I've been to a few major cities in Europe (Rome, Paris, Vienna, Prague) but not all ( London, Istanbul, Budapest among the ones I've not visited ). I like art museums, architecture, gardens...

I am considering spending a few nights in Dresden next year... is it worth it? I looked at the listing of museums there, and they look really great (seems like they would keep one busy for a few days)

Are there other cities that can be recommended considering my interests? . My next stops would be Copenhagen and Stockholm. I don't want to go to places that are too hot in the summer, so Spain/Italy are perhaps out...

I went to Berlin last summer and have only been to Paris once, so of course could go back, but would like tyo try something different. Dresden interests me for some reason.

What about Trieste? Is there anything interesting there in terms of cultural attractions?

(By the way, I know Trieste is in Italy and is nowhere near close to Copenhagen, Stockholm or Dresden)

For flights, I plan to use points and i'm allowed to have a destination plus 2 stopover cities, so perhaps Dresden, Stockholm and Copenhagen.

>>> My next stops would be Copenhagen and Stockholm. I don't want to go to places that are too hot in the summer, so Spain/Italy are perhaps out...

You need to consider this in two parts.

1. outdoors. Your assessment is correct.
2. indoors, such as your room. Hotels in many countries don't come with A/C even the high end ones. Hotels in Scandinavia, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, etc don't. If you hit cool days you are OK. But if you hit a heat wave, you can be more miserable in your room in cities you thought were cool. I had most miserable evenings trying to go to sleep in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Denmark. Locals would say they are not needed. I beg to differ.

Looks like you are from Canada? Are your points usable for many cities? Are they tied to specific airlines?

Yes, my airline points are usable on the Star Alliance airlines (i.e Swiss, Lufthansa, SAS).

I also have hotel points (Starwood, Marriott, Choice and Best Western) that I can use.

My plan is to use Marriott hotels for Copenhagen and Choice for Stockholm. If it's a cheaper destination, then I won't use points.

Thinking perhaps 4 full days in Dresden, 5 full days in Copenhagen, 7 days in Stockholm. Open to other suggestions obviously, and can add different cities.

Yes, Dresden will easily keep you busy for 4 full days if you're interested in the museums. And there's always the option of taking excursions to nearby towns with other very interesting museums, castles, etc.

Well, there are soooo many cities in Europe which are worth seeing, it's hard to recommend some over others. Maybe check flights and pick some that are easy to reach from Dresden.

Brussels stands above all others though.
But people living close to Pisa might say Pisa is great.
In the region I loved Riga Kraków Leipzig etc.

What about Trieste? Is there anything interesting there in terms of cultural attractions?>

Well yes but if you have not been to places like Amsterdam, London, Barcelona, etc then I'd head to some of those -I've been to Trieste and rather liked it but not for your other plans - way out of the way and also can be hot in summer.

Trains are great- night trains let you cover ground at night and save on the cost of a hotel - for lots on going by train check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

How long is your trip all told -if taking several long trains check out various railpasses.

Trieste is nice, but completely outside your itinerary. Check small medievfal German towns instead, like Merseburg, Ratzeburg, Muhlhuasen/Thuringen, Weimar, Eisenach.....

Yeah I'm not going to trieste on this trip.I've been to Amsterdam and Barcelona , but not London.

In terms of trip length, thinking about 4 weeks max.

My other thought was San Sebastian and surroundings for maybe 6 nights (i could fly in and out of bilbao). I know again this is also not anywhere near the other places mentioned but since I'm flying it probably doesn't matter. However I'm not really sure if it's the right destination for me, as it seems more of a food/beach/natural beauty kind of destination. I love food but not a beach person.

I'd like to avoid staying in really small cities for short periods of time and would prefer to base in a bigger city for at least 4 nights or so with day trips as needed

London, Oxford, Cambridge, York - sounds perfect for you.

Lots of lovely day trips from a London base -Bath, Windsor and on and on. Edinburgh one of the most visually appealing cities in Europe.

