Europe Travel Guide: Rome, Prague, Brussels & the Trip That Changed Everything

Jump to: How it started | The Netherlands | Brussels | Rome | Prague | What to know before you go | Planning tips | Start planning

It had always been my dream to visit Europe — however far-fetched it seemed.

I thought it was too big of a dream. Visas, expenses, logistics. I was eyeing it for the future, for when I had saved enough and had enough time to do it properly. The plan was to wait until I was eligible for my sabbatical. Then I would go, slowly, and do it right.

The universe had a different plan.

How it started

One March, my manager told me that the company wanted me to visit our office in Amsterdam. I was ecstatic — and immediately worried. I knew I wouldn’t have enough time to prepare financially. We were eyeing a departure at the end of May, which gave me barely two months.

But I also told myself: even if the budget doesn’t work out for further travel, I would still be happy to just stay in Amsterdam and enjoy my time with the team. Either way, I knew I’d enjoy my first visit to Europe.

What followed was hectic. We filed our visa applications at VFS. While waiting for results, I was simultaneously moving into a new place, working hard to meet Q2 targets, trying to come up with a travel budget, and quietly, obsessively building a one-month European itinerary in my head.

We received our approved visas just over a week before departure. We were in a panic — we couldn’t book tickets or accommodation for destinations beyond Amsterdam until we had the visas in hand. There was even a moment when we weren’t sure the trip beyond Amsterdam would happen at all, because of changes in company direction and the chaos of purchasing return tickets from Manila.

Well, if it’s meant to happen, it will happen. On the week of our departure, we finally purchased everything — flights, accommodations — in a rush. And then we were off.

In the end, I visited five countries in 29 days: the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Vatican City, and the Czech Republic. Even if I barely scratched the surface of each, it was one heck of a trip.

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The Netherlands

Amsterdam was where it all began — and it was, for two weeks, my temporary home.

The work was the reason I was there, but the city was the reason I stayed in love with it. I loved the canal boat ride we took as a group — we were such a diverse bunch from so many countries that someone joked we looked like a Benetton commercial.

I loved walking the streets, riding the trams to and from the office, having drinks while the sun was still up because it was happy hour at the office. At that point in my career, I had worked in a few startups and had always loved the diversity, the fun chaos, and the unique energy that comes from working with young, smart, talented people. That we became friends beyond work was just the cherry on top.

There’s something about Amsterdam that I can’t fully articulate. The picturesque canals, the brick buildings, how the late-afternoon light hit the city. Walking those cobblestone sidewalks — even when dragging heavy luggage — I kept trying to hold onto every piece of memory. I knew I was in a place I would be grateful to have visited even once in my life.

And then there were the people. Maybe it was just the circle I was in, or the people I happened to encounter — but it seemed like everyone was just so good-looking. Like anyone could have walked straight out of a magazine. At one point, my friends and I joked that I would probably have crossed over to the other side before the Europe trip was over.

I don’t have a dedicated Amsterdam travel guide yet. But the city deserves one, and it’s coming.

Brussels

Brussels was not part of the original plan.

That weekend, I was supposed to visit museums in Amsterdam. But when a friend who was already in Brussels reached out and invited me to join her for the day, I thought — hey, it would be nice to explore a different city, even just for one day. Who knows when I’d be back in this part of the world?

So I went.

It was an extremely fun day, wandering around with two friends, marveling at the Grand Place’s awe-inspiring design, admiring the Palais de Bruxelles, the Galeries Royales, and the Cinquantenaire. We found ourselves at the Garden of Mont des Arts, drinking a bottle of beer and taking in the view. The intricacies of the architecture kept stopping me in the middle of the road — I’d just have to stand there and stare a while longer.

But what caught my attention most were the artworks by Benoit on the walls of the Maalbeek metro platform.

They say the faces in the murals represent the people you randomly meet on the metro — familiar even when you don’t know them, the kind of faces you could build a whole story around, though it would be nothing like the truth.

In 2016, many people lost their lives in the terror attack at Maalbeek. Benoit said that these anonymous portraits have since become the faces of the anonymous victims. One of the eight portraits was damaged by the vibration from the bombing. In its place, a temporary memorial wall was put up to pay tribute to those who were lost.

The artworks were so peaceful, yet so powerful. A reminder that our vulnerabilities are also our source of strength. That we have it in ourselves to face and bounce back from adversity. That despite our differences, we can thrive in diversity. We all have our own stories. We all have our own identities. Love, respect, and compassion — these are all we need.

