Why I Love Traveling to Europe: A Travel Advisor’s Take on History, Culture, Food & Everyday Life

Dan Meister - Travel Coach

Why I Love Traveling to Europe (And Keep Going Back)
If you’re dreaming about story-packed streets, jaw-dropping architecture, legendary art and fresh, flavor-forward meals that put your neighborhood takeout to shame, Europe is tough to beat. As a travel advisor and group travel specialist, it’s the destination I return to again and again—and the one I never get tired of planning for my clients.

My personal infatuation with Europe started my Europe story right after college with an extended solo backpacking trip, long before the Berlin Wall came down. Watching the sunrise and the sunset into night sky on a completely different continent flipped a switch in me—and I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.

Over the years, I’ve crossed the continent by train, bus, car, ferry and ship, watching it evolve and open up: the breakup of the USSR, the expansion of the European Union, the euro, open borders, and massive leaps in communication and transportation. Traveling to Europe has never been easier, yet the reasons I fell in love with it—deep history, rich culture, walkability, incredible food and vivid everyday life—are still front and center.

When it comes to pure travel joy? Europe has my heart. Here’s why.

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One Continent with a buffet of countries: 
If you like variety, Europe delivers—with 50+ distinct nations packed onto one continent, each with its own unique flavor, culture and personality.

You can easily travel from one or more countries in a day enjoying a totally different local experience.  

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Dan Meister in the Netherlands

​European History: 
 Walking Through Millennia, Not Just Centuries.  

America’s story stretches back a few hundred years. Impressive, absolutely—but in Europe, you’re brushing up against thousands of years of history almost everywhere you go.  

In a single day, you might stand in a Roman amphitheater, wander into a medieval cathedral, cross a stone bridge to a Renaissance piazza and have coffee and a sandwich in restaurant older than America. The streets, bridges, city walls and churches aren’t just “old”; they’re pieces of a living timeline with cobblestone streets everywhere.

That’s one of the biggest reasons I love traveling to Europe: you don’t just read about history or see exhibits in a museum, you literally walk through it. 

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European Architecture:
Castles, Palaces & Cathedrals at Every Turn.
If architecture makes you happy, Europe is your playground. Think storybook castles perched on hillsides, glittering royal palaces and cathedrals so massive they have dominated the skyline for many centuries.    

You can lose yourself in tiny villages with half-timbered houses, wander along canals lined with pastel townhouses and stone bridges, or slip into ornate Baroque churches layered with frescoes and gold leaf. Even everyday buildings—train stations, apartment blocks, corner cafes—often come wrapped in beautiful facades and carved details.

Every country, and honestly every region, has its own visual personality. That’s part of the fun of multi-country Europe itineraries: as you cross a border, the scenery, architecture and mood shift, and you feel it right away.

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European Art:
A Giant, Open-Air Gallery of Masterworks.
Europe is basically one enormous art gallery with no real walls. From Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci to Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso, many of the world’s most famous artists created their masterpieces here.

You can see them in headline museums like the Louvre, the Uffizi or the Rijksmuseum—but the real magic is how art spills into everyday life. You’ll find frescoes in tiny churches, sculptures in public squares, mosaics in metro stations and street art brightening old industrial neighborhoods.

Maybe you stumble on a tiny chapel on a back road in Ireland, discover a hidden courtyard on the Amalfi Coast, or turn a corner and find a mural you didn’t expect. Whether you can name every artist or just know that something moves you, Europe’s art has a way of making travel feel richer and more alive.

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Culture & Everyday Life:
Walkable Cities and Real Connection.
Beyond the famous sights, what keeps pulling me back is everyday European life. So many cities and towns are built on a human scale—walkable, compact and buzzing with local rhythm.

People walk to the bakery, linger at cafes, shop at neighborhood markets, claim a spot in the town square and spend real time outside with friends and family. Many neighborhoods feel like small villages inside the city, each with its own favorite bars, shops and pace. You also see fewer ads shouting at you from every surface, which feels surprisingly calming.

A few snapshots that stick with me:

• Copenhagen: There are famously more bikes than cars. Commuting by bike, in any weather, is just how life works.
• Italy: The "Passeggiata"—a slow, social evening stroll with no agenda beyond connection and pleasure—is an art form.
• Finland: The locals brag about having more saunas than cars, which tells you everything about how seriously they take wellbeing and relaxation.

In many parts of Europe, life is measured more in time spent with people than in things acquired. Cities are dotted with plazas, pedestrian zones, playgrounds and markets that invite you to slow your pace and connect. Those tiny rituals—coffee breaks, siestas, evening walks, chatting with the baker—often end up being the memories my clients treasure most.

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Dan Meister on the Eurostar Train from London to Paris

European Trains, Ferries and Easy Transportation:
Another huge reason I love planning trips to Europe is how effortless it can be to get around. Once you’re there, the continent is remarkably connected.  European countries and cities have invested heavily in public transportation.  It is a source of pride and it shows. 

Travelers have access to:

• High-speed trains linking major cities in just a few hours.
• Regional trains and buses reaching smaller towns and countryside corners.
• Ferries and small ships that hop between islands and coastal towns (and sometimes across borders).
• Efficient public transit—subways, trams and light rail—across most large cities.
• Extensive Highway Network local roads are well maintained for self-driving vacations. 

