Hey guys,

Have received fantastic inputs from the guys (and girls) here, so am again looking from ideas from you guys!

Thing is, from the 16th of June to about the 21st, we're traveling up to Europe for a brief trip. Understand the sales begin on the 30th, but that's another issue!

Keeping in mind we've been to Paris/Rome/London in December last year, although London's on the list again, where would be nice to head to after London? In London we'll probably be headed for Portobello, which we missed out the previous time, and possibly the Knightsbridge area.

I've been thinking of Copenhagen or Milan after London, for about 2-4 days? Or does anyone have any other ideas for these few days?

WIll keep all suggestions in mind! Thanks!

Frederick

If I were to visit Paris again, where should we be headed for? I would say this trip, being shorter than the previous one, would be more for shopping/relaxation before July comes around. We've been to Versailles, Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, le Tour Eiffel, River Seine, so I guess the major landmarks are out. I personally do not mind going back to Paris, provided there's stuff for us to do there. Say shopping? We've been to Printemps, Galeries Lafayatte and Champs Elysees, anywhere else we should look out for?

If we were to go to Sevilla, would 3 days be enough to get a rough idea of Spain's culture? Same for Porto.

What about Copenhagen?

Thanks guys!

froderick?

Um, Porto is in Portugal.

Seville is not typical of most of Spain - it has a strong Moorish heritage that is very rare in europe except for the immediate area.

In Paris there are about a thousand things that you have not seen yet (almost all of thme better than shopping IMHO).

I'm not enamored o f Milan - although there is enough to do for a couple of days.

Copenhagen is a charming city and good for several days -esp if you do a day trip to some of the local castles.

Suggest you check out schedules of bargain flights from London.

Hey nytraveler!

I think I will go ahead with Copenhagen then! Could you give me the names of some of the castles, plus other places we should visit on a 3-day trip there?

Or Paris, some places I should go?

Thanks so much!

Copenhagen is a great city. It's very friendly and laid back and Danes are great. I lived there annually during the summer months for 2-plus decades. It's a very relaxing and easy-to-get- around- in city. I walk almost everywhere when I'm there. But, the public transportation is great. Happy Travels!

With three days in Sevilla, chances are good you'll get an excellent taste of Spain. A wonderful city full of great sights, distinctive neighbourhoods (a very walkable city) and with one of the best tapas scenes in all of Spain. The most important city in the country during the so called golden age (parts of the 16th and 17th centuries). Very much reflected in art, arcitecture and perhaps even in the mentality/pride of the Sevillanos.

If you want to experience a truly magical Sevilla night far outside the usual, you might be very lucky with the dates. On the 19th, take the bus to the close by small town of Arahal. At 23h, two of the greatest female flamenco artists in the world today are giving an open air concert in Plaza de Santo Cristo. As this is part of a annual festival arranged by the local authorities, entrance is only 5€. Just show up at the plaza in due time and eat, drink and experience cutting edge flamenco from Marina Heredia (song) and Rocío Molina (dance) into the small hours. Everybody is warmly welcomed. The programme in Spanish: http://www.algurugu.es/programa.htm

Abouth the Sevilla tapas scene (Eslava, Rinconcillo, Cervecería Giralda are some of my favourites): http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/

Excellent site on Sevilla in general:
www.exploreseville.com/

Roundtrip London (Heathrow)- Sevilla on these dates would be 150-170€. Direct flights, 3h 30 mins.
http://www.vueling.com/booking/booki...ciona-tu-vuelo

<i>Could you give me the names of some of the castles, plus other places we should visit on a 3-day trip there?</i>

Well, within Copenhagen proper, Rosenborg Slot is the primary 'castle', but it is more a grand residence. Beautiful gardens when the weather cooperates. Outside Copenhagen, there is Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød, which is quite nice. Again, it has a bit of a grand residence feel to it and nice gardens. In Helsingør, there is Kronborg Castle, which is reputed to be Hamlet's castle. This one has a bit more of that fortress feel, and a nice setting on the water. With a car, you could do Frederiksborg and Kronborg in one day; would be tougher with public transport.

