Tag: Europe Travel

England, France and Italy are the three countries most North Americans picture when they first imagine a trip to Europe, and for good reason. Between them they hold London’s museums and theaters, Paris’s boulevards and galleries, Rome’s ancient ruins, the Renaissance art of Florence, the canals of Venice, the vineyards of Bordeaux and Tuscany, and some of the most famous food in the world. The question most travelers face is not whether these countries are worth it, but how to handle them: pick one and go deep, pair two, or try to see all three in a single vacation. Each approach works, but only if the length of the trip, the route and the season match what you actually want from it. This guide explains what each country does best, how to choose between them, how to combine them without spending half your vacation in transit, and how to plan the flights, trains, rooms and paperwork so the trip runs smoothly.

The short answer

If you have a week or less, choose one country, or at most two cities that are connected by a fast train, such as London and Paris. If you have ten days to two weeks, combining two countries is comfortable and all three is possible if you limit yourself to one base in each: London, Paris and Rome. If you have three weeks, you can add a second base in Italy or France, such as Florence or Provence. Fly into one city and home from another so you never backtrack, take the Eurostar between London and Paris, and fly between Paris and Rome unless you have a full day to spend on the train. Remember that the UK and the EU have separate entry rules: most visitors from Canada and the United States need a UK electronic travel authorization before flying to Britain. Compare fares into London, Paris and Rome on our flight search to see which open-jaw combination is cheapest for your dates.

How the three countries compare

All three have world-class sights, so the real differences come down to pace, food, getting around and what kind of days you enjoy.

England: what it does best

England is the easiest of the three for a first trip abroad. There is no language barrier, the public transport is well signposted, and London alone can fill a week without repeating itself.

London

The original version of this guide started in London, and that still makes sense. The essentials are Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, the British Museum, the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, and a walk along the South Bank from the London Eye to Tower Bridge. Many of the city’s major museums, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum and Tate Modern, have free general admission, which offsets London’s high hotel prices. The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace open to visitors only for part of the year, mainly in summer, so check before you plan around them. Evenings are for the West End theaters, historic pubs and the city’s enormous restaurant scene.

Our guide to things to do in London goes neighborhood by neighborhood, the best time to fly to London explains when fares and crowds ease, and our guide to getting around London covers the Underground, contactless payment and airport transfers. Most transatlantic flights land at London Heathrow, which is connected to central London by the Underground and faster rail links.

Beyond London

England rewards a few days outside the capital. Bath has Roman baths and Georgian crescents; Oxford and Cambridge have their colleges; the Cotswolds are a string of honey-colored stone villages; York has a medieval wall and a great cathedral; and Stonehenge sits on Salisbury Plain, an easy day trip by tour or rental car. Trains from London reach Bath, Oxford, Cambridge and York comfortably in a day trip or an overnight. For the Cotswolds and the countryside, a car helps, but remember that Britain drives on the left and village roads are narrow.

VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, has regional guides and itinerary ideas for England, Scotland and Wales.

France: what it does best

France combines the most famous city on the continent with a countryside that changes completely from region to region: châteaux on the Loire, D-Day beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, lavender fields in Provence, glamour on the Riviera, and wine country around Bordeaux and in Burgundy.

Paris

Paris is the obvious anchor. The original itinerary listed the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre-Dame Cathedral, and all three still belong on a first visit; Notre-Dame reopened to visitors after the long restoration that followed the 2019 fire. Add the Musée d’Orsay for Impressionist art, Sainte-Chapelle’s stained glass, Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur, a walk through the Marais, and an evening along the Seine. Book timed tickets for the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower in advance, especially in summer; the Louvre’s official website is the place to reserve and to check opening days.

Plan with our guides to things to do in Paris, the best time to fly to Paris and getting around Paris, which explains why the metro beats a car in the city. Compare Paris hotels, including central, walkable areas like Le Marais. Most long-haul flights arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle, northeast of the city.

