jeckelman

My husband and I are going to Europe for our 28th Wedding Anniversary this September for 2 weeks. We have no idea where to go and what to see, etc. HELP!!! The obvious choices are Paris and Rome, but we are also considering Germany, Greece, and other places in Italy. Thanks!

michele_d

Hi jeckelman,
Congratulations of your anniversary! We'd like to help but you really need to give us more to work with. There are tons of places to see in Europe.

What are some of your interests? Museums, cities, countryside, beaches? For this amount of time I would recommend no more than 3 locations.

Do you mind the heat? You might want stay more north in September as Greece and southern Italy will be very warm.

Grab a guidebook on Europe in general and start narrowing it down. Then return here for more specific answers. Half the fun is in the planning.
Michele

jeckelman

Thanks, Michelle. We have purchased several books and continue to change our minds as to what we want to see. We want a recommendation for what countries we should visit. This may be our one and only trip...ever to Europe. We know we can't see it all. I believe Rome and Paris are the cities we should concentrate on. One week each. But you may have other ideas. We are really open to all suggestions. I love history and therefore love museums. I want to see things I can't see anywhere else. This being said, Rome and Paris seem to be the places everyone goes. We are looking at the last two weeks of September or even the last week of September and the 1st week of October. With everything going on in Greece, my husband is not sure if he wants to go there. He thinks Germany would be fun, but I know no one whose been. Thanks for any help you can give. Jeannie

HappyTrvlr

London-Paris
Amsterdam-Paris
Paris-Burgandy or Provence or Normandy or Alsace
for some ideas

kawh

do you like cities? if you really like cities (like san francisco and new york) and don't mind the density, then i think your instincts are right. stick with paris and rome with maybe a quick side trip to giverny or st. michel out of paris or to sorrento or pompeii. if you really don't like cities, then maybe divide your time up outside of paris and rome.

perhaps stop between them in or near switzerland for some fresh mountain air...or along the south of france to sniff the lavender.... the possibilities are really endless. tell us more about your passions for this big trip.

btw- this probably won't be your only trip. travel in europ is addicting. fair warning!

adrienne

Rome and Paris are wonderful and it's a good plan not to schedule a ton of towns to visit but concentrate on two places and see them well.

You could fly into Rome and home from Paris. Although both are cities there are quiet areas in both that make them seem less like major cities. They also don't have skyscrapers so if you're thinking NYC, Chicago, etc. type of cities you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Paris has an amazing number of museums on practically every subject. Many are small and free and very interesting. There are also lots of parks and green spaces in Paris where you can sit for a few minutes and relax amidst shrubs and flowers. So it's the best of city and country life.

mamcalice

Paris and London are fabulous. London provides a good "transition" for a first time visitor to Europe because of the common language. You could fly into London, spend a week with a day trip or two, take the train to Paris and spend a week there including a couple of day trips.

Another option is Italy, visiting Venice, Florence, the Tuscan countryside and Rome.

Finally, your initial idea of Paris and Rome is a great one! As others have recommended, flying into one and out of the other makes the most sense.

I would skip Greece for a first trip. Have a wonderful time planning and keep asking questions. There are so many experienced travelers on this forum who can really help as your plans progress.

ira

>We have no idea where to go and what to see, etc. <

Molvania.

Definitely, Molvania.

Still untouched by hordes of tourists.

michele_d

Paris and Rome are wonderful destinations. Easily enough to keep you busy for a week each. You can spend time in the city and also work in a day trip or two to the countryside.

Try to get an apartment in Paris and Rome. We really enjoy traveling this way. You have more than just a bed to come home to after a long day of sightseeing. You can shop at some local markets and purchase the fixings for a few small meals.

Happy planning!

HappyTrvlr

Since it is your first time to Europe, a hotel will be more helpful than an apartment. The front desk and/or concierge will make reservations for you and give you recommendations. Stay in an apartment on your second visit to a city.

