Where to stay for a month

Besides Paris, London and Rome (of course!), I like Munich and Vienna. They would meet your criteria. For some a month there would be too long, but the countryside around both offers beautiful scenery, and the occasional overnighter (say to Rothenburg from Munich) would be easy. Plus, each city has lots to see and each has a wonderful ambience of its own. I won't go into details here about all there is to do in each city, but I sure wouldn't turn up my nose at a month in either place. And the food is terrific too!

Those are all good choices, to which I would add Madrid (not Barcelona— many love that city but for some reason it just has never really resonated with me even after several visits — but I’ve always loved Madrid and day or weekend trips include Toledo, Sevilla, Cordoba, Escorial, Salamanca, Segovia …).

Great suggestions above. On one of our visits to Paris when we stayed a month, we did an overnight to the Loire Valley, a daytrip to Reims, and a 2 nights visit to Lyon. All of these trips were done by train and easy to organize.

Okay, some details of things I loved about Munich:
The Deutsches Museum (I think my all-time favorite science and technology museum)
The Residenz (Those crown jewels! esp. St. George)
Marienplatz (The glockenspiel and the shops underneath the Platzl)
Nymphenburg Palace (Munich's Versailles...well, not as big, but beautiful nonetheless)
Beer halls and markets and music and food (September is the beginning of Oktoberfest...join the crowd at Oktoberfest meadow and
picnic in the English Garden)
Alte Pinokatek (Impressive art museum)
Frauenkirche and Asamkirche (Both beautiful!)
Away from the city: Romantic Road drive, Augsburg, Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, Dachau, Garmisch-Partenkirchen.....oodles to see and do!
My memories of Munich are all happy, except for the visit to Dachau. That was important for putting the big world and my own world into perspective. Don't pass this very necessary experience by.

P.S. One of the best things in Rothenburg was a puppet show. I'll never forget what fun it was (even though I don't speak German)!

Besides Paris, London and Rome (of course!), I like Munich and Vienna.

Judy, Judy, Judy...what a great list. My only change would be to drop Rome for Madrid. As requested these cities all have wonderful things to do and sights to see, incredible food, and fabulous day trips. To an extent I would put London, Paris and Madrid at the top of my list for April and May, but reverse it to Vienna and Munich for September and October.

Why stay a month in an expensive big city like London, Paris or Rome?

Consider splitting the month in half and do a month in a large city (my favorite is Rome). Do the other half in smaller town or city, using it as a base to see other places.

Siena is a great choice to visit many of the small towns in Tuscany.

Also, consider Spoleto in Umbria, or Verona in the north.
In Austria, consider Salzburg.

My suggestion, if you are set on staying in one city, would be Vienna. Not only is the city full of great places to see, but there are great weekend-type trips to nearby locations in Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Vienna is very central in Europe.

My personal recommendations would include Bologna, Edinburgh, Bordeaux, Vienna, Lyon, Munich and Berlin. Paris is of course also great, but a month in Paris is going to get very expensive very quickly. Utrecht and Ghent could also work well.

What I remember the most about Vienna.....okay me other suggestion besides Munich. Haven't been in a few years, so maybe "a few of my favorite things" will be useful:

Number one for me is the Kunsthistorisches Museum (oodles of one of my favorite artists, Breugel, PLUS a gorgeous building...the staircase... and excellent collection of art);
Schonbrunn Palace (you can attend a play or musical performance in the theater there for less than something at the Opera House and sit in the plush and opulent chairs..we saw a comedy one-act in German, and the humor did get through even with our poor German skills....beautiful grounds for a pleasant walk and a lush palace);
Watching waltz performances at Stadtpark from our seat on the grass for free (they may have been discontinued) and paying homage to Mozart at his iconic statue therein;
Wine and a meal in an outdoor cafe in Grinzing while being serenaded by a violinist (music everywhere you go in Vienna!);
The giant ferris wheel in Prater Park (built in 1897) and still operating! (wonderful views of Vienna);
Tour of the Opera House (and maybe a performance!);
Lippezaner Horses (They were touring when we were there, but we visited the stables and heard a very good lecture on their history and practices);
The Vienna Woods (I found myself humming Mozart while walking there. It's hard not to.);
You have a big choice of museums and palaces and St. Stephen's church is impressive. (And the Ringstrasse can be explored over several days);
Side trips.....Salzburg and Budapest, of course, and a couple of days in Graz via a beautiful train ride.

I remember Vienna as a peaceful and lyrical place with very nice strolling options and always a cafe around for a coffee and/or pastry break (yes to Sacher Torte, but there are many other options as well).
Not the cheapest city, but not as expensive as Switzerland or Norway or Paris. Definitely musical and magical!

Number one for me is the Kunsthistorisches Museum

Me too, Judy, me too. It's a masterpiece among museums.

London. Loads to see and experience. I’ve been visiting for decades. The city is always changing yet always the same. A variety of neighborhoods to explore. Shoreditch is different than Hampstead. Pimlico different than Richmond. Hackney different than Ealing. Canary Wharf different Battersea.

Countless museums, galleries, theatre options, historic sites, churches, cafes, restaurants, parks street markets. Public transport is stellar; buses, the tube (underground and overground), water taxis, bicycles to rent and your own 2 feet.

I’m biased as it’s my favorite city on the planet.

I stayed there for 6 weeks last Fall. Never bored.

If you desire I wrote and posted a Trip Report. Its titled Back in London.

Based on your criteria, and since cost isn't one of your considerations, I say first, Paris .... but the "right" neighborhood. Second Vienna, again, it's all about location. With my taste, i would be broke halfway through the stay in either.

If it were me, the criteria would be 15 Sept to 15 October. Central Europe for the weather, median cost of living city, minimum 1,000,000 population excellent but simple public transportation. Zero need for a car ... ever. Good connections to places that interest me in Europe ... that means trains and discount planes cause my limit on a train is 4 hours, and that won't even get you Vienna to Prague. If I am going to have Europe at my finger tips I want more than a train ride away. And an expat support network of at least local friends. Oh, a local wine region.

Be sure to post a trip report when it's over so the rest of us can get an idea if it's something we would enjoy.

Paris would be my first pick if you haven't been there already. Wife and I spent a month there. Rented an Airbnb townhouse near the Eiffel Tower. The subway is great, easy to use and inexpensive. We also walked quite a bit through countless picturesque streets, markets and such. We were there in October a few years ago. Visited maybe 40-50 museums, churches and other sites. Took motor coach day tours to Normandy and also to Givenchy where Monet lived. Toured Versailles palace and grounds. Montmartre and the artist quarter was lots of fun. Went there 4 times. lol. Food is excellent nearly everywhere. Do a quick online crash course in French before going so you can understand menus, street signs, train directions, subway signs, etc. If you need help, ask someone in french if they speak English and you will get better responses in English from the locals. If you like art and history imo it is the #1 place to visit in Europe. The total cost of our trip, including groceries, eating out, entertainment, rent of townhouse, travel, including airfare from Minneapolis RT was about $6500 total for both of us.

(Paris) The total cost of our trip, including groceries, eating out, entertainment, rent of townhouse, travel, including airfare from Minneapolis RT was about $6500 total for both of us.

WOW! How much was a townhouse in Paris near the Eiffel Tower for a month?

fred,

Congrats on $6500 for 30 days in Paris (or almost anywhere in Euurope), including airfare. It can be a challenge to find just lodging for that amount and a couple would have no trouble spending that on a full-service tour or river cruise for just a week.

Fred,
How long ago was your trip to Paris?

eventually we will have a 40 page thread!

And goodness knows we can't have that.

:o)