Group travel in Europe strengthens friendships by creating deep shared experiences away from daily distractions, fostering vulnerability and open communication. This can help you all build resilience through overcoming challenges together and providing a unique support system that encourages trying new things. You are bound to create stronger bonds and lasting memories that you’ll remember forever.
Problem-solving in a foreign setting allows you to make unique connections and appreciation for each other. Whether you’re interrailing through several European countries or going on a week-long summer vacation, it gives you the best chance of getting closer to your friend group. Continue reading to find out how you can have an amazing group travel experience with your friends that you won’t soon forget.
Strengthening Your Friendships Travelling Europe
Shared Challenges
Nothing brings people together like the controlled chaos of travel and the challenges it brings you along the way. Whether it’s deciphering a train schedule in a busy German station or laughing through a rainy afternoon in Brussels, these shared experiences require teamwork and patience with one another. When you successfully figure something out after a long day of exploring, you are building mutual trust and collective achievement with your friends.
Once you’ve finally reached a destination together, you can then all enjoy a nice cold beer and relax for the rest of the night.
Core Memories
In our daily lives, friendships are often maintained through screens or quick coffee dates, which can become quite mundane after a while. Group travel takes this to the next level though, as it replaces routine with core memories. Sharing a sunrise over the Swiss Alps, a spontaneous tapas crawl in Madrid or an overnight bus journey across borders creates a unique experience.
Years later, you won’t just remember the sights you saw but you’ll remember the inside jokes and the specific feeling of being young and free in a new place together. Even if you’re travelling with friends in your adulthood, it will take you back to a time when you were younger.
Get to Know Each Other Better
We often see our friends in specific contexts while at home. Maybe you’re sitting at work, training at the gym or drinking at a bar. Travel strips away those layers and leaves you completely free to get to know your friends on a deeper level. You’ll find out who is the expert budgeter and who has a hidden talent for finding the best local street food, giving you more insight into the type of person everyone truly is.
Seeing your friends thrive in new environments allows you to appreciate them in entirely new ways, deepening your respect and understanding of their character.
Road Trip Bonding
If you’re country hopping during your trip, there’s no better time to connect with your friends than during a road trip. Make sure everyone’s got the relevant transport training to drive a minibus, so you can all take turns with the driving and share a laugh as you explore the wonderful scenery that Europe has to offer.
The stunning coasts of Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way and Portugal’s Algarve are all wonderful routes to use during your group roadtrip. All of these will add to your experience and give you deeper bonding with your friends.
Making a Difference Together
Stepping outside of your comfort zone to make a difference is a form of personal growth, but doing it with friends makes it a collective evolution. As you experience the vast history of Rome or the modern art of Berlin, you are all being inspired and challenged simultaneously. This shared expansion of your worldview ensures that as you grow as individuals, you are growing together rather than apart.
Volunteering together can be a great way to make a difference in the countries you travel to, as you can all complete eco-friendly projects that help the long-term growth of a specific town or city. All working as one to help a local area will bring you all closer together and give you a strong sense of achievement.
Best Locations for Group Travel
Great group travel spots should offer everyone a nice range of diverse activities, good transport and varied accommodation to keep the entire happy as they explore. Some of the most recommendation adventures for groups of friends includes:
- Mallorca & The Algarve
- The Balkans
- Scandinavia
- Benelux
- Iberian Peninsula
Choosing to navigate new cultures, overcome travel hurdles and support local communities together ensures that your friendship grows when you travel around Europe. There is a unique freedom in exploring the continent on your own terms, away from the constraints of rigid tour schedules. So, make sure to hire a minibus to start your next great collective chapter that’s waiting for you and your friends.
Darcy Fowler has dedicated a lot of time to travelling around countries in Europe and Asia. She is determined to provide interesting and insightful content with the hope of inspiring others to broaden their horizons. Darcy has a big ambition to establish herself in the world of home travel blogging.
