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Practical Wanderlust

Responsible Travel on a Budget

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      • More Things Nobody Tells You…
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Europe Travel Guide

Copenhagen, Denmark in the winter is a magical holiday fairytale land full of Christmas cheer and hygge! Here's all the best things to do in Copenhagen in the winter - wider size
Strolling around picturesque Taormina, Sicily, a UNESCO World Heritage site perched on top of a hill.

Where To?

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Get to Know Europe

Strolling around picturesque Taormina, Sicily, a UNESCO World Heritage site perched on top of a hill.

We have traveled Europe together and separately and each time we visit we fall in love with what Europe has to offer. The incredible food and drink, the array of cultures and the beautiful grande historic castles and museums. There are SO many countries in Europe and it can be overwhelming to decide where to visit, so we created this Europe Travel Guide of our top recommendations all through summer to winter. Below is a brief overview of the highlights and we really hope this helps narrow down your decision.

  • Eastern Europe: Eastern Europe is the region of the European continent between Western Europe and Asia. You can spend forever wandering the picturesque streets, getting googly-eyed at the Christmas Markets, and exploring some of the city’s main attractions. We fell in love with the beautiful little towns, which was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the big-cities.
  • Western Europe: Western Europe is home to many wonderful, amazing things. Balmy beaches, quaint little towns, tapas and Spanish wine to name a few…. You can walk amongst fantastical buildings created by famous architects and mix with the locals in the ancient, winding, narrow streets.
Park Ciutadella in Barcelona, Spain.
  • Mediterranean: The Mediterranean has the most incredible cultural treasures, idyllic landscapes, and some of the most well-known landmarks in Europe. From exploring the ancient sites of Rome and Athens to discovering the fascinating culture or unwinding in the Greek Islands the Mediterranean is a place you just have to visit.
  • The Alps: The Alps are world-famous for their beautiful snow covered mountains, breathtaking nature and, ofcourse…glühwein & cheese! When you’re not wearing your skis, you can immerse yourself in the picturesque views, friendly culture and treat yourself well deserved spa.
  • Scandinavia: Picture icy fjords and dogsled rides bustling past you with frolicking reindeers as you stand under the Northern Lights. Ok, so it’s not always like that but it can be pretty close. It is among one of the most idyllic places in the world. Boasting fantastic mountains, beautiful coastline, jaw-dropping fjords, postcard-worthy farmland and super-efficient cities.

Iconic European Experiences

Xmas markets

Beautiful Bremen

Beerhouses

Belgium Beer

TAPAS

Tasty Tapas in Barcelona

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Nordic Views in Norway

Where to go

Popular For A Reason

  • Hallstatt, Austria
  • Prague, Czech Republic
  • Barcelona, Spain

Adventure awaits

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

  • Bruges, Belgium
  • Bremen, Germany
  • Graz, Austria

bucket list experiences

The sun peeking above the horizon in Alta, Norway for the very first time after a month of Polar Night (and then immediately disappearing again).

Winter in Norway

Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. My favorite place in the world.

5 DAYS IN SWitZERLAND

Admiring the Christmas cheer at magical Tivoli Gardens in Copenagen, Denmark

XMAS MARKET IN COPENHAGEN

favorite Activities

WALKING
FOOD & DRINK
Winter
Cities
romance

The Best European Destinations for…

Bremen, Germany is home to some truly incredible architecture, much of which is located in its historic Old Town. Bremen in the winter is a magical time of the year!

Explore…

CITIES

  • Aarhus, Denmark
  • Bremen, Germany
  • Hallstatt, Austria
Belgian beers for everyone! We drank loads of delicious Belgian beer on the Brussels beer and chocolate tour.

Explore…

FOOD & dRINK

  • Brussels, Belgium
  • Barcelona, Spain
  • Copenhagen, Denmark
Standing underneath the Northern Lights in Finnmark, Norway in the winter.

Explore…

IN THE WINTER

  • Vienna, Austria
  • Norway
  • Copenhagen, Denmark
The check-in desk, reception area and Kiosk store at 25 Hours Hotel in Vienna, Austria. 25 Hours Hotel is the best boutique hotel in Vienna!

