Europe must see - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**TheJake** · 06-12-2009, 01:15 AM

If you've done the route over there share your must sees with those getting ready to go!!

**pinknic38** · 06-12-2009, 07:17 AM

my must-see for Germany is the Rhinelands for sure. Everyone wants to hit up Berlin and Munich (and that's awesome, I hear Berlin is awesome, and Munich is fucking amazing) but take some time out for those cities along the Rhine, ESPECIALLY Heidelberg. Every person who goes to Germany I tell them about Heidelberg because I randomly showed up on my own one Sunday morning via rail, and not only was the rail from Koln to Heidelberg the most beautiful thing EVER, the city itself was just the coolest place I've ever been to, hands-down.

Other Rhine cities to check out: Koln (don't spend more than 1 night here, not a whole lot to do), Dusseldorf, Mainz (didn't get to here, but passed through and wished I would have gotten off the train, cos it looked gorgeous!)

Dusseldorf is a nice day trip from Koln if you spend more than 1 night in Koln. It's like 20 minutes via rail if I remember correctly.

Also see Stuttgart. It was super cool. Not on the Rhine but very cool indeed. As was Dortmund.

**pinknic38** · 06-12-2009, 07:27 AM

oh hell, then my must-see for Spain....

everyone wants to hit up the Madrid/Barcelona duo and that's totally on point, cos both are AMAZING, but also, I HIGHLY recommend Valencia, which is my favorite place in Europe, next to Heidelberg. It's SOOOOOOO beautiful!!!! And do have some paella while you're there... I could die at how great it is. Valencia is an easy rail ride away from both Barcelona and Valencia. The beaches rock (crowed in the summer though), there is a park in the middle of the city (a river used to run through Valencia and they re-routed it and put a sweet park in it's place... this might be untrue, but it's what my Spanish teacher said when we went there many moons ago hahahaha). SO much to do.

Another city to see is Toledo, which is a bit south of Madrid, so a very easy day trip from Madrid (30 min via rail, and 14 euros round trip if you aren't using a rail pass). It's a very old looking city, very beautiful. Streets are cobblestone in some neighborhoods. Very cool place.

I'm big on seeing the big city must-sees in a country but also doing some smaller, less-appreciated cities, for some perspective for sure.

**MeTurk** · 06-12-2009, 07:58 AM

Amsterdam and Prague stand out as amazing looking cities. They're just so different from the norm.

**travelpunk** · 06-13-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheJake

If you've done the route over there share your must sees with those getting ready to go!!

What's this supposed to mean? You heading over to Europe?

**joe7f** · 06-13-2009, 03:06 PM

I figured he meant it for the folks that are going over for the first time this summer.

Either way, most of Europe is can't miss.

--Joey

**marc873** · 06-13-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelpunk

What's this supposed to mean? You heading over to Europe?

Yeah Jake, you everrrrr gonna get yo ass to the EU??!!!

**BedtimeontheMoon** · 06-13-2009, 07:25 PM

Well, a nice day trip out of Madrid or actually not even a day trip really, is Segovia. It's a small town but they have a spectacular countryside and allegedly one of the disney castles was modeled after the castle there. Awesome little place for a quick trip!

**Elizabeth** · 06-13-2009, 08:39 PM

BUDAPEST! BUDAPEST! BUDAPEST! This city has everything you could ever want in one place!

Belgrade - awesome nightlife
Krakow - a bit touristy but a great, gorgeous place to relax for a few days
Lviv and Ukraine - cheap, relatively undiscovered, nice people
Russia - hello! its Russia!

Seriously if you only go one place this summer...BUDAPEST!

unique07 · 07-28-2009, 06:04 AM

Yeah I agree with joe7f, Europe is soo beautiful, that its hard to miss out seeing it completely, provided you have ample time!

**aliz** · 07-29-2009, 02:53 PM

Berlin is the best city ever - I could spend days in tiergarten. in the summer, Kastanienallee is great to get a nice meal outside and people-watch.
Also in germany, Rostock is a lovely old coastal city on the edge of the baltic sea. It's really pretty and kind of quiet, but there's a big university there so there's enough nightlife and stuff to entertain you!
I really liked Warsaw and there's a park on the edge of the city centre with lots on outdoor bars in the middle, really great atmosphere
Venice in winter is really beautiful. I haven't been in summer but I'm sure it's just as nice then, just much more crowded
I think the best way to see italy is to rent a car and drive between all the little villages - there are far to many amazing old villages in italy for me to name here.
If you're in the south of france, we found a really pretty town called Menton - we liked it much better than Nice.
as lizz said, Budapest is really great

oops I'm gonna be late to uni, will continue this later.

astro25e · 08-04-2009, 05:03 AM

How about London?!- Yes, it's touristy, but I have visited that city so many times in the past 5 years, and there is plenty to do in the none touristy parts. The first few trips there I even refused to pay to go into Westminster, on the Eye, or in the Tower of London. There is enough to do for free! Only problem: Expensive as hell. A pint for 5 pounds is kind of ridiculous.

The Cinque Terre, Italy.- Very cool for hiking, swimming, laying about, drinking nice wine and having a great italian meal.

Istanbul, Turkey- Enough said, I love it. Good food, good people, good views, good weather. Huge cosmopolitan city with loads of history. And there are enough impressive mosques that there is no way you can visit them all! (Some people say it's Europe, some don't either way, it's great)

Trier and the Mosel river valley in Germany- It's full of Roman ruins and it's Germany's main wine producing region. Gorgeous and because Germany can't waste it's time producing cheap table wine, it's always really good stuff!

Cheer123 · 06-24-2010, 11:48 AM

In Italy, there is a small pizza restaraunt called Amelia's with the best pizza in the world.

**TheJake** · 06-24-2010, 12:39 PM

honestly I don't think I ever looked at this thread again after I started it

I'm all about everything but europe still! Someday I'll get there, maybe when I retire

**agriadam** · 06-24-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheer123

In Italy, there is a small pizza restaraunt called Amelia's with the best pizza in the world.

In Italy? Any more information on that one?

**mooloo** · 06-24-2010, 02:42 PM

^ Don't you know Amelias?! Its like THE pizza place in Italy :P

**expatben** · 06-24-2010, 03:25 PM

Can't belive I never replied to this-well for me its Berlin I agree with Aliz its the best city in the world in many ways.
Great food? Check. Great buildings? Check. Great museams? Check. Great scenery? Check. Lots of intresting history? Check check and double check. But its not just Berlin Leipzig is nice and intresting too aw heck, I love Germany!