Why you should visit fewer countries and cities when taking a trip to Europe

• I spent two weeks backpacking through four European countries for the first time.
• I visited six different cities for short stays: Berlin, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Milan and Zurich.
• I didn't have enough time in each place, so I regretted cramming so many destinations into one trip.

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Berlin, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Milan and Zurich. East two weeks in Europe enough time to explore all these places?

I discovered it for myself in October 2022 by going hiking in Europe for the first time, visiting four countries and six cities.

At the time, I wanted to see as much of the continent as possible. Since I was going for two weeks, I thought a night or two in each city would help me make the most of my trip by allowing me to see a variety of places.

But once there, I realized that I had only received a sample of what each destination had to offer.

48 hours is not enough to explore a city

I wanted more memories in Berlin – my first stop on the trip – as soon as I boarded my train to Vienna. And when I left Austria for Italy, I felt like I had barely tasted Vienna's art scene.

I spent a week in Italy, but splitting my time between three different cities – Venice, Rome and Milan – left me wanting more.

This was particularly true in Rome — one of most popular tourist destinations for summer 2024, according to a recent study of search trends by Delta.

The ancient city mixed the old and the new. I walked around the cobblestone streets with ruins on one side and modern buildings on the other. Seeing the spectacular exteriors of Renaissance museums made me wish I had plenty of time to go inside. And seeing the ruins from afar made me wish I had the chance to see them up close.

My last stop at Swiss I had my favorite scenery of the entire trip, and after just two nights, I returned home wishing I had taken the time for an epic mountain hike.

From their stunning architecture to their rich histories to their striking landscapes, these cities impressed me upon my arrival.

But with less than 48 hours to explore each destination, I was only able to visit the most important tourist sites, like the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the Colosseum in Romeand the canals in Venice.

I didn't have the opportunity to delve deeper into the real life of each city. If I had more time, I would have sailed on Lake Zurich, shopped in Milan or stayed in the district of Kreuzberg to Berlin. Every day, in every city, I passed remarkable buildings and huge museums that intrigued me and thought, “Next time.”

So no, two weeks is not enough time to explore six European cities, and I learned the hard way.

Visit fewer places and take your time

If you're planning a trip to Europe, don't say “next time” to yourself every day, like me.

Instead, I recommend focusing on one or two cities and towns and taking the time to immerse yourself in their art scenes, neighborhoods, and history. This way, you will come away with a deeper insight into the destinations you have carefully selected.

On my flight back to New York, I had already started making mental plans to visit Zurich, Berlin, Rome and Vienna again.

So, on the way home, if you're still wondering about a destination you haven't reached, make sure there's a next time.