10 Days in Europe: 10 Amazing Itineraries for Your Next Trip

In this article we list 10 sample itineraries for how to spend 10 days in Europe. For many of these itineraries, we have a full, detailed version in a separate article. Simply click the link provided to read the full itinerary in a new browser window. 

Ten itineraries can be a lot to choose from. At the end of this article, we give suggestions to help you pick the best Europe itinerary for your traveling style and the season that you plan to visit Europe.

10 Days in Europe Itineraries

#1 London & Paris

Two of Europe’s Great Cities

This is a great introduction to Europe. By starting in London, you get your first taste of Europe without a language barrier. Ride the London Eye, tour the Tower of London, explore the amazing British Museum, ride the Underground, and even take the double-decker bus tour through the city. Travel by Chunnel to get to Paris and spend several days exploring this gorgeous city.

Tower bridge in London | 10 Days in Europe Itinerary

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

#2 Scandinavian Explorer

Copenhagen, Stockholm, & Oslo

Explore three of Scandinavia’s great cities on this Europe itinerary.

Copenhagen is a delight, with its picturesque harbor called Nyhavn. If you are traveling as a family, kids will love Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world.

Copenhagen

Stockholm is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities to visit. Stroll through Gamla Stan, visit City Hall (where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year), and take a day cruise through the archipelago.

Stockholm, Sweden

Then, hop over to Oslo, Norway. Learn about Vikings, visit a ski jump, and then take the Norway in a Nutshell cruise to sneak a peek at the fjords.

Norway

#3 A Taste of Italy

Rome, Florence, & Venice

Who doesn’t dream of touring Italy? Ten days is just enough time to get a taste of this country. For first timers to Italy, Rome, Florence and Venice typically top the “must-see” list. With 10 days, you have enough time to visit these three cities and add in another spectacular destination, the coastal towns of the Cinque Terre.

This is a fast-paced itinerary. In order to visit all of these places, your days will be long and busy, but wonderful days they will be.

Marvel at the Colosseum in Rome, tour the Vatican, visit the art museums in Florence, day trip into Tuscany, stroll through the colorful towns of the Cinque Terre, explore the canals of Venice, drink the wine, eat the food, and save room for gelato. 

If you are planning your first trip to Europe, this is one of the best itineraries on this list, since it covers so many iconic European sights.

Rome

San Gimignano in Tuscany

Florence | 10 Days in Europe Itinerary

Venice

#4 Amsterdam, Brussels, & Paris

On this Europe itinerary, three cities are connected with short train rides. Travel time is low which means you have plenty of time to explore these three cities. If you are planning to travel to Europe in April, this itinerary gets our vote. In April, the bulbs are blooming in The Netherlands and it is a sight to see!

Keukenhof, the Netherlands in April

Walk, cruise, or cycle along the canals in Amsterdam.

Get a bird’s eye view over Ghent, Belgium.

Visit the Louvre in Paris

Read more about Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris:

• 2 Day Amsterdam Itinerary: The Perfect Itinerary for Your First Visit
• Top 10 Things to Do in Amsterdam
• How to do a Chocolate Tour on Your Own in Brussels
• 3 Days in Paris: The Ultimate Paris Itinerary

#5 Coastal Explorer

Barcelona & the French Riviera

On this itinerary, tour one of Europe’s great cities and then explore the glitzy, gorgeous French Riviera. Dine on gourmet cuisine, drink fine wines, relax on the beach, and get a taste of the good life. This is a great way to spend 10 days in Europe.

Barcelona is a big city with a lot to do. For the best experience, plan on spending at least three days here. There are also great day trips you can take from Barcelona, such as visiting Montserrat, Girona, Costa Brava, and Tarragona.

Barcelona | 10 Days in Europe Itinerary

In the French Riviera, Nice is a great city to make your home base. From Nice, you can easily get to the other coastal cities, such as Cannes, Antibes, Monaco, and Villefranche-sur-Mer by train. Or, if you want, rent a car, which gives you more freedom and a chance to hit some of the hillside towns. Nice has an international airport, convenient for your flight home.