Beyond Paris

France’s high-speed TGV network makes it easy to add a region. The Loire Valley châteaux are close enough for a day trip or a night away; Normandy’s beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel work best as a two- or three-day loop; Lyon is France’s great food city; and Provence and the Riviera are a few hours south by fast train, where a rental car opens up the hill villages. Versailles, the royal palace just outside Paris, is reached by suburban train and deserves most of a day. France.fr, the official tourism site, covers every region, and train tickets can be booked through SNCF Connect, the national rail operator’s booking platform.

Italy: what it does best

Italy packs more famous art and history into a small area than almost anywhere else, and it adds some of the best food on earth and a coastline that ranges from the Amalfi cliffs to the villages of the Cinque Terre.

Rome

Rome was the second stop in the original itinerary, and the essentials have not changed: the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and Vatican City, where the Vatican Museums lead to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Reserve timed entry for the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums well ahead in busy months, since walk-up availability is limited. Churches, including St. Peter’s, expect covered shoulders and knees, so carry a light scarf or layer.

Our guides to things to do in Rome, the best time to fly to Rome and getting around Rome cover the details, including the limited traffic zones that make driving in the historic center a bad idea. Compare Rome hotels, including neighborhoods such as Trastevere, and look at car rentals in Rome only for trips out into the countryside. Most transatlantic flights arrive at Rome Fiumicino, which has a direct train into the city.

Beyond Rome

Italy’s high-speed trains run the length of the main north-south line, which makes a classic route easy: Venice, Florence and Rome are each a couple of hours apart or less by fast train. Florence has the Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo’s David and the cathedral dome; Venice has its canals, St. Mark’s Basilica and the islands of the lagoon; Tuscany’s hill towns, Siena and the Chianti vineyards are best explored by car. South of Rome, Naples is the gateway to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Venice charges day-trippers an access fee on its busiest days, so check the city’s rules if you plan a day visit rather than an overnight stay. Italia.it, the official tourism portal, has regional itineraries, and Trenitalia, the national rail operator, sells tickets for the fast and regional trains.

How to choose: match the country to the traveler

First trip to Europe

England, or England plus Paris. The shared language takes the stress out of the first days, and the Eurostar puts Paris a short train ride away. You get two great capitals with very different personalities and only one transfer.

Food and wine lovers

Italy or France, and ideally both. Italy wins on regional variety and casual eating: pizza in Naples, pasta in Rome, steak in Florence, risotto in the north. France wins on markets, bakeries, cheese and wine regions. If food is the point, spend less time in capitals and more in places like Bologna, Lyon, Tuscany or Burgundy.

History and art

Italy for the ancient world and the Renaissance, France for the great museums and royal palaces, England for medieval and royal history. Any of the three works, which is why so many history-minded travelers try to combine them.

Couples and honeymooners

Paris and the Italian coast or hill towns are the classic romantic pairing: a few days of museums and dinners in Paris, then slow days in Tuscany, on the Amalfi Coast or by one of the northern lakes. If you want warm water and no itinerary at all, our Cayman Islands honeymoon guide offers the opposite kind of trip.

Travelers on a budget

None of the three is cheap, but you can control the cost. Travel in the shoulder season, stay a few metro stops from the landmarks, use free museums in London and free-entry days at some state museums in Paris and Rome, and eat your main meal at lunch. Our guide to budget travel destinations explains how to make these expensive favorites more affordable, and our guide on how to save money for a trip helps you build the fund.

Can you see all three in one vacation?

Yes, and many travelers do. The trick is to limit the number of bases, not the number of days. Each move between hotels costs you roughly half a day once you count packing, checking out, getting to the station or airport, traveling and checking in. Three bases in two weeks is relaxed; five bases in ten days is a blur.

Getting between the three

The Eurostar runs from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord through the Channel Tunnel. You go through UK and French border checks at the departure station before boarding, so arrive with time to spare. Book early for the best fares, since prices tend to rise as trains fill.

