2022 Travel Guide to Europe

Europe continues to remain one of the most popular regions of the world for international travel, even through what has been a turbulent two years. Throughout it all, though, Europe continues to shine as a place for every type of traveler, from the rugged adventure-seeker to the culturally minded luxury traveler.

This year, Europe is expected to remain in its place of prominence. The UN World Tourism Organization found that five out of the world's ten most popular countries to visit in 2021 were located in Europe; the region itself has seen less of a decrease in tourism than any other region in the world except for the Americas, compared to 2019's pre-pandemic levels.

Read on to learn more about what will define European tourism in 2022.

European countries remain some of the strictest in terms of entry protocols. Several Scandinavian countries, for example, have not opened for international tourism since they closed their borders two years ago. Others have adapted their entry requirements as needed in order to facilitate entry for tourists. Many of these countries include those with high numbers of tourist activity, like Italy, Greece and France.

Entry requirements change often with the pandemic's changes, which might be frustrating or even frightening to those planning travel to these countries. It's important to stay up-to-date on entry requirement changes, so check out the U.S. State Department website, visit the country of choice's official tourism website or visit this interactive COVID-19 map that tracks current entry requirements around the globe. Our recommendation? No matter where you're headed, getting vaccinated is often the easiest way to ensure easy entry into a country.

Europe is home to incredibly popular destinations; it's hard to choose just three to showcase. In any case, there are three very important cities celebrating key milestones this year for their innovation and culture.

Novi Sad, Serbia is the first city in the country to be recognized as a European Capital of Culture by the European Union. This year, it joins two other cities in hosting cultural events that showcase the city's importance and culture. Novi Sad will feature a stunning 1,500 cultural events under its theme of "For New Bridges," tying together important themes like peace, multiculturalism and youth culture. Traditionally a city between two parts of Europe that have very different historical experiences, the "For New Bridges," theme hopes to bridge the gap between eastern and western Europe.

While it might not be the first European city that comes to mind, Novi Sad has plenty of beauty, culture, history and great food to discover. The city is located along the Danube River and welcomes river cruise travelers, too. Its Baroque, Neo-Renaissance, Classical and Bauhaus architectural styles make for gorgeous photo opportunities and make exploring the city's historical center a culturally enriching experience. Located nearby are wineries, small towns and charming farmsteads to discover.

The other two best destinations to visit in Europe have been designated by the EU as European Capitals of Smart Tourism. Bourdeaux, France has long been visited for its long tradition of growing and producing incredibly popular wines, but it's also at the forefront of more sustainable viniculture and accessibility for persons with disabilities. Bourdeaux is the largest UNESCO-listed area in the entire world, with 347 monuments to culture, history and architecture. The city has been investing in greener technologies and practices, including adding step-free trams and shuttle buses to allow for greater mobility for people with different mobility needs.

Travelers can enjoy visiting Bourdeaux via cruise ship, river cruise or by rail or air. Its gorgeous architecture, ranging from the Medieval to the ultra-modern, invites all who visit to wander and enjoy being in the city. It's a great destination for the more culturally- or historically-minded travelers, and especially for foodies.

In a similar way, our third best destination in Europe is a great place to discover both historic treasures and futuristic technologies. Valencia, Spain has been working with the local community to monitor for overtourism by using digital resources and representatives from the city. Its commitment to sustainability and its close ties with PREDIF (State Representative Platform of People with Physical Disability) has led to great strides in accessibility, with 52 tourist entities and businesses meeting PREDIF's inclusive tourism program standards.

Valencia is a popular Mediterranean cruise destination, with some cruises even departing from its port, but it can also be accessed via air or rail. The third-largest city in Spain offers three UNESCO World Heritage designations to discover: the Silk Exchange building, part of the important Silk Road during the Renaissance; El Tribunal de las Aguas, a court that has been presiding over issues of irrigation since the city's Roman occupation, which continues to meet under the Apostles Gate of the Cathedral of Valencia every Thursday; and the festival of Fallas, a multi-day fest in March that includes burning over 700 monuments created specifically for their destruction.

Attractions never cease in Europe, no matter what type of travelers you happen to be. The Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Big Ben in England, the Venice Canals in Italy and the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany are only some of the incredible attractions that are consistently penciled into bucket list trips. Our recommendation for 2022? Take part in a little responsible tourism and go off the beaten path a little and discover something that you haven't seen on social media yet. Whether that means foregoing the rush to see the Mona Lisa in favor of discovering the Louvre's other artistic treasures or taking a day trip to experience what a real small town in Europe is like is up to you.

This year is a massively important milestone year for European events. The Netherlands is hosting the once-in-a-decade Floriade Expo, the world's largest horticultural event, which will be showcasing the future of green cities, as well as the latest in horticultural advancements and knowledge.

Meanwhile, Oberammergau, Germany will be hosting its Passion Play, which it has been doing every decade since 1633, when the city was spared from an outbreak of the plague. It's been postponed for two years because of the new COVID-19 pandemic, but the residents of the town are committed to performing their play this year.

Both events will be held from spring through fall of this year, allowing many to visit and enjoy the events as their schedules allow. River cruises are offering specialty cruises with access to these events, too, making it even easier to integrate them into a larger trip.

