Top Trending European Destinations for Tours

As Travelers Flock to Europe, They’re also Booking Tours at an Unprecedented Rate
The European summer travel boom is on! It’s being seen in cruising, the hospitality industry and now, in tours. According to Vancouver-based private tour marketplace ToursByLocals, travelers have been booking a record number of tours, with desire for them increasing beyond 2019’s pre-pandemic levels.

Tours in Paris, for instance, are up 45 percent from 2019’s April and May booking data, Lisbon up 40 percent and Athens up 35 percent. ToursByLocals has shared the top ten destinations for taking tours in Europe. From Paris to Florence, many of these destinations are considered cultural capitals – and many are capital cities of their respective countries.

It isn’t surprising that travelers would choose to explore these destination by tour: some travelers can feel a sense of anxiety being in a new place, let alone a large city. Having a guided tour or a private one can help ease that stress and bring a confidence to their travels they might not have had wandering the city on their own.

Click through this slideshow to see some of the most popular destinations in Europe for travelers to experience by tour.

Paris, France
The City of Love has seen a 45 percent increase in booked tours from 2019’s levels, which across the board had been a record-breaking year for the travel and tourism industry prior to the pandemic. From exploring the Louvre to exploring Paris’s nitty-gritty underground catacombs, a tour can help travelers optimize the time they spend in Paris, especially if it’s not that long of a trip.

Rome, Italy
The Eternal City has long been a haven for travelers from across the world who come to explore some of the remnants of Ancient Rome. A guided tour can not only help travelers traverse the sometimes overwhelming city, but they can also provide a greater education when visiting the Colosseum, the Vatican or another iconic Roman landmark.

London, England
The capital of the United Kingdom, London has long been visited for its wealth of museums, arts and culture. Travelers can book tours to give themselves a deeper insight into the importance of London attractions such as the Tower of London, or if they’re visiting London for the first time and don’t feel comfortable making their way around a particular area on their own. Much of London is walkable and is worth getting lost in, though, at least for a while.

Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is brimming with culture, history and the arts. Travelers can enjoy exploring the city in a different light by taking a tour of the area’s historic districts, which offer deeper information on what makes them so unique. Foodies and photographers can also enjoy taking tours specifically designed for these hobbies, too.

Athens, Greece
One of the oldest cities in Europe, Athens is a popular destination to visit in Greece. Travelers prefer booking tours in Athens to learn from a local archaeologist about the city’s ancient sites, like the Acropolis, which can be an eye-opening experience and help travelers paint a vivid picture of what the city was like over 2,000 years ago.

Florence, Italy
Budding artists or art enthusiasts love to come to Florence to see their favorite Renaissance artists’ original works of art, and that’s reflected in the types of tours travelers to this classic Italian city book. From Italian cooking classes to tours around the city’s most iconic art museums and galleries, travelers can immerse themselves in a world where the arts reign supreme.

Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is known for its gastronomy and beautiful architecture both old and new. Travelers who book a tour can often enjoy skipping the waiting line to enjoy visiting iconic landmarks like the Sagrada Familia and Gaudi’s other playful architectural marvels, or even enjoy exclusive access to some of the city’s oldest landmarks, all while providing an expert’s wealth of information about the area.

Venice, Italy
From navigating the canals to finding specific attractions, some travelers visiting Venice can find it hard to acclimate to the unusually designed city. Booking a walking (or boating) tour around the city can familiarize travelers with its design and architecture, while also building confidence for them to go out and explore on their own!

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam, the so-called “Venice of the North,” is another canal city that can be daunting to explore at first. A walking, biking or boating tour can help familiarize travelers with the city’s layout and design, while ones that focus on history can provide travelers with an eye-opening lesson in how important the city has been for European trade throughout the centuries.

Istanbul, Turkey
From the Grand Bazaar to the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul boasts thousands of years of history and a surprisingly diverse culture that is often exemplified through its attractions and landmarks. Still, travelers can find a culture shock when they arrive, so travelers who are visiting the city for the first time can find it easier to take a guided tour of the city in order to get a local perspective on what was once the capital of the Byzantine Empire.