Europeans: Sell me on your country..

[Colonel Green]

...or any other european destination. I'd be happy to hear opinions from other tbbs'ers who've travelled in Europe.

My fiancee and I are going to be taking our honeymoon in Europe this August, and we're looking for recommendations in terms of countries, cities and attractions. We really wanted to go to Greece, but she doesn't do too well in extreme heat and I hear that August is scorching there. At the moment we are pretty much undecided as to destinations. We lean towards more temperate locations, but may consider visiting warmer regions towards the end of the trip. That way if she gets sunstroke it won't ruin the whole trip.

We're both history buffs, and we have three or four weeks. I hear that there are some cool river cruises in Germany. I saw an ep of Rick Steve's centering around the Mozel, looked nice...

*edit* I should add, we are planning to backpack and stay in hostels for the most part, although If we have enough cash left at the end of the trip we may splurge on a weekend at a nice hotel.

 

[Count Zero]

So, what temperatures are acceptable to her?
I guess, Southern Europe is ruled out, then, even though it offers a lot for people interested in history. Maybe Northern Italy (like Tuscany) would be an option, though. I'm not sure what the weather would be like there at the time.
Summers are mild in Scandinavia, and at least Sweden (haven't been to the others, except for a freezing cold day in Copenhagen) is always worth a visit, but those countries are rather expensive.
Backpacker hostels can be found in all bigger German cities, not so much in small towns. I'd rather recommend visiting cities, anyway. While there are many beautiful landscapes here, I'd find a river cruise rather boring. Cool cities to visit are Leipzig and Dresden (there close to each other), the later also offering great museums, Weimar and Berlin because ot its museums.

In case you'll come to Berlin, drop me a line and I'll buy you a beer.

 

[Maestro]

You do know that Europe is a continent made up of many individual countries, right?

 

[SirRocko711]

I'm not from Europe but did most of the logistical work for an epic lil Eurail backpacking adventure there my friends and I did two summers ago. If you're a history buff, it'll get pretty hot there but I don't think you can avoid missing Rome. It was by far and away the most fascinating in that department, for obvious reasons; really felt like the capital of Western civilization. Vienna & Salzburg were probably second in line historywise, Vienna in particular will take your breath away... there are so many incredible buildings so tightly packed together! I would recommend Berlin as well, but only for a day or two... it's a bit short on spectacle but the few areas that haven't been paved over and rebuilt anew have a lot of character. (though I was only there for 4 days so what do I know...)
:-)

 

[Count Zero]

You do know that Europe is a continent made up of many individual countries, right?

His post indicates that he is.

If you're a history buff, it'll get pretty hot there but I don't think you can avoid missing Rome.

I'd second that. However, I once was in Rome in August (it was the exceptionally hot summer of 2003, though) and the heat was pretty bad.

I would recommend Berlin as well, but only for a day or two... it's a bit short on spectacle but the few areas that haven't been paved over and rebult anew have a lot of character.

Well, in most cases there wasn't much of a choice. 80 % of the buildings were destroyed or damaged in WW II. But depending on what period of history you're interested in there is much to see, and Berlin has some fine museums. Also, Potsdam (the château and gardens of Sanssouci) is nearby (via suburban train) and also the city of Brandenburg which is 1000 years old and has a nice historical city centre.

I forgot to mention London and the British Isles in general in my earlier post. They have mild summers, too. But I'm sure our British and Irish posters will fill you in.

 

[SirRocko711]

Well, in most cases there wasn't much of a choice. 80 % of the buildings were destroyed or damaged in WW II. But depending on what period of history you're interested in there is much to see, and Berlin has some fine museums. .

Speaking of which, the Pergamnon (sp?) Museum was awesome!

edited to add: About a half hour outside Berlin is the Wannsee House, where the Nazi Party met and agreed upon the Final Solution. Very much worth a stop, and try to watch a short movie named "Conspiracy" beforehand as well.

