This is my sixth year doing Euro summer. Not sixth trip, sixth year. Every single summer since I moved to Dubai I have packed a bag, gotten on a plane and spent weeks travelling across Europe solo. I have been to 20 European countries, walked through ancient cities, eaten my way through markets, navigated trains and buses in languages I don’t speak, and come home every single time with the best memories of my life.

So when I say this is a comprehensive guide, I mean it. This is everything: how to get your Schengen visa, how to plan your route, what to budget, which cities to visit, how to navigate each one, and the things I genuinely wish someone had told me before my very first Euro summer. Whether this is your first time or your fifth, there’s something here for you.

Let’s get into it.

Step 1: The Schengen Visa: Get This First, Everything Else Comes After

Here is the most important thing I want you to take away from this entire guide: Euro summer is one of those trips you plan backwards. The visa comes first, not the hotels, not the flights, the visa. Everything else depends on it.

I have been saying this for years and I still see people leaving their Schengen visa application too late and missing their summer window entirely. Embassy appointment slots fill up fast, especially between March and June when everyone is applying for summer travel. By the time you try to book in May for a July trip, slots are often gone weeks out. Start in March, April at the absolute latest.

What the Schengen Visa Actually Gives You

A Schengen visa is one visa that gives you access to 29 countries. France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Croatia, Slovenia; all on one visa. Most people apply for one trip and use it for one country. That is leaving so much on the table. Plan your route properly and one visa becomes your entire summer.

Which Country Should You Apply Through?

Apply through the embassy of the country where you will spend the most nights. If you’re doing a multi-country trip, apply through your first port of entry or the country where you’ll spend the most time. Sweden, Iceland, and the Netherlands are generally known to be more generous with visa duration. If you are not able to find appointment dates in your preferred country, choose a country that has available appointment but make sure you enter through the country and spend the most time there.

How to Get a Longer Duration Visa

• Get 1-year travel insurance, the embassy sometimes matches your visa duration to your insurance
• Write an itinerary letter showing multiple planned trips across 12 months
• Book dummy flights and hotels for every trip you list
• Present your finances clearly, poor explanation is the number one reason for rejection
• Show strong ties to your home country, employment letter, lease agreement, owned property

For the full breakdown of how I’ve gotten a 1-year Schengen visa twice, including the exact itinerary letter template, check out my complete guide here. And if you need the letter templates themselves, the exact documents that helped me get approved, they’re available in my Schengen Visa Letter Templates Pack, get it here.

Step 2: How I Plan a Solo Euro Summer Trip from Scratch

This is my exact planning process. Six years in, this is what works.

1. Follow the Map

Before I even look at flights, I open Google Maps and plan my route geographically. This is something I call following the map and it is genuinely one of the best planning system I have found. Pick one city you definitely want to visit, then look at what’s around it. You’ll be surprised how many incredible places are just a bus ride or a short flight away.

A practical example: I knew I wanted to visit Slovenia, so I opened Google Maps and saw that Zagreb in Croatia was a 2-hour bus ride from Ljubljana, Slovenia. From there I saw Croatia’s coastline, then checked what was closest for shopping: Italy, Barcelona, or Paris and found Rome was a 1-hour flight from Split. That’s how my Euro summer 2025 route was built from one starting point.

Use Google Maps and Trainline together, Trainline shows you all the train and bus routes between cities with pricing. You build your route around what’s geographically sensible rather than flying back and forth across the continent.

2. Book Flights First, Not Hotels

I used to book hotels before flights and it cost me. Book your flights first, always. Some airlines only fly certain routes on specific days of the week. Your flight schedule often determines how long you spend in each city. Once you have your flights locked in, then book accommodation around those dates.

• I use Skyscanner to compare routes and prices across all airlines
• Book directly with the airline once you’ve found the best price
• Book early: summer is peak season and flight prices go up fast
• I booked my August flights in February, prices were significantly lower

3. Accommodation: City Centre Every Time

I always stay in the city centre, I am a city girl through and through. Yes, you might pay slightly more. But you save massively on transport, you can walk everywhere, and your experience of the city is completely different when you’re in the middle of it rather than commuting in from the outskirts.

