Europe in December for 10 days
 

Hi!
I have some time off I need to take in December and am thinking about traveling to Europe for about 10 days. I am in my mid-20s and on a budget and therefore will be staying in hostels for the most part. I am having a hard time figuring out where to go that will have most sights open. I am interested in architecture and history mostly so I enjoy taking tours/going to museums. I have traveled around Europe on a few trips with my family. Ive traveled to the "bigger cities" on bus tours (London, Paris, Lucerne, Rome, Florence, Venice, Budapest, Prague, Berlin, Munich, Venice) and toured Greece, Ireland, Belgium, and the Netherlands extensively. Places I considered were northern Italy, Spain, southern France, and England (since Ive only been to London) but wasn't sure if most things would still be open. I am definitely open to suggestions. In addition, I don't speak any other languages besides English unfortunately so I will need to travel to a place where I can get by only speaking one language. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

Have no fear of not speaking French in say southern France or northern Italy or Spain - this has never been a problem for me as many folks - not nearly all- but many do speak some English, especially those you meet in the tourist industry such as train conductors, ticket sellers, hotels, etc. (Indeed you may also have trouble understanding such of the 'English' spoken in parts of the U K!)

I;d eschew northern countries if I had an option just because of the lousy weather - never really cold but often dark, dank, wet and just not nice. Now a place like London can be enjoyed in any weather but if traveling around it just ain't nice IME.

the three other places you mention will have better weather though still not boiling how but much better and the days will be a bit longer than having the sun set about 4 pm and rise around 10 am in the U.K.

If you are thinking of taking trains around a compact area again have no fear of not speaking the language - check these sites for oodles of great info on planning a European train trip in those areas: www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latter's free and excellent IMO European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of tips for taking trains in each area with sample rail itineraries.

You may have to base yourself in a few cities and then do day trips by the fantastic rail system out of them like Barcelona, Nice or Genoa.

Sights will be open all over europe - but not for the longer hours you will find in high seasons. And the countryside will not be a great idea anywhere - so I would stick to 2 or at the MOST 3 cities that you really want to see - each a short train ride from the other. Ad definitely get open jaw flights - into the first city and out of the last.

What do you mean by "things" being open? Unless you are talking about a beach resort type of place, I don't know what 'things' close.

At that time of year weather anyplace in Europe could be rainy, and will be dark pretty early. So I'd pick some sort of city - doesn't have to be a major one. For south of France how about Nice - has beaches if the weather is nice, maybe not for swimming but certainly for walking on. I was there in late November one year and some people were swimming though. They are plenty of day trips to smaller villages you can take by train/bus from Nice. You could spend the whole ten days there and do day trips.

For Northern Spain Barcelona is an obvious choice - tons of stuff to do there in any weather, plus there is coastline/beach. And day trip possibilities as well.

Another good area for a ten day trip would be Andalusia - Seville, Granada, etc.

On a budget? then do not travel around stay in one possibly 2 locations.

If I understand it correctly, Gary is looking for just one destination for the trip to Europe. The rest of what I say assumes that's the case.

In December, I would stay in a city that's large enough to have lots of things that you could do if it rains. London, Madrid, Barcelona, and Rome would all satisfy that criterion and also should be in line with your interests. In every place you mention, rain is a good possibility in December, although if you're lucky, the weather could be very pleasant.

If your trip includes Christmas, London is pretty much closed down totally on the 25th and the 26th, with no public transportation on the 25th and very little on the 26th. In Rome, there is at least some public transportation on the 25th, and almost everything, including museum and archaeological site openings, is back to normal by the 26th, although many shops will still be closed.

We spent several days in Nîmes in April a few years ago, and enjoyed it very much, but there's not much there in the way of indoor activity. I myself wouldn't consider the south of France in Decemeber.

Rome, Madrid, and London all offer good day trip possibilities, so you could find plenty of outdoor things to do or see if they weather cooperates. All three cities could easily fill 10 days between things to do in the city and things to do nearby. I've never been to Barcelona, so I don't know much about day trips from there.

