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Europe is a big place. It includes 44 countries, and while some may be separated by a sea or an ocean, the majority make up mainland Europe. With so much history and varying culture, Europe is a popular place to visit. Being European I can definitely see the draw and absolutely love visiting different countries there. For that reason I wanted to share some of my top Europe travel tips.
Europe vs. the European Union
The European Union is made up of a lot of Europe’s 44 countries, but not all of them. That’s an important distinction. When the UK left the European Union, many people kept remarking that they were leaving Europe. That’s not really possible since they are geographically part of the continent.
Likewise, it’s an assumption by some that all countries in Europe are part of the EU and therefore all have the same currency. Again, not true, and something you need to know if visiting Europe. In fact, only 27 countries are part of the EU. The rest might have certain trade agreements, but are not officially EU countries.
How easy is it to cross European borders?
One of the big draws to visiting Europe is how easy it is to travel from country to country. You can be eating breakfast in one country, stop in another for lunch and be in a third in time for bed. Of course that all depends on where you start and how big the countries are that you’re traveling to.
Some of the larger countries like France, Germany and Spain it might take a couple hours or more to get anywhere near a border depending on where you start out. For example Paris to the German border is around 3 hours by train.
Other countries are comparatively smaller, and their major cities are close together. For example Vienna, Austria to Bratislava, Slovakia is just over an hour by train.
Most borders in Europe don’t require you to even get out a passport. I remember crossing from France into Belgium and questioning whether we actually crossed the border. On trains you may get a passport check if border guards board the train, however you might not. Either way it’s a relatively painless process, but have it accessible in case you’re asked.
Top Europe travel tips you need to know
Here are some of the main things you need to know about traveling in Europe. Or things you should do to make your Europe trip more successful and enjoyable. Europe is an exciting place to visit, and with so many great options you can’t really go wrong.
Have the right currency
Not all countries in Europe are part of the EU. Switzerland, Armenia, Iceland and the UK for example – none are part of the EU and they each have their own currency. They do not use the Euro.
Some EU countries also still have their own currency. Hungary, for example, uses the Hungarian Forint and Denmark use the Danish Krone.
It’s important to make sure you have the correct currency and not assume that everyone will take the Euro. Sure, credit cards can be taken in most places, but there are some places that are cash only even now – especially in smaller towns.
Make an effort to speak the language
With well over 20 languages spoken throughout Europe it’s unreasonable to think you’ll be fluent in all of them. Or really any of them. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the effort – a little goes a long way.
I find if locals see that you’re trying they usually appreciate it and are much more likely to be nicer or give better service. I always make a point of learning how to say “Hello” and “Thank You” if nothing else. “A beer, please” never hurts either.
If you’re spending longer than just a few days you might want to take a bit more time to learn some handy words. Don’t be afraid to practice – or ask someone how something should be said.
Europe Travel Tips BONUS TIP: Download the Google Translate app which uses your phone camera to translate written text. I found this really handy in restaurants without an English menu, or small town museums with minimal English info-boards.
Make good use of Europe’s amazing trains
Ditch the short-haul flights and relax on a way more enjoyable mode of transportation. When you factor in arriving in time for your flight as well as travel time to/from the airport it’s often not too much longer (or sometimes quicker) to take the train. Not to mention you aren’t left wondering if your luggage will be joining you.
Trains are fast, efficient and relatively cheap if you book in advance. Plus, I don’t know anyone who has actually said they love to travel by plane. The same is not true about trains. Buy a Europe rail pass, or buy tickets as you go – either way trains really are the best way to travel around Europe.
Allow extra time
Not being rushed is a key part of stress-free travel. This is especially handy to consider when traveling through Europe. The reason? When traveling from country to country, the languages can vary, as can the way certain things are done. Giving yourself that extra bit of time allows for you to get accustomed to these changes.
An example is train/metro stations. Knowing where the station is to get to the airport is only half the battle. Plan extra time for having to figure out the ticket machine – or the person in front of you not understanding the ticket machine. Likewise, certain countries may be more used to visitors and have signs in English – but some might not.
Prepare for toll roads if driving
Not all European countries have toll roads, but a number of the big ones do. And if you want to get anywhere quickly you’ll need to use them at some point. Spain, Croatia and France are just a few countries with toll roads.
When driving the motorways you will often come across toll roads. You can avoid tolls by going smaller roads, but for the time taken to do that I would just pay it. You can typically pay cash or by card, and while some are automated, a lot are still manned. Have some cash handy if you prefer not to keep using your card.
Europe Travel Tips BONUS TIP: If driving from the UK (right-hand drive cars) into mainland Europe the toll booths may be on the wrong side of the car to accommodate the European left-hand drive cars. The passenger may have to be the one to pass the money over if that’s the case.
