There is often confusion on what countries are in Western Europe and what countries are in Eastern Europe. When I refer to Western Europe, I am referring to countries such as:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • plus Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and Turkey

These countries are probably all familiar to you and maybe you've already visited one or handful of them (I've visited 14 and lived in 2, and those that I've missed are on my list!)

While they are classified together, each country/region has its own language, cuisine and culture. Wine lovers should visit Italy, Spain or France. History buffs should consider the UK or Germany. Beer drinkers will enjoy Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Iceland and Switzerland are great for hikers and nature lovers. And foodies will be happy anywhere!

One misconception is that any destination in Europe is within a 3-hour train to any other destination - and while there are fast high-speed trains that do make this statement true in some instances, it is not the case for the majority of the time.

Tip: You will want to budget at least 3-nights in any major city (depending on interests but that is what I typically refer for the "regular" traveler) and then factor in the distance to your next chosen destination. Often a quick flight will be better than a long train (for instance, Rome to Paris is at least a 10+ hour uncomfortable train and can be much more expensive than a quick flight!)

And while this page is focused on Western Europe countries, they can easily be combined with Eastern Europe!

I specialize in customizing vacations including these countries - I don't do "cookie cutter" itineraries but handpick each element based on your interests and travel style. I love sharing my passion for these destinations with my clients - most of my "happy places" are in this region! I'll help you create the perfect itinerary.

Ready to explore Western Europe? Contact me now to get started!

 

Highlights:

  • Charming towns of Bruges and Ghent (Belgium)

  • Coffee and Sachertort (Vienna)

  • Glaciers in Norway

  • Canal cruise in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

  • Tapas-tasting in Spain

  • Enjoying the sun on the French Riviera

  • Reaching new heights in the Alps

  • Pub crawls in Dublin

Sample train distances:

  • Paris to Barcelona - 6 hours
  • Amsterdam to Berlin - 6 hours
  • Zurich to Munich - 4 hours
  • Munich to Vienna - 4 hours
  • Copenhagen to Stockholm - 5 hours
  • Lucerne, Switzerland to Milan - 3.5 hours