trishready

What do you think is the best European city in terms of:
ease of transportation/getting around
history
beauty (in July)
relaxing
warm local people
shopping (local goods, not designer)
This question is coming from a person who does not prefer or feel comfortable in cities(sorry city people).

trishready

hmmm...

sheila

Edinburgh

blackduff

Paris is still a non-brainer. Amsterdam might be second though.

London is okay but it's still a bit down on my last. Edinburgh is way too cold for my tastes.

Madrid might come right near to Paris, in my opinion.

Geneva - nah!

Copenhagen - expensive!

Stockholm - expensive but charming-it's high on my list of nice places

Yeah, Paris, Madrid, and Amsterdam are my biggest cities.

Blackduff


Blackduff

suze

Paris and Amsterdam are what came to my mind first as well!

But I don't think I'd call Parisians "warm local people".

And I couldn't think what "local goods" Amsterdam produces that would be sold there.

suze

Since you don't like cities, why not visit smaller towns instead?

dmelo1

I'll give a vote to Barcelona and a vote to Prague

Luisah

How about Cork in Ireland? Or one of the smaller cities in the southwest.
Or smaller cities in France? Arles, Aix, Lyon ...

I didn't find the people in Prague to be warm and friendly. They were not impolite but were more formal than people of other cities I've visited in Europe and didn't spend much time on chit chat with tourists.

trishready

suze...this is in addition to smaller towns. One of my older teenage, 18, children wants a city as part of the trip.
Thanks

swandav2000

Brig
Luzern
Salzburg
Bern

s

trishready

I think I just want to hear everyone's opinion of their favorite.

swanday....I have been to Salzburg and loved it.

giro

I'd add Venice.
Ease of transportation...walking, it's as easy as it gets.
History, and beauty are second to none.
Temps. in July are not oppresive, though the crowds may be.
Getting lost as you stroll about is about as relaxing as it gets.
Shopping, is unquely different.
Natives are Italian, so it is redundant to say people are warm and friendly!

wasleys

Bergen.

suze

Thanks for the details.

I am a lover of Switzerland. If you combined Geneva with nearby towns of Lausanne, Vevey, and Montreux. Well that is my personal favorite region I've visited to date.

Does the teenager have a feel for any particular city or region? Say for it being French-speaking, Italian-speaking, Spanish-speaking, etc.

trishready

suze...the teenagers dream would be Paris, but not mine, but willing. I have been to all the places in Switzerland that you mentioned and they are all beautiful.
Have been considering Prague, London, Edinburgh, Venice amoung others. Very open to other destination though.

suze

OK then - my vote's for Paris! It is definitely a world class city- amazing and unique.

With a second place vote for Venice, but somehow I don't think of it so much as a "city"... I just think of it as Venice. Maybe because of the lack of vehicular traffic, etc.

trishready

suze...me again..not any place in the UK? Also, have you been to Prague?

BTilke

Paris, definitely. The people there are as nice as anyone else (although they may be away on vacation).
Vienna, with more for teenagers than you'd think. Within the last two years, I've seen a real change in the city's character, it's pulling in a lot of younger people, esp. from Eastern Europe. The "CopaKagrana" area is perfect for young people in July. I don't know if I'd call the people "warm"--some are very warm, some are very cool, the rest are polite.
Italy--lots of contenders there, but too hot for me in July. If you don't mind heat (and crowds) then go for it--Rome, Venice, Verona, Vicenza, etc. etc.
Edinburgh
Copenhagen

trishready

BTilke...thanks..have already gone to Vienna and most places in Italy are too hot (except maybe Venice).

trishready

Please keep the opinions coming. I love to hear what everyone thinks!