Europe Tours: Discover Multi-Country Travel, River Cruises and Cultural Journeys
29th March 2026
🌄 Introduction
Europe is the natural next step after exploring Britain and Ireland, offering the opportunity to experience multiple countries, cultures, and iconic cities within a single journey.
Many travellers begin in England with world-famous landmarks such as Stonehenge, continue north into Scotland’s dramatic landscapes, and then extend their journey into mainland Europe—creating a rich and varied travel experience that combines history, scenery, and culture.
Europe is incredibly diverse, from world-famous cities and cultural landmarks to remote mountain regions, coastal landscapes, and rural countryside. Whether you are drawn to iconic destinations such as Paris and Rome or to scenic regions such as the Alps, river valleys, and historic villages, Europe offers a wide variety of travel experiences across different countries, climates, and cultures.
👉 This journey often begins with iconic experiences in Britain—including Stonehenge, historic cities, and coastal routes—before expanding into wider European exploration.
👉 For those looking for a more relaxed and scenic way to travel, Europe’s river cruises offer a unique alternative—combining multiple destinations with comfort, culture, and breathtaking landscapes.
Heidelberg’s historic old town, castle and river bridge, one of Europe’s most picturesque travel destinations
⭐ Europe Highlights at a Glance
- 🌍 Multiple countries in one journey
- 🏙️ Iconic cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, and Vienna
- 🏔️ Spectacular landscapes including the Alps and Rhine Valley
- 🏰 Castles, historic towns, and cultural landmarks
- 🚢 Scenic river cruises through the heart of Europe
- 🍷 Food, wine, and regional traditions
🚐 How to Explore Europe
Europe offers several distinct ways to travel, depending on how much you want to see and the pace you prefer.
👉 Europe can be explored in many different ways, including guided coach tours, rail journeys, and river cruises, each offering a different perspective on the continent.
👉 This builds naturally on travel experiences across Britain, where many visitors begin with guided journeys to places such as Stonehenge, the South West, and Scotland before extending into Europe.
🌍 Multi-Country Europe Tours
One of the most popular ways to experience Europe—especially for first-time visitors—is through multi-country tours.
These journeys are designed to maximise what you can see in a short period of time, connecting major cities, landscapes, and cultural highlights across several countries.
👉 Many travellers begin with a compact itinerary before returning to explore individual regions in more depth.
👉 This approach mirrors travel across Britain, where visitors often begin with highlights such as Stonehenge and Scotland before expanding into wider journeys.
Regional & Country-Based Europe Travel
For travellers looking to explore Europe at a more relaxed pace, regional tours offer the opportunity to experience individual countries and cultural areas in greater depth.
These journeys focus on:
- History and heritage
- Local culture and cuisine
- Scenic regions and countryside
- Slower, more immersive travel experiences
👉 Regions such as France, Italy, and Switzerland each offer distinct travel experiences—from cultural cities to countryside, vineyards, and coastal routes.
👉 Some itineraries also connect directly with Britain, including routes that cross the English Channel and explore northern France and the Channel Islands.
🚢 European River Cruises: A Unique Way to Explore Europe
For travellers looking for a more relaxed and immersive way to experience Europe, river cruises offer one of the most rewarding travel styles available.
Instead of travelling between destinations by road, river cruises allow you to move through the heart of Europe’s landscapes—connecting historic cities, cultural regions, and scenic countryside.
Popular routes include:
- The Danube
- The Rhine
- The Seine
- The Douro
👉 These routes offer access to some of Europe’s most scenic regions, from vineyard-covered valleys to historic capitals.
👉 River cruising also aligns closely with the growing demand for slower, more sustainable travel experiences.
Cruising the Danube through Budapest – one of Europe’s most iconic river journeys and a highlight of our European river cruises, where historic cities, culture, and scenery come together effortlessly
🌸 Easter Travel Across Europe & Beyond
Easter is one of the most popular and rewarding times to travel across Europe, with the arrival of spring bringing longer days, seasonal events, and a fresh atmosphere across many destinations.
From iconic cities such as Paris and Amsterdam to scenic regions, river cruise routes, and multi-country journeys, Easter offers an excellent opportunity to explore Europe before the peak summer season begins.
It is also a high-demand travel period, particularly for guided tours and key experiences. Travellers combining Britain with Europe often begin with destinations such as Stonehenge, Scotland, or the South Coast before continuing into mainland Europe.
👉 Explore our full Easter travel guide across Britain and Ireland:
🏰 Legends, Myth & Europe: Arthur, Merlin and Beyond
Europe is not only defined by its landscapes and cities, but also by its deep layers of mythology and legend.
Many travellers first encounter these stories in Britain—through the legends of King Arthur, Merlin, and sites such as Tintagel and Stonehenge.
👉 As explored in our Arthur and Merlin blogs, these stories do not stop at Britain’s borders.
Across Europe, similar traditions and mythologies continue:
- Celtic and early medieval legends across France and Brittany
- Ancient folklore tied to forests, mountains, and rivers
- Historic sites and landscapes connected to early European history
👉 Regions such as northern France—particularly Normandy and Brittany—are closely linked to the wider Arthurian world, making them a natural continuation of journeys that begin in Cornwall and southern England.
👉 This creates a powerful narrative route:
Cornwall → Stonehenge → Scotland → Northern France → Europe
👉 Future guides will explore these connections in more detail, linking mythology, landscape, and travel routes across Europe.
🌍 Popular Europe Routes
Europe’s compact geography makes it easy to connect multiple destinations into a single journey.
