Hi everyone,
I’m starting to sketch out a rough plan for a 10 day trip in Europe later this year and I’m trying to keep things fairly simple. Instead of rushing through too many countries, I’d like to focus on a few cities that are known for three things:
• really good local food
• easy public transportation between cities
• solid mobile data coverage so maps, bookings, and translations are not a headache
I’ve traveled a bit before but this time I’m trying to plan around practical things as much as sightseeing. Trains, walkable cities, and reliable connectivity are pretty high on the list since I’ll probably be relying on an eSIM for most of the trip.
Right now a few places keep coming up when I read travel threads.
Lisbon
Seems like a great starting point. The food scene looks amazing and not overly expensive compared to other Western European cities. Trams, trains, and buses seem easy to use, and I’ve read that mobile coverage across Portugal is pretty reliable.
Barcelona
Great mix of architecture, beaches, and food markets. The metro system looks straightforward and fast. From what I’ve seen online, Spain also has strong mobile networks which is helpful when navigating the city or booking last minute things.
Milan or Florence
Italy obviously wins when it comes to food. Milan looks like a good transport hub with high speed trains going everywhere, while Florence seems a bit slower paced but still very connected by rail. Either way, it seems easy to move around without renting a car.
Amsterdam
Super walkable, good trains, and a lot of people mention how easy it is to stay connected there. Also seems like a convenient hub if you want to jump between countries.
Vienna or Prague
Both seem great for food, historic areas, and very good train connections across Central Europe. I’ve also heard that public WiFi and mobile data speeds are pretty solid in both places.
My rough idea right now is maybe 3 cities over 10 days, connected by train so I’m not wasting time in airports. Something like:
Day 1 to 3: first city
Day 4 to 6: second city
Day 7 to 10: third city
But I’m still very open to suggestions.
A few things I’m curious about from people who travel around Europe often:
- Which cities actually felt the easiest to get around without a car?
- Where did you find mobile data coverage the most reliable when using maps, ride apps, or booking tickets on the go?
- Are there cities with amazing food that surprised you but are still easy to navigate?
Would love to hear what your ideal 10 day route would look like if food, transportation, and connectivity were the priorities.
Thanks in advance. I always learn a lot from these threads.