Traveling to Europe is a magical experience. The Eiffel Tower at night glitters like you would not believe, and, yes, you should absolutely try to hold up the Leaning Tower of Pisa with your hands. That joke never gets old.

If you’re planning your first trip, here are three of the top things every first-time traveler needs to know about Europe.  

The Traveling Clichés are Clichés for a Reason

As mentioned earlier, taking that quintessential “I’m holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa” picture is a part of the grand European travel experience. Everyone who has ever gone before you has reveled in that right of passage.

Just because it’s a cliché to kiss your sweetheart in front of the Eiffel Tower or toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain, it doesn’t mean that it’s not worth doing. People travel from all over the world to participate in just those very things. These traditions are clichés for a reason—they’re fun, light-hearted, and spectacular. Who wouldn’t want to take part in that?  

Cash is King Pretty Much Everywhere You’ll Go

Credit card companies will always try to sell you the line that they’re accepted “everywhere.” Sadly, that’s not universally true.

If you want to have a headache-free trip to Europe, then you should bring along as much cash as you can reasonably manage. Also, be sure to have a plan for keeping your cash safe from theft. When you’re out and about, don’t carry around more than you would be somewhat okay with losing.

Your European Trip is Exactly What You Make it

You can read all of the advice blogs in the world about what to do as a first-time traveler to Europe. The best piece of guidance you can get, though? Your European trip is exactly what you make it.

No trip is exactly the same as another. This experience is one that you’ll likely look back on fondly forever. Make sure you enjoy it for all the right reasons, and, of course, take more pictures than you think you’ll look at later. You’ll be glad you have some proof of the memories.