence.

I’m looking for towns similar to Modena, Verona or Bologna: good food scene, on the smaller side but walkable, with some local life/not just a touristy town; cobbled streets & old town vibe welcome. Stairs & lots of steps are a deal breaker.

was looking at: gordes, rousillon, uzes, st remy de provence, arles. as well as avingnon and aix in provence; open to other suggestions as well

I am going to Europe in June of 2025. I’ve booked a one-way flight to London with my 11 year old.

So far, we’ve booked a hotel in London for 3 days. I was thinking about booking a train or flight to the next city but I kinda just wanna wing it if in case I need more days in London or any other city after.

I’m concerned about not being able to find flights, buses or hotels onto the next city in my itinerary. Assuming I do find a train on the day of, it may be dangerous as a lone woman with an 11 year old searching for an accommodation. Is it possible to find an accommodation if I wing it over there during peak season or should I just book everything in advance?

This is my first time going to Europe and have only ever traveled through North America,

I want to travel to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Verona, Venice, Florence, Milan, Pisa, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Positano etc

Hello!

Looking for input on travel options in Europe for winter as a non-European resident. Basic travel days itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive @ Zurich, stop at Lindt museum on the way to Lucerne (staying in Lucerne, rest & explore on foot once there)

Day 3: Lucerne to Zermatt (ski Zermatt)

Day 5: Zermatt to Chamonix (ski Mont Blanc & surrounding)

Day 9: Chamonix to Tignes day trip? (really want to do this, but how feasible/accessible is it? Would have to do Tignes on this day due to activity booking availability)

Day 10: Chamonix to Meribel-Monttaret (ski Les 3 Vallees)

Day 13: Meribel-Monttaret to Rome

Day 16: Return to US

Looking for advice between Eurail/Swiss Pass for the trip duration, a la cart passes, or other options based on visiting these areas. Tignes doesn't seem super accessible - what's the best way here? Would a car rental for days 9 or 9-10 perhaps be easier?

For Meribel to Rome - this also seems like it may be a bit burdensome with connections, length, etc. Would flying be a better option vs bus > train > high speed train? Do any of the sleeper trains still operate that route?

Any feedback would be much appreciated!

When I decided on a week in Romania for October 2024, I knew I wanted a well-rounded experience of nature, history, and a touch of city life – without breaking the bank. My goal was to enjoy all that Romania has to offer in beautiful autumn colors and still keep expenses under control. Here’s how the budgeting and planning went, with numbers and breakdowns that worked… except one last-minute chaos with a no-show airport transfer!

Setting Up the Budget Basics

1. Accommodation Staying mostly in guesthouses and budget-friendly hotels, I aimed for comfort but kept it affordable. Here’s a look at my actual costs:
   • Bucharest: €55 per night for a central 3-star hotel (great location, and close to everything!).
   • Brașov: €45 per night at a cozy guesthouse right at the foothills of the Carpathians.
   • Sibiu: €40 per night in a charming old-town apartment.

Total accommodation cost for seven nights: €330.

1. Getting Around: Car Rental Romania’s countryside and small towns practically call out for a road trip. So, I booked a small rental car:
   • Rental cost: €30 per day (great deal through an online aggregator), for seven days.
   • Insurance and extras: €10 per day for added coverage (peace of mind and highly recommended on Romanian roads).

Total car rental cost: €280 (with insurance).

1. Food and Dining From local dishes like sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls) to quick roadside snacks, Romania offers plenty of tasty options. I found food costs to be surprisingly affordable:
   • Breakfast: Mostly included with the accommodation or costing around €5 at local cafes.
   • Lunch and dinner: Between €10 and €15 per meal at local restaurants. I set aside around €25 per day for meals, and it worked out almost perfectly.

Total food cost estimate: €175 (based on €25/day).

Activity and Sightseeing Expenses

Romania’s attractions range from natural wonders to historic sites. Most entry fees were fairly low:

• Peles Castle in Sinaia: €8 for basic entry, more if you want a full tour.
• Bran Castle: €10 for entry, and a little extra for guided tours.
• Bears Sanctuary near Brașov: €12, but so worth it to see these beautiful animals in a protected environment.

Total sightseeing cost: Around €50.

Airport Transfer: The “Plot Twist”

With everything ticking along nicely, I thought I had it all under control – until my airport transfer fiasco: I’d booked with Primus Trans in advance for a morning ride to the airport. But on the day? No driver in sight. I called the number stated on the primustrans.com website, only to be told there was a “scheduling issue.” After 15 minutes of waiting for Primus Trans to fix their shit and panicking, I flagged down a local taxi and practically begged the driver to get me to the airport on time. Final cost for this “emergency” transfer: €50 (double my original booking). Let’s just say, lesson learned, please consider my Primus Trans review and don’t repeat my mistakes!

