Two Weeks In Europe - Three Potential Itineraries

Planning a two week trip to Europe? Here are three potential itineraries to consider.

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I've never seen a European itinerary I didn't like. People ask me all the time what I think of their plans to see certain cities and, inevitably, I always convey my hearty approval. And whenever I hear any kind of "if only" scenario, I always find a solution. "If only" you could go to Krakow? You can - because I know all about the overnight trains that will get you there while you sleep. "If only" you could afford to go to Stockholm? Pull up a chair, because I'm about to outline every freebie the city has to offer.

But when I'm asked what someone should do with two weeks in Europe, I draw a blank. What an impossible scenario! How do you squeeze dozens of countries and hundreds of cities into two weeks? Alas, the two week scenario is a common one. Honeymoons, graduation celebrations, retirement splurges, and long overdue vacations all come up when chatting about how to spend two weeks in Europe.

I've pondered this situation at length and I think I have three realistic, affordable, manageable approaches for how to spend two weeks in Europe. They aren't exact itineraries but rather philosophical approaches that any traveler can mold to their own precise interests and travel style.

Option one: tackle the "Big Three" - plus three more

Rome!

London!

Paris!

Do you want to see it all? Really have a sense that you "did" Europe? You'll want to do what I call the "Big 3 plus 3" approach. Pick three cities. BIG cities. London, Paris, and Rome instantly come to mind but it could be any three European capitals, like Amsterdam, Berlin, and Prague. Seeing a diverse trio is perfect for travelers who want a real sense of Europe's best attractions in a short amount of time. Expect to spend about three days in each city. That's enough time to see all the classic sights, take in some special interest attractions, and even have spare time for a short day trip or a more involved activity like a cooking class.

Next, for each big European city, add in a day at a nearby small city or large town. For instance, after three days in London, spend 24 hours in Brighton, Bath, or York. After three days in Paris, head to Dieppe, the Loire Valley, or evenBrussels. Once you spend three days in Rome, take a day to visit Orvieto, Naples, or Pisa.

This kind of itinerary has several key advantages beyond the sense of really covering a lot of ground. It's flexible and accommodating for travel partners with differing interest. You can mix up more expensive destinations with less costly ones and, while popular cities have tempting pricey attractions they also have a lot of free museums, galleries, and events. Plus, it's an itinerary that works well if you're flying into one city and out of another. 

On the down side, you may potentially have to spend more time and money than you like on transportation. You might even have to double back a few times depending on where you want to go. And, in theory, this itinerary has a good blend of urban and not-so-urban locations, but there's always the temptation to add just one more city and turn your well balanced itinerary into a busy one. Don't make my habitual mistake and try to squeeze in too much!

Option two: pick a regional theme

Vienna!

Budapest!

Prague!

Maybe you want to check out the old, grand cities of the Austro-Hungarian empire or soak in the best of Scandinavia. You might be interested in doing your own take on Eastern Europe, with stops in Budapest, Bratislava, Ostrava, and Krakow or possibly the Alps with stops in Munich, Salzburg, Zurich, Bern, and Lyon. What these itineraries have in common is that they're connected by a sense of geography and culture. 

A regional theme trip has the advantage of being relatively time efficient, without much backtracking needed. You can visit as few as three destinations and really enjoy some quality time there or as many as six, spending two nights in each spot. You can have a nice mix of urban, small city, and even rural destinations. In a general sense, you can pack and plan for one region. 

On the down side, you might feel that all your destinations start to look the same after a while. Of course, I would NEVER suggest that Vienna, Budapest, and Prague all blend together when you're tired, but some people might. I would also definitely not say that all Scandinavian food tastes the same after a week or two. Nope, not me. (Okay, me. There's just SO much pickled fish!)

Pick one country and stick to it (mostly)

Dublin!

Adare!

Banratty!

For arguably the most relaxing and immersive experience, stick with one country and embrace a mix of large and small cities and towns, plus quiet rural areas. England, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Greece are just some of the countries that would work well with this approach. You'd fly into the capital city and spend some quality time there before setting out for adventure on a regional train or even your own rental car. For instance, a trip to Ireland could include three days in Dublin, two days or so in Cork, Limerick, and Galway, and one day visits to Kilkenny, Sligo, and Donegal.

This approach has the advantage of simplicity. There is just one language (usually!), one currency, and one set of customs to familiarize yourself with. Your transportation time is limited and the possibility of having to backtrack is limited. You have the time and opportunity to embrace your destination's cuisine, wine, music, and folklore at a deeper level and there's plenty of time to embrace your own special interests, like doing a day long bike tour between villages in Germany or a three day painting class in Italy.

On the downside, there is a possibility that you could be disappointed if your destination is not as expected. If you're aggravated that dinner starts much later in Greece or that it's an effort to find vegetarian food in Spain, you might have reoccurring frustration throughout your trip. There are two ways to mitigate this. Traveling with a good guidebook or two will provide you with extra resources and travel suggestions, plus valuable background reading on customs, traditions, and culinary expectations. As well, I'd also suggest taking a day or two from your itinerary to 'pop over' to another country. For instance, if you're spending two weeks in Ireland, spend a few days in London before you fly home. If you're in north-west Germany, head over to Belgium or the Netherlands for a short visit. A little bit of variety can go a long way!

Why two weeks is really just 12 days

If you've been reading carefully, you'll have noticed that my suggested themes and itineraries have added up to 12 days, not two full two weeks. There's a good reason for this. In any big trip, there are always a few "lost" days. You might fly into one city because you found one heck of a bargain flight (good for you!) and then spend a day connecting to your real starting point. Or you might inevitably lose a day to backtracking. If you're starting your trip immediately after your wedding or another big occasion, you might want a day or two to do nothing but relax, catch up on rest, and hang out at a spa before you officially start your trip. 

None of these are lost travel days. Flying into one city before commuting to another is a brilliant way to get a quick taste of  a destination and we do it as much as we can (like when we spent 18 hours in Stockholm while on route to Athens). A bit of backtracking isn't the worst thing in the world - it's a chance to catch up on postcards and indulge in some people watching. Plus including some chill days, to rest and relax, is wonderful no matter where you are in the world! So embrace those so-called lost travel days and cheerfully build your official itinerary around them. 

Rest assured, no matter where you go or how you organized your final itinerary, you're going to have a wonderful time!

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