Favorite European City
Dec 4th, 2003, 09:02 AM
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Favorite European City
Things seem to be moving a little slow here today travelwise so:
What is your favorite European city? I've seen a question similar to this but it seemed like the seasoned travellers' favorites did not include any large cities. What large easy to get to city would you recommend for an inexperienced traveller who is looking for an actual travel experience (i.e. not shopping!) Is this clear as mud? If I see a few responses I can refine my question a little.
What is your favorite European city? I've seen a question similar to this but it seemed like the seasoned travellers' favorites did not include any large cities. What large easy to get to city would you recommend for an inexperienced traveller who is looking for an actual travel experience (i.e. not shopping!) Is this clear as mud? If I see a few responses I can refine my question a little.
Dec 4th, 2003, 09:17 AM
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Well, when you specify "inexperienced traveller", then it's hard not to suggest London, which thanks to the language is certainly one of the easiest for an inexperienced traveler. But it also has so much going for it in terms of entertainment value and things to see and do. And certainly Paris is right at the top of the list, for the same reasons -- although it may present a few language problems for some, it is so tourist friendly and easy to naviagate that really is a minor problem.
After much European travel and visiting nearly all the major cities, I must say part of my itinerary every single year is a one to two weeks in London, and one to weeks in Paris. Those cities I will never get tired of. While I love many cities, and will spent a week in a number of them every couple of years -- I don't think they would hold the same fascination as the other two -- if I returned for a couple weeks every year!!
After much European travel and visiting nearly all the major cities, I must say part of my itinerary every single year is a one to two weeks in London, and one to weeks in Paris. Those cities I will never get tired of. While I love many cities, and will spent a week in a number of them every couple of years -- I don't think they would hold the same fascination as the other two -- if I returned for a couple weeks every year!!
Dec 4th, 2003, 09:20 AM
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Prague, Prague and Prague again.
Easy to get around for the inexperienced traveller while also being a feast for the eyes.
Excellent food, relatively low cost of living (for "Westerners" anyway) and a multitude of great little pubs and restaurants. The shopping isn't bad either, if that IS your thing. Like who doesn't do a little shpping when on hols.
Easy to get around for the inexperienced traveller while also being a feast for the eyes.
Excellent food, relatively low cost of living (for "Westerners" anyway) and a multitude of great little pubs and restaurants. The shopping isn't bad either, if that IS your thing. Like who doesn't do a little shpping when on hols.
Dec 4th, 2003, 09:22 AM
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The question seems to really be two questions--favorite city and what city to recommend to an inexperienced traveler. The answer to each is not necessarily the same. But in response there are so many European cities I love for different reasons that it is difficult for me to pick just one favorite. But if I HAD to pick one favorite, it would be Prague. I'd say, however, that for the really inexperienced traveler I'd likely recommend London and Paris first, though after Paris and London, Prague would near the top of my list of recommendations for a novice traveler.
Dec 4th, 2003, 09:24 AM
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Hello novice traveler,
It seems that you are asking two distinctly different questions. You begin by asking for a favorite European city and end by asking where an inexperienced traveler would find an actual travel experience. These two questions could be mutually exclusive.
I'll respond to the second question:
"Easy to get to" depends on where you're coming from. We can fairly safely say London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and several others.
"Actual travel experience
quot; I sometimes consider driving to work an "actual travel experience" since I may encounter adverse travel conditions or I could enjoy a beautiful country drive on an Autumn morning with the mist rising from the ground, swirling around the trees and horses.
Here are my questions to you:
do you want museums or gardens?
bistros or Michelin starred restaurants?
Warhol or Renoir?
late nights or early mornings?
English or other language?
All of the above are actual travel experiences. Please let us know more so we may best advise you.
adrienne
It seems that you are asking two distinctly different questions. You begin by asking for a favorite European city and end by asking where an inexperienced traveler would find an actual travel experience. These two questions could be mutually exclusive.
I'll respond to the second question:
"Easy to get to" depends on where you're coming from. We can fairly safely say London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and several others.
"Actual travel experience
quot; I sometimes consider driving to work an "actual travel experience" since I may encounter adverse travel conditions or I could enjoy a beautiful country drive on an Autumn morning with the mist rising from the ground, swirling around the trees and horses.Here are my questions to you:
do you want museums or gardens?
bistros or Michelin starred restaurants?
Warhol or Renoir?
late nights or early mornings?
English or other language?