Final Budget Summary

• Accommodation: €330
• Car Rental: €280
• Food and Dining: €175
• Sightseeing: €50
• Airport Transfer Mishap: €50
• Total Estimated Cost: €885

Would I do it all again? Absolutely – but maybe with a backup plan for airport transfers!

Hi people, I'm planning a euro trip this december mostly based off switzerland. Wanting to cover 3 train routes, but it seems a bit hectic. Should I remove something and anything else to make the trip more well-paced. I do enjoy visiting different landscapes so don't mind multiple changes.

1.December 20 - Check in Lucerne. Spend the day relaxing and exploring Lucerne. Overnight in Lucerne.

2.December 21 - Explore Lucerne (Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument, and Old Town). Overnight in Lucerne.

3.December 22 - Travel to Interlaken via the GoldenPass Line. Overnight in Interlaken.

4.December 23 - Take a day trip to Grindelwald. Explore Grindelwald and return to Interlaken. Overnight in Interlaken.

5.December 24 - Travel to Montreux via the GoldenPass Line. Explore the Montreux Christmas Market (staying overnight in Montreux or Geneva based on accommodation availability).

6.December 25 - Travel from Montreux/Geneva to Paris via Geneva. Overnight in Paris.

7.December 26 - Explore Paris (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Montmartre). Overnight in Paris.

8.December 27 - Day at Disneyland Paris. Overnight in Paris.

9.December 28 - Travel to Amsterdam. Spend the afternoon exploring central Amsterdam. Overnight in Amsterdam.

10.December 29 - Explore Amsterdam (canals, Anne Frank House, local markets). Overnight in Amsterdam.

11.December 30 - Fly from Amsterdam to Milan. Explore Milan in the afternoon (Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II). Overnight in Milan.

12.December 31 - Travel from Milan to Zermatt by train in the morning. Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Zermatt. Overnight in Zermatt.

13.January 1 - Take the Gornergrat Express for a scenic day trip. Relax and stay overnight in Zermatt.

14.January 2 - Take the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz, then continue on the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Chur. Overnight in Chur.

15.January 3 - Travel to Zurich from Chur. Rest and explore Zurich. Overnight in Zurich.

16.January 4 - Day trip from Zurich to the chocolate factory and Schaffhausen (Rhine Falls). Return to Zurich for the night.

17.January 5 - Checkout from Zurich.

I'd love to have a snowy christmas holiday this year. My first thought was switzerland or germany, but me and my husband are only off from dec 23 to jan 2 and I heard that the christmas markets are over after the 24th, and the cities are usually pretty dead. Is there somewhere that isn't like this? I'm afraid of spending money and having nothing to do since everything is closed :/ tbh I'm not that huge of a fan of touristy attractions, I'd rather go to more authentic stores/restaurants or some less known christmas market but they are usually the ones closed during this time lol I think I'd be happy to just walk around in the snow, have some hot chocolate and buy a hand crafted trinket :s Do you guys have any suggestions?

I found an amazing flight deal into Amsterdam, and an even better hotel deal in Antwerp.

Does anyone have advice for the most direct way to get from Schiphol to Antwerp? Seems like there are a lot of different combinations of trains and buses, just wondering what the most direct might be.

Thank you!

Hey everyone! My boyfriend and I are planning a 10-day trip to Portugal from Dec 4-14, flying in and out of Lisbon. We're a bit overwhelmed trying to put together our itinerary and could use some help!

We’d love to explore Lisbon, but we’re also torn between adding Porto and/or the Algarve region. We’re looking for a good mix of sightseeing, hiking and relaxation. A couple of questions we’re hoping you can help with:

1. Is it realistic to do Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve in 9 full days? Or would this be too much travel? We don't want to feel rushed.
2. Weather considerations: We’ve read that December can be pretty rainy in Porto. Should we maybe skip it and focus on Lisbon and the Algarve, or is Porto worth it even if it rains?
3. Any specific recommendations for the time of year? We’re aware that temps will likely be around 8-18°C, which sounds fine for us, but we’d love tips on seasonal events or hidden gems that might be unique to December in Portugal.

Any insights on whether this itinerary sounds doable or what we might want to prioritize would be so helpful! Thanks in advance for your tips! 😊

I am in Valencia, how i can get to Madrid on 4th November. My train ticket is canceled. It is urgent i need to take exam in Madrid on 5th

Need help figuring out how to spend my last day in Munich. We'd like to go somewhere outside Munich to an old village, between 1 to 2 hours away ideally. Some options that have come up are Regensburg, Augsburg, Nuremberg, and Garmisch. How would you rank these? Any other suggestions? We are already coming from Austria having seen Vienna, Salzburg, and Hallstatt. Innsbruck is an option but really want to see a German town preferably.

