Touring to Europe has at all times been on our journey bucket listing. We initially hoped to go on a European tour in Could 2020 for our tenth marriage ceremony anniversary, however everyone knows what occurred that 12 months. Previously few years, I’ve realized that life is brief and we should always take the time to journey and luxuriate in life whereas we are able to. Quick ahead 4 years later, and the dream got here true once we lastly went on our first-ever journey to Europe to 10 international locations for nearly a month in June 2024.
As first-time vacationers to Europe, I considered sharing our itinerary, visa expertise, issues to do, the place to remain in numerous European cities, and different sensible ideas that is perhaps of curiosity.
Touring to Europe includes a variety of planning particularly for Filipino passport holders who first must safe a Schengen Visa. Initially, we deliberate to restrict our journey to simply 2 or 3 international locations and journey for less than 2 weeks given Artwork’s restricted trip days from full-time work. However because it was our first time in Europe, my dad and mom who had beforehand traveled there recommended we take a bundle tour to eradicate some journey uncertainties and avail of refundable journey reservations.
We used the providers of the journey company TRAVEL ENTERPRISE CORPORATION primarily based in Ortigas Middle, Pasig to make flight reservations (not precise bookings), journey insurance coverage, and safe a Visa appointment. We utilized and bought our visas from the Italian Embassy in Manila because the bundle tour began in Rome and we deliberate to remain in Italy the longest.
Aside from the hassles of securing all the necessities (financial institution statements, Earnings Tax Returns, Employment certificates, and many others.), the Visa software course of was simple and didn’t contain any interviews. We simply needed to submit all our paperwork and get biometrics finished and wait, which is at all times a nerve-wracking course of. Fortunately, we had been granted a a number of entry visa simply 4 days after we utilized and given extra days than what we requested, so we modified our flight dates and prolonged earlier than and after the tour.
NOTE: As soon as your visa is authorised, you may change your itinerary and go wherever you need throughout the Schengen Zone. There’s no border or passport management between international locations. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless finest to enter by way of the nation you utilized in and keep there the longest.
From Manila, we flew by way of Etihad Airways to the Fiumicino Rome Airport in Italy, with one layover. The flight time (9 hours to Abu Dhabi + 6 hours to Rome) plus airport transfers took virtually 24 hours due to a layover delay. To get to the town heart from the airport, I booked a Fiumicino Airport – Rome Bus by Terravision (P379) to the Rome Termini by way of Klook . It’s also possible to trip the prepare on to the town, however the bus is cheaper than the prepare (€14 or P885) and is safer you probably have huge suitcases. It’s also possible to use Uber and Freenow in Rome when you want non-public transport.
Our flight again to Manila was from the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam with a journey time of over 17 hours (6:25 hours to Abu Dhabi + 9:10 hours to Manila) together with the two hour layover. You possibly can e-book shared bus transfers to the Amsterdam airport (P411) however we simply booked a taxi to the airport from the lodge (€45). Take observe that there’s a 6 hour time distinction between the Philippines and Central European international locations.
Different airways that fly from Manila to Europe embrace Emirates, Qatar Airways, and China Southern Airways. In accordance with varied information reviews, Philippine Airways (PAL) is eyeing to renew flights to Europe with direct flights from Manila to France by 2025.
We explored Rome in Italy on our personal for 4 days earlier than the beginning of the 15-day tour to eight different international locations, which included a go to to historic websites in Rome and Vatican Metropolis. For historical past buffs, Rome is a tremendous vacation spot due to its historic archaeological websites and historic landmarks just like the Colosseum and the Roman Discussion board.
I discovered Rome very walkable and straightforward to navigate on foot. We ended up strolling greater than 10 km a day simply to go to the completely different vacationer spots and church buildings, and rented bicycles to cowl extra floor. It felt secure strolling round and biking within the much less touristy areas. The spotlight of Rome for me was biking to the Appian Approach (an historic street constructed to move troops exterior the smaller area of better Rome) and Trastevere (a hipster district identified for craft beer pubs) on rented bicycles.
Rome isn’t an inexpensive vacation spot, however there are a variety of free sights and inexpensive meals choices even in the course of the busy vacationer areas. I discovered the meals right here extra flavorful in comparison with different European cities and loved chowing down on pizza, pasta and beer.
We averted the crowds by visiting The Colosseum within the late afternoon and heading to Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and different landmarks within the early morning (round 6:30 – 7:00 am). I’d have cherished to go to different Italian cities like Florence, Milan and Lake Garda, however we determined to take it gradual first to save lots of our journey funds and vitality for the opposite costlier cities.
For those who can, I’d counsel you stroll as a lot as doable. Rome’s public transportation is environment friendly and straightforward to make use of, however many pals warned us concerning the excessive incidence of pickpocketing, which we witnessed whereas taking the subway.
