Hello everyone!

My husband and I by some miracle have both gotten 2 weeks during Christmas off (Dec 24-Jan 8) and have decided to plan a last minute trip to Europe. This will be our first time ever visiting and of course like most people we have a huge list of countries and cities we'd like to see. We have 14 days not including the day of travel to get there and the day we are returning home, so we have come to an agreement and have narrowed it down to either London (3 1/2 days), Brussels (2 1/2 days), Amsterdam (3 1/2 days) and Paris (5 1/2 days) or Rome, Venice and maybe a couple other cities in Italy. I would love to get some opinions and thoughts on what others think would be a better choice for us. Since we will be there during New Years eve which of those places would be a good place to ring in the new year? Any advice, information or recommendations on what to see/do, places to dine, weather etc. you all could give to help us make a decision would be very much appreciated.

Here is a little info about us..We are both 30 and love to eat. We are active people and are interested in the culture, architecture, history and art of the places we will visit. We do not plan on running from place to place to "cram it all in", we would like to see some of the "touristy" things but also experience things like a local. We do not do tours when we travel as we like to experience things on our own and at our own pace, but if someone can recommend a tour that they think is amazing we'd be open to considering it. We don't like to go clubbing or partying but would like to visit a bar or two at the end of a day. Thanks in advance for any info given.

Well there will be a weather differential. North of the Alps will be chillier (perhaps even colder) and perhaps a greater chance of rain. Italy will likely be not so cold - but you can get snow even as far south as rome (although very unlikely that time of year).

Other than that a lot depends on your specific desires. When you think about your must sees what do you imagine?

And for your first trip I see London as an issue. Dec 25 and 26 (Boxing Day) most/many things are closed. Also London is likely more expensive than the others for hotels. And IMHO for a first trip to London I would want more time that that - at least 5 full days. For the first itinerary I would drop Brussels - IMHO not worth a lot of time - an afternoon seeing the Grand PLace while training from Paris to Amsterdam would be enough.

London, Brussels, and Paris are doable in your two-week timetable, but just for a little taste of each city. Adding any city in Italy will entail too much travel time, so I would skip Rome and Venice and add days to your other cities instead. For a first trip, you'll find more than enough to do and see.

Boxing Day in London is not closed. It is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Transit runs on a Sunday schedule. There is no transit on Christmas Day so just plan to spend time in the areas you can walk to from your hotel.

Www.walks.com does walking tours on Christmas Day.

You actually do not have as much time as you might think. Your first day may be a wash depending on the length of your journey and when you arrive. Secondly you will lose about a half day every time you move and Christmas is a day when most things are closed. Drop Brussels and add it to London. You have time for a little taste of London/Paris/Amsterdam.

I agree with Nytraveler
I disagree with MKS to drop Bxl altogether. You go there en route to Amsterdam so just stop to visit, overnight and carry on to Amst.
Take a day from amst to London

Other scenario : Rome at least 5 days Venice at least 3 days the rest in Tuscany ? Florence with day trips to Lucca Sangimignano Sienna etc.

Amsterdam is nice but doesn't compete with London or Paris

Enjoy !

Amsterdam has the advantage of all the museums being open on Christmas Day and the 26th, and public transport running fairly normally, usually a Sunday service.

As far as Italy is concerned weatherwise - Venice can be bitterly cold at this time of the year and it will not be a "dry" cold. Much of the Po valley suffers from a "wet" cold during this period. Personally I prefer -5 degrees of "dry" cold rather than +5 degrees "wet" cold. For example, Como during the winter is often very dry and it is quite pleasant even if it can be cold.

Snow will be very unlikely in Rome and Florence but is much more likely further south, strange as this might seem. Rome is partially protected from the large city effect whereby heat creates a particular micro-climate.

For New Year's Eve there is the choice of a capital with a firework display such as London or Paris where everything is perfectly coordinated or the madness of Naples. If this is your first time to Europe, go to Naples.

You mention your love of food. It would help to know whether you have any preferences or exclusions.

pariswat - the OP is new to Fodor's. It is San Gimignano and Siena. Sienna is the christian name of an English actress amognst others.