Tips for the first time traveler to Europe

The biggest question on the lips of those traveling to Europe for the first time is: “Where do I start?” With 44 nations, each with its own personality, choosing where to go, what to do and how much to pack into a single trip can be a bewildering decision. An organised European tour is ideal for anyone who wants to get a flavour of several countries in one trip without the stress of sorting out the logistics. Or you might prefer to focus on getting to know just one destination.

If you want to be steeped in history and culture, you can’t go wrong with Italy, Greece or France, while Georgia, Romania or Russia will deliver historical thrills without the heaving crowds. And don’t forget that Europe is as much for outdoor enthusiasts as it is for culture seekers. If you love watersports, Croatia and Montenegro are brilliant choices. Meanwhile, Europe’s wild spaces deliver wildlife adventures, including wolf spotting in southern France, husky safaris in Finland and tracking bison in primeval Polish forest.

Keep reading to discover our tips for your first vacation to Europe…

Europe’s heritage looms large wherever you go, and it’s what draws many tourists to the continent in the first place. For a look at Europe’s cultural superstars, head to the birthplace of democracy in Greece, soak up Italy’s Renaissance art and architecture, or stroll Dubrovnik’s historic city walls. For a less obvious slice of Europe’s past, try the East-meets-West mash-up of Istanbul, the Imperial palaces of St Petersburg, the medieval splendour of Macedonia, or the castles of Transylvania. You’ll never run out of museums and art galleries on a visit to Europe. The continent has some of the best in the world, from the Louvre in Paris to Florence’s Uffizi Gallery to Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum. There’s music everywhere. World-famous DJs play clubs in London, Berlin, Ibiza and Belgrade, while old-school drinking dens abound in Dublin, Amsterdam and Vienna. Fancy a festival? Rock out at Roskilde or immerse yourself in EDM at Belgium’s Tomorrowland. Opera lovers are spoilt for choice in Europe, but most atmospheric of all is the Verona Opera Festival, which takes place in a restored Roman amphitheatre. Foodie classics include pizza in Naples, steak frites in Paris and tapas in Spain. But Europe’s diversity is one of its major assets, including when it comes to food. The UK has some of the best Indian restaurants in the world, while couscous is a well-loved part of French food culture; and the Netherlands is home to the best sate and gado-gado outside Indonesia. The vineyards of France and Italy, and Portugal are justifiably world-famous, but Slovenia, Hungary and Georgia also produce excellent wines. For lovers of the hard stuff, there’s whisky in Scotland and Ireland, vodka in Poland and Russia, and gin distilleries in the Netherlands and Scandinavia.

The Azores is one of the best places in the world for viewing both whales and dolphins. Blue, sei, fin and humpback whales cruise past the islands on their way to summer feeding grounds in the North Atlantic, while sperm whales are present in Azorean waters year-round. Rather than just spotting dolphins, swim with them! In the Azores, you can snorkel with five different species. For an unforgettable wildlife experience, bear spotting is right up there. Some 6,000 brown bears roam Romania’s forest in the Carpathian Mountains, while around 500 live in the pine and beech forests of northern Greece. The arrival of summer in the Svalbard archipelago, meanwhile, is the perfect time to see polar bears. Cruises allow you to spot them traveling across the pack ice or on ice floes. For a truly wild adventure, hike through the mountains with a specialist guide, tracking elusive wolves. You could choose to join a skilled wildlife tracker in the dense taiga forest a few hours north of Stockholm. Or head to Mercantour National Park in southern France, where you can search for wolves in the mountains or visit a sanctuary where sightings are guaranteed.

Croatia’s coastline is sublime, and with more than 1,000 islands anchored offshore you won’t be short of beaches or sailing routes. You just have to choose between Istria, the mini Italy of the north, and Dalmatia, the coastline heading south and home to the ancient seaside cities of Split and Dubrovnik. Elsewhere, you’ll find a handful of national parks protecting mountains, rivers, waterfalls and lakes, all still relatively unknown.

For too many people Greece is solely about sun, sand and sea. Yes, the islands are glorious – but try to make time for its other highlights, too. There are rivers, mountains and dramatic gorges, plus quiet hiking trails as easy or as difficult as you wish, and even snow covered peaks in winter. Not to mention the thousands of years of colourful history revealed through some of the world’s finest archaeological sites.

Beyond the Algarve beaches and city break hotspots of Lisbon and Porto, Portugal remains a mystery to many foreign tourists. The interior is a patchwork of vineyards, hills and bucolic woods rustling with wildlife, while the country’s 1,800km coastline is dotted with wild beaches and laid-back fishing villages. Get around on hiking or cycling vacations with nights spent in distinctive country inns called quintas.

Europe is not a seasonal destination; you can visit any time, depending on what you’re looking for. For beach vacations, the best time to visit is June to September, with the fewest crowds and optimal conditions around mid to late-September. Late July and August sees peak crowds across the Mediterranean, so if you are going to some of the popular spots – particularly on the coast – be prepared for crowds. It will also be searingly hot for inland sightseeing, hiking or cycling, although mountainous regions, such as Spain’s Picos de Europa and Sierra Nevada, will be much cooler. November to March tends to be cold and wet in much of Italy and France – apart from the mountains, when this is the time for winter sports. Italy’s historic cities can also be moodily atmospheric – especially a twilit Venice without the crowds – while glittering Christmas markets get going across Europe in December. Midwinter is pleasant in southern Spain and Italy – on a sunny day, temperatures can be in the low 20°Cs and rain is rare. In Croatia and Montenegro, the weather can be ideal for hiking right up until November.