If Europe has always been your dream trip, a Schengen visa is your golden ticket. With just one short stay visa, you can explore most of Europe’s most famous destinations on a single journey, moving across internal borders without repeated checks.
As of 2025, the Schengen Area has expanded to include 29 European countries, after Romania and Bulgaria fully joined the border free zone. This means even more bucket list cities, mountains, islands and fairy tale towns are open to you on one visa and one trip.
For travellers from Pakistan, this is an incredible opportunity to combine France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Central Europe and even the Northern Lights in Finland, all in one well planned holiday.
In this updated guide, you will find
The Schengen Area is a zone of European countries that have removed internal border controls and follow a common visa policy, allowing short stay travellers to move between member states as if it were one country.
A Schengen visa usually allows stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period for tourism or business. Once you enter your first Schengen country and your passport is stamped, you can usually travel to other Schengen countries without additional border checks, as long as you remain within the allowed days.
This is what makes a Schengen bucket list so powerful. You can
All on the same trip and visa, with no need for new visas at each border.
These are the cities most travellers first imagine when they picture Europe. They are popular for good reason and fit perfectly into a first time Schengen bucket list.
Paris is the city of romance, fashion and art, and an obvious starting point for a Schengen tour. Must see highlights include the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Surroundings and Seine River cruises.
Switzerland is famous for snow-capped mountains, clean cities and scenic trains. The Interlaken, Jungfrau and Lucerne regions are especially popular for Pakistani travellers, with cable cars, lakes and easy day trips.
Italy offers ancient history, romantic canals and Renaissance art. Rome, Florence and Venice are often combined into one unforgettable route.
If you love warm weather and blue water, the southern Schengen countries deserve a prime place on your list.
White houses, blue domes and stunning sunsets over the Aegean Sea have made Santorini one of the world’s iconic island destinations. Other Greek islands like Mykonos, Naxos and Rhodes are also worth considering if you have extra time.
Barcelona offers a mix of beaches, culture and architecture, with masterpieces by Antoni Gaudi such as Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. Spain also gives easy access to coastal cities and islands for those who want more sun.
Central Europe is full of historic cities that feel like something from a movie. These destinations often offer excellent value and are easy to combine with one rail ticket.
Prague is famous for its medieval Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and Prague Castle complex overlooking the Vltava River.
Vienna is the city of classical music, palaces and coffeehouse culture. Do not miss Schonbrunn Palace, St Stephen’s Cathedral and a traditional cafe.
Budapest straddles the Danube River and offers grand architecture, thermal baths and impressive night views of the Parliament building.
For something completely different from Western and Southern Europe, add the northern Schengen countries to your list.
Finland’s northern region, Lapland, is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights during the winter months. Visitors can also try husky sledding, snowmobiling and staying in glass igloos or cabins.
Although not always included in first time itineraries, Norway’s fjords and coastal towns deliver some of the most dramatic landscapes in Europe, and are included in the Schengen travel zone.
With Romania and Bulgaria now part of the Schengen Area, travellers can include even more variety in their bucket lists.
In Romania you can explore medieval towns such as Brasov and Sighisoara, castles linked with Dracula legends and scenic Carpathian landscapes. Bulgaria offers Black Sea beaches, historic cities like Plovdiv and mountain monasteries.
These countries are often more budget friendly than Western Europe, making them excellent choices for longer itineraries from Pakistan.
When designing a Schengen bucket list, think in terms of regions and logical routes instead of jumping randomly across the map. For example:
Use high speed trains where possible, and low cost airlines for longer jumps between regions. Europe’s extensive rail and air networks make multi country trips very efficient.
Costs vary between countries. Switzerland and the Nordic countries tend to be more expensive, while Central and Eastern Europe can be more affordable. Plan a mix of destinations to balance your budget.
Tips to save money
While exact requirements can vary slightly by embassy or consulate, most Schengen states ask for similar documents, such as
Always check the latest requirements on the official website of the embassy or visa application centre of the country you will enter first or spend the most time in.
From 2025, the European Union is rolling out a new biometric Entry Exit System for non EU travellers which will replace manual passport stamps at Schengen borders. Travellers will have facial and fingerprint data stored digitally along with entry and exit dates.
Although this does not replace the visa itself, it is important to be prepared for possible queues during the early phases of this system and to carry all your documents in case of checks.
Planning a multi country Europe holiday from Pakistan can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to manage
All at the same time.
With more than three decades of experience, Malik Express Travel and Tours can simplify every step of the process for you.
Instead of spending weeks researching every detail, you can focus on your bucket list while Malik Express handles the logistics.
The Schengen Area brings together some of the most beautiful and historic destinations on earth. From Paris sunsets and Swiss mountains to Greek islands, Barcelona’s art, Prague’s old town and the Northern Lights of Lapland, your ultimate Schengen travel bucket list can be as relaxed or as adventurous as you want.
With smart planning, the right route and professional support from Malik Express Travel and Tours, your dream Europe journey from Pakistan can become a well organised reality.
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