• I use Booking.com and Airbnb for all accommodation
• If travelling solo, read every review before booking, safety first
• Stay in the city centre, transport savings offset the extra hotel cost
• Summer books out fast, secure accommodation as soon as flights are confirmed

🔍 Explore Hotels

4. Build Your Itinerary City by City

Once flights and accommodation are booked, I build my itinerary. I use TikTok as my go-to app for activities, search any city and filter to recent videos and you’ll find the most current, real recommendations from people who have actually been there. Google is great for logistics, TikTok is great for ‘what is actually worth doing.’

Step 3: My Top Euro Summer Destinations: Ranked & Reviewed

I have now visited 20 European cities and done this every summer for 6 years. These are my honest rankings, not based on what’s popular, but based on what I actually experienced as a solo black female traveller doing Euro summer.

1. Barcelona, Spain 🇪🇸  The Ultimate Euro Summer City

Barcelona is number one for a reason, Beach and city in one place. The architecture: Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, is unlike anything else in Europe. The food scene is incredible. The nightlife goes until sunrise. And the energy of Barcelona in summer is something that genuinely stays with you long after you leave.

It is also incredibly solo-travel friendly. The city is walkable, safe in tourist areas, and there are people everywhere at every hour, you will never feel alone. I took a 5-day solo trip and had an absolute blast. The only thing to watch out for is pickpocketing in tourist areas, keep your bag in front of you and stay aware of your surroundings.

• Days needed: 4–5 days minimum
• Best area to stay: Gothic Quarter or Eixample; both central and walkable
• Must visit: Sagrada Família (book tickets in advance!), Park Güell, La Barceloneta beach, La Boqueria market, Colom Restuarant
• Best time: May to September

2. London, UK 🇬🇧 Non-Schengen but Non-Negotiable

Technically not a Schengen destination but I will always put London on a Euro summer list because London in summer is a completely different city. The parks come alive, the energy is electric, the food scene is at its peak, and the streets are full of the most diverse mix of people you’ll ever see. It is the city I keep going back to.

If you already have a UK visa or don’t need 1, pair it with your Schengen trip. London to Paris on the Eurostar is 2.5 hours. London to Amsterdam is a short flight. It slots perfectly into a bigger Euro summer route.

• Days needed: 4–6 days, London rewards time
• Best area to stay: Zone 1 or 2: Westminster, Shoreditch, Chelsea or Battersea
• Must visit: Borough Market, Hyde Park, the South Bank, Notting Hill, Brixton Market, Oxford street
• Best time: June to August,  London summer is genuinely special
• Free things: Most major museums are free: V&A, Natural History Museum, British Museum

3. Croatia 🇭🇷  Best Value Summer Destination in Europe

Croatia has earned its reputation and then some. The water is genuinely crystal clear, photos do not exaggerate it. The old towns are UNESCO-listed and stunning. And compared to Western Europe, it is significantly more affordable. Your money goes further here than almost anywhere else in Europe in summer.

The key to Croatia is understanding that it’s not one city, it’s a whole coastline. Zagreb is the underrated capital, Dubrovnik is the famous one, but Split is the gateway to the islands and honestly one of my favourite spots in Europe. From Split you can island-hop to Hvar, Brač, and Vis, all in a day.

• Days needed: 5–7 days to do it properly
• Recommended route: Zagreb (2–3 days) → Split (3 days) → Islands (2–3 days)
• Must visit: Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Plitvice Lakes, Hvar island
• Best time: June to September

4. Slovenia 🇸🇮 Europe’s Best Kept Secret

Slovenia is the answer to the question ‘where in Europe hasn’t been completely taken over by tourists yet?’ Lake Bled in summer looks like something a computer generated, the greenest water, mountains in the background, a church on an island in the middle of the lake. It is real and it is breathtaking.

Ljubljana, the capital, is small, walkable, and completely charming. You can see the whole city in two days. It’s safe, the food is good, and the pace is completely different to the chaos of Barcelona or Paris. It’s the perfect quiet stop on a bigger route.

