Where to Go Next in Europe
Nov 5th, 2013, 06:35 AM
#1
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Where to Go Next in Europe
Hi All!
Everyone's fairly familiar with the great cities of Europe, but we thought we'd share some overlooked gems for your next European trip.
http://www.fodors.com/news/europe-tr...next-7235.html
Do you have a favorite spot in Europe?
Best,
Emily
Everyone's fairly familiar with the great cities of Europe, but we thought we'd share some overlooked gems for your next European trip.
http://www.fodors.com/news/europe-tr...next-7235.html
Do you have a favorite spot in Europe?
Best,
Emily
Nov 5th, 2013, 06:59 AM
#2
Interesting list. I thought Krakow had been well and truly discovered - it's on the cheap flight circuit. Also, I would have expected you to list Lisbon rather than Porto, since so few Americans seem to visit Portugal. On the other hand, love, love Siracusa - or more accurately Ortygia. I would add Lviv to your list, plus some countries - really enjoyed Macedonia.
Nov 5th, 2013, 08:07 AM
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Well, it's a list of cities. Whether they are 'overlooked gems' or not is debateable. Personally, I would not consider any city an 'overlooked gem'.
Once someone has done the 'usual suspects', I think there is more to be gained by visiting towns/villages rather than the 2nd or 3rd city in a country. Then there is the question of scenery, nature, etc.
For example, if someone has visited Paris, they have not visited France, they have visited Paris. To visit France in any meaningful way you need to visit many times (or for a long time) and visit regions like say the Alsace and do a bicycle tour of the Rue de Vin. Or visit the Ardeche and canoe down the river. Or visit the town of Langres and spend a week or two exploring the area.
So yes, I would agree there are 'overlooked gems' but a list of cities will never capture them.
To find 'overlooked gems', think of an interest and look for places that relate to that interest. For example, if walled towns in France appeals to you, look for a list of those.
http://about-france.com/cities/walled-cities.htm
Or how about Roman ruins in France (I'm using France only as an example) http://www.historvius.com/features/r...tes-in-france/
For me Emily and I mean no disrepect, the issue is what people consider an 'overlooked gem'. The premise of the article is that a city can qualify for that description. I consider that a pretty unimaginative idea. There are far more interesting places to consider.
Try going to the village of Bettmeralp as a 'Where to Go Next' and taking an easy hike to the Aletschglacier. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKmv625hKYs
What does Krakow have to compare to that?
Once someone has done the 'usual suspects', I think there is more to be gained by visiting towns/villages rather than the 2nd or 3rd city in a country. Then there is the question of scenery, nature, etc.
For example, if someone has visited Paris, they have not visited France, they have visited Paris. To visit France in any meaningful way you need to visit many times (or for a long time) and visit regions like say the Alsace and do a bicycle tour of the Rue de Vin. Or visit the Ardeche and canoe down the river. Or visit the town of Langres and spend a week or two exploring the area.
So yes, I would agree there are 'overlooked gems' but a list of cities will never capture them.
To find 'overlooked gems', think of an interest and look for places that relate to that interest. For example, if walled towns in France appeals to you, look for a list of those.
http://about-france.com/cities/walled-cities.htm
Or how about Roman ruins in France (I'm using France only as an example) http://www.historvius.com/features/r...tes-in-france/
For me Emily and I mean no disrepect, the issue is what people consider an 'overlooked gem'. The premise of the article is that a city can qualify for that description. I consider that a pretty unimaginative idea. There are far more interesting places to consider.
Try going to the village of Bettmeralp as a 'Where to Go Next' and taking an easy hike to the Aletschglacier. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKmv625hKYs
What does Krakow have to compare to that?
Nov 5th, 2013, 09:51 AM
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<< What does Krakow have to compare to that? >>
I watched the youtube and all I saw was a bunch of barren mountains. Krakow has everything compared to those mountains. It's not overlooked but it is a gem.
All the cities listed have tons of tourists. I do agree that if you want something overlooked you need to focus on smaller, out of the way places.
I watched the youtube and all I saw was a bunch of barren mountains. Krakow has everything compared to those mountains. It's not overlooked but it is a gem.
All the cities listed have tons of tourists. I do agree that if you want something overlooked you need to focus on smaller, out of the way places.
Nov 5th, 2013, 10:31 AM
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I've no idea about that question Emily, but I'm hoping you come back here to check the responses and I can catch your attention.
If the planned maintenance has been done, can you please remove the notice about it that appears at the top of thr list of posts please? Cheers cathie
If the planned maintenance has been done, can you please remove the notice about it that appears at the top of thr list of posts please? Cheers cathie
Nov 5th, 2013, 12:27 PM
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I printed off the list for future reference. We were in Krakow in 2011 and I would love to go back and spend more time there. It's a vibrant, beautiful city. Whether it is overlooked, that is debatable. Maybe by those who still haven't discovered Poland.
I took special notice of Split and Porto for possible future trips. Both look intriguing and my husband has been wanting to go to countries we haven't visited before.
I was surprised to see Liverpool on the list but glad to see that the city has been revitalized.
I took special notice of Split and Porto for possible future trips. Both look intriguing and my husband has been wanting to go to countries we haven't visited before.
I was surprised to see Liverpool on the list but glad to see that the city has been revitalized.
