My husband and I are planning to spend a month (April, May, September or October) in a city somewhere in Europe, our criteria are that there must be plenty to do within the city itself, there must be good rail connections for day trips and weekend trips to places of interest. There also must be good food and wine.
Where would you choose and why?
Thanks for any thoughtful suggestions.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2185 posts
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!
Posted by
Virginia
378 posts
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 …).
Posted by
Vancouver, BC
820 posts
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.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2185 posts
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.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2185 posts
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)!
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
901 posts
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.
Posted by
9015 posts
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.