I think Donostia (S Sebastian in the preferred local Basque language) I do not think will fulfill much your desires - Antwerp is one city with lots of neat architecture - especially Art Nouveau and old Flemish master paintings- good base - Bruges and Gent are also so so neat architecturally as is Brussels, somewhat.

Thanks. I agree, I'm not really sure Donostia has enough to keep me interested.

Antwerp on the other hand seems like a good suggestion.. There is enough there to keep busy for a few days?

I have been thinking about London, but not certain if I want to go there.It's an option though.

I really enjoyed Dresden. Museums will keep you plenty busy for 3 days- if you want to do a day trip to somewhere nearby, I would want 5 nights at least. I had a list of stuff I wanted to see in the region but no time to do so.

The Historic Green Vault is fabulous. But favorite museum by far was the folk art museum.

Antwerp on the other hand seems like a good suggestion.. There is enough there to keep busy for a few days?>

For architecture buffs yes-

The main train station - called the Railway Cathedral:

https://www.google.com/search?q=antw...HSmsBMcQsAQIHA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

Cogels Osylei- art-nouveau street extraordinaire:

https://www.google.com/search?q=,+Co...HUezCZMQsAQIGQ.

Middleheim Statue park with many uber famous works:

https://www.google.com/search?q=midd...HfXyBI4QsAQIHA

and Antwerp in general:

https://www.google.com/search?q=antw...HcoYATgQsAQIHA

At the turn of the century Antwerp was one of the wealthiest cities around due to its port and diamond industry,etc and the architecture of that era permeates the city.

But also use it as a base-easy day trips by train to Gent, Bruges-research them - Bruges especially a visual feast:

https://www.google.com/search?q=brug...Hd25ALcQsAQIGQ

And Rotterdam is just a short train ride away -some of the most whatever modern architecture in Europe with also a host of neat eclectic museums:

https://www.google.com/search?q=rott...HedHAm8QsAQIGQ

So Antwerp is a large city -over about half a million or so -wonderful nightlife many speak English and a good base.

If you love food, Trieste is actually a whole lot of fun, because it's got all these influences in the cooking, from the Balkans, from Italy, from Austria, lots of Jewish cooking. Treiste is probably the only place in Italy where a common lunch is brisket of beef and sausages with horseradish, mustard and beer, but also great pasta, wine, and coffee (it's the home of Illy, but the local coffee tradtion actually began with "immigrants" from Naples. From Trieste you can also use the trains or buses to do a bit if cultural sightseeing nearby if you are organized about it.

San Sebastian is a fabulous food destination but it really is the main focus, whereas Trieste is more culturally intriguing. You can't expect it to be like Florence or Amsterdam or one of the great cities of Europe with oodles of sightseeing treasures. It is more the cultural experience of this really unusual port city that has been a crossroads of so many people. Even today you can hear half a dozen languages and dialects being spoken on the streets. It's a very open city. It doesn't look anything like Barcelona, but shares something of dynamism and unique personality of Barcelona. Very independent minded people.

So it just depends if you like that sort of thing when you travel -- more about a feeling of a one-of-a-kind place -- or if you really much more enjoy the rewards of seeing tremendous acheivements, like a great cathedral or fabulous museum or place of very famous history. Trieste isn't that, but it's fun because it's not. A bit exotic.

I think every place I have been in Europe has their own unique food treats but Trieste has more different ones because it has shifted from Austrian to autonomous to Italian rule in recent times.

It is one of the most interesting cities I have been in Europe but that said not enough for a major detour from the OP's other interests.

Yes, Trieste belonged to Austria during centuries (it was the biggest Seaport of Austria) althnough the local population was always a mix of Slovenians, Croatians and Italians.

Austrians left in 1918, but their beer broweries, their coffe houses and their food (for example: Wuerstel con Crauti) remained.

I liked Dresden but 4 days there might be a bit too much for me, at least to stay in Dresden itself. They do have a few good museums, of course. But, you can easily visit Leipzig as a day trip by train from Dresden if you want. I really liked Leipzig a lot, but I am very interested in classical music and several composers lived there and there are museums/homes for them (notably Bach). The old quarter there is nice to visit and they have one of the nicest train stations I've ever experienced.