Start with the trip you have time for. A stay in one city, a route through one country and an island holiday need different planning decisions. Use this Europe directory to compare those options, open the relevant guide and build a route with enough time to enjoy each stop. Country pages give the wider context; city pages help you get closer to choosing a base and daily plan.
Choose a starting point
Paris
Museums, neighbourhoods and a city stay
Choose your main interests first, then compare accommodation areas and group nearby sights. The city guide leads into more detailed Paris planning.
London
A large city best explored by area
Use the guide to choose a base, organise neighbourhood days and connect the sights you want to see. A practical transport plan makes the itinerary easier to use.
Barcelona
Architecture and time by the Mediterranean
Balance cultural sights with coastal time, then choose your neighbourhood. Open the Barcelona guide for the city's existing planning pages.
Browse all Europe guides
Choose a country for the wider picture, or open a city, island or regional guide for a more focused starting point.
Ukraine remains listed for access to its existing guide. Consult current official travel advice before considering travel; inclusion in this directory is not a recommendation to visit. England and the United Kingdom also retain separate existing guides, with London available as a city-specific starting point.
Country guides
City guides
Islands and regions
Background reading
Find the right trip for you
These are editorial starting points, rather than rankings or fixed itineraries. Use the linked destination guides to narrow your choice.
| Your priority | Where to start | First planning decision |
|---|---|---|
| A focused city break | Paris, London, Barcelona, Rome or Lisbon | Choose a neighbourhood and group nearby sights. |
| A wider cultural journey | France, Italy, Spain, Germany or Austria | Compare one-country routes before adding another border. |
| Coastal and island time | Greece, Portugal or the Canary Islands | Choose the specific base and onward travel together. |
Turn your shortlist into a route
Use the directory to narrow the destination, then move into the detailed guide. Do not assume neighbouring countries have identical entry, transport or booking arrangements. For a multi-stop trip, compare the full journey between accommodation bases, including time at stations or airports. The strongest route is often the one with enough time in each place, rather than the most names on a map.
Planning reference: Current UK government travel advice for Ukraine. Check the destination-specific information again for your dates.
- Choose between one city, a country route and a coastal or island stay.
- Check entry requirements and current travel advice for each country in your route.
- Compare total transfer time and accommodation location before booking several stops.
Europe planning questions
Should I start with a country guide or a city guide?
Use a country guide when you are comparing regions or building a wider route. Use a city guide when you already know your destination and need to choose a base, sights and practical next steps.
Does Europe have one shared set of entry rules?
Check each country for your passport and route. This regional directory does not replace the current entry information from official authorities.
Plan your next step
Once you have chosen a destination, open its guide for the detailed trip plan. Compare places to stay, use our travel tips for practical preparation, or browse planning tools to organise the journey.