The Perfect 2 Week Europe Itinerary for a First Timer
How to see 5 countries in just 2 weeks without totally exhausting yourself – well, kind of…
If you’re planning your very first trip to Europe, this itinerary is the perfect balance of iconic landmarks, beautiful cities, and enough flexibility to avoid total burnout. You’ll get a taste of five different countries, hit plenty of bucket-list sites, and still have those spontaneous “wow, are we really in Europe right now?” moments.
This was the exact itinerary I used for my first big trip abroad with three of my best friends back in 2015, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. 🥰
✨ Before You Go: What to Know About This Itinerary
Overview: This is more of an overview itinerary — I have written more detailed city for Edinburgh and London if you’re interested!
Trip Length: This itinerary is also technically a little longer than 2 weeks, but you can easily cut a day or two from London and/or Paris to make it actually 2 weeks!
Vegan Options: Unfortunately when I did this trip, I wasn’t vegan yet, so I don’t have any vegan options listed
Photo Quality: Don’t judge my 2015 photos too harshly… let’s just say iPhone cameras have come a long way, as well as my own photo taking capabilities. (I do thankfully have newer ones for Scotland and London, but all the rest…)
Best Way to Sight See: Hop-On/Hop-Off buses will be your best friend! These tours are perfect when you want to see all the sights without stressing about public transportation. For first-time travelers, navigating foreign metros can feel overwhelming, so these tour buses are an easy, stress-free way to get around to see everything!
Overview of Itinerary:
Day One: Fly into Edinburgh
Day Tour: Day Trip to the Scottish Highlands
Day Three: Explore Edinburgh
Day Four: Edinburgh → London
Day Five: London Highlights
Day Six: Warner Bros. Studio Tour (or Free Day in London)
Day Seven: Day Trip to Windsor
Day Eight: Day Trip to Stonehenge
Day Nine: London → Paris
Day Ten: Paris Must-Sees
Day Eleven: Versailles Day Trip
Day Tweleve: Disneyland Paris (or More Paris)
Day Thirteen: Paris → Brussels (+ Bruges!)
Day Fourteen: Brussels → Amsterdam
Day Fifteen: Amsterdam Sights
Day Sixteen: Fly Home
Scotland 🏴
DAY ONE: Fly into Edinburgh
Try to land mid-morning so you can squeeze in a little sightseeing!
Edinburgh is walkable, but with limited time, I recommend grabbing a Hop-On/Hop-Off pass here to cover the highlights quickly and get excited for the city you are about to explore!
📝Personal Note: I didn’t know much about Edinburgh before coming here, and it completely swept me off my feet. The castle on the hill, the winding cobblestoned streets, the gothic vibes — I’ve since been back three more times (soon to be four) and it’s still one of my favorite cities in the world.
Here are a few stops you can start with today!
Princes Street & Princes Street Gardens
Gorgeous green space right below the castle and a great spot to relax or do a little shopping.
And you will have a wonderful view of the castle the whole time!
Calton Hill
If you have the time, go to Calton Hill for sunset to really get a beautiful view of the city and let it soak in that you are finally in Europe!
DAY TWO: Day Trip to the Scottish Highlands
Time to leave the city behind and soak in Scotland’s wild beauty. A full-day tour from Edinburgh will take you through the Scottish Highlands, past rolling green hills, dramatic mountains, and shimmering lochs.
Glencoe
Famous for its jaw-dropping scenery (and Harry Potter/Outlander filming locations).
Loch Ness
Take a boat ride across the mysterious waters and explore Urquhart Castle, a beautiful ruined fortress on the shoreline.
It’s a long day, but so worth it. I don’t think a trip to Scotland is complete without going into the Highlands. The landscapes here look like something out of a fantasy novel!
DAY THREE: Explore Edinburgh
Dedicate this day to getting lost in Edinburgh’s charm!
Edinburgh Castle
Built on top of an extinct volcano, this fortress dominates the skyline. Inside, you’ll find the Crown Jewels of Scotland and sweeping views of the city.
The Royal Mile
The historic street connecting the castle to Holyrood Palace. Lined with shops, pubs, and street performers. Pop into St. Giles’ Cathedral, and if you’re up for it, tour the eerie underground vaults at Mary King’s Close.
