Europe

Europe

Europe packs an absurd amount of cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity into a relatively small space. You can drive from the fjords of Norway to the beaches of Greece in two days, crossing a dozen countries, languages, and culinary traditions along the way. About 450 million people live in the EU alone, and the continent's history layers ancient ruins, medieval cities, and modern architecture on top of each other in a way that few other places can match.

For us, Europe's greatest strength is its density. Trains connect major cities. Budget airlines make weekend trips to another country trivially cheap. The Schengen Area lets you cross borders without stopping. Every country has its own food culture, its own rhythm, its own version of "the good life." Western Europe is polished, expensive, and well-trodden. The Balkans, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus are cheaper, rawer, and increasingly on the map. The Mediterranean is timeless. Scandinavia is beautiful and will punish your wallet.

Costs vary enormously. Portugal, the Balkans, and parts of Eastern Europe are genuinely affordable. France, Switzerland, and Scandinavia are not. The best value in Europe right now is often in the countries that don't top the Instagram lists, which is exactly why they're worth visiting.