Our son will be interning in Barcelona this summer. We will go visit and probably spend 4-5 days. We would then like to travel to another European city for 5+ days. It will be my husband and I, early 50's. He has never been to Europe before and did not have any urge to go before. I have been to Spain and Italy before. I love history and beaches but he is not a fan of crowds. I know how busy summers are with tourists but we do not have a choice with the timing. We do not plan on renting a car but would be fine flying to/from another country. Any suggestions on where we else we should visit? We will be flying out of LAX.
Posted by
San Francisco
15156 posts
Another European city: how about Vienna? There is a direct connection from LAX to Vienna on Austrian Airlines.
Regardless of the reputation of LAX, it is an airport that is convenient as this direct route to Vienna shows, if you want to consider that.
Posted by
Schwerin
3323 posts
Barcelona can be really hot in the summer. Water shortages happen every year.
Copenhagen would be my recommendation to add a real different impression of Europe. In nearly every report on best places to live Copenhagen is in the top 3. It has a lot of waterfronts.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10773 posts
You didn't say which summer month, or how well you tolerate heat, but the earlier, the better before the heat gets too uncomfortable in late July and August. To complicate the situation, large cities are hotter than other areas. For example,
The first two suggestions were vert good. Again, anywhere with a direct flight to the north. Avoid most of France, Spain, Italy or Portugal. And, as one said, fly open jaw into either Barcelona or the other city and out of the other with a low-cost European airline flight in between.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
21011 posts
I always cringe a bit when people start freaking out over “summer” heat. June is summer and June isn’t that hot in most of Europe, at least not relative to Los Angeles. Early August in Barcelona? Maybe then I use some caution …. But still go and have a blast. But I am from South Texas before moving here.
Ive never thought planning a holiday around the trip home was a good priority. Planning around what you are interested in always made more sense to me.
(did you enjoy “X”? Naaa, not so much but it was non-stop home and we will be back to Europe in 10 years)
But using time well while in Europe does make sense. So, go to GoogleFlights and put in Barcelona to Europe, non-stop and see what pops up. I just did. 9 June you can come visit me for $56.
You have the advantage that Barcelona is very well connected with discount airlines non-stop all over Europe and that LAX is well connected as well, maybe you have to make one stop in route from just about anywhere.
Have fun choosing.