Which cities best visit in Europe on my first trip to ?
 

I am a 32 year old woman and planning my first trip to Europe with my husband . i also know I will likely have no the time or money to go to Europe again so I am looking to go in By the end of this month MAY . i will have almost two weeks.
I will first visit Frankfurt for 3days @least , it is mandatory as I have to attend meeting there.
then I have also to have about 2 or 3 days in the end of trip in Düsseldorf.
which means I have remaining 10 days in Europe.
what is the best cities to visit in this duration .
shall I stay all this duration in Germany and just visit Belgium and Netherlands?
OR I can visit France or Italy instead (both or one of them)?
Also I want to know the must see cities in Europe .Any and all suggestions are welcome!! Thanks!!!

There are no "must-see" cities in Europe. They are all different, and it is up to you to do some research and figure out which ones would be the best fit for you.

What is a "must-do" is to arrange your accommodations and transportation (if applicable) immediately, as you have left everything to the last minute, and that means you will pay more than normal (especially for train rides, for example).

There are a lot of "must see" places in Europe. No, it's not possible to see half of them in just ten days.

Instead, pick places you are interested in. With budget airlines, you can visit almost anywhere in Europe from Frankfurt. Paris is a quick and probably cheap flight. You could fly there and then train north through Belgium and perhaps briefly Amsterdam before training back to Germany, though that might be a rushed trip.

Or - just fly to Italy for a few days if you have your heart set on that. Really up to you. You could potentially fly to Italy for half of it and fly back to some other city in Europe for a few more of the days, but you'd be wasting time getting from city to city.

Use the site Bahn.com to check train schedules (not just for Germany). Use Kayak.com to check flight connections and fares.

The suggestion for visiting Paris and Amsterdam is a sound one. It can all easily be done by train (maximum 4 hrs per leg), sparing you the hassle of flying, and giving you the chance to experience three countries with different cultures.
Don't forget to explore the region of Frankfurt with interesting cities like Würzburg and Heidelberg, which can easily be done as day trips.
You have to be quick though with your decision. Advance buying of train tickets for the long-distance trains can get you tremendous discounts. The trustworthy www.seat61.com/ explains the ins and outs.

I don't think I could ever say there are no must see cities in Europe but that's why they make different flavors of gelato...everyone's different.

Sadly, if what you say is true that you likely will never go to Europe again, I would try to go to Paris, Rome and/or London. With 10 days for a once in a lifetime trip I would have a hard time choosing anywhere else.

Make a list and roll a dice to select.

shall I stay all this duration in Germany and just visit Belgium and Netherlands?
OR I can visit France or Italy instead (both or one of them)?>

Yes you must chose - Germany and say Amsterdam would be nice and Frankfurt is very close to the gorgeous Rhine Gorge - hit that first - take the K-D.com boats down the Rhine - could do as a day trip from Frankfurt.

Then maybe go via Luxembourg by train to Belgium - Bruges is the highlight for many - a dreamy romantic town - use as a base - day trip to Gent and then take the train to Amsterdam and fly home from there.

Or from Frankfurt blast over to Paris via high-speed trains - spend 3-4 days there - hit Bruges next then end in Amsterdam.

Or fly anywhere and spend the rest of the time.

Lots of options but I have given some that keeps travel to a minimum and also includes what many folks would say are highlights of Europe.

For train info yes www.seat61.com is a great sight and others I like are www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com- check out the latter's online European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of rail-itineraries in those countries and others.

In 10 days you would not realize any benefit of a railpass unless on the train more than in your destination cities.

You are 32 years old, for heavens sake. Why would you think in 40 years you would never visit Europe again?

Germany to Switzerland?
Germany to Paris?
Germany to Italy?

So many choices. Please be confident that you will travel again

Many options, but based on logistics and at least one "must see" city,

Itinerary 1
This would be easy logistically. You would visit three countries in addition to Germany: fantastic Paris, France, postcard pretty Bruge, Belgium and Amsterdam, Netherlands, with canals, great Art and flowers as well as splendid architecture.

Train from Frankfurt to Paris (no need to fly with waits security, etc.) just as fast and more comfortable to take the train.
Paris, 4 nights, 3 &1/2 days minimum
Train to Bruges, 2 nights, 1 &1/2 days
Train to Amsterdam, 3 nights, 2 &1/2 days
Train to Düsseldorf

Well aware that it would be rushed, but while in Paris, I would squeeze in a day trip to Versailles.

