2 Weeks in Europe, Where to Go? UK/Ireland/Scotland or Italy/Switzerland?
 

I have two weeks at the end of October/beginning of November to visit Europe. I've narrowed it down to two options: UK/Ireland/Scotland or Italy/Switzerland. What I'm looking for is advice on which of the two areas would be best to visit this time of year? Considering weather, things to do, length of trip. Having never been to any of the countries, the main desired activities will be the must-see tourist attractions and cultural sites. Whatever I don't see this time, I'll visit another time, so I really don't have a preference one way or the other. Thanks!

In Switz November is off season - when resorts shut down - including cable cars etc - for refurbishment before the winter sports season.

UK Ireland and Scotland will have very short days, be mostly chilly and drizzly. Italy will be less chilly, but some sights may be open shorter hours (say from 9 to 1 or 2 pm) rather than all day.

I would focus most on a couple of cities - so you have lots to do indoors if the weather is nasty rather than just cool and drizzly.

Also, realistically in 2 weeks you shuold stay in no more than 4 cites (NOT countries) ro you will end up seeimg not much of anything.

At that time of year I would do the UK/SCotland (with London, Edinburgh and one or two more cities (York? and ?) - since there is a lot to do indoors. Adding Ireland in 2 weeks is really pushing it.

I would just go to Italy and maybe add Croatia to it or Nice, south of France, going from Genoa.

"<i>UK Ireland and Scotland will have very short days, </i>"

Not really so. The days do rapidly get shorter after mid-late november. But at the end of Oct./early Nov. the daylight in London is almost the same as NYC.

London: Oct 27 sunrise 7:46 AM sunset 5:42 PM
New York City: Oct 27 sunrise 7:21 AM sunset 5:58 PM

What I would <i>not</i> do is try to squeeze in three countries. London and a few places in England or in England & Scotland is more than enough for two weeks.

Or 2 weeks in Italy. I'd skip Switzerland that time of year.

But standard time begins October 28th. In London, sunset at 4:40 p.m. that day. On November 7th, sunset will be at 4:23 p.m.

But sunrise is an hour earlier - so the total hours of daylight is the same.

That is why I specifically chose the 27th. To compare places that go off DST on different dates confuses things IMO.

>> . . . so the total hours of daylight is <i>relatively</i> the same.<< Of course daylight gets a bit shorter each day.

I think if you come to the British Isles with warm clothes and a focus on cities, museums, log fires, concerts and winter, you'll have a ball. And I would do Edinburgh, Dublin, London, in that order (or Dublin, Edinburgh, London). Maybe 4 4 and 6 days.

You could do the same thing in Italy, with Florence, Venice and Rome, but the seasons will be in between. Here, simply, it will be winter.

if you want the best chance of decent weather, from your list it would have to be Italy, but don't forget spain. We did a trip to Andalucia in November one year, and apart from one afternoon, we had lovely warm days, just right for sight-seeing. Even the alhambra wasn't too crowded and the sea was a perfect temperature.

we also went to Florence one October 1/2 term holiday [which is always the last week of the month] and again we had near perfect weather, eating outside virtually every night as well as lunch-times.

personally i would leave the UK and similar places to another time.

Thank you so much for all the advice! I think due to the comments about the shorter days in Ireland/UK, we will save it for another time and head to Italy this time. Also, thanks for the mention of Croatia, I think we will combine a stop there with Italy. Everyone has been so helpful!

"<i>I think due to the comments about the shorter days in Ireland/UK, we will save it for another time and head to Italy this time.</i>"

Italy is a totally reasonable choice - but don't make it on the basis of daylight.

The last week of Oct there is approx 10 hrs 30 mins of daylight in Rome and 10 hrs 10 mins of daylight in London.

First week of Nov it is 10 hrs 10 mins in Rome and 9hr 30 mins in London

The difference is really negligible . . .