How to Plan a Year in Europe Without Breaking Schengen: 3 Complete 12-Month Itineraries
February 28, 2026
Planning a 12-month Europe itinerary that stays legal under the Schengen 90/180 rule is a calendar design problem. You alternate "Schengen blocks" with "buffer blocks" so that on any day you are in Schengen, your last 180 days contain 90 Schengen days or fewer.
DaysAround keeps your plan aligned with reality by reconstructing your actual travel days from photo metadata on your iPhone. The tracking runs entirely on-device with no cloud uploads and no analytics. This matters because perfect plans fail when real border days drift from your spreadsheet.
The goal: every Schengen day stays legal
You are not trying to "use 90 days, then reset." You are designing a year where every Schengen day remains legal under a rolling 180-day lookback. Entry and exit days count. Multiple entries never reset anything.
If you need a refresher on the mechanics, start with our Schengen calculator guide and come back here to plan.
The block framework: replace rolling math with big decisions
Block planning works because it replaces constant rolling calculations with a few major decisions. Build your year from:
- Schengen blocks: periods inside Schengen (14 to 90 days)
- Buffer blocks: periods outside Schengen (21 to 120 days)
- Buffer days: 5 to 10 unused Schengen days you keep in reserve
DaysAround fits this method because it maintains a compliance-grade day count tied to your real travel history, not what you intended in a spreadsheet. See our guides on photo-based travel tracking and privacy-first tracking.
Choose your risk tolerance
If you want low stress, do not plan to use all 90 Schengen days.
- Conservative target: plan for 80 to 85 Schengen days per rolling 180
- Balanced target: plan for 85 to 90, but only if you track tightly and adjust quickly when plans change
DaysAround helps by showing your current usage based on what actually happened, which is what border officials care about.
Two planning patterns cover most itineraries
90-in / 90-out rhythm (conservative, simple)
- Roughly 3 months in Schengen, then 3 months outside Schengen, repeat
- Easy to follow and stays far from the edge
Split the 90 (seasonal, flexible)
- Example shapes: 60 in + 30 out + 30 in + 60 out, or 45 in + 45 out + 45 in + 45 out
- Lets you hit specific seasons (Mediterranean summer, Christmas markets) without burning all days early
DaysAround's Schengen calculator stays updated as your timeline changes: Schengen day tracking.
Add buffer days on purpose (5 to 10 days)
Buffer days absorb the stuff that causes accidental overstays:
- Flight cancellations that force an extra night
- A "same-day" border hop that still counts as a day
- Reroutes through a Schengen airport where you unexpectedly clear immigration
- A mistaken entry date in your notes
Most people only discover the need for buffer days when they are already stressed. DaysAround reduces this by giving you a reality-checked log built from photo timestamps and locations, processed entirely on-device.
3 complete 12-month itineraries
These are templates. Swap countries as you like, but keep the structure. Verify current Schengen membership before you plan buffers because membership changes over time.
Each table shows:
- Schengen days used this block: the days you expect to consume
- Notes/buffer: where you keep slack
Itinerary A: Slow travel (90/90 rhythm, low stress)
This is the safest "rule of thumb" schedule if you do not want to do rolling math every week.
| Month | Region focus | Schengen days used | Notes/buffer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schengen (Spain, Portugal) | 25 | Start slow. Confirm your entry day counting |
| 2 | Schengen (France) | 25 | Keep plans simple. Avoid extra border hops |
| 3 | Schengen (Italy) | 25 | End block at 75, not 90. Keep 10-15 days slack |
| 4 | Non-Schengen buffer (UK, Ireland) | 0 | Let the 180-day lookback "cool down" |
| 5 | Non-Schengen buffer (Balkans) | 0 | Track actual border dates anyway |
| 6 | Non-Schengen buffer (Turkey, Georgia) | 0 | Do not assume. Record what you did |
| 7 | Schengen (Netherlands, Germany) | 25 | Second Schengen block. Start with day-count check |
| 8 | Schengen (Austria) | 25 | Keep a 5-10 day buffer under the limit |
| 9 | Schengen (Central Europe) | 20 | End at 70 this block if earlier months were messy |
| 10 | Non-Schengen buffer (Cyprus) | 0 | Good time for admin and resets |
| 11 | Non-Schengen buffer (Balkans) | 0 | Avoid accidental Schengen re-entry days |
| 12 | Non-Schengen buffer (UK/Ireland) | 0 | Plan next year once your window opens |
How DaysAround helps with this style:
- You scan once and get your baseline travel history so you do not plan off memory: travel history app approach
- You can sanity-check your "Schengen block end date" against your actual rolling window: Schengen calculator
Itinerary B: Frequent hops (short Schengen sprints + longer buffers)
This fits people doing conferences, client visits, weddings, and meetups across Schengen, while keeping risk low.
