One of the best ways to squeeze the greatest value out of your European vacation is to book a multi-city trip: a flight that lets you stop at multiple cities for little, if any, increase in cost. It’s easiest and most affordable to use hubs as stops…Heathrow, Schiphol, etc. So we’ve put together some of the best cities to visit!
Paris
What’s more iconic than Paris, the city of light? Whether you’re flying into Orly or Charles de Gaulle, Paris is worth the stop. A city often mischaracterized by American tourists as being dirty or rude, the culture, architecture, and food of the French is unparalleled. Besides the obvious attractions like the Eiffel Tower, also make sure to see the Louvre, the Notre Dame de Paris, and the Arc de Triumphe.
London
London: it’s big, sprawling, and busy. And the amount of flights going through Heathrow or Gatwick make it the perfect stopover. While expensive and sometimes difficult to get around in, it’s worth visiting to see the sights. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, the Tower Bridge, the London Eye, all are worth going out of your way to see. Take a walk through Covent Garden or Soho for more entertainment and sightseeing.
Rome
One of the oldest cities in Europe, Rome has developed well past ancient Roman roots and is now a bustling, vibrant Italian city. Although not as much of an international hub, if your end destination is anywhere in Italy or the Mediterranean, chances are Rome will be a good option for a stopover. The main historic attractions, like the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, and St Peter’s Basilica are all within easy walking distance. A day away is Florence, Naples, and San Marino.
Madrid
The largest city of Spain, Madrid is one of the most southernmost and arid capitals of Europe. It’s a great option for a stopover or an entire leg, especially if you’re heading south towards Morocco or a beach destination like Ibiza or Mallorca. The city is expansive, the food is great, and other destinations like Barcelona or Lisbon are not far away!
Vienna
This Austrian city is renowned for cultural history, home to some of the West’s most influential musicians, artists, philosophers, and writers. Rated as having an extremely high quality-of-life, it’s worth visiting for more than just art. Enjoy access to a wide variety of nature, culture, art, and activities.
Munich
Just north of the Bavarian Alps, Munich is the largest city in southern Germany. Besides the famous Oktoberfest, it’s home to many multi-national companies. A short walk around the city center will show you buildings like the Frauenkirche, the Hofbrauhaus, and the Nymphenburg Palace.
Prague
Keep on going north from Vienna and Munich, and you’ll find that Prague is not only beautiful, but affordable. Commonly rated one of the best cities in Europe to visit, a bottle of vodka will cost you a couple bucks, and a hostel bed can be as cheap as five or six dollars per night. But besides that, the architecture and city center are worth the trip alone. A train from Munich, up through Prague and more rural areas of the Czech Republic, is actually quite easy to take to the destination just north: Berlin!
Berlin
A unique mix of historical tradition and ultramodern architecture, Berlin is one of the most lively German cities to visit. Although most of Berlin’s historic value was destroyed by bombing campaigns during the second World War, the city has rebuilt rapidly and has become a hub for counter-culture art. Remnants of the Berlin Wall remain: other attractions include the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin TV Tower, and the Reichstag building.
Amsterdam
Besides tulips and coffeeshops, Amsterdam offers beautiful architecture, extensive canals throughout the city, the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank house, and the Rijksmuseum. As one of the busiest airport hubs in the world is the perfect destination for a multi-stop trip.
Reykjavik
Perhaps not the first European stop that comes to mind, Reykjavik is actually a great city to add to your itinerary because you can get there so affordably with a free stopover when flying Iceland Air. Although it’s a small city, you have immediate access to the amazing nature of Iceland. Drive around the Ring Road to see glaciers, geysers, volcanoes, and the iconic coastline. The nightlife of Reykjavik is also world-renowned!
Zurich
As clean and pristine as the inner workings of a Swiss watch, Zurich is the perfect entryway to both Southern Germany and the Alps. On the shore of Lake Zurich, it is a global finance capital but also provides extensive sightseeing and cultural activities for the casual visitor. See the Swiss National Museum, and during the summer be sure to enjoy the lake.
Regardless of which destination piques your interest, you might be surprised at how affordable it is to stop at a city for a few days (and in some cases, for even less money!) Talk with an AirTreks agent to find out which city might make a great stopover for your trip.
