Europe is an incredibly large and diverse place. It’s not just one destination – it’s a conglomerate of 44 countries with varying cultures, geographic features, and climates. If you’re planning a European vacation it might be tempting to try to fit everything in, but you don’t want to spread yourself too thin and cram in too many things because if you do, you won’t be able to savor the activities you add to your itinerary. If you’re wondering how to balance the desire to do everything with the need to create a realistic itinerary, this guide is for you. Here are some tips and tricks to prepare for your 2 weeks in Europe:

1. Create a realistic budget

This might sound obvious, but if you’ve never budgeted for a vacation before, there may be some things you haven’t considered that you need to be prepared for. Consider your transportation costs as well as any spending costs. Are there taxes in the area that you’re headed to that you’ll need to budget for? Do you need to pay a fee to your current cell phone company so you can use your phone while traveling, or will you need to budget for a temporary phone while you’re there? While you’re budgeting, think about every moment of your trip, and what that will cost. Then budget extra. It’s always better to come back with extra money than to run out while you’re there.

2. Prepare for jet lag.

Some people don’t feel jet lag at all, but it can knock other people out for days. To prepare for jet lag, you’ll need to start at least a few days before your trip. The preparation will look different for everyone, but it’s generally helpful to try to adjust to the new time zone a day or two before you travel. Try to book a late-night flight if you can sleep on the flight – if you can fall asleep as your plane is taking off in the evening, and wake up as your plane lands at your destination, you can trick your body into quickly adjusting to the new time zone. Actively adjusting to the new time zone to avoid jet lag can make sure you’re spending your time on vacation awake and focused rather than drowsy and trying to stay awake.

3. Add rest time to your itinerary.

Sometimes people try to visit four museums in a day and spend just an hour or so at each, scheduling in a rushed lunch and dinner and some time for transportation. While there’s nothing wrong with that if that’s truly what you want to do, the best way to make the most out of the time you have in Europe is to plan less even though that sounds counterproductive. Focus on quality over quantity so you have time to absorb what you’re seeing. Make sure you allow yourself some leisurely time to just wander the city you’re in or take a nap so you have time to recharge.

4. Read about the public transportation options before you arrive.

While public transportation in London isn’t going to be the same as the transit options in other smaller areas, it’s a good idea to do some extensive research on the trains, buses, shuttles, and planes that are available in the cities you’re traveling to before you leave so that you don’t waste your time panicking over it while you’re there. If you’re going to need to rent a car where you’re going, make sure you’re well-versed in the driving laws of your destination and get any travel insurance or licenses that you might need before your trip.

5. Learn a few phrases in the local language.

While you don’t need to become fluent in German if you’re heading to the country, it’s never a bad idea to learn a few key phrases before you go. Things like asking for directions or asking where the bus stop is can save you a lot of stress while you’re there. While many people in Europe have some fluency in English, it’s a sign of respect to learn some of the local languages and can go a long way in smaller villages where speaking English may not be quite as common.

6. Spend time just wandering.

It’s a cliche, but sometimes cliches exist because they’re true! It’s always a great idea to plan some time to explore an area on foot and impulsively stop into random stores and cafes that catch your interest. You can learn a lot about a region by acting like a local and avoiding the touristy sites.

7. Learn about local customs.

Learning about the local customs and traditions can help you avoid unnecessary stress or awkwardness when you travel. For example, learning if the country you’re headed is one where it’s customary to tip can help a lot. Some countries have pubs and restaurants where you sit down and someone comes to take your order, whereas some locations will expect you to order at the bar before finding a seat.

8. Take advantage of free things to do.

Most big cities have free walking tours, plays, musical shows, and more. Spend some time looking up the free attractions in the place you’re heading to and see if any are interesting to you. Finding free things to do is a great way to get the most out of your trip without breaking the bank.

9. Stay in a small Bed & breakfast instead of a hotel.

While Europe boasts some incredible hotels, consider staying at a small hotel or bed & breakfast instead. You can often save money this way especially if you want to spend 2 weeks in Europe. Plus some hosts are happy to chat and recommend some local spots that you should visit. While there’s nothing wrong with hitting up the most popular tourist sites, there’s something special about experiencing the places that are beloved by locals.

10. Take Advantage of Available Travel Resources.

To make planning your 2 weeks in Europe trip easier, we listed some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip.

Flights: 

Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.

CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!

Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.

JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.

Hotels: 

Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.

Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.

Transportations: 

Airport Transfers: KiwiTaxi, Viator

Train: EuroRail, Trainline or RailEurope 

Bus: Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.

Car Rentals: AutoEurope, EconomyBookings, or  GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)

Bike Rental: BikesBooking (Bikes & scooter rentals) 

Transportation Comparison: Omio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)

Tours & Activities:

TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.

Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.

Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.

GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities

Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.

Want to spend 2 weeks in Europe but need help planning?

Want to plan a trip and get the most out of your 2 weeks in Europe? Would love to visit multiple destinations but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!

At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city vacations and help you save money on Europe travel.

Don’t want to start from scratch and need some trip inspiration? Check out our marketplace for customizable pre-designed packages available right now for many amazing destinations.

To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in  5 Easy Steps”  here.

Have questions for us? Schedule a FREE Call with us here or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at [email protected], call/text us at (888)223-2316 today.