Europe Trip Recommendation

[polak]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

If you are looking for nightlife, make sure you stay in Pest and not Buda.

Alright that's good to know!

As for Sziget, isn't that in August??

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by polak

Alright that's good to know!

As for Sziget, isn't that in August??

Blah, yeah. I misread your dates for August for some reason.

[polak]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Blah, yeah. I misread your dates for August for some reason.

Too bad, got me excited!

[Dion_Iggy_Kipper!!!]

Bump.

Instead of starting a new thread, I'm just going to bump this one. I am planning on a Europe trip this August/September and figure I'd check with CP for some recommendations. My rough itinerary, right now at least, is London-Belgium-Germany-Poland. London is definitely on the list as I've always wanted to go there and have some friends I'd like to see.

Belgium is a maybe, I may just leave it off from my list. Is it worth the stop? What about Luxembourg?

Germany is definitely on my list, but I'm not sure where exactly. I've been to the Frankfurt airport 5 times but that's about it. I hear Berlin is nice. Anywhere else?

I'd definitely like to see Poland. I've heard some good things about Krakow. What about Warsaw, Wroclow?

I'm looking at about 3-4 weeks for the trip, not sure exactly how long but somewhere in that area.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

How about Barcelona?

[evman150]

Wroclaw (Vrots-woff, by the way) is a really underrated city. I really liked Krakow too, but Wroclaw was a big surprise. Getting there from Prague was a nightmare, but worth it.

If you go to Krakow, make sure you go to Auschwitz. Finding a bus/tour is easy, and it only costs about 30 bucks iirc. One of the best and worst experiences in Europe IMO, for obvious reasons.

[Thor]

No Iceland??!?! You sir are dead to me.

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by Dion_Iggy_Kipper!!!

Bump.

Instead of starting a new thread, I'm just going to bump this one. I am planning on a Europe trip this August/September and figure I'd check with CP for some recommendations. My rough itinerary, right now at least, is London-Belgium-Germany-Poland. London is definitely on the list as I've always wanted to go there and have some friends I'd like to see.

Belgium is a maybe, I may just leave it off from my list. Is it worth the stop? What about Luxembourg?

Germany is definitely on my list, but I'm not sure where exactly. I've been to the Frankfurt airport 5 times but that's about it. I hear Berlin is nice. Anywhere else?

I'd definitely like to see Poland. I've heard some good things about Krakow. What about Warsaw, Wroclow?

I'm looking at about 3-4 weeks for the trip, not sure exactly how long but somewhere in that area.

I really enjoy Belgium, but then I am very interested in the history of WWI. For me then going to Belgium means more Ieper/Ypres and not so much Brussels. Nothing against the capital, in fact it's Grand Place stands up well against any town or city square in all Europe. Many fine museums there also.

I like Bruges very much. I have enjoyed great architechture in Nivelles and Mechelen and charming towns like Dinant. You can find those sorts of things in many places of Europe of course, but you did mention Belgium.

I only drove through the countryside of Luxembourg, and spent only one day in the city. An outstanding site for a city though, all steep valleys and rivers. I found it very charming.

Germany is a pretty big country, with lots of things to see. Depends on your interests. Many people find the wine and castles tourism areas of the Mosel and Rhine rivers spectacular. I would recommend Burg Eltz near to the Mosel. Bavaria is full of great sights: Munich, mountains and the castles of the mad king. Rothenberg ob der Tauber for a medieval experience.

If you are heading to Poland then surely Berlin is a must. I would also recommend a day in Dresden if you can spare it.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by evman150

Wroclaw (Vrots-woff, by the way) is a really underrated city. I really liked Krakow too, but Wroclaw was a big surprise. Getting there from Prague was a nightmare, but worth it.

If you go to Krakow, make sure you go to Auschwitz. Finding a bus/tour is easy, and it only costs about 30 bucks iirc. One of the best and worst experiences in Europe IMO, for obvious reasons.

Ha ha, this is one of the best parts of the trip though. Taking the night train makes it really awesome- provided you are with a larger group.

As far as the OP, I don't think you can go wrong with whatever you pick. The best part about Europe is the endless number of choices. You are basically going to get a great experience wherever you go.

