How To Visit Multiple Countries In Europe, 10 Awesome Trips

Do you ever go to book a trip and wonder if you might be able to hop over the border and visit another country while you’re there?

Mainland Europe is so well connected, that it almost seems rude not to take a multi city trip. And it’s a great way to see more of the world if you’re short on annual leave.

I’ve done so many multi-country travels, ticking off 25 countries in 2024 using this method. So if you’re a full time worker needing tips on how to visit multiple countries in Europe via the quickest and easiest routes then look no further. Because everything you need to know about how to travel between countries with ease, or on a budget, is right here.

From Bratislava to Budapest and Stockholm to Tromso, I’ll show you how to maximise your travels with these 10 best twin city breaks in Europe.

How to visit multiple countries in Europe – 10 awesome trips – An Introduction

There are so many ways to connect between cities and countries in Europe, including some great more affordable options.

Bus, train, ferry and even plane are all viable easy transport options for European city hopping. But it’s important to weigh up the cost and convenience of each method before booking travel between multiple destinations. Cheapest isn’t necessarily best here.

Let’s look at some of the closest neighbouring countries and examine the various modes of transport that make them so easily accessible.

1. Vienna – Bratislava

With just under an hour’s travel time between them, hopping between Vienna in Austria and Bratislava in Slovakia is both quick and easy.

This multi-country tour can even be done as part of an Extreme Day Trip, which I cover in more detail in this post.

The easiest modes of transport are train and bus, with both taking a similar amount of time but the bus usually works out slightly cheaper.

• Train: Regular trains run between Vienna and Bratislava, with fares starting at €9.80 when booked in advance. The journey time is around one hour.
• Bus: Buses run multiple times per day, with departures every 30 minutes during peak hours. Fares start from €5 to €10, and the journey takes between 60 and 90 minutes.
• Ferry: The Twin City Liner operates a ferry service between the two cities along the Danube river, taking approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Ticket prices range from £33 to £36 for foot passengers, making this the most scenic but expensive option.

Check train times and prices below, and get handy digital tickets with Omnio.

Both cities offer so much to see and do, I’d definitely recommend spending a full day and night in each if you can. This will give you a true flavour of both Austria and Slovakia.

You can also fly back from Vienna or Bratislava’s airport, with budget airlines operating routes to major UK cities.

You can read more about what to see in Vienna in my post here, and you’ll find my 24-hour Bratislava itinerary here.

2. Bratislava – Budapest

From Bratislava, you can connect to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, in around 2.5 hours by train. Or you can go by bus in a similar amount of time.

List or table here with transport, times and cost

• Train: Trains depart regularly with fares starting at €10.
• Bus: Bus services are operated by FlixBus and RegioJet, with fares starting from €7 to €15.

Departing from Bratislava Hlavna Stanica, a short bus ride out of Bratislava centre, this rail route travels through some beautiful scenery from Slovakia into Hungary.

You’ll arrive into Budapest-Nyugati station, and can connect by tram to other parts of the city.

Budapest is an incredible city, one of my favourites in Europe in fact. My top recommendations for a short trip are Fisherman’s Bastion, Gellert spa and an evening cruise along the Danube to see the Hungarian Parliament lit up at night. It’s a spectacular sight that you should not miss.

Budapest’s international airport serves major UK airports including London and Manchester, making it possible to start or end your journey here.

3. Tirana – Struga/Ohrid

From Tirana, a 3-hour Flix Bus is all that stands between you and the North Macedonia border.

• Bus: FlixBus runs a daily coach service, but check for exact schedules. Tickets cost around €15 to €20 each way.
• Car hire: Alternatively, you could hire a car for around €50 per day for greater flexibility. However, unless you’re a confident driver and can handle challenging road conditions and driving standards, I’d recommend taking the bus.

This route takes you along some beautiful countryside, with turquoise waters and vegetation.

You can disembark at Struga, which is why I stayed, or continue to Ohrid. Both are located on the edge of Lake Ohrid, which is so beautiful.

Struga in particular I found to be so inexpensive, with two hotel rooms for five people costing just £10 per person.

Our meal, consisting of a main course and two alcoholic drinks each in a smart lake-side restaurant, worked out at around £9 each.

This was a great place to relax in the sun, and enjoy the vibrant streets which came to life after dark with bars and dessert cafes.

One thing to note is that Tirana’s bus station is not in Tirana centre, so you’ll likely need to take a taxi there. And be sure to leave plenty of time, because Tirana traffic can get really bad. I nearly missed my bus because it took a lot longer than I expected.

