Long February Weekend in Europe
 

I'm hoping to take my husband to Europe for a long weekend in February for his 50th birthday. We used to do inexpensive winter weekends in Europe all the time pre-kids (5 yrs ago), but haven't been since then. Time will be tight (and we're leaving the kids for the very first time), so I want an easy-in, easy-out European city from Wash. D.C. My first pick would be Amsterdam, but we've been there several times. So I am considering Munich, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, or a Swiss city. Any idea how those cities would be as a quick destination in February?

Another question that's probably silly: how is Copenhagen in February?

Thanks, Amy

I would not suggest one of the Northern cities you mention. February is quite unpleasant in Copenhagen (likely to be cold and wet), Berlin is even colder (more continental in climate, dryer, though). Same might be valid for Prague.
This leaves Vienna, Munich or Swiss cities in the bag.
You are likely to encounter snow there - but that can give a city a very special air and would make for great light.
I guess it's a toss-up from there, or rather depends on your focus of interests.

If you've just got a long weekend (assuming you mean 3-4 nights?), then I would recommend visiting a city you can fly to direct. Of the cities you mentioned, Munich would be my pick. But I'm also counting down to a Christmas visit to Brugge, so I'll also suggest Brussels...you could either stay in Brussels or take a train to Brugge (about 1 hr and the train station is right in the airport).

There are direct flights, I believe, to Vienna on Austria Air from Dulles. We went to Vienna in February last year. While the city is gorgeous, it was very, very cold. I'm used to cold weather (I'm from St. Louis) but it felt very cold to me. Still, the city is beautiful, as I said, and it gave us plenty of chances to sit in beautiful cafes and warm ourselves up. If you don't mind the cold too much, I would choose Vienna.

Tracy

Have you considered Rome?

Since it's a short trip, why add a couple of hours flying across Europe? There are plenty of choices focusing on cities near the Atlantic coast. Brussels sounds like a good idea, or Amsterdam. Munich is as far as I'd want to go, but after a day in town, I'd get a car, stopping to see Schloss Schleissheim on the way out, and spend 2 nights in the spectacular countryside of Bayern. Suggestion for a nearby country inn (happens to be owned by a friend, but I'm not an employee promoting the place!) is on the A8 Autobahn to Salzburg, at Weyarn, the Landgasthof "Alter Wirt", tel. 0 80 20/90/ 70. Sometimes winter in northern European cities can feel dreary, but in a beautiful landscape, it's postcard-gorgeous.

I would pick Zurich... but I'm biased toward Switzerland :)

Brussels is not that exciting - I live here! Munich neither. I'd go for Vienna or Prague - or what about Budapest?

Since you didn't mention Rome or Paris, I'm assuming you've been there??

How about Reykjavik Iceland. Soak in the Blue Lagoon, go snowmobiling, watch the Northern lights. There are lots of things to do for a long weekend and your flight would be a bit shorter.