Sidny

I'll go ahead and say it...Venice. If you've never been to Europe before and may never go again, I think Venice is a very unique city to see. Most love it, some hate it, but I think everyone can agree it's unique. Take at least a night each from Paris to Rome and hit up Venice in between. You could overnight train from Paris, spend a couple nights and then train to Rome (book open-jaw flights into Paris and out of Rome, or vice-versa).

catherinehaas

Having traveled a bit throughout Europe and have loved every minute of it, I always plan each trip with the idea of if I only had one opportunity to see the sites, wh
at would I be sad about that I didn't see.

For me, I would do Paris and Rome. A week in each. Those 2 should be on everyones list.

Good luck.

nytraveler

While Paris and Rome are on everyone's list if you haven;t traveled a lot before you might be more comfortbel doing London and Paris - taking the culture shock in stages as it were.

Frankly I adore London - and if I ha to live somewhere else that would be it. Great history, musuems, art, culture - just about everything I would want.

Not sure if it's everything you would want.

Have been to a LOT of places in europe - and enjoyed almost all of them. So I think youneed to do the guide book (and tour book - great pics) research to decide on 2 or 3 must sees. Then people can make recos to ensure you get the most from them.

(Yes, Germany is wonderful - but is more about smaller towns and countryside - and yuo have to realize that most cities were bombed to oblivion in WWII and are basically new since then.)

zootsi

For a first timer to Europe, Paris would be a bit more 'user friendly' than Rome. Parisians usually can speak some English (though they may not admit it), and Paris is a little easier to get around. It's also the most beautiful city in Europe. Perhaps consider 3-4 nights in Paris, then a few days unwinding in the beautiful French countryside - maybe a b&b near Chartes or any other small town not too far from Paris. Then you might want to head to Rome which is more frantic, funky, and confusing than Paris. Do try and spend at least a few days in the amazingly beautiful Italian countryside. We typically enjoy the small town experiences in Europe even more than the big cities.

michele_d

We stayed at apartments for a week at a time in several locations during our first trip to Europe in 2009. The total trip was 13 weeks.

It worked out so great that we are staying in apts again on our upcoming six week trip next month. It really helps keep us on budget since we can do some cooking, which my husband loves to do. I also like having laundry facilities, a couch and a kitchen.

We had no problems whatsoever. I did do a lot of research ahead of time so I felt very comfortable in each city we visited.

I agree with HpyTrvlr that you have no one to ask questions of or make reservations for you, so if that is something you think might be a problem than a hotel might be better for you.

yorkshire

I think you need to take out some paper and start brainstorming. What appeals to you about Rome and Paris--is it just because they are popular or is that truly your ideal for this trip?
If you do settle on those two places, a week in each would certainly be my idea of a great wedding anniversary!

jeckelman

Thank you so much for the wonderful ideas. We've agreed on Paris and Rome with day trips from each. The overnight train from Paris to Venice sounds great. We also like the idea of London to get acclimated. So keep the ideas coming and I will keep posting questions as we plan. Thanks again!

eluckhardt

Definitely keep planning. I don't think any of the previous suggestions were to do London, Paris, Venice AND Rome in 2 weeks. A day trip from any of those cities is more like a 60 minute train ride, not an entirely new, huge, city.

Fwiw, I have been on two month-long Europe trips from the States (I know, not that many) and currently live in Munich. I only just visited London this year, and will be going to Rome for the first time this June. I have been to many other great places before hitting some of the obvious "first timer" cities and have no regret.

sundriedpachino

How about Florence? As much as we love Rome, some people hate it just as much. It's the most amazing city in the world, but also a bit dirty, busy, crazy.
Florence gives you the option of day trips into the beautiful Tuscan countryside, that idyllic landscape which many people identify as the quintessential Italian experience. You could do much worse for your first time in Europe.
Florence is breathtakingly beautiful, easily walkable, wonderfully atmospheric, is a treasure trove, and also, just a fun place. It's a little crowded in September, but Rome probably even more so.
Just stay in the city centre so you don't have to battle the traffic.
That's my suggestion...