Grassmarket Square & Victoria Street
Brightly colored shops and cafés, plus one of the best photo spots in the city. (Fun fact: Victoria Street is rumored to have inspired Diagon Alley in Harry Potter.) On Saturdays, Grassmarket has a bustling farmers market.
Stop at Mary’s Milk Bar
This is a local favorite that often has quirky seasonal flavors and hot chocolate floats!
Greyfriars Kirkyard
A hauntingly beautiful cemetery with ties to Harry Potter (JK Rowling found some name inspo here 👀) and learn about Greyfriars Bobby!
Arthur’s Seat
Hike this extinct volcano for panoramic city views. It’s not too difficult, but bring good shoes.
📝Personal Note: We ended our day here watching the sun set from Arthur’s Seat — one of those pinch-me travel moments I’ll never forget.
England 🏴
DAY FOUR: Edinburgh → London
Hop on the train to London (take the LNER fast train — about 4.5 hours as opposed to 6). Arrive at King’s Cross and yes, Potterheads, stop at Platform 9 ¾ for the cheesy-but-iconic photo.
Once you arrive, get yourself a London Hop-On/Hop-Off pass and get on to start sight seeing — super helpful for your first two days here!
Tower Bridge
This stunning Victorian bridge is often mistaken for “London Bridge.” Walk across it for sweeping views of the Thames, and if you’re up for it, visit the glass-floored walkways above for a unique (and slightly dizzying) perspective.
Tower of London
Not just a castle, this fortress has been a royal palace, prison, and treasury. It’s home to the Crown Jewels, guarded by the iconic Beefeaters. Give yourself at least 2–3 hours here — the stories and history are wild.
DAY FIVE: London Highlights
🚍 Keep using the hop on/hop off bus pass and focus on some of London’s big hitters:
The London Eye
Yes, it’s touristy, but it’s worth it! This giant Ferris wheel gives you sweeping views of the Thames, Parliament, and the whole city. Go at sunset if you can for extra magic.
Westminster Abbey & Big Ben
The Abbey is where royals marry and coronations happen. Right next door, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament make the ultimate London photo backdrop.
Buckingham Palace
Home to the King (Queen when we were there), Changing of the Guard, and plenty of photo ops. If visiting in summer, you can actually tour some of the State Rooms inside.
Hyde Park
A huge green oasis where you can rent a paddle boat, grab coffee, or just wander along the Serpentine Lake.
👑 Be sure to go visit the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain!
Portobello Road Market
Located in Notting Hill, it’s filled with antiques, vintage stalls, farmers markets, and colorful houses. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s one of London’s most photogenic streets.
DAY SIX: Warner Bros. Studio Tour (or Free Day in London)
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
For Harry Potter fans, this is a dream come true: sip butterbeer, wander through the Great Hall, and see the sets up close.
If HP isn’t your thing or you don’t want to support JK (trust me, I get it), spend the day exploring London at your own pace. Ideas: see a show in the West End, visit Bourough Market, or relax on the South Bank OR this would be a good day you could cut!
👉 Fun detour: Our tour bus dropped us near Abbey Road, so of course we had to go there after checking out The Sherlock Homes Museum and London Beatles Store
DAY SEVEN: Day Trip to Windsor
Hop a train to Windsor for a change of pace!
Windsor Castle
The world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle. Tour the State Apartments and St. George’s Chapel.
📝Personal Note: We went here because we wanted to see the “fuzzy hat” guards and we were told they followed the Queen (or King now) and she was at Windsor so off to Windsor we went! And we were glad we did because it was a fun change from the hustle and bustle of London!
The Long Walk & Windsor Great Park
A stunning three-mile avenue leading straight to the castle gates. Perfect for photos.
The town itself is super cute for shopping, pubs, and grabbing a bite.
DAY EIGHT: Day Trip to Stonehenge
Take a tour day trip to…
Stonehenge
One of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments. It’s about 2 hours outside of London, and while the stones themselves are shrouded in mystery, the surrounding Salisbury countryside makes the trip even more magical.