Sample itineraries

Ten days, all three countries. Fly into London and spend three nights, take the Eurostar to Paris for three nights, then fly to Rome for three nights and fly home from Rome. This is the original version of this itinerary, and it works if you accept that you will see the highlights of each city rather than the countryside.

Two weeks, all three countries. London for four nights with a day trip to Bath, Oxford or Windsor; Paris for four nights with a day at Versailles; then Florence for two nights and Rome for three, flying home from Rome. The Paris to Florence leg is usually a flight, and Florence to Rome is a short train ride.

Two weeks, two countries. Paris for four nights, then Provence or the Riviera for three by fast train, then fly to Rome for four nights and add two in Florence or on the Amalfi Coast. Dropping England buys you time outside the capitals.

Three weeks, all three countries. London and a few nights in the English countryside, Paris and one French region, then Venice, Florence and Rome by train before flying home from Rome. At this length you can include slower days and still see all three at a comfortable pace.

Our guide to traveling Europe on a multi-city itinerary covers how to sequence cities, when to take the train and when to fly, and how to handle luggage between stops.

Booking the flights

Fly open-jaw

The single most useful decision for a multi-country trip is to book an open-jaw ticket, flying into one city and home from another, for example into London and home from Rome. It saves a day of backtracking and often costs little more than a round trip. Search both directions: London in and Rome out, and Rome in and London out, since fares and schedules can differ significantly. Your airline’s multi-city search, or ours, can price these combinations.

Where to start

From North America, London and Paris have the widest choice of nonstop flights, and Rome is well served from major hubs. If you are in Canada, compare fares from Toronto, from Montreal and from Vancouver; our international flight booking tips explain how to compare connections and baggage rules. For the short hops within Europe, check what is included, because the cheapest fares often exclude carry-on bags larger than a small personal item.

Entry rules: the UK and the Schengen area are separate

This is the part of the trip most likely to catch travelers out, because England and the other two countries follow different systems. Rules change, so treat this as a guide to the principles and confirm on the official pages before you book and again before you fly.

• The United Kingdom requires an electronic travel authorization (ETA) for most visitors who do not need a visa, including travelers from Canada, the United States and most of Europe. Every traveler needs their own, including babies and children, and you may need one even if you are only passing through a UK airport and going through border control. Apply only through the UK government’s official ETA page, since look-alike websites charge extra fees. An ETA does not guarantee entry.
• France and Italy are in the Schengen area, which has common rules for short stays. Visa-exempt visitors can generally stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries combined, and time in the UK does not count toward that limit because the UK is outside the Schengen area.
• The EU is introducing new digital border systems. The Entry/Exit System registers non-EU travelers’ details at the external border, and a separate travel authorization for visa-exempt visitors, known as ETIAS, is scheduled to follow. Check the EU’s official ETIAS and EES site for the current status before you travel.
• Check your passport’s validity. Schengen countries require a passport that remains valid for a period beyond your planned departure; the official pages set out the exact rule for your nationality.
• Read your government’s travel advice. Canadians can check the Government of Canada’s advice for the United Kingdom and the matching pages for France and Italy.

Money, customs and practical details

• Two currencies: England uses the pound, France and Italy use the euro. Use a card without foreign transaction fees, and always choose to pay in the local currency when a card terminal offers to convert.
• Contactless everywhere: London’s transport and most shops accept contactless cards and phones. Paris and Rome are increasingly card-friendly, but carry some euros for small cafés, markets and tips.
• Tipping: service is often included or modest in all three; check the bill for a service charge, and treat rounding up as a courtesy rather than an obligation.
• Tourist taxes: Paris, Rome and many other cities add a per-person, per-night tax to hotel bills, sometimes collected at check-in. Include it when you compare rooms.
• Plugs: the UK uses a different plug from France and Italy, so pack a multi-country adapter.
• Pickpockets: busy metro lines and crowded landmarks in all three capitals attract pickpockets. Keep phones and wallets zipped away; a money belt or an anti-theft backpack helps.