[devo22]

If you go to Germany, I'd say Berlin is probably the safest choice. Very interesting city. I also like Munich a lot.

Also, I'd always recommend Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Beautiful cities with a ton of things to do and see.

[Flabbibulin]

^^^^ Ya, Ive always thought Prague-Vienna-Budapest is a great choice for first timers to Europe- instead of something like London-Paris-Rome or London-Paris-Berlin. Certainly a lot cheaper than the big 3 as well.

[polak]

Budapest is by far my favorite city in Europe.

[surferguy]

The Oktoberfest is on in late September in Munich as well. Lots of giggles to have during that festival.

[Knalus]

I've spent a lot of time in Germany, and I plan on spending even more.

If you go, there are a few really cool places you can check out. My favorite is the Rhein, and the area around the German/French border, but the Rhein between Koblenz and Frankfurt is the best, most accessible, and most interesting. Loads of castles, but the smaller, independent ones. Beautiful river, beautiful drives, wine, food, pretty much everything. If you are looking for less expensive or easy access, stay in Koblenz.

Spoiler!

North of that portion of the Rhein is Cologne (Koln). Decent city, with a decent street life, and one really big cathedral.

Spoiler!

South of that along the mountains, is Neuschwanstein. Absolutely recommend that place. It's the place that Disneyland was modeled after.

Spoiler!

Berlin is great, too. The history is different there, and it feels obvious, however it is a different city from 15 years ago. You can't really see the wall anymore.

Dresden was a lot of fun, great place.

Hamburg, and the smaller city of Lubeck, are probably the most underrated cities in Germany. With no big sight to draw in tourists, the cities feel a lot less touristy. Lubeck is one of those old towns, and it is really great if you like that sort of thing (I do). If you are more into nightlife and that, the reeperbahn in Hamburg is famous.

Lubeck

Spoiler!

Depends what you are into. If you prefer big cities, then Berlin and perhaps Hamburg are for you. If you like mountains and/or the ocean, then go there. If you like beer, well, go everywhere, because each place has their specialties.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by polak

Budapest is by far my favorite city in Europe.

Holy #### balls


Polak and I are in 100% agreement.

Budapest is an amazing city on so many levels.

Do not miss going to Budapest.

[nik-]

I have only done one European country, but my advice would be to make an itinerary, and then chop off 20% of the destinations while keeping the same duration.

I did that and there were still some places I regret having to leave when I did. Don't rush yourself. Leave places to go back and see.

[polak]

Originally Posted by nik-

I have only done one European country, but my advice would be to make an itinerary, and then chop off 20% of the destinations while keeping the same duration.

I did that and there were still some places I regret having to leave when I did. Don't rush yourself. Leave places to go back and see.

If you do this, make sure there is enough things to do that you are genuinely interested in doing in the locations you keep on the list, otherwise you're going to be quite bored. Nothing worse than not having anything to do while on vacation. Before you know it, you're debating checking out carriage museums in Madrid

Sorry, I just hear that advice a lot but there are some cities you can experience quite well in a day or two, especially if you can only fit it into your trip on a week day.

[nik-]

Well obviously you still need to make sure you have enough to do. I hear a lot more stories about people feeling rushed than people feeling bored. However, you're also the one who said that there was only the Palace and Bernabeu in Madrid ... so :P

[longsuffering]

You don't mention whether this would be a 'once in a lifetime' trip or the first, with more to follow. If it's one and done, I think Paris should be on your itinerary as well as Amsterdam. I also think Flabbibulin's recommendation of Prague, Vienna and Budapest is a good one. Lot's to see in Switzerland as well, but with the strength of the Swiss Franc that would be ungodly expensive.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by evman150

Wroclaw (Vrots-woff, by the way) is a really underrated city. I really liked Krakow too, but Wroclaw was a big surprise. Getting there from Prague was a nightmare, but worth it.

If you go to Krakow, make sure you go to Auschwitz. Finding a bus/tour is easy, and it only costs about 30 bucks iirc. One of the best and worst experiences in Europe IMO, for obvious reasons.

Wroclaw is a really great place. My grandparents and family are from that area (about 30km south.) One great thing about that area are the castles and the history. There are so many awesome castles SW of Wroclaw. One of the nicest with lots of Nazi history is Zamek (Castle) Ksiaz.