Europe is such a vastly sprawling continent, home to some of the world’s most incredible countries and cities. Exploring all of it will take more than a lifetime, but if you looking for a way to see as much as you can with a limited schedule, here is our itinerary for seeing the best of Europe in just ten days.
Day 1 – London
Starting in the beloved English capital, the first leg of your European trip will see you galivanting your way around Hyde Park, waving to the Queen at Buckingham Palace and taking a sunset ride on the London Eye.
One day in London certainly isn’t enough time to tick everything off your bucket list, but you’ll be able to get a great feel to this bustling metropolitan city. You can hit all the major locations – or make your very own bucket list and see some of the less known attractions.
All you actually have to do in London is grab a coffee and walk around – which is what we recommend doing. Leave the touristy stuff for your next trip.
Day 2 – Paris
Taking the Eurostar to Gare du Nord from St. Pancras will see you arriving in Paris bright and early for a full day of devouring croissants, sampling the finest French wines and climbing up the Eiffel Tower to experience the views of the city of love. This Paris trip should be all about the food and the bustle of the capital. Don’t rush from museum to museum, just enjoy your meals, and enjoy some people watching. Make sure you grab a helping of traditional French macarons for your journey to Germany.
Day 3 – Berlin
After a full day in Paris, take the overnight train from Paris to Berlin, arriving in Berlin just in time for breakfast. Grab a bite to eat at a quintessential German sausage market and then make your way to the Brandenburg Gate for stunning views of the towering structure.Take an evening train to Prague from Berlin and spend the night in a romantic apartment overlooking the city.
Day 4 – Prague
When you wake up feeling fresh from your slumber in a central-based Prague hotel, head out for breakfast to fuel you for a full day of exploring. Your time in Prague should be spent exploring the Castle, Charles Bridge and wandering through Wallenstein Gardens. Don’t forget to visit the plethora of museums and art galleries while you’re there; all absolutely teeming with intriguing history. Luckily, you can do all this in one day, well, at least most of it, as you won’t have to walk very far.
Take a midnight train to Salzburg, where you can sleep on the train and arrive bright and early in the beloved Austrian city on day 5 of your European adventure.
Day 5-6 – Salzburg, Austria
While in Salzburg, ensure you experience some of the great sights it has to offer. From seeing the stunning palaces and cathedrals to sampling some of the finest Austrian cuisines including delicious schnitzels, soups and cakes.
You can make this a bit of a slow day, as you will by now be quite tired. We suggest finding a pub with a great meal and just relaxing – or you can do a quick stroll around the city centre, but don’t push yourself too hard, as your next destination will certainly have you walking a lot.
Days 6-8 – Italy (Venice, Florence and Rome)
Wake up bright and early on day 6 and catch an early train to Venice, arriving just after lunchtime in the “floating city”. Grab a bite to eat at one of the delicious pizzerias near San Marco and then catch a sunset gondola ride before jumping on a short train journey to Florence. This is where your legs will need to be in top shape, as you are going to want to cross as many bridges and get lost in as many streets as you can.
Spend the night in Florence relaxing with a glass of wine before heading to bed early in a beautiful Airbnb before you wake up for another day of exploring an Italian city.
Your time in Florence will best be spent in the many Piazzas, drinking wine and sampling the many wonderful dishes that the gorgeous eateries have to offer. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the Piazza del Duomo where you can capture stunning pictures of the monumental building.
Day 8 of your European trip will be spent in the Italian capital city of Rome. Here you’ll be able to sample some of the finest Italian gelato, pizza and pasta and if you have the chance, make sure you pay a visit to Vatican City to tick yet another country off your bucket list. You might not make it, as the crowds can be huge, and you are short on time after all.
There’s so much to see and do in Rome that it can be hard to narrow it down but try and visit the centuries-old Colosseum, the incredibly romantic Trevi Fountain, as well as the remarkably stunning and impressive Pantheon.
Days 9-10 – Spain (Barcelona and Madrid)
Grab an early morning flight on day 9 from Rome to Barcelona and spend the day gorging on a plethora of tapas dishes and Sangria.
Make sure you pay a visit to the truly stunning work of art that is the Sagrada Família and climb to the top of Park Güell for unparalleled views of the city.
Spend the night in a stunning Spanish Airbnb before catching an early morning train to Madrid where you’ll spend the final day of your European trip.
In Madrid, make sure to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid as well as the vibrant square that is Plaza Mayor. Enjoy your last bit of Spanish tapas before catching a flight back home.
A 10-day trip around Europe is a remarkably exhausting but incredibly rewarding feat to embark upon. You’re sure to be exhausted by the end of it, but it’ll be so worth it after ticking off many amazing places on your bucket list. You will undoubtedly start a brand new list of places to visit in each of these cities as you rush through them.
