Short-Breaks in Europe : 3-4 days a week

kerry4sam

Good Morning,

~* Looking for ideas for short-breaks, 3 - 4days anywhere in Europe (only please) with as much activities available as possible in each location *~

I used to have the travel bug up to a few years ago until I returned to college. Over the last few years I was working full-time; doing some part-time voluntary work; studying for a degree and also volunteering here on boards! Graduated from University with a 1st class honours this year and have yet to reward myself for the massive juggling act I survived!

So, I will have about 3-4 days weekly for about 5-weeks at the start of 2013 to myself with my full-time work closing for that brief period.

~ * ~ Looking for ideas for short-breaks, 3 - 4days anywhere in Europe (only please) with as much activities available as possible in each location for at least 2-3 people game for anything!

~ Scotland is a definite for at least one trip on 1week
~ Italy another definite for another week
~ Switzerland or Austria possibility for the 3rd week

Any other opinions/suggestions people would have, based on your own experience? Just at the planning stage now hoping all goes well in the interim.

Many Thanks in advance,
kerry4sam

Gatica

wow, that's a fantastic opportunity! There are so many cities in Europe worth visiting! You won't be stuck for destinations.
Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, two of my most favourite cities. There are lots of museums, great night-life, and cultural things to see. Madrid has a fantastic vibe, even if you're just wondering the streets in the day. There's also the mountains around the city and some lakes you can visit if you fancy a hike or a swim. Toledo just south of the city is a little cultural town with a mix of religious historical backgrounds. Barcelona, needless to say, mostly famous for Gaudi's architectural influence.
Paris, Berlin, Rome... all the capitals have quite a lot to offer. You'll have an amazing time!

kerry4sam

Gatica wrote: »

wow, that's a fantastic opportunity! There are so many cities in Europe worth visiting! You won't be stuck for destinations.
Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, two of my most favourite cities. There are lots of museums, great night-life, and cultural things to see. Madrid has a fantastic vibe, even if you're just wondering the streets in the day. There's also the mountains around the city and some lakes you can visit if you fancy a hike or a swim. Toledo just south of the city is a little cultural town with a mix of religious historical backgrounds. Barcelona, needless to say, mostly famous for Gaudi's architectural influence.
Paris, Berlin, Rome... all the capitals have quite a lot to offer. You'll have an amazing time!

Thanks so much for this! Yeah it's been years since I've had a holier so making the most of this break in the early new year I've been to Barcelona and Rome but would to return but Paris and Berlin looks like another trip with them also.

Another mad-suggestion tossed out that we'll probably end up doing before end January is:
~ Dublin -> Budapest
~ Budapest -> Bratislava
~ Bratislava -> Vienna
~ Vienna -> Prague
~ Prague -> Dublin.

Really just a flying visit to those cities to gauge whether we'll return at some stage again, but looking forward to it as I've never been to Hungary, Slovakia, Austria or even the Czech Republic before.

token101

Skip Bratislava. It's not worth getting off the train there, but Budapest is class.

Amy33

Lisbon is really beautiful, it's really cheap, the people are really friendly and there's loads to see and do. Tallinn is also really nice, Ryanair flights start again around 6 March. Helsinki is beautiful and not as expensive as people think, Aer Lingus flights start again at the end of March. Berlin is fantastic, full of museums and really interesting walks.

Just realised you have to travel in January, you could still visit Tallinn and Helsinki another time!

Ardennes1944

Krakow would be worthwhile for sure, and Berlin...you can't skip Berlin. What a fantastic city

Shzm

token101 wrote: »

Skip Bratislava. It's not worth getting off the train there, but Budapest is class.

Disagree. Not sure on the train timings, but if you can get in at the morning, you could probably do most things in Bratislava itself in the day, then jump on the train to Vienna in the evening (It's only an hour).

Go up the castle, visit St Martins Cathedral next to it and have a look at the crypts below, wander around the old town and check out the presidential palace.. also the blue church if you want. Eat and drink for fairly cheap at a Slovak pub - some of the food is fantastic. Wouldn't bother with any nightlife in Jan, as it's too cold out - much better in summer.

TheUsual

Latvia - Riga, fly Ryanair in and out and treat yourself to stay a night in the city centre. Russians used to call Riga the "Paris of the Baltic". It's pretty scenic alright.


Morocco - Marrakech. It's not Europe, but you're a student and young enough not to complain about no Burger King and stuff, you may even enjoy it. But you certainly won't forget it or the markets at night time. One of the last really alien destinations to go visit.