Nov 5th, 2013, 02:05 PM
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As a lowest-common-denominator list (which is often a goal of travel organizations that want to look as though they have special information, which is fine), this works as a list of second- and third-tier cities, all worth visiting for sure. But I wouldn't call any of them overlooked or gems. I've done enough travel writing in my lifetime to understand these types of writing formulas; at this point, I don't find them useful or interesting. Many people will and do, though, and it will likely expand their travel horizons, which is always a good thing.
Nov 5th, 2013, 03:28 PM
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Liverpool was the only one that caught my eye. My friends did it last year just for two nights but love it. They met someone there that took them on his version of the Beatles tour. They even got to see the Queen on a duck boat.
They said it had changed so much and was really lovely now.
They said it had changed so much and was really lovely now.
Nov 5th, 2013, 05:19 PM
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This thread is beginning to ooze with the haughtiness of those who think of themselves as so worldly that they must challenge the use of the word overlooked to make us all aware of their travel radiance!
"Darling, you can't be serious, I went there 20 years ago, and it was teeming with the hoi polloi THEN! If you want something really overlooked you must visit this little village of artisanal goat farmers in the Ubaluktu gorge!"
Oh dear, I hope this post won't stop others!
"Darling, you can't be serious, I went there 20 years ago, and it was teeming with the hoi polloi THEN! If you want something really overlooked you must visit this little village of artisanal goat farmers in the Ubaluktu gorge!"
Oh dear, I hope this post won't stop others!
Nov 5th, 2013, 05:59 PM
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Aramis, I am trying to go to different places, I get in a rut but Hamburg just looks meh to me when I know that Bavaria and those Alps take my breath away. I am going north of Munich next week! Exploring more. I love France and Ireland and it is costly to travel now and I am very picky. I lived in BC for many years and next year I want to go back and explore more of Canada. A lot of people overlook the beauty of that country.
Nov 5th, 2013, 09:18 PM
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<i>This thread is beginning to ooze with the haughtiness of those who think of themselves as so worldly that they must challenge the use of the word overlooked to make us all aware of their travel radiance! </i>
Agreed.
We really enjoyed Liverpool and ended up making 3 separate day trips there. I would say it is overlooked by my colleagues here in the Midlands (UK) much less a larger population. And yes, it is a gem.
Agreed.
We really enjoyed Liverpool and ended up making 3 separate day trips there. I would say it is overlooked by my colleagues here in the Midlands (UK) much less a larger population. And yes, it is a gem.
Nov 6th, 2013, 12:24 AM
#17
The trouble is there are a lot of Gems and without sounding "haughty" 
the list Emily has put up follows in a long stream of other articles over the years where newspapers and travel books put up these lists. I guess we can do one of two things, say how nice those 10 places are or say how nice other gems are. My choice would be to offer up a few options
Besancon, which has been on these sort of lists since the NY Times offered it up in the late nineteenth centuary
Hamburg, the city centre, the lakes and canals and the fruit growing area to the east are worth a visit while the harbour tour is impressive
Magdeburg, has fantastic history (where else would the Magdeburg spheres come from) the Eastern Germany structures are still in place. While the architecture is wonderful.
Ferrara has a bicycle based culture which has to be seen to be believed
Padua so worth a day trip
Auxerre with two medieval buildings and canal
the list Emily has put up follows in a long stream of other articles over the years where newspapers and travel books put up these lists. I guess we can do one of two things, say how nice those 10 places are or say how nice other gems are. My choice would be to offer up a few optionsBesancon, which has been on these sort of lists since the NY Times offered it up in the late nineteenth centuary
Hamburg, the city centre, the lakes and canals and the fruit growing area to the east are worth a visit while the harbour tour is impressive
Magdeburg, has fantastic history (where else would the Magdeburg spheres come from) the Eastern Germany structures are still in place. While the architecture is wonderful.
Ferrara has a bicycle based culture which has to be seen to be believed
Padua so worth a day trip
Auxerre with two medieval buildings and canal
Nov 6th, 2013, 03:49 AM
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Agree with bilo on Padua and Ferrara and actually think they are worth more than a day trip. Also Mantua, Modena, Bergamo, Rapallo and Camogli in Italy. I am currently planning a trip to the Puglia region, which seems to be quite up and coming on this board but must be considered overlooked considering how little info there is on it in general. Looks fabulous.
France - also agree with Auxerre but would add Semur, Anncey, Avalon, Honfleur, Dinan, Collioure. I guess the Dordogne, Provence, and Cote d'Azure are not overlooked but plenty of people who have been to Paris have not explored these regions.
UK - Liverpool was "ok" but I thought Chester, right next door was much more interesting.
Ljubljana!!!!!
France - also agree with Auxerre but would add Semur, Anncey, Avalon, Honfleur, Dinan, Collioure. I guess the Dordogne, Provence, and Cote d'Azure are not overlooked but plenty of people who have been to Paris have not explored these regions.
UK - Liverpool was "ok" but I thought Chester, right next door was much more interesting.
Ljubljana!!!!!
Nov 6th, 2013, 03:59 AM
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Oporto? Well a lot of travellers now use the Airport of Oporto to get to and from Galicia. There are more flights and cheaper ones than from the 3 Galician airports. A lot of those who use the airport at Oporto also make a short stay in the city. IMHO a wise decision.
