Please sign in to post.

Where would you stay for a month

Where would you rent an apartment for a month if you had the chance. I am in the early stages of planning a year off work and am thinking that I would like to rent an apartment for a month in a major city. I was thinking of Paris, but I am open to ideas. I was a history major and love art as well. I would like a place that had some good day trips I could take as well. Where would you stay?

Posted by
9436 posts

I'd pick Paris. Been there many times but most recently I spent a month there last summer in a apartment and loved every minute. Lots of great things to do and see in and out of the city. Even with a month I still ran out of time for doing everything on my list. I can never get enough of Paris! Have fun wherever you choose!

Posted by
358 posts

Paris is the only city in europe that I could stay for a month and find enough things to do each day and be happy. My favorite things to do in Paris is walk throughout the city and rest in the beautiful parks. Easy sidetrips to London/Amsterdam.

Posted by
2297 posts

Well, I stayed for 6 weeks in Paris and would only do it again if I had loads of money. It's a really tough city to be if you are on any kind of restricted budget. I would actually prefer to stay more rural and not in a big city. It's generally cheaper and less stressful. Provence (France) or Tuscany (Italy) come to mind as destinations for such a place. If history and art is a main concern maybe Tuscany would have a slight edge.

Posted by
9165 posts

I would stay a month in Berlin. The apts. are cheap, the food is cheap, there is tons of art and activity here too. Day or weekend trips to places like Potsdam, Hamburg, Lübeck, Quedlinburg, or Dresden are all possble. If you are a history major, then you can't go wrong with Berlin.

Posted by
517 posts

Paris is a good choice. I love Paris. But tell us a bit more about your interests. Rome would be high on my list in part because it is so packed with layers of history, but also because it has a certain style and atmosphere that is different from any other city. I know I'm being biased here, but Vienna is also a good choice... again, layers of history from Roman to the cold war, plus it is so centrally located: just a few hours to Budapest, Munich, etc. And it has that coffee houses where you can hang out all day for the price of a cup of coffee. Really depends on what you are into. What era of history facinates you most? Are you into a certain type of art? Are you a foodie? More into going clubbing? Just want to hang out in cafe's? Need a place to work on the novel you are writing?

Posted by
1986 posts

I am surprised no-one has mentioned London. Tons to see in London and surroundings- you can even get to Paris conveniently. I must admit though that Paris is more convenient for the rest of the Continent

Posted by
351 posts

Thanks for all the ideas. I am not a big foodie but could become one. One thing I like about Paris is that I could learn to improve my high school French. Then again in Rome I could learn some Italian. I want to do a mixture of wandering, sitting in cafes, as of yet no plans to write the next great Canadian novel but you never know. As for the part of history that interests me it is hard to say, I loved Rome, Paris and London when I backpacked them in the past. THe plan is that I would like to tour a tours of South East Asia, then to go to the city where I will rent an apartments for the month then move on to the Middle East for a tour. This is not set in stone but I am in the dreaming/planning stage. The only thing that I am sure of is that I am not planning to rent a car when I am away. Thanks Again.

Posted by
2800 posts

I would have to say London...greatest city and lots of places you could go for a day out of London.

Posted by
331 posts

Another vote for London, although the cost might be a consideration. Apartments are very pricey, one of the most expensive re accomodation in Europe.

Posted by
4535 posts

Too many London votes of late - so here's another for Paris... It makes for such a good short trip point - including London for a weekend or few days. Netherlands, Belgium and western Germany are nearby. Lots to do in France. Great art, food, cafes, culture, shopping...... Rome is another good choice but its isolation would mean your short trips would be all Italian. Nothing wrong with that but it would limit cultural diversity. Same thing with London though Paris and Brussels are easy to reach.

Posted by
993 posts

I have to say London. But on my "days off", I'd go to Paris.

Posted by
1170 posts

I started to post last night and then my computer shut down! My vote was London, Paris, Rome, Madrid...

Posted by
1178 posts

Think I would do two cities/areas at least....Paris (never been there though), Madrid - with day trips to Toledo, Sevilla. A couple of days in the museums in Madrid, and explore the architecture of Spain - it is fabulous!

Posted by
175 posts

Wendy,
How about 2 weeks in Paris and 2 weeks in Provence? City and country, the best of both worlds.

Posted by
875 posts

I'd probably split my time between London & Paris. We stayed in a great apt in the theatre district (much cheaper than a hotel) and loved our apt in Paris also.

Posted by
4063 posts

If cost is an issue you might think of exchanging your home/apartment with someone in a major European city. This is how we see someplace in Europe each summer. We usually stay in one city while that family stays in our house for the month. Last summer we arranged back to back exchanges in 2 different locations, London and Bath. We are also intrigued by interesting rural places with beautiful scenery and have done these types of exchanges too. Just another thought for you to consider for your year long trip.