Best Central Places to Stay While Touring Europe
Browse more guides: India travel | Asia destinations Best Central Places to Stay While Touring Europe Last updated: April 2026 · 11 min read The smartest way to see Europe isn't to drag a suitcase between eight cities in twelve days. It's to pick one or two well-connected hubs, settle in, and fan out by train. Pick by region: Frankfurt for flights and German rail, Munich for southern Europe and the Alps, Zurich for Switzerland plus Italy plus France plus Germany neighbors, Vienna for Central Europe and the Czech-Hungary corridor, Brussels for NW Europe with Eurostar and the old Thalys network, Milan for northern Italy plus Swiss and French Riviera reach. I've used all six on different trips. Frankfurt and Munich twice each. The pattern keeps working. TL;DR: Top three hub bases for hub-and-spoke European travel: Frankfurt (flight hub plus ICE rail plus central Germany), Munich (Bavaria plus Austria plus Czech plus Alps), Zurich (Alps plus Italy plus France plus G...