What you need to know before diving into the best destinations in the world.

There’s something almost cinematic about booking a trip to Europe for the first time — the kind of decision that instantly floods your imagination with coastline drives in Italy, tapas dinners in Spain, and long, golden-hour walks through ancient cities that seem pulled from another century entirely. It’s the travel dream for a reason. The best places in Europe offer a concentrated dose of culture, chaos, charm, and perspective — and when you’re finally planning to see it all for yourself, the excitement hits fast.

But before you start looking up train routes through the Alps or debating between Santorini and the Amalfi Coast, there’s a short but essential list of things you need to get in order. Think of it as the real checklist — not the Pinterest-perfect itinerary or the aesthetic packing grid, but the behind-the-scenes moves that make the fantasy trip actually function once you're wheels-down in a foreign country for the very first time.

1. Start With Your Passport (And Triple Check the Expiration Date)

If this is your first time traveling internationally, know this now: most European destinations require your passport to be valid for at least six months past the date of your return — not the day you leave, not the midpoint of your trip, but the full return date, plus six months.

If your passport doesn’t make the cut, you risk being denied boarding before you ever get to customs, and there’s nothing dreamy about having your trip end before it begins. Renew early, double check, then check again - no exceptions.

2. Understand Visa + Entry Requirements for Each Country

While the majority of the best European destinations fall under the Schengen Zone (which allows U.S. citizens to travel freely for up to 90 days without a visa), rules are shifting — and if it’s your first time navigating international bureaucracy, this part matters more than you think.

Starting in 2025, the new ETIAS authorization system means travelers will need digital approval before entry — even if a visa isn’t required. It’s fast and relatively painless, but easy to forget if you’re focused on hotels and flights. If you’re visiting the UK, Ireland, Croatia, or any non-Schengen countries, look up the entry rules early so you don’t get hit with surprises.

3. Get Travel Insurance That Covers More Than Delays

Europe in summer is one of the most popular travel experiences on the planet — and the sheer volume of travelers means you’re almost guaranteed to run into some kind of disruption, whether it’s a flight delay, a rail strike, or your luggage heading to Lisbon while you land in Milan.

Travel insurance (from a provider like Generali) is less about paranoia and more about having a safety net for the inevitable: medical emergencies, lost baggage, trip cancellations, or that unlucky slip on a cobblestone alley in Florence. If it’s your first time leaving the country, don’t skip it — because even the best places come with risks you can’t always see in the photos.

4. Know Exactly How You’re Getting From the Airport to Your Hotel

One of the most disorienting parts of international travel — especially the first time around — happens in the 30 minutes after you land: you’re jetlagged, you’ve just survived passport control, your phone isn’t working, and you’re standing in a terminal that doesn’t look anything like LAX or JFK.

You don’t need a full itinerary mapped out minute-by-minute, but you should know:

• What’s the best way to get into the city — taxi, train, private transfer?
• Does your hotel have late check-in?
• Can you access directions offline or with a foreign SIM?

These small logistical details are easy to overlook when you’re focused on the fun stuff — but handling them ahead of time gives you a sense of calm that no airport cappuccino can fake.

5. Choose Your Destinations Wisely — Then Book Early

Planning your first trip to Europe can be overwhelming — not because there’s nothing to do, but because the best places to visit are scattered across so many countries, cultures, and climates that it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to see everything. It's also easy to fall down the rabbit hole of travel comparison websites and endlessly refresh pages in search of the perfect deal - but ultimately, just commit, your time is worth more than the $11 you might save by refreshing again and again.

You don’t need to hit five countries in ten days. You don’t need to pack Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Dubrovnik into a single itinerary. For first-timers, the best destinations are ones that offer a balance of magic and manageability — think: Italy’s Amalfi Coast, the Greek Islands, southern France, or coastal Portugal. You want cities and small towns. Trains and ferries. Beach days and museum days. Book your flights and stays early — the best spots sell out fast in summer, and last-minute scrambling is a guaranteed way to lose money.

6. Pack Smart — But Don’t Overpack

Europe in the summer is hot. Not tropical-beach hot — it’s ancient-stone-buildings-soaking-up-heat-all-day kind of hot. And unless you’re heading straight for the mountains, you’ll be sweating. A lot.

If you’re wondering what actually works — especially if you’re trying to blend in and still feel like yourself — I’ve put together full female-focused lists here:

• What to Pack for Summer in Italy
• What to Pack for Summer in Greece

These include outfits that hold up in the heat, shoes that actually survive cobblestones, what not to bring, and how to build a carry-on that doesn’t scream tourist.

7. Prepare for the Unexpected — and Stay Flexible

No amount of checklists, insurance policies, or prep can completely eliminate the chaos that occasionally hits mid-trip: a canceled train, a spontaneous detour, a city you love more than you expected.

Europe rewards flexibility. Some of the best travel stories don’t come from the itinerary — they come from the in-between moments. But the key to navigating that chaos well is handling the basics ahead of time so you're free to enjoy the rest.

First Time in Europe? Don’t Overthink It — But Don’t Wing It Either

Traveling to Europe for the first time isn’t about perfection or seeing every big city, country, and coast all on your first time (I've been to Europe probably 15 times and am still yet to see Switzerland, or Prague, or any of the Nordic countries!) — it’s about freedom, discovery, and finding out how much the world has to offer outside of the bubble you’re used to.

Handle your checklist early. Know where you’re going. Give yourself room to get lost. And start with the destinations that excite you most — not the ones you feel obligated to see.

You’ll figure the rest out along the way.