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12 best beginner‑friendly cities for your first international trip

Jan Kiliński monument in Warsaw's beginner-friendly Old Town


A beginner‑friendly guide that breaks down safety, language, accessibility, & everything new travelers need to know

If you’ve been dreaming about your first international adventure but feel overwhelmed by the planning, you’re not alone. So many people have told us they want to travel but worry about safety, language barriers, accessibility, or simply not knowing what to expect.

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These 12 cities are some of the most beginner‑friendly destinations in the world — places where you can ease into international travel with confidence, comfort, and a sense of wonder. We know, because we’ve been to them.

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Full transparency: This post includes affiliate links, which help us keep creating helpful travel content so you can explore, learn, and create with confidence.

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Each city is rated on:

  • Ease of public transportation

  • Accessibility for differently abled travelers

  • English‑friendliness

  • Tour availability

  • What the city is known for

  • Food familiarity

  • Visa/passport ease

  • Money simplicity

 

How to read the ratings

  • 5 CJW confetti ●●●●● = Extremely beginner‑friendly

  • 4 CJW confetti ●●●● = Very beginner‑friendly

  • 3 CJW confetti ●●● = Manageable with light prep

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Union Jack flags hanging over London's Regent Street.
1. London, England
Overall: ●●●●●
 
Known for: Royal landmarks, museums, theater, and filming locations (Harry Potter, Sherlock, The Crown, etc.)
 
Why it’s great for beginners: Everything is intuitive, safe, and familiar, but still excitingly different

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  • Public transport: ●●●●● — The Tube, buses, trains; easy to navigate, clear signage

  • Accessibility: ●●●● — Many accessible stations, though some older Tube stops lack elevators

  • English speaking: ●●●●● — No language barrier

  • Tours: ●●●●● — Harry Potter, royal history, food tours, and day trips galore

  • Food familiarity: ●●●●● — Pubs, sandwiches, fish & chips; extremely “normal” for U.S. travelers

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●● 

  • Money ease: ●●●●● — Cards accepted everywhere; tap‑to‑pay is the norm

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Large white EPIC museum sign in Dublin city square.
2. Dublin, Ireland
Overall: ●●●●●
 
Known for: Pubs, live music, friendly locals, and literary history
 
Why it’s great for beginners: Ireland is famously welcoming, perfect for nervous first‑timers

  • Public transport: ●●●● — Buses and trams are easy; walkable city center

  • Accessibility: ●●●● — Good overall; some cobblestones in older areas

  • English speaking: ●●●●●

  • Tours: ●●●●● — Whiskey tours, literary tours, Cliffs of Moher day trips

  • Food familiarity: ●●●●● — Stews, breads, potatoes, and pub food

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●● 

  • Money ease: ●●●●● — Cards widely accepted

Titanic Belfast museum with large rusted steel sign
3. Belfast, Northern Ireland
 
Overall: ●●●●
 
Known for: Titanic history, GOT filming, and dramatic coastal landscapes
 
Why it’s great for beginners: A smaller, calmer alternative to London with incredible day trips

  • Public transport: ●●●● — Buses and trains are simple; walkable center

  • Accessibility: ●●●●

  • English speaking: ●●●●●

  • Tours: ●●●●● — Game of Thrones filming sites, Titanic Museum, and Giant’s Causeway

  • Food familiarity: ●●●●●

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●●

  • Money Ease: ●●●●● — Uses GBP; tap‑to‑pay everywhere

Woman standing between two Monet paintings of women with parasols.
4. Paris, France
 
Overall: ●●●●
 
Known for: Louvre, Eiffel Tower, pastries, fashion, and iconic architecture
 
Why it’s great for beginners: Paris is iconic and surprisingly easy once you understand the Metro

  • Public transport: ●●●●● — Metro is fast and efficient

  • Accessibility: ●●● — Many older stations lack elevators; buses are more accessible

  • English speaking: ●●●● — Many people speak English, especially in tourism

  • Tours: ●●●●● — Art, food, history, river cruises, and Versailles

  • Food familiarity: ●●●● — Plenty of familiar options; adventurous eaters can explore more

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●● 

  • Money ease: ●●●●● — Cards accepted everywhere

Woman holding coffee at a Vienna destination cafe
5. Vienna, Austria
 
Overall: ●●●●
 
Known for: Mozart, imperial history, and elegant architecture
 
Why it’s great for beginners: Clean, safe, orderly — a gentle introduction to central Europe

  • Public Transport: ●●●●● — One of the best systems in Europe

  • Accessibility: ●●●●

  • English Speaking: ●●●●

  • Tours: ●●●●● — Classical music, palaces, and coffeehouse culture

  • Food familiarity: ●●●●● — Schnitzel, pastries, and soups

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●●

  • Money ease: ●●●●●

Fountain of Neptune in Piazza Navona, Rome.
6. Rome, Italy
 
Overall: ●●●●
 
Known for: Ancient history, art, architecture, and pasta
 
Why it’s great for beginners: The history is unmatched, and the food is comforting and familiar

  • Public transport: ●●● — Metro is limited; buses can be confusing

  • Accessibility: ●●● — Cobblestones and ancient sites can be challenging

  • English speaking: ●●●●

  • Tours: ●●●●● — Colosseum, Vatican, food tours, and day trips

  • Food familiarity: ●●●●● — Extremely approachable

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●●

  • Money ease: ●●●●●

The Parthenon in Athens under a bright sun
7. Athens, Greece
 
Overall: ●●●●
 
Known for: Ancient ruins, Mediterranean food, and mythology
 
Why it’s great for beginners: A perfect mix of history, sunshine, and friendly locals

