Denise

I love travel, I love Europe, I love traveling Europe inexpensively. Over the years I have posted questions, given answers and hopefully contributed to someone's travel experience in some positive way. I need a little help.

I'm travel hungry. Yet, there is a twist. I need to find a place that is not too crowded with enough to do to keep interest peaked (for me), lots of hiking and walking (for him), good food and wine. Someplace where the locals are friendly and where we might have a few day trips to sites or ruins.

I've thought about northern Italy, northern Spain, parts of Portugal, Malta, so far. I've been to Lake Bled which would hold alot of natural beauty for him with the small city feel that I enjoy. I have traveled a good bit throughout Europe, my partner - northern England, and Edinburgh, Scotland, 20 years ago. We are both in our 50's and physically fit. He loves bronze work, I adore the arts - all of it. I'm not looking for a tour which would be too structured but rather a meander without a guide but guidance.

Thoughts, would love some ideas.

Denise

Meant to add that in Slovenia, I enjoyed the small city feel of Ljubljana.

fourfortravel

Vienna can offer vineyards for hiking with great views (and heurigen with good food and wine sprinkled throughout, depending on when you travel); and the city has mapped a 120km roundabout hike that can be completed in a week. Carnuntum, nearby, has Roman ruins, and of course, there is plenty of art.

adrienne

If you're looking for good food that would eliminate Malta. I don't think the hikes there would be very interesting as the country looked mostly flat and there is not a lot of greenery.

Portugal is very inexpensive and the food and wine are good. I haven't been to the northern part which is where I believe the hiking would be good. There is a Portuguese Camino where the hiking might be good but it is mostly for thru hikers and if you're not hiking he will need to come back to your base accommodations every day.

I found the Portuguese people to be very kind and friendly and the country did not have throngs of tourists (but I expect this not to be true in the Algarve).

Perhaps you could say what type of hiking he is looking for - a couple of hours or a few days and how intense. Does he need mountains to climb or are rolling hills good.

You might think about the Czech Republic - good food and wine and pretty countryside and it's inexpensive.

Or one of the smaller cities in Belgium where you could enjoy the city atmosphere and he could easily get out of the city for walks.

tarquin

Have you considered the Alpujarras? You could stay in Granada and hike the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. See Gerald Brenan's South from Granada and Chris Stewart's Driving over Lemons for inspiration.

HappyTrvlr

The Dolomites?

Denise

Thanks all. I was thinking Austria around Salzburg, where I've been before but would love to go again. I too have been to Portugal though I liked Oporto more than Lisbon but wanted to see the Duoro region - he just might like a spiritual walk though would definitely steer away from the albergies(sp?) to crash. Czech Republic, good choice. I will also check tarquin's sugestion as well. Now the Dolomites, also good.

Keep 'em coming.

I'll reveal when we decide.