I'm looking for Fodorite inspiration quickly to plan a solo trip to Europe. I want two cities or biggish towns that I can plunk down in for a total two weeks (last half of October), places big enough for interesting wandering during the day, with a day trip or two to the countryside, followed by coming home at night and collapsing in a comfortable business-class-type hotel in front of the TV or with a book. I'm an experienced traveler. My interests are history and architecture and language/culture, not so much food. I'd like to do recreational poking-around shopping. And . . . this is a biggie . . . I would really like to see some green mountains or hills at least some of the time. I don't want to rent a car. The goal is to chill out.

I did this successfully last fall with Helsinki and Tallinn, so what I'm looking for is a comparable pair of places (with extra added terrain!). Places I don't want to revisit:: UK (I spend a lot of time there), Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Paris, Rome/Venice, Amsterdam, Vienna, Munich, Helsinki, Tallinn, some others.

Thoughts? Copenhagen + Berlin (but is late October a good time for Copenhagen, and Copenhagen distinctly lacks hills)? Berlin + someplace else? Prague + Cesky Krumlov? Budapest + somewhere? I've never been to Spain, but the green hill thing might be an issue. I've never been to Scandinavia, but late October doesn't sound ideal (?).

Munich & Prague

Thanks. The downside is that Munich's in my list of "been to before, would rather not repeat" cities. Is there somewhere else (ideally with an airport) that would make a good pair with Berlin?

Sorry, I meant: a good pair with *Prague*.

I think Budapest would be a good one for your tastes. If you like big cities, the view from Gellert Hill is going to make for a nice treat

As for the second one, maybe Prague if you've never been.

Berlin has green spaces but no hills.

Krakow is flat but has the green Planty, 2.5km ringing the city center. In 2 hours you can be in the Tatras, mountains and fir trees.

Cesky Krumlov is a tiny town; there's enough to see for maybe one day, not a week. The area is green with rolling hills.

Berlin and Prague with a stop half way inbetween, in the National Park Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland right on the border.

How abouts Nice (or any Cote d'Azur town and Barcelona - both have lots of hills/mountains and at that time of year fine weather compared to the often grim gray dark dank foul weather north of the Alps.

Both offer innumerable short day trips by excellent public transports.

I second what Ingo says. Berlin and Prague would make a great combination. Whilst Berlin may not be surrounded by green fields, there is a lot of water and some fantastic gardens and parkland in Potsdam, a short train ride away. Once you've exhausted Berlin, I would suggest stopping off in Dresden for a few days to do some more exploration of a beautiful city plus trips on the Elbe etc.

Finally, another train journey will take you to Prague, where you can easily spend 3-4 days in teh city itself.

I go for Berlin and Prague. Not a pigeon pair but close enough and big enough to command attention. Or as annhig says, Berlin - Dresden - Prague, which is logical as the rail connections lie. Dresden has some very impressive architecture.

Lavandula

Prague and Budapest. Or Prague and Berlin.

For architecture Prague is unique - the only central european city intact after WWII (thanks to Chamberlain handing it over to Hitler). We took a walking tour of the old town with a university student in architecture that was absolutely fascinating.

Berlin has a very interesting mix of architecture - all since WW II of course. A lot of the west is 1960s US and a lot of the east is Soviet realist - and then a bunch of things have been reconstructed. But great museums and a fascinating city.

Hello Tahl,
My suggestions for you about the two big cities of Europe would be Berlin as it is one of the largest city in Europe with vast places to explore about history of Europe.
Czech republic can be the other option or you may like Paris.

Any thoughts about the wisdom or otherwise of my original idea, Copenhagen + Berlin (again, in late October)?

Sorry - I missed that you had already done Munich. I'm not a huge fan of Copenhagen. I found it extremely expensive and somewhat dull, bar Louisiana which is the modern art gallery outside of Copenhagen.

Haven't been to Berlin but will be going in October. I've been to other parts of Germany in October and the weather was pleasant, if a bit chilly at times.

Prague is an awesome city!! I would go there 100 times to none over Copenhagen.

I'm doing the Prague - Czech Switzerland (for walking) - Dresden - Berlin thing in mid to late October. Transportation is easy - and it seems to me like a really good mix.

Your plans are really big my friend, keep try finding such partner. Happy traveling.