If you have time for a day in Tirana either before or after, check out this guide to the best sights it has to offer.

4. Dubrovnik – Mostar

A visit to the Croatian capital is an absolute must. I loved its old town, and you might recognise various locations if you’ve seen Game of Thrones. It’s what brings so many visitors to the city every year.

There’s also a cable car for stunning views over the coast, and a beach with beautiful blue waters for swimming.

And, if you have the best part of a day free and don’t mind an early start, join a Get Your Guide tour over the Bosnia and Herzegovina border.

• Bus: There’s also a bus service between the two destinations, with prices from around €15 to €20. The journey takes about 3 hours.
• Organised tour: Joining an organised tour means you can travel in a smaller group and more comfortable vehicle, and meet other solo travellers. Prices start from €30, and the tour lasts around 10 hours, with a stop at Kravica waterfalls included too.

The journey will take you through the countryside, past previously war-torn areas and upcoming neighbourhoods, and into Mostar.

This stunning location is famous for its bridge, where young men will dive into the cold water below as a signal they’re ready for marriage. Although when I visited they mostly seemed to be doing it for tips from tourists!

Enjoy winding through its artisan market stalls, stop for lunch and enjoy the view over the river from the mosque’s medina. As a place of worship, you’ll need to cover your legs and arms to enter though, so bear that in mind before you set off.

On the way back, you’ll stop at Kravica waterfalls. I recommend taking the steps down to enjoy the view, and maybe even a quick swim, before heading back up the sloped path to the car park.

I paid a little extra to book the smaller mini bus for this trip, which was really comfortable. Plus it meant fewer stops at hotels to collect other passengers, and it was easier to chat to other solo travellers.

From here, you’ll disembark back at the old town and can connect straight to the airport if you have an evening flight back.

Find your Get Your Guide experience below for this amazing cross-border day trip.

5. Copenhagen – Malmo

Another easy cross-border adventure is Malmo, which is easily accessible directly from Copenhagen airport or city centre by train.

The rail route takes you over the Oresund Bridge and offers some incredible views over the ocean.

Alternatively, it is possible to travel between the two by bus, and while this is cheaper it’s not as fast or convenient.

Table here with transport, times and cost

• Train: Öresund trains run frequently, with journey times of about 40 minutes. Fares start at €28.
• Bus: FlixBus and Nettbuss both run services for between €10 to €15. Buses run about every 30 minutes during peak times and the journey takes about an hour.

Copenhagen features famous attractions like Tivoli, the inspiration behind the first Disney World park, and Hans Christan Anderson’s Little Mermaid statue.

Malmo is a quaint city, and provides a great taste of Sweden, if you’ve never visited. Half a day in the city is plenty, and you can zip back to Copenhagen to enjoy some sightseeing there before flying home if you just have the one day.

You can read more about what to see while in Malmo in my in-depth blog post.

6. Tallinn – Helsinki

Just 55 miles of ocean separate the cities of Tallinn in Estonia and Helsinki in Finland. And that distance is covered several times a day by large ferries, that travel back and forth between the two capitals.

For between £20-30, depending on operator, time of day and how far you book in advance, you can step on board as a foot passenger in the Baltics. And within just 2.5 hours, you’ll find yourself in Scandinavia.

• Ferry: Ferry services are run by several operators, including Viking Line and Eckerö Line.

A ferry is the only option for this cross-border journey. But it’s also possible to make the crossing with a car, if you’ve chosen to hire one while travelling.

While you’re on board, you can grab breakfast and make duty free purchases in the shop. Or simply relax and enjoy the view.

Tallinn is a beautiful city, and I loved just wandering the colourful streets of the old town and enjoying the view from the Kohtuotsa viewing platform.

While in Helsinki, be sure to visit the National Library of Finland library – it’s simply stunning inside and makes for some great photographs. Then either hop on a bus or a scooter and ride out to Sibelius Park to see the monument of the same name.

Search for ferry services and buy your digital tickets using Omnio.

7. Nice – Monte Carlo

Another quick and easy connection between countries is the one from Nice Cote de Azur airport in France direct into Monte Carlo, Monaco.

By train, it’s just a 30-minute journey. Just buy a digital ticket on the SNCF app before you board.

Or, if you want to be really fancy and make a big entrance, you can connect by helicopter in just seven minutes for around €195.

