Western Europe is where some of our favourite journeys have taken us – from French roads winding through mountains and vineyards to Swiss lakes framed by the Alps, Norwegian fjords, Spanish islands and historic European cities.
We’ve travelled through this part of Europe in very different ways and at different times of year. Some trips have been short breaks, others have been road trips where the journey was every bit as important as the destination. We’ve travelled for scenery, food, history, local experiences and simply the pleasure of discovering somewhere new together.
This Western Europe travel guide brings those journeys together in one place. There are separate collections about travel to Balkans and Italy.
Rather than trying to cover every country or produce another generic list of places to visit, we’re building this collection from our own travels. The result is a growing selection of practical guides, road trips and personal experiences for couples who prefer to explore at their own pace.
From Paris and Versailles to the French Alps, from Swiss mountain towns to the fjords of southern Norway, these are places we’ve experienced ourselves – with plenty more still to come.
France: From Paris to the Atlantic Coast
France has given us some of our most varied European journeys.
We’ve explored the grand streets and landmarks of Paris, travelled out to Versailles, driven through the French Alps and Provence, and followed roads across western France towards the Atlantic coast.
These journeys show just how different France can feel from one region to another – from famous cities and historic palaces to mountain landscapes, coastal scenery and quieter places where the journey itself becomes part of the adventure.
Paris & Versailles
Paris needs little introduction, but experiencing the city as a couple is about more than ticking off the famous landmarks. Combine the capital with a visit to Versailles and you have the ingredients for a memorable short European break.
Explore our Paris and Versailles guide →
French Alps, Provence & Rocamadour
This road trip brought together mountain scenery, historic towns and the landscapes of southern France, with the French Alps and Provence providing some of the most memorable stops along the way.
Explore the French Alps, Provence & Rocamadour →
Western France Road Trip
Western France offers a very different experience, with Atlantic beaches, coastal landscapes, local food and the freedom of travelling by road.
Explore our Western France road trip →
Easter in France
France has a particular charm in spring. Our Easter experiences offer another perspective on travelling through the country when the season is beginning to change and the landscapes are coming alive.
Explore Easter in France →
Switzerland: Mountains, Lakes, Towns & Food
Switzerland is one of those countries where the journey can be as memorable as the destination.
We’ve travelled through Swiss towns and cities, explored the landscapes around Lake Geneva and the Alps, and experienced Switzerland at different times of year. We’ve also discovered two of the country’s great pleasures: chocolate and cheese.
Switzerland Road Trips
From Geneva and Lausanne to Montreux and the mountains beyond, our Swiss journeys combine cities, lakes, mountain scenery and scenic roads.
Explore Switzerland by road →
Spring in Switzerland
Spring brings a different atmosphere to Switzerland, with changing mountain landscapes, lakeside walks and towns beginning to emerge from winter.
Explore spring in Switzerland →
Swiss Chocolate & Cheese
Food is an important part of travel for us, and Switzerland has two specialities that are impossible to ignore.
Discover Swiss chocolate and cheese →
Germany: Short Road Trips & Spring Escapes
Our German travels have included short road trips combining historic towns, spa traditions, lakes and gardens.
One journey took us from Baden-Baden towards Lake Constance, including a visit to Mainau Island. It was a reminder that Germany can be just as rewarding for a short break as it is for a longer road trip.
Spring in Germany
Explore our journey through southern Germany, from Baden-Baden to the shores of Lake Constance and Mainau Island.
Explore our Germany road trip →
Spain: Cities & Island Adventures
Spain has given us two very different travel experiences so far – the energy and history of Barcelona and the landscapes of Tenerife.
Barcelona
Catalonia’s capital combines architecture, history, food and city life with the Mediterranean atmosphere that makes Barcelona such an appealing destination for a couple’s city break.
Explore Barcelona →
Tenerife
Tenerife is much more than a winter-sun destination. Travelling around the island reveals volcanic landscapes, historic towns, dramatic coastlines and a surprising variety of scenery.
Our February visit also showed us what Tenerife is like outside the main summer season.
Explore Tenerife →
Norway: Fjords, Waterfalls & Scenic Roads
Southern Norway is a natural fit for the way we like to travel.
Here, dramatic fjords, waterfalls, mountain roads and viewpoints turn the journey itself into an adventure. Places such as Geiranger, Lysefjord, Preikestolen and Kjerag demonstrate the scale and drama of the Norwegian landscape.
Southern Norway
Our Norwegian journeys combine scenic driving with some of Europe’s most spectacular natural landscapes.
Explore Southern Norway →
Iceland: The Road Is Part of the Journey
Iceland is another destination where the landscape becomes the main attraction.
Volcanic scenery, waterfalls, open roads and constantly changing weather create the kind of journey where you never quite know what you’ll find around the next bend.
Our Iceland experiences form another part of our growing collection of Nordic adventures.
Explore Iceland →
Why We Keep Exploring Western Europe
What keeps bringing us back to Western Europe is the variety.
Within relatively short distances, you can move from historic cities to mountains, from vineyards to Atlantic beaches, from Alpine lakes to dramatic fjords.
It’s also a region that works particularly well for couples who enjoy independent travel. You can build a road trip around places you want to see, stop when a landscape catches your eye, linger over a long lunch, or simply take the scenic route because you have nowhere else you need to be.
For us, that’s what makes European travel so rewarding.
The destination matters, but so does everything that happens between one place and the next.
More Western Europe Adventures to Come
This is a growing collection rather than a finished guide.
There are still many parts of Western Europe we’d like to explore, and we’ll continue adding destinations as we travel. New road trips, city breaks, seasonal journeys and food experiences will gradually expand this guide.
So if you enjoy travelling independently, discovering places beyond the obvious highlights and making the journey part of the experience, come back and explore with us.
The road ahead is still wide open.
The long way round, as a couple
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About the Author & Travel Philosophy
The author, ainarsbl, is a Level 7 Google Local Guide, Master Reviewer and Expert Photographer with over 1,000 contributions, 200 reviews and 600 photos. His focus is on discovering scenic landscapes, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, cities and meaningful travel experiences for couples. Learn more about the Travel42.uk authors and our approach to exploring the planet together.