I only had one day in Brussels. It was not enough. I want to go back and explore it properly.

Brussels guides are coming soon. In the meantime, if you’re planning a visit and have questions, feel free to reach out — I’m happy to share what I know from that one day.

Rome

I didn’t expect anything from Rome, to be honest.

At some point, I even considered skipping it and staying longer in Prague. But two things made the decision for me. My mom is a devout Catholic, and visiting Rome felt like a way of bringing my travels closer to her. And my dad is a history buff — I knew he’d be most excited when I sent him pictures from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. So I searched for things to do, planned a tight itinerary, and showed up.

After traipsing around the city, Rome became one of my favorite travel experiences.

We started slow. Piazza di Spagna in the morning, when the crowds hadn’t arrived yet. Then the Trevi Fountain, which I was simply not prepared for — I had seen it in photographs my whole life and still it overwhelmed me. We stayed there for a few minutes, just taking the moment in.

The Pantheon surprised me next. Walking toward it, a busker started playing a Beatles song — it was heartwarming, as if the universe wanted us to remember the moment. I had read about the Pantheon in history classes and assumed I knew what to expect. I didn’t. The ceiling stopped me completely. The perfectly carved details, the light coming through the oculus. I remember thinking: as an Asian, I’ve always been amazed by the beautiful ancient designs of our own part of the world. But Europe is a different monster. Both are beautiful — just in entirely different ways.

We made our way through Piazza Navona, Castel Sant’Angelo — which turned out to be jaw-dropping in a way we didn’t anticipate — and San Pietro in Vincoli. When we reached the Colosseum, getting in quickly with the Roma Pass felt like the smartest decision we’d made all trip. We sat in silence on one of the benches, too tired and too awe-struck to talk much, just taking in the fact that we were actually there.

We stayed at the Roman Forum until it was almost dark. I was eventually forced to leave when the seagulls started getting aggressive and making noises I had never heard before. I walked as quickly as I could while trying not to aggravate them. A fitting, very human end to a day that had been too beautiful to be real.

The Vatican deserves its own paragraph. We woke up early, headed there without a tour booked, and were approached near the entrance by someone offering a tour for €100 — a price that included early entry and an English-speaking guide. Looking back, it could have been a scam. But sometimes you have to trust people, be quick on your feet, and commit. The Vatican Museum tour was one of the grandest I’ve ever experienced. Every stop left me mesmerized. My neck hurt from looking at the ceilings.

And St. Peter’s Basilica. I had read about it so many times growing up, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would actually stand inside it. At one point, I knelt on one of the pews and prayed for the people dear to me — and I was slowly engulfed by this overwhelming gratitude. A spillover from everything: the trip, the people I’d met, the opportunities I’d been given. I felt blessed in a way I hadn’t expected to feel in a cathedral.

Rome made me realize how small and how lucky I was, all at the same time.

→ 17 Best Rome Tourist Spots for Your First-Time Visit
→ 10 Best Things to See in Rome (if you have limited time)
→ Is Rome Worth Visiting?
→ How to Best Spend One Day in Rome for First-Time Visitors

Prague

Prague was the surprise of the trip.

I arrived expecting to like it. I left having loved it in a way I hadn’t prepared for. It’s the kind of city that makes you feel like you’ve stepped slightly outside of time — the architecture, the pace, the way the cobblestone streets seem to hold centuries of stories without being heavy about it.

We spent most of our remaining days there, and it was the one place on the trip where I finally felt like I could exhale.

Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral were the first things on the list — and they earned every superlative. The cathedral in particular was the most beautiful structure I saw on the entire trip. Even compared to Amsterdam, Brussels, and Rome, it felt uniquely majestic. I did the castle DIY-style and later wished I had booked a guided tour — I felt like I missed the deeper stories. Next time, I will.

We wandered the streets of Malá Strana for what felt like hours, simply because we kept getting happily lost. It’s a neighborhood with a storybook charm that’s hard to explain — you just have to walk it. We stumbled upon the Dancing House by accident, which turned out to be one of my favorite unexpected discoveries. We made it to the John Lennon Wall, where I spent a few minutes just absorbing the colors and the energy and the people around it — kindred spirits, all of them.

Vysehrad Fortress became one of my favorite stops. It was quiet and spacious in a way the rest of the city wasn’t — sweeping views of the Vltava, open gardens, a peaceful cemetery where Czech artists and writers are buried. It felt like a place locals go for calm and perspective, not a tourist attraction.

