Don’t Rush Your Trip: A European Travel Itinerary for the Mindful Explorer

Are you planning a trip to Europe? Make sure you don’t underestimate the distances and time required to move from one location to another. Don’t turn your vacation into a race as you tick locations off your bucket list, because that would be a real shame.  

My first trip to Europe started in Italy where I saw Turin, and Genoa on my way down the Mediterranean coast, to Tuscany. 45 days later I was still in Tuscany and was heading to Rome for my flight back to Toronto. Initially, I actually believed I could see all of Italy in under two months. My time spent in Tuscany literally changed my life. Four years later I relocated to Italy. I somehow doubt a two- three-day jaunt in Tuscany would have yielded the same life-changing results. I’ve been living in Italy for over 20 years, and I still have much to see.

The best part of traveling to new places is taking the time to appreciate the sights, sounds, scents, and flavors. Taking the time to immerse yourself in the culture and traditions will make for a memorable trip, so instead of embarking on a race against time, plan your trip accordingly and make sure you give yourself the time to truly indulge all of your senses. 

I’ve created various itineraries from a single destination to multiple destinations, followed by some transportation options, to give you an idea of what you’re looking at.

France

• 2-Week Trip: Start in Paris and spend 4-5 days exploring the city’s famous landmarks, museums, and neighborhoods. Then, take the train to the French Riviera and spend 3-4 days in Nice or Cannes, enjoying the beaches and Mediterranean atmosphere. Next, head to Provence for 3-4 days, visiting charming towns like Avignon, Arles, and Aix-en-Provence, and taking in the beautiful countryside. Finally, return to Paris for a couple of days before departing.
• 3-Week Trip: Follow the same itinerary as the 2-week trip, but add in some time in Normandy and Brittany, visiting the D-Day beaches, Mont Saint-Michel, and picturesque seaside towns like Saint-Malo and Dinan.

Italy

• 2-Week Trip: Begin in Rome, spending 4-5 days exploring the city’s ancient ruins, museums, and neighborhoods. Then, take the train to Florence and spend 3-4 days visiting the city’s famous art museums and landmarks. Next, head to Tuscany for 3-4 days, visiting charming towns like Siena, San Gimignano, and Montepulciano, and enjoying the region’s famous food and wine. Finally, head to Venice for a couple of days before departing.
• 3-Week Trip: Follow the same itinerary as the 2-week trip, but add in some time on the Amalfi Coast, visiting towns like Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, and taking in the beautiful Mediterranean scenery.

Spain

• 2-Week Trip: Begin in Madrid and spend 3-4 days exploring the city’s art museums, historic landmarks, and lively neighborhoods. Then, head to Barcelona for 3-4 days, enjoying the city’s beaches, architecture, and food scene. Next, travel to Andalusia and spend 4-5 days visiting cities like Seville, Granada, and Cordoba, and exploring the region’s Moorish and Christian heritage. Finally, head to the Costa del Sol for a couple of days of relaxation before departing.
• 3-Week Trip: Follow the same itinerary as the 2-week trip, but add in some time in the Basque Country and Galicia, visiting cities like San Sebastian and Bilbao, and exploring the region’s unique culture and cuisine.

Portugal

• 2-Week Trip: Begin in Lisbon and spend 3-4 days exploring the city’s historic landmarks, museums, and neighborhoods. Then, head to Porto for 3-4 days, enjoying the city’s famous wine and picturesque riverfront. Next, travel to the Algarve region and spend 4-5 days relaxing on the beaches and exploring charming towns like Lagos and Tavira. Finally, return to Lisbon for a couple of days before departing.
• 3-Week Trip: Follow the same itinerary as the 2-week trip, but add in some time in the Azores or Madeira, visiting the islands’ natural wonders and enjoying their unique culture and cuisine.

Italy and France 2-Week Trip

Obviously, a two-week trip to Italy and France means being super organized and knowing exactly where and what you want to see. Here is a feasible two-week splash that will take you to Rome, then off to Tuscany, and end in Paris.

• Begin in Rome and spend 5-6 days exploring the city’s ancient ruins, museums, and neighborhoods.
• From Rome, travel to Tuscany and spend 5-6 days visiting charming towns like Siena, San Gimignano, and Montepulciano, and enjoying the region’s famous food and wine.
• End your trip in Paris where you’ll spend 3-4 days exploring the city’s famous landmarks, museums, and neighborhoods.

Italy and France 3-Week Trip

A three-week trip allows you to make more stops along the way and I recommend this over a two-week trip.

• Begin in Venice and spend 3-4 days exploring the city’s canals, historic landmarks, and neighborhoods.
• From Venice, travel to Tuscany and spend 6-7 days visiting charming towns like Siena, San Gimignano, and Montepulciano, and enjoying the region’s famous food and wine.
• Next, head to the French Riviera and spend 4-5 days in Nice or Cannes, enjoying the beaches and Mediterranean atmosphere.
• Finally, end your trip to Paris and spend 4-5 days exploring the city’s famous landmarks, museums, and neighborhoods.

This 3 week’s travel plan provides more time to experience the culture, food, and history of each destination, without rushing from one place to the next. However, you may still want to adjust these plans to suit your own interests and preferences.

