Capital City / Countryside - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Billy Vegas · 06-28-2006, 07:05 AM

More questions for you lovely T-Punkers...

So I'm tossing around the idea, as suggested in a prior reply, to visit not only the capital or main city of the countries I'm visiting, but also spend a day or 2 in the smaller, countryside towns/cities where tourists don't usually go... to furthermore understand what it's like to live there. So.... that being said.

What towns should I hit?

I'd like to spend some time in cafes, surrounded by locals, a bottle of wine, local fare, local music, and a spectacular view. If I can do this in every country... I'd be a happy man.

Also, I want to see amazing architecture and history. Just thinking about the trip make me want to go.

Here's a (tentative) list of the countries I plan to visit, the city I plan on visiting...

-Netherlands (Amsterdam)
-France (Paris)
-Spain (Barcelona)
-Switzerland (Geneva? Not sure)
-Italy (Milan, Florence, Rome)
-Greece (Petras> Korinthos> Athens?)
-Czech Republic (Prague)
-Germany (Berlin)
-Denmark (Copenhagen)
-Sweden (Stockholm)

Now, like I said... this is tentative. Suggestions are welcome, criticisms moreso...

So, I ask of you seasoned travellers, what small towns should I hit?

-Billy Vegas

**beergal** · 06-28-2006, 08:50 AM

heh Billy

I just went to Milan for 2 days, 3 nights and went to Lake Como on one of those days. It takes 35 mins from the central station and costs just 11 euros return. Its great to do on a nice day if the weather is getting to you in Milan. From Lake Como station you can get a bus to the town centre, you can buy your ticket from the newsagent at the lake como station. Its bus number 4 or 7 that you have to get and its only a five min journey.

Lake Como was great and i would definately recommend it. Next time i go back however i think i would stay in Bergamo

**omisan** · 06-28-2006, 10:01 AM

Broek in Waterland, just outside of Amsterdam, is a beautiful, serene slice of Dutch countryside. Not much to do there but sit around at a cafe and look at the big green pastures, and that's what's pretty awesome about it.

**tumblezweedz** · 06-28-2006, 10:53 PM

A little farther afield in the Netherlands, check out Raalte. Very laid back little town, not much to do except enjoy the pace. Nice old church, though. Also, it's close to Giesthoorn, an awesome village with no roads - you can stroll, bike or row along the canals. Lots of traditional architecture, lots of local tourists - not many foreigners. If you were to rent a bike in Raalte, you could strike out into the countryside and get a real sense of life in the NL. You could do the same from Zwolle, but I can't recommend stuff there because I haven't been myself. It's a little closer to Giesthoorn than Raalte is.

In Greece, a good base on the Peloponnesian peninsula is Nafplio. Once the capital of Greece, full of gorgeous Venetian architecture and drop dead stunning views, it has good bus links all over the peninsula.

Germany is so big, there's a million suggestions, but I'm biased to the Mosel area because I live there. A touristy but pretty town on the river is Cochem - especially stunning in late summer/early fall at grape harvest time. Lots of typical German fachwerk houses and narrow higgledy-piggledy streets, riverfront cafes and a castle perched on top. Other hits in this part of Germany are Cologne and Trier - interesting for their Roman history as well.

In Switzerland, I enjoyed Lauterbrunnen and Murren.

**florencia9699** · 06-29-2006, 05:29 AM

Well... IMHO I think that if you go to Greece you can't miss Athens. The city made quite an impression on me, and I was only 12...I thought things were preserved quite good and the museums had really good collections (though it is true... the British stole what they could...)

There's the flea market, and the old polis, some other ancient buildings scattered around, the music the food, etc.

I also recomend the Temple of Poseidon (god of the sea), which is in the Peloponese. It's right off of a cliff... over looking the sea... just absolutely breathtaking... you just have to make sure you go at sunset... that is one sunset you'll never ever forget.

**freakypete** · 06-29-2006, 05:40 AM

Yeah, i would definitely recommend getting out of the big cities a bit if you can.

Like tumbleweedz said, germany is perfect place to do that. The Mosel river is a gorgeous area, will loads of little towns and villages, all with placed to stay and plenty to keep you occupied as well. plus the wine is great. I think i might be slightly biased as well though!

that is (almost) between berlin and amsterdam, if thats what your travel plans are.

But there are plenty of other places in Germany you could go to as well. Potsdam is a beautiful town just outside Berlin, id definitely recommend at least a day trip there while you are in berlin, i think its about 25 minutes on the train from the main train station.

**expatben** · 06-29-2006, 12:50 PM

I asked my Dad about Switzerland, his advice is to go to anywhere near a lake as they are gorgeous. Also the mountains rock too! Lausanne is supposed to be nice. I have only been to Geneve though.

Kiki · 06-29-2006, 01:09 PM

You could go to Rotterdam.
Also a big city in Holland and maybe even better than Amsterdam.
It's modern, better restaurants, better clubs, nicer people

And only an hour away from Amsterdam by train. Costs €12,60
www.ns.nl

I'm from Holland, I know!

Kiki

Kiki · 06-29-2006, 01:22 PM

I was thinking you could also go to Leeuwarden,
in the north of Holland.
That's a country within a country. They hardly speak Dutch there!
The provence has it's own flag.

But Leeuwarden is a student city. So there are many great clubs.
It's a few hours by train from Amsterdam.

That's where you'll find real Dutch flate landscapes and meet the real Dutch people.

Kiki