France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and more are often on the top of many travellers’ bucket lists and I highly recommend you visit but there are a few things you should know before you visit Europe for the first time.
I have travelled to over 10 countries in Europe and loved them all but throughout my travels, I have learned things I was glad to know before I went or wished I knew beforehand. I wanted to share these tips with you so you are prepared for your Europe trip and you have the most amazing time.
This post is all about Europe travel tips.
Trains will make travelling from one place to the next super easy
Everyone talks about the Eurail and Interrail train passes when someone is planning a trip around Europe but this is not the only option. Eurail passes are for non-European residents and Interrail is for European residents and they have multiple types of passes depending on how long you are staying and how many trains you plan to take. But for some travellers, these passes are not the most budget-friendly option.
During my last trip to Europe, I visited Spain and Portugal, I took trains through Spain and busses through Portugal and that was the best option for us. I used Omio to book my train tickets and Flix Bus for bus tickets. I would recommend planning out your rough itinerary and deciding if buying individual train tickets or Eurail/Interrail passes are better. Click here to visit the website for Eurail/Interrail passes.
Bring luggage that is easy to transport
For first-time travellers to Europe, I am sure people have told you not to bring a suitcase, I believe this is true in some situations but not all. For luggage, I highly recommend bringing only a carry-on item. I know some people might say that there is not enough room, check out my carry-on packing list blog to get some recommendations, but carry-on-size luggage will make your trip a lot easier.
For the debate on suitcases vs. backpacks, I personally love my Osprey Fairview 40 L backpack (carry-on size) because its easy to carry I can walk long distances with it, walk upstairs, and through cobblestone streets very easily. If you plan to save some money by walking to your accommodation, which I do often on my trips, backpacks may be a better option. But if you are planning on getting a taxi, shuttle, or rental car suitcases I am sure would be just fine.
Just bring a bag that fits what you need it to and is easy to transport from one place to the next on your European adventure.
Be aware of pickpockets
Pickpockets are very common in European countries, especially in the big cities many tourists plan to visit during your trip to Europe. Always be aware when walking around, especially in touristy locations like the Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, La Sagrada Familia, and more. Make sure to keep all your valuables on your front and out of your pockets. I love to bring a fanny pack to keep money, phone, and other valuables. Two fanny packs I love are the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag and the Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag. Whatever you decide to bring just make sure your valuables are where you can see to keep them safe.
Free Walking Tours are GREAT
Free walking tours are available in lots of destinations around Europe. I have some free walking tours in Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville and they were a great way to learn more about the city you are visiting. Do not be confused by the name they are not technically free they do not cost any money to book but at the end of your walking tour you are encouraged to tip your guide as much as you think. I recommend tipping between 10-20 euros as these tours are usually a couple of hours long and provide you with a lot of information on your destinations. I booked my free walking tours through GuruWalks or FreeTour.
Look into e-sim cards
When people visit Europe they usually plan you visit many countries throughout their trip. When I travel I use my phone for maps, google translate, and more so having a data plan is very helpful. Learning about e-sim cards was a game changer for travelling as they are super affordable and they have many plan options including individual country sim cards, continent sim cards, and the world sim cards. I use Airalo to purchase my e-sim cards and I highly recommend you check them out for your European trips to have data whenever you need in any country you are visiting.
Look into city passes
Most cities in Europe have a city pass which gives you access to a variety of different things. Often times these city passes will include public transport and entrance into popular attractions. For my last Europe trip, I got an Athens city pass and a Lisboa card, which saved me money while allowing me to see everything I wanted to in that city. GetYourGuide has a variety of city passes for sale.
Have cash for public washrooms
Having a small amount of cash on you is always helpful when you are travelling as some places do not take cards or for whatever reason your card does not work you have a backup. But because most places in Europe do take cards people sometimes do not have any cash on them which may cause a problem if you need to use the bathroom. If you come from a country where public bathrooms are free you may not think about this but most public washrooms in Europe cost a small amount of money to use. So just to be safe have a small amount of cash on you when travelling Europe.
That brings us to the end of the top Europe travel tips to know before you visit for the first time. European countries are amazing full of culture, history, natural beauty, and friendly locals, I am sure you will have the most amazing Europe trip. Safe travels!
