Europe tours discovery guide
With a trip to Europe, you’ll fill your heart (and camera roll!) with history, culture, and natural beauty. In one continent, you can wander ancient cities, experience vibrant art and food scenes, get your feet wet in lakes, seas, and oceans, and gaze across Alpine vistas or rugged Highlands. Start small or go on a grand tour—we’re here to show you around.
Save up to $800 on these best-selling tours by 11/14†
What to know before you go
COUNTRIES ON TOUR
Our Europe tours take travelers from Portugal to Romania, and Norway to Italy. Crystalline beaches, lush alpine forests, ancient monuments, and bastions of culture: you’ll find all these and so much more.
MAJOR CITIES
At first glance, Europe’s calling cards might be London, Paris, and Rome—timeless capitals are always in season. Take the path less traveled (think: Bratislava, Helsinki, and Valletta) to discover your unexpected new favorite place.
CULTURAL QUICK TAKE
The three-cheek kiss in Provence, a rich espresso sipped al banco in Naples, the cascading laughter that can only come when the craic is flowing in Dublin—there are countless of small, if-you-know-you-know traditions for you to discover.
WHAT TO GO FOR
The ancient ruins of the Colosseum and the Parthenon. The whitewashed villages on Santorini. Art around every corner. The light fog rising off the Scottish Highlands. Gelato. Croissants. Pasteis de nata. It’s a feast for the senses, no matter which Europe tour you choose.
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES ON TOUR
An overnight stay in a castle? A train ride through the Swiss Alps? A pasta-making class in Rome? They’re all waiting for you on tour.
See more in a single trip
Why limit your adventure to just one country? Our Multi-Country Tours invite you to explore Europe’s diverse cultures, landscapes, and histories—all in one unforgettable journey.
Experience it all on the Grand Tour of Europe
Six countries. Ten cities. A once-in-a-lifetime journey. Meet and mingle with Europe’s best-loved landmarks and unexpected new favorites.
London, Paris & Rome
Start with three iconic cities—perfect for a first trip to Europe.
Explore the 11-day itinerarySwitzerland, Germany & Austria
Reignite your love for fairytales in a storybook setting.
Explore the 9-day itineraryBarcelona, Southern France & the Italian Riviera
Hug the coast between seaside towns. Sun seekers, this one’s for you.
Explore the 9-day itineraryHighlights of England, Scotland & Ireland
Get a taste of history with a side of untamed green landscapes.
Explore the 12-day itineraryIntroducing Europe
There’s a European destination that’s just right for you. Want to walk through living history? Head to Italy or Greece. Want to hold your breath? Brave the cliffside scenery in Ireland or Iceland. We’ve planned the perfect itineraries so you can see the best (and the unexpected) in each country.
Your trip to Europe begins here
You could wait for inspiration to strike—or find some with a little help from our team of experts.
Top-10 Europe trips to plan to plan for the off-season
Summer isn’t the only time to escape across the Atlantic. Check out these weeklong European itineraries to make the most of fall, winter, and spring.
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Missing the beach as the weather turns cold? Mykonos is calling your name. See nine more cures for the winter blues.
Experience Europe solo, but not alone
More friends. Less planning. Traveling solo doesn’t have to mean traveling alone—and these tours of Europe help you find community while on the road.
Signature experiences for your memory vault. Why don’t you...
Santorini Caldera Cruise & Dinner
Set sail for a volcanic island vista and dive into the Aegean’s electric-blue waters. Try it on our Week in Greece: Athens, Mykonos & Santorini tour.
Traditional Irish Music & Dance Show with Dinner
Listen for the thumping of the bodhran drum, flourish of fiddles, and rhythmic taps of dancing feet. Try it on our Grand Tour of Ireland.
Belgian Chocolate Workshop & Beer Tasting
Craft your own sweet confections and pair them with a frothy local pint. Try it on our Amsterdam, Luxembourg & Brussels tour.
Versailles Palace & Gardens
Delight in decadence with a stroll through the Hall of Mirrors and Versailles’ opulent gardens. Try it on our London, Paris & Madrid tour.
Experiential travel made easy
You dream it. We’ll take care of every last detail.
Pick your perfect trip
We offer 200+ immersive, guided tours around the world. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll enjoy lots of advantages that make traveling with us different.
