A tour in Europe tends to reward a well-designed itinerary as much as any region on earth. The cities are dense with history, the landscapes shift dramatically within a few hours, and the contrast between destinations – whitewashed Andalucían hilltowns one day, the labyrinthine medina of Fès the next – can be the point of the journey. Here’s how to think about where to go, and when.
If you’re not sure where to start, the Iberian Peninsula tends to be a reliable answer. Routes linking Lisbon, Seville, Granada and the Alentejo cover more variety per kilometre than almost anywhere else on the continent – and pairing southern Spain with Morocco on a tour that crosses the Strait of Gibraltar is one of those itinerary structures that makes immediate sense once you see it on a map.
Scandinavia suits a different kind of trip. Norway’s fjords in summer, the midnight sun over Lofoten, the Arctic coast in winter – landscapes that reward travelling with someone who knows them well.
Greece and the Aegean tend to work best at smaller scale. An island-hopping route or a focused Peloponnese itinerary will generally deliver more than a broad sweep. The same goes for Italy – Sicily, the Amalfi coast or the Dolomites offer a depth of experience that a faster-paced itinerary rarely matches.
Spring and autumn tend to be the sweet spot for most of Europe – manageable crowds, comfortable temperatures, and the light in the south at its best. Morocco and Spain in April are particularly good. Cool enough to walk for hours, warm enough to eat outside in the evenings.Scandinavia runs to its own schedule. June to August is when the fjords are accessible and the days stretch on. Winter suits the traveller who’s specifically after the northern lights.
Most Europe tours cover accommodation, ground transport and a tour manager. Where they vary is meals – some include most of them, others leave dinner to you, which can be ideal if you’re keen to find your own restaurant. Regional flights may appear on itineraries covering significant distances.
One thing worth paying attention to: the hotel. On a multi-stop tour, where you’re sleeping becomes your anchor for the day. A well-located address makes a meaningful difference to how a city feels.
