Getting to know Europe

Many countries, one easy-to-connect continent

Europe packs dozens of cultures, languages and cuisines into an area smaller than the United States, and that is its great gift to travelers: in a single two-week trip you can hear four languages, cross the Alps by train and drink wine and beer where each was perfected. Several countries have their own pages — Italy, France, Greece and the United Kingdom — and this page covers the rest of the continent.

Central Europe is the heartland of river cruising. The Danube links Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary; the Rhine runs from Switzerland past castles and vineyards to Amsterdam. River ships dock right in town, making them the easiest way to see several countries without packing and unpacking. In late November and December, those same rivers become the route for Christmas market cruises through Nuremberg, Vienna, Strasbourg and more.

On land, Europe's trains are the backbone of most itineraries — fast, frequent and scenic — and guided tours handle the logistics for travelers who would rather not plan every connection. Spring and fall bring mild weather and thinner crowds; summer is long-daylight season for Scandinavia and the Alps.

Planning notes

Planning notes for Europe

• Rail passes vs. point-to-point. A Eurail pass suits flexible, many-stop trips; for a few set journeys, advance point-to-point tickets are often better value. We work out which fits.
• River cruise season. Most European river cruises run from March to December, with tulip cruises in spring and Christmas market sailings in December — both sell out early.
• Guided or independent. A guided tour handles hotels, transfers and guides; an independent itinerary gives you freedom. See our Tours page for both.
• Entry requirements. Most of Europe is in the Schengen Area, and new entry-registration and ETIAS systems are being phased in — check current requirements; we confirm them for you.