A Beginner’s Guide to Europe

Italy—along with the landlocked states of San Marino and Vatican City—has the tastiest food in Europe (shh … don’t tell the French). This culinarily (and culturally) rich nation deserves a spot on every beginner's Europe itinerary, and it’s easy to devote an entire vacation to sampling Italian dishes (though the art and architecture are pretty fantastic, too). Once you've had your fill, you can head south to the nearby island nation of Malta, known for its historic cities and glorious sea caves.

Did you know?: In Italy, pasta is typically served as the primo (first course), after antipasto but before the secondo course, which is usually meat.

While you’ll find great wine across Europe, from riesling in Germany to barbaresco in Italy, France is king when it comes to viticulture. You can easily plan an entire French vacation entirely on its wine regions. Start off on a high note with a Champagne-tasting tour through the Champagne region before heading to Bordeaux, the capital of French wine, where you can learn about the history of wine at La Cité du Vin between tasting tours. Then head south to do some wine tasting in Provence, before continuing to glitzy Monaco, a miniscule nation known for its ultraluxe casinos.

Both Germany and Belgium are must-visits for beer-loving Euro travelers. The annual Oktoberfest celebration at Theresienwiese is one of Munich’s biggest claims to fame, and you can get a feel for the fun at the city’s Beer and Oktoberfest Museum no matter when you visit.

In Belgium, sample local specialties, such as sour-and-fruity lambic or a dark “dubbel,” or stick to the familiar with a visit to the Stella Artois Brewery in Brussels. Other must-sees for beer lovers include the Brussels Beer Project, Duvelorium, the Bruges Beer Museum, and De Halve Maan Brewery. After your Belgium trip, pop over to Luxembourg for a bottle of the tiny nation’s own Battin lager.

Did you know?: Many of Belgium's most celebrated beers, including famous Chimay, are brewed by monks in Trappist monasteries.

If you’re fond of castles, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy in both the UK and Ireland, from urban castles such as Edinburgh Castle in Scotland and Dublin Castle in the Irish capital to coastal Ireland’s Dunguaire Castle and Eilean Donan Castle, on a loch island in the Scottish Highlands. England naturally has plenty of castles of its own, including Windsor Castle, which is used as a royal residence to this day. Wales is equally chock-full of medieval castles, including Conwy Castle and Caerphilly Castle, both of which have serious storybook appeal, as well as Caernarfon Castle and Pembroke Castle.

While the British Isles are fantastic for fortresses, Romania is a strong contender when it comes to castle tourism. Castle lovers with a penchant for vampires should head straight to Transylvania in Romania, where author Bram Stoker gleaned inspiration for his Dracula character, which is based on the legendarily horrific Vlad the Impaler. Vlad’s supposed home, Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle) is the most obvious choice, but many Romania castle tours also visit other spots, such as Poenari Castle (Cetatea Poenari) and Peles Castle.

Sun worshipers visiting Europe need look no further than the Iberian Peninsula, characterized by its miles of sandy coastlines and temperatures that range from pleasant to hot. Both Portugal and Spain (and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar) are darlings among beach lovers, making them hot (literally and figuratively) summer destinations among travelers from farther north. While there are plenty of gorgeous beaches on the mainland, many people prefer island life, summering on Spain’s Balearic Islands of Mallorca and Ibiza, or Madeira and the Azores in Portugal.

Insider tip: The Iberian Peninsula is great in the winter, too. You can even head up to Andorra for a Pyrenees skiing adventure.

Much of the most essential Europe travel advice out there focuses on avoiding crowds, and for good reason: Being shoulder-to-shoulder with other visitors takes a lot of the fun out of visiting Europe. Fortunately, there are plenty of places that don’t get the huge tourist numbers like Venice and Barcelona do.

If you want to see parts of Europe that many visitors never make it to, plan a trip to the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, where you’ll find pristine forests, historic castles, and vibrant cities in equal measure. If the Baltics are too far away for you, consider Slovakia in Central Europe, which offers a similar low-key vibe without the crowds of the neighboring Czech Republic.

Frankly, all of Europe is great for history buffs, but both Austria and Poland are particularly good destinations for those interested in times past. Austria is a major hub for cultural tourism, whether you’re interested in learning about the opulent lives of the Hapsburgs at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna or want to spend your days exploring the medieval streets of Salzburg’s Old Town, the birthplace of Amadeus Mozart.

Historic attractions in Poland range from Krakow’s UNESCO–listed medieval Old Town to more harrowing destinations such as the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, an important stop for those interested in World War II history.

Mineral-rich thermal waters have long been celebrated for their curative powers. Even if you don’t suffer from any ailments, you’re still sure to find the experience of soaking in a hot spring incredibly restorative and relaxing. Iceland is among the best destinations for hot springs, offering a mix of sprawling, developed complexes, such as the Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik to the Secret Lagoon in the Golden Circle area.

Hungary and the Czech Republic are also exceptional choices, particularly if you head to Budapest—home to gorgeous spas, such as the Széchenyi Thermal Baths or to Karlovy Vary, a Czech spa town with over a dozen spots to soak.

Scandinavia is an absolute dream for outdoorsy people (just be prepared to bundle up). Head to Norway to kayak through the Tromso Fjords or hike at Hardangerfjord, or make your way up to Lapland in Finland for an arctic adventure. If you have nautical aspirations, you can take a boat trip to Sweden’sSouthern Gothenburg Archipelago or go birdwatching in Denmark’s UNESCO–listed Wadden Sea National Park.

And if mountains are more your thing, head to Switzerland (and landlocked Liechtenstein) where you can spend your summers hiking and your winter skiing against the backdrop of the majestic Swiss Alps.

Although you’ll find archaeological wonders across Europe (particularly in places that the Romans conquered), Greece is the place to go if you're fond of antiquities. From the Acropolis in Athens to the archaeological site at Delphi, it’s easy to devote an entire Greek vacation to immersing yourself in times past.

The island of Cyprus is another spectacular destination for archaeology fans, with fantastic sites such as the UNESCO–listed Paphos Archaeological Park—with its beautifully preserved floor mosaics—and the sea-facing Tombs of the Kings, believed to date back to the third century BC.

If you love driving, consider a DIY road trip through the Balkans. This region is known for its mix of beautiful mountain scenery, lovely coastlines, terraced waterfalls, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman architecture, and cultural diversity.

One way to do it is to start in Slovenia, drive down into Croatia and onward to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Continue southeast to Albania via Kosovo before heading to North Macedonia and onward to Bulgaria, wrapping your trip up in Serbia. If that sounds like a lot, or if you don’t drive, consider basing yourself in Croatia and taking day trips to neighboring countries instead.

If you’d prefer to explore on two wheels rather than four, The Netherlands is the place for you. Amsterdam is a cyclist's paradise, with its extensive network of bike lanes that make cycling a safe and eco-friendly alternative to getting around by car. Best of all, you won’t need to bring your own bike. It’s easy to rent a bike and head out on your own or join a Netherlands bike tour that explores Amsterdam and the Dutch countryside.