Accommodation standards vary
High traffic tourist cities will always try to get the most money for the least amount of service. Accommodation is no different. Do your research and read reviews. A couple of things to note about a lot of European accommodation that you should check for when booking:
- Bedding – King beds are not typical in Europe, and Single beds are usually very narrow.
- Bathrooms – Some budget hotels have have a number of rooms with shared bathrooms only. This is especially true of many Single rooms. Make sure yours has an en-suite bathroom if you want one in your room.
- Elevators – A lot of European cities have very old buildings. That might mean no elevators, or very small elevators. I struggled to find a hotel in my price range in Amsterdam with an elevator as many didn’t have them. And carrying heavy luggage up three flights of spiral stairs is not fun, believe me.
Don’t forget the City Tax
Most European capitals, and some other cities, have a City Tax. These taxes go towards general maintenance of areas, brochures or whatever the local government deems necessary. Often a percentage of the nightly rate, expect to pay around €2-5 per person per night City Tax for a standard hotel.
Even if you pay for your hotel in advance, this tax is not usually paid until you arrive and often cannot be pre-paid. Therefore don’t be surprised when you’re asked for it.
Europe Travel Tips BONUS TIP: Even though you might not pay it in advance, hotel’s and booking sites will disclose the City Tax amount when you book. Make sure to account for these additions in your budget.
Tipping isn’t expected
If you’re coming from North America you’re used to adding anywhere between 10% and 25% on services such as taxi rides or restaurant bills. While customary back at home, this is not expected in most places in Europe. Something you might find a little strange at first.
For excellent service you might leave a small token of appreciation, a couple of Euros here and there. But for the most part tipping is not expected or required. On credit card payment machines it doesn’t even come up as an option. Even some fancier European hotels have gratuities for bell staff built into their room costs.
The weather can vary a lot
Europe is a big place, and whether you’re in the north or south, inland or by the coast, the weather can be very different. Mediterranean climates of Italy and Greece have temperatures much higher than the northern Baltic states and Scandinavian countries.
If you plan on visiting more than one European country, plan accordingly. You may need a light jacket, umbrella and bathing suit all on the same vacation. Even traveling in winter, northern and central Europe can be very chilly, while southern Spain is moderately warm.
Have the right power converters
When charging electronics or using appliances there are two things to consider. You will need an adapter to use the outlet/socket. And not all voltage is the same in all countries.
The UK and Ireland has a 3-pin plug, however the rest of Europe uses a round 2-pin plug. Depending on where you’re traveling you might need one or both of these. I would bring two in case you want to charge your phone while also using another device.
Electricity in North America is 110V, in Europe it’s 220-240V. I once used a hair straightener in the UK and it instantly started smoking and burnt out due to the difference.
Most laptops, phones and other electronics chargers are now universally adapted to all voltage. Some older appliances like hair dryers or straighteners are not. Check before you pack them – you might need a voltage converter as well as a plug adapter.
Europe Travel Tips BONUS TIP: Most hotels have a hairdryer so this is one item you might not need to pack. Check when you book – it could save you some space in your luggage.
It’s sometimes easier to book online
Tours and transportation aren’t always high on the list to book right away. You rush to get your accommodation and flights booked but might procrastinate over the rest. While you can book some of these in person when you arrive – especially short train journeys or local tours, it’s sometimes easier to book them online.
Not only is it often a little cheaper to book online, but it is also much easier than fumbling your way through an interaction with less than stellar language skills. This is especially true if traveling in a country you don’t know the language.
Europe Travel Tips BONUS TIP: When traveling Europe I often use The Trainline app to book train tickets. It makes me much more confident I booked the right thing.
Save money with a local SIM card
My cell phone company charges me $15/day roaming to use my plan in Europe. For a 10-day trip that would be $150. There has to be a cheaper way, right?
A few years back I learned to buy a local SIM card when I travel and it’s saved me hundreds of dollars ever since. Often you can purchase them at the airport upon arrival, which might be the easiest. But you can also get them at an electronics store or sometimes convenience stores or supermarkets.
In the UK I bought a SIM card for £1, then signed up for a £10 plan which lasts a full month. Not only could I use my phone in the UK, it allowed me to travel around most EU countries. £11 vs. $150? Great deal! Just don’t lose your original SIM card, put it somewhere safe.
The best thing about European travel
Without a doubt the best thing about Europe is just how many completely different countries and cultures there are so close together. Traveling around Europe is exciting because you can often see the difference as soon as you cross a border. The language changes, the people change, the architecture changes.
