Where to go: Second Trip to Europe

I would suggest that this is now up to your personal tastes and desires. How would we know that. We also don't know your budget ranges for travel and accomodations. We also don't know the time of year you would like to go. There is so much to see over there. I'm curious to see the other responses. I'm betting that you will get suggestions to most anywhere from Istanbul to Scandanavia. Have fun with your travel planning. It's great that you want to go again.

Italy. It comes up again and again as many people's "favorite". I think it would be a great second trip. If we could only return to one European country I think Italy would be it. But one other idea is to do what we have done many times in planning our trips. We don't necessarily pick a place based on where we want to go (because we like so MANY places). Many times, including our very first trip to Italy, we have made our decision based on a good airfare - my daughter recently went to Peru because of a fare sale when an airline opened up a route to Lima from Chicago. I try to use my FF miles so I have called the Delta ticket agent and tried for almost any European city - that is why we went to Spain last year, because it was the only place to which I could get business class tickets. We loved it! We've also taken advantage of other circumstances and ended up visiting places that were not on the top of our list but which we really ended up enjoying - like friends who had a house in Zurich or our daughter studying in Strasbourg. But I can't think of many places in Europe that I wouldn't want to go - so to me, anyplace you pick next will be great!

As the first poster said, the time of year (even the year itself), budget, length of trip, etc should have a great deal of influence. For example, I'd normally be "pushing" the UK. It is one of my absolute favorite destinations. But with the Olympics in London next summer, I wouldn't encourage you to go there if you will be traveling between May and September 2012. Scotland- maybe, but not London or nearby areas. Austria is always great- anytime of year. So are the Scandinavian countries- Norway especially. I can't speak to Spain or Italy as they are still on my bucket list.

It would help if we knew more about the time of year you plan to go and your interests. Our first trip to Europe was enroute to Egypt. We took an extra a week and spent 3 days in London and 3 days in Paris. Loved both. Second trip we booked a boat in Amsterrdam and did a 10 day (do it yourself) cruise on the canals with another couple. Also great. Third time we spent a week in Scotland and a week in Ireland. It was great. Next spring we are going to Italy for the first time. I think you can have a great time where ever you choose.

I have several recommendations. Italy has a lot to offer as others may have already suggested. Another recommendation is for eastern europe. We really enjoyed Prague and Krakow. Both beautiful cities with interesting history. If you're going in the fall I would recommend Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Munich for Oktoberfest and a tour of the Neuschwanstein Castle (a couple hours away) and then on to Salzburg and Vienna. You really can't go wrong with any destination.

I loved Portugal. Inexpensive and beautiful and the food was great - much better than expected. Travel was easy and costs inexpensive. Another favorite was Prague / Krakow.

There are so many to choose from ... it's not a bad problem to have :) However, I agree that Spain is a great choice. It's relatively inexpensive, easy to get around and very welcoming to visitors. All the other locations posters suggested are fantastic as well, but Spain still sticks out for me. We've been three times so far and just fall in love all over again with each visit.

Another vote for italy here. Whether you prefer cities, the countryside, or the beach, there is something for every type of traveler in italy. Once you go, you'll enjoy it so much you'll have to go back to experience more.

And now something completely different...Turkey. Or Ireland? Or Belgium? Or Spain? Or Italy? Or Switzerland? Or Germany? OR...I think it boils down to your interests and willingness to explore.

I second the vote for Italy and would try to see Venice,Florence,and Rome. 2nd choice would be London(after Olympics) and Amsterdam along with a side trip to Brugge. 3rd choice would be Switzerland which has beautiful mountains,lakes,and the cleanest cities I have seen in europe.

I never decide my vacation local before I nail down airfare. I have a list of places I would like to go and when i have my travel dates i start my hunt. This way I don't get my heart set on a vacation and then realize that the air fare cost (or availability as I now always go with FF miles) makes the trip impossible.

Do you have ancestors from Europe? I think it would be fun/very educational to travel to the places your family is from. Its offers a way to connect to a new place and understand your roots better.

Thanks for all the great responses! I do have ancestors from Poland and the Czech Republic, however my travel partner is not quite convinced. I think I have some work to do...

I suggest Italy. Whatever your and your travel partner's interest are - you will love and find them in Italy.
Whether you like art, food, great design, great architecture or villages on a clift or cars- you'll find all of that in Italy. A great place if you like art if Florence and if you like day trips, you can go to Sienna and Pisa. Hope you do not miss Michelangelo's David. A personal favorite area is the Amalfi Coast: Positano, Amalfi, Capri. In your way there you can stop and visit Pompeii. What about Venice? It does not matter if you are not a romantic. Rome is great, too and visiting the vatican is worth it, even if you are not religious. Milan is a good place to go if you are into fashion.

Eric, "All roads lead to Rome." Italy never disappoints! Ciao!

My suggestion for a very varied trip would be Austria Vienna a couple of days (Nat. Hist. Museum, Museum of Art History, Hofburg and it's museums, Belvedere, Schönbrunn, lazying in the parks, icecream, theaters, concerts). Slovakia Bratislava Trencin Zilina Martin (Slovak village museum) Bojnice Castle Poprad as a base for the High Tatras (the smallest high mountain range in the world) with Strebske Pleso Tatranska Lomnica Spis Castle Levoca Slovak Paradise Slovak Karst caves Banska Bystrica Banska Stiavnica Hungary Budapest again for several days (Aquincum, Parliament....) then back to Vienna via Balaton Neusiedler See Roman ruins of Carnuntum The area offers great history (Roman ruins, some of the best castles in Europe, folk architecture, baroque, renaissance, etc) Great outdoor stuff, good wine, good beer, good food.
And all that in a rather small area.

Eric, It depends what type of "travel experience" you'd like on this trip? Spain would be a good choice, but I'd also suggest considering Italy. An alternative would be to split the time between the two countries (depending on how much time you have for the trip). Cheers!