EUROPE: Detailed Itinerary and Expenses

#GRANDEUROPETOUR SOLO TRIP 2026

#france #belgium #spain #Italy #Vaticano #austria #switzerland #uae

August 15-September 05, 2026 (See Europe Travel Map below)

EUR1 = PHP70.37 (Euro EUR to Philippine Peso PHP)

PHP1620 – PH Travel tax

Etihad MNL-AUH-CDG-AUH-MNL – USD1136.49

Highlights per Country:

Main reason I chose capital cities is to visit the famous palaces, world museums and one of the new 7 wonders.

Paris – “The City of Light” (La Ville Lumière)

Paris City Tour – Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Paris Museum Pass D1 Musée du Louvre

Paris Museum Pass D2 Château de Versailles

Bruxelles – “The Capital of Europe” (La capitale de l’Europe)

Brussels City Tour – Palais Royal de Bruxelles

Brugge – “The Venice of the North” (Venetië van het Noorden)

Bruges City Tour – Het Belfort van Brugge

Madrid – “The City of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree” (Villa del Oso y el Madroño)

El Madrid de Los Austrias: Palacio Real de Madrid

Madrid City Tour – Museo Nacional del Prado

Roma – “The Eternal City” (La Città Eterna)

Centro Storico: Colosseo- Palatino-Foro Romano

Galleria Borghese

Stato della Città del Vaticano – “The Holy See”

Vatican City: Saint Peter’s Basilica and other Major basilicas

Wien – “The Imperial City” (Kaiserstadt)

Sisi Pass: Schönbrunn Palace-Hofburg-Furniture Museum

Vienna City Tour Innere Stadt and free churches

Genève – “Peace Capital” (Capitale de la paix)

Visit CICR HQ Museum

Old Town (Vieille Ville), Jet d’Eau, Sisi Memorial Plaque

Gent – “Artevelde City” (Arteveldestad)

Ghent City Tour – Het Belfort van Gent

*Abu Dhabi – “The Cultural Capital of the UAE”/”The Land of the Gazelle”

Abu Dhabi Tour – Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

*I availed Etihad Stopover (3D2N free hotel)

Average steps per day: 25k steps; highest record 30k steps in a day

Paid using Euro EUR (cash and card) are highlighted in sky blue.

TOTAL ACTUAL EXPENSES (INCLUDING VISAS AND SOUVENIRS): PHP259,251.01

SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION 2026 TIMELINE

Mar03 Applied online by creating France-Visas account at https://connect.france-visas.gouv.fr/ and created TLScontact account for Schengen France visa application at https://visas-fr.tlscontact.com. Paid TLS Service Fee Php1730

May19 Went to TLScontact at Rockwell Makati to pass application documents, biometrics and paid Schengen Visa Fee Php6490

May22 Received email that my passport is ready for pickup

May23 Picked up passport at TLScontact Rockwell Makati. Granted Multiple-entry visa for 20-day stay

ITEM and Cost (Php):

Insurance Schengen Klook PGA Sompo Aug14-29 2291

Flight Reservation Aug15-28 MNL-CDG-MNL 1000

Visa Fee via France TLS paid via BPI Visa Sig 6490

TLS Service Fee 1730

BPI Bank Cert 300 and Statement 50perpage 500

Passport ID pictures Schengen Tronix 85

TOTAL 12096

EUROPE TIPS:

1. Book a timed-entry ticket for all your must-visit attractions. In Paris Museum Pass, I booked all sites with mandatory reservations and separate days for Louvre and Versailles. Always check their opening days and when they have FREE admission if ever. Group nearby attractions for ease of commuting. Main reason I chose capital cities is to visit the famous palaces, world museums and one of the new 7 wonders. Actually, I have lists generated from ChatGPT and I crossed every place I visited and food I’ve tasted. It’s fun but don’t pressure yourself to check them all. I’m fascinated by the lives of the royals and history with their film and drama adaptations so I planned carefully what museum passes to buy, and combine with city cards for more discounts. In summer, attractions have long queues so plan ahead to not waste your time.

2. Bring a refillable water bottle or better a collapsible/foldable one. Most European parks and plazas have potable water. At Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Square, they confiscated plastic and metal tumblers so I’m thankful I have silicone foldable bottle.

3. Google Maps is my essential for navigation since it is synced to buses, metro and trams. More on walking at cities so bring a powerbank. Rest for a while if necessary. I practiced commuting at Paris so I get used to it on other cities as well. I’m aware of the pickpocketing in Europe but overall, I felt safe. What I really noticed are beggars inside trains. Still, be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Use anti-theft bag and phone lanyard if necessary. Bring padlocks for lockers on your accommodation and to your backpack as well even if it’s handcarry. It’s harf to carry a luggage via metro (not all stations have elevator) so better use Uber. I used Uber when going to Gare du Nord (exiting Paris) and leaving Abu Dhabi center (back to airport).

4. Once I got my visa, I quickly searched for a cheap flight to Europe. I considered layover in Abu Dhabi so I booked Etihad and at the time of my booking, it’s the cheapest (other airline are over Php100k). I also extended my leaves since my initial application is 14 days only, so I bought travel insurance extended to September. Advice to me: if you have 20-day stay Schengen visa, don’t max it. In case of delays, you’ll have allowance, so 19 days. In UAE visa, I have 50 hours layover (more than 48hrs) so I applied 96hrs. 3k pesos though I have free hotel ni Etihad. It’s still a steal.

5. After securing flight to Europe, I hurriedly book intercity transpo. At Trip I booked RyanAir flights which are priority so I will have cabin baggage. For other connections that have super expensive flights, I opted for Flixbus overnight trips to save hotel night. Eurail Pass is not feasible on my route since my destinations are very far from each other (anti-clockwise direction). Also, I returned to Belgium for my relative (left luggage for few nights).

6. For food, all of my hotels (Agoda) have breakfast so I’m full until afternoon. All have great buffet breakfast (especially in Madrid and Rome). I chose bunk bed with curtains (6pax per room or less) for privacy. I just went to grocery stores for snacks on my Flixbus trips from Vienna to Brussels. Billa, Migros, Coop, Aldi and Carrefour are your bestfriends. I tried also a city’s food specialty so I splurged a bit on my dinner like Parisian meal at a bouillon, arroz in Madrid, carbonara in Rome, and Wiener Schnitzel. Tipping is not mandatory but on some restos, when paying via CC, tipping percentage is 1% or 3% it’s up to you.

7. I used lockers on my day trip at Bruges and Ghent since I have a backpack even it only contains clothes and snacks. Pay using CC. Toilets/WC have fees on most metro stations so use coins or tap to pay using CC. Most cities are now going cashless with exception of some souvenir shops where cash is still king.

My 250k actual expenses could be lessened if you can score a cheaper flight (since summer peak season, hotels are expensive as well), you won’t splurge on food, no paid toilets, not bringing home souvenirs, and stay on hostels with open bunk beds. It really depends on your travel lifestyle.

Hope this will guide will help you. Thanks to all the tips I read here and the vlogs I’ve watched super helpful! I’m dreaming of my next European tour in few years… Hopefully to visit Central Europe for the palaces left to visit and museums to wander. Enjoy your Europe trip soon!

#sharingiscaring#GrandEuropeTour#solotrip#europetravel#Summer2026#PalaceGoals#worldmuseums#NewSevenWonders