Traveling around Europe is more convenient and easy than any other continent. The open borders, the access to cheaper train travel. All make it so simple to move around.
Having grown up in the UK, I now live in Canada, and definitely miss European travel. I go back at every opportunity. In Canada you can be on a train for 3 days and still be in Canada. In Europe, you might be a couple hours away from 3 different countries.
I’m a planner by nature, but in Europe you really can just hop on a train on a whim and head off to another country for the day. Hopefully these Europe travel tips will help you on your way and show you just how easy it is to see some of the wonderful countries of this varied continent.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Which of these Europe travel tips do you think will help you the most? Do you have any other tips?
What a great bunch of tips for travelling through Europe! Your advice on journeying by train is excellent – European countries are so well connected and it’s a really pleasant way to travel. Like you, we always learn the basics of a language wherever we travel and our bare minimum is “hello”, “thank you” and “beers please” as well! And we do find that any attempt to speak the local language is appreciated. We love how you have shared so many of the practical things – the city tax, right-hand drive cars and toll booths, the types of power plugs, local sim cards etc – that make a trip just that much easier if you know about them beforehand.
Completely agree with all this – people tend to think of Europe as one big place and all similar. While many of it is similar, they’re all their OWN country. I love learning different languages when I travel. I will say my biggest surprise was the train system. I took my first train ride in Italy and was so impressed. Definitely better than USA! Great tips!
Wonderful post and very helpful for visitors coming to Europe and the EU! I enjoy the comparison and how you laid out the differences between Europe and other regions. I would also agree about booking things online as if there is a queue there may be issues and you could lose time or not get accommodation when you show up! Google translate is essential for making communications easier.
I have often spoke to tourists from far flung countries who talk to me about “going to visit Europe” and it makes me chuckle, As you say it is a continent of 44 countries, all very different. Even as a European I find travel from one country here to the next can be a huge change in culture, language, food, religion and attitude.
You have covered most of the big differences between the countries and it is a great read to capture and be pre-warned of the differences and (economic, legal, social) inequalities in standards here. The use of city tourist passes here is often quite normal and are a great bargain to see attractions and get transport included. best to also get them online in advance.
That’s a great additional tip about the city passes. I’ve done those a few times and find them good – but also because I like to cram a lot in.
Great tips on travelling in Europe. Trains are so good in Europe and offer some outstanding and scenic routes in countries like Switzerland, Italy and France and you can travel between several countries on the train so it would a shame not to take advantage. I’m sure many will find the tip about tipping in Europe (no pun intended) very useful 🙂 I’ve had many exhausting conversations about that topic with my non-European friends. Great post!
These are great tips for those planning a trip around Europe. I also love traveling without borders in the EU and not worrying about visas or standing in queues at the immigration officer. I also like the tip about learning basic phrases for each country you visit. It helps, and it makes people more helpful and kind. Great post.
You must have culture shock now living in Canada. People don’t realize how big canada is and how difficult compared to Europe. I’ve always envied the Europeans being able to travel to various countries so close together. I completely agree that it’s important to learn some words in the language of your destination country.
These are great travel tips for your visit to Europe and considerations. It is quite overwhelming to travel around a continent that is so densely populated with such a huge variety of different cultures and languages. Having been to Australia it was quite a culture shock to only be dealing with one nation instead of 44 others as it is in Europe. I would also say that driving in Europe may be straight forward but most countries have their own vignettes, so better check beforehand as it can get expensive if you drive without one. With regards to hotels, it is not common to have big king/queen size-beds, more like single beds and duvets, wash clothes are also not a thing over here.
Carolin
Sometimes we Europeans forget what a privilege it is to live in this part of the world and how easy our lives are.
Good tips for those who come to visit Europe and get confused with some issues, such as the currency used, or the difference between being in the European continent or the Schengen area.
I’m with you: travelling in Canada is awesome, but the variety of cultures so close together in Europe is unmatched. That’s why, to me, it’s so cool how free-flowing the EU is when they are such a diverse group.
A couple times when going back and forth between Strasbourg, France and Kehl, Germany, the bus was stopped by police to check our IDs at the border control. They said we needed to have passports/European ID when crossing the border or it was a fine. I had no idea!
This is a great post, Emma! Lots of things that I take for granted, but other things I haven’t even really thought about too. I love how quick and easy it is to travel around and how diverse it is across the continent, but there are definitely some things you need to be prepared for. (Like… recently, I didn’t realise you had to validate train tickets in Italy until like our third train trip! Thankfully they hadn’t been checked, whoops!)
Some things like that it’s hard to know – I found the same thing in Budapest, you had to validate the ticket. I saw someone else do it so I did it and then a guard checked it, so glad that I did