one month in Europe in summer...which option ?

Questions:

1. Which months do you plan to travel?
2. It seems that no weather gonna please you. Or is there a temperature range you like?
3. Why only these two options? Language reasons?
4. Which part(s) of Germany did you visit already?
5. Preferred mean of transport (train, car, ...)?
6. Did you consider Baltic Sea already?

Which months do you plan to travel?
Our vacations are fom july 1st to august 20. So something between those dates

It seems that no weather gonna please you. Or is there a temperature range you like?
We can live we any weather. We like to avoid very hot places, we wouldnt go to souther spain in summer. A sunny 20-24 degrees day is the best, we wont get that everdyday everywhre !

Why only these two options? Language reasons?
We speak french at home. We are okayish in english. We have been to SPain, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia,Croatia, Germany and Hungary. I dont think language is something that would stop us. If you have ither ideas we are open to listen to them !

Which part(s) of Germany did you visit already?
We have been to Berlin, Munich (and others places in bavaria), Dresden, Nuremberg, Bamberg, and the Rheinland

Preferred mean of transport (train, car, ...)?
We are open to everything. We usually rent a car, but we can use train if it's better/more convenient.

Did you consider Baltic Sea already?
Well we have been in Poland already but not elsewhere. Since we love mountains there's not much of them in that region. Latvia and Estonia can be ok, but it doesn't seem to be a must see in Europe, but I could be wrong !

I think either of your two options would make a good trip (as you narrow down where, etc.) and that you have accurately made some distinctions about cost and weather.

I also say you should go where your interests are. However, I think you are wrong that Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia wouldn’t be anything special. A month would be great to spend visiting these countries. I really liked them - they provided both city and outdoor opportunities. Plus they are relatively inexpensive and not typically as hot in summer. I know from your last trip that you like to drive and all three are relatively easy to drive in. One way car rental doesn’t break the bank. Just something to consider.

I think #2 is going to be too hot for you. It will be 30 and above. We had a surprise first heat wave in June last summer in the southern area of Occitanie. ‘Normally, they begin in July. Have you checked the historic temperatures for the cities and mountains you are considering?

Four weeks is simply going to be expensive. You have visited a lot places, but how long have you spent in each? IMO many short stays do not have the same depth of experience as fewer longer stays. The few places/longer stays approach is the one we have increasingly taken to enjoy being on the ground rather than going place to place to place. Weather over four weeks will be highly variable. The UK option may be hot too. Last summer our trip to France was mercifully sandwiched by luck between two periods in the 90's. Scandinavia has been hotter recently than its long term average and Northern Germany has also routinely been hitting the upper 80's for stretches of time mostly without AC.

You do not mention Scandinavia, or Andalucia in Spain and I consider that either new area would have plenty to keep you occupied. It also depends on how much you want to move around. 4 locations in 28 days is a week at each (basing in/near a city for ease of travel, but enjoying the surrounding countryside leisurely): Copenhagen, Olso, Stockholm plus a side trip to Finland, or Sevilla, the White Towns, Granada and Neeja/Gibraltar.

And there is a lot of Central France left untouched so far around Lyon-Beaune, or Alsace and the Rhine Valley from the Low Countries to Basel.

Have fun planning the trip.

I agree with everything said above by TTM. The Baltics are great - and should meet all your requirements. They are under-appreciated (so less crowded). You will probably avoid the worst of the summer heat waves there, summers tend to be more mild than lots of western Europe. There is a lot more to see and do there than most potential visitors expect. They are charming, full of outdoorsy things to see/do, and not nearly as expensive as most of western Europe. Your English is fine and you will have no trouble with language barrier. A month would be an ideal length for covering the three countries nicely in depth. We spent 3 weeks driving around the Baltics and had a blast (we could have easily used another week or two). It was one of my favorite trips ever.

The other reasonable options (which would avoid most heat waves) are in the north: Ireland and Scotland. Both are lovely and wonderful, but would be more expensive.

Thank you for the answers. This helps.

Based on this I think option 2 is the one which suits you more but I would not assume that it is significantly cheaper than option 1.

Let me add two.

Option 3: Another idea would be around trip: London - Cornwall - Ireland - Northern France and max down to Pyrénées than back through France and Belgium (Ardennes, Bruges and coast). Not going to Southern France. Definitely too warm.

Option 4: A very different one would be a car round trip through Norway from south to North Cape incl. the Western fjord region, Lofoten and Senja as well as midnight sun. Definitely one of the most beautiful parts of Europe. You can combine shore parts by ship port-to-port with Hurtigruten incl. transporting a rental car (early booking recommended). You will like the temperatures and the climate. Hot temperatures are very seldomly, can happen but were never above max. 36°C (example from this year).

NickB; We have always travel in summer for period between 25 and 35 days each time.

I have a friend who been in Sandinavia last year, he told us it was nice, but SOOOOO expensive and that it doesn't really worth it. We already been to Lyon an the Rhine valley in Germany. Andalucia seem very nice but my guess is that it will be insanely hot in he heart of summer.

Elizabeth, yes we have checked, Souther france can be hot, but the Pureéness, and coastal northern spain much less.

We have traveled extensively having visited 83 foreign countries. Done a lot of travel in the UK, love the countryside.
Also, we did a great tour of Northern Spain and Southern France, visiting your Option 2, except Marseille (we did that on anther trip.