Traveling as a family can be a rewarding and memorable experience for everyone involved. That being said, Europe is an awesome place to take your kids, your parents or your grandparents! A few shining stars include the U.K. and Italy.

The United Kingdom holds a whole host of fun activities and attractions for everyone to enjoy. Harry Potter fans can enjoy sightseeing at various filming locations, while grandparents can enjoy wandering around one or two of the many incredible museums with the kids as they learn about British and global history. Families can wander the heaths, hike to the Stonehenge or visit a few castles together.

Families visiting Italy can learn how to make delicious Italian cuisine together from a local chef, visit one of the country's many ancient ruins, like the Colosseum in Rome, and learn a few words in Italian. Older children and adults can appreciate the fine works of art in museums like Florence's Uffizi Gallery. Parents and grandparents can even teach their little ones how to ski in the Italian Alps.

Lovers taking a romantic vacation can enjoy plenty of opportunities for romance in Europe, though some cities shine brighter than others in this category. Prague, Czech Republic, Heidelberg, Germany and Bruges, Belgium consistently top the charts as some of Europe's most romantic cities.

Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and its architecture and connection to fine culture bring a certain romantic atmosphere to the city.

Heidelberg, on the other hand, is a city nestled within the fabled Black Forest of Germany. It offers a charming, smaller place to roam, but is no less romantic, with its Medieval castle, picturesque bridge and beautiful surrounding forests.

Another smaller destination is Bruges, Belgium. Home to delicious foods, including a history of chocolate-making, this canal-laden city is verdant, quaint and perfect for romantics.

Traveling with a group, either with extended family, as a friends trip or for a reunion vacation, can be a daunting task of balancing everyone's wants and desires for their trip. The best piece of advice before you travel with a group is to make sure everyone is on board with a specific, concrete destination in mind: let's say you and a few of your friends have all expressed a desire for a girls' trip to Tuscany. Well, since the destination is already agreed upon, it'll be a whole lot easier balancing everyone's ideas of what the vacation should entail. A less specific trip idea, like one to England, for instance, or even Europe, can be difficult because there are so many different places to visit within these places. Specificity within group travel is a must.

Either way, larger cities are going to be easier to visit because you can find everyone's preferred attractions there. Berlin, for example, has a great nightlife scene, but is also notable for its architecture and history, satisfying both the party-till-dawner and the history buff at the same time. London, Barcelona and Rome are much the same.

Traveling solo can be a bit frightening, especially for a solo female traveler. Much of Europe, though, is known to be quite safe, or at least safer than many of the U.S.'s largest cities. Switzerland is a great destination for solo travelers because it's home to incredible attractions both indoor and outdoor, and this country offers plenty of fun hostels or boutique hotels that can aid in making new friends. Budapest, Hungary is a great city destination because of its history, culture and fun nightlife scene, while Palma de Mallorca, the Spanish island, is great for history lovers wanting a more relaxing Spanish vacation. The island's city and small towns can easily be explored on one's own, and it offers a great blend of relaxing beaches and history and culture, as well as great food.

Much of Europe is renowned for its food, but cuisine differs wherever you go in Europe. Fans of seafood can enjoy places like Norway, Spain and Greece (or anywhere else along the Mediterranean or in Scandinavia, to be fair). Carb lovers will especially enjoy their time in Italy, Germany or France, while lovers of spicy food can look no further than eastern European countries like Serbia and Hungary. Chocolate lovers should flock to Belgium and Switzerland, while dairy fans can enjoy Switzerland's rich cheese heritage. Wherever you end up visiting in 2022, you'll find plenty of delicious local dishes to try and enjoy.

Adventure is a great reason to explore Europe; it's home to many different attractions for adventure-seekers, including the Alps, a score of gorgeous lakes and more. Lake Bled, Slovenia is a gorgeous alpine destination perfect for water-lovers or for adventure seekers who'd like to see a different, less touristy part of Europe, while Switzerland and its alps make for perfect winter activities and mountain climbing experiences. Another great adventure destination is Italy, which offers the Italian Alps and a whole host of adventurous experiences, with mountains, lakes, oceans and more.

Germany and the U.K. are some of the most popular destinations in Europe for sports enthusiasts, as are Italy and Spain. Why? Because of soccer, of course (or football, if you're anywhere else except the United States). Soccer is such an integral part of so many European countries' sports programs, and it's widely watched by millions around the globe. Teams such as Real Madrid, Arsenal and Bayern Munich are only some of the best of the best. Other countries also offer incredible sports opportunities, too. The U.K. offers polo and lacrosse; France is known for its cycling, and Germany and Italy are known for motorsports activities.

Europe is one of the first regions in the world to adopt Christianity, making it home to some of the oldest and most beautiful examples of Christian churches and cathedrals in the world. Religious travelers can trace the first Apostles' steps throughout regions like Italy, Greece and Spain; visit Avignon, France or the Vatican, both historically and religiously important places; and admire some of the most stunning examples of Gothic, Baroque and Classical architecture in cathedrals and monasteries throughout Europe. This region of the world is also notable for its works of art; in any European city, you'll be able to find at least one noteworthy museum showcasing some of the most influential works of art.