Planning 1st Euro-trip/hop this summer, any tips where to go?

Hey of course I don't want to be biast, but how about trying Poland. Most Americans tend to travel to western europe and I've heard many say that they saw everything in a day or two, but of course to get the feel of a country you need to go at it more like the locals do, especially if you are there for a short period of time (a monument you can see driving by take a pictures etc, its the people that make a lasting impression). But for a totally new experience, try central/eastern europe, you might find it interesting, cheaper than, western europe and a bit less commercialized (although places like Prague are getting up there). It is also much safer than it used to be 10 or 15 years ago...I can't really speak for other countries but in Poland the greatest "tourist" areas are warsaw and krakow, if you want to try something a bit less commercialized try wroclaw, poznan, lodz, gdansk (most of which are still frequented by europeans), for something a bit out there try Lublin in eastern Poland, its a very old city, lots of history and a very large student population so most people have some knowledge of english. But otherwise enjoy your trip, I think 2 weeks is tough for europe, its possible but once you fall in love in an area 1 or 2 days just aren't enough. But hey you can always come back right??

fooddude said:

I am more interested in community, local people, local food, local nightlife, urban-dense areas, anti-nature, civil engineered marvels, skylines ;0, gritty sh*t, non-family oriented stuff, some crime, women, drugs, alcohol, etc., etc.

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civil engineered marvels=Great Belt bridge and Oresund Bridge
skylines= Frankfurt, Paris, London, Warsaw, Istanbul ... but nothing compared to Asia and NA
urban-dense areas=The Netherlands, Ruhr-area (germany) and the largest city in Europe (paris, london etc.)

fooddude said:

My list of cities/countries are so far the typical: London, Spain (dunno which cities though), Amsterdam, Germany (dunno which cities again), France (again dunno which cities?), Belguim (cities/areas?), Italy (areas?).

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London=a must
City Spain=Barcelona
Amsterdam= (I know what you where thinking - great choice)
Germany=Berlin (good for partying and cheap), Munich (Beer and lovely city close to the mountains)
France=Paris (when you are in Europe you have to visit Paris)
Belgium=hmm :dunno:
Italy=hmm :dunno:

fooddude said:

So any recommendations to which area to check out to the above countries would be swell...and maybe some other recommendations to other countries which I should plan to visit given my interests also

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Go to Prague (great city with alot of cheap beer and a great place to meat young people from all Europe).
Go also to Scandinavia (the best woman in europe - if you like blondes) - either Stockholm or Copenhagen.
And maybe you should also visit Istanbul, to try something different

fooddude said:

Also any other tips to the virgin euro traveler would be welcome; like cheapest places to stay hostels and cheap hotels, untold street etiquitte, mass transit, currency issues, english speaking friendly areas, where to pee, drug laws, etc.,etc.

Any tips appreciated

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A very good and cheap hostel in Prague is Czech inn
in general the cheapest places are in eastern Europe and the most expencive are in Nothern Europe.
Currency --> €
English speaking areas - Nothern Europe (scandinavia, the Neterlands, Germany etc.)...But in general young people in most of Europe speak, or atleast understand english...
pee in the toilets
drugs=:dunno: -->Amsterdam ... alcohol=buy it all over europe, in some countries you are not allowed to drink in the streets

I don't understand why non-Europeans always tend to visit (and see) whole Europe in two weeks. Me and my family are exhausted after a four-day city trip and that's only to one city.

If you're interested in drugs you should really visit Amsterdam. You really shouldn't visit Europe for it's skylines Frankfurt, Paris and London are pretty impressive but it's not compared to other cities in Asia and the US. How can you be interested in 'some crime'? That's like the last thing you want as a tourist. Travelling with an open rucksack through metros will attract 'some crime' I think. For women you should visit Easteren Europe.

As an a American and a first timer - I would advice going to London and Paris... and if you have the time ( you write most likely 2 week ) Geneva or Berlin...

