Cities with many sights?

Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Bayeux, Barcelona, Lisbon, Madrid are just a few. It depends really on your taste and interests. All are historical, all have interesting architecture and culture.

Lisbon, Barcelona, Prague, Dublin, Istanbul...

Do you have a general idea of what area of Europe you'd like to focus on? Eastern or Western Europe?

Vienna and/or Budapest would fit the bill.

Bruges, Winchester, Amsterdam, Gibralter, Valletta (Malta), Barcelona, Venice ......

How about Istanbul? It certainly fits your interests and it is an incredible city - and it's not nearly as expensive as most of western Europe. I don't think two days would do it justice, but you could certainly see a lot of the sights in the Sultanahmet historic district during that time.

http://mardeeinturkey.wordpress.com

Suzanne,

It sounds as if your travel experiences have thus far been Euro-centric. Stay that way! Berlin and Paris are worth another trip, if not seeing the sites, then soak up the atmosphere that you are indeed in PARIS and BERLIN.

If you really prefer somewhere else new as regards to your 3 interest areas listed, then I will say it's time for you to see Vienna. If you want a smaller place, then Potsdam.

Beirut and Istanbul.

You could do an Austrian "tour". Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck. Maybe a short visit to Budapest, too.

Would recommend Vienna, Salzburg and then its only a two hour train ride to Munich which is a fabulous centre for visiting the Bavarian castles and Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Thank you all for your suggestions so far, please keep them coming. I have already been to some of them (Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Barcelona, Brugge). I don't specifically have a preference between Eastern and Western Europe, my last trip was focused on Eastern Europe.

Fred, I absolutely love Berlin and have spent a total of 5 weeks there over the past 4 trips. It is hard for me to not go there but this time I think I will not visit (of course that may change).

James, you are correct, I have not visited D.C., in fact besides Florida, I have not traveled past Kansas.

Any town in Italy would fill up two days (well, maybe not Milan). Start at one end of the boot and work your way to the other - 3 weeks minimum, without Sicily. The only "down time" would be sitting at a cafe when your legs give out or your stomach cries out, and then you have people-watching time.

If you are ready to go further afield, then Lebanon (?, not sure about that), Jordan, Israel and Egypt. Israel alone has enough to keep you busy and interested for 2 weeks, and still leave a lot unseen, everything from Roman cities to Crusader fortresses to exotic churches. Best time for the middle east is March-May, before it gets too hot.

How about Venice and Florence?

I second Florence! Actually I find that many places can easily fill up 2 full days even on return trips....Paris, London, Venice.

Suzann,

Yes...Berlin has its own unique power of attraction. I can well understand that each time you're over in Europe you make a return trip to Berlin, so do I,..as you said you might even do it this time. If you don't try Vienna, which I find is alluring also with the power of attraction. If you're going to Poland, then I suggest Krakow.

Want a different feel -- Southern Spain -- very unEuropean.

I vote for Florence. We spent a week there and loved it.