In this guide

1. Entry & Borders
2. Money
3. Staying Connected
4. Getting Around
5. Where to Land First
6. Country Guides

Entry & Borders

Most of the continent is one border zone: the Schengen area. Visa-exempt visitors — US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and other passport holders — can stay up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the whole zone. Days in each country add together, and leaving for the UK, Ireland, or another non-Schengen country pauses the count rather than resetting it.

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational since 10 April 2026. It replaces passport stamps: on your first crossing you give fingerprints and a facial photo, and your entries and exits are logged digitally. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip.

ETIAS is not in operation. There is no announced launch date and no applications are being taken — pay no site selling one.

The UK is outside Schengen with its own rules. Most visa-exempt visitors need a UK ETA before travel: £20, valid two years, up to six-month stays per visit, applied for via the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK. Allow up to three working days. British and Irish citizens are exempt.

Ireland is in the EU but outside Schengen, with its own entry rules. Visa-exempt visitors can stay up to 90 days, and time in Ireland does not count toward your Schengen 90 days. ETIAS does not apply to Ireland.

For Schengen, your passport generally must have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid at least 3 months past your planned departure. For the UK, it must be under 10 years old on arrival and valid 3 months after you leave. Entry rules vary by nationality — check the rules for yours before you go.

Money

Twenty-one countries use the euro, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Greece, Ireland, Finland, and — since 1 January 2026 — Bulgaria.

Outside the eurozone: the UK (pound sterling), Switzerland (Swiss franc), Denmark (Danish krone), Sweden (Swedish krona), Norway (Norwegian krone), Poland (Polish złoty), Czechia (Czech koruna), Hungary (Hungarian forint), Romania (Romanian leu), Iceland (Icelandic króna), and Turkey (Turkish lira).

Cards are widely accepted in most European cities, especially for hotels, restaurants, and larger shops. Carry cash for small purchases, markets, cafés, and public toilets — in Germany, Italy, and Greece especially, small places may be cash-only or set a card minimum.

Get local currency from a bank-owned ATM on arrival rather than a currency-exchange booth — the rate is usually better. Always choose to be charged in the local currency, not your home currency, and skip standalone ATMs with high fees in tourist areas.

Tipping is modest and optional. Check whether service is already included on the bill; if it isn't, rounding up or 5–10% for good service is plenty. There is no US-style 18–20% expectation, and tipping in cash is appreciated where card tips don't reach the server.

Staying Connected

The simplest setup for most visitors: buy a travel eSIM before you fly, install it on Wi-Fi at home, and switch it on when you land. Your phone must be unlocked and eSIM-compatible. Your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts.

A local prepaid SIM is usually cheaper per gigabyte for a long stay in one country, but in many European countries buying one means an in-shop ID check with your passport — Germany, Spain, Greece, and Slovakia all require it.

Roam Like at Home — using your home data allowance across the EU at no extra charge — applies to EU/EEA SIM holders only. It does not cover visitors on US, UK, Canadian, or other non-EU plans; check your home carrier's international rates before you rely on roaming.

Check the coverage list before buying any eSIM — regional plans differ on whether they include the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, and the Balkans.

Getting Around

Trains are the default for city-to-city travel across much of the continent. A multi-country rail pass (Eurail/Interrail) pays off when you're making many long-distance journeys, travelling flexibly, or booking late; on a fixed itinerary booked weeks ahead, point-to-point tickets are usually cheaper. Either way, high-speed trains usually need a separate seat reservation on top of the ticket or pass — budget roughly €10 or more per fast train.

Budget airlines and long-distance buses cover the gaps: island hops, routes trains don't serve, or trips where flying saves half a day.

In cities, most big systems now let you tap a contactless card or phone — tap in when you board and tap out when you exit. If you buy a paper ticket, validate (stamp) it before or as you board: an unvalidated ticket counts as fare evasion and draws a fine.

Where to Land First

• Paris — The classic first landing: a huge airport network and a metro that reaches everywhere.
• London — English-speaking, two of the world's busiest airports, and a fast Elizabeth line ride into the centre.
• Rome — A non-stop train from Fiumicino to Termini, then 28 centuries of history on foot.
• Lisbon — Compact and walkable, with a short hop from the airport to the centre.
• Madrid — A major hub with a metro that makes the first hour easy.
• Barcelona — Beach and city in one landing, with the centre a short ride from the airport.
• Amsterdam — A train straight into the centre and a compact city built for walking and cycling.
• Prague — A walkable old town where the first hour is almost entirely on foot.
• Athens — The gateway to the Greek islands, with ancient sights in the middle of a modern city.
• Dublin — English-speaking and compact, with its own entry rules outside Schengen.

Country Guides

Country-by-country landing pages are on the way — one page per country covering entry, money, SIM, and transport, linking down to the city guides. This hub is the starting point until they arrive.