A visit to Europe is mind-blowing, awe-inspiring and life-changing. Here are some tips for travelling to Europe for the first time. These tips are gathered from my personal experience. I had the best first time Europe trip. And I immediately fell in love with the natural beauty of Switzerland. Now I cant wait to go back again!
Tips for Travelling to Europe for the first time
Planning the first time Europe trip can be overwhelming. You have a lot to consider with respect to what countries to visit, what attractions are your priority, and which transport you prefer.
Take your time and slow down
Take your time at each and every place you are planning to visit. When I visited Europe I did 4 countries in just 8 days. So obviously I was on the run throughout the trip. Europe is a large continent packed with many countries, cultures and places to experience. But you cannot experience it all in one trip. You will have to prioritize which ones are important for you. You need to slow down and take your time, at each and every place. In major cities like Paris, Munich or London you will need 3-4 days as there’s a lot to see.
So many monuments so little time
Europe has many monuments, churches and castles to explore. But if you pack your Europe trip with a lot of these, chances are you will feel sick and drained, even at the mention of a monument. Although the architecture is impressive at each one of these, it is better to explore only a few from the inside. For others, you can just admire the medieval architecture from the outside and move ahead to your next place. This also helps in saving some Euros which you have to pay as an entrance fee. Make sure to check whether prior bookings are required while planning your trip. For an extremely popular monument like the Eiffel tower, it is a good idea to book in advance, rather than standing in extremely long queues.
Walk and take public transport
All the places in Europe are very well connected with public transport. So don’t waste your money on taking a taxi in Europe. Save the euros and use them on other experiences. If the places you want to see are really close by, just walk. You will get to see and experience the city, town or village up close. And you will also get to know it better. In some places, you can rent cycles, electric cycles, segway, etc. Make sure you rent one and see the city in a cleaner and cheaper way.
Spend more time outside
Europeans love sitting by their rivers or spend some time outside in their gardens, mountains and valleys. Make sure you take a picnic basket from takeaway restaurants or grocery shops. You can sit by a river and watch an amazing sunset while having your dinner in the summer. Or you can sit in the gardens outside the Eiffel tower and eat your lunch while watching it.
Packing less and packing right
So much of Europe has streets made of cobblestones. These people have retained a part of their history, but this part causes a lot of inconveniences. You will be pushing your suitcase over these cobblestones, so its better to pack light. And if you are visiting Venice then you should strictly pack only what is required. This is because there are several canal bridges over which you will have to haul your bags. Take good and comfortable footwear. If you take thin flat sandals or heels, you will possibly have trouble walking over these pretty cobblestoned paths. Or even worse end up with splinted heels. Needless to say, these roads also give a tough time for the disabled ones.
Pack clothes according to the weather of the places you plan to visit. For eg. If you plan to go to a mountain from the Alps mountain ranges, then you have to pack some sweaters even in summer. Take a hoodie jacket or the jacket which has a hood with which you can cover your head. I myself got saved from heavy rains in Lucerne, Switzerland due to my favourite hoodie sweater.
Powerbank and Electronics
I took a universal adaptor with me, which works well. Most of the plugs in Europe have a Type F socket. Some places in Italy have Type L plug socket. In the UK they have a Type G plug.
You can buy a universal adaptor and use it in the majority of the plugs all around the world. Powerbanks are also necessary when you are travelling, for just in case scenarios. Also, make sure you have an extendable cable with multiple switches if you are travelling with several devices.
Always have Plan Bs
Whether it is exploring the countryside, nature and mountains, or it is about visiting the cities have a Plan B. In the mountains, weather can change very fast. For eg, I went to the top of Mount Titlis in Switzerland on an extremely cloudy rainy day. I missed all the panoramic views, as the mountain top was covered in clouds. If I had had a Plan B, I could have easily gone to some other mountain in Switzerland.
In the cities too things change fast. Strikes are common in Rome in Italy. Riots and strikes take place in Paris too. Sometimes the taxi drivers can go a strike, while on other occasions trains might shut down. So, you should have a Plan B and some room for flexibility while travelling in Europe.