Issues to do in Rome
- The Colosseum
- Roman Discussion board
- Trevi Fountain
- The Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- Spanish Steps
- St. Mark’s Basilica and different free church buildings
- Trastevere
- By way of Appia
- Largo di Torre Argentina
- Villa Borghese
The place to remain in Rome
Vatican Metropolis, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, is a separate nation from Italy. This landlocked enclave inside Rome is taken into account the smallest state on the earth and may be visited in simply half a day when you’re already in Rome.
Strains getting in right here may be notoriously lengthy, so we took a skip-the-lines tour to enter and visited the Vatican Museums, which shows the gathering amassed by the Catholic Church all through the centuries, together with a number of of essentially the most well-known Roman sculptures and masterpieces of Renaissance artwork on the earth.
The guided tour included a go to to the Sistine Chapel, which accommodates the ceiling painted in fresco by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, thought-about a cornerstone work of Excessive Renaissance artwork.
Issues to do in Vatican Metropolis
- St. Peter’s Basilica
- Sistine Chapel
- The Vatican Museums
- Vatican Necropolis
- Raphael’s Rooms
- Vatican Gardens
From Rome, we made our approach to Venice by bus, stopping at Villa il Leccio close to Tuscany for lunch. The scenic drive handed by way of rolling hills, picturesque vineyards, and medieval cities. Tuscany is understood for its olive bushes and wheat, traditionally planted collectively to kind the very best produce in all of Italy, in addition to wines.
From the mainland of Italy, we boarded a ferry to Lido Island, a small island within the Venice lagoon the place we stayed for two nights. Lido is way quieter than its well-known neighbor, however from right here you may go to the primary vacationer space of Venice simply by way of water taxis.
Venice, generally known as the “Metropolis of Canals” is one among Italy’s most picturesque cities, with hanging structure and delightful bridges set amidst winding canals. Venice is constructed on an archipelago of 118 small islands linked by over 400 bridges over the complicated community of canals.
Venice has been used as a filming location for films like The Italian Job, On line casino Royale, and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Regardless of its immense reputation and price, it continues to draw vacationers. We loved wandering by way of the maze of alleyways to hunt for Libreria Acqua Alta (a comfy, offbeat bookstore with books piled on prime of gondolas and lovable resident cats), sipping on Aperols and Bellinis, and the scrumptious home-cooked salmon risotto and seafood pasta meals within the lodge we had been staying in.
Issues to do in Venice
- Gondola rides
- Piazza San Marco
- St. Mark’s Basilica
- Doge’s Palace
- Ponte de Rialto
- Bridge of Sighs
- Venetian glassmaking
- Libreria Acqua Alta
- Murano and Burano Islands
The place to remain in Venice
From Venice, we headed over to Austria in Central Europe, which lies within the Japanese Alps. Most of us are conversant in Austria having grown up watching the traditional movie The Sound of Music. The actual von Trapp household as soon as lived in Salzburg and the film was filmed in and across the metropolis. Austria is famend for its pure landscapes, literature, artwork and music. It’s the birthplace of classical composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Strauss.
We stayed 2 nights within the capital metropolis Vienna, had picnic meals within the gardens of Schonbrunn Palace, strolled across the metropolis heart, visited the colourful Hundertwasserhaus artist’s village, tried Schnitzel, watched an entertaining classical Viennese live performance, and went craft beer searching at evening.
What struck me essentially the most about Vienna was how clear, neat and arranged every little thing was. It’s no marvel classical musicians thrive right here. All the pieces felt so orderly. Their trendy public transportation works on an honesty system, with no ticket obstacles at stations and no formal, everlasting ticket checks on subways, native trains, trams and buses. Vienna felt very peaceable, walkable and secure. I’d advocate Vienna for solo vacationers.
Issues to do in Vienna
- Schönbrunn Palace
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral
- The Ring (Vienna’s historic metropolis heart)
- Hofburg Palace
- Hundertwasserhaus (artist village)
- Viennese Concert events
The place to remain in Vienna
From Austria, we traveled to Slovakia, a small nation that was previously a part of Czechoslovakia earlier than it formally cut up from the Czech Republic. Whereas we didn’t keep lengthy right here, I preferred the vibe. Locals in cafes and memento outlets had been pleasant and welcoming. The capital Bratislava is the one capital on the earth that borders two international locations (Austria and Hungary), making it good for day journeys from these international locations.
Bratislava, set alongside the Danube River, is surrounded by vineyards and mountains, crisscrossed with forested mountaineering and biking trails. The perfect place to go is the pedestrian-only, 18th-century outdated city identified for its energetic bars and cafes. From right here, you may see the reconstructed Bratislava Citadel perched atop a hill overlooking the outdated city and the Danube.