Explore…

HOTELS

  • Vienna, Austria
  • Barcelona, Spain
Hillerod Town in Winter Denmark-small

Explore…

ITINERARIES

  • Winter Europe Itineraries
  • Norway Itinerary
Frederiksborg Castle is a fairytale castle near Copenhagen, Denmark. We visited in the winter.

Explore…

Castles & Museums

  • Aarhus, Denmark
  • Brussels, Belgium
  • Copenhagen, Denmark
Explore All Of Europe

featured Favorites

Reindeer grazing in the tundra in Finnmark, Norway, in the Arctic.

The Perfect 7-Day Norway Itinerary

Experience an epic winter trip in just 7 short days.

A collage of Taormina and Tropea in southern Italy.

40 Things Nobody Tells You About Southern Italy Travel

Take a dip in crystal clear water and hang out with the locals.

Belgian beers lined up in a Belgian Beer Store. Belgian beer stores are a bit like like beer libraries.

The Beginner’s Guide to Belgian Beer & Where to Drink

Take your tastebuds on a Belgian Beer adventure

Traveling Europe FAQ’s

What to pack for Europe?

When you’re moving around from city to city in Europe, you won’t want to lug around a bunch of heavy bags with you. Avoid surprise baggage fees and spare yourself the misery of lugging your heavy bag up 5 floors of rickety staircases (because everywhere we’ve ever stayed in Europe is somehow always on the 5th floor and there is never an elevator). If you’re the rolling bag type, Away Suitcases are as beautiful as they are functional. If you prefer to carry your belongings on your back, we swear by this roomy carry-on backpack!

…and last but not least, don’t forget to pack an outlet converter! We recommend getting a type C converter as this works in most European countries.

How to get around?

Getting around Europe is a breeze and you have plenty of options. For overland travel, intercity bus lines like FlixBus are the cheapest way to get from one place to another. If you’re planning to go to several different locations over the course of a week or two and prefer to take the scenic route, book a Eurail pass, which lets you take the train as many times as you like over a set period of time. It’s not necessarily the cheapest option, but it’s definitely the most enjoyable. For longer distances, you can take budget airlines like RyanAir – sometimes the prices on these airlines are as low as just a few Euros! We’ve included some tips to help you get from place to place in our 2-week Europe itineraries.

What about the language barrier?

Most places in Europe do speak enough English for you to get by. That said, it’s polite to learn a few basic phrases, like please, thank you, hello, and goodbye. Do a little prep before your trip – your effort will go a long way and be much appreciated.

What’s the weather like?

OK, so Europe in the winter is beautiful and not to be missed but boy oh boy is it COLD. Sweaters will become your best friend. Our recommendation LAYER UP. In the summer time expect to have warm sunshine until very late into the evening with a slight breeze if you are staying coastal. With an intense sunshine you will be making sure you did into the crystal blue ocean to cool off.

Why is Italy’s weather so complicated?

We thought Italy and it’s regional weather deserved its own little spot.

There are MANY different types of climates so be prepared depending on where you plan to visit. Ranging from mild continental in the Po Valley, to the VERY cold in the Alps, summer sunshine on the Mediterranean coasts and islands, and finally, cool and windy in the Apennines. July and August are the hottest and sunniest months, except in the Alpine region, where thunderstorms in the afternoon are quite frequent.

When is the best time to go?

Our favorite time of the year to travel in Europe is during the winter. As the weather gets colder, the Christmas markets come to life, snow begins to fall, and it’s the perfect time to throw on cozy sweaters, puffy coats, and winter boots and wander through cobblestoned back alleys. With just two weeks of travel time, you can fully experience and immerse yourself in some of the best winter destinations in Europe. Europe in the winter isn’t high season, which means fewer crowds and cheaper prices. But it’s also not low season, so you can expect most tourist attractions to remain open to visitors. Plus, you’ll get to try activities that the summer crowds won’t get to experience, like Christmas markets, holiday decorations, traditional winter foods, and ice skating!

Psst: Don’t know what to pack?
We’ve created the ultimate European essentials packing list.
Plus, our favorite travel tips for visiting Europe in the winter. Just sign up below.

Free Europe In Winter Packing List!

Printable Winter Packing List

This FREE 3-page printable packing list will help make sure you don’t forget anything for your next winter trip. We’ll also send you our favorite travel tips!

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