Villefranche-sur-Mer

#6 Iceland Ring Road Itinerary

A road trip on the Ring Road is one of Iceland’s best experiences. Not only do you get to visit Reykjavík, the Golden Circle, and highlights along the south coast, but you also get to travel to north and east Iceland, where the landscapes are no less beautiful but much less crowded.

The Ring Road the main road that makes a loop around the entire island. Highlights include the Blue Lagoon, Skogafoss waterfall, whale watching, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Myvatn, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and a glacier walk.

The best time for this itinerary is from June through September when the days are long, the weather is stable, and the roads are free from snow. If you are looking for a great summertime destination, this is one of our top picks.

Kirkjufell on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula | 10 Days in Europe Itinerary

Walking on Vatnajökull Glacier

Reykjavík

#7 Central Europe

Budapest, Vienna & Prague

For those who want to tour three of Europe’s great cities, this central Europe itinerary is perfect. Start with Budapest, a gorgeous city known for its thermal baths, unique architecture, and stunning setting along the Danube River. Next, travel to Vienna, a sophisticated city rich in history and culture. End with Prague, the most beautiful of the three cities (in our opinion), laced with Gothic architecture that remained unharmed during World War II. 

This is one of our most popular itineraries and a wonderful way to spend 10 days in Europe.

Budapest

Prague | 10 Days in Europe Itinerary

#8 Northern Norway & the Lofoten Islands

The islands of northern Norway are the perfect destination if you enjoy hiking, scenic drives, and jaw-dropping landscapes. On this northern Norway itinerary, road trip from Tromsø down through Senja and the Vesteralen Islands, ending with several magical days in the Lofoten Islands.

This is one of our favorite 10 day trips of all time. Every single day here amazed us. The landscapes, the adorable fishing villages, the epic hiking trails…you are in for a treat.

Sommarøy

Hiking in the Vesteralen Islands

Hamnøy, Lofoten Islands

#9 Northern Italy and Switzerland

On this itinerary, explore the mighty Alps. Start in Venice and from here, go hiking in the Dolomites or explore the city of Verona. From Milan, day trip to beautiful Bellagio located on Lake Como. Ride the Bernina Express, one of the most beautiful train rides in the world, across the Alps to Lucerne. Your  trip ends with several days in the Bernese Oberland, a fairytale world of mountain villages, scenic cable car rides, and high alpine vistas.

Spend your first two days in Venice. Cruise the canals, visit St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doges Palace, and explore the scenic side streets.

On day 3, take your pick between hiking and exploring another Italian city. The Dolomites are a breathtaking area to go hiking and this region is one of our favorite outdoor escapes in the world. From Venice, rent a car for the day, go for a hike, and return your car once you get to Milan.

Hiking the Puez Odle Altopiano

If hiking is not your thing, take the train to Verona and spend the day exploring this very pretty city. At the end of the day, continue on to Milan by train.

Verona | 10 Days in Europe Itinerary

On day 4, spend the day touring Lake Como on a day trip from Milan.

Bellagio

On day 5, ride the Bernina Express to Lucerne. It’s a long travel day by train but this railway is hailed as being one of the most spectacular train journeys in Europe. To do this, you will take the train from Milan to Tirano, ride the Bernina Express to Chur, and take a third train to Lucerne. The Man in Seat 61 has an excellent article about how to do this.

On day 6, spend the day in Lucerne. You also have the option to add on the trip up Mt. Pilatus or Titlis.

Finally, spend three wonderful days in the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland. This area is so quintessentially Swiss, an alpine wonderland with Swiss chalets, alpine meadows, cable cars, mountain villages, and rustic farms.

On day 10, fly home from Zürich or Geneva.

#10 Best of Greece

Athens, Mykonos, Naxos & Santorini

Visit three beautiful Greek islands and the city of Athens. Start in Santorini, a volcanic island that is dotted with picture-perfect villages and is famous for its legendary sunsets. Next, travel to Naxos, a quieter, greener island that is easier on the wallet and an unexpected surprise for many travelers. Spend a day in Mykonos, exploring wonderful little Mykonos town and relaxing on the beach. Finally, tour the city of Athens and get one of the best history lessons in Europe.

For those who want a mix of history, island hopping, and some beach time on one trip, this itinerary is the best way to spend 10 days in Europe.

Santorini

The Acropolis in Athens

Need Help Picking the Perfect Europe Itinerary?