Hi, I have a milestone birthday next July (first week) and I’m trying to narrow down options. I usually don’t like travelling during the height of summer because of the heat/crowds/cost, but in this instance I’d like to try to celebrate if i can make it work.

I’m trying to decide between San Sebastián or Bologna/Verona. I would love good food, wine and history/scenery, but I’d also like to keep things as budget-friendly as possible. Ideally, it would be somewhere I can balance activity with down time. Would be flying from the UK and have about 5-6 days. I recognise budget friendly means dkddeeent things to different people, but I’d like to not spend more than £1k on travel and accommodation for this duration of time. (Food and activities would be separate, and I’d look at budget airlines for travel).

I’m also open to other options like Lyon or Amsterdam, although the latter may not work budget wise in the summer. I’ve already done Paris, Porto, Barcelona, most of the other big cities in Italy, Brussels, Vienna, Athens, and Geneva.

Thank you so much in advance!

D

Tips on how to safeguard money, what times we should avoid going out on, transportation, what people to avoid, popular scams etc :)

(I'm from singapore so we are rlly sheltered)

Still have some flexibility on where to fly to in Europe, but the plan is to spend a few days in England, then fly from London to Venice. Spend two days there, rent a car and head to the Dolomites, stay overnight there for a day, possibly spend another night somewhere in the mountains while driving west. Head to Milan for two days, then either spend a night somewhere else in Italy or head straight to Geneva after seeing the Matterhorn/Mount Blanc. Maybe another day or two in Interlaken/Lucerne and/or Bern (Zurich?), then head to France/Paris for the remaining 4 days.

Wondering if this itinerary makes sense overall as far as the destinations and number of days, and if there were specific recommendations on where to go/stay driving through the Alps from the Dolomites. Also unsure of the best way to break up the time in Switzerland and the best places to go. I've been to Lucerne before and would certainly not mind going back but could focus on other areas if it makes more sense. And I've never really been anywhere in France outside of Paris, is there a city that would be a good one night stay over on the train ride to Paris?

Hi all - planning a trip to the Dolomites in mid-late November. I understand that the weather is likely to be cold & unpredictable and that a number of businesses will be closed. I’m looking to hear from others who have travelled at the same time to gauge whether there will still be enough food options / attractions open during our trip. Thanks in advance,

Taking my family to the UK/Ireland for 16 days next summer for the first time. After 8 days in England and Scotland, we'll be flying from Edinburgh to Belfast and renting a car.

Loose itinerary is for a couple days in Belfast and Derry before heading to Galway for a couple days. Then, will spend a day or two in Cork with side trips to Kilkenny/Waterford before spending the last few days in Dublin.

I'm looking for some recommendations of cool sights along my route and any recommendations for adjustments. Thanks.

Here is what I have so far fly from the US. This is my first time in Europe and I am super hyped. I love the outdoor so I want to be explore the Swiss Alps that’s why I want to go to Switzerland but I saw a post about it being overhyped and Austria is the cheaper and less tourist alternatives. The problem is I can’t find much info on where to go/what to do to get the same experience. Would love some help planning.

I got the 7 days Eurail so train as a main mode of transportation is ideal. I can’t ski/snow board but I’m interested in sledging or paddle boating. I saw they have thermal baths and Krampuslauf parade, I would love pretty day hikes. Thank you!

Ive been saving up all of 2024 for this trip that i'm planning on taking in May-mid June. I need help deciding on the cities i will be visiting. Im going solo so hostels are where i'll be staying. My first question:

1. Ive done smaller 1-2 city solo trips before and I always ask other travellers who are travelling for longer how they plan their trips. A lot of them are kinda "going with the flow". So they kinda just pick where to go the day of and have little to no plan. Is that recommended? I know it makes the trip for fun, but my planner self is kinda freaked by that lol. But at the same time planning a full itinerary for a 45-50 day trip seems very strict. Not sure what is best, plan or wing it.
2. Im planning on going to less countries but more cities. 5-6 countries is my plan. Portugal, Spain, Austria, Hungary and Croatia are my top choices as of right now. Flying into portugal is the cheapest for me so id start there. These are the cities im planning on going to but i'm open to other suggestions.

Portugal

• Lisbon, Porto, Lagos, ( i was going to do Peniche but the water may be too cold for surfing since i'm going early May)
• All cities I will be in for 3-4 days (3 in Lisbon)

Spain

• Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante (4 days each)

Austria

• Vienna (2-3 days) I have a friend here so i'll be staying with her

Hungary

• Budapest (4 days)

Croatia ( not too sure where the best spots are so recs for Croatia are highly appreciated!)

• Zadar, Zagreb, Korencia ( for the national park), Split
• Again not too sure about the amount of days within each city, looking at 1.5-2 weeks in Croatia

* I may fly to Krakow and fly home from there, been wanting to go to Poland.

