Your First Trip to Europe: Paris, London, Rome or Lisbon?

Updated November 12, 2026 · By the RoamPlanned team

A first trip to Europe is a big moment. The question is usually where to start. Here's how four of the most popular first-time cities compare, and how to combine them.

Paris: for art, food and romance

Paris is the classic: the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame and café culture. Book timed tickets ahead and plan around museum closing days (the Louvre is closed Tuesdays; the Musée d'Orsay closes Mondays).

London: the easiest start

London is ideal if you want an easy landing: no language barrier, nonstop flights from many US cities and free world-class museums. US citizens now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before traveling.

Rome: for history lovers

Rome puts 3,000 years of history on your doorstep: the Colosseum, the Vatican and the Pantheon. Spring and fall are best, since July and August can be very hot.

Lisbon: for value and charm

Lisbon offers sunshine, hilltop viewpoints, superb seafood and some of the best value in Western Europe, plus easy day trips to Sintra and Cascais.

How many cities in one trip?

With seven days, choose one or two cities. With ten days, two or three. Fast trains connect London and Paris (about 2 hours 20 minutes on Eurostar); flights are the fastest way between Paris or London and Rome or Lisbon.

Sample combinations

• 7 days: 3 nights London + 4 nights Paris by Eurostar.
• 10 days: 4 nights Paris + 3 nights Rome + 3 nights in Florence or a longer Rome stay with a Tivoli day trip.
• 8 days, value-focused: 5 nights Lisbon (including Sintra and Cascais) + 3 nights in Porto.

When to go

April–June and September–October bring good weather and manageable crowds. Winter is cheapest and quieter, with festive markets in December.

Entry requirements

The EU's Entry/Exit System now registers non-EU visitors at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorization is scheduled to follow. Always check the official EU and State Department sites before you go.

Ready to sketch a plan? Try the Trip Planner or browse our itineraries.