Four-week winter honeymoon in Europe
 

Hi, my fiancé and I will be getting married in November next year and we've decided to go on a four-week long honeymoon right after our wedding. I know it's a tad early for planning but it will make me feel a lot better if we at least have an idea of where we'll be heading (will be busy with work, the wedding and our new place next year).

I've always wanted to go to the Greek islands (Santorini and Crete) for my honeymoon but it seems I'll have to leave the trip to summer in 2015 given that it's off-season in December. I've been doing some research myself and have come up with a list of cities I would like to visit on my honeymoon. Since we'll be on our honeymoon, the criteria for choosing the cities have to do with romance and of course, the time of the year we'll be visiting i.e. winter. They are:

1. Lapland, Finland (thinking of spending 5-6 days here)
2. Prague
3. Budapest
4. Vienna
5. Salzburg
6. Amsterdam
7. Bruges
8. Paris (second visit here so I'm looking at 3 days)

My question: is it do-able? How many days should I spend in each city? I get how some people tend to squeeze many, many cities into their itinerary.. I for one, enjoy being on the move but always make it a point to ensure that the destinations on my itinerary are within proximity when planning for a trip like this (this will be my second trip to Europe - I hope this answers why I didn't include the other romantic cities like Venice, Florence and Rome). Also, if you're wondering why Lapland.. I like the idea of a cosy log cabin with a fireplace and a hot tub, husky dog sledding, reindeer sleigh, ice fishing, snowmobiling etc. I'm certain the fiancé will enjoy these. :)

Activities that I'm thinking of doing in the other cities include sightseeing (not everything, just whatever we would like to see - this usually includes the must-sees), visiting the Christmas markets, café-hopping (nothing like a hot cuppa away from the cold) and well, going for good food and walking along the streets.

With regards to budget, I haven't really given it a thought but we're fine with the list of cities. We don't usually splurge on flights and accommodation and prefer to spend the bulk of our money on anything else. We'll be flying from Singapore and intend to return from Paris (I think it would be nice for Paris to be our last destination and I'm planning to do some shopping there so yeah.)

I would also appreciate it if you could share affordable and not-so-unreasonably-time-consuming means of getting from city to city. We are fine with flying or taking a train (in fact, the fiancé loves taking trains and I would love for him to experience travelling inter-cities via train - this will be his first trip to Europe).

Sorry for the long post and I look forward to hearing from anyone!

P.S. Would it be too much if I add Copenhagen to the list? I just would like to visit the Christmas markets there.. :D

You need to search out when the Xmas markets start. If you're starting the trip in early Nov., then you may be early for the markets; if in late Nov., less problem.

<< I like the idea of a cosy log cabin with a fireplace and a hot tub, husky dog sledding, reindeer sleigh, ice fishing, snowmobiling etc. >>

Yeah, it's also bloody cold and Singapore isn't. Check out www.icehotel.com - different Lapland (Swede, not Finn) but the concept is unique. Dunno about 5-6 days there tho'.

<<affordable and not-so-unreasonably-time-consuming means of getting from city to city>>

This has no meaning. State a budget in Euros and what is "unreasonably time-consuming." A 7-hr train ride? A 10-hr train ride? And what's an extra __ hours of touring worth to you (e.g., 8.5 total hours in transit from Prague to Budapest by train, including transport to and from stations v. 3.25 total hours by plane)? Especially considering it gets dark EARLY in November/December in most of Europe. Trains are better in Western Europe than Central Europe - more modern, far faster.

I think you already have too many places. I know a month seems like a lot but given so much time in Lapland (???? - if it were me I would go to Switz mountaintops for snow, dog sled rides, etc) and the time to get to each place you will have only have 2 or 3 days in each place. This is enough for Bruges and Salzburg (but you cuol duse more if you go to the mountains) but is skimping on the other cities - even for a few major sights and some relaxed cafe-sitting (where they have heaters).

I think you already have too many places. I know a month seems like a lot but given so much time in Lapland (???? - if it were me I would go to Switz mountaintops for snow, dog sled rides, etc) and the time to get to each place you will have only have 2 or 3 days in each place. This is enough for Bruges and Salzburg (but you cuol duse more if you go to the mountains) but is skimping on the other cities - even for a few major sights and some relaxed cafe-sitting (where they have heaters).