Is this too heavy? Im going to be taking Flix buses as much as possible, but understand that planes will be non negotiable sometimes. Is there cities im missing out on? and will 4k USD be enough ( EXCLUDING plane ticket arriving and departing Europe since i will be using points)

Thanks!

Photo of a print from 35mm film, hence the quality.

Thanks in advance.

This is my first time planning a trip in Europe. We are not the type who like to sit around and we would like to see as much as possible. With that said, I am not sure if my plan includes too much traveling:

3 nights in Naples, 3 nights in Rome, 2 nights in Florence, 2 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Ljubljana, 3 nights in Bled/area, 2 nights in Bratislava, 2 nights in Budapest.

Also if you think this could be rearranged to better allocate these days to certain places I would appreciate those suggestions as well (We are into architecture, history, and nature). Thanks to anyone who reads this!

(My[28M] wife[28F] and I). I love exploring, museums, boat and bicycle rides, beautiful architecture, and music(I play the piano). My wife likes nature, food, and scenery. This is our itinerary. We do not mind spending multiple days in the same place(slowww travel). Our budget is 5k USD including flights, stays, and meals. We plan to cook as well. We do NOT drink nor do CLUBS/BARS. We plan to opt for low-economy tickets; it's okay if we do not sit together.

Apr 23 - NYC (Layover in Lisbon) to Prague arrives around 6 pm in April 24

Apr 25 - Prague [2 days 25 & 26]

Apr 27 - Day trip to Dresden

Apr 28, 29, 30, May 1, 2, 3, 4 - Wroclaw

May 5 - (from Wroclaw) Flight to Brussels then train to Ghent(I've been to Ghent before; first time for my wife)

May 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 - Ghent

May 9 - Day trip to Bruges

May 13 - Flight back to NYC(layover in Lisbon)

We're just traveling to Brussels to get to Ghent. Initially, we just wanted to do Wroclaw and Ghent. However, the flight deal we found was $800 cheaper to fly to Prague instead of Wroclaw directly and do the Lisbon layover. Please be kind and civil. Thank you :)

EDIT: Krakow is far from Wroclaw. So I'm taking it out. Initially, we wanted to do Dresden, Wroclaw, and Belgium or the Netherlands. We found it not budget-friendly. We DO NOT line city hopping. We wanted a base and do a few day trips. It seems that Wroclaw does not have much to offer and we might have to swap it for another city.

It's a good problem to have but I'm struggling a bit figuring it out. We'll (early retirement age) be at the end of a 2-month trip through the Balkans and it looks like we'll have 10+ days, possibly as many as 14 before our flight home from Istanbul, and trying to decide how to spend it.

It's a bit of an awkward time seasonally. Last week of November, first week of December. So far I'm being pretty picky about where to go, which is not helping my case lol. We will be in Romania at that point and just need to get to Istanbul for our return flight on 10 December. Logistically it seems silly to fly across the continent to Western Europe only to turn around and fly back. Plus, my very strong preference is not to go somewhere we've already been. But we've been to nearly every country in Europe except Scandinavia and most of the Baltics. Been to Spain, Portugal, etc.

Had been looking at flying to and seeing Slovenia and Croatia, but the flight then to Istanbul is expensive and multistop. So then I was looking at just a relaxing coastal spot like Bodrum/Marmaris (we've been to Turkey but not that area), Cyprus, Greek Islands, but are those places even operational at that time of year?

Don't care about drinking/smoking/partying/sunbathing. Don't want snow or ski (though not against cold weather.) Prefer to see things, walk, eat good food. Mid-50s/mid-60s married American couple.

Would love to hear your suggestions, especially in our demographic. Thanks in advance.

I'm going to Salzburg in about a month and then traveling on to Milan, hotels are already booked with the overnight of December 7-8 planned for an OBB NightJet between the two cities. I've been checking every day and there are no tickets available and getting anxious about the travel. Are they going to be posted for sale soon? Should I give up and extend either the Salzburg or Milan hotels another night and fly? Grazie!

Hi all -

My partner and I are planning a trip to Berlin in late June of next year. I'm a little overwhelmed by the size of the city, so I want to narrow down the best things to see/do in order to streamline transit and pick an area to stay in.

Priorities:

Historial sites/museums: I have seen many suggestions for Reichstag, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin Wall Memorial, DDR Museum, Jewish Museum, Topography of Terror (are any of these must sees vs okay to skip?)

Food! We love food of all kinds, but prefer more casual breakfast/lunch and are okay with splurging on nicer meals for dinner

Cocktails - speakeasy type recs welcome

Neighborhood strolling: we enjoy quaint neighborhoods with shops where we can do some bopping around.

TIA!