Discover Europe
Traveling through Europe has a way of making the world feel both larger and more connected. Within a single journey, travelers can move between languages, cuisines, landscapes, and centuries of history, often in the space of just a few hours. One day might be spent wandering the cobbled streets of Prague beneath the Astronomical Clock; another could begin with espresso in a Roman piazza, continue among the ruins of the Colosseum, and end over a late dinner in a quiet neighborhood trattoria. In the Swiss Alps, the experience becomes one of snow-covered peaks and mountain villages, while the Croatian coast offers clear water, old stone towns, and evenings shaped by the light of the Adriatic. Paris, Berlin, Florence, and countless smaller cities each reveal a different side of the continent, from great art and architecture to nightlife, local traditions, and everyday rituals. Europe is not simply a collection of famous destinations. It is a place where the past remains visible, cultures overlap, and every journey has the potential to deepen a traveler’s understanding of the world.
France
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Netherlands & Belgium
Germany
Greece
Turkey
The Nordics
Our Travel Book Recommendations - Europe
Our Travel Book Recommendations - Europe
Lonely Planet: Europe
Lonely Planet remains one of our favorite guidebook choices for Europe because few publishers match its combination of breadth, practicality, and independence. Its Europe guides are especially valuable for travelers moving between several countries, with clear advice on trains and transportation, neighborhoods, accommodations, restaurants, major sights, and the smaller places that can make an itinerary more interesting. The coverage is broad enough to help you compare destinations across the continent, yet detailed enough to be genuinely useful once you arrive. Whether you are planning a first trip through Europe or trying to connect a handful of less familiar stops, Lonely Planet is particularly good at helping turn an ambitious idea into a trip that feels manageable, informed, and full of possibilities. For a closer look at the amazing publisher behind these guides, explore our introduction to Lonely Planet.
Rick Steves: Europe Through the Back Door
Transform a European journey from a checklist of sights into a more thoughtful and confident adventure with Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door. Since 1980, Steves has helped travelers look beyond the obvious, offering the kind of practical, opinionated guidance that conventional guidebooks often overlook: how to avoid the crowds, spend wisely without diminishing the experience, navigate unfamiliar places with confidence, and connect more meaningfully with local culture. Rather than simply cataloging attractions, the book teaches readers how to make better travel decisions. It is an ideal starting point for anyone hoping to experience Europe with greater curiosity, flexibility, and understanding. For more on the expert behind this distinctive approach, learn about Rick Steves and explore his full collection of guidebooks.
Bucket List Europe, by Fodor’s Travel
Fodor's Bucket List Europe is a comprehensive travel guide featuring over 500 carefully curated experiences across 40 European countries, from iconic must-sees to hidden gems. Written by local experts and beautifully illustrated with color photos, this guide helps travelers plan their ultimate European adventure with recommendations for what to eat, drink, see, and do in every major region. Whether you're dreaming of sipping wine in Bordeaux, witnessing the Northern Lights in Iceland, or exploring ancient ruins in Pompeii, the book combines epic attractions with quirky, off-the-beaten-path discoveries, plus practical resources like detailed maps, itineraries, and accommodation suggestions to help you create an unforgettable journey through Europe.
Neither Here Nor There, by Bill Bryson
In the 1970s, a young Bill Bryson set off across Europe with a backpack, vague notions of enlightenment, and a decidedly clearer interest in beer, women, and whatever adventure might come next. His companion was the unforgettable Stephen Katz—the same hapless, endlessly entertaining friend who would later stumble alongside him through the Appalachian Trail in A Walk in the Woods. Two decades later, Bryson returned to Europe to retrace parts of that youthful journey, traveling through cities and countries that had changed dramatically while confronting his own memories of the reckless young man he had once been. The result is Neither Here Nor There, a wonderfully funny mix of travelogue, nostalgia, cultural observation, and self-mockery, as Bryson moves from Scandinavia through Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, and beyond, comparing the Europe in front of him with the one he remembers. He is at his best noticing the absurdities of everyday travel—the strange hotels, baffling customs, awkward encounters, bad meals, missed connections, and unexpected pleasures that rarely make it into conventional guidebooks. Beneath the humor, though, is a thoughtful book about returning to places that once mattered to you and discovering that both the places and the traveler have changed. For anyone who enjoys Bryson’s combination of curiosity, sharp observation, and comic exasperation, it is one of his most entertaining journeys and a wonderfully lively way to travel across Europe with him.
Over Europe, with text by Jan Morris
This stunning coffee table book capturing post-war Europe’s rebirth combines aerial photography from fourteen masters with descriptions from renowned travel writer Jan Morris. The result of a two-year endeavor, it offers readers a bird's-eye view of the continent's transformation. From cathedrals to villages, bustling cities to serene landscapes, each page unveils Europe's rich architectural heritage and natural beauty. Over Europe invites you to witness history unfold from a unique perspective, soaring above a reborn continent.
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After 144 years, Barcelona has finally seen Antoni Gaudí's extraordinary vision rise to its full height. But the Sagrada Família is more than an architectural masterpiece or the world's most famous unfinished church. It tells a deeper story about craftsmanship, ambition, and a city that refused to compromise on greatness. Discover why this remarkable basilica reveals as much about Barcelona as it does about Gaudí himself.