Issues to do in Bratislava
- Bratislava Citadel
- Michael’s Gate
- The Blue Church
- St. Martin’s Cathedral
- Bronze statues of varied figures (Napoleon’s Military Statue, Schone Naci, ČUMIL the Manhole man, Hans Christian Andersen Statue, and many others.)
- Obchod v Muzeu (Oldest Store in City)
Then it was onwards to the Czech Republic, the place we stayed for two nights within the capital Prague. The Czech Republic is known for its beer, with Czechs consuming essentially the most beer per capita on the earth, and so they’re happy with it.
I discovered it refreshing to see locals socializing and ingesting overtly alongside the riverside and parks. The vibe in Prague was very inventive and laid-back. Folks had been pleasant, and meals and drinks had been inexpensive.
Apart from visiting a number of architectural websites and landmarks, we visited the Prague Beer Museum, tried Goulash (a thick beef stew made with onions and spices), strolled round Charles Bridge at evening, stumbled upon a beautiful bookstore with a den, and drank craft beer in a bike-themed bar underneath a bridge.
I cherished the vibe in Prague and wouldn’t thoughts staying longer subsequent time.
Issues to do in Prague
- Prague Citadel
- Charles Bridge
- Outdated City Sq.
- Astronomical Clock
- St. Vitus Cathedral
- Wenceslas Sq.
- Dancing Home
- Lennon Wall
- Kafka Museum
- Jewish Quarter
- Prague Beer Museum
The place to remain in Prague
After crossing the border in Germany, we stopped first at Regensburg, a UNESCO-designated Outdated City, residence to 1,500 heritage buildings, together with the 800-year-old Stone Bridge and Ninth-century Alte Kapelle. Right here, you will discover the roughly 900-year-old Historic Sausage Kitchen of Regensburg, one of many oldest eating places on the earth.
Then it was off to Munich, Germany’s third-largest metropolis after Berlin and Hamburg, the place we stayed for one evening. Munich is residence to centuries-old buildings and quite a few museums. It’s famed for its annual Oktoberfest celebration and its beer halls.
Our introduction to Munich was strolling by way of the famed Hofbräuhaus. Based in 1589, the preferred beer corridor and some of the well-known on the earth. Rowdy celebrations had been in full swing resulting from ongoing Euro Cup. We additionally went on a stroll across the outdated city corridor space to gaze on the Glockienspiel, a world-famous mechanical clock, together with hordes of different vacationers.
Issues to do in Munich
- Glockenspiel
- Marienplatz
- Hofbräuhaus
- Neues Rathaus (city corridor)
- English Gardens
- BMW Museum
- Oktoberfest (September to October)
The place to remain in Munich
From Germany, we made our approach to Switzerland passing Liechtenstein, one other tiny European nation ultimate for day journeys. The sixth-smallest nation on the earth is situated between Austria and Switzerland, and is understood for its medieval castles, alpine landscapes and villages linked by a community of trails. The capital, Vaduz is a cultural and monetary heart and fundamental vacationer hub, residence to a row of memento outlets, cafes and museums.
Liechtenstein is visa-free or affords visa on arrival entry to 180 international locations and territories together with the Philippines. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have an airport of its personal and is normally accessed by way of both Austria or Switzerland by land (which do require visas). The closest airports are situated in Switzerland and Germany.
Issues to do in Liechtenstein
- Vaduz Citadel
- Kathedrale St. Florin
- Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein (trendy and modern artwork)
- Postmuseum (Liechtenstein’s postage stamps)
- Vaduz Metropolis Prepare
Then it was off to Switzerland, one of many international locations I used to be most excited to go to. We stayed 2 nights within the Lucerne, some of the stunning Swiss cities. Nestled between mountains and a shimmering lake, Lucerne provided essentially the most picturesque views of the lake and snow-capped mountains.
Our lodge was conveniently situated proper throughout the lake and we loved strolling right here and watching the swans and geese swim. There are a number of eating places by the lake, however you may as well take out meals from stalls or have a easy picnic by the lakeside.
The highlights of Switzerland included driving the Cabrio cableway and funicular railway (courting again to 1893) to go up Stansershorn, which had a tremendous mountain view and examine deck. We additionally took a scenic cruise round Lake Lucerne, strolled across the Outdated City, visited the Chapel Bridge, a wood bridge decked with vibrant work that spans the Reuss River and spent a leisurely afternoon strolling across the gardens of Meggenhorn Citadel without spending a dime.
Whereas Switzerland was essentially the most stunning nation we visited, it was additionally the most costly. The price of on a regular basis objects in comfort shops, meals in eating places and beer felt considerably greater. Locals use Swiss francs right here, which is stronger than the Euro. Switzerland is one other nation the place I’d have cherished to remain longer, particularly to strive the completely different trains to different cities.
