- Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece for sun; Paris, Rome, Prague and Amsterdam for city breaks
- Most of Europe is 1-4 hours from UK airports, and many cities are reachable by Eurostar
- May-June and September-October give the best weather-to-price balance
- British passport holders can stay 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen area, and EES now records fingerprints at the border
Europe is the easiest big-trip continent for UK travellers. You can be in a Mediterranean cove, an Alpine valley or a medieval old town in less time than it takes to cross England by train, and budget airlines, Eurostar and overnight ferries mean you rarely need to spend much to get there.
Where to go in Europe
For sun and beaches, start with Spain (including the Canary Islands for winter sun), Portugal and its Algarve, Greece and the Cyclades, Croatia, Malta and Cyprus.
For city breaks, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, Berlin, Lisbon, Dublin and Kraków all work brilliantly over a long weekend.
For regions to explore slowly, try Catalonia, Andalucía, Tuscany, Sicily, Provence or Bavaria, ideally with a hire car or by regional train.
For mountains and snow, Austria, Switzerland, the French Alps and Italy's Dolomites. Further north, Iceland, Norway and Finnish Lapland are the places for the northern lights.
Best time to visit Europe
| Season | Best for |
|---|---|
| Spring (April-June) | City breaks, Italy, Greece and Andalucía before the heat |
| Summer (July-August) | Beaches, Scandinavia, Iceland, mountain hiking; busiest and priciest |
| Autumn (September-October) | Warm sea in the Mediterranean, wine harvests, fewer crowds |
| Winter (November-March) | Skiing, Christmas markets, Lapland, Canary Islands sun |
Getting there from the UK
Flights from London take about 1h to Amsterdam or Paris, 2h20 to Barcelona or Rome and 3h30-4h to Athens, Cyprus or the Canaries. Eurostar reaches Paris in about 2h20 and Brussels in about 2h, with easy connections onward. See our guide to European city breaks by train from London.
Landmarks & things to do in Europe
LandmarkAcropolis
The rocky citadel above Athens, crowned by the Parthenon, is the most important ancient monument in Greece.
ViewpointAiguille du Midi
A record-breaking cable car from Chamonix to a granite needle at 3,842m, with close-up views of Mont Blanc.
LandmarkAlhambra
A hilltop palace-fortress of carved stucco, tiled courtyards and water gardens, the Alhambra is the high point of…
MuseumAnne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank hid for two years and wrote her diary, now a moving museum on the Prinsengracht.
LandmarkBelém Tower
A 16th-century fortress on the Tagus, decorated in Manueline style, that once guarded the gateway to Lisbon.
NatureBenagil Cave
The Algarve's famous sea cave, with a round skylight in its domed roof, reached by boat, kayak or paddleboard.
NatureBlue Lagoon
Iceland's famous geothermal spa, with milky-blue water in a black lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
LandmarkBrandenburg Gate
Berlin's neoclassical city gate, crowned by the Quadriga, once trapped behind the Wall and now the symbol of a reunited…
LandmarkCharles Bridge
Prague's 14th-century stone bridge, lined with Baroque statues and guarded by Gothic towers, linking the Old Town with…
Europe on the map
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest country in Europe for a holiday?
Poland, Hungary, Portugal outside Lisbon and parts of Greece and Croatia are the best value for food and accommodation, with flights from most UK airports.
Do I need ETIAS to travel to Europe?
Not yet. The EU's ETIAS has no confirmed start date, so ignore websites charging for it now. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is already in use and records your fingerprints and photo on your first crossing.
Where is warm in Europe in winter?
The Canary Islands are the only reliably warm option, with highs of around 21-23 °C. Madeira, Malta, Cyprus and the Costa del Sol are mild but not beach-hot.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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