Europe Without the Rush: See More by Doing Less

It’s incredibly easy to get carried away planning Europe.

Three nights in Paris. Two in Amsterdam. Florence, obviously. Maybe Venice. And surely we can squeeze in Barcelona?

Before you know it, the holiday you’ve been dreaming about for years has become a very expensive tour of railway stations, airports and hotel reception desks.

More destinations don’t necessarily make a better holiday.

I’d rather give you enough time to enjoy a beautiful place than add another country simply because it fits on the map.

Good routing makes an enormous difference too. European trains are brilliant where they make sense, taking you from one city centre to another. Elsewhere, flying is faster. A car can be wonderful for exploring Puglia, Provence or the Scottish countryside and an absolute nuisance when you reach a major city.

And not every day needs an excursion.

Some of the best days are the ones when you wander down a street you hadn’t planned to visit, find a fabulous little restaurant or decide you’d rather sit in the sunshine with a glass of wine than see another cathedral.

A great European itinerary should give you experiences to look forward to and enough freedom to have a few adventures of your own.

See plenty. Just give yourself time to enjoy it.