Itinerary 2, if Italy is what calls you more

Fly to Venice, 2 nights, 1&1/2 days
Train Florence, 2 nights, 1 & 1/2 days
Train to Rome, 4 nights, 3 & 1/2 days. day trip to Orvieto for one hill town.
Fly to Düsseldorf.

Both itineraries would be wonderful.
Even though I love Italy, I think I would choose Paris, Bruges and Amsterdam in Spring, by train. It would be a lovely trip.
Going to Italy will require flights, which are more stressful for me, but perhaps not you. In the end, choose what most appeals to,you.

When someone is planning far ahead, it is fun to do research, ponder all the possibilities and try to create the perfect itinerary, but you have very little time.

I suggest you keep it simple. Look at the concrete plans offered so far and simply pick one. You can see at least three people said Paris paired with Amsterdam, but Italy works too. You won't go wrong either way.

Come back. Tell us your itinerary. You will get advice on how to get there and where to stay.

I hope that you will have a chance to go back to Europe again, but if you don't you should at least see Paris and London. You could fly to London from Frankfurt, spend few days there, the take the Eurostar train to Paris. There is so much to see and do in both cities that they could occupy your entire time. I would not waste time taking a train back to Dusseldorf, but fly back if the flight scheduling permits.

thanks all for your advise
i will go for one of the 2 options proposed by Sassafrass

Train from Frankfurt to Paris (no need to fly with waits security, etc.) just as fast and more comfortable to take the train.
Paris, 4 nights, 3 &1/2 days minimum
Train to Bruges, 2 nights, 1 &1/2 days
Train to Amsterdam, 3 nights, 2 &1/2 days
Train to Düsseldorf

OR FLY to Italy and stay there for about 6 or 7 days visit Venice , Florence , Rome and I want also to visit Milan
and then fly again to Düsseldorf

Could u please vote for one of these options ?

I'm inclined to say the first option seems less rushed. 6 days and 4 cities in Italy seems like too much, but I suppose it depends on what you want to do in each place. Think about how much time you'll spend packing and unpacking and toting your luggage for a start...

What is your special interest in Milan? Fashion? The Cathedral?
There isn't time to add Milan without giving up some place that is really IMHO much more wonderful. Too much time eaten up in travel. If Milan is, for some reason, truly important to you, and you choose Italy, you will have to cut one of the other places.

You asked earlier about cities not to miss. In Italy, Venice, Florence and Rome are sometimes called the big three because they are so beautiful, so rich in art, architecture, history, etc. Those three are already pushing it time wise.

However, some people do go to Italy and, for one reason or another, skip over one of those cities, deciding it just isn't their interest. Personal choice and absolutely nothing wrong with that.

If time is running short on the other itinerary, cut Bruges.

Could u please vote for one of these options ?>

what do you want not what others think you want is important - your call Italy or Paris and a bit of Germany and Benelux?

Or just flip the coin.

Play darts on a map, roll a dice or flip the coin.

Nobody can "vote" without knowing you.

Option 2

This is a really hard question to answer. While I love Germany (southern region), I would not say FOR ME that is where I would have to go and see before I died. It will depend on what you want to see. What interests you?

For me, Rome was a MUST. Paris was a MUST. For others, maybe London is a must. Or Barcelona.

Here is what I will tell you though from my experiences... Pick a country and then pick a few places in that country that you are dying to see for specific reasons, like you love museums or you are a history buff. If you don't pick a place that has interests that you like, you might be disappointed.

Take for instance Italy... I went to Italy because I LOVE history.

If you attempt to cram too much into your trip, you will regret it. I think about those people that do 21 countries in 10 days and I think to myself HOW? Good for them but that is not how I like to travel. I like to take my time, immerse myself in the country. The people, the culture, the language, the sights, the food, etc.

Just don't take the little time you have there traveling from location to location just to say you were in 21 countries in 10 days... Because when asked what you saw, all you might be able to say is train stations.

If just 6 days in Italy, I would visit Rome, florence and venice for 2 days each, then 4 days in and around paris. Do have a look at my trip on Italy: https://ashwinbahulkar.wordpress.com...rence-tuscany/

2 days in each of the big three if you factor relocating and travel time means about one good day - not enough IMO to even orient yourself to the place.

Less can indeed be more!

Agree 100% with PalenQ! Trying to see Rome, Florence and Venice in six days would be nuts! Take away travel time, and it is even less.

When it gets right down to it, exactly how many days and nights do you have from the time you depart Frankfurt to the time you must be in Düsseldorf?

Be as precise as possible because even one day or night more or less can make a difference.