• Days needed: 3–4 days
• Must visit: Lake Bled (non-negotiable), Ljubljana old town, Lake Bohinj
• Getting there: Easy bus connection from Zagreb; 2 hours
• Budget tip: Significantly cheaper than Western Europe

5. Amsterdam, Netherlands 🇳🇱  The Easiest Solo City in Europe

Amsterdam is one of the easiest cities to navigate solo in all of Europe and in summer it is genuinely one of the most beautiful. The canals, the open-air markets, the long summer evenings where it stays bright until 10pm, the city has a completely different energy to any other time of year.

Everything is walkable or cyclable. The public transport is excellent. English is spoken everywhere. And the Dutch are very welcoming and straightforward people, you will never struggle to get help or directions. For a first-time solo traveller in Europe, Amsterdam is a perfect starting city.

• Days needed: 3–4 days
• Must visit: Jordaan neighbourhood, Vondelpark, Anne Frank House (book in advance!), flower market
• Best area to stay: Jordaan or near Leidseplein:  central and beautiful
• Getting there from UK: 45-min flight or 3.5-hour Eurostar from London
• Visa: Schengen ✅

6. Luxembourg 🇱🇺 The Most Underrated Stop in Europe

Most people sleep on Luxembourg and I genuinely do not understand why. It is quietly one of the most beautiful summer stops in Europe. The old town is UNESCO-listed, the views from the Bock Casemates are stunning, the grass is impossibly green, and the air is crisp even in summer. It doesn’t feel like Europe..

Here’s the practical magic: public transport is completely free. Every bus, every train, every tram, free. You can hop on and explore neighbouring areas without spending a single dollar on getting around. It sits between France, Germany, and Belgium, so it slots perfectly into any bigger route. Paris is 2 hours away. Brussels is 3 hours. Frankfurt is 4 hours.

You only need 3 days here, which makes it the perfect quiet stop between bigger cities. And because almost nobody talks about it yet, you won’t be fighting through crowds to see anything. Go before it gets popular.

• Days needed: 2–3 days
• Must visit: Old Town (UNESCO), Bock Casemates, Vianden Castle day trip
• Transport: Completely free, just get on any bus or train
• Best for: A calm, beautiful stop between Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam
• Visa: Schengen ✅

Step 4: How to Navigate Each City Like a Local

Getting Between Cities

This is where a lot of first-timers get it wrong. You don’t need to fly between every city in Europe, in fact, trains and buses are often faster, cheaper, and much less stressful when you factor in airport time.

Route	Best Way	Duration	Approx Cost
London → Paris	Eurostar	2.5 hrs	£50–120 booked early
Paris → Brussels	Thalys train	1.5 hrs	€30–60
Brussels → Amsterdam	Train	2 hrs	€30–50
Amsterdam → Luxembourg	Train	3.5 hrs	€40–60
Luxembourg → Paris	Train	2 hrs	€30–60
Ljubljana → Zagreb	Flix Bus	2 hrs	€10–20
Zagreb → Split	Flix Bus	4 hrs	€15–25
Split → Rome	Flight	1 hr	€30–80

• Use Trainline or Flix Bus for all European train and bus routes, it shows everything in one place
• Use Skyscanner for flights between cities where trains aren’t practical
• Book trains in advance, prices go up significantly closer to travel date

Getting Around Within Each City

Every city has its own transport system but the principles are the same:

• Google maps works to navigate most european cities 
• Get a day pass once you land in a city, works on buses, trains and saves you money
• You can tap your phone and pay with apple or google pay in top cities like London, Barcelona, Paris
• Walk when you can, European city centres are designed to be walkable
• Use Bolt, Uber or Freenow for late nights, cheaper and safer than random taxis
• In Amsterdam and other flat cities, rent a bike, it’s the local way
• In Luxembourg,  everything is free, just get on any bus

Step 5: Euro Summer Budget Breakdown: What It Actually Costs

Let me be honest with you: summer in Europe is not cheap. Prices spike across everything: flights, hotels, restaurants, activities, it only happens 3 months in a year so yeah. Anyone who tells you Euro summer can be done on a budget is either staying in hostels or not being real with you. Here’s what a mid-range solo Euro summer trip actually costs.