And agree that we need a budget for lodgings.

Hi Russ, appreciate your response to my post. First of all, we'll be getting married in late November so we'll be in Europe throughout December.

Also, we know very well what we are getting ourselves into. We travel quite a bit and have been to places in winter, though the coldest we experienced (and actually enjoyed) wasn't that cold i.e. -13C.

I was considering either Norway, Sweden and Finland for the experience out in the cold but decided against Norway because it is most expensive of the three. As for why I decided on Finnish Lapland, it seems like there is more to do/see there than Lapland in Sweden (only thing that caught my interest was the ice hotel, which is pretty expensive).

As of now I haven't got any budget in mind. An unreasonably time-consuming means of travel is pretty much defined as one that takes up an entire day (say anything more than 9-10h) in my dictionary - sorry I wasn't clear about this. Would it be better to put Vienna and Salzburg in between Prague and Budapest? Lastly, as mentioned in my post, we're okay with flying (since it would save us time). I just thought it would be nice to travel between Prague, Vienna and Budapest via train.

Hey nytraveler, it does seem like I have too many places but it is after doing a fare bit of research that I came up with the list.. I know we could go to Switzerland but I wanted something different. I'm not so much concerned about lodgings for now. Really, just advice on the number of days I should spend in each city and of course, how to get from place to place.

I looked up TA, Fodor's, Lonely Planet and several other forums and came up with the following:

1. Lapland, Finland - 4 full days
2. Prague - 2 full days
3. Budapest - 3 full days
4. Vienna - 2 full days
5. Salzburg - 1 full day
6. Amsterdam - 2 full days (not planning to go on any day trips)
7. Bruges - 1 full day
8. Paris - 3 full days

Please comment if you can. Thanks!

To avoid blowing a day on the trains, you can go Prague to Vienna (4h train or so) for __ nights, and do a long day trip Salzburg or an easy day trip to Bratislava. Vienna to Budapest is about 3-3.5h by train. Prague to Budapest is 7.5h by train during the day.

Too many 1 and 2 day stays can be exhausting. Even if you like that pace, having to travel and pack/unpack eats up a lot of time. Try mapping out the travel logistics (train, plain., etc.) and then see if you still like the list you have come up with. congrats!

3-4 days in Budapest, it's very good, art, food, party:) and i know a hotel whoch is very good, quiet, could be found on Buda side: Hotel Molnár Budapest are watiting for you! www.hotel-molnar.com!

Personally, and especially in the winter, I would stay in Pest..

If it is too cold, you can sample all the baths.

Thanks everyone for your input! We've decided to leave Lapland for another time. Russ, we'll be heeding your advice to avoid blowing a day on the trains, except it's now the reverse i.e. Budapest-Vienna-Salzburg-Prague. I'm thinking of staying the night in Salzburg so that we could visit the Christmas market in the evening.

Yorkshire, I've made some changes to the list after taking your words into consideration. I now have the following:

1. Budapest - 3 full days
2. Vienna - 2 full days
3. Salzburg - 1 full day
4. Prague- 3 full days
5. Berlin - 4 full days
6. Amsterdam - 3 full days (not planning to go on any day trips)
7. Bruges - 1 full day
8. London - 4 full days (second visit)
9. Paris - 3 full days (second visit)

Still thinking if we should do Bruges.. I've been to Brussels and found it rather boring but I've read that Bruges is a beautiful place to be, especially in the evening when the day visitors are not in sight.

Nagyanna, thanks for the recommendation, I'll make sure to check it out. :)

Centraleurope, it seems there are differing views when it comes to how much time to spend in Budapest and Prague. I've decided on an equal number of days in both cities and will probably visit either/both again if I can't get enough of them!

I'm not getting the math. You have 24 "full" days... which suggests that you are spending a day between each location traveling, but you have nine cities. The train from Amsterdam to Bruges takes approximately 3.5 hours elapsed time, not including time spent packing, checking out/in, getting to and from train stations, and of course doesn't include delayed trains.

