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Summer in Europe: Our Two Week Itinerary

by The Twins February 4, 2015
written by The Twins February 4, 2015

Summer in Europe: something that has captured imaginations for centuries.

The sparkling Mediterranean sea; historic Rome; beautiful Barcelona and most recently, the relatively less-trodden countries of Eastern Europe, have long been a draw for people across the globe. Whether it was travelling by horse and carriage on a ‘Grand Tour’, or more commonly these days, by train, touring Europe has always made for an exciting, beautiful and impressive trip.

Amsterdam

summer in europe 2 week itinerary

summer in europe 2 week itinerary

But what if you don’t have the luxury of long summer months to spend floating around Europe? What if, like most of us, you only have time for a 2 week Europe trip? Is that enough time to see Europe’s most beautiful sites?

Well, we believe it’s possible to see at leastΒ half of Europe in two weeks (without giving yourself an aneurysm) Β and to prove it, we’ve put together a suggested itinerary for summer in Europe to help you plan your dream trip.

Below is our guide to 2 weeks in Europe:

summer in europe

Two week itinerary for summer in Europe

First Steps

If you want to get around Europe quickly, flexibly and cheaply, we would definitely recommend InterRailΒ (for EU travellers) or EurailΒ for international travellers.

Using Europe’s extensive railway networks, you can easily hop Β from one country to the other (this also includes discounted bus and ferry services). There are two different ticket options available: a Global Pass Β (Global Pass for Eurail can be bought here), which allows you to visit up to 30 different countries, or a One Country PassΒ (One Country Pass for Eurail can be bought here), if you fancy exploring just one place. We would recommend the global pass:Β it is incredible value for money (if you are between the ages of 12-27, a month’s pass costs €510) and allows you to be as footloose-and-fancy-free as you like.

europe itinerary 2 weeks

europe itinerary 2 weeks

So, where to start for your 2 week trip to Europe? Below is our suggested itinerary for summer in Europe, with links to many more destination ideas for those with a little longer to explore Europe.

1) Paris, France (3 days, 2 nights)Β 

As everyone knows, Paris is always a good idea and a perfect place to start your trip. Furthermore, with France’s super fast TGV trains, connecting to countries across Europe is easy.

summer in europe two week itinerary

europe itinerary 2 weeks

Where to stay: We would highly recommend staying atHotel Daniel, a Β boutique hotel located on the Champs-ElysΓ©es.

View more Paris hotels here.

Top Tip: Visit Sacre Couer at dawn, for undisturbed hazy morning views across the city.

Once you’ve filled up on macaroons and soaked up Paris’Β je ne sais quoi,Β it’s time to grab a bottle of water, your favourite book and settle down for a beautiful train journey south. Sangria and Spain awaits!

Alternatively, if it’s the South of France you want to explore during your summer in Europe, take a look at our guide to exploring the area.

europe itinerary 2 weeks

europe itinerary 2 weeks

2) Β Barcelona, Spain (3 days, 2 nights)Β 

Paris – Barcelona: 6 hours, 33 minutes.

Step off into ‘Barcelona Sants’ – Barcelona’s Β busy central station and begin a perfect few days of immersing yourself in Gaudi buildings and delicious seafood. This really is one of our favourite European cities; relaxed yet quirky (like its buildings) you might find it hard to leave.

Where to stay: we suggest theΒ Grand Hotel Central, a short walk off Las Ramblas, with a roof terrace pool and oodles of luxury.

View other Barcelona hotels here.

2 week europe trip

2 weeks in europe

Top tip: If you want to enjoy a lazy beach afternoon, avoid Barceloneta beach and instead head to Sitges town, which boasts 17 beaches (including two nudist beaches!) This is around a 45 minute journey by train.

Once you have experienced beautiful Catalonia, it’s time to move south to experience a different kind of Spain altogether,Β where North African and European cultures collide.

two weeks in europe

The interior of Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona.

3) Seville, Spain (3 days, 2 nights)Β 

Barcelona – Seville: 5 hours, 30 minutes.

Seville, the land of tapas and flamenco is one of Analucia’s gems. Bursting with Moorish inspired buildings such asΒ AlcΓ‘zarΒ and Seville Cathedral, this small city is a perfect place to enjoy by foot. Take a few days to enjoy its surprisingly cheap but delicious tapas and vibrant history.

Where to stay:Β  Corral del Rey, located down the narrow streets of old Seville is achingly beautiful. Enjoy the rooftop pool when the heat gets too much.

View other Seville hotels here.

Top Tip: Getting a little weary of all the walking? Take a soak in the exquisite BaΓ±os ÁrabesΒ underground baths. These sunken baths, lit only by candlelight, are the perfect place to unwind. The only problem you’ll face is deciding which sumptuous pool to unwind in! Our favourite was the floating salt pool.

