Europe is a wonderful place to be.
That’s why you should come visit Europe at least once in your life.
But I guess that’s one of those things that if you keep pushing back, you may never do.
So in order to save you from making such mistake I wanted to give you 15 plus one reason why you should come visit Europe.
If you could stay for an extended time, of course, it would be even better, because you would have time to take it all in.
Fortunately for me, this is what I’m doing now, as I’m starting my 13 weeks in beautiful Europe.
Even though I am from France, I had not gotten back to Europe in a very long time, and it was well over due for me.
During these past 3 months I’ve been to many parts Scotland, all over England, across Ireland and a bit of Spain, and next week I’m be flying to France.
As I’m walking around those majestic places, fully enjoying the moment, I realize how fortunate I am.
So, in this post, I wanted to share with you all those reasons why you should come to Europe, and enhance your life by visiting this wonderful part of the world.
So, without further ado, let’s start.
Reason #1 – The Food
Sorry to be so blunt, but if you’ve never left the United States, there are a lot that you don’t know about food variety and tastes.
How do I know?
Well, I’ve been living in the US for over 20 years.
The type of selections, freshness and taste of the food here, beats American food any time of the day. Actually to the question I was often asked in the States, “what do you miss the most about France?” I always answered, “the food!”
So being back here, and tasting the fine pastries and other variety of foods, reminds me everyday how delicious the food is here. And I haven’t even made it to France yet.
Pastries contain much less sugar, but are far tastier. Vegetable and deli tends to look fresher and you can taste that as well.
There are tons of dishes and other food preparations that you see here which simply doesn’t exist in the US.
It’s not so much in the US that I’m worrying about gaining wait, it’s actually here, in Europe.
Reason #2 – The Culture
Europe is a cultural melting pot, but it also has its own.
The European culture tends to be more lay back than the American culture.
Work is necessary, but not as sacred at it is in America.
Shops tend to close earlier, and in some European countries they even close during lunch time.
As I’ve been observing Europeans for the past 13 weeks I would say that they tend to be less stressed than the average American is.
People love to take the time to live and enjoy life.
Reason #3 – The Architecture
I don’t think that any other region of the world is more architecture rich as Europe.
With buildings that are standing from centuries before Christ area, it’s the architecture geek paradise.
What’s considered old in American is considered rather new here.
Right now I’m in a Victorian apartment in London. The building was built in the mid 1885. In the US a house built in the 1950’s is considered old, and even buildings like churches are no more than a couple hundred years old.
So, architecture geeks, come visit Europe and you’ll be glad you did.
Reason #4 – The Art
Europe is the seat of the most famous and popular artists, from painters such are Monet, Degas or Picasso. Sculptors such as Rodin, Michelangelo or Antioch, to other architects like Le Corbusier, John Douglas or William Chambers…
All of which with many other great artists of their time are responsible for some popular art works in Europe, their birthplace.
Reason #5 – The History
Europe is pretty much were human history started.
As I was walking around the British Museum, here in London, I learned about the most powerful people in the world before the Roman Empire.
Now we are talking some 4,000+ years of human history and beyond.
Europe is really a history house, and anywhere you walk there’s history around you.
Reason #6 – The Majestic Cities
If I told you…
Paris, London, Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam, Prague, Venice, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Athena, Barcelona, etc…?
I’m sure it rings a bell even if you’ve never been to any of those cities, doesn’t it?
Well, they are all in Europe for the enjoyment, and I’m blessed to be able to say that I’ve been in most of those cities on that list.
But you must come to Europe in order to see them.
Reason #7 – The Origin of your Language
If you are from the other side of the pond (the American side) whether you speak English, Spanish or French, your language was born here, in Europe, and to this day it’s spoken in a more pure form here, so to speak.
So, if you want to hear how your language should truly be spoken (accent excluded), then come to its country of origin.
During my travel in England and Spain, I was really able to appreciate how the language is better spoken here.
If like me, you’re a language lover, you might appreciate it too.
Reason #8 – The Wealth
Europe, and especially what we call Western Europe is pretty wealthy.
The Pound is much higher than the dollar right now and the Euro while lower than the Pound is still higher than the dollar, to start with.
Real estate prices are outrageous over here. Even in the tiniest village, the prices of houses are more than double than the price of houses in the capital of North Carolina, for example.
