2024: the year you finally use all of your PTO.
No more vision boards, no more penciled in calendar blocks: you’re going to Europe for sure…
…but where to?
The problem with planning a European vacation is that literally every time you visit the continent can be the best European vacation of your life. The food. The museums. The serene nothingness you can find only on the sandy shore of a town whose name you can’t even pronounce.
Spring, summer, winter, and fall, Europe’s best vacation spots beckon you to turn your out-of-office message on and explore this exciting continent. Here’s a little destination inspiration for planning the best European vacations no matter your age or interest.
Image Credit: Getty Images, bbsferrari. Image Location: Old Bridge, Heidelberg, Germany.
How to plan a European vacation by the seasons
If you have no idea where to go or what to do when planning a European vacation, start your search by looking into seasonal happenings. From music festivals to crowd-free cities, seek out those once-a-year wonders that are worth the trip abroad.
🌷 Spring: Spring is a time of renewal, so treat yourself to a long week away at one of the best European spa hotels. If you want to watch Mother Earth reawaken, see the tulips bloom in Amsterdam.
😎 Summer: Summer is a time to be free under the sun. Hit up one of Europe’s best Pride Parades or sing your heart out at the many music festivals filling the UK.
🍁 Autumn: Pack your appetite for food festivals galore in Europe. The truffle festivals in Italy are can't miss experiences for foodies. If you want to embrace the spooky season, check out these ghastly sites around London.
❄️ Winter: ‘Tis the season for Europe’s most magical Christmas markets, though if you’d rather trade celebrations for relaxation, there are a few hotels in the Dolomites that place your bed in the heart of a winter wonderland.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Chiara Salvadori. Image Location: Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy
The best European vacations for every type of traveler
Not quite satiating that travel bug you caught? Here are a few more of the best European vacations for travelers young, old, solo, or with the whole family.
Best winter vacations in Europe
Snowy winter train journeys are some of the best winter vacations in Europe you can take.
🎄 European Christmas train rides: Along with the family favorite Polar Express in the UK, there are dozens of Christmas-themed train rides through Europe. The Santa Claus Express in Finland is one of the coolest: you fall asleep onboard then wake up in Santa’s Village with real reindeer mulling about.
⛷️ The Eurostar Ski train: If you’re in London for the Polar Express, fancy another ride down to France? The Eurostar ski train makes it effortless to spend a few days skiing the French Alps during a UK getaway.
Best vacation spots in Europe
Between the snow and the sand, these are the best vacation spots in Europe for city breaks and outdoor bliss.
🤏 Make it micro: Visit one of the well-known best vacation spots in Europe then check a micronation off your list. You can literally walk from Rome’s Colosseum into Vatican City. Sip sangría in a Spanish city like Barcelona then take a bus up to Andorra for snowboarding. Go visit Monaco for the Grand Prix from France or Italy. Life’s too short not to up your country count during every European vacation.
🇩🇪 Drink in Germany: Yes, you can literally drink in Germany during Oktoberfest and its many other beer festivals, but you should also drink in the culture. Berlin is an epicenter of cool and an ideal city break for those who need to get their mind off home. Over in the Black Forest, thermal baths and quiet hiking trails offer a peaceful place to unwind no matter the season.
Image Credit: Getty Images, xavierarnau. Image Location: Cadaques, Costa Brava, Spain
Best European beach vacations
From la playa to la spiaggia, the best European beach vacations require only sunblock and a cold drink.
🇫🇷 Feast on the French Riviera: It’s not just a stretch of sand. The South of France is one of the best vacation spots in Europe for beachgoers. Beach clubs are one thing, but when placed in iconic towns like Cannes, Nice, and Saint-Tropez, the experience becomes all the more luxe. Plus, you can get around the Cote d’Azur easily by train so no need to ever put down your wine glass.
🇪🇸 Conquer the Costa Brava: Return with more than a suntan when you spend your vacation in Spain’s Costa Brava. This northeastern coastline has it all: Michelin-starred restaurants, museums dedicated to Dali, beach clubs where famous folk flock, and all of the tapas you can stomach.
Best European vacations for families
Pure European magic: creating the best European vacations for families since the invention of the castle.
👪 Trace your family’s roots: Europe’s train network makes it fast and affordable to explore multiple cities and countries, comfortably and conveniently, within a single trip. Trace your familiar roots with a multi-day train trip through England, Scotland, and Wales. Visit the sites of WWII battles where your great-grandparents fought or find your fourth-cousins twice removed in Italy, where they’ll welcome you like siblings.
🏰 Disney-fied destinations: A family vacation in France puts you close to many real-life Disney locations. Fly into Paris, enjoy Disneyland Paris. Then take the train around Germany, Switzerland, and France to find castles that inspired Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast, and more.
Header Image Credit: © Olivier Marchant. Image Location: Château de Chambord, Loire Valley, France
Travel by train on the best European vacations
No middle seat sharing here! Download the Trainline app and be blown away at how affordable it is to travel Europe by rail with your family and friends.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexander Spatari. Image Location: Bruges, Belgium