Here are our recommendations for how to spend 10 days in Europe, based on season and traveling style.

By Traveling Style

If this is your first time in Europe, the London Paris itinerary is a great first-timer’s itinerary. With just two cities, you don’t have to put much time into train reservations and hotel reservations. Plus, London and Paris are amazing and you have a lot of time with this itinerary to immerse yourself in both cities. The Taste of Italy itinerary is also a great way to spend 10 days in Europe if this is your first trip.

If you like cities, history, and culture,our London Paris itinerary, Central Europe itinerary, Amsterdam Brussels Paris itinerary, and Copenhagen Stockholm Oslo itinerary are great options.

For those who love hiking and the outdoors, our top picks are the Northern Norway itinerary and the Iceland Ring Road itinerary.

If you want to visit some beautiful beaches and islands, our Greece itinerary and the Barcelona French Riviera itinerary should be at the top of your list.

If you are traveling with kids, the London Paris itinerary is great. This was Tyler and Kara’s first experience in Europe and they loved it (they were 8 and 9 years old). It’s a nice mix of history and iconic sights. Plus, you only need two hotels, so there is very little moving around and packing and unpacking on this itinerary. Other great picks for kids are the Northern Italy and Switzerland itinerary, the Northern Norway itinerary, and the Iceland Ring Road itinerary.

By Season

Summer (June, July & August)

All of these work great in the summer. This is the busiest time to visit Europe, so expect big crowds and make sure that you make your hotel reservations far in advance.

This is the best time to do the Iceland Ring Road itinerary. The days are long and the roads are free of snow.

This is also the best time to do the Northern Italy and Switzerland itinerary, if you plan to hike in the Dolomites and the Bernese Oberland.

The summer is also one of the best times to visit northern Norway. The days are long, so long that you can easily see the midnight sun in June and July.

Autumn (September, October & November)

In autumn, crowds tend to lessen, but places like Italy, Paris, and Barcelona can still be very crowded until the calendar flips to November.

You can drive the Ring Road in the fall, just be prepared for snowy conditions and the possibility that the roads could close due to snowfall. In late September, it is also possible to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.

Winter (December, January & February)

If you are traveling in December, it will be cold, but the Central Europe itinerary makes a nice pick, and just before Christmas you can visit the Christmas markets.

Our London Paris itinerary, Taste of Italy itinerary, and Amsterdam Brussels Paris itinerary can all be done during the winter months.

I don’t recommend Greece, Iceland, or the French Riviera this time of year. You can visit northern Norway, just be prepared to drive on snow-covered roads.

Spring (March, April & May)

This is another great time to visit Europe. It’s shoulder season, so it’s less crowded and cheaper than the summer months.

In April and May, the bulbs are blooming in the Netherlands, making this the best time for the Amsterdam Brussels Paris itinerary. This is also a great time to visit London and Paris and Central Europe.

In May, temperatures are warming up and crowds aren’t crazy yet, making this a great time to visit Barcelona, the French Riviera, Greece, and Italy.

Are You Designing a Custom Europe Itinerary?

These itineraries make a great starting point for designing your own custom Europe itinerary. For more tips and tricks to help you plan the perfect itinerary, consider reading this article:

7 Things to Know when Planning Your First Trip to Europe

If you don’t have a full 10 days, there are still many ways to put together a Europe itinerary with less time. With one week in Europe you can still see and do a lot…in fact, we have 25 great ideas for you. 

If you have questions about picking out the best Europe itinerary, or if you need help making modifications to the itineraries we listed above, let us know in the comment section at the end of this post. 

More European Itineraries

There are endless ways to piece together a 10 day Europe itinerary and these are just several of our recommendations. However, if you need even more ideas about how to spend 10 days in Europe, check these out:

10 Day Bavaria Itinerary

10 Day Norway Itinerary: Road Trip through the Fjords

10 Day Scotland Itinerary: Edinburgh, Glasgow & the Isle of Skye

10 Days in Portugal: 5 Ways to Plan Your Trip

10 Days in Poland: Gdansk, Warsaw & Krakow

10 Days in Slovenia: The Perfect Itinerary for Your First Visit

A Magical London Christmas Itinerary