Well the list I have now is not final. I'm gonna try to work out the travel logistics and see if it's do-able. We could always take out a city if travelling takes up too much time. :)

Budapest to Vienna is a 3h train ride while Vienna to Salzburg is a 2h 22m ride; we could take the train in the morning and get to the next destination around or before noon. Right now I'm stuck at Salzburg-Prague. I'm looking at the Salzburg-Linz-Ceske Budejovice-Prague route and there's a transfer time of 8 minutes at Linz and 9 minutes at Ceske Budejovice respectively. Would there be enough time? Or would the train and bus combo be better?

If it were me (and it was once) I would get a nice apartment in Prague, Vienna and Budapest and that would be the extent of it. these three towns are different as night and day and each has a lot of what you are looking for. Do you really want to spend one fourth to one third of your honeymoon on a train? Or do you want that train time and train money for great food, great drink, shows, concerts, markets.......???

My email is on my profile. I can help with Budapest a lot and Prague and Vienna a little.

Congrats

Prague to Budapest is 7.5h by train during the day.>

Consider overnight trains to maximize the already too chort daylight hours and time in your destination - like the night trains that roll between many places on your proposed itineraries - like between Prague and Budapest - save also on the cost of a hotel - even with a private double - great for honeymooners - my friend's first child was conceived on his honeymoon on a night train!

anyway for wide-ranging travel at that time of year trains are the best - especially if only going to large cities where cars at any time of year are fairly useless - check out these superb sites to help plan the rail part - and as you are doing a lot of long-distance international travel check out various railpasses - Saverpass means two names on one pass - cheaper than two solo passes and hopefully you both will always be traveling together - if not sure make sure you have possession of the pass! - Great sites for planning a European rail journey - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - be sure to download their free and superb IMO European Planning & Rail Guide as it has suggested rail itineraries for various countriews, rail maps for each, etc (http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id2.html).

PalenQ. have you ever been on that night train?

Besides you should spend at least 2 nights in Vienna on the way.

Christmas Markets in Budapest open about 15 November I believe.

not on that night train but have been on several in the region, like Prague to Krakow - these are not fancy hotel trains but regular night trains with a sleeper car with private singles, doubles, triples and couchette wagons with six-person compartments where strangers are mix regardless of sex - I always take that because as a single travel singles are so pricey and have always had for the most part great experiences and interactions with fellow passengers.

Well. My 2 cents. Winter...Christmas Time...VIENNA!!!
Find someplace to waltz!! (I'd bet a whole Euro one could actually rent a gown and a tux just for the EVENT). Then isn't there a steam locomotive train across to Sultzberg?
How romantic would THAT be? I was led to understand that nearly every Guild has a ball between Christmas and New Years and that it isn't all that difficult to get tickets.

PalenQ. The night trains are loved by some and turn into nightmares to others. I confess I have never been on one because I just don't think I would sleep much. But that's me.

Actually the whole region is magic during the holiday season. Not sure when the OP is arriving other than "November". The markets this year open on the 16th in Vienna and Budapest. Don't know about Prague. You can find some winter photos here

https://vasvarirentals.shutterfly.com/budapest1

I love Budapest and love to help out with Budapest so feel free to write if I can help.

Another activity to consider, even if you are not a big fan, is some type of classical music event. The Budapest opera house is lovely.... Quite reasonable...houses nearly daily performances of the nutcracker. There may also be performances (choral, chamber orchestras) in smaller churches, etc.... Cheap to free and usually very good.

Music plays a very special role here across the entire region.

It appears the Liszt Ferenc academy (known in English as Franz Liszt) is about to reopen after years of renovation. There are well priced professional and student performances in the hall almost every day starting late October. (My husband and I walked by the building yesterday and were so impressed with the renovation we came home and checked out their facebook page for the reopening schedule and ticket info).

The Liszt Ferenc Ter (square) is lovely... Not to be missed. And at least walk by the performance hall.

As for the trains, I agree with Bob... My husband is an insomniac (as are PalenQ's friends it would appear). I could sleep thru the war. He can hear an ant walking across our wooden floor. I never tried the overnight train for fear he could not sleep. The train might be perfect for people who sleep like me.

What a perfect honeymoon you are going to have! Congratulations!!