Once you’ve had your Moroccan inspired fix of southern Spain, it’s time to head for itsΒ closely related yet entirely different neighbour: Portugal.

Seville summer in europe

4) Porto, Portugal (3 days, 2 nights)Β Β 

Take a bus from Seville to Faro (you can get a discounted ticket with your interrail pass) and catch the train to Porto via Lisbon.Β Β 

Porto, Portugal’s largest city after Lisbon, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. With traces of medieval architecture, brightly coloured houses littering sweeping hillsides and towering churches, Porto is a beautiful introduction to Portugal.

Where to stay:Β If you want to keep to a budget, tryΒ Hospedaria Boavista, or ‘Grandma’s House’. It is clean, friendly and homely, and has its very own little vegetable garden. If you’re looking to splash the cash a little more, book Rosa Et Al Townhouse.

View other Lisbon hotels here.

summer in europe

Top tip:Β No visit to Portugal would be complete without a wine tasting tour. Try the Douro Valley tour for a day’s trip outside of the city and a gentle cruise down a river. All whilst sipping on endless glasses of wine. Perfect!

Other suggestions for Portugal: Lisbon, SintraΒ or head to the Algarve for a slice of rugged Atlantic beauty.

For those staying in Lagos, we highly recommend Iberostar, Lagos.

summer in europe two week itinerary

Summer in Europe

Next stop on your two week Europe itinerary: Italy!

5) Stop over of your choice: France or Spain (1 – 2 nights)

Before reachingΒ Italy, you’ll need to lay over in France or Spain. Suggested stop-overs: Marseille or Nice. You may even want to factor in a few extra days here, to explore France’s infamous French Riviera or to try some traditional wine tasting.

Stopping further north? Try the beautiful city of Lille.

summer in europe

6) Venice (3 days, 2 nights)Β 

From Nice: 7 hours 40 (changing at Milan)

Summer in Europe just wouldn’t be complete without a visit to this beautiful lagoon city. Stepping into the bustling waterways is pretty much everything you’d expect it to be and worth every euro (we warn you now, this is not a cheap city). Enjoy a few days getting lost amongst the canals and hidden alleyways.

Where to stay: Hotels in Venice can be on the (very) expensive side. We used OwnersDirect instead to book a beautifulΒ apartment in the heart of the city at the third of the price of a hotel, so it’s well worth a look. For luxury, try Palazzo Venart. View other Venice hotels here.

Top tip: jump on a ferry and head out to Burano Island for a day. This colourful island is the perfect place to unwind in the sun with a seafood lunch.

*If you have time and fancy squeezing in another Italian city, we highly recommend jumping on a train to Verona. This small but perfectly formed city can be seen in a day (including the famous Juliet balcony), so you can be back in Venice for bedtime!

summer in europe

You might also be interested in: The Algarve, Sicily, Marrakech, Istanbul, Lake Como and Belfast.

7) Rome (3 days, 2 nights)

Venice to Rome: 3 hours 35 minutes via Florence

Where better to end your summer in Europe than in Rome? One of Europe’s most exciting and impressive cities, Rome is dominated by its history, with the infamous Colosseum taking center stage.

Where to stay: Similar to Venice, hotels in Rome are expensive. Save your money and look at sites like Owners Direct or AirBnB for an apartment instead, or if you’re looking to splash out, take a look atΒ Villa Spalletti Trivelli. I stayed here for two nights on my honeymoon and highly recommend it for those looking to treat themselves. View other Rome hotels here.

Top tip: If the summer heat of Rome is too much during the day (it was for us!) then explore Rome by night. There is something magical about walking this city when the air is cooler and the famous monuments are glowing around you. You may also want to reconsider a trip the Vatican in the height of summer (find out why here).

This two week itinerary for summer in Europe will take you through some of the most beautiful and fascinating cities of Europe. Packed with architecture, art, delicious food, beautiful beaches, romantic waterways and historic sites, you’ll be spoilt for choice for what to do. But be warned, this really is just a taster of what Europe has to offer. Once you’ve seen some of these beautiful spots, it will only leave you wanting more.

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25 comments

Crystal Davis February 4, 2015 - 7:39 pm

This is so awesome! Thank you so much for posting and sharing your suggestions. This is a great reference to start planning my trip! Xx

Crystal

Reply
Katie February 11, 2015 - 10:50 pm

This is so perfect! Definitely bookmarking this one for summer holidays. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, but never realised how cheap it is! I think I’d definitely want to do the Greek Islands though. Think that would be so beautiful!

