Vacation recommendation needed - which European city do you recommend?
October 11, 2018 10:58 AM Subscribe
I am looking ahead to next summer, and trying to figure out where to go on vacation, and leaning towards Europe. Please give me your recommendation on where we should go based on the snowflakes inside.
The plan would be to rent an apartment or house with a kitchen. I am open to splitting the 7-10 day trip into two cities but would prefer to take the train between cities given the hassle of airports. We will be travelling in the summer and would like to experience warm summer weather, so as to not trade our precious good weather for mediocre weather. Our preferred level of busyness is to hit a few of the A list attractions, and have a couple of less scheduled days when we can relax or casually explore a neighborhood. Happy to schedule in activities just for kids or just for adults (we don’t have to always stay together).
Basics: flying out of Toronto, in addition to English, some French spoken/read, budget – moderate, kids age: tween and teen.
Location constraints: no London or Paris (we’ve been). No US cities please, open to somewhere in South America as a wild card suggestion. Prefer something with direct or 1 stop flights.
What’s been worked well the past: theme parks, musical theatre or comedy shows, food outings to try the ‘best’ cheap eats in a city ie. best ice cream or best burger, planetariums, adventures type activities with guides or lessons ie. surfing lessons or guided kayak tour, access to swimming where we are staying, staying in a walkable neighborhood with decent coffee or bakeries, groceries, unique bookstores, hipster neighbourhoods in general, access to good take-out food, walking ghost story tours of old neighbourhoods/buildings, historical tours or experiences if well done and not super long.
What has not worked well: most museums particularly if there long lines, overly crowded tourism shopping areas (we are not big shoppers), driving on scary winding roads with steep drop offs, un-air-conditioned bedrooms in hot environments, having set plans every single day, moving locations every few days.
Thanks in advance!
The plan would be to rent an apartment or house with a kitchen. I am open to splitting the 7-10 day trip into two cities but would prefer to take the train between cities given the hassle of airports. We will be travelling in the summer and would like to experience warm summer weather, so as to not trade our precious good weather for mediocre weather. Our preferred level of busyness is to hit a few of the A list attractions, and have a couple of less scheduled days when we can relax or casually explore a neighborhood. Happy to schedule in activities just for kids or just for adults (we don’t have to always stay together).
Basics: flying out of Toronto, in addition to English, some French spoken/read, budget – moderate, kids age: tween and teen.
Location constraints: no London or Paris (we’ve been). No US cities please, open to somewhere in South America as a wild card suggestion. Prefer something with direct or 1 stop flights.
What’s been worked well the past: theme parks, musical theatre or comedy shows, food outings to try the ‘best’ cheap eats in a city ie. best ice cream or best burger, planetariums, adventures type activities with guides or lessons ie. surfing lessons or guided kayak tour, access to swimming where we are staying, staying in a walkable neighborhood with decent coffee or bakeries, groceries, unique bookstores, hipster neighbourhoods in general, access to good take-out food, walking ghost story tours of old neighbourhoods/buildings, historical tours or experiences if well done and not super long.
What has not worked well: most museums particularly if there long lines, overly crowded tourism shopping areas (we are not big shoppers), driving on scary winding roads with steep drop offs, un-air-conditioned bedrooms in hot environments, having set plans every single day, moving locations every few days.
Thanks in advance!
I went to Berlin this past June for 13 days and it was pretty great. There are a few day trips out from Berlin to other cities in Germany as well.
posted by nikaspark at 11:10 AM on October 11, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by nikaspark at 11:10 AM on October 11, 2018 [4 favorites]
South of France or Lisbon Portugal is very pied a terre-able. Hahaha pun not intended.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:04 PM on October 11, 2018
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:04 PM on October 11, 2018
I have friends who recently did a "self drive" Canal trip in the Netherlands. They absolutely highly recommend, their kids are 11 and 14.
posted by Ftsqg at 12:27 PM on October 11, 2018
posted by Ftsqg at 12:27 PM on October 11, 2018
Rome seems to hit a lot of your boxes: warm weather, walkable, neighborhoody, historical, ice cream and coffee. Train access to a lot of places. With your French language you won't be too lost. Places like the Colosseum or the Vatican are crowded (go super early, like 6 am early, if you want to experience the Vatican/Sistine Chapel in any semblance of solitude) but the Forum is open air (ticketed, though: same ticket as the Palatine Hill and Colosseum) so it's a bit less agoraphobic. Skip the line tickets are available for a lot of the sights.
