30 days in Europe Itinerary

You might consider the city of Budapest, divided by the Danube River into two distinctive cities--Buda and Pest--to be essentially one large World Heritage Site.

Get some historical perspective at Fisherman's Bastion and Andrassy Avenue. Get some cultural insight at Matthias Church and House of Terror Museum. There's much more to do: take in the spiritual surroundings of St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika), admire the landmark architecture of Dohány Street Synagogue, indulge your taste buds at Central Market Hall, and pause for some photo ops at Heroes' Square.

To see maps, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Budapest online trip itinerary builder.

Sydney, Australia to Budapest is an approximately 25-hour flight. The time zone changes from Australian Eastern Standard Time to Central European Standard Time, which is usually a -9 hour difference. Traveling from Sydney in March, expect Budapest to be cooler, temps between 14°C and 1°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Sat) to allow time to drive to Vienna.

The cultural, economic, and political center of the country, Vienna has developed from its early Celtic and Roman roots into a medieval and Baroque city, with an old town that was designated a World Heritage Site in 2001.

Kick off your visit on the 14th (Sun): admire the masterpieces at Albertina, admire the striking features of Schonbrunn Palace, and then admire the masterpieces at Belvedere Palace. On your second day here, explore the world behind art at Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, then browse the eclectic array of goods at Vienna Naschmarkt, then examine the collection at The Hofburg, and finally pause for some serene contemplation at St. Stephen's Cathedral.

To find ratings, photos, reviews, and tourist information, read our Vienna road trip planning website.

Getting from Budapest to Vienna by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: fly; or take a train. In March, plan for daily highs up to 12°C, and evening lows to 1°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 15th (Mon) so you can travel to Brussels.

The allure of the multi-cultural capital, Brussels, stems from its mix of political intrigue, artistic influence, historical significance, and a thriving social scene.

Kick off your visit on the 16th (Tue): see the interesting displays at Musical Instruments Museum (MIM), contemplate the long history of Grand Place, then don't miss a visit to Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, and finally take in the spiritual surroundings of St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral (Cathedrale St-Michel et Ste-Gudule). On the 17th (Wed), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: admire the masterpieces at Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, explore the world behind art at René Magritte Museum, then admire the masterpieces at Magritte Museum, and finally examine the collection at Atomium.

To see ratings, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Brussels vacation tool.

You can fly from Vienna to Brussels in 5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a train. In March, daily temperatures in Brussels can reach 10°C, while at night they dip to 1°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 17th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Bruges.

The medieval town of Bruges centers around a canal, and the architecture of its historical district has made it a World Heritage Site.

Kick off your visit on the 18th (Thu): pause for some serene contemplation at Church of Our Lady Bruges, get to know the fascinating history of The Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde, then sample the tasty concoctions at Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan, then admire the masterpieces at Groeningemuseum, and finally take in panoramic vistas at Belfry of Bruges. Keep things going the next day: see the interesting displays at Friet Museum, see the interesting displays at Choco-Story - The Chocolate Museum, then don't miss a visit to The Markt, and finally steep yourself in history at Historic Centre of Brugge.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, go to the Bruges trip planner.

Traveling by car from Brussels to Bruges takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In March, plan for daily highs up to 11°C, and evening lows to 2°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Fri) to allow enough time to take a train to Paris.

A beautiful and romantic city fit for any itinerary, Paris brims with historic associations and remains vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.

Your inner history buff will appreciate Eiffel Tower and Montmartre. For shopping fun, head to Le Marais or Champs-Elysees. Next up on the itinerary: admire the masterpieces at Louvre Museum, wander the streets of Île de la Cité, pause for some serene contemplation at Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre, and admire the landmark architecture of Arc de Triomphe.

To find ratings, more things to do, other places to visit, and other tourist information, you can read our Paris trip builder.

Take a train from Bruges to Paris in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or fly. In March, plan for daily highs up to 13°C, and evening lows to 3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Tue) so you can travel to Barcelona.

