How many cities should I visit in 10 days in Europe?

Three cities is ideal for most first-timers, with three to four nights in each. Four can work if two of them are very close, but every move between cities takes about half a day.

What is the best 10-day Europe itinerary for first-timers?

London, Paris and Amsterdam is the classic choice, because the cities are linked by fast trains and English is widely spoken. Lisbon, Barcelona and Rome is a great alternative for warmer weather and food, using short flights between cities.

Is it cheaper to fly into one city and out of another in Europe?

Often an open-jaw ticket costs about the same as a round trip, and sometimes less, while saving you the time and cost of backtracking. Compare both in a multi-city flight search.

What is the best way to travel between European cities?

Trains are best for shorter trips, such as London to Paris or Paris to Amsterdam, because they run between city centers. For longer hops, like Lisbon to Barcelona or Barcelona to Rome, short flights are usually faster.

10-Day Europe Itinerary for First-Timers: Two Classic Routes

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Ten days is a great amount of time for a first trip to Europe. It is long enough to see three cities properly, and short enough that most Americans can fit it into their vacation days. The trick is not to try to see everything. Pick a route where the cities are close together, fly into the first one and out of the last one, and leave room to wander.

How to plan 10 days in Europe

A few rules make a first trip much smoother:

Three cities, not five. Every move between cities costs you about half a day of packing, checking out, getting to the station or airport and checking in again. With 10 days, three bases is the sweet spot. Four can work if two cities are very close.
Count nights, not days. Your first day is usually lost to jet lag, since most flights from the US arrive in Europe in the morning after an overnight flight. Plan something light for that afternoon.
Fly open jaw. Flying into one city and home from another means you never have to return to your starting point. It is often similar in price to a round trip, and sometimes cheaper.
Use trains where you can. For short distances, trains run between city centers and save the time you would spend getting to and through airports.

Itinerary 1: London, Paris and Amsterdam

This is the classic first-timer route: three of the world's great cities, all linked by high-speed train, with lots of flights from the US at both ends. English is widely spoken in all three, which makes it easy for a first visit.

Days 1 to 4: London

Fly into London. Many US cities have nonstop flights, including New York to London, Boston to London and Chicago to London.

Spend your first afternoon walking along the South Bank of the Thames to shake off jet lag. Over the next three days, see Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Many of London's biggest museums, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum and Tate Modern, are free to enter for their main collections, which is a huge help on a budget. Leave an evening for a West End show or a pub dinner.

Browse things to do in London and compare London hotels by neighborhood.

Days 5 to 7: Paris

Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord. It runs through the Channel Tunnel and takes a little over two hours, center to center. Our guide on how to get from London to Paris compares the train, flights and buses.

In Paris, see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame and the Latin Quarter, Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur, and the Musée d'Orsay. Walking along the Seine at sunset costs nothing. Book timed tickets for the most popular sights ahead of time, since slots can sell out. See things to do in Paris, Paris hotels and our guide to Paris on a budget.

Days 8 to 10: Amsterdam

High-speed trains connect Paris and Amsterdam in roughly three and a half hours. Book early, as fares on this route usually rise closer to the date.

Amsterdam is compact and best seen on foot or by bike. Walk the canal ring, visit the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, and book the Anne Frank House well in advance, since tickets go fast. A canal cruise is a relaxing way to spend your last evening. See things to do in Amsterdam and Amsterdam hotels.

Fly home from Amsterdam, which has direct flights to many US cities, such as New York to Amsterdam and Atlanta to Amsterdam.

Variation: Amsterdam to Brussels or Bruges is an easy add-on by train if you want a fourth stop, but it will make the trip feel faster.

Itinerary 2: Lisbon, Barcelona and Rome

If you want warmer weather, great food and a mix of beaches and ancient history, this southern route is hard to beat. The distances are longer, so you will use short flights between cities, which are often inexpensive when booked ahead within Europe.

Days 1 to 3: Lisbon

Lisbon is often one of the more affordable Western European capitals, and it has nonstop flights from several US cities, including New York to Lisbon, Boston to Lisbon and Miami to Lisbon.