Also, navigating around Rome is super easy. In doubt, just ask a nun. They've probably been there before, and chances are they won't lie to you.
posted by Liesl at 12:53 PM on October 11, 2018
Also, navigating around Rome is super easy. In doubt, just ask a nun. They've probably been there before, and chances are they won't lie to you.
posted by Liesl at 12:53 PM on October 11, 2018
Switzerland may pressure your budget but has lots of historic towns and cities which have maintained their charm by dint of never getting bombed, lots of opportunities for kayaking, white water rafting, river & lake swimming etc. Chances for train rides and walking in amazing scenery, cable cars, etc. Easy access from cities to landscape.
posted by biffa at 1:51 PM on October 11, 2018
posted by biffa at 1:51 PM on October 11, 2018
Barcelona is fabulous and ticks all your boxes and it's Barcelona!
posted by merocet at 2:06 PM on October 11, 2018
posted by merocet at 2:06 PM on October 11, 2018
yea, seconding barcelona - last summer we got an airbnb just off of la rambla, there was so much to see in walking distance, and a bunch of different day tours that were great.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:50 PM on October 11, 2018
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:50 PM on October 11, 2018
Berlin! I went this summer for the first time and fell head over heels in love with it. I've not met a single person before or since who didn't respond to me saying I was going/had been without saying "Oh I loooove Berlin!" According to my unscientific study, it is absolutely the most adored city in Europe. It's hard to say why... it just has everything right: It's fascinating - so much history (including but not limited to the wall era), every neighbourhood has its own character, so it's like a dozen small cities all put together, all totally lovely and interesting in different ways (foody, hipstery, arty, museumy, eastern blocy etc). The public transport is excellent - easy to understand and operate, affordable, goes where you need it to. It's pretty safely cyclable, with loads of easy bike hire. There are some beautiful green spaces. Lots of reasonable accommodation. You'll be fine speaking no German in the city centre - English is one of the main tourist languages. I left with a long list of the things I wanted to see on my next visit and will go back as soon as I can.
When I was there the temps ranged from about 26 to 34C. I think it was unusually warm, but it's continental Europe, so even though it's northern Europe, the summer weather is usually fairly decent, I think.
posted by penguin pie at 2:58 PM on October 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
When I was there the temps ranged from about 26 to 34C. I think it was unusually warm, but it's continental Europe, so even though it's northern Europe, the summer weather is usually fairly decent, I think.
posted by penguin pie at 2:58 PM on October 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
Lisbon is beautiful and has amazing food and fantastic bookstores and is still cheaper and less crowded than other cities. I don't know why I'm mentioning it here because I'd like it stay cheaper & quieter until I can visit again. Lisbon also has my favourite hipster food hall in all of Europe.
posted by betweenthebars at 7:22 PM on October 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by betweenthebars at 7:22 PM on October 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
Of the roughly dozen major European cities I've visited, Lisbon and Rome were probably my favorites.
You may also want to consider Copenhagen, if you don't mind the higher costs. You can go swimming near the city, and you can rent a boat and take it out on the canals. Food is a bit pricey, but there are loads of markets with a casual atmosphere and high-quality stuff. It is safe, highly walkable, great neighborhood bakeries all over. Tivoli Gardens is one of the worlds' oldest amusement parks (though such places aren't really my thing). Good day trips; lots of low-key historical sights; fewer tourists than Paris or London or Rome. I personally think the summer weather in Scandinavia is better than the summer weather in southern Europe, but I don't like the heat.
posted by breakin' the law at 10:35 AM on October 12, 2018
You may also want to consider Copenhagen, if you don't mind the higher costs. You can go swimming near the city, and you can rent a boat and take it out on the canals. Food is a bit pricey, but there are loads of markets with a casual atmosphere and high-quality stuff. It is safe, highly walkable, great neighborhood bakeries all over. Tivoli Gardens is one of the worlds' oldest amusement parks (though such places aren't really my thing). Good day trips; lots of low-key historical sights; fewer tourists than Paris or London or Rome. I personally think the summer weather in Scandinavia is better than the summer weather in southern Europe, but I don't like the heat.
posted by breakin' the law at 10:35 AM on October 12, 2018
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posted by mhoye at 11:07 AM on October 11, 2018