How to plan Western Europe (keep it easy)
The biggest mistake U.S. travelers make in Western Europe is packing in too many cities. The “right” pace is 2–3 bases, with day trips when you want variety. If you’re moving every other day, you spend more time checking in and out than enjoying museums, neighborhoods, and meals.
Choose a route where transfers stay short and simple. These are designed to minimize travel friction while still feeling like a real Europe trip.
Paris → Amsterdam (optional: Brussels/Bruges). Great museums, canals, and effortless train connections.
Barcelona → Madrid → Lisbon (or Porto). Perfect for tapas, neighborhoods, and warm-weather city breaks.
Paris → Barcelona. Do one big-city culture stop + one seaside-feel city with easy day trips.
Lisbon + Porto with a day trip or two. Excellent value and very smooth pacing.
France
- Paris: museums, classic neighborhoods, river walks, and “big city” Europe energy.
- Nice / French Riviera: sea views, easy day trips, and a slower pace with great food.
Spain
- Barcelona: architecture, beach-adjacent days, and very walkable neighborhoods.
- Madrid: art museums, food markets, and a great base for day trips.
- Seville: romantic streets, flamenco nights, and warm-weather charm.
Portugal
- Lisbon: viewpoints, tiles, vintage trams, and excellent value for hotels and dining.
- Porto: riverside evenings, wine culture, and a perfect “2–3 day” city.
Benelux
- Amsterdam: canals, museums, and day trips that are easy and satisfying.
- Brussels / Bruges: quick add-ons for a “storybook” day and excellent food stops.
7 days: Paris + Amsterdam (simple and iconic)
- Days 1–4: Paris (neighborhoods + museums + one “big dinner”)
- Day 5: Train to Amsterdam
- Days 6–7: Amsterdam (canals + museums + relaxed pace)
10 days: Barcelona + Madrid + Lisbon
- Days 1–4: Barcelona
- Days 5–7: Madrid (add a day trip if you want)
- Days 8–10: Lisbon
14 days: France + Spain “two-country classic”
- Days 1–5: Paris
- Days 6–9: Barcelona
- Days 10–12: Madrid
- Days 13–14: Lisbon (or extend Spain instead)
In Western Europe, trains are often the easiest “luxury” choice—downtown to downtown, less hassle than airports, and a smoother travel day. Flights can be useful for longer jumps (example: Spain ↔ Portugal) if pricing and timing works.
- Use trains when the trip is short and frequent (popular corridor routes).
- Use flights when the train is long or requires multiple transfers.
- Comfort tip: choosing better timing matters more than saving a small amount of money.
Western Europe can be premium or surprisingly manageable—your biggest levers are hotel category, city count, and how many tours you book. If you want to feel “comfortable,” prioritize central location and walkability.
- Hotels: central neighborhoods cost more but save time and transit stress.
- Experiences: paid tours and skip-the-line tickets can be worth it in peak season.
- Food: mix one “big dinner” with casual local meals for best value.
- Flights: lock the best routing first (one-stop vs two-stop matters more than small price differences).
- Hotels: book refundable when possible, then re-check rates later.
- Travel insurance: consider it for nonrefundable bookings and prepaid tickets.
- Transfers: pre-book airport transfers in big cities if arriving late.