This depends on where you're traveling from, the nationality on your passport, and whether your destination country is part of the Schengen Agreement. This agreement sees 26 European countries offer visa-free travel to nationals from 60 other countries including Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

You can find more information on the Schengen Visa's website to check whether you'll need a visa for the country you're traveling to.

The best time to travel to Europe depends on the kind of experiences you want to have. According to the United Nations definition, there are 44 countries in Europe that span 35 degrees of latitude (or over 2,700 miles) between the most northerly and southerly points.

Generally speaking, if you want to avoid peak crowds you should travel in the 'shoulder season' – the months of the year that lie between peak season and off-season. In most of Europe, this is March - May or September - November.

Weather in Europe varies dramatically from season to season. In southern Europe, Mediterranean countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece are dependably warm and sunny for between 6 - 7 months of the year. In the middle of summer, temperatures can reach in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

In northern central and eastern Europe, Scandinavia and mountainous regions, expect significant snowfall and temperatures well into the minus degrees during the winter months.

The most commonly used currency in Europe is the Euro, which is shared among 20 Eurozone countries including France, Germany, Italy, Greece and Spain. Some European countries have retained their national currencies rather than adopting the Euro. These include Poland (Złoty), Sweden (Krona), Czech Republic (Koruna), Switzerland (Franc), United Kingdom (Pound Sterling), Türkiye (Lira), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mark), Bulgaria (Lev), Hungary (Forint), Iceland (Króna) and Denmark (Krone).

Tipping is not obligatory in most of Europe, however in certain circumstances it could be considered customary. The most common situations in which you should consider tipping are at restaurants, bars and cafes with table service (particularly independently owned establishments that don't inlclude an optional Service Charge on the check), taxis and food delivery drivers. Tip amounts are discretionary, but between 10-20% is standard.

ATM access in most of Europe is good, particularly in central city areas. However, the number of ATMs throughout Europe has declined significantly – by up to as much as -20% in the last 8 years. This is as a result of much of the region having adopted cashless payment methods as standard, so you'll need to bring credit and/or debit card with you.

Internet access in Europe is widespread and generally of a consistently high quality. However, some countries have a better connection than others. The countries with the best and most widespread access to the internet include Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Switzerland. You can find out how other countries perform on the euronews website.

Generally, the quality of tap water in Europe is very high and in the majority of countries it is perfectly safe to drink. The countries with the highest quality tap water include Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece (except the islands), Finland and Iceland. Find out more about tap water quality throughout Europe on the World Population Review website.

We highly recommend guests purchase travel insurance prior to your trip. Please ensure you add the details of your insurance to the MyTrafalgar portal. Your insurance should cover trip interruption, personal injury, medical expenses, and evacuation and repatriation cover including during pandemic events.

Book your travel insurance with Trafalgar's Travel Protection Plan, which includes the Cancel For Any Reason Credit Certificate Feature and the Travel Insurance Benefits that may help to protect your vacation payment against the unexpected.

This depends on how many destinations you want to see on your trip. You can search our Europe tours by trip length:

• Up to 1 week
• 1-2 weeks
• 2 weeks +

Lightweight clothing and comfortable walking shoes are essential for sightseeing in Europe's summer. Pack in clothing items such as shorts, dresses, shirts, and comfortable sandals and sneakers to walk in. For outdoor exploring, pack sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat for sun protection. Bring along a bag to hold your reusable water bottle and power adapter for your devices.

Europe's winter calls for warm, layered clothing. A warm coat or down jacket, sweaters, cardigans, scarves, gloves and a warm hat are winter clothing essentials. For rainy conditions, pack waterproof boots and thermal socks for optimal comfort.

For spring and fall in Europe, pack layers to adapt to varying temperatures. A light sweater, long-sleeve shirt and a jacket or lightweight waterproof coat works well for changing weather. Bring light scarves, umbrellas, thermal socks, comfortable walking shoes and boots for cooler days or rain. Don’t forget a power adapter for your devices.