catj

Hi everyone,

Where would you recommend to have cities strolling trip on beginning February (2016) for 8 days?

We enjoy the outdoors, markets, picturesque streets, and less museums and churches.

We wished to go to Venice, though it's the Carnival time and we decided we'd better visit it on another time.

We've been to Barcelona, Paris and Amsterdam, Innsbruck (and Salzburg), Dublin and wish to see other countries.

I can't find a few places not too far from each other that each has colorful town to stroll around.

We wouldn't mind the cold.

For example, Prague looks nice, but I didn't see where we could go next after spending 2-3 days there.

I'd love to get your ideas.

Thank you!

pariswat

From Prague you can go to Dresden very easily (train) and from Dresden (2 days) to Berlin (the rest).

When you say you don't mind the cold, be aware that it can be really freezing - was in Dresden some years back in feb and it was really freezing.
I had to park my car some hundreds meter from the place I had to go because the road was too icy.

At that time of year, I'd recommend Sicily - lots of nice places close to each others - rent a car and do half Sicily.

Remember also that feb has very short days, so going south will give you a little bit more daylight.

We're often in southern France and we have at least half an hour more dayulight in the evening than in Belgium.
Southern France : you could base yourself in Nice (also a carnival around that date), go to Menton, Antibes etc.
Weather will be much nicer.

sandralist

>>>I can't find a few places not too far from each other that each has colorful town to stroll around.<<<

Bologna is really perfect for that. If you go to Bologna -- an extremely colorful town in itself with fantastic food markets and sidewalks covered with arches to protect you from rain and snow -- you can also easily take train rides of less than an hour to Florence, Parma, Modena (all with astonishing markets and food shops) and also Ferrara, an incredibly atmosperhic town that only gets more atmospheric in February if you are lucky enough to experience it on a day when the medieval core is filled with the legendary Ferrara fog. No color -- everything is in black-and-white -- but it is beautiful.

Also from Bologna it is easy to get to Ravenna -- one of the most stunning sites in all of Europe that no one regrets seeting -- and romantic pink Verona (sounds like you'll beat the San Valentino crowd and have it all to yourselves),

Also consider Napoli, because the temps are usually pleasant enough to stay outdoors for hours at a time unless there is a downpour. However, it is much quicker paced than a strolling city and Napoli is one of the poorest cities in Europe, so not everything is tidy, orderly about public life. But is fascinating, mesmerizing and the markets and views are unforgettable. Pompei is so close, and if you get a sunny day, you can scoot down the coast and see the spectacular scenery of the Amalfi coastal drive, without traffic jams, hordes of tourists. Just the locals and the scent of ripening lemons.

nytraveler

Prague is a wonderful city and I have enjoyed it many times. The potential problem with early Feb is not the cold - it will be - but the potential for snow (about 40% of days have precip). If you like it and get a couple of inches then strolling is still fun (IMHO) but substantial snow can make it unpleasant - so be sure you are prepared with proper boots as well as cold weather clothing.

From Prague you can easily get to Vienna or Berlin or even Budapest (a flight or an 8 hour train trip). All have tons of things to see and do - indoors and out - but are subject to the similar potential weather issues.

For 8 days I might do Prague and Budapest.

sandralist

Ferrara in a Feburary fog

http://www.ferraraitalia.it/wp-conte...si-700x508.jpg

https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hp...44573394_n.jpg

The historic food market in Modena

http://www.mercatoalbinelli.it/?lang=en

The covered sidewalks of Bologna

http://img-cdn1.iha.it/geo19658284/P...n-bologna.jpeg

http://www.thepurpleteapot.com/wp-co...5-41740245.jpg

The mosaics of Ravenna

http://www.cittadarte.emilia-romagna.it/ravenna

sandralist

Carnival across all of Napoli is a lot more raucous, rebellious, kids dress up in costumes, homemade floats, folkloric traditions

http://www.napolike.it/wp-content/up...pia-Gridas.jpg

http://www.vitalowcost.it/wp-content...le-bambini.jpg

http://www.napolitoday.it/~media/PP_...-saviano-3.jpg

Liza1992

I think you definitely should try Berlin! You'll not regret it!Grand, great, modern city with specific atmosphere. Any place: from Lichtenberg to Zoologishen Garten is awesome. Night life is so unexpectable and weird (in a good way). Have you ever heard about Berghain? Check it out. If you like culture and art you'll be satisfied as well. Try Technick Museum(I know you're not into it but trust me it worth it coz it's 5 floors with trains,jets,ships, you can try ant touch any exhibits).Museum for Contemporary Art is amazing too, when I was in Berlin, I didn't know anything about modern art so I booked a tour online with a guide at Vivaster to know more, pretty easy tbh. Here is that tour http://vivaster.com/tour/hamburger-b...vate-tour-1434 . What I really like to do in Berlin it's just take a ticket at U and S-bahn and going anywhere I want to go. Berlin is exactly that city you can see and enjoy in one-two days!

pariswat

Op is quite busy.
Shot her question on 25 and has been celebrating since with no time to come to the forum.