If you have early meetings, you will need to be in Düsseldorf the night before. Will you be able to leave Frankfurt in the evening or have a late meeting or dinner and have to wait until morning?

My suggestions before were based on a little more time, at least 7 days. If you have only 6 whole days (7 nights), the most you can do is Paris and Amsterdam (travel to Paris, travel in between and on to Düsseldorf) and that even is tight. You could do Rome and Venice, but would have travel in between and a couple of flights - stressful.

If only 6 days, forget Paris together with Rome. Just not enough time with travel to Paris and flights from Paris to Rome and Rome to Düsseldorf.

You begin to see the logistics.

I am beginning to think your best bet would be 4 nights Paris, 2 night Bruges. Good logistically. You see Paris and a bit of one other country, and good connection with Dusseldof.

If you truly think you will never return to Europe (sad thought) I would go with the Italy itinerary or Paris/Amsterdam.

I personally don't consider Bruges & Amsterdam "must see cities".

I'd say Paris is the only must. In Paris I'd rent a car and head to Venice, via the Alps and Lake Como. You'll see a France, a Switzerland and Italy, my favourite countries in Europe. Drop-off fees France-Italy aren't that bad and worth it if this is a last trip. 10 days are plenty of time.

To me Belgium and Holland sound crazy for a last trip to Europe, unless you have a special interest in those countries.

Suze, I completely agree. I don't think Bruges or Amsterdam are "must see" cities either, but with Paris and only one, perhaps two, extra days, what other "must see" could she reasonably do? I was trying to think of what would work logistically and give her a taste of something else.

I thought of London, but if she has to be back in Düsseldorf the evening of day 6, it would not work.

OK, just went back and re-read original posts. I am so sorry!
Somehow, I thought the OP had only a week, don't know where I got that, but she said she had "almost" 2 weeks, with 3 days tied up at the beginning and 3 at the end, so I guessed at about 8 days left.

If she really has 10 days, that is plenty to do much more.
You could easily visit Rome, Florence and Venice in 10 days.
You could easily visit Paris and Rome.

So, back to the question. Exactly, how much time to do you have?

<which means I have remaining 10 days in Europe>
<what is the best cities to visit in this duration>

10 days is plenty to visit:

Paris / Venice (5 days each)
Paris / Amsterdam (5 days each)
Paris / Venice / Florence or Rome (3 days each)

If there are 10 days available, I would suggest she start with a quick train ride to the Rhine/Mosel region and spend three nights in Bacharach, Cochem, Bullay, or another village of her choosing. Enjoy this wonderful region, tour the castles, perhaps rent a bike for the day and bike on the Mosel.

Then on to Paris for four nights, then to Amsterdam for two nights, then to Dusseldorf. She should be sure to make a day trip from Dusseldorf to se the cathedral in Cologne. If there isn't enough time, add a day to Dusseldorf to make time.

Most of these train tickets can be purchased in advance on bahn.com at ridiculously low prices.

Now, as for not being able to afford the "expense" of visiting Europe, what balderdash! For those who keep their eyes open, there are frequent sales of tickets in the sub-$800 range. I've bought several in the $650 range over the past few years. I also have a Delta Skymiles card that generates "miles," and have managed to get summer tickets for 60,000 miles per ticket repeatedly. In a few weeks I'll be flying to Amsterdam on Skymiles tickets that I bought for 54,000 miles during a special.

The Choice Hotel group (Econolodge, Comfort/Quality Inn, ect.) has a perpetual promotion offering 8,000 miles for two stays. They have also had a "sale" on Italy hotels for about four years now where you can get a room in a very nice hotel for 10,000 points.

You can buy Choice Hotel points once each year for 4.5 cents each in the Daily Getaways promotion (Google it). I buy a couple of hundred thousand every year. I've booked really nice hotels in Europe at a cost of $38 per night, based on my point-purchase cost. I currently have a couple of nights booked in Paris at double that, or $76 per night. The hotel is in Montrouge, the south end of the metro, but it's an affordable option for me and will give me the opportunity to see a more residential portion of Paris.

The thing that causes the expense of a Europe trip to explode is the idea that you have to see or do everything. So you spend a fortune on transportation traveling all over the continent, and you pay high prices for hotels instead of taking advantage of deals.

Instead of this, get a really cheap flight over, stay in hotels that are free or almost free, confine your travel to a relatively small portion of Europe, and restrain your spending a bit. If you do this you can visit Europe every few years, every other year, or every year. I will be taking my third trip of the year in just over a week. It's affordable so why not?