| Month | Region focus | Schengen days used | Notes/buffer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schengen sprint (Italy) | 21 | 3 weeks in, then leave before friction starts |
| 2 | Non-Schengen buffer (Balkans) | 0 | Minimum 4 weeks out |
| 3 | Schengen sprint (France, Benelux) | 21 | Keep transit simple. Entry and exit days count |
| 4 | Non-Schengen buffer (UK, Ireland) | 0 | Good for deep work and reducing travel days |
| 5 | Schengen sprint (Spain) | 14 | Short sprint. You are building flexibility |
| 6 | Non-Schengen buffer (Turkey) | 0 | Use this to absorb schedule changes |
| 7 | Schengen sprint (Germany, Austria) | 21 | Check rolling window before re-entry |
| 8 | Non-Schengen buffer (Georgia) | 0 | Longer out period if earlier months ran long |
| 9 | Schengen sprint (Nordics) | 14 | Keep buffer days in reserve |
| 10 | Non-Schengen buffer (Cyprus) | 0 | Avoid accidental same-day Schengen crossings |
| 11 | Optional Schengen mini-sprint (Christmas markets) | 7-14 | Only if the 180-day math supports it |
| 12 | Non-Schengen buffer | 0 | Finish the year with margin |
Why DaysAround matters more with this style:
- Frequent hops create "day-count drift." You forget a border day. A reroute adds a day. Your calendar lies
- DaysAround rebuilds where you actually were from photos, on-device, so you can reconcile your plan with reality privately: how it works
Itinerary C: Base + side trips (one non-Schengen base, Schengen "raids")
This is the most livable year-long approach for many nomads: pick a non-Schengen base for 4 to 6 months, then do controlled Schengen trips.
| Month | Region focus | Schengen days used | Notes/buffer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non-Schengen base (UK, or Balkans) | 0 | Settle in. Admin. Establish routines |
| 2 | Schengen trip 1 | 10-14 | One city pair. Keep it simple |
| 3 | Non-Schengen base | 0 | Let the rolling window recover |
| 4 | Schengen trip 2 | 14-21 | Longer trip. Book exit date with buffer |
| 5 | Non-Schengen base | 0 | Confirm your day count before next entry |
| 6 | Schengen trip 3 | 10-14 | Short. Try to end with 10 days buffer remaining |
| 7 | Non-Schengen base | 0 | This is where people get sloppy. Track carefully |
| 8 | Schengen trip 4 | 14-21 | Only if your rolling 180 supports it |
| 9 | Non-Schengen base | 0 | Consider a longer out period if close to 90 |
| 10 | Optional Schengen trip 5 | 7-14 | This is the danger zone without accurate records |
| 11 | Non-Schengen base | 0 | Build margin for disruptions |
| 12 | Non-Schengen base | 0 | Plan next year based on actual totals |
The warning with this style: lots of short Schengen entries feel harmless, but they make the rolling 180 harder to reason about.
How DaysAround helps:
- Ask "How many days was I in Spain in the last 180?" and sanity-check before booking the next trip
- Your underlying timeline is built from photo metadata on-device, so you are not handing a third party your location history: privacy architecture
Recalculation checklist: when life happens
Use this checklist every time you change dates, add a side trip, miss a connection, or reroute.
Copy/paste checklist
- Write the actual Schengen entry and exit dates (entry and exit days both count)
- Recompute your "days in Schengen in the last 180 days" as of today
- Test your next planned Schengen entry: will any day of that trip push your rolling total above 90?
- Keep a 5 to 10 day buffer under 90
- Audit gotchas:
- Same-day in/out still counts as a day
- Overnight delays add days
- Land borders may not stamp
- Flight routings can change last-minute
- If you are close to the limit, move the next weeks to non-Schengen and re-check
DaysAround makes steps 1 to 3 easier because you can reconcile your actual timeline from the evidence you already have (photos) without manual logging. Learn the method: photo tracking vs manual tracking.
Why most overstays happen (it's not intentional)
Most overstays are not intentional. They happen because travelers track the plan, not the truth.
