Europe is a vast continent, and with so many countries and cultures, it can be hard to know where to start. This first-time Europe travel guide is designed to help you decide where to go and what to do based on what interests and inspires you—whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in Europe’s rich cultural and culinary scenes, or just want to get out into nature.

However, while this beginner's guide to exploring Europe is designed with first-time travelers in mind, the Europe travel planning tips can be used by anyone, including travelers who’ve spent a fair bit of time exploring the continent. (Of course, though we’ve covered as much of the region as we can, we’ve left out a few destinations that aren’t currently safe to visit, as well as some transcontinental countries that fall in both Europe and Asia.) Here’s what to know before traveling to Europe.