mother daughter week vacation in europe at end of dec

Or London and Paris, the classic "two cities".

The best option is two cities you can fly into one and out of another ("open jaw"), which are linked by a fast train.

• Or London and Edinburgh
• Vienna and Budapest
• Or, if you want warm, somewhere in southern Europe: Lisbon and Madrid, that requires flyning between them
• Rome and Florence

I hope this break is not actually over Christmas as that can cause difficulties with hotels and transport. If it is before Christmas (December) you have Christmas markets.

• Munich and Prague
• Vienna and Prague

Is that enough suggestions?

Paris and Barcelona is another option with the fast train between the two cities.

Thanks. What about Amsterdam and Paris? What is best way to go from one city to another?

For Amsterdam and Paris - yes, fly open jaw and take the train between the two.

High Speed train from Amsterdam to Paris, called Thalys. Departure every hour at xx:17, takes 3 hours 18 minutes Amsterdam Centraal to Paris Gare du Nord.
Website for times and buying tickets here: https://www.thalys.com/

Prices "from" €54 per person. As for all High Speed trains, buy early to get the cheap tickets, but tickets are for a specific train, you have to pick a train when you buy, and it costs to change your mind later.

I like Amsterdam and Paris, a couple of days in Amsterdam and the rest in Paris. London and Paris is too much for 1 week, they deserve a week each. Personally I would spend the whole week in Paris.

I vote with Nancy. I just spent 9-1/2 days in London, and I think I got to less than half the places on my list (partly because I decided to go to four plays, but still). I can't imagine 3 days in London and 3 days in Paris. There would certainly be nothing relaxing about it! If I split my time, I'd definitely want only one monstrously large city.

I'd spend the entire week in Paris and environs. Several good day trips-Chartres, Versailles, maybe spend the night near Loire chateaux and visit some of those. We went to Lisbon this summer and except for the aquarium, felt it was way overrated.

I don't think a week is enough time to include Amsterdam with Paris.

Consider Amsterdam and Belgium,
Or Paris by itself.

What a useful site- thanks to all of you for your thoughts and suggestions.
Since neither of us has been to Amsterdam but have been to Paris we will go to each city for 3 nights. Any suggestions for apartment hotels in good locations ?
Thanks,
Fay

I think December in Europe is GREAT because the weather is NOT summer-like nor are the cities bombarded with North American tourists. So I think it's a GREAT time for your mother/daughter trip.

Amsterdam/Paris sounds great. Or London with one of those is an option. I've been to all 3 cities in December and had a wonderful time with my girlfriends. With London especially, we enjoyed going to theatre at night too.

Also consider pairing Vienna with Salzburg or Salzburg with Munich.

I absolutely think you can do Amsterdam and Paris in one week. Most folks posting here seem to assume that you want to absorb everything that the city has to offer in that timeframe. Go and sample the cities depending on what time you have and depending on your desires. Both cities are close to one another and are easily connected.