Barcelona, the country’s second-largest city, is a cosmopolitan urban center known for its throbbing youthful energy and stellar architecture.

Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Basilica of the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell. Your inner history buff will appreciate El Barri Gòtic and Barcelona Cathedral. Next up on the itinerary: stroll through Playa de La Barceloneta, browse the fresh offerings at La Boqueria, admire the masterpieces at Museu Picasso, and get to know the fascinating history of Las Ramblas.

To see traveler tips, reviews, maps, and other tourist information, use the Barcelona online trip maker.

Traveling by flight from Paris to Barcelona takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. Prepare for a bit warmer weather when traveling from Paris in March: high temperatures in Barcelona hover around 19°C and lows are around 9°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 26th (Fri) so you can travel to Rome.

Aptly nicknamed the Eternal City, Rome is the birthplace of the Roman Empire, one of the world's greatest civilizations ever.

You'll explore and learn at Vatican Museums and Stanze di Raffaello. Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Colosseum and Palatine Hill. There's still lots to do: contemplate the long history of St. Peter's Basilica, make a trip to Roman Forum, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Santa Maria della Vittoria, and appreciate the extensive heritage of Piazza Navona.

For more things to do, where to stay, other places to visit, and other tourist information, go to the Rome planning app.

Getting from Barcelona to Rome by flight takes about 5.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train. In March, plan for daily highs up to 19°C, and evening lows to 8°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 30th (Tue) early enough to take a train to Florence.

Considered a cultural, artistic, and architectural jewel of Italy, Florence is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.

Get some historical perspective at Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Basilica of Santa Croce. Florence Academy of Fine Arts and Pitti Palace will appeal to museum buffs. Step out of Florence to go to Santa Brigida and see Castello del Trebbio, which is approximately 36 minutes away. Next up on the itinerary: contemplate in the serene atmosphere at The Baptistery of St. John, ponder the world of politics at Palazzo Vecchio, take in panoramic vistas at Campanile di Giotto, and appreciate the extensive heritage of Piazza della Signoria.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, reviews, and more tourist information, read our Florence route planner.

You can take a train from Rome to Florence in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or fly. In March, daytime highs in Florence are 17°C, while nighttime lows are 6°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Fri) so you can drive to Venice.

Virtually unchanged for the last six centuries, Venice is actually a group of islands made famous by a series of canals, bridges, monuments, piazzas, and narrow pedestrian lanes.

Doge's Palace and Peggy Guggenheim Collection are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Popular historic sites such as Basilica di San Marco and Ponte dei Sospiri are in your itinerary. And it doesn't end there: explore the activities along Canal Grande, get to know the fascinating history of Piazza San Marco, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Chiesa di San Zaccaria, and pause for some serene contemplation at Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute.

For photos, maps, ratings, and more tourist information, read our Venice attractions planner.

Traveling by car from Florence to Venice takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In April, daily temperatures in Venice can reach 21°C, while at night they dip to 11°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 5th (Mon) so you can travel to Istanbul.

A physical and cultural bridge between Europe and Asia, the transcontinental city of Istanbul serves as a living reminder of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires.

Kick off your visit on the 6th (Tue): contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Little Hagia Sophia, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Sultan Ahmed Mosque, then admire the landmark architecture of Hagia Sophia, then admire the landmark architecture of Basilica Cistern, and finally hunt for treasures at Kapali Carsi. Keep things going the next day: admire the masterpieces at Chora Museum, then take an in-depth tour of Galata Tower, then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Suleymaniye Cami , and finally get engrossed in the history at Topkapi Palace.

To see reviews, maps, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Istanbul trip itinerary planning website.

Traveling by flight from Venice to Istanbul takes 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. The time zone difference when traveling from Venice to Istanbul is 2 hours. In April, plan for daily highs up to 20°C, and evening lows to 9°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Wed) so you can travel back home.