So if you’re are looking for wealth, Europe is pretty wealthy.
Money has more value, and real estate is pretty high.
Reason #9 – The Safety
Risks always exist everywhere, but all in all I feel safer in Europe than I do in the US.
As a life/energy coach I can say that I am very sensitive to the energy around me and I feel a quiet and calm energy here as I’m walking in the streets.
I feel safe to say, that you will feel safe in Europe.
Reason #10 – The Climate
While I personally love the South American climate, because I love the heat, if you like more temperate temperatures, Europe is not as cold as winters in northern America and not as hot or humid has it can get in southern America. Especially in Northern Europe.
I know a lot of people who complain about the heat all summer long in North Carolina, so I feel that those people would be happy here.
As far as hurricanes, earth quakes and other floods, there are almost non-existent in Europe. That’s one of the reason some very old stuff are still standing.
Reason #11 – Cheap Travel from City to City or Country to Country
Whether you choose to travel by train or by air, while choosing what’s the most practical way depending where you are going and where you’re coming from, there are both extremely cheap opportunities to travel from city to city or country to country.
I’ve been on 10 flights and over 30 trains during the past 90 days, and I found traveling in Europe so easy and affordable, that there’s no reason why not to.
Reason #12 – The Countryside
The countryside in Europe is a jewel.
Old villages, hills, mountains, lakes, rivers and magnificent fields, you can find it all here.
Plus the older stone houses and exquisite churches and other castles make the European countryside a beautiful place to be.
Reason #13 – The Pubs and Cafes
There are more pubs and cafes in Europe per square miles than Mac Donald’s restaurants in a whole city in the US.
You can order a drink and sit down and relax for an entire afternoon, and no one will bother you by asking you to live in any sugar coated way they might be doing it in the US.
If you like alcohol, Europe is probably the easiest place to get such beverage everywhere.
Alcohol is sold in every super market and fast foods. And it’s sold 7 days a week from morning to night.
Yes, there are no more drunks here than anywhere else.
Reason #14 – The Fashion
Europe is home to some of the capital fashion cities of the world with master fashion designers such as Yves St Laurent, Christian Dior, Coco Channel, Giorgio Armani, Pierre Cardin or Versace, all famous European (French and Italians in this case) the two biggest fashion countries of Europe.
Europeans like to dress up when going out.
Reason #15 – The Festivals
European Countries have popular festivals all throughout the year, even during the winter.
These are great opportunities to enjoy music, art, food, wine, and other local specialties that are free most of the time.
In Alicante, the city I stayed in Spain, there was a 4 day festival that went on none stop day and night.
Europeans love to have fun.
Bonus Reason – The Diversity
While we hear the term Europe, especially in the Americas, Europe is made of very different cultures and languages that makes it one people with a lot of similarities, but yet many differences.
I really physically felt that when I flew from Manchester, England to Barcelona, Spain, the differences in culture, climate, language and way of life were palpable.
I hope you enjoyed this article. Please, make sure you leave a comment and share it if you did.
Hi Sylviane,
You sure have made great points on why we should visit Europe. When I spend time in Italy it was a food festival for me!
But when it comes to culture, Americans have to realize our culture here is so small. And the fact that European settlers came in to do so.
But in Europe, there are so many places to see going back so many years. It opens our eyes with the history of each place.
Plus, I am a culture lover lol. I love to go places and sink right in with cultural trends. Great write up and wish I was on the journey with you.
-Donna
Donna Merrill invites you to read..Are You Chasing Fast Money Or Building A Solid Business?
Hi Donna,
Well, I wish you were on the journey with me too, that’d be so cool. I dream that one day you and the other gals will come with me on European tour, that would be so cool.
I love culture, and history. I love all that. Few weeks ago I was in Skipton Castle in the Yorkshire region and I was touching the wall with a flat hand to take those stones energy in, and with the thoughts that some people of another area touched those stones too. I love that stuff LOL!
Thank you so much for coming and commenting here. Really appreciate it.
Love this list. Love the slower pace of Europe, when compared to North America. I love the festivals, like the one I attended in Germany. I love the cafes and pubs and the weather. It’s much too hot here in Canada today. Also, I love history. Loking forward to hearing about your time back in your home country.