Category	Per Day Estimate	Notes
Accommodation	$100–250/night	City centre hotel or good Airbnb
Food & drinks	$50–150/day	Mix of markets, cafes, restaurants
Local transport	$10–20/day	Trains, buses, metro. Luxembourg is free
Activities	$20–50/day	Attractions, tours, day trips
Shopping	Budget separately	Depends entirely on you, lol
Inter-city travel	$30–100 per journey	Trains and buses, book early
Schengen visa	$100–200	One-time cost
Travel insurance	$100–200	Get 1-year cover for visa purposes

For a 2-week solo Euro summer trip covering 3–4 countries, budget approximately $4,000–6,000 all in. This is a realistic mid-range figure that accounts for good accommodation, eating well, doing activities, and not stressing about every purchase. It can be lower or higher than this, it is ultimately up to you.

My biggest tip: have more money than you think you need. Budget for your trip and then add a buffer on top. Summer prices are unpredictable and you don’t want to miss an experience because you didn’t plan for it financially.

• Book flights in January/February for August, prices are significantly lower
• Book accommodation as soon as flights are confirmed, summer sells out fast
• Eat at markets and local spots for lunch, treat yourself for dinner
• City tourist cards are often worth it, cover transport and major attractions

Step 6: Is Europe Safe for Solo Female Travellers? My Honest Answer

I have traveled solo across Europe for 5 years, different countries, different seasons. This is not something I read online, this is coming from my personal experience as a black woman navigating these cities alone.

The honest answer is yes, Europe is largely very safe for solo female travellers, especially in summer. Countries like Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Croatia, and the Nordic countries are consistently some of the safest places to travel alone as a woman. I have walked around at night, taken public transport alone, eaten at restaurants by myself, and never once felt unsafe in most of these places.

But here is the part nobody says: certain cities have areas and situations you need to be aware of. Barcelona, Rome, and Paris are incredible but they also have pickpocketing hotspots and areas that get sketchy at night. Being safe in Europe is less about the continent and more about being security-conscious, knowing your surroundings, and not being careless with your belongings.

Practical Safety Tips

• Share your location with someone at home, always
• Stick to well-lit, busy streets at night, trust your gut always
• Keep your bag in front of you in crowded tourist areas, pickpocketing is common in Barcelona, London, Paris, and Rome
• Research the specific neighbourhood you’re staying in before you arrive, not when you land
• Use Bolt or Uber rather than street taxis, especially at night
• Avoid displaying expensive items, phones, jewellery, cameras
• Have emergency numbers saved: local police, your country’s embassy, your bank

Europe is waiting for you and you absolutely can do this alone. I have done it every year for 6 years and it has given me some of the best experiences of my life. The intimidation you feel before your first solo trip goes away the moment you land.

Step 7: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before My First Euro Summer

This is the section I wish had existed when I was planning my first Euro summer. Six years and 15 countries later, here is everything I know.

• Apply for your Schengen visa earlier than you think you need to. March/April. Not May. Not June. The appointment slots fill up fast in summer and if you leave it too late you will miss your travel window entirely.
• Pack less than you think you need. I overpacked on my first trip and I regretted every single extra item. You will be walking a lot, moving between cities, and sweating in the summer heat. A carry-on only will genuinely change your experience. If you need to check in a bag, pay for it, but pack light.
• Not every popular destination lives up to the hype in peak summer. Some of the most beautiful places I’ve visited were the ones nobody was talking about, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Zagreb. Do not just follow the crowd.
• Have more money than you think you need. Summer in Europe is expensive and prices spike across everything. Know your numbers before you land so nothing catches you off guard.
• Book everything early. I mean everything. Flights, accommodation, restaurant reservations, attraction tickets. Summer is peak season and the best options go fast. The people getting the best deals booked in January or February.
• Your Schengen visa covers multiple countries, use it! One visa, 29 countries. Plan your route to maximise every day you’re there.
• Dont overpack your itinerary, doing 10 countries in 2 weeks sounds fun in theory but not practical, you end up tired and breezing through cities without experiencing them, pace yourself, slow travel and enjoy the moment
• Trust yourself. Solo travel in Europe as a black woman can feel intimidating the first time. But I walked those streets, figured it out, and came home with the best experiences of my life. You can do this.

