After nearly a quarter century traveling Europe, logging countless miles, meals and museums, these are my top general tips for zigging and zagging Lisbon to Budapest and all points between. From planning and preparing to getting around and sightseeing, I’ve learned a lot of valuable tips and lessons since I first stepped foot on the Continent in 1998. These are the ones I turn to time and again. They’ll help you start a plan or refine an existing itinerary. Start here, and you’ll make it a great trip!

Trip Planning

Planning a Europe trip should be fun. In this section, I share my best trip-planning advice and travel tips from assembling an efficient itinerary to deciding where to go in Europe and when.

Trip Planning

Resources

The best books, maps, apps, websites, blogs and magazines for planning European travels.

Resources

Sightseeing

Enjoy Europe’s world-class museums, monuments, sights and attractions like a savvy local.

Sightseeing

Transportation

Planes, trains, automobiles, rail passes and more, here’s how to get around the Continent.

Transportation

Dining

Europe celebrates eating, raising the culinary experience to an exquisite art form.

Dining

Sleeping

From family run hotels to hostels and apartments, Europe has lodging choices aplenty.

Sleeping

Safety

Europe’s a safe continent, but a little street smarts goes a long way while traveling.

Safety

Technology

Get the lowdown on Europe’s electrical adapters and wifi spots, and modern travel tech.

Technology

Packing

Packing light is the independent traveler’s mantra, and here’s what to bring traveling Europe.

Packing

Tours & Guides

Dive deep culturally by punctuating a Europe itinerary with a private or group day tour.

Tours & Guides