Katie <3

Reply
The Roadtrip Girl ✈ (@TheRoadtripGirl) June 26, 2016 - 2:58 pm

Absolutely love your blog! Did a search for a 2 week itinerary for Europe and this was the 2nd result! Hopefully we get to follow suit next year πŸ™‚

Reply
The Twins June 26, 2016 - 7:34 pm

Aww thank you! Yes, this blog post does seem to be a bit of a hit!! Hope you make it to Europe xx

Reply
Tasnuva October 25, 2016 - 1:53 am

Hi Ladies!
My husband and I have exactly 14 days off late December to early January and we were looking to visit Europe for the first time for both of us! We’re so excited but it’s been incredibly stressful looking down the perfect itinerary since most of them are usually for the Summer. We prefer the Summer as well; however, it’s a miracle both of us were able to get our vacations approved as we both work for the same company and he’s a full-time student on top of it. Your itinerary looks great but will it work for the time we’re going? Also, if you had to include flight to and from Washington, DC within the 14 day itinerary…where would you trim? Thank you so much in advance for your advice!

Reply
Nick October 27, 2016 - 1:58 am

Hi, I’m in the same predicament! Hope we get a reply =)

Reply
Tasnuva October 25, 2016 - 1:54 am

*locking

Reply
Noreen January 7, 2017 - 1:04 am

Thanks for posting this ?
How expensive did your trip end up costing ye? I’m planning on a two week travel of Europe this summer too and any tips/advice would be appreciated

Reply
Misha Johanna February 13, 2017 - 3:07 pm

So in love with your blog! Wish I had a twin too so I could travel and have so much fun with her! <3

Btw, I just published a post about Itinerary, Budget, and Expenses for 2.5 Months Backpacking Trip in Europe, if you would like to read as well:
https://mishajohanna.com/2017/02/13/backpacking-europe-in-2-5-months-itinerary-budget-and-expenses-solo-female-traveller-from-indonesia/

Cheers,
Misha

Reply
Julie Zumbach March 6, 2017 - 2:20 am

Greetings
I enjoyed your article, Summer in Europe: our 2 week itinerary. Could you please tell me about the first picture at the top of the page? Where is this beautiful beach? Thanks

Reply
The Twins March 6, 2017 - 12:47 pm

Hi Julie! It’s a beach just outside Fiskardo in Kefalonia.

Reply
David April 21, 2017 - 11:05 pm

Great post guys! We just spent the whole last summer in Europe and it was amazing. Our Europe train travel took us to 10 countries including travel to and within Hungary, Austria, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Reply
The Twins April 22, 2017 - 2:42 pm

Hi David,

Oh wow, you managed to tick a lot of countries off you list – we haven’t made it to Luxembourg yet, but it’s high on our list!

Reply
Hali July 16, 2017 - 3:42 pm

Hello! I know this post is a couple years old but do you have an idea of what your expenses were for this trip?

Reply
Daniele Merkov October 25, 2017 - 10:43 am

Me and my friends are planning to go to spain this January. We would love to see some nice beaches with clear water and some stunning scenery. We were thinking Majorca,Ibiza and Canary Island, we are up to some adventures and experience a great nightlife in our travel. I came across this great article too here in https://www.canaryislandsinfo.co.uk/el-hierro/things-to-do/ but i wanted to hear your thoughts first. Can anyone suggest any ideas or tips? Any help is kindly appreciated πŸ™‚

Reply
The Twins November 5, 2017 - 5:35 pm

Hi Daniele! For clear waters then definitely head to Ibiza, Zante , Mallorca, Croatia or French Riviera! xx

Reply
Paige January 17, 2018 - 3:13 pm

Is it possible to do this itenary backwards? We are flying into Rome to get married and would love to follow this same schedule if possible.

Reply
The Twins January 19, 2018 - 2:01 pm

Hi Paige! Of course – going in reverse would be just the same πŸ™‚

Reply
Kanika Bakshi March 1, 2018 - 10:59 am

Hey outstanding list It’s like a mini travel guide glad that I came across it.

Reply
The Twins March 1, 2018 - 7:18 pm

Ah, thank you very much, Kanika! xx

Reply
Paul Fitzgerald July 19, 2018 - 6:41 pm

Great article. Living in dublin myself, i am in badly need of a summer vacation. πŸ˜€ Cheers

Reply
travel Europe by train December 19, 2018 - 12:57 pm

An amazing tour! Thanks for sharing it πŸ˜€

Reply
Kanika Bakshi February 19, 2019 - 6:15 am

Thanks! I know that Europe is the perfect location for spending the holiday and I think if anyone planning travels to Europe they should follow this article. It’s really informative and helps full article Can I share this Article? this is a wonderful travel guide information and it surely bookmarking it!

Reply
The Twins February 19, 2019 - 9:48 am

What a lovely thing to say and – of course you can! x

Reply
Wayne February 27, 2019 - 12:09 pm

What an excellent website. Most useful. The hotel suggestions also helped me with my reservations. I really enjoyed using the City Breaks information for my upcoming trip to Europe.

Reply

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