Kerry invites you to read..TToT: Thunderbolts and Rainbows
Hi Kerry,
Ah, I know that those posts of my are your favorite ones.
I love everything here too, except for the weather in the UK, it’s too cool for me most of the time, but as you go down south European countries the weather warms up quite a bit. But many people are like you, they don’t like the heat, but me I love it I do miss the North Carolina heat, but that’s the only thing I miss, really 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed that list, and thanks for coming by.
#16: The People!
Europe has so many different cultures, it would be awesome to have time and money to get to know them all! 🙂
Great post, Sylviane.
I traveled a lot within Europe, but I still miss to visit many places.
Hope to complete the “tour” someday. 🙂
Thanks for sharing and have a great rest of this week.
Erik invites you to read..About
Hi Erik,
Yes, Europe is for sure rich in people’s cultures. It’s amazing how little we have to travel once here to find an amazing contrast.
Thanks for coming by and hope you’re doing great. I’ve been very bad with my blog hopping these days, but it should quiet down a bit soon.
Have a great day!
Thanks Sylviane,
Such a lovely post about Europe. I am totally agree with every aspect of your post. I live in the Netherlands myself and as a dutch citizen I would like to say that we are very open minded to other people especially tourists. Come and visit our country one day. Bet you will like it 😉
cheers,
Yordi
Yordi van Dijk invites you to read..16 Most Essential WordPress Plugins for Bloggers
Hi Yordi,
Actually I met someone from the Netherlands in Scotland, and she was a doll. I definitely want to travel to the countries of Europe that I don’t know yet, and yes, yours is on my list. I know we European are very open and free spirits 🙂
So glad you found my blog and hope to see you around.
Hi Sylviane,
Aaah, I wanted to go to Europe, especially after reading this article. But it’s still a dream to me for now. Well, Europe is one of the places I wanted to visit, along with Japan and Korea. 🙂
I know I still can not go there for now, but I will make this article as my motivation to get there. 😀
Thanks for sharing this with us, Sylviane.
Have a great beginning of this week!
~Nanda
Nanda Rahmanius invites you to read..Top 10 SEO Methods to Bring Your Website Into Google Top 10 Results
Hi Nanda,
I sincerely hope that you will make it one day soon, and when you do, I want to hear all about it 🙂 I’m sure you will love it.
So glad that my post motivated you.
Thanks for coming by.
Hey Sylviane,
I haven’t always wanted to travel to Europe but if someone were to offer me a free trip sometime I’m sure I wouldn’t turn that down.
I’ve traveled some and it’s not really what I want to do a lot of but maybe from time to time. As you know though, my next big destination will be Australia and I would also love to go to New Zealand. Just to see another country and yes, the culture and the food are what I would probably enjoy the most. Just exploring something new, outside my comfort zone and of course a million miles away from Texas and this heat! LOL!!!
I know you’re really enjoying your traveling and having the time of your life. I know you’ll be going to France in a couple of days and I’m sure you’re excited to visit home. I’m so thrilled for you and can’t wait to hear all about it.
Thank you for sharing these reasons and pictures with us. Yep, you’re a world traveler now girl.
~Adrienne
Adrienne invites you to read..Who Should You Really Connect With In The Blogosphere?
Hi Adrienne,
Yes, I hear you. When I had my babies I didn’t want to travel either, so I think that between your daughter and mom, that makes strong reasons why you don’t really want to travel.
Every thing has it own season. I was the most stuck person I knew for years, and now I’m a frequent flier plus all the trains I’ve taken in between.
The most amazing thing I felt was when I flew from Manchester to Barcelona.
You’re in England in the morning and in Spain in the afternoon, and those two countries are so different that you can’t help but say wow! All my senses were experiencing the culture shock. The climate, the language, the scenery, the people. Even though I had been to Spain before, it was so so long ago, and I not felt such a contrast before.
That’s why when Americans talk about Europe, I think that they have no idea about those differences from one country to another, even though they use the same money now 🙂
So, yes, I’m enjoying myself, but I’m still grieving my loved ones whom I have not yet been able to write about. So this trip is very therapeutic to me.
