European Travel Tips -
More than just old churches and fancy hotels...
Ah Europe! Finding the European Travel Tips that will give you the information you need to know before you go is akin to mining for gold these days, the market has become so flooded. After all, Europe is the destination of everyone from students with backpacks and no money to high-end leisure travelers with millions to blow. However, we've sorted through bunches of them to try and bring you a wide selection that'll help you plan the European vacation of your dreams.
Basic European Travel Tips
If you're going to Europe for the first time, congratulations! For many people, Europe is their first international trip - if that's the case for you make sure to check out our international travel tips page for some generic tips on getting ready to go abroad for the first time. Europe consists of about 50 different states (depending on which definition of the space you're using, which can fluctuate). The European Union consists of 27 members (as of this writing) and has helped to make traveling in the member states much easier by providing one currency, the Euro, and easing the legalities of international travel. Here's our list of our top 10 European Travel Tips
- Plan carefully, but be flexible. Research and make all the hard decisions about what you will or won't try to see before you go - there's a lot and you don't want to waste precious time debating with your fellow travelers whether waiting in line at the Louvre or seeing the installations at the Rodin garden is more important. One will get longer, the other will loose light.
- Get a phrasebook. Making an effort to at least open the conversation in the local language will open a lot of doors - lots of nice folks will come to your rescue in English if you can't stumble through the whole conversation in their local language. But you'll win so many points by learning to say, "Pardon me, do you speak English?" in Danish that you'll have a MUCH better and more enjoyable experience.
- Visit at least one non-tourist destination. There are tons of little towns and villages scattered throughout Europe that have a lot to offer, even if they're not on the regular tourist destination list.
- Don't try and do too much in one day. This is TOTALLY my Achilles' heal and one of the European Travel Tips that I almost always ignore to my own detriment. I'll never forget one trip where we were literally fast-walking through our 3 castle of the day and I just found myself wondering "why?". Remember, it's a vacation, even if you like and want to do tons of things, don't over-fill your days or you'll just end up sick. Like the time I saw 5 plays in less than 24 hours in London and spent the next two days sick as a dog on my Aunt's couch.
- Use the Internet to check bank holidays and national holidays for the countries you're planning on visiting BEFORE you go. You don't want to wind up having spent tons of time and money getting your much-anticipated European Vacation together (including going in shoulder or off season for better crowds) only to find out it's a little-known holiday and that every local seems to be taking advantage of it for a 3-day weekend.
- Travel as lightly as possible or operate on the 'home base' system. This is perhaps one of my pet-peeves when it comes to European Travel Tips. Realize AHEAD of time that you don't want to be dragging a huge roller bag through tiny castles or constantly stashing it at Museum coat checks. Instead, travel light or stay somewhere that you can take short day trips from and which can operate as your 'home base'.
- Kids+most museums = good, most have special attractions just for kids and families. Kids+3rd old church of the day = whining in a cavernous, echo-producing, quite place. Actually, see #4 - most adults+3rd old church of the day = whining (at least if you're traveling with me).
- Take the audio tours where available, but don't zone out to the person talking in your ears and miss what magnificent works of art/culture/science/etc. are right in front of you.
- If this is your first trip, indulge and do some of the classic touristy things. See the Sistine Chapel. Go up the Eiffel Tower. Many are cheesy, but most are worth the effort at least once. Next time you come you won't have to do it (unless you want to) and you can explore more of the back streets and side roads.
- Take your GSM Tri-band enabled phone or buy a cheap one there- (multiples if you've got multiple folks in your party) 'top-up' minutes are relatively cheap and the most common way of using a cell phone, instead of a monthly plan. Having a local number and phone will save you from having to find/use a pay phone to call you hotel or hostel to check your room status or calling a restaurant for reservations.
Know Before You Go
Although there's some useful stuff to know before you go, there's not a ton of "must-know" European travel tips for first time European travelers. Europe is, in many ways, similar to the US in terms of facilities. Accessibility can be hard, depending on your limitations because of old buildings which aren't required to meet modern standards.
Know if the countries you're going to will take your Euros or if you'll have to figure out the local currency. Despite the prevalence of the Euro these days, it's still wise to check. Northern Ireland use the Pound and Ireland itself uses the Euro, for example, so you'll have to change your money.
My number one European travel tip for first timers? Figure out how to use a bidet before you go. Seriously- the extra fixture in the bathroom freaked me out the first time I saw it. Take time and google it's uses right now. These are common in much of the world, but if you're coming from the US you'll be in for a surprise. There's nothing worse than needing to to "do your business" and suddenly being intimidated by the extra (or lack) of equipment.
For guide books, my recomendation: Rick Steve's guides are the best for finding out about lesser-known European destinations. His European travel tips are generally great, but he's all about the 'off the beaten path' thing and maybe not the best for first time visitors. Rough Guides are the best for a reading/planning experience, however, I've never brought a single one on a trip or wished I had. Foder's Guides are the best for the "all-Europe-highlight" guides, but they don't do any deep background informaiton or walking tours. My favorite place for European travel tips is, of course, friends. In the absence of those or this site, I use Lonely Planet because it's a ballanced tour guide and great for hostel-going (which is my preffered way to stay).
Staying Safe
In most Western European countries, you'll have the same problems as with any tourist location: Pickpockets, muggings, petty theft, etc. Our Western European travel tips for staying safe are pretty general: be conscious of your surroundings and who's around you. Being a tourist and looking/behaving like a tourist will make you more of a target for these things than you are at home. I find it comforting to remember that a) thousands of people live and work here without incident every day and b) common sense is your best defense. Oh yes, and c) in this digital, connected, Internet-enabled age it's relatively easy to get your traveler's checks, credit cards, passport and ATM cards replaced quickly most anywhere in the world. But see b - because you don't want to have to do it if you don't have to.
In Eastern Europe, you'll have to check with your local consulate. Most
of these countries are relatively safe, but some are still recovering
from or engaged in skirmishes, battles, etc. We're currently working on
our Eastern European Travel Tips pages, so check back soon.
European Travel Tips by Country
Looking for European travel tips for a specific destination? Simply click below! I'm working on getting all these converted to clickable maps, but until then I've arranged the European travel tips by country alphabetically.European Travel Tips From Fellow Travelers
Despite trying to divide them up (and sometimes because I'm still working on the country-specific page) I've put this section up for general Tips. As one is identified with a country, I'll move it to match. In the meantime, here's some of our best tips from other travelers. Check them out or add your own today!European Travel Tips from Other Travelers
Do you have a general European travel tip that you'd like to share? Do so here! If your tip is relevant to a specific country, you can use the links above to add to those specific pages.
Exception: If the relevant country isn't live yet, go ahead and use this form. I'll make sure it gets in the right place as soon as I finish that page.
Got a great photo from your trip to Europe? Include it with your European Travel Tips to get entered in our Monthly Top Travel Guide contest! You could become one of our Certified Travel Guides and even win prizes!
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