I need help making a decision on what to do with about 10 free days before I join up with a friend in Rouen, France. I'll be arriving in Copenhagen July 2 and as I said, will need to meet someone Rouen on July 11th. I'll be more than likely using the train. I've never been to Scandanvia. Suggestions on where to go during those 10 days using the train? Perhaps with a route of places to visit between Copenhagen and Paris? or with a scandanavian route and then flying to Paris?<BR>Thanks!

I am not very knowledgeable about Scandinavia except for some of Denmark, so I'll suggest a way to fill the time by leaving there, if that's what you choose to do.<BR><BR>You can travel by train (and ferry) from Denmark to Germany and visit the town of Lubeck, which is absolutely wonderful. Onward to Amsterdam, which is easily worth several days. Then in Belgium, Brugge - - and especially Ghent is a great stop, just a day away from Paris. I don't think you can get from Belgium directly to rouen without going through Paris - - at least as far as I know.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Thanks Rex! Going through Germany makes sense. I've only been in the Rhine area and in Bavaria. Any other German town suggestions? Its clear the Hamburg is a major hub, but I never hear about travel to Hamburg. Also I've reacently read about the Harz region. Does anyone have any knowledge about this area?<BR>Thanks <BR>

you can get from Belgium to Rouen without going through Paris, I think, but I don't know if it will save time or not, you'd have to transfer a couple times (which you'd have to do in Paris also). You could take a train from Brussels to Lille to Amiens, then direct to Rouen from Amiens. You'd probably have to change trains in Lille and Amiens.

Rex's suggestion makes sense, as always.<BR><BR>I love Hamburg (it's always the people that make a place special, isn't it?). A few suggestions:<BR><BR>Go up to the top of the Michel (ie. St Michaelis Kirche).<BR><BR>While there, look at the tiniest street I've ever seen, Kramer Amtsstuben. It's one of the few remaining old streets that survived the WW2 bombing.<BR><BR>Do a tour of the harbour.<BR><BR>Visit the Fisch Markt. <BR><BR>The following sites may help:<BR>www.hamburg-tourism.org/<BR>www.hamburg-highlights.de/int/<BR><BR>Lueneburg is a delightful old university town with half timbered buildings half an hour south of Hamburg. It even has an Aussie Pub (bar).<BR><BR>Hildesheim is a delightful World Heritage site. We dropped in while driving to Hamburg in Sept and had Kaffee & Kuechen at Cafe Engelelke in the old town square - "scrumdelish".<BR><BR>Areas nearby that I always wanted to see but never got to are:<BR><BR>Goslar with its 1,000 half timbered houses and the UNESCO cultural heritage site of the Rammelsburg mine in the Harz Mountains.<BR><BR>The Fairy Tale Road running along the Weser River between Hamelin and Hann-Muenden. Would love to have had time to explore the area the brothers Grimm lived in at leisure.<BR><BR>Many years ago my husband & I caught a sleeper train from Hamburg to Paris. If you decide to spend more time in the north that's another possibility.<BR><BR>Betsy good luck and enjoy the planning.