In search of ... a new region to explore

1. Budapest, Gyor/Pannonhalma, Pecs, Eger

2. Bucharest and Transylvania

3. Bulgaria. http://zhivkostanev.hubpages.com/hub/top-10-places-to-see-in-bulgaria-before-you-die

4. Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Vienna, Melk, Gyor/ Pannonhalma, Budapest, Eger, Kosice, High Tatras, Krakow.

There are just way too many options -- it depends on what you are looking for:
1. Belgium (Bruges, Ghent, the coastal towns, since it's summer)
2. Amsterdam (day trips to Edam, Volendam, Delft)
3. The Mediterranean coast of Turkey (you can fly from Gatwick to Dalyan, Turkey)
4. Greece (fly to Santorini from nearby Brussels and several other European cities)

Another possibility would be Edinburgh for the interesting city, and the Scottish highlands for quaint towns and natural beauty.

How about Berlin? Stockholm with perhaps a ferry trip to Helsinki?

You got just one week. Public transport or a car? I would recommend small country, not too expensive with a good public transport. In one week you can do Czech Republic: Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Brno, Lednice- Valtice UNESCO heritage region.
Or with a car do Slovakia. They are on Euro. Prices low. Bratislava, Trencin, High Tatras mountains, Levoca, Spis Castle.

Just for ease of travel, I would say Belgium. Or perhaps your daughter has a place she hasn't been able to get to?

A week in Ireland or Britain would also be fun.

Portugal - Lisbon, Evora, Coimbra

I love the area of southern France from Montpellier going west towards Spain. Beautiful coastline, small villages, vineyards/wineries...it's a relaxed, beautiful corner of the country!

Northern Spain - Asturias, Cantabria, Galicia.

Istanbul with a jaunt to Cappadocia.

"...interesting city (or cities) with quaint towns and some natural beauty..."

Franconia in northern Bavaria:

WÜRZBURG, Romantic Road city, Main River bridge
IPHOFEN photos
NUREMBERG (and Nazi Documentation center)
BAMBERG
BASILICA VIERZEHNHEILIGEN near Bamberg

Slovenia-Ljubljana, Lake Bled and even Plivice National Park if you have time. Truly a beautiful part of the world.

You can do a lovely week trip to Scotland. Fly to Edinburgh and spend a couple of days, then spend another four exploring a part of the highlands. If you're game to rent a car, you have a wide range of options. You can do it by train as well. In fact, my favorite "quaint town" is Dunked in Perthshire. The scenery is beautiful, there is a wonderful pub often with live traditional music and some great walks. From there you can head to the Northeast and Castle Country or go west to the Islands. Lots of history, castles, scenery, music. You might want to have a final day in Glasgow to visit the new Riverside Museum or the Glasgow Cathedral. Or stay out in the west end and find some contemporary Scottish music and check out Kelvingrove.

Pam

You say you have been to Salzburg, but did you get to Berchtesgaden, a high point of natural beauty.

Try Germany. Munich fits the requirement of an interesting city. From there take the train two hours to the Oberallgäu (Oberstdorf). From there it's a short bus trip up into Kleinwalsertal, a beautiful valley that is part of Austria. Or you can take the train down to Lindau on the Bodensee.

Normally I would agree with the Slovenia suggestions but you have seen Salzburg and parts of Switzerland and maybe you want something completely different. Possibly the Croatian coast / Bosnia / Montenegro or Romania or Turkey?

With only a week, I'd suggest taking the Eurostar train to London. A week there will give you a small taste and you can easily do a day trip or two by train (Windsor, Bath, Cardiff Wales, York, Winchester, Brighton, Canterbury, Dover, Stratford-upon-Avon are just a few). Then flying home from London is very easy.

Hi,

For a different region: Aside from Northern Germany (from Cuxhaven to Rostock) and Berlin, I would suggest Poland, esp along the Baltic area, the lower Vistula region and its small towns.

Azerbaijan is fairly inexpensive to get to from points in Europe, completely different than most everything else, fairly inexpensive and most of all YES, it is in Europe.

For a week trip I would say Naples and the Amalfi Coast.

Great city center, all kinds of interesting day trips and the beautiful AC Villages.

Easy access using easyjet from Paris to Naples.

How about Sweden or Norway? Talk about natural beauty. CDG is a hub to almost anywhere .... Let us know what you chose!

Try Tuscany, you have the cities of Florence, Sienna and Arezzo, the unspoilt beauty of the Maremma and the Tuscan Archipelago. May, June July are the best months in Tuscany. Wouldnt that be a nice mixture. Also I do not know what period you would want to do this. Northern European Countries may be still a little cold in March and April, for instance.
Sicily might also be a good choice. But if you are not used to heat, do not go from June to August included. April, May and September, October are wonderful in Sicily.

Hello Alan. An easy trip for one week, to a country that is different from the places that you have been to : Fly to Copenhagen in Denmark. Be at Copenhagen, two whole days. And go on day trips from Copenhagen, riding in trains. Read about those places in the travel guide book "Rick Steves' SCANDINAVIA". I liked the Scandinavian people at Copenhagen. And Denmark does not have hot weather in the Summer.

I'd vote for Georgia over Azerbaijan any day. Lufthansa flies there via Munich and Air France/KLM via Amsterdam. But don't miss Provence - the hinterland rather than the coast.

I lean toward Denmark, Slovenia, and Portugal as practical, smaller-country options. I'd save Greece or Turkey until you have more time, and so you won't have the issue of repeating the big cities on a second trip.

For something a bit out of the ordinary I agree with James on Bucharest and Transylvania. It is beautiful and still quite 'old world'. The people were very friendly, I loved the food and it was one of the more unique places I have traveled in Europe. I picked up a car in Bucharest and drove ending up in Timosara. I dropped the car there and then took a train to Budapest for a few days. You might need about 10 days to do it justice. We visited Constanza, Brasov, Singasora, and any number of little villages along the way. We did not have reservations but found no problem. Also spent a few days in Transylvania, saw Pele's castle and a few other sites. It was really one of my favorite trips. And of course, we avoided Dracula:)