From packing essentials to solo travel tips and first-timer recommendations, here are all the travel hacks you need to know about ahead of your trip to Europe.
Travel by train
Mainland Europe is extremely well-connected by rail networks, so there’s no need to rack-up a heavy load of guilt on short distance flights between neighbouring countries. The infrastructure is continually improving, especially with excellent high-speed trains in Italy and Spain, and new routes continue to expand, including the new Eurostar extension to Berlin.
Generally, rail travel in Europe is pretty affordable, and obviously more sustainable than flights or a road trip, not to mention the fact that travelling by train is an experience in and of itself. You’ll literally see more of the continent as Europe’s array of natural landscapes whizz past your window. Picture alpine lakes, luscious green forests and dreamy coastlines providing the backdrop to your journey. Comfortable, scenic and efficient – there’s no better way to travel.
As you can probably tell, we love train travel here at Culture Trip, and that’s why we launched our amazing global collection of small-group Rail Trips. They include some of the best routes in Europe and beyond, allowing us to cover a lot of ground in just 7-14 days, while also standing up to our commitment to responsible travel.
Rail Trips in Europe include Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands, which features a ride on the real life Hogwarts Express, and Classics of Northern Italy, which fits Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan and Lake Como into just nine days. There’s also the continent-crossing Madrid to Marrakech itinerary. The ultimate European interrailing experience, however, is our Berlin to Budapest trip, which combines the very best of Central Europe’s range of historical capital cities.
Research travel discount passes
If you’re travelling by rail, then it’s always worth checking out rail passes, whether it’s continent wide, like Eurail passes, or single-country passes, which can offer good value in countries like Spain, Italy and Germany. If you really want to cover a lot of ground on your Euro adventure, these passes can offer incredible value for money.
Look into other kinds of tourist packages and passes too. Most major cities offer some kind of tourist pass by now, usually including citywide public transport – buses, trams, metros etc – and entry to popular attractions like museums, galleries and parks. Take time to check out which of these are good value and which aren’t worth getting. For example, is the city walkable or is it a sprawling metropolis? If it’s the latter then you’ll probably make your money back on public transport savings alone, but if it’s the former, perhaps consider sticking to individual attraction tickets.
Pack light
If you’re travelling in summer then, luckily, pretty much all of Europe will be warm to hot (other than Iceland, of course). This means you can save on luggage costs by sticking only to light and breathable clothing. If you’re planning on visiting multiple countries then it’s definitely worth keeping the size and weight of your luggage to a minimum, not just to save on flight extras, but also because you won’t want to be carting around huge bags when moving from A to B and beyond.
This should be easy enough to do. Once you factor in essentials – plug adapters, chargers, suncream, passport, documents etc – you’ll still have plenty of room to pack a decent amount of light, airy summer outfits. Don’t worry about running out of clean clothes, either, since much of Europe is more than used to catering to backpackers, and launderettes are pretty easy to come by, either in hostels and hotels or just on the street.
Travel during shoulder season
If you’re travel time is flexible then definitely considering avoiding the peak summer months. This means that you get to avoid the crowds of school-holiday family travellers, as well as saving potentially huge sums of money on flights and accommodation. If you’re after outdoor adventure or city exploration in southern Europe, then the summer months can actually be a little too hot for doing anything more for chilling on the beach.
Spring and autumn offer brilliant alternatives to the summer rush, price hikes and heatwaves. Late March, April and May offer the best balance of pleasant weather and good deals, although September can also be a particularly good option. If weather isn’t a boundary then you can even push it further and book a winter escape. Southern Europe isn’t too cold that time of year, while places in Central Europe, especially Germany, light up in a beautiful festive glow during the run-in to Christmas.
Book a small-group trip
If you want to make the most of your trip to Europe then you’re going to want to get around a bit. This means juggling logistics, travel costs and hours spent trying to figure out your route. Well, that’s where Culture Trip comes in with our carefully curated small-group trips. Our experienced Travel Experts do all the planning for you, ensuring the trip is an immersive, authentic experience that makes the most of your destination’s culture, cuisine and natural beauty. Once booked, your accommodation, daily activities and local transport will all be sorted, all you have to do is book your flights and sort out any relevant visas and travel insurance.
Once there, our friendly Local Insiders will be your private guide, armed with fascinating cultural insights and local recommendations you won’t find on the internet. They’ll take care of all the daily logistics, so you can sit back and enjoy your holiday. There’ll still be plenty of free time, too, so independent explorers won’t feel too restricted, and the companionship of like-minded travellers will result in friendships for life.
We have an incredible collection of itineraries all across the continent, from island-hopping adventures and sweeping Rail Trips to city deep-dives and rural retreats. Below is our full list of Euro trips, click through to read the itineraries in full and book your next escape.
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