All of the above are actual travel experiences. Please let us know more so we may best advise you.
adrienne
Dec 4th, 2003, 09:34 AM
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adrienne: Thank you for all of the thought that went into your reply. 
But its not that I want a recommendation as much as I would like to get varying opinions. I will answer your questions though. Museums, bistros, late nights, love art -- any style is appreciated and English may be a barrier but I am willing and able to learn essential phrases to get things started. That being said, yes, different things are important to different people. So what is your favorite city and why?
But its not that I want a recommendation as much as I would like to get varying opinions. I will answer your questions though. Museums, bistros, late nights, love art -- any style is appreciated and English may be a barrier but I am willing and able to learn essential phrases to get things started. That being said, yes, different things are important to different people. So what is your favorite city and why?
Dec 4th, 2003, 10:56 AM
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Venice Venice Venice.
I consider myself still somewhat of a novice traveller, but my heart is in Venice. So many wonderful, out of the ordinary sights, yet the lack of vechicular traffic allows for 'easy' navigation (a misnomer, but getting lost is half the fun in Venice!).
Not the best food in the world, but the serenity, sights, people watching, culture, history... can't be beat!
- Kristy - who's off to explore Dublin in 24 days
I consider myself still somewhat of a novice traveller, but my heart is in Venice. So many wonderful, out of the ordinary sights, yet the lack of vechicular traffic allows for 'easy' navigation (a misnomer, but getting lost is half the fun in Venice!).
Not the best food in the world, but the serenity, sights, people watching, culture, history... can't be beat!
- Kristy - who's off to explore Dublin in 24 days
Dec 4th, 2003, 11:01 AM
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Venice. Why? Hard to explain. But the moment you step out of the train station and walk across that bridge, you'll understand. Trust me.
Paris is hard to beat, too.
There are a lot of places tied for third.
Paris is hard to beat, too.
There are a lot of places tied for third.
Dec 4th, 2003, 11:08 AM
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Hi memejw,
Recommendation for novice: London
My favorite: Venice because it's magical. It's the most beautiful city I've been to (Prague second choice for beauty). I love: the water, the gondolas, and hopping on and off the vaporetti; the extraordinary churches; the windows; forever getting lost; the eerieness at night; it's lack of urgency; the sense that it has existed forever.
Recommendation for novice: London
My favorite: Venice because it's magical. It's the most beautiful city I've been to (Prague second choice for beauty). I love: the water, the gondolas, and hopping on and off the vaporetti; the extraordinary churches; the windows; forever getting lost; the eerieness at night; it's lack of urgency; the sense that it has existed forever.
Dec 4th, 2003, 11:18 AM
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For a novice traveler, I'd say London or Paris. Each huge, each exciting, each easy to get to, and each easy to manage without a lot of travel experience. I'd say that Paris is the more "foreign" experience. Probably simply because the language.
Favorite European city is Dubrovnik. Although it's harder to get to, it's been my biggest "aha" experience to date.
Favorite European city is Dubrovnik. Although it's harder to get to, it's been my biggest "aha" experience to date.
Dec 4th, 2003, 11:30 AM
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Hmm thank you grasshopper [-o< Gotta love that screen name. I'd like it if a few more people explained WHY a particular city is their favorite. i.e. PBT, why Copenhagen?, Grasshopper, why Dubrovnik?
Dec 4th, 2003, 11:31 AM
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For the inexperienced traveler, I would suggest Florence. It's not a huge city, which makes it explorable on foot, and its as fairy-tale/romantic as they come.
My favorite city though is always Macerata, Italy, which I might not be so eager to reccommend to the inexperienced traveler, but to small-town Italy lovers, I would.
My favorite city though is always Macerata, Italy, which I might not be so eager to reccommend to the inexperienced traveler, but to small-town Italy lovers, I would.
Dec 4th, 2003, 11:37 AM
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Rome! Hands down, Rome. The history lesson is incredible. I've got my third trip to Rome coming in January and I still can't get enough ... and I'm the sort that typically sees a city, checks it off the list, and never goes back again! Incidentally, I also prefer the small towns and villages across Europe, but Rome, aaahhh, Rome, there's just something about it despite the noise and pollution and harried lifestyle.
Dec 4th, 2003, 01:16 PM
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I've been to all those mentioned so far, but for me Istanbul has to be number one. A little far away, but definitely worth the extra time and money. What a mystical, magical, and intrigueing city. It reminds me a lot of San Francisco with its hilly and water front location - spectacular!