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Prep your packing list
While you’re deciding what to take, we’ll be busy arranging your hotels, meals, tickets, and more tour essentials. That’s what going guided is all about.
Go far (and get rewarded)
Take off on your big adventure— but why stop there? Every trip you book with us earns rewards that you can use to keep expanding your horizons.
What travelers are saying about our Europe tours
5 out of 5 stars
3rd-time traveler Yvonne
I am so happy to have chosen the solo traveler. This was by far the best trip I have taken. Switzerland, Germany, and Austria are beautiful countries. I especially enjoyed my...
Traveled in Oct 2024 on Central Europe for Solo Travelers
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Anonymous
We were skeptical about doing a tour, but totally found it worth it. They took care of every last detail, and believe me there is a lot to coordinate, most you would not even...
Traveled in Sep 2024 on Grand Tour of Europe: London to Rome
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Anonymous
Great tour if you want to see and visit some of the iconic sights and cities throughout Europe. Perfect for first timers and experienced travelers. The guided tours give you...
Traveled in Sep 2024 on Grand Tour of Europe: London to Rome
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler James
The tour we booked was awesome. What made it so, was our tour guide/manager “Gwen”. Gwen made sure that we enjoyed and maximized all of our tour. Even though there were just a...
Traveled in Sep 2024 on Grand Tour of Europe: London to Rome
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Cynthia
It was an amazing experience. Olly is an excellent Tour Director!
Traveled in Sep 2024 on Grand Tour of Europe: London to Rome
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Amy
This was an amazing trip! Before you head out you think “how do I see it all in just a few days in each city?” But then you embark and you realize that the tour directors have...
Traveled in Sep 2024 on Grand Tour of Europe: London to Rome
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Myrna
This was our first trip to Europe & our first trip with Go Ahead. It was a perfect balance of historic cities, old churches, castles, and beautiful scenery and Alps in Europe. Our...
Traveled in Sep 2024 on Grand Tour of Europe: London to Rome
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Anonymous
Perfect tour to experience a little bit of everything. Our tour director was the best.
Traveled in Sep 2024 on Grand Tour of Europe: London to Rome
50 ways to go to Europe
Ready to expand your horizons? Discover Europe beyond the classics—there are 50 sovereign nations on the continent, after all—with our guided tours to emerging destinations like Romania, Croatia, and Poland.
Travel tips for Europe trips
There are plenty of options when it comes to exploring the continent. Some of the most popular destinations to visit on a tour of Europe include Italy, Greece, Spain, and Ireland.
On our travel packages to Europe, you can choose to explore a particular location in depth, such as on a week-long Paris City Stay or a two-week Grand Tour of Italy.
If you’re looking for a multi-country trip, you can join our Grand Tour of Europe: London to Rome, for a taste of several destinations. Our team of regional experts is available to help you find the adventure that aligns with your interests.
Discover six things to experience your first time traveling to Europe →
Europe is a year-round destination with varying climates across its many countries and regions. The best time to visit Europe depends on what type of experience you’d like to have and which destinations you’ll be visiting.
- Summer. A popular time to travel to Europe is summer because warm, sunny days lend themselves to exploring the outdoors. In July, the average high temperature in London, England, is in the 70s Fahrenheit—while in Rome, Italy, the average high is in the 80s.
- Spring and Fall. Some travelers prefer to travel on our Europe tour packages during the spring and fall because temperatures are more comfortable and popular sites are less crowded.
- Winter. A wonderful time to take a European tour is the winter. During this time of year, travelers can stroll through festive holiday markets, visit excellent museums, and settle in for tasty meals of seasonal specialties. To take the stress out of planning a winter trip, we even offer Europe trip packages specifically designed for visiting Christmas markets.
One of the main benefits of joining our guided tours of Europe is having the opportunity to visit must-see sites with an expert leading the way. When you go guided with Go Ahead we’ll help you skip the long lines at popular landmarks. Here are some attractions you’ll get the opportunity to see on our group tours of Europe:
- The Colosseum in Rome, Italy
- The National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Italy
- St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy
- The Alhambra in Granada, Spain
- The Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain
- La Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona, Spain
- The Acropolis in Athens, Greece
- The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland
- The Titanic Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland
- The Hungarian Parliament building in Budapest, Hungary
- Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria
- The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway
- Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen, Denmark
We recommend you spend at least six days in Europe. While our most popular Europe tours run from 10-14 days, you can enjoy a shorter trip if you limit your tour to one country or visit a handful of cities in neighboring countries.