Spain and Portugal 2-Week Trip

• Begin in Lisbon and spend 4-5 days exploring the city’s historic neighborhoods, museums, and landmarks.
• From Lisbon, travel to Porto and spend 3-4 days enjoying the city’s famous wine and wandering the picturesque streets of the historic Ribeira district.
• Next, head to Seville and spend 4-5 days experiencing the city’s vibrant culture, flamenco music, and historic architecture.
• Finally, end your trip to Madrid and spend 3-4 days exploring the city’s world-class museums, parks, and landmarks.

Spain and Portugal 3-Week Trip

• Begin in Barcelona and spend 5-6 days exploring the city’s world-renowned architecture, museums, and beaches.
• From Barcelona, travel to Granada and spend 3-4 days visiting the Alhambra Palace and experiencing the city’s unique blend of Moorish and Spanish culture.
• Next, head to Lisbon and spend 4-5 days exploring the city’s historic neighborhoods, museums, and landmarks.
• From Lisbon, travel to Porto and spend 3-4 days enjoying the city’s famous wine and wandering the picturesque streets of the historic Ribeira district.
• Finally, end your trip to Madrid and spend 3-4 days exploring the city’s world-class museums, parks, and landmarks.

Transportation options for your trip to Europe

These transportation options can vary depending on the time of year and the mode of travel, so travelers should research their options and book in advance to save time and money. It’s also worth noting that some destinations may require car rentals or taxis to get around, so travelers should consider these additional expenses when budgeting for their trips.

Spain, Portugal 2-Week Trip by Train

• From Madrid to Seville’, take a high-speed train, which takes around 2.5 hours and costs around €30-€80 depending on the time of day and the class of service.
• From Seville to Lisbon’, take a train or bus, which takes around 5-6 hours and costs around €20-€40 for a one-way ticket.
• From Lisbon to Porto, take a train, which takes around 3 hours and costs around €15-€25 for a one-way ticket.
• From Porto to Barcelona, take a direct flight, which takes around 2 hours and costs around €50-€150 depending on the airline and the time of year.

Spain, Portugal 3-Week Trip by Train

• Barcelona to Granada, take a high-speed train to Madrid (around 2.5 hours and €30-€80), then take a local train or bus to Granada (around 4-5 hours and €20-€40).
• From Granada to Lisbon, take a train or bus (around 7-8 hours and €40-€60).
• From Lisbon to Porto, take a train (around 3 hours and €15-€25).
• From Porto to Paris take a direct flight (around 2 hours and €50-€150).

Spain, Portugal 2-Week Trip using a Car

• Rent a car for the Madrid to Seville leg, which takes around 5 hours to drive and costs around €60-€100 per day depending on the rental company and the type of car.
• Drive from Seville to Lisbon, which takes around 4-5 hours and includes the option to stop in charming towns along the way.
• Continue driving from Lisbon to Porto, which takes around 3 hours and offers the flexibility to visit nearby wineries and scenic viewpoints.
• Drop off the car in Porto and take a direct flight to Barcelona, which takes around 2 hours and costs around €50-€150 depending on the airline and the time of year.

Spain, Portugal 3-Week Trip using a car

• Rent a car for the Barcelona to Granada leg, which takes around 10 hours to drive with the option to stop in charming towns and villages along the way.
• Drive from Granada to Lisbon, which takes around 6-7 hours and offers the option to visit scenic coastal towns and beaches.
• Continue driving from Lisbon to Porto, which takes around 3 hours and allows for flexibility in visiting nearby wineries and scenic viewpoints.
• Drop off the car in Porto and take a direct flight to Paris, which takes around 2 hours and costs around €50-€150 depending on the airline and the time of year.

Italy and France 3-Week Trip using a car

• From Venice to Tuscany: Renting a car and driving is a popular way to explore Tuscany. The journey from Venice to Tuscany takes around 3-4 hours, depending on the route you choose. You can take the A1 highway south towards Florence and then explore the region’s charming towns at your own pace.
• From Tuscany to French Riviera: Driving from Tuscany to the French Riviera takes around 5-6 hours. You can take the A12 highway west towards Genoa and then follow the coastal roads south to Nice or Cannes.
• From French Riviera to Paris: Driving from the French Riviera to Paris takes around 10-11 hours. You can take the A8 highway north towards Lyon and then follow the A6 highway to Paris.

Italy and France 3-Week Trip by Train

• From Venice to Tuscany: There are frequent trains from Venice to Florence, which take around 2 hours. From Florence, you can take local trains or buses to explore Tuscany’s towns.
• From Tuscany to the French Riviera: You can take a train from Florence to Nice, which takes around 7-8 hours with a transfer to Milan or Genoa. Alternatively, you can take a train from Florence to Cannes, which takes around 6-7 hours with a transfer to Nice.
• From French Riviera to Paris: There are frequent trains from Nice or Cannes to Paris, which take around 5-6 hours.

Traveling by car offers greater flexibility and the opportunity to see more of the countryside and smaller towns along the way. However, travelers should be prepared for the additional costs of renting a car, such as fuel, tolls, and parking, as well as the potential for traffic and navigating unfamiliar roads. It’s important to research and plan the driving routes in advance and consider the driving time, and parking availability.

I hope you’ve found this travel advice useful. Of course, nothing is written in stone here, so as you journey feel free to change your plans. Perhaps, you’ll find a haven you can’t get enough of and you’ll want to scratch the rest of your travel plans, as I did on my first trip to Italy, when I fell in love with Tuscany.