Explore the steep, tiled streets of the Alfama, ride a historic tram, watch the sunset from a viewpoint (miradouro), and take the short trip to Belém for the monastery, the tower and the famous custard tarts. If you have a spare day, Sintra and its fairytale palaces are an easy train ride away. See our guide to things to do in Lisbon, plus Lisbon hotels.

Days 4 to 6: Barcelona

Fly from Lisbon to Barcelona. The flight is short, but leave time to get to and from the airports.

Barcelona mixes Gaudí's architecture, a lively old town and a city beach. See the Sagrada Família (book timed tickets ahead), Park Güell, the Gothic Quarter and La Rambla, then end the day with tapas and a walk by the sea. Browse things to do in Barcelona and Barcelona hotels.

Days 7 to 10: Rome

Fly from Barcelona to Rome and give the Eternal City four nights, since there is a lot to see. Visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, and spend an evening in Trastevere. The Pantheon and many of Rome's beautiful churches cost little or nothing to visit, while the Colosseum and Vatican need tickets booked ahead. See things to do in Rome, Rome hotels and our guide to the best time to visit Rome.

Fly home from Rome, with options like New York to Rome, Chicago to Rome and Washington, D.C. to Rome.

Variation: swap Lisbon for Madrid. Madrid and Barcelona are connected by fast trains of around two and a half to three hours, and you can start with Madrid hotels and things to do in Madrid.

How to book open-jaw flights

An open-jaw ticket flies you into one city and home from another, for example New York to London, then Amsterdam to New York. To find one:

Open our multi-city flight search.
Enter your outbound flight (your home airport to your first city) and your return flight (your last city to home).
Add any flights in between, such as Lisbon to Barcelona and Barcelona to Rome, to compare prices in one search.
Try the route in reverse too. Starting in Rome and ending in Lisbon can price differently from the other way around.

You can also compare fares on our partner Aviasales, which searches many airlines and agencies at once. For trains in between, book directly with the rail operator.

When to go and how much time to budget

The shoulder seasons, roughly April to early June and September to October, are often the best mix of decent weather, smaller crowds and lower prices than summer. Summer is the busiest and most expensive time for transatlantic flights, and winter is usually the cheapest outside of the Christmas holidays. Our guide to the cheapest time to fly to Europe goes into more detail.

Book flights a few months ahead for spring and fall, and earlier for summer. Popular attractions in all six cities sell timed tickets, and booking tours and tickets ahead with Klook can save you from long lines.

Tips for first-timers from the US

Check entry rules. US citizens can visit most of Europe without a visa for short stays, but the EU is rolling out new electronic entry systems, and the UK has its own travel authorization. Check the current rules for every country on your route before you go.
Make sure your passport is valid well beyond your return date. Many European countries require several months of remaining validity.
Use a card with no foreign transaction fees, and keep a little local cash for small purchases. The UK uses pounds, while France, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Italy use the euro.
Pack light. You will be carrying your bags up station stairs and over cobblestones, and budget airlines in Europe charge for larger bags.
Watch for pickpockets on metros and at busy sights in every big city.
Leave unplanned time. Some of the best moments come from wandering a neighborhood with no plan at all.

Start planning

Pick the route that fits your style, search your open-jaw flights, and then book hotels in each city. With three bases and good train or flight links, 10 days in Europe can feel relaxed instead of rushed.

Plan your multi-city trip

Frequently asked questions

How many cities should I visit in 10 days in Europe?: Three cities is ideal for most first-timers, with three to four nights in each. Four can work if two of them are very close, but every move between cities takes about half a day.
What is the best 10-day Europe itinerary for first-timers?: London, Paris and Amsterdam is the classic choice, because the cities are linked by fast trains and English is widely spoken. Lisbon, Barcelona and Rome is a great alternative for warmer weather and food, using short flights between cities.
Is it cheaper to fly into one city and out of another in Europe?: Often an open-jaw ticket costs about the same as a round trip, and sometimes less, while saving you the time and cost of backtracking. Compare both in a multi-city flight search.
What is the best way to travel between European cities?: Trains are best for shorter trips, such as London to Paris or Paris to Amsterdam, because they run between city centers. For longer hops, like Lisbon to Barcelona or Barcelona to Rome, short flights are usually faster.