As for other sites, the Viking ship museum in Roskilde is interesting, if a little small. This could be combined with a visit to the Roskilde cathedral, which features several prominent graves. Also, in Helsingør is the very good Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, which could be coupled with a trip to Kronborg - again, a car would be helpful.

In Copenhagen, the Strøget is a very pleasant pedestrianized shopping district, and you mentioned shopping. The two big department stores (Illum, which is on the Strøget and Magasin, which is just off one end) are good introductions and carry a lot of Scandinavian designers and housewares. For housewares, one should also check out the Royal Copenhagen shop and the connected Illums Bolighus, which are almost museums of design as much as shops.

You should also not miss Tivoli. Even if you aren't a kid, it is charming at night, when lit and with all the people around. You can grab a beer at various places around the park and just enjoy the scene.

Among the nice things about Copenhagen is that everyone speaks English, it is safe, has good public transit, and is very walkable. There is also a burgeoning restaurant scene, headlined by Noma, which was recently named the best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine. The restaurant scene, however, highlights one downer to Copenhagen, which is that it can be pretty expensive. The decline in the kroner vs the dollar has made things better, but it is still an expensive city.

Are you going shopping? Milan is of course an amazing shopping destination, as is nearby Torino, and Milan can be combined with spectacular art sites (like Venice, Verona or Florence) or the Italian Riviera for nature if you forego revisiting London.

Who know where the Euro will be in relation to the dollar when you actually arrive, but right now most things are a bargain. Unless you don't care what kind of goods are available when you go, you might pick a destination based on your shopping desires and the weakness of the Euro.

Would you like French or Italian or Spanish or Greek goods? (I can't imagine anyplace cheaper than Greece right now.) Madrid is a fantastic shopping destination, and can be easily combined with Sevilla, if you forego revisiting London.

The notion that Sevilla is "not typical" of Spain overlooks the fact that Spain, like the US, is highly regional country, and no two areas are really alike. Sevilla actually comes closest to meeting most people's ideas of a Spanish city: tiles, flamenco, bullfights, and fantastical churches decorated in gold. As for "Moorish" heritage, it is not confined to that one area. You will find it in Toledo and elsewhere.

If you want to start buying tickets based on a few odd sentences and opinions of anonymous posters, have a great surprising trip! But even if you only go to five days, especially to an expensive city like Copenhagen, it's gonna cost you.

Hey travelgourmet and zeppole, thanks so much for your inputs! I'm getting a rough idea of our second destination, that probably being Copenhagen. Given it's a short trip to unwind, I guess London for the shopping and Copenhagen for some sightseeing sounds like the way to go.

That said, I'll propose this to my family later, and foreseeing objection to Copenhagen, Milan/Venice is on the cards.

Travelgourmet, where would you suggest for accommodation with nice food around the area?

Thanks so much guys!

In Copenhagen, I recommend you go to Tivolihallen, one of the city's very best traditional Danish "Frokost-restauranter" (brunch/lunch restaurants, open 11.30-16.00, closed Sunday). Here you are served the best open sandwiches in Scandinavia (some 33 to choose from; fish, seafood, meat, cheese in all kind of creative compositions)) toghether with excellent beer and aquavit. Open air terrace in the back-yard, but I would suggest to sit inside because of the great atmosphere. Right by Hovedbanegården and the Tivoli, in Vestre Voldgate 91, tel. 33 11 01 60. Reservations essential (I live in Oslo, am a huge fan of our open sandwiches and visit Copenhagen frequently). http://www.tivolihallen.dk/

Right next door is Glyptoteket, a museum of Ancient and Modern art not to be missed.
http://www.glyptoteket.dk/?frames=yes&language=en

You should also strongly consider the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art mentioned above: http://www.louisiana.dk/uk/Menu/Visit+Louisiana