Sample Euro Summer Itineraries

Route 1: Classic Euro Summer,  2 Weeks, 4 Countries

Days	City	What to Do
Days 1–4	Paris, France	Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Montmartre, Seine river cruise, street food
Days 5–7	Brussels, Belgium	Grand Place, Atomium, waffles, day trip to Bruges
Days 8–9	Luxembourg	Old Town, Bock Casemates, Vianden Castle day trip — free transport
Days 10–13	Amsterdam, Netherlands	Canals, Jordaan, Anne Frank House, Vondelpark, day trip to Haarlem

Route 2: Hidden Gems Route, 2 Weeks, 4 Countries

Days	City	What to Do
Days 1–3	Ljubljana, Slovenia	Old town castle, Metelkova, day trip to Postojna caves
Day 4	Lake Bled, Slovenia	Lake Bled, this is worth an entire day, nothing else needed
Days 5–6	Zagreb, Croatia	Upper Town, Dolac Market, Museum of Broken Relationships
Days 7–9	Split, Croatia	Diocletian’s Palace, Marjan Hill, Hvar island day trip
Days 10–11	Rome, Italy	Colosseum, Vatican, Trastevere, gelato every single day

Route 3: Long Weekend Hop, 10 Days, 3 Countries

Days	City	What to Do
Days 1–3	London, UK	Borough Market, parks, South Bank, day trips, nightlife
Days 4–5	Paris, France	Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Marais neighbourhood, rooftop bars
Days 6–7	Luxembourg	Old Town, free transport, peaceful and beautiful
Days 8–10	Amsterdam, Netherlands	Canals, markets, museums, cycling, long summer evenings

Frequently Asked Questions About Euro Summer

When is the best time to visit Europe in summer?

June and September are the sweet spots. The weather is still great, prices are lower than peak July/August, and the crowds are more manageable. July and August are the most expensive months and the most crowded, especially in Barcelona, Paris, and Croatia’s coastline.

How much money do I need for a 2-week Euro summer trip?

Budget $4,000–6,000 for a comfortable 2-week mid-range trip covering 3–4 countries. This includes flights, accommodation, food, transport, and activities. Always add a buffer on top of your budget, summer prices are unpredictable.

Do I need a Schengen visa for every country?

No, one Schengen visa covers 29 countries. France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Greece and more are all included. The UK is not in the Schengen zone so requires a separate visa.

Is Euro summer doable on a budget?

It’s doable on a tighter budget if you stay in hostels, eat at markets rather than restaurants, and use slow travel (trains and buses) rather than flying. But be realistic,summer is peak season and prices are higher across the board. If you are on a budget, travel in shoulder months: May, September, its not the same experience but its more affordable.

What is the easiest European city for a first-time solo traveller?

Amsterdam. It’s safe, incredibly easy to navigate, English is spoken everywhere, and the public transport is excellent. It’s also walkable and compact enough that you won’t feel overwhelmed. Luxembourg is a close second for the same reasons.

Final Thoughts: Just Go

Summer is one of my best travel seasons of the year, I look forward to it all year. The first time I landed in Europe solo, I was nervous, I overpacked, I didn’t know what I was doing, and I came home completely exhausted but happy. Six years and 15 countries later, it’s the trip I plan for every single year.

You don’t need to have everything figured out. You need your visa, a rough plan, and the willingness to figure the rest out as you go. Europe is one of the most well-connected, well-signposted, and traveller-friendly continents in the world. You will not get lost, and even if you do, you’ll find your way.

Start with the visa. Then follow the map. The rest will fall into place.

If you have any questions, about the visa, specific cities, budget, anything, let’s connect on Instagram @travelwithibii. I’ve done this enough times that there isn’t much I haven’t encountered. And share this with someone who is planning their first Euro summer, they need this guide.

Till your next read, Ibi.