Tel Aviv to European hub for 5 day train hops
 

Hi. We are in Tel Aviv in November and at the end of our time there we would like to fly to a fun destination in Europe from which we can do some day trips by train and back to the destination for the night. We are also interested in a destination with a direct flight to Minneapolis, MN. Any ideas? The destination does not have to be (and we prefer it not be) a mega-city....
Thanks!
Mary

The desire for a non-stop flight to Minneapolis is a limiter. November is another limiter depending on what you hope to do. Early sunset; marginal weather. One advantage of large cities are the many indoor options on bad weather days.

As near as I can tell, the only direct flights to Minneapolis are from Amsterdam, Paris, London, perhaps Frankfurt...

The hubs in the above post have many flights being canceled in the coming months. Ensure you can get direct flights home.

I, too, only see non-stop flights from Minneapolis to London, Paris or Amsterdam in Europe. They are large cities but have the advantage of being hubs with many day trip possibilities.

Amsterdam is a good hub with all major towns within an easy train ride once you get your fill of Amsterdam itself.

Yeah, but in November? Possible of course...

Thank you for your replies! If I eliminate the requirement that our flight to Minneapolis be direct, what ideas would you have for a good destination to be a hub for day trips with the same idea that the destination need not but can be be a mega city? We will be at the destination 11/13 to 11/20. Thanks!

Any place with good air and rail links is going to be a large city. They don't build those connections in small towns.

If you want smaller cities. Venice , Bologna or Florence.

Venice being the smallest. November being off season it'll be not quite empty but not summer crowded. Plus in the evening it might feel empty.

Florence is the next biggest. You could even do a day trip to Rome but even without that you've got all of Tuscany. Just don't expect the countryside to be spring like.

Bologna is the biggest. A major rail hub.

Thanks, Nick. We love Venice and Rome and Florence, never been to Bologna.

Now we can choose from all the many cities in Europe.;)

Both El Al and Iberia offer nonstops from Tel Aviv to Barcelona in November, and there are several carriers that can get you back to MSP with an interim stop someplace (either in Europe or the US.) Barcelona is a beautiful city, near beautiful country, and the weather in mid- late November is likely to be a little better than in most other cities.

Same goes for Lisbon; El Al and TAP (Portuguese flag carrier) both fly there nonstop from Tel Aviv.

Perhaps no escape to the countryside given the weather, but cities are better in the winter than small towns.

You wouldn't say that about Paris.
Amsterdam in November is quieter, less filled with tourists, more chance of seeing museums, and actually being able to take you time. Same with all the cities you can get to by train from Amsterdam. Even do a day trip to Cologne from there. Straight into the centre of the city.