Why calendars drift from reality
- You change cities mid-week and forget the real border day
- You cross borders late at night and count the wrong date
- You assume a stamp exists, but intra-Schengen routes often have none
- You "did not really stay" somewhere, but any presence can count as a day
What a self-audit trail should include
You want enough proof to rebuild your timeline later:
- Photos with timestamps and locations
- Accommodation confirmations
- Flight and train tickets
- Notes of border crossings
DaysAround's approach is simple: you have already been tracking for years without knowing it. Your camera roll contains timestamps and GPS for many of your travel days. DaysAround scans that metadata on your iPhone, on-device, and turns it into a private travel timeline you can use for Schengen and days-per-country tracking. Start here: countries visited tracker and travel history.
Common "Mediterranean summer + Christmas markets" plan
If you want two peak Schengen seasons, you usually need to split your Schengen days into two blocks and buffer between them.
A common template:
- Schengen spring: 45 to 60 days
- Non-Schengen summer buffer: 60 to 90 days
- Schengen late fall/winter: 30 to 45 days
- Keep 5 to 10 days unused as disruption buffer
DaysAround helps you keep this honest. When you shift dates or add an extra week, you can check your rolling window against your actual history, not guesswork.
Practical gotchas that break itineraries
Not every "Europe route" stays outside Schengen
Many routes naturally cross Schengen borders. Do not trust a map. Track actual presence.
DaysAround helps because it is based on what happened, not what you hoped would happen.
Airport layovers: it depends on immigration
A layover only becomes a Schengen day if you enter Schengen territory by clearing immigration. If you stay airside in international transit, it often does not count, but rules and airport layouts vary. When in doubt, plan conservatively and keep buffer days.
If you want fewer surprises, keep your Schengen days well below 90 and verify your rolling total with a real tracker: Schengen calculator.
Long-stay visas change the rules (but verify)
A national long-stay visa or residence permit may allow you to stay longer in that specific country, and may affect how Schengen day counting applies to you when you travel. This is high-stakes and fact-specific. Verify with the issuing consulate or an immigration lawyer.
DaysAround still helps even if you go the visa route because you need accurate days-per-country records for tax and compliance: tax residency tracking.
ETIAS is not a workaround
ETIAS is an authorization system for eligible travelers. It does not change the 90/180 limit.
FAQ: Planning a 12-month Europe itinerary
Can I spend 12 months in Europe legally on tourist status?
Yes, if a large portion of that year is outside the Schengen Area and your Schengen presence always stays at 90 days or fewer in any rolling 180-day window. Many people do this with Schengen blocks plus non-Schengen buffers.
If I do 90 days in Schengen, do I have to stay out exactly 90 days?
No. There is no "reset date." Days return gradually as your earlier Schengen days fall outside the rolling 180-day lookback. The practical conservative approach is close to a 90-in / 90-out rhythm, but the legal rule is rolling.
Does time in the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, the Balkans, Turkey, or Georgia count toward Schengen?
Time in non-Schengen countries does not count as Schengen days. Verify current Schengen membership before you rely on a country as a buffer because memberships can change.
If I fly via a Schengen airport for a layover, does it count as a Schengen day?
It depends on whether you clear immigration and enter Schengen. If you enter, that day can count. If you remain in international transit, it often does not, but details vary by routing and airport.
What is the safest rule-of-thumb schedule for a year in Europe?
Use the 90-in / 90-out rhythm, but plan to use 75 to 85 Schengen days per block and keep 5 to 10 buffer days for disruptions.
I already used some Schengen days earlier this year. How do I plan the rest?
Start from your actual past 180 days, not your memory. Then place your next Schengen block only where your rolling total stays under 90. This is where DaysAround is useful because it reconstructs your travel history from photos on-device so your baseline is reliable.
How much buffer should I keep?
Keep 5 to 10 days under the 90-day cap. If you take lots of short trips or have unpredictable schedules, keep closer to 10.
What are the most common itinerary mistakes that cause accidental overstays?
- Counting "nights" instead of "days"
- Forgetting entry and exit days count
- Assuming a weekend outside Schengen resets the clock
- Losing track because borders do not always stamp
- Reroutes and cancellations that add days
Can I reset my Schengen allowance by leaving for a weekend?
No. The rule is rolling. A short exit only helps if it pushes earlier Schengen days out of your 180-day lookback, which usually takes time.
What if my plans change mid-trip? How do I recalculate quickly?
Run the checklist: confirm actual entry/exit dates, recompute days in last 180, check the next entry, and keep buffer. DaysAround speeds this up because your timeline is built from what actually happened, using photo metadata processed locally.