Europe has many destinations, so it might be difficult to decide where to start. And, once you arrive in Europe how do you get around? Traveling in Europe is different from traveling in the United States so it may be hard to know whether you want to travel through Italy by train or on Rhine River cruises. Each type of transportation has advantages and disadvantages so it depends on your style of travel but, regardless of which option (or combination of options) you choose, you will eventually need to decide which type of traveling in Europe will work best for you based on what you want to see.
European River Cruising
Whether you are cruising down the Rhine viewing magnificent castles and rolling vineyards or drifting on a canal barge through England or France, European River Cruising is an extremely pleasant way to travel. From the gondolas of Venice to the bateaux mouches on the Seine in Paris to the many sightseeing boats that cruise the canals of Amsterdam, traveling by water has always been one of the most popular modes of travel for tourists in Europe. However, in the last several years, European river cruising has grown in popularity among travelers who like the convenience of ocean cruising but on a smaller, more intimate scale.
Train Travel
Traveling by train in Europe can be a very pleasant experience especially on inter-country trips. Trains service small towns as well as capital cities so that gives you the opportunity to see many places that you would just fly over if you were to travel by plane. And, with European countries so close together, it’s not impossible to see one country per day on your vacation. Another option when traveling by train is to concentrate on two or three countries that are close together. For example, there are train tickets that specialize in travel between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Or you might want to visit all four countries in the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. In this way, you can see a large amount of a relatively small geographical area.
Themed Tours
Another great way to experience Europe is to plan your trip around a certain theme. For example, Italy is famous for its food, and there are many cooking tours available. You might want to visit castles, in which case you would surely head to the United Kingdom. Belgium and Germany would top the list for beer travel; for wine lovers, it would be Italy, France and Spain. Many cities also have organized walking tours based on a certain theme. For example, in London, you can do a “pub crawl” on the South side of the Thames or, for the more adventurous, the night-time “Jack the Ripper” tour. There are also architectural tours in Barcelona and garden tours in Paris. No matter what your area of interest is, there is sure to be a themed tour available.
Once you determine where you want to go and what you want to see, there are many travel options available to you. Trains, planes, boats and coaches are all excellent ways to see the amazing sights of Europe so you need to evaluate your travel style and then choose the one (or more) that appeal most to you.