🎟 Book with a tour ahead of time!
Pro Tip: There are also tours that can take you Bath in addition to Stonehenge (I wish we had done this)!
France 🇫🇷
DAY NINE: London → Paris
Take the Eurostar to Paris (about 2 hours). Unfortunately, it’s not a glass tunnel under the sea (sorry, no fish views — just darkness), but it’s fast and easy.
Spend your afternoon strolling the Champs-Élysées and climbing the Arc de Triomphe for some of the best views of Paris.
End the evening at the Eiffel Tower with a picnic and watch it sparkle on the hour!
DAY TEN: Paris Must-Sees
Paris is much bigger than it looks, so I recommend grabbing another Hop-On/Hop-Off pass when you arrive. It’s especially clutch if the weather’s bad (speaking from experience)!
The Louvre
You could spend days here, but even a half-day gives you a good taste.
🎟 Make sure to book tickets ahead of time.
📝Personal Note: I was highly disappointed with the Mona Lisa. It is way smaller than I was expecting and there was a huge crowd around it.
Notre Dame
Still being restored after the 2019 fire, but the exterior is stunning, and the surrounding Île de la Cité is worth exploring.
Moulin Rouge
Famous cabaret with the iconic red windmill. Even if you don’t go inside, it’s fun to see it lit up at night.
DAY ELEVEN: Versailles Day Trip
Take the RER train out to the Palace of Versailles.
The Palace
The Hall of Mirrors is jaw-dropping.
The Gardens
Endless fountains, manicured lawns, and secret groves. Rent a bike or golf cart if you want to see it all.
📝Personal Note: We got there too late to enter the palace itself, but just wandering the grounds was unforgettable. Don’t step on the grass unless you want to get yelled at (oops).
DAY TWELVE: Disneyland Paris (or More Paris)
If you’re a Disney fan, you’ll love seeing the castle in its Parisian glory. It’s smaller than Orlando but still magical.
If theme parks aren’t your thing, use this day to wander Montmartre, visit Sacré-Cœur, or simply relax at a Parisian café with a croissant. This is also a day that you could cut!
Belgium 🇧🇪
DAY THIRTEEN: Paris → Brussels (+ Bruges!)
🚆 Hop the train north to Belgium!
My hot tip? Skip Brussels at first and head to Bruges for the day instead. It’s a medieval fairytale city with canals, cobblestones, swans (so many swans), and plenty of chocolate shops (I got lots and LOTS of chocolate).
And don’t forget to grab a Belgian waffle and fries while you’re at it!
Return to Brussels for the evening once you’re done soaking up Bruges vibes (train ride is only an hour).
Walk around the Grand Place (it lights up beautifully at night) and, if you’re a drinker, check out the Delirium Café which has different bars depending on the alcohol.
Netherlands 🇳🇱
DAY FOURTEEN: Brussels → Amsterdam
Arrive in Amsterdam and dive right in!
📝Personal Note: I was so tired by this point that my picture taking became pretty much non-existent so I hardly have any pictures in Amsterdam. 😅
Van Gogh Museum
A must for art lovers (though fun fact.. or maybe not so fun for me as I did not find out until we were there: Starry Night is actually in New York, not here).
Make sure you book tickets ahead of time!
Note: You cannot take pictures inside this museum
Museumplein Park
After checking out the Van Gogh Museum, this is the perfect picnic spot!
Red Light District
In the evening, take a walk through the Red Light District. It is something very unique to Amsterdam — just remember, no photos allowed and be respectful!
DAY FIFTEEN: Amsterdam Sights
Spend your last full day soaking in Amsterdam:
Rijksmuseum
Dutch Golden Age masterpieces like Rembrandt and Vermeer.
Anne Frank House Museum
Heartbreaking but powerful.
🎟 Be sure to book tickets in advance (like months in advance) as they go very quick!
Canal Cruise
Best done at sunset for those iconic Amsterdam reflections.
DAY SIXTEEN: Fly Home ✈️
Cue the tears — your first Europe trip has come to an end. 😭
But hopefully, like me, this made you catch the travel bug and you're already dreaming about your next trip!