Where to stay

With a few nights in each city, location beats everything. Stay near a metro or Underground station on a line that serves your sights: Bloomsbury, the South Bank or King’s Cross (next to the Eurostar terminal) in London; the Marais, the Latin Quarter or Saint-Germain in Paris; the historic center, Trastevere or the area near Termini station in Rome. Compare total prices including taxes and check cancellation terms; our hotel booking tips go through it step by step.

Car or no car?

In London, Paris and Rome a car is a liability: congestion charges, camera-enforced traffic zones, costly parking and excellent transit all point the same way. Rent only for countryside stretches such as the Cotswolds, Provence or Tuscany, pick up at a station or airport on the edge of town, and check the rules and fees for one-way or cross-border rentals first. Our comparison of renting a car, public transport and taxis and our rental car booking tips cover the rest. Remember that Britain drives on the left.

What to expect season by season

Spring (April to June) is one of the best times for all three: long days, gardens in bloom and crowds that build toward summer, though Easter is very busy in Rome. Summer brings the biggest crowds and real heat in Paris and Rome, and some small Parisian businesses close in August. Fall is warm in Italy and the south of France in September, full of harvest food in October, and quiet and cheaper in November; our guide to the best places to visit in Europe in fall covers the season in detail. Winter, outside the Christmas and New Year holidays, has the lowest crowds and rates; days are short and damp, but museums, theater and December’s Christmas markets carry the trip. For a festive break closer to home, see our guide to the best cities for Christmas in the USA.

Packing and preparation

The three countries have different weather and customs, so pack layers rather than bulk: a light waterproof jacket for London, a smarter outfit for dinners in Paris, and a cover-up for churches in Rome. Comfortable walking shoes matter most, and a bag light enough to carry up station stairs saves a lot of grief; our guide to travel luggage helps. Save your passport details, ETA approval, insurance, bookings and train tickets offline on your phone.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Too many bases. Every hotel change costs half a day. One base per country is plenty on a ten-day trip.
• Booking a round trip. Returning to your arrival city wastes time and money; book open-jaw.
• Forgetting the UK ETA. Travelers who have been to France or Italy before are often surprised that Britain needs a separate authorization.
• Not reserving major sights. The Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Last Supper in Milan all sell timed tickets that can run out in busy months.
• Driving into historic centers. Italian limited traffic zones in particular are camera-enforced, and fines can arrive months later.
• Arriving at the airport late. European airports can be crowded in summer; our guide to airport arrival times for international flights explains how much time to allow.

Frequently asked questions

Is ten days enough for England, France and Italy?

It is enough to see the highlights of London, Paris and Rome with three nights in each, but not much else. If you want countryside, day trips or a second Italian city, allow two weeks or drop one country.

Which country should I visit if I can only choose one?

Choose England for an easy first trip, museums and theater; France for art, food and variety; Italy for history, food and scenery. If you are still undecided, look at which city you most want to see and build around that country.

What is the best order to visit them?

London, then Paris, then Rome is the most efficient, because the Eurostar links the first two and a flight covers the long leg to Rome. You can reverse it just as easily. Choose the order that gives you the cheapest open-jaw flight.

Do I need a visa for England, France and Italy?

Canadian and US citizens do not need a visa for short tourist stays in these countries, but most visitors do need a UK electronic travel authorization before flying to Britain, and the EU is introducing its own digital entry systems. Check the official UK and EU pages for your nationality before you book.

Is it better to take the train or fly within Europe?

Take the train when the journey is under about four or five hours, since stations are central and there is less security hassle. Fly longer legs such as Paris to Rome or London to Rome.

When is the cheapest time to visit all three?

Late fall and winter, outside the holidays, usually bring the lowest hotel rates and fares. Late spring and early fall offer a better balance of price, weather and crowds.

Ready to plan your trip? Compare open-jaw fares into London, Paris and Rome on our flight search, then line up rooms on our hotel search. For more ways to make a big trip affordable, start with our guide to budget travel destinations.