In Europe travel tips

Let's be honest, budget flights have their uses, but they're a boring way to travel in Europe, and who wants to navigate motorways or be stuffed into a clammy bus when crossing the continent?

If you've got wheels, wanderlust and a spot of time, a road trip in Europe offers the chance to see the continent at a more relaxed pace. From the sunny shores of Portugal to the dungeons of Dracula's castle in Transylvania in Romania, the following itineraries can be easily combined, shortened or altered to suit your wayfaring tastes. Here are 9 of the best road trips in Europe, a clutch of which also feature in our run-down of the best countries for summer in Europe.

While great centres of civilization such as Athens, Rome and Istanbul still endure, there’s nothing quite like the melancholy grandeur of an abandoned city to really fire the historical imagination. From Salona to Pompeii, here are ten of the most evocative:

Easier than a car and more comfortable than a bus, taking the train is one of the best ways to experience Europe’s most picturesque regions. Sit back and admire spectacular mountains, lakes, rivers and incredible feats of engineering – here are 10 of the best scenic train rides across the continent.

Taken from the Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget , here's our pick of the best hostels in Europe.

There are few better ways to see Europe than by rail. Budget flights might abound, but nothing can match the experience of travelling by train. Forget about tedious airport transfers and unsociable departure times, by rail you’ll get glorious views, spacious seats and – best of all – the ability to hop off a train right in the centre of a new city.

Find the best ski festivals in Europe. Film festivals in France. High altitude rock festivals. LGBTQ snow festivals. Party festivals. Jazz festivals. Here are 8 of the best ski festivals in Europe.

This article is inspired by our Rough Guides guidebooks — your essential guides for travelling the world.

City breaks can be hard to plan. You want it all – art, culture, quirky hotels, top restaurants – but also the chance to relax. Fortunately, there are enough cities in Europe where you can find it all. These city breaks in Europe don’t skimp on urban culture, and have nature on their doorstep for when you need a breath of fresh air.

For a relatively small continent, Europe has some extraordinary coastlines. Their variety is dizzying, from sheltered rocky coves fringed with olive trees to vast stretches of soft sandy beaches. Whittling down the list of possible beach holidays in Europe can be tough, so here are a few places that will get you in the mood for lazy days in the sun.

To celebrate our dazzling European neighbours, we took to Facebook and Twitter to ask our followers to vote for the most beautiful places in Europe – the spots that, quite simply, blew them away. After much debate, here is what our readers and travel experts have whittled down to be the most beautiful places in Europe.

Europe presents an irresistible challenge to the budget traveller. A potent mix of culture, landscape and history on the one hand and a cash-gobbling monster on the other, sticking to your daily allowance can prove tricky.

Wondering where to head this summer for your perfect break? Our run-down of the best summer destinations in Europe has you covered, whether you’re seeking a chic sojourn in the sun or adventures in the bright outdoors. There’s plenty here if you’re travelling with kids, too, or fancy sampling the continent’s finest food and wine. Read on for inspiration that’ll have you reaching for your passport.

Still hoping to get to Europe this summer but wondering if there’s a way to finagle a vacation there during what remains of this record-breaking season without completely busting your budget?

It’s a consensus that holidays begin at the airport. Once you’ve gone through security, offloaded your luggage and started to question how early it is too early to have a drink – that’s when your brain has officially decided it is now in the holiday timezone. No airport is perfect—long queues, busy terminals and delays are what we’ve come to expect—but airports with decent food offerings, proximity to the city center and cheap car parking help create a less stressful environment for entering into holiday mode.