Looking for ideas on where to spend a week in Europe? Check out our recommendations for Europe trips →
With its rich history, vibrant culture, and fantastic food, Italy is a popular destination for your first European trip. But plenty of other countries are worth visiting depending on your interests and concerns about international travel. For example, if the language barrier makes you nervous, Ireland, Scotland, or England make great first-time trips for visiting Europe.
Learn about the best international trips for first-time travelers →
Yes! On our Europe tours, you’ll get the chance to explore multiple countries. Europe’s compact size and efficient transportation network make it easier—and more enticing—to take in numerous countries on one trip.
Some of our popular multi-country trips to Europe are Italy & Greece; England & France; Portugal & Spain; Scotland & Ireland; Germany, Switzerland & Austria; and Norway, Sweden, Finland & Denmark.
Check out the best multi-country trips to book now →
Experiencing Europe—for the first time or your 10th time—should be all about taking in the culture, the food, the history, and the sheer joy of new discoveries. Imagine doing all that without researching or booking any of these travel essentials. That’s the advantage of our all-in-one tour packages. Every Go Ahead tour includes an expert Tour Director and talented local guides to lead the way, so you can sit back, relax, and soak in the beauty, history, and culture of Europe. No figuring out transportation, researching hotels, or booking flights is required.
Read about the 10 big benefits of seeing Europe on a guided tour →
The typical timeframe to book a trip to Europe is about six months or more. However, there are plenty of benefits to planning even further in advance. On our European tours, you can set up an automatic payment plan, work out what you want to see and do in your free time, and even connect with fellow travelers on our free EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app.
Looking to travel to Europe soon? Shop our Last-Minute Specials →
Yes! The holidays are an exciting time to travel on our Europe trips because they offer an exceptional opportunity to visit Europe’s Christmas Markets and to experience countries’ unique holiday traditions. The holidays are a magical time in many European countries, allowing you to soak in the seasonal ambiance, enjoy festive food, and pick up unique gifts.
Thankfully, that’s a tough question to answer, as so many European countries offer delicious food. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference, so you’re sure to find something you love no matter which country you visit. One strong contender for the top spot, however, is Italy.
Best known for its pasta, pizza, cheeses, and gelato, Italy is a foodie’s delight. That’s because the purest expression of Italian cooking relies on farm-fresh ingredients, and the cuisine changes from region to region. Fresh, delicious, and unlike anything you’ve tried outside the country, Italian food never disappoints the palate.
Wondering what to eat in Italy? Check out these regional dishes →
Another foodie’s favorite destination in Europe is France. From its boeuf bourguignon to its pain au chocolat, France is known for its world-class culinary scene and timeless favorite dishes. While you’re guaranteed to taste delicious dishes no matter where you travel to France, the type of French food you’ll find depends on the region and season. The north of France features heavier dishes; the south features fresh fish, lean meat, and grilled vegetables.
Wondering what to eat in France? Check out these delicious dishes →
While individual countries take pride in their languages, English is widely spoken in Europe.
Many countries in Europe use the euro but others have maintained their own unique currency. Be sure to check the FAQ for your specific tour for the currencies you’ll use during your travels.
For tips on using the euro while on a trip to Europe, check out our blog post about currency exchange →
We recommend packing light for your trip to Europe. One suitcase and one carry-on per person is a good guideline to follow; you should feel comfortable managing your baggage at the airport. After you’ve reserved one of our Europe tour packages, we’ll give you information about how to prepare for your particular trip and even share a packing list in our mobile app.
- Sun protection. For all our trips, especially during the summer months in Europe, we recommend bringing sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to protect your face and the back of your neck from the sun.
- Layers. For tours of Europe, we recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
- Comfortable walking shoes. Because you’ll be exploring new destinations with local guides while on your trip, a comfortable pair of walking shoes is essential. Whether hitting the landmarks of London or on a walking tour of Amsterdam, you’ll be glad you brought your most comfortable footwear.
- Dressier attire. You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance on any of our Europe trips.
- Full-coverage layers for religious sites. In Europe, it is preferable not to visit churches, temples, or other religious sites with bare legs or shoulders, and entrance may be denied on this basis.
- Other must-bring items. A camera to take photos during your journey, and a notebook for jotting down notes or recommendations your Tour Director shares.