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Lake Zurich, Switzerland
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Marienplatz in Munich, Germany
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Zurich Old Town, Switzerland
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Brussels Grand Place, Belgium
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Turkish coffee, Istanbul
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Madrid, Spain
London, Paris and Rome may be Europe’s classic gateways for Australians, but the best place to begin your trip could lie elsewhere. Flying into a less obvious European gateway can open the door to destinations beyond the usual itinerary.
From Copenhagen, Brussels and Manchester to Munich, Zurich and Istanbul, these alternative arrival cities are all reachable from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with Singapore Airlines – with the option to turn your connection into a stopover in Singapore. A multi-city booking can make this approach even easier, allowing you to fly into one city and depart from another without retracing your route.
Discover more about Singapore Airlines on the new season of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays, airing Thursday 8.30pm AEST* on Foxtel Lifestyle and on demand on Binge.
1. Copenhagen, Denmark: swim, ski and add Sweden by train
Copenhagen brings together contemporary architecture, acclaimed restaurants and bakeries, colourful harbourfront neighbourhoods and a cycling culture that makes the city unusually easy to explore.
In warmer months, do as locals do and head for one of the city-centre harbour baths, including Islands Brygge. For something more unexpected, CopenHill turns the roof of a waste-to-energy plant into a recreational hill with an artificial ski slope, hiking routes and panoramic views across the city.
Foodies will love Refshaleøen, a former shipyard district now filled with restaurants, cultural spaces and Reffen – a 12,000-square-metre waterfront street-food market set among old industrial buildings.
Copenhagen also makes adding Sweden as your next Europe stop remarkably simple. Trains cross the Øresund Bridge to Malmö in around 35 minutes and depart every 20 minutes – just make sure to carry your passport, as border ID checks can apply when crossing into Sweden.
Where next? Turn Copenhagen into a two-country opening: add Malmö for Swedish design and food, then continue south to Hamburg and Berlin – or continue north for Stockholm.
2. Brussels, Belgium: put three countries within easy reach
Brussels gives you a compact first stop built around grand architecture, Belgian chocolate, beer culture and comic-book history. Start at the Grand-Place and Magritte Museum, then step away from the main tourist areas to spot the city’s distinctive Art Nouveau façades.
More than 80 murals make up the Brussels Comic Strip Trail, transforming building façades into tributes to characters including Tintin and Lucky Luke. Architecture fans can also consider the Brussels Art Nouveau Pass, which includes entry to three participating sites and discounts at several others.
Flying into Brussels is particularly useful when you want to minimise backtracking: Bruges can be reached by train in roughly an hour, while the Eurostar connects Brussels with Amsterdam in under two hours and Paris in around 90 minutes.
Where next? Spend a few days in Bruges or Ghent before continuing to Amsterdam or Paris.
3. Istanbul, Türkiye: begin between two continents
Few European arrival cities offer the geographic and cultural contrasts of Istanbul. The historic peninsula brings together Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar, while neighbourhoods on either side of the Bosphorus offer very different ways to spend the first few days.
One inexpensive way to see more of the city is also one of the most scenic. Istanbul’s public ferry network runs along and across the Bosphorus, while Şehir Hatları operates dedicated Bosphorus tours that stop at waterside districts along the strait.
Where next? Continue towards Greece, the Balkans or Central Europe using a combination of air, rail and road connections depending on the route.
4. Manchester, UK: take the northern route through Britain
If your Europe itinerary includes the United Kingdom, Manchester provides a curious alternative to London, with excellent connections into some of northern England and Scotland’s most rewarding destinations. Spend some time exploring the city’s football culture, music heritage, galleries and canals before heading further afield.
From here, York is an easy rail addition, while the Lake District puts some of England’s best walking country and lakeside scenery within reach. Continue north to Edinburgh for medieval lanes, Georgian architecture and the renowned Fringe festival that runs in August.
Singapore Airlines’ Manchester service is now daily from Singapore, making this northern gateway a particularly flexible starting point.
Where next? Follow a northbound route through Britain: slow down in the Lake District, then continue to York and Edinburgh.
5. Munich, Germany: pair city time with the Alps
Munich is a great arrival point if you want to combine European cities with mountain scenery. Spend a few days exploring the Residenz, museums around Kunstareal, Viktualienmarkt and the city’s beer gardens, then use the Bavarian capital as a base for journeys south and east.
Salzburg is one of the most convenient international additions, while rail routes continue onwards towards Vienna. Travellers heading south can instead make for the Bavarian Alps or continue across the border towards northern Italy.
Where next? Choose Salzburg for an alpine extension, Vienna for museums and cafes, or Prague for a more historic city break.
6. Zurich, Switzerland: turn the journey south into part of the holiday
Zurich gives travellers easy access to Switzerland‘s lakes, mountains and rail network. First, spend time around the city’s Old Town and Lake Zurich, browse galleries and design stores, or take a short trip to nearby Kilchberg for the Lindt Home of Chocolate, complete with a nine-metre chocolate fountain.
Outside the city, Switzerland’s rail network makes it possible to build the journey itself into the itinerary, whether you’re heading towards Lucerne, the Bernese Oberland or the country’s mountain rail routes.
Zurich also connects directly with Milan by EuroCity train, with the quickest services taking a little over three hours.
Where next? Take the scenic route into the Alps via Lucerne or the Bernese Oberland, then continue by direct train Milan; head towards Strasbourg if France is next.
7. Madrid, Spain: use Spain’s rail network to travel in almost any direction
From October 2026, Singapore Airlines is scheduled to begin services to Madrid, adding another European city to fly into from Australia.
Spend your first day outdoors: row on El Retiro’s lake, graze through Mercado de San Miguel, then head to La Latina for vermouth and tapas. On Sundays, browse El Rastro, then make an evening of tapas, live music or flamenco.
Madrid’s museum scene is a major draw, from the Prado and Reina Sofía to the Thyssen-Bornemisza. The Prado offers free entry to its permanent collection during the final two hours before closing (though queues can be longer at this time).
Where next? Stay on Spain’s high-speed rail network for Barcelona, Córdoba, Seville or Málaga; add southern France if you’re happy to extend beyond Spain’s rail loop.
How to choose where your Europe trip begins
The best starting city depends on the holiday you want and the flight options on your dates. Copenhagen suits food, design and a quick Swedish extension; Brussels makes cross-border rail easy; Munich and Zurich bring the Alps within reach; Manchester opens up northern Britain; Istanbul gives you a very different first taste of Europe; and Madrid combines food, nightlife and Spain’s high-speed rail.
Before booking, compare Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane departures, then check the total fare, connection time and onward route through Changi, using Singapore Airlines’ live schedule to confirm the available combination for your dates.
If your schedule allows, Singapore Airlines may also let you turn the connection into a Singapore stopover, subject to your ticket conditions and availability. Even during a standard connection, however, Changi’s 24-hour Butterfly Garden, free movie theatre and complimentary transit tours for eligible passengers give you plenty to do before your onward flight.
Discover more about Singapore Airlines on the new season of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays, airing Thursday 8.30pm AEST* on Foxtel Lifestyle and on demand on Binge.
Discover Europe
Feature image: Nyhavn, Copenhagen. Source: Nick Karvounis, Unsplash.
