I may think differently after this summer's trip, but as of now, here's my personal list:

<i>ease of transportation/getting around</i> London
<i>history</i> Florence &amp; Rome
<i>beauty (in July)</i> Venice, Florence, Rome (I've not traveled much)
<i>relaxing</i> Provence &amp; Palma del Mallorca
<i>warm local people</i> Amsterdam
<i>shopping (local goods, not designer)</i> Provence

If you're so uncomfortabvle in cities - why not stay in the countryside or small towns? IMHO you're missing a lot but there's no rule you have to stay in any cities at all if you don;t want.

nytraveler, i asked the same question back up the thread. the mom likes countryside but the teenagers want to see a city (is my understanding).

Lisbon or Barcelona

fisches, you beat me to it!

Lisbon is a big city that doesn't feel big.

VENICE - fits all your requirements.

Paris--hands down.
But if you are not a city person, Venice is the place to go. There is much history, great food, friendly people, beautiful city; and it's so small transport is no issue.

Uhhh..where do you live now?

Why hasn't anyone mentioned Budapest? Super interesting things to shop for there. A beautiful city on a river. Lots of history. Easy walking. Friendly people with the caveat that, as in any other city, there are a few who are out to scam the tourist. And, you can easily get out of the city for a few days on the river if you want.

Lutenblag wins easily on all counts.

&quot;Rome, by all means, Rome.&quot;

There is a (still) hidden gem to be found in Austria: Graz, the capital of styria, a quite interesting region.

Transportation: Streetcars for all the distances you cannot do by foot.
History: They have preserved their historic city remarkable well in an unique style with remarkable northern italian and southeast balcan influence.
Beauty: In Graz, you have the landscape right in town - a cliff next to the center, raising above the town, forming a park, called Schlossberg. As it might be hot in July, Graz has parks and green to make summer bearable.
Relaxing: You can be at your ease there in a very fine way.
Warm local people: Graz is the second largest Austrian city, an university town as well as an administrative and an industrial center, but still not touristy. People there will react friendly and polite if adressed in a polite, unobstrusive, friendly way, as people will do everywhere else.
Shopping for local goods: Styria is famous for its vast forests but also for the high quality standards of its agricultural production. There is a trend to use local products and serve local specialities made from those. People there like to have good food served in large portions, to have a local brew or some wine of the region with it, and to finish it with some regional fruit liquor. In addition, you can get Austrian products good for a souvenir.

In my opinion, Graz is one of the most humane cities to be found in Europe.
http://cms.graztourismus.at/cms/ziel/41910/EN/

But there are some more.
Strasbourg has been mentioned already.

What with southern France or le Midi, all these nice old towns to be found at Provence region?

No one has yet mentioned Nice, which is one of my favorite places. Haven't been there in July when it might be too hot and crowded (anyone?), but I love the Belle-Epoche architecture, the museums, the sea, the old town. And it's very easy to take the bus or train to smaller places like St. Paul de Vence or Antibes.

I agree with hhildebrandt that Graz is a very good city. Its old Armory is one of the most fascinating exhibits in Europe.