As a Sagittarius, traveling is my favorite thing to do, so I hope this Europe travel bucket list will give you some ideas about where to travel next year!
Before I get started with the destinations themselves though, I want to give you a few quick tips about traveling to Europe.
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1. Why you should travel to Europe
For those who don’t know me yet, hi! I’m Zsuzsanna, a Swiss and Hungarian girl who studied abroad in the US and traveled quite a few countries in Europe!
So because I’d been abroad in other countries, I know that traveling in Europe is a little different than, let’s say, in the US.
Europe isn’t small by any means, but the distance between countries is much smaller than if you were to go to a different country from the US, Canada, or South American countries as well (for example).
Also, you don’t necessarily need a car or plane within Europe!
Bus, Train, and Tram systems are much more prevalent and also convenient in Europe, so it is easy to get around and to different countries.
Another plus point is that you can travel pretty much anywhere within Europe without visas for every single country.
Almost all countries of Europe participate in the so-called “Schengen Agreement”, that allows people to move, work, and travel within Europe without a special visa.
(please do your research on this tho, especially if you are coming from outside of Europe. I don’t know much about visas here since I’m a resident and never needed it.)
There are probably many more reasons why to travel to Europe. but let’s move on to how I book my flights and get them cheapest, so we can get started with my favorite cities, countries, and places!
2. Find cheap Flights
I definitely recommend taking buses and trains, especially because they’re so much better for the environment. But should you decide to fly in Europe, you have 2 options:
1. Look for plane tickets to a specific destination on Skyscanner to find the best deal.
2. Or go to Skyscanner and pick “worldwide”, select the time frame you want to go on vacation for, and look for European countries.
Now, it will suggest you the cheapest plane tickets in your time frame to the cheapest destinations!!
I once did the same thing and found plane tickets to London for like $100. That was so much fun!
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5. Save Money
No matter how budget-friendly a trip is, you still need money for it. There are definitely cheaper and more expensive places in Europe, but depending on your budget, you can definitely make a good itinerary.
Let’s talk a little bit about what you can do to save money for a trip to Europe in 2020.
- Use Swagbucks for cashback and doing surveys
Swagbucks is a great site where you can get cash back for shopping through their website. So whatever you want to buy, try to do it through them.
- If you are further interested in saving money and budgeting, check out this post I wrote with tips for budgeting correctly.
Related:
The Europe Travel Bucket List
Let’s get to our 10 destinations in Europe now that you should visit in 2020!
1. Budapest, Hungary
Located in Central Europe, Budapest is a great destination, also if you are on a budget.
Budapest has some amazing historic buildings and lots of things to do for any age group.
There are hot springs, museums, castles, good food, and also lots to do if you are into nightlife. Budapest usually gets pretty cold during winter and relatively warm in summer, so pick your time of travel accordingly.
The city is perfect for students since the prices are lower than in many other capital cities in Europe, but if you want some luxury you can find some great hotels and restaurants too.
2. Paris
Paris is a must-see for everyone!
I’ve been to Paris on my Europe trip by train, and loved it (well who doesn’t?)!
I actually wrote a ton of posts about traveling to and in Paris, so if you are interested, you can find them here:
- Paris Bucket List
- Paris on a Budget
- Paris Food Guide
- Paris Photo Locations
- How to Travel Europe by Train (itinerary ideas and tips)
For those who need to fly in, big cities are usually much cheaper than flights to small airports. #quicktip
3. Florence, Italy
Florence is one of Italy’s most significant cities! I loved being there with my art class for a trip.
If you’re into art, history, museums or just Italian food, this is a great place to spend a few days at.
You can connect Florence with visiting other cities such as Venice, Verona, Pisa, or even Rome.
There are lots of hotels, hostels, and Airbnb’s in the city center, so it’s worth checking out a few sites.
You can get $40 off your first stay with Airbnb through this link! #quicktip
4. Helsinki, Finland
For those who like it a little cooler, Finland is a great country to put on your Europe travel bucket list!
Finland has many amazing cities and landscapes, not just Helsinki. To make your trip cheaper, it helps to fly to Helsinki and then go from there.
Finland and the Northern Lights are definitely on my bucket list and I can’t wait to visit soon!
5. London, England
Yeah, London is on the pricier side for travel, but I’ve seen all of it in 2 days for less than $300, so I think you can too! (I would recommend staying for more than 2 days though, but whatever you prefer).
London has a lot of things to see and do for free, all year round. Spring is usually pretty rainy, but so is the rest of the year, so don’t care too much about the weather.
Check out my London itinerary here!
6. Castles in Germany
Germany has lots of castles and ruins, and you should totally put those on your Europe travel bucket list.
I’ve lived and traveled in Germany before and love the cities, countrysides, and the castles. You can find castles and ruins all over Europe, not just Germany, but I think Germany has some very nice famous ones that are a must-see in Europe.
Germany also has some cities to see, such as Cologne, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg or Lake Constance. So you don’t need to be just touring castles (unless that’s your plan).
On my list, I’ve got Burg Eltz and Neuschwanstein in Bavaria that I haven’t visited yet.
7. Swiss Alps
If you’re into hiking, mountains, countryside or, even better, winter sports, Switzerland is the perfect place to travel to!
There are lots of different mountain cities in Switzerland (and Austria) that are worth seeing.
Interlaken, Lucerne, Zermatt, Lauterbrunnen, and Gstaad are only a few of them (and some I have yet to visit, even as a Swiss resident haha)
Switzerland can get expensive (everything is more there, meaning prices are higher and wages are higher) so make sure to set a good budget and enjoy the trip!
8. Albania
Honestly, I haven’t been yet, but it’s on my list!
I have seen lots of pictures and documentaries/videos of Albania, and it looks so beautiful!
Here is what I heard:
It’s cheap, the beaches are beautiful, the people are welcoming, and there is also a mountainside in the country.
Doesn’t that sound too good to be true?
9. Vienna, Austria
Vienna is another beautiful city in a great location!
It’s perfect for a city trip but also great if you want to see a few things in it and also visit the mountains or some lakes in the area. Maybe even take a trip to Budapest!
Vienna has amazing bakeries and pastry shops and is also famous for the fair and its museums.
Flights to Vienna can also be pretty cheap if you check Skyscanner.
10. Mallorca
Let me add some beach and sunshine for you before you leave today!
Mallorca is one of the Balearic Islands in Europe. It is part of Spain and is located in the Mediterranean sea.
I’ve been to Mallorca multiple times, especially in my childhood, and it was always a great experience.
There is a part of the island that is known for being the German party scene, which can be fun for sure, but if you are looking for a more quiet vacation, with beaches to yourself, definitely look into the northern part of the island.
I hope these destinations will hop onto your Europe travel bucket list soon and you’ll come and see a few of the best travel destinations of Europe!
Check out my travel checklist here:
Safe Travels!
Until soon,
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