Europe in 8 Days: 4 Recommended 8-day Itineraries to Europe
Europe 8-day itinerary options
Need some inspiration on how to travel Europe in 8 days? Below we’ve compiled a list of 8-day Europe itinerary ideas.
Itinerary #1: Vistas of France, Italy and the Netherlands
| Overview | Activity | Overnight | |
| Day 1 | Visit a cheese and clog-making workshop in Amsterdam then take an evening canal cruise. | City sightseeing | Amsterdam |
| Day 2 | Do a vineyard tour in Boppard and then take a Rhine Valley riverboat cruise. | Cruise | Rhine valley |
| Day 3 | Admire tall church steeples in Albert Einstein’s hometown then take an Innsbruck city tour. | City sightseeing | Innsbruck |
| Day 4 | Visit Romeo and Juliet’s balcony in Verona then take a gondola canal cruise in Venice. | Gondola ride | Venice |
| Day 5 | Travel to Lucerne to tour the city and take a cruise on its majestic alpine lake. | Cruise | Lucerne |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Dijon and tour the charming capital of the French region of Burgundy. | Exploration | Dijon |
| Day 7 | Travel to Paris to visit the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre. | City sightseeing | Paris |
| Day 8 | A trip to Brussels to visit the Atomium and drink Belgian beer. | Departure |
Keen to cross a bunch of countries off your travel list? This whirlwind 8 days in Europe itinerary lets you do just that. In one action-packed tour, you’ll visit seven fabulous Western European nations. Rather than simply hopping between the capitals, this trip takes you to some lesser-known smaller towns to provide a tantalizing glimpse of rural Europe. Big-name highlights like Paris, Venice, and Amsterdam make for a well-rounded itinerary. If you want to see as much as possible quickly, this is the best way to spend 8 days in Europe. See all 8-day Europe tours.
Itinerary #2: Castles, Canals, and City Lights
| Overview | Activity | Overnight | |
| Day 1 | Arrive in Rome and tour the city’s markets and labyrinthine lanes. | City sightseeing | Rome |
| Day 2 | Visit the Coliseum, then go to Vatican City to see St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. | Cultural sightseeing | Rome |
| Day 3 | Stop for lunch in a Tuscan castle then visit Florence’s Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. | City sightseeing | Florence |
| Day 4 | Travel to Venice to visit St. Mark's Square and cruise the canals in a gondola. | Gondola ride | Venice |
| Day 5 | Travel via the Italian Lakes District to Lucerne to see Chapel Bridge and the Lion Monument. | Exploration | Venice |
| Day 6 | Visit the vineyards of Burgundy and travel to Paris for a Seine River cruise. | Sightseeing | Paris |
| Day 7 | Explore Parisian highlights like the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, and Arc de Triomphe. | City sightseeing | Paris |
| Day 8 | Visit more Parisian attractions and take a day trip to the Palace of Versailles. | Departure |
Savor the best bits of Italy, Switzerland, and France on this awesome 8-day Europe tour. This fast-paced trip whisks you between Western Europe's most iconic landmarks, from the Roman Coliseum to Venetian canals and the Palace of Versailles to the Eiffel Tower. You’ll also admire a plethora of picturesque rural places, including Burgundy wine-growing valleys and sparkling Swiss Alps lakes. If you’d like to explore France and Italy in-depth (with a quick stopover in Switzerland), this 8-day European itinerary is for you. See all Europe holiday packages.
Itinerary #3: Britain and Ireland Exploration
| Overview | Activity | Overnight | |
| Day 1 | Visit Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon before moving onto Yorke. | Arrival | York |
| Day 2 | Pass sheep-strewn pastures and crumbling castles en-route to the Lake District. | Exploration | Lake District |
| Day 3 | Travel to Edinburgh and spend the day exploring Scotland’s stunning capital. | City sightseeing | Edinburgh |
| Day 4 | Take a road trip along the Ayrshire coast then hop on a ferry to Ireland and explore Belfast. | Road trip | Belfast |
| Day 5 | Visit Dublin’s Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Cathedral then have a pint on Temple Street. | City sightseeing | Dublin |
| Day 6 | Admire Kilkenny’s 12th-century castle then visit the Waterford Crystal Showroom. | Historical exploration | Kilkenny |
| Day 7 | Cross the St. George’s Channel into Wales and explore Cardiff’s castles and museums. | Historical exploratoon | Cardiff |
| Day 8 | Take a bath in Bath then visit the Royal Castle in Windsor before returning to London. | City sightseeing |
Looking to experience the UK and Ireland in one trip? This once-in-a-lifetime adventure is ideal for anglophiles. You’ll see the birthplace of Shakespeare, sweeping Lakes District vistas, magnificent royal castles, and the vibrant capitals of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. The trip starts and ends in London, so schedule a couple of extra days to sightsee around this iconic city. Rent a car to explore at a self-guided pace or join an organized coach tour.
Itinerary #4: Greek Ruins to Turkish Delights
| Overview | Activity | Overnight | |
| Day 1 | Arrive in Athens and visit the Parthenon, Temple of Zeus and Greek Parliament Building. | City sightseeing | Athens |
| Day 2 | Visit the Panathenaic Stadium, Prime Minister's Residence, Constitution Square, and more. | Sightseeing | Athens |
| Day 3 | Travel to Mount Parnassus near Delphi then stay overnight in the town of Kalambaka. | Exploration | Athens |
| Day 4 | Explore the monasteries and rock formations of Meteora and return to Athens. | Cultural exploration | Athens |
| Day 5 | Take a single-day cruise to nearby islands like Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. | Island hopping | Athens |
| Day 6 | Fly to Istanbul and enjoy a traditional dinner with a belly dancing show. | Transfer | Instanbul |
| Day 7 | Visit Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Spice Market. | City sightseeing | Instanbul |
| Day 8 | Go shopping for souvenirs at the Grand Bazaar before flying back home. | Departure |
Got a thing for Greece? This 8-day adventure covers some highlights and squeezes in a sneaky side trip to Istanbul. You’ll start the trip in Athens to see its world-famous ancient attractions before venturing onto other iconic Greek mainland destinations like Delphi and Meteora. While you won’t see Santorini or Mykonos, a single-day cruise gives you a neat little taster of the Aegean Sea. The final three days in Istanbul involve gorging on delicious cuisine and seeing bucket-list attractions like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Check out our tour of Greece and Turkey.
Planning an 8-day itinerary in Europe?
With 8 days in Europe, you could either go on a whirlwind multi-country trip to explore one or two countries in depth. Whatever your travel style, you’ll find the perfect 8-day Europe itinerary plan. Got a different schedule? We’ve also covered itineraries for one week in Europe and 10 days in Europe. Plus, there’s plenty more information in our Europe travel guide.
If you are looking for a more personalized experience, check out our tailored tours for Europe that can be tweaked as per your preference.
More information:
4 days in Europe
6 days in Europe
10 days in Europe
2 weeks in Europe