These cities isn't nessesarily the best Europe has to offer, but they will give you a good broad idea about the place... and they are all very nice and packed with great "typical European stuff"

Then ( if you like it ) you can always come back later and go into details with the different regions...

I am not ultimatly telling you to visit this or that, first because we are all different and second because I haven't been everywhere, far from it.

But here's some, very non-exhaustive advice from my part.

-Only visit one place or two if you are only staying two weeks, it will already be superficial, at least try to make it worthy of your time. By going to too many places you will end wasting your trip.
-I'm a parisian, so obviously I'll be biased, but if you are looking for grit, density, urbanism, Paris (along with many other places in the continent) is the place to go.
-If you prefer a more mediteranean, "southern" athmosphere, Spain is pretty cool, and you'll still get the grit. However if you really want both at the same time (grit+med), go to Naples in Italy or Marseilles in the south of France
-Since you are already motivated on going to London, there is no need for me to advice you to go there.
-I personnaly didn't enjoy Belgium that much, I didn't like the flemish north (dutch speaking), and the walloon south (francophone) was to depressed. Bruxelles wasn't that good to.
-If you are looking for beautifull girls, nice, although a bit museum-like architecture and exelent beer go to Prague and the Czech republic.

What more can I say, I haven't been that impressed with Germany, but I didn't stay there long and just stayed near the (french) border.
Italy is a terrific place, very diverse regionaly, very friendly people.

Anyways, don't dress too much like a tourist (sandalls, big backpack with a map under your arm) or an american, just dress simply.

I was kinda kidding with the hookers (although regular pretty local women are always a plus), drugs and crime...just interested in the areas that may have a little of it

Yes..as eklips put it..i AM more interested in the ubranesque, dense, grit areas, with younger people, maybe a hipper crowd, lots of music culture in it

On-topic: for Belgium I recommend the city of Antwerp, it's the biggest city in Flanders and it has great architecture, nightlife, shopping, trendy clubs, etc. And according to Condé Nast Traveller it's the most stylish city in Europe And if you travel by train, you arrive in the most beautiful trainstation in Europe

Enjoy the pics: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=434536&


ps: If you like 'medieval' cities, go to Brugge.

London Paris Barcelona and Istanbul are superlative, they tick off ur list in finding great architectural mix of the most up to date styles for the past 500 years, amazingly vibrant streetlife (rough n the smooth), hopping nightlife and amazing urban tales. Berlin is also a contender, equally gritty, arty and beautiful.

So in short - London, world city, nuff said - do check ouyt the worlds coolest nightlife and around in Old St and Brick Lane.
Paris - worlds most beautiful city (and voted THE ultimate city experience, no 1 acc. to Lonely Planet, this is how cities are meant to be conceived and lived in)
Istanbul - now dubbed the worlds coolest city (though yvying with London n Tokyo there mate), as beautiful as Paris? and juxtaposition at every turn. Unofficial population nearing the 20 millon mark.
Berlin - centre of the global art scene and the worlds zeitgeist, this is where its at
Barcelona - Europes greatest streetscenes, ambience and worlds greatest urban regeneration

you could also throw in Madrid for the worlds greatest nightlife (24hrs and with 40,000 bars for one), or buzzing Olympic-makeover Athens for the worlds densest cityscape without skyscrapers (and formerly the 3rd most crowded city after HK and Macau).


If theres one city Id reccommend alongside London and Paris on an equal par though it would be Istanbul, it will open your eyes more than the previous two.

Then theres Italy, for me Ive nevr seen a more beautiful country/ people/ architecture/ weather. One place in Italy head to Venice, and as far from the madding crowd as you can (just turnb down any alley).


this says it all...

thx for the insight...im trying to rank my choices which places are a must see for urban city life

London
Amsterdam
Spain = Barcelona, Madrid
France = Paris
Germany = Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt

maybe:
Denmark = Copenhagen
Czech Rep = Prague
Sweden = Stockholm
Istanbul