If you’re planning your first trip to Europe or your Grand Tour of sorts, you have a lot of options for the best ways to see Europe. Each option benefits a different type of traveler, whether you’re traveling alone or with friends, on the cheap or splurging, and planned out or winging it.
While there are ways to see Europe that aren’t listed in this post, namely a combination of methods like hitchhiking and driving, but I’ve included the most common options for your consideration.
Tours
If you’re someone who likes to have everything planned and paid for ahead of time, seeing Europe by tour is a great option for you. On my first trip to Europe I traveled with EF College Break, but I know a lot of people who traveled with Contiki, the king of all 18-35 tour companies, as well as TopDeck.
You can choose a short tour that hits only a few countries or go for the all-out cross continental jaunt. Whichever you decide, tours come with their own sets of pros and cons.
Destinations: Nearly every country in Europe, including the United Kingdom, western and eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and Turkey
Price: From $300, depending on trip length
Pros
- They’re mostly inclusive, with major expenses already paid for. All you need to worry about is some meals and spending money.
- You’ll have a guide. If you’re visiting a lot of attractions, it’s good to have a guide who can explain the significance of them.
- Tours also have a built-in group of friends. You’re bound to find at least one person in your tour group that you click with.
- Transportation is covered. You don’t have to worry about trains and buses being booked solid.
Cons
- Your itinerary is not as flexible. Since you’re part of a group, you basically have to go along with whatever is planned.
- Tours also travel at a faster pace. You may be cramming a lot into a short amount of time, which may prevent you from experiencing it in a way you’ll enjoy.
- The other side of the coin is that on tours you don’t often meet new people. If you’re not getting along with your group, you’re stuck with them.
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
Another option that has the best of both worlds, structure and freedom, is the hop-on hop-off bus loops by companies like BusAbout. They are found elsewhere, including Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, but are best experienced in Europe.
You pay for a pass, which allows you unlimited bus travel for a set amount of time. It stops in set destinations every other day, so you can spend more time in a place you’re enjoying. The bus includes a guide, who shows you around at photo stops.
Depending on what type of pass you book, you can ride for one section of the loops one way, throughout portions of the loops or even all of the loops. You can also add optional excursions at any point in your trip.
Destinations: Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands and the Czech Republic
Price: From $600, depending on trip length
Pros
- The bus pass option introduces you to lots of people since you’re constantly getting on new buses and typically staying at the same hostels.
- A guide is included and will talk about the history of the areas you’re visiting and even give you tips for places to check out in your destination.
- Transportation is already included, so you just have to book your bus in advance and hop on.
- This option has as much flexibility, or as little, as you want. Stay in a city you’re enjoying and skip over one you’re not interested in. If you want to get off the loops to explore somewhere else, you can do that before hopping back on.
Cons
- Buses run every other day, so you have to plan your trip accordingly. Buses may also be booked for certain sections during high season, so you’ll need to check online beforehand.
- There are specific drop off points in the listed countries where you’ll be required to stop, so if you want to go elsewhere, you’ll have to sort it out yourself. For example, Portugal is not included on the pass, so you would have to wait until you get to Spain and take transportation from there.
Rail Pass
Another option is to get a Eurail pass, as I’ve done in Ireland, Italy, Germany and Austria. This gives you plenty of flexibility in terms of getting to your destination. Most of the time you don’t need to book the individual journeys in advance, but will need to have it stamped before your first use.
Options for types of passes include single country passes, multi country passes, which typically connect neighboring countries, and the global pass, which covers all 24 countries. You’ll also have to decide if you want a continuous pass, which is unlimited travel, or one that allows travel on a number of days within a certain number of months.
Destinations: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.
Price: From $52 up to $2000, depending on how many countries are included on the pass
Pros
- There is an extensive network of trains throughout Europe and it’s arguably the most efficient way to see the continent. Most countries offer some sort of pass and connect major cities.
- It’s very easy to use. Once you have your pass stamped at your first station, you’ll likely get it stamped every train you ride. Most trains have electronic boards that will alert you to the stops, even if you don’t speak the local language.
- Trains cover more ground quicker, saving you precious vacation time. When possible, look for high-speed trains over local trains that make more stops.
- You can choose which countries interest you most and get passes for those rather than to waste money on destinations you’re not keen to visit.
Cons
- While your pass guarantees you a ride on a train at some point, that doesn’t always mean you’ll have a seat. Sometimes you can sit down in an empty seat just to be kicked out by someone with a reservation. If you prefer to have a set seat you can pay extra to reserve a seat.
- Since the train network covers all of Europe, you will ride a range of trains, some out of date and others sleek and modern. Be prepared for the former.
This is a good overview of the options although we’re going to do something a bit different. Next year we’re planning to spend about nine months in Europe (six months in Schengen countries and three months out.) We looked into Eurail and Busabout for getting around but found them to be too expensive and too limiting. So what we plan to do instead is simply book our own bus fare from point to point.
What makes this a bit easier for us is that we’re not planning long travel days. There is enough great stuff to see in Europe that you don’t really need to spend more than a few hours traveling on any given day. So no overnight trains for us.
The money we save on train fare we’ll put towards renting a car now and again – like to do a loop from Paris along the Normandy/Brittany coast, down through the Loire Valley and back to Paris. That’s something we figure we’d have a harder time doing on public transportation.
Lots of choices.
Happy travels,
Brian
Another great option, Brian! I would love to camper van my way across Europe at some point as I think it would be fun.
Eurail pass is always a great money-saving way to spare money from your fare. I always have this whenever I go to a European country.
Hey Caroline ,
Nice blog post .
Great ways to see Europe.
Thanks for sharing with us.