  • Public transport: ●●●● — Metro is modern; buses are widespread

  • Accessibility: ●●● — Most archaeological sites are uneven and have a lot of stairs

  • English speaking: ●●●●

  • Tours: ●●●●● — Acropolis, mythology tours, and island day trips

  • Food familiarity: ●●●● — Grilled meats, salads, and pita; very accessible

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●●

  • Money ease: ●●●●●

Shinkansen bullet trains at a Tokyo station
8. Tokyo, Japan
 
Overall: ●●●●
 
Known for: Technology, temples, anime, neon districts, and food culture
 
Why it’s great for beginners: Incredibly safe and organized — just different enough to feel thrilling

  • Public transport: ●●●●● — Clean, safe, and incredibly efficient

  • Accessibility: ●●●●● — One of the most accessible cities in the world

  • English speaking: ●●● — Most signs include Japanese and English; spoken English varies; more likely in Tokyo than rural areas. It’s helpful to learn basic words (please, thank you, excuse me, etc.) in Japanese

  • Tours: ●●●●● — Food tours, anime tours, cultural experiences, and Mt. Fuji day trips

  • Food familiarity: ●●●● — Plenty of familiar options, like pork and beef; adventurous options exist but aren’t required

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●●

  • Money ease: ●●●● — Cards accepted widely, although cash is mostly used in locally owned restaurants

Memorial plaque of Eva Perón with a seated figure and torch.
9. Buenos Aires, Argentina
 
Overall: ●●●●
 
Known for: European‑style boulevards, steak, tango, and beautiful bookstores
 
Why it’s great for beginners: Warm culture, great food, and a European feel at a lower cost

  • Public transport: ●●●● — Subte (metro) and buses are easy

  • Accessibility: ●●● — Some uneven sidewalks

  • English speaking: ●●● — Basic English in tourism areas, but helpful to brush up on your high school Spanish

  • Tours: ●●●●● — Tango, food tours, architecture, and day trips to Uruguay

  • Food familiarity: ●●●●● — Meat‑forward, very approachable

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●● — Visa‑free for U.S. travelers

  • Money ease: ●●● — Currency fluctuations require simple prep

Street mural of an elderly woman and a bird in flight.
10. Santiago, Chile
 
Overall: ●●●●
 
Known for: Mountains, wine, and modern city life
 
Why it’s great for beginners: A safe, modern hub with incredible nature access

  • Public transport: ●●●● — Metro is clean and easy

  • Accessibility: ●●● — Improving but varies by neighborhood

  • English speaking: ●●● — Limited outside tourism areas

  • Tours: ●●●●● — Andes day trips, wine tours, and day trip to Valparaíso

  • Food familiarity: ●●●●● — Grilled meats, seafood, and empanadas

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●●

  • Money ease: ●●●● — Cards widely accepted

Pink Trabant car on a Berlin street near Museum Island
11. Berlin, Germany 
 
Overall: ●●●●●
 
Known for: History, street art, nightlife, museums, and progressive culture 
 
Why it’s great for beginners: Berlin is incredibly forgiving for first‑timers — safe, well‑connected, English‑friendly, and packed with tours that make navigating its history and culture easy.

  • Public transport: ●●●●● — Extensive U‑Bahn, S‑Bahn, trams, and buses; safe, efficient, and affordable

  • Accessibility: ●●●● — Modern transit, step‑free stations in many areas; some older buildings vary

  • English speaking: ●●●● — Widely spoken in tourism, hospitality, and younger local communities

  • Tours: ●●●●● — History tours, street art walks, bike tours, Berlin Wall sites, and museum passes

  • Food familiarity: ●●●● — International food scene & easy comfort foods (pretzels, schnitzel, and currywurst)

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●● 

  • Money ease: ●●●● — Cards widely accepted; still some cash‑preferred spots

Statue of Jan Kiliński in Warsaw's Old Town square.
12. Warsaw, Poland 
 
Overall: ●●●●  
 
Known for: Rebuilt Old Town, history, modern skyline, parks, and cultural resilience
 
Why it’s great for beginners: Warsaw is clean, modern, affordable, and extremely easy to navigate — a confidence‑boosting first step into central Europe

  • Public transport: ●●●●● — Metro, trams, buses, SKM trains; easy ticketing and excellent coverage

  • Accessibility: ●●●● — Modern metro and newer trams are accessible; sidewalks and older districts vary

  • English speaking: ●●●● — Common in tourism, restaurants, and among younger locals

  • Tours: ●●●● — WWII history tours, Old Town walks, food tours, and Chopin experiences

  • Food familiarity: ●●●● — Pierogi, soups, grilled meats, and bakeries — comforting and recognizable flavors

  • Visa/Passport: ●●●●● 

  • Money ease: ●●●● — Cards widely accepted; inexpensive compared to western Europe

Which city should you choose first?

  • If you want the easiest possible first trip: London or Dublin.

  • If you want iconic Europe with comfort: Paris, Vienna, or Rome.

  • If you want something more adventurous but still beginner‑friendly: Tokyo, Buenos Aires, or Santiago.

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Ready to plan your first international trip?

Start with our International Trip Checklist, which guides you step‑by‑step to help you feel confident and excited instead of overwhelmed.

 

​Download the checklist and start planning your adventure today.

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Photo credits: Carrie's international adventures

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