The main difference in COST between the two is the amount of time you plan to stay in London and so a lesser degree Edinburgh.
Large cities in Europe are significantly more expensive than smaller cities or towns in the countryside.
The Basque region of Spain and Bordeaux, along with Carcassonne (DO NOT MISS IT) and Toulouse would be cheaper, but not so much cheaper if you visit the UK countryside. Even great cities like York, Durham, Bath, etc. are cheaper than London.

You can save in London by staying in Premier Inns. There are several spread all over London. The are somewhat comparable to a Holiday Inn Express, but clean and reliable.

You probably need to rent a car to do a nice tour of Option 2. If you do the countryside in the UK, you will need a car as well, but not in London or Edinburgh.

In Bath, consider the Brooks Guesthouse, it is in a great location and wonderful breakfast. The Scallop Shell restaurant is close and has the BEST fish and chips in England.
Also, if you drive in the UK consider visiting the Cotswolds. We stayed at Chipping Campden at the Volunteer Inn.
If you like the out of doors, the Lake District is great.
Also, visit York it. is my favorite city in the UK. Wonderful history at the Minster and some great museums, especially the National Railway Museum. The Minster Hotel is great, with parking and near the north gate of the ancient city.
Suggest stoping to see Hadrian's Wall, it is not so high anymore, but it should be seen. At Haltwhistle, England there is the side of a old Roman fort that is interesting. Durham is another great city to visit.
Also, don't miss Windsor Castle and Stonehenge.

If you go to Spain and France, consider including Arles, Ponte du Gard (ancient Roman aqueduct) and Monaco.
If you like modern art, the museum on Bilbao is special. San Sebastián is great as well. The Bordeaux wine district has many great wineries. Also, as I mentioned, do not miss Carcassonne, it is a walled city of some significance. It is awesome.

Bonjour et bienvenue au forum... you are from one of my favourite cities were I spent several happy years :)

The weather here in the UK in the summer months is lovely- I think you could have a great time here and with that much time you could see some of Ireland as well. You're right that it can get expensive here as hotels and internal travel (e.g. trains) tend to cost more than other places in Europe, besides Scandinavia, which you've already noted is a very expensive region. But I think it's worth it and you can find ways to make it less expensive, like booking some of the less expensive hotel chains and booking all your train travel ahead.

While a visit to the Pyrenees area would be very nice, and likely cooler in the mountains, it can get very hot in places like Toulouse- we were once in Toulouse in July and it was something like 35C.

Good luck deciding.

OMG, Andalucia would be insanely hot - in peak summer, that is not a place I would want to be (and I love Andalucia - in the cool, spring or autumn months). July and August? No way.

The UK and France will be expensive. Many great places and things, but you will pay more for them.

Scandinavia will be extremely expensive (€15 hot dogs in Norway were a great bargain and there were long lines to get to the hot dog stand! Don't even ask the price of a beer!). A month in Scandinavia could require a second mortgage on a house for many of us. Yes, it's beautiful, but expect extreme sticker-shock. For a family of four on a budget? Yikes.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are NOT expensive and meet all your criteria. They're beautiful, they are a lot like "the old Europe of our dreams" - uncrowded, not over-touristed, not crazy expensive, full of history, culture, old world charm, and outdoor adventures. You just don't know anything about them...and that is why they are not expensive, because they are not well known to foreign tourists! You really should take a good look at these three countries (also possibly northern Poland).

I'll step back and leave the discussion to others. Good luck.

I think England and Scotland would be great in the summer. And as previously mentioned, limiting your stays in London and Edinburgh can really help to reduce the costs. So would staying in self catering accommodations where you could prepare some of your meals. You may escape the worst of any heat waves by concentrating the bulk of your stay to the north of England. The Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales would lend themselves to a car; as would Scotland (outside of Edinburgh). And do spend 2 or 3 days in York, one of the most interesting cities in the UK. With 4 of you, I'd recommend only using the trains for travel into and out of the larger cities, and to buy those tickets well in advance for the best prices.

Option 1. But as an American I dont understand most people in the UK any better than I do the French.

Add me to the Baltic-countries-are-great list, but I will acknowledge they are not strong on dramatic scenery. If that is an absolute must, there may be better options for you.

For reasons of weather, I'd alter your Option 2 to omit the likely-hot French areas you've mentioned and limit the trip to the Pyrenees and Spanish points to the west. The Basque Country is culturally interesting and has some lovely countryside. Lodging in San Sebastian itself is likely to be pricey, but you don't need a lot of time there. I think there are some active-sport opportunities in the Picos de Europa, which are beautiful. That entire stretch of northern Spain from the Basque Country westward tends to be cool and cloudy even in mid-summer. Definitely expect some rain. There's not much risk of high temperatures unless you travel too far from the coast.

Galicia in northwestern Spain is also scenic.

My call was option 1. I coukd be wrong but i tgink the impact of high season will be less severe and it will be cooler. If you go off script i say Istanbul and (pick two) Albania (northern high country), Bosnia (less crowded, but facinating), Montenegro (sure, the coast, but also tge high country where it's cooler and tge nature is stunning).

Given the 2 options under consideration for this month long trip, I vote for Option 2.

Neither option would pose any problems for me and enjoyable but Option 2 would be more enchanting and fulfilling. I only go by train, the rental car is no option.

I have visited Toulouse twice in the early 21st century.

I haven't experienced Scotland, or indeed the UK generally outside of London, as being very expensive. And summer in the UK is pretty comfortable weather-wise. Southern France is going to be pretty hot, and the French are allergic to air conditioning. With that said, I'm planning to move to Bordeaux, so obviously I can live with it. And France is unquestionably less expensive than England.