Europe Travel Guides
Last checked: October 2026
Our Europe travel guides cover nine destinations, from the Pyrenees to the Balkans. Each one has a visa guide, best places, a month-by-month calendar, itineraries, hotels and flights. Start with the visa guide, because Schengen and non-Schengen entry rules differ, then check the best time to visit.
Europe Destination Guides
- Albania: visa, best places, best time to visit, itineraries, where to stay and flights.
- Andorra: visa, best places, best time to visit, itineraries, where to stay and flights.
- Austria: visa, best places, best time to visit, itineraries, where to stay and flights.
- Belarus: visa, best places, best time to visit, itineraries, where to stay and flights.
- Belgium: visa, best places, best time to visit, itineraries, where to stay and flights.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: visa, best places, best time to visit, itineraries, where to stay and flights.
- Bulgaria: visa, best places, best time to visit, itineraries, where to stay and flights.
- France: visa, best places, best time to visit, itineraries, where to stay and flights.
- Italy: visa, best places, best time to visit, itineraries, where to stay and flights.
Schengen or Not: What to Check First
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France and Italy are in the Schengen Area, so one set of short-stay rules applies when you move between them. Albania, Andorra, Belarus and Bosnia and Herzegovina are outside it, and each sets its own entry rules. Andorra is a good example: it isn’t in the EU or Schengen, and you can only enter through Spain or France.
Two EU systems matter for non-EU visitors. The Entry/Exit System has been fully running at Schengen’s external borders since 10 April 2026, according to the French government. ETIAS, the travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, wasn’t running when we last checked, so confirm the current status on the official EU page before you book.
How to Choose Where to Start
- Choose a Schengen destination such as France, Italy, Austria or Belgium if you want to combine several countries on one trip.
- Choose a non-Schengen destination such as Albania or Bosnia and Herzegovina if you want to check separate entry rules and fewer shared systems.
- Choose Andorra if you want mountains, skiing or spas, and are happy to arrive by road from Spain or France.
- Read the safety and visa notes first for any destination where governments publish strong advisories. Each guide puts them near the top.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming one visa covers every European country. It doesn’t.
- Forgetting the 90-day limit in any 180-day period for Schengen short stays.
- Booking a long route without checking separate entry rules for non-Schengen stops.
Europe Travel Guides FAQs
Which Europe guide should I read first?
Read the visa guide for your first destination, then its best time to visit. Entry rules and seasons shape every other choice, such as hotels and flights.
Do I need a separate visa for each country?
Not inside the Schengen Area if you hold a Schengen visa, but non-Schengen countries set their own rules. Check each destination’s visa guide and the official government page it links to.
Are the guides kept up to date?
Each guide shows a last checked date near the top. Rules, advisories, event dates and fees change, so confirm them with the official source before you travel.
Explore More Guides
See all regions on our travel guides page, or browse Asia, the Americas and the Middle East. Use our free travel checklist before you go.