Europe

Got Europe on your mind?

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As a child, television and movies were the only window to the world. The few Indian movies that had budgets prominently featured Europe. Hence, it comes as no surprise that almost everybody in India thinks of visiting Paris and London, so did I, before realising there were numerous secret spots where you could only find locals, guaranteeing an authentic visit.

After calling Europe home for almost 5 years, I can say that if you’re flexible, it is here that you can walk to an airport and get a flight for as cheap as £15!

For the Alps, think Seealpsee, Valle Di Cembra or a road trip around Austria and for weekend breaks think of Innsbruck and Santander!

However, flexibility doesn’t mean missing out on any must-do experiences! Festivals like the Tulip festival in Amsterdam or romantic locations like Lucerne, shouldn’t be side-lined. They’re most certainly still worth a visit.

All of these holidays will always be accompanied with a side of the best local food, irrespective of whether you’re in the Czech Republic, Austria, Spain or Finland.

Europe may be backpacking paradise for people all around the world but it also certainly has locations like Santorini, perfect for couples and Cyprus, just right for families. You can rest assured, Europe has exactly what you need!

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Know Before You Go

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Shoulder season is the best time to visit Europe, so the months of March to May and September to November are budget friendly and have acceptable weather.

The months of summer from June to August are undoubtedly great however do expect it to be busy and pricey.

To see the Northern Lights, the best months to visit place sike Iceland and Norway are October, November, February and March.

ESSENTIALS ITEMS

In Europe you should pack for the weather and not for the season.

Based on where you’re visiting, for most of the year (except summer) you’ll need leggings, coats and jackets, depending on how cold you get, as you should expect it to get windy.

You should also carry a umbrella or a shell jacket for occasional rain that’s quite common in these parts and walking shoes.

Here’s an extensive packing list for summer and a beach holiday packing list to help you get started.

Where to go in Europe

FEMALE SOLO TRAVEL

Europe is generally quite safe for solo travel however if I were to pick a few countries, those would be The Netherlands, Germany, The U.K., Austria, Finland and Norway to be my top picks. There’s good public transport and network and even if you stay in a hostel, good fellow travelers too!

COUPLES TRAVEL

While it is difficult to pick a single country for a romantic getaway, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Norway and Hungary are my top picks. Some of these places might need you to take a road trip if you like moving around or you could opt for tours or go island hopping! Sunshine, good food and a romantic atmosphere guaranteed!

FAMILY TRAVEL

Europe on the whole is family-friendly, irrespective of whether you chose to drive or take public transport (in locations in West Europe). However, Cyprus, Spain and Italy still remain the best spots to take the whole family out for some fun!

FOODIE GETAWAYS

Italy, Spain, Hungary, Czech Republic and France are undoubtedly the best of all the places I’ve been to in Europe for food as well as drinks. They also have a good variety of options for vegans so everyone is catered to!