Copenhagen seems to fit the bill...lots of people in the OP's age bracket, English speakers, some nice hostels, and the OP hasn't been there before -- or at least, it's not on his list.

Northern weather wouldn't bother me -- during the holiday season, even though it gets dark early, the northern cities still look wonderful with their lights and decorations. For a second city -- how about Valencia? Krakow? or Prague? You can catch a budget flight to an airport at or near these cities. (Valencia and Copenhagen would be an unusual but fun combo, IMO)

(Valencia and Copenhagen would be an unusual but fun combo, IMO)>

I'll take Valencia at that time over anything north of the Alps where it may well be dark and dreary, dark and dreary, dark and wet - at least in Valencia or southern Spain the weather can be quite nice and days longer.

Head south IMO!

Copenhagen wouldn't fit the "budget" part.

English is the second language of all of Europe except for those countries that claim it is the first (UK and Ireland both allege that the natives speak English), so the language barrier is not a big deal.

What your budget is has not been revealed, but to stretch your money, Central Europe, east of the old Iron Curtain (look it up ;-)) would work best. No, the weather won't be t-shirts and shorts, but it would fit your finances.

We went to Gdansk and Krakow in December and liked both a lot.

Thanks everyone for the input. Just to clarify I will be traveling from early to mid December so I will be back in the USA for Christmas. As for my budget I would like to stay under $2000 if possible for everything (flight, food, lodging, sightseeing, etc).

Many posted that Spain would be a good option. Since I only have 10 days do you think it would be doable to go to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Andalusia region? Or would that be too rushed? Since I am already over there I would like to see as much as possible but also want to enjoy myself and not feel like I am running from place to place. Also are there any sights in Spain that I should definitely see on my trip?

That's a pretty snug budget for 10 days. Assuming about $1,000 for your flight, it leaves an average of $100 per day. A bed in a hostel is anywhere from $25 to $50 per night, and even if breakfast is included you'll need to eat at least once more. Plus, unless you're hoofing it the whole time, you'll have transportation costs. That doesn't include admission to any non-free attractions, which can often be more than expected.

I'm not saying it can't be done -- I'm all in favor of budget travel! -- but it is going to take some serious planning.

Good luck.

Since I only have 10 days do you think it would be doable to go to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Andalusia region?>

Well yes and no - if young like you yes - Barcelona for say 3 days - take the overnight train to Seville - a long way so travel at night and also save money on a hostel cost - then 3 days in Seville then the last 4 in Madrid (only a few-hour train ride from Seville via the AVE high-speed train that goes up to nearly 190 mph!

there are also cheap flights between say Barcelona and Seville if night trains are not your bag (if a light sleeper not so good!)

Anyway in December I may wish to stay in southern Spain and maybe end up in neighboring Portugal - like Lisbon - at least weather will not be wintry - Madrid at high elevation gets much colder I believe than either Barcelona or especially a Seville not far from Africa.

lots of neat day trips to do from a Seville base.

I hesitate to say there are "musts" for anybody else, but if you want to understand the history of Europe and see some of the most beautiful architecture ever created in the world, then seeing the Alhambra in Granada and Cordoba is just astounding. You will also gain a huge understanding of today's world too.

So I think Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla would be fab, and if you can work around the days when museums will be closed in Madrid, then it makes sense to include it given your interests, especially to include a day trip to Toledo.

Barcelona might be more expensive than usual at the holiday period. It's a popular holiday break. So check that out. If you are simply wild at the thought of getting to see Gaudi and other early 20th c. modernist architecture, then maybe you should go. But I am thinking if you can bring yourself to skip it, Barcelona is a bit more enjoyable when the weather permits enjoying more of its outdoorsy seaside urban culture.

If you want to get best transportation fares at the holiday season you probably need to plan things well in advance.

Sicily is also a lovely destination for a history lover in winter and often cheaper -- but the Alhambra and Cordoba and whatever else you can add in Spain without ruining the trip with too much busy-ness would be my first pick if you can swing it.