Issues to do in Lucerne
- Stanserhorn
- Chapel Bridge
- Lake Lucerne
- The Cruise
- Meggenhorn Citadel
The place to remain in Lucerne
Crossing again by way of Germany
From Switzerland, we crossed again to Germany and stopped for lunch in Heidelberg, which is residence to Germany’s oldest and one among Europe’s most respected universities. Heidelberg can also be identified for cuckoo clocks.
From right here, we proceeded to Sankt Goar and cruised by way of Rhineland, passing vineyards and fantasy castles. We stayed one other evening in Koblenz, one of many oldest cities in Germany, earlier than one other lengthy drive to Netherlands.
The place to remain in Koblenz
On the best way to the Netherlands, we handed by way of the city of Cologne, residence to the Cologne Cathedral, the most important Gothic church in northern Europe. This wonderful church options immense twin towers that stand 515 ft (157 meters) tall. The cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Web site in 1996.
Netherlands is world-famous for its windmills, tulips, clogs, cheese and vibrant bike tradition. We spent two days visiting the Dutch countryside, went inside a standard windmill, discovered how conventional wood clogs had been made, and took a ship cruise across the canals.
Amsterdam was the final cease of the tour, however we prolonged our keep for an additional week, and determined to go to Belgium, leaving most of our baggage in storage within the final lodge we transferred to.
We additionally frolicked in Vondelpark, toured the Heineken Brewery, walked across the notorious Pink Mild District and had dinner in Chinatown as a break from Dutch meals.
Issues to do in Amsterdam
- Windmills
- Vollendam
- Monnickendam
- Canal cruise
- Heineken Brewery Expertise
- Pink Mild District
- Vondelpark
- Zaanse Chans
- Anne Frank Home
- Van Gogh Museum
The place to remain in Amsterdam
We booked tickets on the spot to journey by NS Worldwide prepare from Amsterdam to Brussels in Belgium, which is about 2-3 hours away. At this level, we had been a bit drained from the fixed shifting round and wished to sit back out a bit and Brussels was an excellent place to try this.
The lodge I picked in Brussels was not as costly as Amsterdam and was centrally situated close to the Grand Place, so it was simple to discover on foot. We spent 3 nights in Brussels and determined to skip Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp to take it gradual.
We loved the beer tradition, walked to parks and church buildings, did a self-guided tour of the comedian e-book route, went meals tripping, tried completely different Belgian beers and sweets. I additionally met up with a Belgium-based good friend (Aleah of Solitary Wanderer) and had a pleasant catch-up session over Belgian waffles and occasional.
Issues to do in Brussels
- Grand Place
- Les Galeries de Royale
- BoursBeurs
- Manekin Pis
- Chocolate
- Beers
- Comedian E-book Route
- Bruges and Ghent
- Luxembourg and Dinant
The place to remain in Brussels
Again in Netherlands
From Brussels, we took the FlixBus again to Netherlands (which was cheaper than the prepare) and spent one other three days in Amsterdam.
One of many issues Amsterdam is understood for is its vibrant biking tradition. Town has extra bikes than individuals and the spotlight of our final leg was biking across the metropolis. There are numerous biking routes round Amsterdam that we had been selecting from, so we tried to do 2 in sooner or later.
We ended up happening an 80-kilometer trip to Zaanse Schans, a historic neighborhood that has the look of an 18th/Nineteenth-century village, and Marken (a coastal village with a port and conventional homes) and again to Amsterdam the identical day, benefiting from the lengthy sunlight hours (the sundown was at 10pm).
Amsterdam can also be identified for historic figures like Anne Frank and artists like Vincent Van Gogh. I’m glad we had been capable of pre-book museum tickets for the the Anne Frank Home and the Van Gogh Museum on the day of our flight again.
I really feel extraordinarily grateful for this journey to Europe. It’s been a whirlwind of memorable experiences together with journey errors that would have been averted (however at the least we now know higher). Every European nation and metropolis had a unique character and vibe. There have been some locations the place I wouldn’t thoughts returning to and staying longer, different locations I’m happy with seeing simply as soon as in my lifetime, and different locations I want we may have included if our time and funds permitted.
However general, I believe our first journey to Europe supplied an excellent overview of various nation highlights and what to anticipate on future journeys.
10 COUNTRIES: Italy, Vatican Metropolis, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium
16 CITIES (within the order we visited): Rome, Vatican, Venice, Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, Regensburg, Munich, Vaduz, Lucerne, Heidelberg, Sankt Goar, Rhineland, Cologne, Amsterdam, Brussels
I’ll strive my finest to write down extra detailed nation guides/travelogues (particularly the DIY bike excursions, memorable beer experiences, and notable museums) and hyperlink again to them on this submit, however for now I hope different vacationers will discover the fundamentals and sensible data useful for their very own journey planning.
