33 days in Europe Itinerary

A beautiful and romantic city fit for any itinerary, Paris brims with historic associations and remains vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.

Take a break from Paris with a short trip to Palace of Versailles in Versailles, about 48 minutes away. Next up on the itinerary: explore the world behind art at Louvre Museum, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre, shop like a local with Champs-Elysees, and take a stroll through Île de la Cité.

To find photos, ratings, and tourist information, go to the Paris road trip planning app.

Sydney, Australia to Paris is an approximately 26.5-hour flight. The time zone changes from Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) to Central European Standard Time (CET), which is usually a -9 hour difference. Plan for much colder temperatures traveling from Sydney in December, with highs in Paris at 9°C and lows at 3°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 7th (Wed) so you can catch the flight to Lisbon.

Built on seven hills, Lisbon has experienced a renaissance in recent years, making it the cultural star of Portugal.

Take a break from Lisbon with a short trip to Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, about 36 minutes away. There's much more to do: meet the residents at Lisbon Oceanarium, get a taste of the local shopping with Rossio Square, don't miss a visit to Praca do Comercio (Terreiro do Paco), and steep yourself in history at Mosteiro dos Jeronimos.

To see more things to do, maps, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the Lisbon trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by flight from Paris to Lisbon takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Paris to Lisbon due to the time zone difference. Plan for somewhat warmer temperatures traveling from Paris in December, with highs in Lisbon at 18°C and lows at 8°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Sat) to allow time to drive to Lagos.

The allure of the beaches and the town's historical center draw visitors to Lagos, a coastal destination in the Barlavento region of the Algarve.

Change things up with these side-trips from Lagos: Praia da Falesia (in Olhos de Agua) and Centro Historico de Albufeira (in Albufeira). Next up on the itinerary: take in the waterfront activity at Marina de Vilamoura, explore the striking landscape at Ponta da Piedade, don't miss a visit to Lagos Farol da Ponta da Piedade, and look for gifts at Mar d'Estorias.

To see reviews, more things to do, ratings, and tourist information, read our Lagos trip itinerary planning website.

You can drive from Lisbon to Lagos in 3 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 20°C in December, and nighttime lows around 11°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Seville.

A city of rich Moorish heritage, Seville is the cultural and financial center of southern Spain, and the site of numerous festivals throughout the year.

Start off your visit on the 13th (Tue): take in the architecture and atmosphere at Catedral de Sevilla, wander the streets of Barrio Santa Cruz, and then admire the landmark architecture of Plaza de Santa Marta. Here are some ideas for day two: test your problem-solving skills at popular escape rooms, then steep yourself in history at Royal Tobacco Factory, then steep yourself in history at Royal Alcázar of Seville, and finally steep yourself in history at Plaza de España.

For maps, reviews, and other tourist information, go to the Seville trip planner.

You can drive from Lagos to Seville in 3 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or do a combination of train and bus. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from Lagos to Seville. Traveling from Lagos in December, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be slightly colder in Seville, with lows of 8°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Thu) to allow time to fly to Madrid.

Madrid is known for its cultural and artistic heritage, lively nightlife, and a dynamic culinary scene.

On the 16th (Fri), see the interesting displays at Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, steep yourself in history at Royal Palace of Madrid, and then steep yourself in history at Plaza Mayor. Keep things going the next day: walk around Parque del Retiro, then explore the world behind art at Prado National Museum, then take in nature's colorful creations at Real Jardin Botanico, and finally make a trip to Puerta del Sol.

To find ratings, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, go to the Madrid sightseeing planner.

Traveling by flight from Seville to Madrid takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. Plan for little chillier temperatures traveling from Seville in December, with highs in Madrid at 14°C and lows at 3°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 18th (Sun) so you can catch the flight to Barcelona.

Barcelona, the country’s second-largest city, is a cosmopolitan urban center known for its throbbing youthful energy and stellar architecture.

Barcelona is known for sightseeing, parks, and nightlife. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: admire the landmark architecture of Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms, make a trip to Casa Batllo, and take a stroll through Las Ramblas.

To see where to stay, more things to do, other places to visit, and other tourist information, you can read our Barcelona visit planner.

You can fly from Madrid to Barcelona in 3 hours. Other options are to take a train; or drive. Traveling from Madrid in December, plan for a bit warmer nights in Barcelona, with lows around 7°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Wed) early enough to fly to Bordeaux.

With a long history of producing regional wines since the Romans brought grapevines here during the first century, so many people consider Bordeaux to be the wine capital of the world.

On the 21st (Wed), don't miss a visit to Place du Parlement, then don't miss a visit to The Water Mirror, and then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at St. Andre Cathedral. On your second day here, admire the striking features of La Cite du Vin, then ponder the design of Fontaine des Trois Graces, then get to know the fascinating history of Place de la Bourse, and finally test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms.

To see maps, more things to do, ratings, and more tourist information, read our Bordeaux journey maker tool.

Getting from Barcelona to Bordeaux by flight takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train. Expect little chillier temperatures when traveling from Barcelona in December; daily highs in Bordeaux reach 11°C and lows reach 3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Fri) early enough to drive to Carcassonne.

Best known as a fortified town, Carcassonne is a walled city that provided the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" and the location for many scenes in Kevin Costner's movie "Robin Hood." For a daily dose of excitement, medieval jousting tournaments are held twice per day between the two walls--while this may sound like a typical touristy show, it's actually an entertaining display of combative competition and horsemanship.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Carcassonne: Toulouse (Basilique Saint-Sernin, Room Escape Games, &more). Next up on the itinerary: do a tasting at O'Vineyards, make a trip to Notre Dame du Cros, take an in-depth tour of Musee De L'ecole, and contemplate the long history of Porte Narbonnaise.

To see maps, more things to do, reviews, and more tourist information, go to the Carcassonne attractions planner.

Traveling by car from Bordeaux to Carcassonne takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or do a combination of bus and train. In December in Carcassonne, expect temperatures between 13°C during the day and 3°C at night. On the 27th (Tue), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can fly to Brussels.

The allure of the multi-cultural capital, Brussels, stems from its mix of political intrigue, artistic influence, historical significance, and a thriving social scene.

Venture out of the city with trips to Bruges (Historic Centre of Brugge, The Markt, &more). There's much more to do: contemplate the long history of Grand Place, pause for some photo ops at Manneken Pis, browse the different shops at Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, and see the interesting displays at Belgian Comic Strip Center.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, ratings, and more tourist information, go to the Brussels attractions planning site.

Traveling by flight from Carcassonne to Brussels takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. When traveling from Carcassonne in December, plan for little chillier days and about the same nights in Brussels: temperatures range from 7°C by day to 1°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 30th (Fri) early enough to go by car to Amsterdam.

Known as one of the greatest small cities in the world, Amsterdam charms visitors with its cool and cozy atmosphere.

Start off your visit on the 31st (Sat): admire the striking features of Royal Palace Amsterdam, examine the collection at Anne Frank House, then admire the masterpieces at Van Gogh Museum, and finally admire the masterpieces at Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Keep things going the next day: appreciate the extensive heritage of Begijnhof, indulge your thirst for a good beer at Heineken Experience, then explore the world behind art at Rijksmuseum, and finally steep yourself in history at Museum Het Rembrandthuis.

To find traveler tips, maps, reviews, and more tourist information, go to the Amsterdam online sightseeing planner.

Drive from Brussels to Amsterdam in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or fly. Expect a daytime high around 9°C in December, and nighttime lows around 3°C. On the 2nd (Mon), you'll have the morning to explore before heading back home.