• Train: Trains run frequently, with journey times of around 30 minutes. Fares start from €5.
• Bus: Lignes d’Azur operates a bus service between Nice and Monte Carlo, which takes around 1 hour and costs between €2 and €4.

The tiny country of Monaco is famous for its Formula One racing and expensive cars. It’s certainly not the cheapest place to stay, and if you’re spending a night I recommend continuing along the train line to stay in and see Menton first. It’s a beautiful coastal city with coloured buildings, and perfect for relaxing on the beach of swimming in its shore.

I stayed at the Ibis Budget hotel, which offers amazing views over Menton and its marina from its balcony rooms. You can check availability with Booking.com below.

Then spend the day in Monaco, checking out this rich man’s playground. See the hairpin bend from the Grand Prix and the casino, where you’ll likely spot some expensive vehicles drive by.

8. Brussels – Luxembourg

This one takes a little longer, but is well worth the trip if you’re unable to fly direct to Luxembourg from your preferred airport. Flights to Brussels Charleroi can be really affordable, then you can either connect by train, bus or private transfer.

Train: Trains depart regularly with journey times of about 3 hours. Fares start at €19.

Bus: FlixBus and RegioJet run services between the two countries. The journey time is a bit longer at 4 to 5 hours, but typically only costs €9 to €15.

For a special trip, check out Daytrip – a transfer service with added sightseeing. We used Daytrip to travel between Brussels Charleroi and Luxembourg, stopping for 2 hours in Dinant one way and in Namur the other.

This was a really convenient and comfortable way to travel, and our driver was fantastic at providing information to help us make the most of our stops. I loved taking in the view from the cable car above Namur’s Citadel.

Luxembourg has lots to offer too, and public transport there is convenient and free of charge. We loved winding through the caves and tunnels of Bock Casemates and taking the free glass elevator to enjoy the views over the city.

9. Riga – Šiauliai

Another excellent twin-country trip is this one between Riga in Latvia and Sillulia in Lithuania to see the Hill of Crosses.

• Bus: There is a FlixBus service which takes about two hours, but it stops in the city rather than at the Hill of Crosses site so you’d need to catch a taxi from there. It can cost as little as €10.
• Guided Tour: Get Your Guide offer a fantastic small group tour, which costs from around €60 for the day.

You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the beauty of this site of tributes and dedications.

As a small group of six solo tourists, our Get Your Guide tour driver took us over the Lithuanian border and provided insightful information on both countries’ history and culture.

As well as the Hill of Crosses, the tour also stopped in Jelgava to see St. Simeon and St.Ann Orthodox Cathedral and Jelgava Palace.

You can read more about the Hill of Crosses trip in my full post here. Plus find my Riga itinerary and free sightseeing map here.

If that’s not your cup of tea, there’s also a FlixBus route that runs between Riga and Vilnius. But you’d likely need to stop overnight due to the operating times.

10. Stockholm – Tromso

Ok, so this one isn’t quick, easy or particularly cheap. BUT if you’re looking for a bucket-list experience and a way of experiencing the beauty of rural Sweden and Norway, this may be for you.

Step aboard the overnight train from Stockholm, enjoy dinner with a view and a couple of drinks before getting some rest in your private cabin.

You’ll have time for a leisurely breakfast and more incredible views before you arrive in Narvik at lunchtime the following day. From there, you’ll need to board a bus to Tromso, which takes about 4 hours and costs around €35 – just pay when you board.

Tromso is absolutely breathtaking, and well worth the journey. Enjoy amazing views from the cable car, explore the Fjords by boat and maybe even catch a glimpse of the northern lights.

Bus and Train: Train tickets cost from €43 in the seating compartment plus around €35 for the bus.

Tickets for the overnight rail service, operated by SJ, aren’t unreasonable. We paid €285 for a private cabin for two people. But you can do it cheaper if you don’t mind sleeping in a standard seat.

And from Tromso you can fly direct back to the UK, with regular flights operating to London and Manchester during the winter season.

Read more about the journey from Stockholm to Tromso in this detailed review blog post.

Conclusion

Europe awaits your arrival, so it’s time to start making the most of your precious annual leave allowance and get planning that twin-country trip.

Imagine exploring two different countries after jetting off from your home city. Choose your ideal route. Will you travel from Nice to Monte Carlo? Or explore Eastern Europe’s hidden gems, like Tirana and Struga? Europe’s most amazing sights are closer than you realise.

I hope this post has given you the information, and information to kick-start your next multi-country adventure. If you’re not sure where to start, check out the links in this article or visit my travel resources page and see where it will take you!