Charles Bridge in the evening was crowded — I couldn’t get my camera out. But there was something about walking across a 14th-century bridge with lanterns glowing and Prague Castle lit up in the distance that stayed with me quietly. Some moments don’t need photographs.

I got sick toward the end of our Prague stay and missed the National Theatre, which I still regret. But even unwell, even tired from a month of traveling, I found Prague to be the kind of place that gives you something back. It was exactly the city I needed at the end of exactly the trip I needed.

→ 21 Best Things to Do in Prague for First-Time Visitors
→ 15 Best Prague Tourist Spots for Your First-Time Visit

What to know before you go

Visas

For Filipino passport holders planning to visit Europe, the Schengen Area requires a visa in advance — and the application process takes time. Apply as early as possible, ideally two to three months before your trip. The visa covers most of the European Union, so one application covers the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

Check the official VFS Global or embassy website for your country for the most current requirements and processing times. Don’t leave this until the last minute.

Getting there

Most long-haul flights to Europe connect through major hubs like Amsterdam (Schiphol), Frankfurt, Zurich, or Doha. Amsterdam is a particularly convenient entry point for a Europe trip that includes the Netherlands — and Schiphol is one of the best-run airports I’ve been through.

For travel between European cities, budget airlines like Vueling, Ryanair, and EasyJet are affordable choices. Just watch out for luggage restrictions and set your expectations for the legroom.

Getting around within cities

European cities vary widely in how easy they are to navigate. Amsterdam’s tram system is excellent and easy to figure out. Rome’s metro is limited but manageable — the real navigation is on foot. Prague is extremely walkable, and getting happily lost in its streets is practically part of the itinerary.

Google Maps will be your best friend across all of them. Get a local SIM or eSIM before you go — you do not want to rely on WiFi alone.

Currency

The Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy use the Euro (EUR). The Czech Republic uses the Czech Koruna (CZK) — Prague is not part of the Eurozone, which surprises some travelers. ATMs are widely available in all four countries. Credit cards are accepted in most places, but carry some cash for smaller establishments, markets, and public transport.

Language

English is widely spoken in tourist areas across all four countries, especially in Amsterdam, which has an exceptionally high rate of English proficiency. In Rome and Prague, you’ll find enough English in tourist areas to get by, but learning a few words in Italian and Czech will always be appreciated.

Best time to visit

Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) are generally the best times to visit Europe — the weather is pleasant, the crowds are more manageable than peak summer, and prices are slightly lower.

Summer (July to August) is the busiest season — Rome and Prague in particular fill up fast. If you’re visiting during summer, book accommodation and popular attractions well in advance.

Planning tips for first-time visitors to Europe

A few things I wish I had known before my first trip:

• One city is better than five. The most common mistake first-time visitors to Europe make is trying to cover too many destinations too quickly. Each city in Europe deserves time — not a rushed half-day between train connections. If you have two weeks, pick two or three cities and go deeper.
• Book accommodation early. Rome and Prague are extremely popular and fill up fast, especially in summer and around major holidays. Don’t leave this until the last minute.
• Budget for more than you think. Western Europe is expensive. Amsterdam and Rome in particular can be significantly pricier than what most Southeast Asian travelers are used to. Budget for accommodation, food, transport, and entrance fees separately — and add a buffer.
• Get a Schengen visa well in advance. Have your documents in order, apply early, and don’t book non-refundable flights until you have the visa in hand.
• Walk more than you think you need to. The best moments in European cities happen between the landmarks — in side streets, hidden squares, and cafes you stumble into without a plan. Build in unstructured time.
• Travel insurance is not optional. I got sick in Prague. Things happen. Get it.

Start planning your Europe trip

Browse accommodation across Rome, Prague, and Brussels on Agoda — it’s what I use for most of my bookings, and the inventory across European cities is comprehensive.

For tours and experiences, I use GetYourGuide and Viator.

Europe destination guides

Rome, Italy
→ 17 Best Rome Tourist Spots for Your First-Time Visit
→ 10 Best Things to See in Rome (if you have limited time)
→ Is Rome Worth Visiting?
→ How to Best Spend One Day in Rome for First-Time Visitors

Prague, Czech Republic
→ 21 Best Things to Do in Prague for First-Time Visitors
→ 15 Best Prague Tourist Spots for Your First-Time Visit

Brussels, Belgium
→ Brussels Travel Guide (coming soon)
→ Things to Do in Brussels (coming soon)