This is my last evening in London and tomorrow it’s back to the source 🙂 Two donkeys, a sheep, 2 dogs and five cats are waiting for me. Now you know how happy I am about that! But gosh I get so attached and I cry when I leave 🙂 I’m so freaking sensitive. That will never change.
Thanks so much for coming, Adrienne.
Hi Sylviane,
I feel like been teleported to Europe now! From what I have read, there are lots of attractions in the European continents.
I am really impressed to learn about the natural attractions that readily gives peaceful energy to any visitor.
It is better to experience all that Europe has to offer than read about it.
One day in my life time I surely will visit this enticing and appealing continent with diverse cultures, climates, history, wealth and interests.
You are doing very well as ‘travel’ blogger Sylviane, perhaps you should consider travel blogging full time 😉
I wish you the best in your long vacation to Europe!
I left this comment in kingged.com as well where I have read this awesome post!
Hi Sunday,
I certainly wish that you could make the trip in the near future. I’m sure you’ll love it.
I don’t know if I want to travel full time, but I’m thinking of doing the same thing I’m doing here in Australia as well. so, will see.
Thank you so much for coming by, and you have a great one!
Totally enjoyed reading the article. I’ve never been to Europe or to any other country, so it always amazes me whenever I read about their cultures, different norms, behaviors, different places and foods.
Thanks for sharing these tiny glimpses of Europe and why we should visit this majestic place full of wonderful building styles, history, foods, arts and so much more.
Can’t deny Europe is one of the top Places I want to visit.
What also got me astonished is the “Cheap Travel from City to City or Country to Country”. Haha!
metz invites you to read..4 Effective Ways to Monetize Your Blog
Hi Metz,
I hope you will travel at some point in your life, because it really is an eye opener.
Yes, it is cheaper to travel in Europe than it is in the US for sure, so that’s a great advantage of this area of the world, while the currency is stronger than the dollar though, so it’s always a bit more expensive for me right now 🙂
Thanks for coming by.
Hello,
From Architecture to History, From food to Art, From Majestic Cities to Countryside
Everything is Great about Europe, I will really visit once in my life to europe, Your post explains europe is not less than paradise (x And its place of dream where everyone should go once in life.
Traveling is one of my many dreams and I cannot wait to do it more often. This post really inspires me to do more with my business, so that I may one day have the ability to travel the world. My girlfriend is foreign and I love learning about different cultures, being surrounded with different people, and learning about new things. I want to one day visit Europe and experience everything that they have to offer, as you have done. Europe seems like a very beautiful place and I can’t wait to see the many sights that they have to offer. I also want to learn about and try the foods there. This was a great and inspiring post.
Lawrence Berry invites you to read..5 Money Mistakes Teens and Young Adults Make
Dear Sylviane,
How surprising that you are writing about Alicante. We are based exactly in the “barrio” (district) where the Fiesta “Mauros y Christianos” is happening once a year for for night. It is actually a great traditional moment, even if, for us, it is difficult to sleep and work. Because it is ending every night at 5am and start again the morning at 9am! You can see barbarians, soldiers, crusaders then having a break at 4pm to eat an ice cream and trying to find some shadow 🙂
Hi Greg,
Very interesting indeed. Seems that I was in Alicante during the same crazy festival you mentioned here, and at the end I so wanted the music to stop and a bit a air conditioning too. Thankfully as soon as I landed in England both problems stopped 🙂
Thanks for coming by.
There are 3 fiestas in a row in fact: “Hogueras” which is a sculpture contest and all but one are burnt during the night, “Mascletas” a nice attempt to make music with firecrackers and makes the sky disappear, “Mauros y Christianos” which is an history of christian arabic wars. It’s a paradise for tourism, despite the hot weather as you say. But for us, it is difficult to work efficiently 🙂 All streets are blocked and nights are more noisy than days.
Greg invites you to read..Farid Rueda top 15 Mexican street artist
They are all wonderful reasons but the first five are all great reasons to go to Europe. I have been lucky enough to spend the last 4 years living and traveling in Asia. I hope to get back to Europe in the next couple of years for all the reasons you mention. Travel is a wonderful part of life for me.
John invites you to read..Neak Poan Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Hi John and welcome here.
I’m glad that you want to go to Europe again. It’s such a wonderful place to visit and to be.
Thanks for coming.