Europe is a relatively small continent with countless cities that will take your breath away, so you will have to make a choice. You simply can't visit all of them. Answer the following questions to find out which places you should put on your list of must-visit destinations:
1. How much time do you have?
This is the most important question. If you have only one week to travel outside Paris it's better for you to stay in Western Europe, so you don't waste too much time on getting to your destination. However, you could also fly to a farther destination in order to arrive the same day.
2. How much money do you have?
Western Europe, Scandinavia and Russia are the most expensive places in Europe. Due to the financial crisis, Spain, Portugal and Greece have become cheaper than most Western European countries. Food and drinks will be cheapest in Eastern Europe. I have been to Serbia in 2010 and I paid € 0.04 for bread, whereas bread costs € 2.00 in the Netherlands. Bulgaria, Macedonia and Croatia are also relatively cheap.
If you have a limited budget, consider booking a hostel. I advice you to pay a little bit more for a private room, so you avoid sleeping in a dorm with untrustworthy people. Don't save money on your safety! Another budget tip is to book a room with a kitchenette and fridge, so you can cook yourself, instead of having to eat at restaurants.
3. Do you want to travel by plane, bus, train or car?
The amount of money you are able to spend will influence your choice of transportation and therefore your destination.
In general I would say that traveling by bus is a lot cheaper if you plan to discover Western Europe. Flying is the best option if it would take a bus, train or car more than a day to take you to your dream destination.
Plane
Finding reasonably priced tickets can be a challenge, but it's not hopeless! In fact, there are several low-cost airlines. Examples are Ryanair (Irish), easyJet (British), Transavia (Dutch/ French), XL Airways France (French) and Vueling (Spain). Check out their websites for their offers.
Another helpful website is www.lowcostroutes.com/fr/flights_from_France
You can click on the French airport you would like to depart from and the website comes up with a list of countries you can fly to with a low-cost airline.
Bus
When I travel to or from Paris I take the bus, because it is the least expensive option. I have tried 3 coach operators to travel between Paris and Amsterdam (I'm Dutch, family visits!).
Megabus is the cheapest coach operator you'll ever find in Europe. A ticket Paris-Amsterdam (roundway) costs only € 30.00. There is a toilet with a mirror and a sink to wash your hands on the bus. The seats are comfortable. With Megabus you can go to Brussels, Amsterdam, Boulogne and many British cities, including London.
uk.megabus.com/routemap
iDBus is my favorite coach operator, because it offers free WIFI on the bus and each row of seats has an electrical socket. There is a toilet with a mirror and a sink to wash your hands on the bus. The seats are even more comfortable than the seats of Megabus. However, it's more expensive than Megabus. The lowest price for a ticket Paris-Amsterdam (roundway) is € 78.00. With iDBus you can go from Paris to Lille and Southern France, Brussels, Amsterdam, London and the Italian cities of Turin, Milan and Genoa.
www.idbus.com/map
Eurolines offers bus trips from Paris to 25 other French cities, 27 other European countries and Morocco. Due to the endless possibilities it's certainly worth taking a look at the website: www.eurolines.fr/en/destinations
Train
Rail Europe is the official distributor representing all the European railways and networks.
You can buy train passes and tickets at the website: www.raileurope.fr
If you are a European citizen or if you stay longer than 6 months in Europe you can purchase the InterRail pass, which allows you to travel through Europe for a fixed price. For example, unlimited traveling within and between 30 countries for 5 days costs € 181.00 (if you are not older than 25 years). Check out the website (in several languages, including English) for all the options and more detailed information: www.interrail.eu
If you're not eligible for the InterRail pass, chances are that you could purchase a Eurail Pass. It's the same concept, but only people who have lived 6 months or longer outside Europe are eligible. Check out the website for the different passes and to see if you're eligible: www.eurail.com
Traveling by train is often more expensive than by bus. For example, the cheapest bus ticket (roundway) Paris-Amsterdam costs € 30.00. The cheapest train ticket (roundway) Paris-Amsterdam costs € 70.00.
Car
In most European countries you have to be at least 21 years old in order to rent a car. Sometimes you need to have a driver's license for at least 2 years. Renting a car itself doesn't have to be expensive, but gasoline is. If you're American, you'll be shocked by the prices. Gas can cost € 1.80 per liter, meaning that filling up the car will cost you +/- € 80.00 = 105 USD. Also, keep in mind that driving in a country with a language you don't understand and where the roads look different can be stressful.
4. Do you need inspiration?
If you're not from Europe it can be hard to distinguish one country from the other. Therefore I have made a list with interesting and fun trips, depending on your wishes:
I don't want to go too far from Paris/
I want to visit historical cities with breathtaking art.
London, United Kingdom (Metropolis, shopping at Harrods, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, scones with marmelade and cream)
Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Vincent van Gogh Museum, canals with adjacent historical mansions, Anne Frank House, Dutch cheese and stroopwafels, traditional caramel cookies)
Rome, Italy (Vatican City, traditional pizza and ice cream, Colosseum, fountains, Mediterranean weather)
Berlin, Germany (Holocaust Memorial, Reichstag, the Wall, imperial palaces, contemporary art, friendly people)
I want to visit an exotic destination.
St. Petersburg (Russia), Istanbul (Turkey), the Greek islands and Morocco are exotic and in your reach.
I want to enjoy nature/
I want to play sports.
Dogsledding in Finland, viewing the Aurora Borealis in Iceland, kitesurfing in the Canary Islands (Spain), hiking in the mountains of Switzerland, affordable skiing in pristine Slovenia.
I want a beach vacation/
I want to escape the rainy and chilly weather!
Southern France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Macedonia, Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Turkey will make your sunny disposition return!
Feel free to ask me advice on visiting European cities and countries! I would love to help you with planning your dream vacation!
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