A Week In Europe, Where to Go?

[Gus]

My wife and I have one week to spend in Europe in late Sept or early Oct. We want it to be enjoyable and not rushed. Just time together seeing the sights, museums, cafes, etc.. I think we want to go to only one city. We have been to Paris, London and N. Italy many times. Never been to Prague, Amsterdam, Berlin.

If you were looking for a charming and romantic get away where would you suggest?

 

[Gus]

We are looking for something new, so London, Rome or Paris is out. I guess you could say we want a new adventure. We would especially enjoy a city with great cafes.

 

[aravenel]

Prague and Berlin are both great. I wouldn't say Berlin is charming or romantic, but it is certainly a ton of fun.

Prague is definitely both of those things. Great city. If you've done London, Rome, and Paris, that would probably be my next choice.

Alternately you could go to Munich and then go down to the Alps for a few days. Not sure I'd want to spend a whole week in Munich though.

 

[Gus]

Would you spend a full week in Prague? If so, any suggestions.

I really like the idea of going somewhere new and different in Europe.

 

[aravenel]

Yeah, I think you could, though it depends on what you want to do--Prague doesn't have the same level of museums and such as Paris, Rome, and London, but if hanging out in cafes and such is your gig, you could do way worse. It's really a remarkably beautiful city--it was spared most of the destruction that other Baroque cities suffered in WW2.

I spent a full four days in Prague a few years back and had plenty to do. You could also maybe do a couple of day trips around there, or maybe take the train to Dresden for a night or two.

I've never been, but you could also look at Vienna. I'm sure you could easily spend a whole week there.

 

[Gus]

Vienna. Interesting suggestion. I'm going to look into that as well. From the little I know it is a very beautiful city.

 

[AlexE]



Alternately you could go to Munich and then go down to the Alps for a few days. Not sure I'd want to spend a whole week in Munich though.

You should, seriously there is plenty beyond beerhalls and oktoberfest!

 

[aravenel]

I've spent quite a bit of time in Munich and very much like it (I'd honestly consider living there), I just don't think I'd recommend a tourist spend a whole week there. A few days followed by a trip to the Alps though, that's a damn good trip.

 

[AlexE]



I've spent quite a bit of time in Munich and very much like it (I'd honestly consider living there), I just don't think I'd recommend a tourist spend a whole week there. A few days followed by a trip to the Alps though, that's a damn good trip.

You are probably right - nice trips could be
> 4 days Munich - 1 day Fuessen (Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles) - 2 days the Alps around Garmisch
> 4 days Munich - 1 or 2 days the Alps around Koenigsee - 1 or 2 days days Salzburg
Nevertheless, the OP's travel dates seem to be right during Oktoberfest meaning hotel rates will be horrendous.

Alternatives could be
> Barcelona and surrounding area
> Prague and surrounding area
> Few days Budapest and few days Vienna (there is a convenient train connection between them)
> Northern Italy (few days in Florence plus few days in Bologna or Pisa or Siena or ...)
At this time of the year I would probably not go too far north ... else Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin, Stockholm are all interesting places

 

[ballmouse]

I would look into southern Europe: Spain, Greece, southern France, or maybe even Croatia.

 

[aravenel]



Nevertheless, the OP's travel dates seem to be right during Oktoberfest meaning hotel rates will be horrendous.

That's the truth.

Croatia is very nice but I don't know that there's one city there I would spend a whole week in.

 

[Big A]

I suggest you rethink the one city thing and go to Brussels. Spend two days in town, a day to Bruges or Ghent, and a couple of days in the Ardennes.

 

[globetrotter]

aside from cafes, what are you looking for?

berlin is great, not really quant, a little bigger than quant, but great cafes, great walking city, fantastic museums, good food.

Vienna is great, too - a great walking city, great cafes, great desserts and pretty good food

prague has is a great city to walk around in, I could spend a week just walking in prague. pretty good food, excellent beer, very good music - it seems to be where you end up if you are a musician looking for a gig in Europe, so you can hear opera or jazz every night on the cheap.


so, if cafes are the big thing - Vienna. if you want museums, berlin, if just walking around and hearing music every night, prague

 

[OliverGauffe]

You say you've never been to Prague, Amsterdam and Berlin... but what about anywhere in Spain? All of those cities are very interesting from different cultural points of view.But if you are looking for romance and quaintness, I would seriously recommend Grenada, Spain. This has been called the favourite city of so many of my ex-pat and world travelling friends. Spain itself has a very rich culture, and a totally different attitude towards time--they refuse to adhere to the rest of Western Europe's eating and sleeping and working times, which is a nice change of pace if you are really looking for something different. The people are very friendly, much moreso than northern countries, and the food is amazing. Not to mention, that time of year is perfect weather-wise--not too hot, but still summery. Highly recommended.

 

[circumspice]

Most people spend 2-3 days tops in Granada.


I think a week in Prague is stretching it.


I spent I think 4 nights in Vienna, and felt I could have used more time. My perception is that there is at least a days worth of MC approved shopping there if you want to torture your wife.


If you were going a month earlier, I'd endorse Stockholm, but opening hours for tourist stuff is likely to be trimmed - Sept 1 seems to be the end of summer schedules.


Are you a Port drinker? Porto and Lisbon are a great week