Are you looking to Travel Europe in 2023? Or maybe you’re a little unsure? Having travelled Europe multiple times, including 6 months of full-time travel in 2022, we urge you to go for it! We didn’t regret it and it’s likely you won’t either! This blog will cover some key considerations for those looking to travel Europe in 2023, along with some of our top recommendations for places that you might not even know exist!

Where should you travel in 2023?

Let’s start with the good stuff, planning what beautiful European destinations you might visit in 2023! The following recommendations are some of our top picks for your 2023 Europe trip, however it isn’t an exhaustive list. Additionally, we have numerous blogs providing further information on travel destinations if you are interested. If you have further questions, please comment below, email us, or engage with us on our Instagram channel.

OUR TOP EUROPE PICKS:

SOUTHERN ITALY:

The south of Italy was delightful, and somewhere we just can’t wait to return back to! Particularly, Puglia and Sicily, and both destinations that we think are underrated (compared to the popular central/northern Italy) and deserve more attention.

The gem of Puglia is definitely the stunning Polignano a Mare, a seaside town that will always hold a special place in our hearts. Puglia also has numerous charming small inland and seaside towns that you could easily spend weeks exploring.

Sicily is one of the most southern points of Europe, and offers an excellent ‘shoulder season’ destination to prolong your summer. We visited in late September and were treated to excellent weather. The food is exceptional and whilst touristy, we found it less chaotic than the bigger cities in the north of Italy.

Read more about the south of Italy here:

• Take a look at our visit and road trip through Puglia!
• See our thoughts and recommendations on the stunning Polignano a Mare!
• Take a look at our shoulder season visit to Taormina in Sicily.

PORTUGAL:

Portugal remains one of our favourite trips to date! The country offers so much, with highlights and attractions for all types of travellers. Boasting incredible old cities you could spend days wondering, top shelf cuisine (including the delightful Pastel de Nata), stunning beaches, charming small towns and much more! We urge you to consider Portugal for your 2023 travels!

• Check out 14 things we think you MUST DO when you visit Lisbon!
• Take a look at our day trip to the ‘fairy-tale like’ Sintra!
• Porto remains one of our favourite cities in Europe, see why here!
• Keen on visiting the beaches? See our Algarve adventures here!

Croatia:

Croatia is no longer the underrated gem it was in the past, however the popularity is definitely justified! Boasting world-best beaches, delightful seaside towns, and lots of historic towns to explore, Croatia definitely deserves a place on your Europe 2023 travel itinerary. We would strongly recommend you visit the Croatian Islands, and after visiting many of the popular ones, we recommend Vis Island as our favourite! A trip to Croatia also isn’t complete without checking out Dubrovnik (think Game of Thrones). We spend almost 3 weeks in the beautiful country in 2022!

• See our thoughts on our favourite island in Croatia, Vis!
• See our guide to the historic city of Dubrovnik!

Jungfrau region in Switzerland:

The entire country of Switzerland is beautiful, however the Jungfrau region (and surrounding towns/lakes/mountains) was particularly enthralling. Think stunning views, incredible hikes, mountain-top chalets, and lots more! Whilst not a ‘budget friendly’ travel destination, we feel like Switzerland is worth the money, particularly if you are an outdoor/hike lover.

• See our thoughts and guide for your visit to the Jungfrau region.
• Where to stay in the Jungfrau? Consider staying in Wengen!
• Don’t miss Oeschinensee when you travel to the region!

SOME DESTINATIONS TO CONSIDER:

TURKISH RIVIERA:

We visited the stunning Turkish coastline in September 2022, visiting the delightful Kaş. This small seaside town sits a few hours away from Antalya or Fethiye. It offers stunning beaches and crystal clear water, lots of wonderful restaurants, and a definite ‘holiday feel’. See more about one of our favourite places in Europe, Kas!

TRANSYLVANIA:

Transylvania is a picturesque region in central Romania that completely exceeded our expectations. Filled with charming small towns waiting to be explored, Transylvania is definitely an under-rated region of Europe we think you should consider visiting in 2023. We would highly recommend basing yourself in Brasov, and checking out the numerous towns and attractions nearby (like the Transfagarasan Highway). Take a look at our Transylvanian adventures here!

Scandinavia:

Scandinavia commonly refers to the northern European region consisting of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. However, typically countries like Iceland, Finland and Faroe Islands are also included as part of Scandinavia. We have only briefly sampled this region, visiting Denmark and Sweden, and already we know we want to return. Think clean cities, impressive architecture, beautiful nature, friendly locals and everything that runs on time. Wanting to do something a little different in summer? Consider spending time in Scandinavia, where you will be treated to some of the longest summer days in the world! Take a look at our visit to Copenhagen here!

Lake Bled:

If you have been following our blog/social media for awhile, you will know we just can’t stop raving about Lake Bled. Situated in Slovenia, this lakeside region is stunning! We will endeavour to return in the future, as Lake Bled provided us with stunning views, great hikes, good food and more! Our visit to Lake Bled and recommendations can be found here!

Southern France:

The south of France is so beautiful! Think rolling hills, charming old towns, great wine and lots to explore! We visited the Luberon/Provonce regions, basing ourselves in Avignon. Whilst we loved all of the towns in the region, our highlight was definitely the stunning Gordes! Take a look at our South of France adventures and recommendations here!

Edinburgh:

The medieval Scottish city of Edinburgh was seriously impressive! We loved the old architecture, the great food, the charming streets, and the stunning views. Whilst maybe not your top summer pick for Europe, Edinburgh is perfect to add on to the end of your travels. See our thoughts on Edinburgh here!

Please note, this list does not include many of our favourites like Bruges, Leiden, Mostar, Kotor, Antiparos, Gjirokaster, Tuscany, Prague, Budapest, Lake Ohrid, Cappadocia, and more!

A few key considerations, recommendations, and tips for travelling Europe in 2023:

Don’t forget to think about:

This is a little checklist of things you need to consider when planning your trip. Each of these topics could easily be a blog themselves, however this list is designed to get you thinking.

• Passport! This is a MUST DO! You need to have at least 6 months on your passport from the date you plan to RETURN home! Don’t get caught out here! Check your passport now and plan early!
• Travel insurance – Make sure you get it! Buy your travel insurance early so if you need to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances, you might be covered. If you have health issues or things to include in your policy, make sure your policy will cover this and mention it when booking.
• Travel credit card and/or debit card. Get a card that will minimise your oversees bank fees. It is very easy to spend $20 or more on a single ATM withdrawal overseas if you don’t have a good card. We use the 28 Degrees Credit Card, however need to look into better debit card for our next trip (yes, we got stung a bit by transaction fees).
• Saving – earlier is better! We we able to save in advance for our Europe trips, and avoid going in to debt to travel. However, we know many people have have put themselves in reasonable amount of debt with a Europe holiday. Whilst we don’t give financial advice, we urge you to think about saving as early as you can to minimise your debt.
• Travel days take longer than you think. If a flight says 1 hour, be prepared that the total journey will take at least half a day. Travel days end up taking more time than you think and we advise you to plan for this.
• Book “cheap flights” early. In peak season, flights from carriers like RyanAir between popular destinations will book out!
• Check that your destinations ‘link up’. Even if the itinerary makes sense in your head, you might not be able to get a flight/train etc between them. Depending on the length of your trip, spending a day (rather than a 1 hour flight) to get between locations might not be feasible.

Take a look at our thoughts on more things to know when you are planning your trip!

Our favourite places & where we want to visit in 2023 and beyond:

While we may not be heading back to Europe in 2023, we have a few des