How to Plan Your European Holiday: A Step‑by‑Step Guide

When we started planning our European holiday, we knew we wanted to focus on charming villages and wine regions. Two areas stood out straight away — they’re close together, full of beautiful towns, and perfect for slow travel.

I didn’t know much about the Alsace region in France, so I dove into some research to see what it was all about. Half-timbered houses, canals, medieval history, cobblestone streets, markets — it sounded like a dream. We had to go.

Alsace, France

Base: Colmar (4 nights) Perfect for exploring wine routes, medieval villages, and fairytale scenery.

A guy I used to work with years ago was from Germany, and I remembered him saying his favourite place was the Black Forest region. I hadn’t thought much about it until this trip, but once I started researching, I realised it had everything we were looking for, including some stunning drives. It was a no-brainer — we were going.

Black Forest, Germany

Base: Gengenbach (3 nights) We chose it for its train access, relaxed feel, and beautiful old town.

Back in 2016, we drove through the Rockies in Canada — and it left us wanting more. What could possibly top that? The Alps in Europe. So for this trip, we set our sights on the French Alps, Switzerland, and the Austrian lake regions.

French Alps

We originally chose Chamonix, but ended up in Saint‑Gervais‑les‑Bains — quieter, charming, and still close to Mont Blanc. It gave us the alpine feel we wanted, without the crowds.

Switzerland

Our plan: Montreux → Interlaken → Lucerne Lucerne became our base for exploring central Switzerland, including Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald — both postcard-perfect and easy to reach by train

Austria

We researched the best lakes with small villages and fell in love with the Wolfgangsee region. It gave us options in all directions for daily exploring.

Base: Bad Ischl, perfectly located, slightly larger than some of the lakeside towns, and ideal for discovering the Salzkammergut lake district.

Everyone who’s been to Sicily seems to love it — the food, the grittiness, the history. You don’t get all of that in one region anywhere else quite like you do in Sicily.

Sicily is bigger than most people expect, so we narrowed it down to the most iconic and well-connected destinations — especially since we were travelling by train:

• Syracuse
• Taormina
• Cefalù
• Palermo

We considered adding more of the east and south, but it would’ve meant rushing and we would’ve needed a car. Italian driving wasn’t high on my agenda for this leg of the trip, so we kept it simple. Sticking to these four cities gave us the perfect balance of culture, coastline, and connection.

We flew in from Vienna — partly because the train views through Austria were supposed to be stunning, partly because we wanted to see an opera, and partly because the flight connections to Sicily were easy.

Mid‑August: Perfect for Alps and lakes
Late September: Ideal for Sicily — It was still warm but less crowded

We also checked for:

• European summer holiday dates
• Local festivals
• Major events
• Transport strikes

Everything looked good, so we locked in our dates: 11 August – 19 September 2025.

Before I even start planning a European holiday, I set up an Excel spreadsheet. It’s where I keep all my notes, ideas, and logistics in one place — and it’s incredibly helpful when planning your next trip too. You’ve already got a baseline, a rough budget, and a record of what worked last time. With a bit of tweaking, it can save you hours.

I also import a Word calendar for the months we’re travelling and block out our stays. Seeing the days laid out visually makes it so much easier to plan your route and spot any gaps or overlaps.

Here are the tabs I usually include (but you can customise it however you like):

• Accommodation

• Travel Days

• Transport (flights, trains, hire cars)

• Activities & Tours

• Budget (daily spend + accommodation)

• Packing List

It keeps everything organised, helps you stay on top of bookings, and makes sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Back in 2024, we flew with Qatar Airways, with a short layover in Doha. It worked — but sitting in an airport at 3 a.m. waiting for your connecting flight wasn’t exactly our idea of fun.

There are other halfway options, like two-stop layovers, but those can stretch your total travel time to up to 48 hours. That’s two full days of your European holiday gone before you’ve even arrived.

Let’s be honest — when you’re on holiday, you just want to get into your European adventure as quickly and smoothly as possible.

So this time, we opted for a proper stopover, and it made all the difference. It gave us:

• Arriving at your destination and feeling of actually being on holiday's

• A good night’s sleep before the shorter flight into Europe

• A chance to see somewhere new along the way

In 2024, Qatar was terrific to fly with — no complaints at all. But for this trip, we chose Emirates and added a stopover in Dubai. It was the perfect way to break up the long haul flight and we arrived refreshed.

Planning a European holiday doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Once you know the kind of trip you want — the pace, the regions, the experiences, the season — everything else starts to fall into place. Your wish list becomes clearer, your itinerary becomes more realistic, and the whole process becomes far more enjoyable. Europe really rewards travellers who slow down, choose meaningful bases, and give themselves time to explore properly instead of rushing from place to place.

Whether you’re dreaming of fairytale villages in Alsace, lakes and mountains in Switzerland, the charm of Austria, or the food and history of Sicily, the key is building a trip that feels right for you. With thoughtful planning, a bit of research, and a flexible mindset, you’ll create a holiday that’s memorable for all the right reasons — relaxed, inspiring, and full of the moments you’ll talk about for years.

At this point, your itinerary becomes more than just a plan. It becomes the beginning of your own way through Europe.