Popular routes include:
- France → Switzerland → Italy
- Germany → Austria → Hungary
- Netherlands → Germany → Switzerland → France
- UK → France → wider Europe
👉 These routes allow travellers to combine iconic cities, scenic landscapes, and cultural regions within a single itinerary.
👉 Many journeys begin in Britain—visiting destinations such as Stonehenge, the South West, or Scotland—before continuing into Europe.
🔗 From Britain to Europe: Extending Your Journey
One of the most rewarding ways to explore Europe is by combining it with a wider journey across Britain and Ireland.
You might begin with:
- Stonehenge and southern England
- Coastal regions such as Cornwall and the Jurassic Coast
- Scotland and the Highlands
- Maritime destinations such as Portsmouth
- Scandinavia and the Nordic Fforde
- River Thames, London and beyond
If Scotland is part of your journey, our Scotland travel guide highlights the country’s finest Highlands, islands and cities to help you make the most of your time before continuing across Europe.
👉 Along the South Coast, destinations such as Portland are also becoming increasingly important as gateways—particularly for travellers connecting coastal routes with inland highlights such as Stonehenge and onward journeys into Europe.
👉 This creates a seamless travel experience linking Britain and mainland Europe.
The Lofoten Islands in Norway – dramatic fjords, traditional fishing villages and pristine coastal landscapes, a highlight of northern Europe tours and scenic expedition journeys
🌿 Europe & Sustainable Travel
Europe is well suited to sustainable and slower travel.
Short distances, efficient transport networks, and well-developed travel routes make it possible to explore multiple regions with less environmental impact.
👉 Europe connects naturally with wider sustainable travel themes across Britain, including:
🧭 Building a Wider Travel Experience
Europe is part of a much broader journey across Britain and Ireland.
You may choose to combine:
- Historic England and Stonehenge
- Arthurian locations in Cornwall
- Coastal and maritime destinations
- Scotland and the Highlands
- Ireland and island routes
- Tour de France
⭐ Popular Europe Tours & River Cruises
Here is a selection of some of our most popular Europe tours and River Cruises, offering a range of travel styles from multi-country journeys to immersive regional experiences and scenic river cruises.
✨ 7 Day – Scenic Portugal Tour (Featured)
Discover the best of Portugal on this 7-day scenic journey, combining historic cities, cultural highlights, and beautiful landscapes. From Lisbon and Porto to Coimbra and Fátima, this tour takes you through medieval towns, riverside settings, and iconic landmarks, offering a rich and immersive travel experience. With expert guidance, comfortable accommodation, and a relaxed pace, it’s an ideal way to explore southern Europe — especially during the warmer spring and Easter season.
🧭 7 Day – 5 Countries Best of Europe Tour
An ideal introduction to Europe, this popular 7-day journey connects some of the continent’s most iconic destinations in one seamless itinerary. Travelling from Amsterdam to Paris, you’ll experience the canals of the Netherlands, the historic cities of Germany, the dramatic scenery of Switzerland, and the cultural highlights of France. With a scenic Rhine River cruise, views of the Swiss Alps, and time to explore world-famous landmarks, it’s a compact yet comprehensive way to experience Europe.
🚍 12 Day – European Experience Tour
For travellers looking to see more of Europe in one trip, this 12-day journey explores a wide range of iconic destinations across multiple countries. Beginning in London and ending in Amsterdam, it takes you through France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands, combining major cities with scenic landscapes and cultural highlights for a well-rounded European experience.
🏝️ 12 Day – Channel Islands & Northern France Tour
This immersive journey links Britain with northern France and the Channel Islands, creating a unique and varied travel experience. Exploring Normandy, Brittany, and the Loire Valley alongside Guernsey, Jersey, and Sark, the tour combines coastal scenery, historic towns, and cultural landmarks — including Mont Saint-Michel and medieval walled cities.
🍷 8 Day – Burgundy & Provence Boutique River Cruise
This elegant river cruise through southern France offers a relaxed and immersive way to explore Europe. Travelling along the Rhône, the journey connects historic cities, vineyards, and cultural landmarks, with guided excursions and regional cuisine creating a refined and memorable travel experience.
🚢 8 Day – Douro Valley River Cruise (Portugal & Spain)
Sailing through one of Europe’s most scenic wine regions, this Douro Valley cruise combines dramatic landscapes, historic towns, and cultural experiences. From Porto to the Spanish border, the journey blends beautiful river scenery with local gastronomy and tradition for a rich and rewarding experience.
🚢🏰 10 Day – Imperial Danube River Cruise & Prague
This unforgettable journey combines Danube river cruising with time in Prague, linking historic capitals, scenic landscapes, and cultural highlights. With a balance of guided exploration and relaxed travel, it offers one of the most rewarding ways to experience Central Europe.
🚀 Plan Your Europe Trip with Best Value Tours
Europe offers one of the most diverse and rewarding travel experiences in the world—from multi-country adventures and cultural journeys to scenic river cruises and iconic destinations.
At Best Value Tours, we offer a wide range of Europe tours designed to suit every style of travel.
Need Help Planning Your Trip?
Our friendly and knowledgeable team is here to help with your travel plans and any questions you may have. With over 40 years’ experience, we’re always happy to guide you — whether you’re choosing the right tour, planning something specific, or simply looking for advice.
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+44 (0)20 7170 5878
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This is just the beginning — we’ll continue to explore how travel can become more sustainable, one destination at a time.
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