My preference.  I love designing trips around the wonderful rail network as train travel is a novel experience for many Americans.  For example, you can board a train in central London, gaze outside, nap, grab a coffee and roll right into center city Paris in under 3 hours without having to board an airplane, touch a steering wheel or get stuck in traffic. 

This is what makes multi-country Europe itineraries so appealing. You can truly wake up in one country and sit down to lunch in another—and it feels relaxed, not exhausting.
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European Cuisine: A Continental Feast
Let’s talk about one of the most delicious reasons to visit Europe: the food and drink. For such a compact part of the world, the variety is incredible and the recipes and preparation have been perfected over time.

Just a few favorites:

• Greece: Fresh fish, grilled octopus, bright salads and simple seaside tavernas.
• Italy: Handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, creamy tiramasu, and deeply local wines.
• France: Pâté, mussels, buttery pastries and long, lingering dinners in Parisian-style bistros.
• United Kingdom: Classic fish and chips, cozy pub fare, Indian cuisine and a modern dining scene that’s far more creative than many expect.

But the magic isn’t only in the “big” meals—it’s in the daily rituals. Grabbing an espresso at the bar, picking up fresh bread from the neighborhood bakery, wandering open-air markets filled with seasonal produce, cheese, olives and regional specialties.

Did I mention Gelato?  Europeans have a love affair with their ice cream and Gelato. Shops and stands are everywhere, and it is a real treat especially in the summer. 

As a beer drinker, I personally have a soft spot for fun pubs and beer gardens. There’s nothing quite like sitting in the town square or rooftop terrace looking up at the castle across the river with a cold local brew.

​As a travel advisor, I love weaving in food tours, hands-on cooking classes and wine whisky or beer tastings. These experiences are relaxed, fun, friendly and full of local flavor—literally and figuratively.

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European Festivals: Europe’s Big, Unforgettable Events

Europe is packed with world-class festivals that are worth planning a whole trip around.

A few of my favorites:

• Oktoberfest – Munich, Germany (September): The world’s biggest beer festival, with giant tents, music, Bavarian food and nonstop good cheer.
• Edinburgh Festivals & Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – Scotland (August): The city becomes one huge stage, with the world’s largest arts festival and dramatic evening performances at Edinburgh Castle.
• Holy Week (Semana Santa) – Seville, Spain (Easter): Emotional processions, ornate floats and music fill the streets during this powerful spiritual celebration.
• Tulip Season – The Netherlands (April): Fields, gardens and parks burst into color with millions of blooming tulips and international visitors.
• Christmas Markets – Across Europe (late November–December): Especially magical in Germany and Austria, with twinkling lights, handmade gifts, mulled wine and cozy holiday treats.

Heritage Trips to Europe, Tracing Your Family Story:
For many Americans, the family story begins on European soil. Take Ireland: more than 30 million Americans claim Irish roots, while fewer than 7 million people live on the island today.

Designing personal and meaningful heritage trips are my favorite and can be a wonderful bonding experience for multigenerational families. In many cities and towns, the ancient cathedrals, castles, town squares, graveyards, schools and family homes are still standing. Once we know the area of your family's roots, we can shape your itinerary so you can walk the same streets, stand in the same churches, look at the same fields, hills and feel that deep connection between your forebears and present.

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Traveling to Europe Has Never Been Easier:
Another reason I’m so hooked on planning trips to Europe: getting there and getting around keeps getting easier.

• One Main Currency: Many countries use the euro, so you’re not constantly juggling different currencies.
• Easy Border Crossings: Within the Schengen Area, there are no routine border checks, which makes crossing countries remarkably simple.
• Communication: English is widely spoken in cities and popular travel areas, which takes a lot of pressure off first-time visitors.  
• Technology: E-tickets, translation apps, online maps, local transit apps and contactless payments—smooths out the logistics.
• Non-Stop Flights:  There are now many daily nonstop flights from the U.S. to major European hubs, so you can often fly straight to where you need to be.  Europe has also embraced low-cost air carriers so within Europe it is easy to take a low cost flight point to point at an attractive price.  

When I think back to my early backpacking days, I’m amazed at how much more streamlined Europe travel is now. You still get the full depth of culture and history, just with fewer hassles.

Why ALL This Matters for My Clients when planning a trip to Europe?
All of this—layered history, striking architecture, everyday culture, easy transportation, incredible food and overall accessibility—is why I love traveling to Europe personally. It’s also why I’m so passionate about helping clients plan their own European adventures, whether it’s a honeymoon, milestone celebration, a group journey, a multi-generational family trip or a fully custom, hand-crafted itinerary.

Europe offers endless possibilities, but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With thoughtful planning, you can see the major highlights and experience the unscripted everyday moments that make travel feel truly magical and memorable.  Friends and colleagues will bend in close to hear your personal travel stories and adventures. 

If you’re thinking about planning a trip to Europe—and you’d like guidance from someone who has walked the cobblestones, ridden the trains and “taste tested" the gelato more times than he can count—I’d be honored to help you design a custom Europe itinerary you’ll never forget.

“There are reasons and seasons for travel—get out the door, amazing experiences are calling your name and won't disappoint.”  — Dan Meister, Travel Coach & Group Expert.  “Making Travel Easy since 1994” 

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