Help me choose!

Where have you already been in Europe? Stockholm would not be an inexpensive option, relative to other cities. I really hesitate to suggest an option to someone without knowing their interests and criteria...we're talking about spending thousands of dollars, not which movie to see. As a start, I'd go to the library and read, read, and then read some more to get ideas of places that really excite you. From an initial list, then you can winnow it down by your criteria (e.g. budget, specific interests, etc). If you can, try to make your trip as close to 10 days (or more) as possible because 7 days will really fly by (and you have to account for jet lag as well).

Don't hesitate--let 'er fly! In terms of where we've been: recently we've been to Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Skye, Inverness), Portugal (Lisbon, Salema, Coimbra, Guimares, Porto, Sintra), Spain (Seville, Rondo, Grenada, Barcelona), Austria (Vienna, Salzburg), Israel. Years ago we traveled to: Britain (all over Wales and England), Ireland (mostly the west coast), France (Nice, Paris, Dijon), Switzerland (Sils Maria, Geneva, Interlochen), Germany (Heidelburg, Cologne, Munich), Italy (Turin). I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Ok, I recommend Poland, Romania or Bulgaria. All are interesting (museums, history, hiking) and very easy on the budget. I'm from Poland, but Romania and Bulgaria are very high on my list because they're underrated, have beautiful mountains/scenery, and I'm attracted by the relative lack of "westernization" in the rural areas and a maintenance of old ways of life that you don't see much anymore (e.g. Maramures region of Romania). Two other countries I would add to that list are Hungary and Czech Republic (I've been to the latter, not the former).

(PS. I was initially going to say Portugal and Spain, but it looks like you've been there already).

I did 2 days in Stockholm with my daughter last year. And expensive is an understatement. It's around $65 per person round trip from the airport to the city on the train. Our lodging was comprable to most of Europe but everything else was crazy expensive. $150 for lunch for the two of us. Breakfast before we got on the train from a grocery store consisted of juice and yogurt for each of us costing $12 dollars (What you would pay $4 in the US for at 7/11). We paid for the Royal residence tickets and I have a friend who works in the Vassa museum so we got in for free. There was a cute cafe with amazing hot white hot chocolate that was around $6 each so that wasn't to bad.

I fly into Stockholm on the same cheap tickets every time we go. I just try to get the cheapest same day flight out (letting fate dictate our trip. Last year we went from Stockholm to Amsterdam to Istanbul to Isreal to Rome back to Stockholm for $700 each over 28 days). Our next trip we have a six hour layover there so I'm renting a car to visit a local village and let my son try reindeer at a pub.

Looks like you've barely touched Italy, so I would recommend it. Flying into Milan and going to Stresa for a few days and then heading to Siena or many other options. You could fly back from Rome or stay in the northern portion and fly back from Milan or Venice. The smaller towns are cheaper than the bigger cities- all have fantastic food.

I would HIGHLY recommend the Czech Republic. The country is choc-full of history and museums, beautiful villages and castles, and miles of rolling wheat fields and forests. If you want a less expensive place then this country fits the bill. If you pay more than $1.50 for a beer you've been ripped off. Our family of three could eat a gull gourmet meal with wine and dessert for well under $20. It's an easy country to navigate. We spent 5 weeks there a few summers ago and would love to go back again and explore more.

Hi,

I would suggest you choose form these choices: Berlin, Czech Rep, Hungary and Poland. Since the fall of communism in these 3 countries, I've been back for repeat visits, and this includes the upcoming trip in June for Poland and the Czech Rep...captivating, interesting, revealing.

I agree with Anita. On a relatively small area you can see a lot of different things: mountains, woods, fields, highlands, lowlands, historical towns, castles chateaus, rivers, lakes, ponds, several national parks, several places on UNESCO list. You spend half or less than in countries of western Europe (outside of Prague) and C.R. is probably most westernized out of former communist countries (exception: East Germany and Slovenia but they are also more expensive). You can rent a car (more expensive than here in US and automatic is very rare). But car is not necessary. Public transport (trains, buses, city transits) is very good and cheap. Away from Prague you can have a good hotel for $40 or less. Or you can go farther east to Slovakia. Nature even more beautiful, fewer tourists, lower prices and they are on Euro. Public transport also very good. Still easy to travel for independent traveler. Farther east - Romania and Bulgaria - very beautiful and even cheaper but more challenging for independent traveler, especially Bulgaria if you don't read cyrillic alphabet.

If you go for the Stockholm flights then consider a few days in the city, then either ...
1) Helsinki and Tallin by ferry, or
2) Warsaw and Krakow by plane and train

Choose from (in no particular order):
(1) Budapest, Prague, and somewhere rural in between
(2) Romania, Bulgiaria
(3) Greece
(4) Italy other than Turin

Actually my real plug would be for Greece because you should see where all those other civilizations came from, and because they need your money so badly, and because it's relatively cheap, and because they're the friendliest warmest people you'll find anywhere.