Graduate student travelling for 10 days with his mother.....

Think about going to Berlin. This is a great city, plenty to do and see and historically quite important on the world stage. It is near Potsdam (which is fantastically beautiful) and also near Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, which is a must see for anyone in the area. Berlin is sort of on the way in the direction of Oslo. Everyone I met who has gone to Berlin has been very happy with this decision. The city has tons of tourist options, the food is cheaper than other big cities, even the B&B's are cheaper. The big plus is that there is so much going on there anyway, you never feel like you are in a tourist spot. It satisfies your wishes for being someplace you have never been to before and also your mothers wish to go someplace with a quite different culture.

It would help if we knew age bracket of your mom and where she is flying from in the US. She may have some jet lag and may need an extra day in Paris. Two days is not enough for Paris. What does she want to see?

London is not like any city in the US. It is one of the most fantastic cities in the world. If this is is her first trip to Europe, she should see London and Paris. Don't try to do too much in 10 days.

I would say Paris, London, & Amsterdam.

I would probably cut a swath from Paris through Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Denmark ending in Norway.

10 days isn't a lot so 2 days Paris, 1 day Brugges, 1 day Haarlem, 4 days in Germany (maybe Koln, Hamburg, Schlesswig and/or Kiel) 2 days Denmark and 1 day Oslo or 1 day Denmark and 2 days Norway (1 day Oslo and 1 day Norway in a Nutshell).

This is overly ambitious, pare this down to something that fits your priorities.

I think that Berlin is a great option--in addition to all of the points that Jo made Berlin has a great transportation system so it's really easy to get around the city. The museums are fabulous as well! You could use "www.whichbudget.com" to find budget airlines that fly from Paris to Berlin and Berlin to Oslo.

I think 2 days in Paris is not enough. Paris 3 days, take cheap flight to Rome( try Vueling) 3 days in Rome( 4 days if you want to take a daytrip), then fly to Amsterdam for 2 days, then up to Norway.. She will have hit the thre regions of Europe,, Mid, (Paris) South ( Rome) and North ( Norway) a taste of everything.

I think that 10 days is a short trip and I don't think you want to fall into the " if its Tuesday this must be Belgium " ( old movie spoofing whirlwind bus tours) thing. Ten days is max 2 countries, maybe three if you are very ambitious, and remember there will be travel days included..

I personally do not think London is like home.
It was the first European city I visited, and I found it different and exciting, with a wealth of historical sights and increadlble art. I don't think it's much like New York City, much less St. Paul.

I totally agree with Audrey -- London and Paris for sure... don't really need any other cities before Norway.

Hey everyone,

Thanks so much for the advice!

FYI, my mom is in her mid 40s, so pretty young. She isn't really all that concerned about seeing absolutely everything, just enjoying the time and having an adventure.

I am starting to think that London would be a great place to visit, this way we could spend 3 days in Paris, 3 in London, and 4 in Norway. The eurostar from Paris to London would be great and would really save time.

Amsterdam would also be really interesting, I think, but perhaps not with my mother...?

Thanks,

Geoff

The Eurostar is a great way to get between London and Paris. And, yes, you might enjoy Amsterdam more without your mother.

I also think London would be a great option. The language is the same, but the culture is different than the U.S. and there is so much to do there. I would try to avoid too much flying around between cities for such a short trip. It kills so much time. So I say, pick one place. If you want to get out of the city for a day, you can do easy day trips from London.

Now, if you want to try something different, here are two suggestions (my two favorite cities): Edinburgh or Stockholm. Both are absolutely beautiful and ideal for 2-3 days. If the transportation works out, I would consider them. But I don't see how you can go wrong with London.

Geoff yoiur mom is a kid,, LOL< I though she was elderly for some reason.. she will likely outlast you , so no need for her to have a nap..LOL

I am glad you are having this trip together,, you will enjoy this memory forever.