16 days in Europe Itinerary

Madrid is known for its cultural and artistic heritage, lively nightlife, and a dynamic culinary scene.

Start off your visit on the 12th (Wed): steep yourself in history at Casa de Campo and then admire the landmark architecture of Royal Palace of Madrid. On the 13th (Thu), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: admire the striking features of Plaza Mayor, then admire the natural beauty at Retiro Park (Parque del Retiro), and then see the interesting displays at Museo Nacional del Prado.

To see photos, reviews, and more tourist information, read Madrid itinerary planner.

San Jose, Costa Rica to Madrid is an approximately 26-hour flight. You'll lose 7 hours traveling from San Jose to Madrid due to the time zone difference. While traveling from San Jose, expect a bit warmer days and about the same nights in Madrid, ranging from highs of 39°C to lows of 22°C. You'll have a few hours on the 14th (Fri) to wrap things up before traveling to Barcelona.

Barcelona, the country’s second-largest city, is a cosmopolitan urban center known for its throbbing youthful energy and stellar architecture.

Barcelona is known for sightseeing, parks, museums, nightlife, and shopping. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: admire the landmark architecture of La Sagrada Familia, examine the collection at El Cafè de la Pedrera, explore and take pictures at Camp Nou, and make a trip to Park Güell.

For ratings, reviews, and other tourist information, use the Barcelona itinerary planner.

Getting from Madrid to Barcelona by train takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: fly; or drive. Traveling from Madrid in July, expect nights in Barcelona to be about the same, around 25°C, while days are a bit cooler, around 34°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Mon) to allow time to travel to Paris.

A beautiful and romantic city fit for any itinerary, Paris brims with historic associations and remains vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.

Step out of Paris to go to Versailles and see Palace of Versailles, which is approximately 44 minutes away. There's still lots to do: take in panoramic vistas at Eiffel Tower, admire the striking features of Dôme Sacre Coeur, contemplate the long history of Arc de Triomphe, and admire the natural beauty at Luxembourg Gardens.

To find more things to do, photos, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our Paris trip builder.

You can fly from Barcelona to Paris in 5 hours. Other options are to take a train; or drive. Prepare for little chillier weather when traveling from Barcelona in July: high temperatures in Paris hover around 30°C and lows are around 17°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 20th (Thu) to allow time to travel to Berlin.

The country's capital and largest city, Berlin is a diverse urban center boasting a lively nightlife and countless things to do.

Kick off your visit on the 21st (Fri): make a trip to Brandenburg Gate, get a sense of history and politics at Reichstag Building, then deepen your understanding at Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and finally examine the collection at Pergamonmuseum. On the 22nd (Sat), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: admire nature's wide array of creatures at Zoo Berlin and then get the lay of the land with Walking tours.

For traveler tips, where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, refer to the Berlin online itinerary creator.

Traveling by flight from Paris to Berlin takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Sun) to allow time to travel to Prague.

Prague lures millions of tourists each year with its World Heritage-listed medieval city center--a labyrinth of narrow lanes, bridges, cathedrals, and palaces overlooked by a thousand-year-old castle.

Prague is known for sightseeing, historic sites, nightlife, museums, and zoos & aquariums. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: take in the views from Charles Bridge, steep yourself in history at Old Town Square, take in the local highlights with Walking tours, and pause for some serene contemplation at St. Vitus Cathedral.

To find photos, other places to visit, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Prague trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by flight from Berlin to Prague takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 30°C in July, and nighttime lows around 18°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 25th (Tue) early enough to travel back home.