7 Essential Tips for First-Time Travelers to Europe: A Complete Guide
It's every traveler's dream to explore the hidden gems of Europe, its cultural diversity, language, tradition, architecture, and history. There are almost 40 countries in Europe, each with its own traditions and language.
It took no time to travel from Germany to France and Spain to Portugal, but when you enter these countries, you will feel that you are entering a new world.
You know what? Every country in Europe has its own food culture, and if you travel for the food, you will get a variety of food items here.
Apart from that, you will see those beautiful landscapes and wildlife, but before planning your trip to Europe, you should be ready with proper planning to explore the beauty of Europe effectively. So here are some tips for first-time travelers to Europe.
1- Plan Ahead
I was very excited about my trip to Europe, and I wanted to visit famous cities like Paris, Barcelona, and Venice, but it turned out to be a bad idea because if you try to visit each city in a short period you will eventually spend your most of the time in trains and buses.
So, try to plan and shortlist a few cities, and don’t rush from place to place and book your major transportation and accommodation in advance, just like I did for my Manchester airport cheap parking with Ezybook.
2- Check Visa Requirements
It's essential to apply for a Schengen visa if you want to visit different countries in Europe, but here is an important aspect, is that not every country in Europe falls within the Schengen area, so you need to check the list of countries before applying for the visa.
As far as the visa is concerned, Europe is offering 90-day visa-free access to different nationalities; again, you need to check if your country falls on that list.
Your passport should be valid for 6 months and you need valid travel insurance becuase it's required in some countries.
3- Ideal time to visit Europe
I believe that it's subjective, and it's up to you because travelers who love to see the beauty of Christmas markets should visit Europe at the end of the year, while if you love hiking so the best time for you is from May to October.
All I can suggest you avoid the peak season, which is usually summer, when there are many tourists there, so you will see that the prices for the accommodation skyrocket. Not only is there a long queue at historical sites. So, try to plan your trip off-season because you can not only save a lot of money, but you will truly enjoy your trip.
4- What to Pack?
You must pack smartly and pack less for your trip to Europe. There is a common mistake every traveler makes; they tend to pack unusual, unwanted stuff, and they end up rolling heavy suitcases over the bumpy cobblestone streets, which are very common across Europe.
Not only that, but the hotel's elevators are too small, and some budget-friendly hotels have no elevators at all, so how would you carry those heavy suitcases?
So, pack light and try to carry a small backpack; you must wear sneakers and walking shoes, as this is the best way to explore most of the cities. In Europe, don’t forget to carry your umbrella and raincoat as rain is unexpected and very common across the European region.