Europe Travel Tips

A journey through Europe can’t be described in a few words. Indeed, it’s a whole new world of many flavors, cultures, and architecture that reveals itself to the traveler as he roams around different countries. The European countries are for history and architecture buffs, for wine lovers and foodies, for fast cars enthusiasts and mountain hikers, and so much more. Between the museums and the volcano hikes, there are a million things to do and explore in Europe.

This page is a summary, aiming to present the best travel & dive destinations of Europe. To have more precise information on a particular country, please visit its unique page on Divezone!

In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to Europe:

Where to stay?

Wondering where to go in Europe? It is a hard choice for many globetrotters to decide where to travel when heading to the European continent. Sea or mountains? Nightlife or cultural discoveries? The good news is that most of Europe’s nations will offer both a stunning coastline to play along, incredible landscapes and lively cities.

Let’s narrow your choice down if you are a diver or a snorkeler! Here’s a short list of the countries which are both a great overall destination, and one to get your diving or snorkeling equipment ready!

• Greece: Whether you’re looking for a fancy vacation on Santorini, a historic tour of the Greek monuments, make room for some diving in Greece! It is all about clear waters and plenty of artefacts to explore into the blue.
• Iceland: The Silfra Fissure is among the best dive sites in the world, nothing more, nothing less. Plus, Iceland has amazing landscapes, fauna, and flora all around due to its unique geographical position.
• Portugal: This destination has so much to offer, plan a very minimum of 2 weeks there! The Algarve region and the Berlengas archipelago are the best mainland Portugal diving destinations. If you have extra time, head to either the offshore Madeira Islands or even the Azores. Plus, surfing just off small towns such as Peniche or Nazare is a great idea! Don’t forget to visit the Douro region to take in some great wine time!
• Spain: Spain has great watersports both on the mainland coast and on the Balearic Islands. Mostly, the Barcelona area and the Costa del Sol will surprise you! Of course, the offshore Canary Islands archipelago has world-renowned scuba diving to try!
• Italy: Besides eating pizza, pasta, and gelato, Italy is actually a great country for sporty travelers. Indeed, you can either find an ancient tower to hike up, a volcano to climb and always a nice spot to dive!
• Malta: This small island-nation, nestled in the Mediterranean Sea, has a beautiful culture to discover, with festive villages and charming people. Plus, the beaches and crystal clear waters will leave you stunned and wanting for more. Diving-wise, don’t miss on the Blue Hole of Gozo Island and the Blue Lagoon of Comino.
• France: After you are done living your best life in Paris or touring all the best vineyards, stop in the French Riviera for some beach, snorkeling and diving time!
• Ireland: The West Cork and Donegal region are both stunning places to try some temperate diving in Europe! Of course, Ireland has much more to offer, including great beers, an interesting folk culture, and overall amazing landscapes.
• Scotland: To be added.
• Croatia: To be added.

Activities and excursions in Europe

There are so many things to do in Europe… no place for boredom on this part of the earth! Of course, the activities to do will greatly vary depending on your destination, but here are some general features that are found in the vast majority of European nations.

• Castles & museums: Whether you are traveling in northern or southern Europe, there will be old, stone-walled or colorful, castles and fortresses to visit. As for museums, they range from history museums to modern art museums so the choice is yours!
• Historical/iconic monuments: Touring the landmarks of Europe would take a very long time as there are so many. Indeed, from the Eiffel Tower of France to the Parthenon of Greece, there’s much to be explored!
• Beer, Wine & food: Every country of Europe boasts a whole new culinary experience. Plus, vineyards and distilleries are institutions in Europe! Whether you like Portugal‘s port wine or that you fancy France‘s champagne, you’ll find your cup of… your glass of wine! Also, try the finest beers in Belgium, or the famous Guinness in Ireland!
• Mountains are everywhere, and spectacular in most of Europe’s countries. Plus, hiking or skiing, you’ll surely find a stunning view once on top!
• Beaches & Watersports: This might sound more like a Caribbean feature to you, but it’s a mistake! Indeed, Europe has its fair share of great beaches and crystal clear waters. Thus, how about diving & snorkeling in Europe? It’s a great activity to add to a trip and view Europe from a different angle! Plus, kayaking, paddleboarding, and surfing are very popular during the summer months in Europe!

 

Health and Safety

If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Europe, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

How to get to Europe?

Planning a trip to any of the European country? This should be fairly easy, regardless of where in the world you come from! Indeed, travelers from either North or South America, for example, have many direct flights options to choose from. Travelers from Australia and New-Zealand also have a great deal of air travel options.

Otherwise, coming from a neighboring country, or from within Europe? There is probably a train, connecting to another, that can take you to your dream European destination.

Do I need a visa for Europe?

Generally speaking, most of the European countries are part of the Schengen Area, which is the largest passport-free travel zone in the world. Indeed, the majority of the countries in Europe are part of the Schengen Agreement, a few are in the process of joining it still, while other have similar agreements without being part of it.

Moreover, citizens of a great number of countries in the world are allowed to roam around the Schengen Area for a certain amount of time. Your visa-free allowance of time varies depending on your country of origin.

Also, nationals of some countries automatically need to apply for a visa, either to enter a particular country or the Schengen zone. You can find out what situation applies to you on the Schengen Visa Informative Page.

Getting Around

Europe is a very convenient geographic zone to travel around. Indeed, the road, rail, water, and airways offer plenty of options to the traveler. First, the road sees long-distance coaches traveling within and between many European countries. As for the rail system, each country has it’s own, but most of them are interconnected. Plus, with the passport-free zone, which most countries are part of, it’s easy to get around Europe.

Secondly, traveling by boat is often a choice to consider as European countries such as Croatia, Italy and Greece have their fair share of islands. Some long-distance ferries also operate between various countries such as the ones who cross the Adriatic Sea.

Lastly, for medium and longer distances, taking a flight is often your best option, even budget-wise! In fact, there are low-cost airlines that criss-cross the European sky such as RyanAir, Vueling, Tui, and EasyJet. These are great to travel Europe on a budget, especially for the traveler that only has cabin luggage. Plus, it’s a huge time saver that allows you more time on each destination!

Europe Photos

Scuba diving

You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: Europe Diving