5 Things to Know when Travelling in Europe

This was the first mistake my parents made on our first family trip to Europe, when I was 11 years old. Unlike Canadian cities, most cities in Europe have very reliable public transit systems. The subway systems in top European cities like London or Paris are similar to that in New York, where a subway station is never far from you! Use Google Maps to see how to get to a certain attraction and it will most likely take less or the same amount of time that a taxi would take to travel on the busy streets. Most cities will also have a subway or commuter rail line connecting the city centre to the international airport, so there’s no need to spend around EUR 50-70 on a taxi.

Europe has some of the most popular tourist attractions around the world. Travellers fly anywhere from 7 to 30 hours to visit the famous Eiffel Tower, Colosseum and Sagrada Familia, to name only a few. In order to avoid overcrowding, many attractions across Europe sell timed-entry tickets, and limited spots are available for each time entry. Once you have planned your itinerary, take the extra step of planning which attractions you will visit, and book your timed entry to avoid disappointment. I’ve been there, I know how it feels to have flown all the way to Europe, only to look at the Colosseum from the outside and take a few photos.  

You’ve now planned which attractions you would like to visit. The next thing to keep in mind is, booking an attraction for a certain time doesn’t guarantee entry at that time. Have you ever seen, in person or in a video, the lineup to enter places such as the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles or the Sagrada Familia? For a smooth experience, always buy a skip-the-line ticket if the attraction you’re visiting offers that! Those tickets typically go for EUR 10-15 more than a standard admission ticket, and some of them will even include a guided tour. Upon arrival at the tourist attraction, you will find a separate line for travellers who have bought a skip-the-line ticket, with no more than 10 visitors in that line. You will feel like a king walking by the many visitors awaiting to see you! 

There’s much more to do in Europe than visiting the main sights of the city or town you’re in. If you’re in one of the many countries surrounded by the serenade of the Mediterranean, start by waking up early for the sunrise. Even if the weather calls for clouds, wait about 10-15 minutes after sunrise and you’ll be surprised and wowed by the view! The same goes if you’re in a city that a river passes through, such as Budapest or Prague. After breakfast, it’s time to visit the many attractions and/or enjoy the day trip you booked. After sunset, the day hasn’t ended. And I don’t mean a crazy hangover party! You can immerse yourself in the culture by seeing an evening show or concert. Or experience the local beer and wine at one of the many bars in the city before retiring to your hotel for the night. Europe has a lot more to experience than historic sights during the day! 

Most travellers learn this the hard way, so don’t make this mistake! Generally, European households have smaller living spaces. The reason goes back to how life was in the renaissance and baroque eras, which has led to the many historic cobblestone streets that travellers admire nowadays. As a result, the same applies to hotel rooms. If you typically book a 3-star in North America because the hotel room is only a place to sleep, you may be shocked and disappointed by a similar hotel in Europe. Always book a 4-star, or at least a Deluxe Room category. And even more important: ensure that the room description says “Private Bathroom”. Booking a hotel that costs $100 per night in a big city like London or Vienna may mean that there’s no bathroom nor shower in your room! Been there and experienced that specifically so I can inspire my readers to not make this mistake! For more details, check my article on what to know when booking a hotel in Europe.