Traveling Through Europe: A Guide (or an Attempt To)

People arrive at their semester abroad with ambitious travel plans and an I’m-going-to-see-it-all mindset. I definitely did. Now, as the semester comes to an end, I’ve realized that besides Denmark, I’ve visited 10 countries and 18 cities. Some trips were solo adventures, others were with friends I met in Copenhagen or friends studying abroad elsewhere. Some plans were spontaneous; others had been sitting in my calendar since December. I alternated between trains and planes, between carefully planned itineraries and impulsive weekend escapes.

This post is less of a “do’s and don’ts” guide and more of a collection of reflections from my experiences traveling while abroad. Everyone experiences study abroad differently, and there is no universal formula for how to “do it right.” These are simply lessons I learned along the way that might help you think about your own travels.

One piece of advice people often give study abroad students is to spend more time in Copenhagen and Denmark instead of leaving every weekend to see the rest of Europe. I understand that advice, but I also know many students — myself included — come abroad feeling like this might be their one opportunity to travel around Europe so freely.

At the same time, I also know myself. I am not the kind of person who can land at the airport late Sunday night and show up energized for an early Monday morning class. Even though traveling within Europe is relatively easy, it can still be chaotic, exhausting, and overwhelming at times. On top of that, you are still a full-time student adjusting to life in a foreign country.

Because of that, I learned the importance of slowing down and being realistic about my own capacity. I used many weekends to stay in Copenhagen, take day trips to Sweden, or explore more of Denmark.

Copenhagen is a cool city where a lot of cool things take place. Make sure to give yourself a chance to explore them!

Eventually, though — especially during the colder months — I started feeling restless and booked a last-minute weekend trip to Antwerp. Looking back, I think what worked best for me was balancing different kinds of weekends: some spent resting in Copenhagen, some exploring nearby places, and some dedicated to low-pressure European trips that didn’t completely drain me.

Antwerp ended up being one of my top three favorite trips for the semester

Another factor that shaped my travel style was my complicated relationship with planes. I already knew before arriving in Denmark that I do not particularly enjoy flying. Because of that, I often preferred flying once and then traveling between cities by train during longer breaks. Other times, I relied entirely on trains, which is what we did during our slow travel project.

Overall, this strategy worked really well for me. The only downside was that almost all of my travel outside Denmark ended up being concentrated in the second half of the semester, while the first half felt relatively empty. Depending on your academic schedule and when your study tour takes place, it might help to spread your travel more evenly throughout the semester. That way, you can balance time in Copenhagen with time elsewhere without exhausting yourself.

I also planned some trips before the semester even started, which turned out to be both helpful and limiting. On one hand, booking trains and Airbnbs for Italy months in advance saved me a lot of money. On the other hand, it reduced my flexibility when it came to traveling with new friends I met at DIS. Luckily, those pre-planned trips involved visiting friends I already knew, so it worked out well for me. Still, I learned that while planning ahead can definitely help financially, leaving room for spontaneity is important too.

A draft for spring break travel initially planned in December

Overall, traveling while abroad has absolutely been one of the highlights of this experience. There are the obvious things: the postcard moments, the beautiful cities, the excitement of seeing new places. But there is also something else — the bonding with new friends, the reunions with old ones, and the personal growth that comes from navigating unfamiliar places on your own.

Most importantly, though, I think it is important not to compare your experience to anyone else’s. Some people travel every weekend. Others barely leave their host city. Neither experience is more “correct” than the other. Study abroad is not a competition.

Travel at your own pace.