Weather and Best time to visit
Europe has something to offer all around the year. In the south the summers are hotter, sometimes even unbearable in places like Spain or Portugal. In northern Europe, days are shorter in winter and longer in summer. The Nordic countries like Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and even Iceland are best for watching the Northern Lights from Sept to mid-April. I personally think I should visit Switzerland in both summer and winter.
Budget for the Europe trip
I saved my internship stipend for 3 years to go on a trip to Europe. So, I was pretty much on a strict budget while traveling there for 8 days. If you plan everything well, then it is possible to go on a budget trip to Europe under ₹ 1 Lac.
Alternatively, you may have a look at some of these Europe tour packages to plan your first trip to Europe.
More tips for travelling to Europe for the first time
- Take a reusable water bottle and fill it at the fountains in Switzerland which have the water straight from the Alps. Tap water is safe and better than bottled water in most countries. So, a reusable water bottle is the best way to go.
- Learn the language. There are 24 official languages and 200 actual languages spoken across Europe. I am not saying you should learn all of it. Just learn to say hello, thank you, excuse me and some other basic shit in the languages of the places you are visiting. That being said, people working in tourist sectors mostly know English.
- Take free walking tours. Every city in Europe has some or another free walking tour, where the locals show you around their home towns. Make sure to check in advance, because prior bookings may be required in some cases.
Just do it!
I was quite nervous but also excited while travelling to Europe for the first time. This was also the first solo trip of my life. So the last tip I want to give you is – just go, just do it. Don’t listen to what they say. Just go wherever your heart desires. And I’m sure you will find that your first trip to Europe will not be your last one!
My Renaissance experience
I was a 23-year-old Indian girl who had never been to any country outside India. When I visited Europe for the first time, I was shocked and awed. I fell in love with the developed civilizations and their beautifully preserved medieval architecture. I love how they used advanced technology and still managed to protect their natural wonders. Visiting Europe for the first time was like a Renaissance to my brain, my mind and my soul. A complete transformation or rebirth in my thinking process, or in the way I perceived the world.
Here are some of the things which I experienced for the first time in Europe.
No borders
While going from one country to another, I found no borders. What’s more, there were no passport or visa checks while crossing into a new country. The only way I knew, that it’s a new country was when I saw the new country flags. This was like a shock for me who is coming from a country like India which has several border disputes.
Technology
In Switzerland I saw the mind-boggling use of technology, to travel safer and faster. Their travel infrastructure although expensive is something which makes travelling through the Swiss Alps effortless. What’s more, I could not find any bad effects of these advanced technologies on the environment and nature. I was pleasantly surprised by seeing how well the Swiss protected their natural wonders.
Lifestyle
Again I was shocked to see the markets starting to close at 5 pm in the old town of Salzburg, Austria. People went home at around 6 pm and had dinner around 7 to 8 pm. After 8 o’clock, they would leisurely spend some time with their families or for their hobbies. This felt like the best way of living life, instead of rushing from morning till midnight for 6 days a week!
Brilliant City Planning and Architecture
The brilliance of city planning in Zurich and Munich left me astounded. I found that they took care of all the needs of their citizens. Amazing public transport, well-designated cycling routes and connectivity of trams were somethings which I saw for the first time ever. I realized that they built their cities for people and we built our cities for cars. Moreover, they have preserved their historic heritage like the medieval towns, cobbled streets, fountains and architecture in the best way possible.
FAQs about Travelling to Europe for the first time
Pack clothes according to the weather of the places you plan to visit. For eg. If you plan to go to a mountain from the Alps mountain ranges, then you have to pack some sweaters even in summer. Take a hoodie jacket or the jacket which has a hood with which you can cover your head. I myself got saved from heavy rains in Lucerne, Switzerland due to my favourite hoodie sweater.
Take a reusable water bottle and fill it at the fountains in Switzerland which have the water straight from the Alps. Tap water is safe and better than bottled water in most countries. So, a reusable water bottle is the best way to go.
Walking and using public transport are the best way to get around Europe. In some cities, you can rent cycles, electronic bikes, segway, etc. Make sure to use them as they are a cheaper and cleaner way to get around.
The best way to see Europe for the first time is to add a little bit of everything to your trip. That being said, don’t plan on a lot of things at once. Take your time and explore the places that you chose slowly.