 

[Count Zero]

Well, in most cases there wasn't much of a choice. 80 % of the buildings were destroyed or damaged in WW II. But depending on what period of history you're interested in there is much to see, and Berlin has some fine museums. .

Speaking of which, the Pergamnon (sp?) Museum was awesome!

Yeah, the Pergamon Museum is great. The way you can actually ascend to the Pergamon altar and walk through ancient gates and temple facades has always impressed me. If you're in Berlin you should really go there, entrance is free every Thursday after 6 p.m. This goes for all the museums of the museum island, like the "Altes Museum" which houses the collection of antiques and the Egyptian museum (they might have moved to a restored building nearby by then, though) and the Bode Museum.

About a half hour outside Berlin is the Wannsee House, where the Nazi Party met and agreed upon the Final Solution. Very much worth a stop, and try to watch a short movie named "Conspiracy" beforehand as well.

Actually, that's still in Berlin .

 

[SiorX]

Come to Ireland.

You can enjoy the rain, pay €8 for a panini, and watch us vote 'no' on an EU treaty.

 

[TheGodBen]

Come to Ireland.

You can enjoy the rain, pay €8 for a panini, and watch us vote 'no' on an EU treaty.

You forgot to mention the sheep. Every tourist who comes to Ireland buys a postcard of a sheep.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

...

My fiancee and I are going to be taking our honeymoon in Europe this August, and we're looking for recommendations in terms of countries, cities and attractions. We really wanted to go to Greece, but she doesn't do too well in extreme heat and I hear that August is scorching there.

I was in Greece in early June, (I think in 2000) and the heat was so unbearable at the (un- airconditioned) National Museum, that I almost fainted. I had to give up the opportunity to spend more time looking at those treasures to make a sprint for our air conditioned bus.

 

[Chilli]

My favourite destinations in Europe which aren't scortching hot in August would be ..

* Tallinn, Estonia .. it's an old Hanseatic town, but WAY better restored than any of the Hanseatic towns in Germany. Spectacular medieval flare - the town wall, of which several miles have been preserved till today, is impressive in particular.

* Prague, Czech Republic .. less "grand" than my native Vienna or neighbouring Budapest, but has more flare, IMHO. And, the Jewish quarter is pretty nice, and somehow managed to survive the Nazis quite nicely.

 

[Roshi]

We invented the French kiss...

 

[wew]

I'd agree with Tallinn, Estonia, it has great history and the Old Town is in great shape. Also, you can take the Ferry to Helsinki, which is about 1-2 hrs depending upon whether you take the high speed one or not.

Helsinki, is also very nice. The ferry docks relatively close to the main part of the city, your within walking distance; or take one of the street cars. The old fort, Suomenlina (sp) is interesting, its spread over five islands in the harbor and is about a 5-15 minute ferry ride from the main market square.

Oslo is extremely nice, but cost wise is a killer, in fact the cost of flying roundtrip to Italy and staying in Trieste for 3 nights, would have covered only two nights in Oslo. I spent only 36 hours in Oslo. Still Norway is very nice, I understand the Norway in Nutshell tour is very popular.

Italy can be hot throughout the entire country during the summer, although its less hot in the more northern regions.

Austia and Switzerland are fairly nice, as is parts of Germany If you go to Vienna you can use it sort of as a homebase and visit other countries by short train rides; you can go to the Czech Republic (Brno), Slovakia (Bratislava), Hungary, and I believe Croatia aren't to far away.

If you have enough money, I believe you can still rent Liechtenstein. I believe their monarch allow his country to be rented on a short term.

 

[captcalhoun]

visit Britain. it's loaded with history and almost guarenteed not to be hot. it's Great, it's Britain.

 

[Count Zero]

You should also consider Poland, Krakow and Szczécin are supposed to be beuatiful and historically interesting cities. It's inexpensive, too, and it shouldn't be too hot, either.