18 days in Europe Itinerary

Though Cologne famously contains 12 Romanesque churches, the city's top prize remains its landmark Gothic cathedral.

Start off your visit on the 20th (Wed): admire the landmark architecture of Cologne Cathedral and then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Saint Gereon's Basilica.

For ratings, more things to do, reviews, and tourist information, go to the Cologne trip itinerary planning tool .

Izmir, Turkey to Cologne is an approximately 6-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train; or drive. Traveling from Izmir to Cologne, you'll gain 2 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Izmir in November, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be a bit warmer in Cologne, with lows of 4°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Thu) to allow time to travel to Hamburg.

As the country's biggest port and one of the busiest in all of Europe, Hamburg has a well-deserved reputation as Germany's Gateway to the World.

Start off your visit on the 22nd (Fri): pause for some serene contemplation at St. Petri Kirche, then explore the galleries of Miniatur Wunderland, then examine the collection at Dialog in the Dark, and finally make a trip to Rathausmarkt. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 23rd (Sat): have some family-friendly fun at EscapeDiem, contemplate the long history of St Nikolai Memorial, and then take in the spiritual surroundings of Marienkirche.

For photos, other places to visit, more things to do, and other tourist information, you can read our Hamburg trip itinerary builder .

You can fly from Cologne to Hamburg in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. In November, daytime highs in Hamburg are 9°C, while nighttime lows are 3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Sat) to allow enough time to travel to Malmo.

A conglomeration of over a hundred different nationalities, cosmopolitan Malmo sits on the southern tip of Sweden as part of the most densely populated area in Scandinavia.

Start off your visit on the 24th (Sun): stroll around Kungsparken, then snap pictures at Oresund Bridge, then admire the striking features of HSB Turning Torso, and finally get your game on at The Alley Escape Rooms. Keep things going the next day: pause for some serene contemplation at St. John's Church (St. Johannes Kyrka), make a trip to Little Square, and then explore the galleries of Malmohus castle.

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

Do a combination of flight and train from Hamburg to Malmo in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. In November, daytime highs in Malmo are 9°C, while nighttime lows are 4°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 25th (Mon) early enough to drive to Bremen.

A rather long and narrow city spread along both sides of the Weser River, Bremen has more than a thousand years of history.

Start off your visit on the 26th (Tue): don't miss a visit to Schnoor Viertel, take an in-depth tour of Bremer Geschichtenhaus, make a trip to Marktplatz, then admire the striking features of Bremer Rathaus, and finally get to know the fascinating history of Historische Altstadt.

To find photos, maps, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Bremen holiday maker .

You can drive from Malmo to Bremen in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train and flight; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 10°C in November, and nighttime lows around 3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Tue) to allow time to travel to Amsterdam.

Known as one of the greatest small cities in the world, Amsterdam charms visitors with its cool and cozy atmosphere.

Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Room Escape Games and Efteling. Venture out of the city with trips to Louwman Museum The Hague (in The Hague) and Canals area (in Utrecht). There's much more to do: get engrossed in the history at Anne Frank House, examine the collection at Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder, contemplate the waterfront views at The Amstel, and wander the streets of The Jordaan.

For reviews, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read Amsterdam day trip planning tool .

You can fly from Bremen to Amsterdam in 3 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 12°C in November, and nighttime lows around 5°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 1st (Sun) so you can go by car to Ghent.

Ghent melds the fairy tale-like beauty of Bruges with its stunning Flemish architecture, while at the same time supporting a vibrant cafe and bar scene.

On the 2nd (Mon), look for all kinds of wild species at Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen Nature Reserve, then pause for some serene contemplation at St. Nicholas' Cathedral, then don't miss a visit to Korenmarkt, and finally learn the secrets of beer at a beer tour and tasting.

To see other places to visit, reviews, where to stay, and more tourist information, go to the Ghent tour site .

You can drive from Amsterdam to Ghent in 2.5 hours. Other options are to take a train; or take a bus. December in Ghent sees daily highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Mon) to allow enough time to drive to Luxembourg City.

While Luxembourg City boasts the shiny headquarters of several European institutions and EU offices, it is also home to a beautiful old town that's designated as a World Heritage Site.

Take the guesswork out of planning a Luxembourg City vacation by using our trip itinerary maker.

You can drive from Ghent to Luxembourg City in 3 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or take a train. When traveling from Ghent in December, plan for slightly colder days in Luxembourg City, with highs around 6°C, while nights are about the same with lows around 1°C. On the 3rd (Tue), you're off toParis.

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.

Explore hidden gems such as Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte and Jardin des Tuileries. There's much more to do: admire the masterpieces at Louvre Museum, admire the landmark architecture of Arc de Triomphe, don't miss a visit to Place des Vosges, and pause for some serene contemplation at Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre.

To find more things to do, other places to visit, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read Paris trip planner .

Getting from Luxembourg City to Paris by train takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: drive; or fly. In December, daytime highs in Paris are 9°C, while nighttime lows are 3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 7th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel back home.