What Are The Must See Cities in Europe?

[BigNick]

I have a back-burner project to offer US visitors a tour of Europe that goes to wonderful cities that they have never heard of, and where at any given moment they may be the only Americans in the town square. For people who have done the bucket-list destinations and now want to see Europe as Europeans see it, without the tourist traps.

 

[audreyh1]

The Czech Republic also has it's own currency, though it's part of the EU. Kind of a PITA.

I only paid with cash twice and they accepted euros and even gave change in euros.

 

[BigNick]

If your time is limited, remember that Great Britain and Switzerland are not in the European Union, so you'll have to spend time in Customs and Immigration if you pass through them, as well as changing physical currency. Plus, as of January 8th, you will need to apply for online clearance and pay a 78 pound fee to travel through Great Britain (kind of like a visa, but good for unlimited passage for two years).

Now, if you fly to, say, Barcelona, you can then head to Paris and on to Amsterdam or Munich, all without dealing with multiple border or currency changes - you land in the EU and stay in the EU.

Where did you get £78 from? The UK-ETA costs £10 ($13). It mirrors the US "ESTA", which all visa-waiver travelers to the US have needed for at least 15 years, and costs $21.

Note also that the EU is bringing in a similar system called ETIAS, from May 2025 (but it will not be mandatory for the first few months). This will cost €7 ($7.50) for three years.

Also, while Switzerland is not in the EU, it is in the Schengen common travel area. You do not pass through immigration if you arrive in Switzerland from any EU country (apart from Ireland and Cyprus). You do pass through customs, but tourists with suitcases are all waved through.

Unlike the US, no European country requires a paper customs declaration form when you land. You just walk through the "green" channel and if they want to pull you over, they'll do it (it's very rare for anyone who looks like a bona fide tourist).

 

[brett]

Currency changes are very minor detail. Really nothing at all.

ETA, entry questionaires are quickly becoming the norm for many countries. A way of pre screening visitors and paying for enhanced security costs.

The few that we have completed, Argentina, Australia (multiple times), etc were done on line in five minutes flat, well prior to leaving home, and had an an almost instant approval. The ones we paid were in the $15-$20 range. Minor.

The only caution is to avoid the unregulated third party sites (if you use google search) that offer to do this very simple task for unsuspecting tourists for double or more the official cost.

 

[Zona]

I have a back-burner project to offer US visitors a tour of Europe that goes to wonderful cities that they have never heard of, and where at any given moment they may be the only Americans in the town square. For people who have done the bucket-list destinations and now want to see Europe as Europeans see it, without the tourist traps.

I would sign up for that tour We travel independently and often do a mix of touristy must-dos offset by smaller out-of-the-way destinations. Some of our best experiences and nicest memories are when we are off the beaten path. I do think that European tourists experience Europe in a very different way than Americans, the destinations that seem to be well-known with Europeans sometimes aren't marketed at all here in the USA. If you come up with a list of places you'd recommend, I'd love to see it (or feel free to PM me if you want to keep it quiet ).

 

[2017ish]

+1. And I am assuming we could rely on smartphone translators in a pinch? I’ve seen people on YouTube use them for both (language) parties.

Can't speak for Europe, but we've had good results in out-of-the-way places, such as Tanzania, West Papua, the Tea country (highlands) in Malaysia, and various other south pacific islands, such as Makassar and Borneo. Google translate has come a long way since mid-2017, when we first relied upon it in retirement travel. Just be sure to download the language libraries if you are going to be far off the beaten path. (Oh, and agree with others, that you'll be surprised at the prevalence of english--the language that German and French tourists use to speak to each other!)

 

[jpeter1093]

The most beautiful place I'm seen in my life was Murren, Switzerland. A fun challenge to get to but well worth it.

 

[ecowtent]

We spent 2 weeks in Edinburgh, Bath and London last fall. 2 weeks in Venice, Florence and Rome 2024. Paris twice. We didn’t encountered many people who couldn’t communicate with some English. The moving between cities wears me out. 3 is the max for us over 2 weeks.

 

[SecondAttempt]

It's so hard to give advice. It really depends on your interests. Mine lean more toward history than art, or just enjoying life. My favorites are Stockholm and Copenhagen because I have a lot of personal connections there and nearby. But Budapest is great for history. Barcelona was on my bucket list but when I finally went it was very disappointing! Not that it's bad, just not what I expected!

Rather than cities I've liked some smaller places - Brugges Belgium, San Sebastian Donostia in Basque Country in Spain come to mind. Heidelberg is also pretty cool.

Paris is obviously good for art and somewhat for history but it's also cool for the street life/cafe scene/ etc.

I spent a week at a business conference in Amsterdam a decade or so ago and it was awesome. We had a lot of "downtime" during the week and took in a lot of sights plus we stayed in a local neighborhood and actually met a few locals which was cool.

I just got back from a trip to Sweden over the holidays that included a weekend in Tallin and it is definitely on my list to go back to. It is probably the best preserved medieval town in Europe so if she has interest in that period of European history it is worth consideration

One thing I will give advice about is to avoid the summer high season to the extent possible, It can be really hot in southern Europe and combining that with crowds is not fun!

The Mona Lisa was undergoing restoration in 2019. We got to see it after a 3+ hour wait but if that is your gopal please make sure you confirm its current availability. IIRC it was being prettied up for a multiyear world tour. COVID could have killed that or delayed it so be sure to check.









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[SecondAttempt]

Unlike the US, no European country requires a paper customs declaration form when you land. You just walk through the "green" channel and if they want to pull you over, they'll do it (it's very rare for anyone who looks like a bona fide tourist).

I've never really been questioned at immigration or customs in Europe. I could pass for a northern European and I travel on an American passport. But this past December upon arrival in Munich we got the third degree. It may have been because there was no line and instead of saying the purpose of our trip was tourism I said "to visit friends." Both would have been true. But the German polizei then wanted to know how long we were staying, where we were staying, how often we intended to have sex (joke), how much money we had, wanted to see our return tickets, which was complicated because it involved 3 different airlines/reservations. Ultimately she let us go but it made me recall that old joke is that hell in Europe is when the chefs are British and the police are German.

 

[kcowan]

We go to Europe for a month each year. Paris three times, Italy five times.

I worked in Metz many years ago and have seen many cities in Western Europe. Furthest east Berlin, Zurich, Budapest, Istanbul. Paris and Rome deserve multiple visits of a week each.

Furthest south: Santorini, Sicily, Malaga.

 

[bltkmt]

Of the Italian cities, I would pick Florence. One could go into shock seeing all the fantastic works of art packed into one small city. We spent a week there and never went more than a mile from our hotel. It was truly awe inspiring. And, of course, one must see the City of Light, where we also spent an entire week. So, I would recommend a week in each. Leave London for another trip.

Same. Florence is glorious-we have now been three times.

 

[AllDone]

I'm married to an Italian and I spend a lot of time in Italy. Italy is chock full of magnificent sights. Just driving down the freeway you see fairytale hilltop town after fairytale hilltop town.

Rome, however, is Rome, one of the great cities of both the modern and antique worlds. Florence is within easy reach of Rome so you could pop over pretty easily or vice-versa. Unfortunately, this is a Catholic Jubilee year and Rome will be full of pilgrims for the entire year, but it's a major tourist destination, so it will be reasonably well managed since tourism is one of the things that's reliably functional. It might make sense to stay in Florence and get up early one morning to make a day trip to Rome.

Venice is amazing, stunning, once in a lifetime, but it's also packed with tourists. It's literally difficult to move around there — you just sort of drift with the crowd.

 

[Koolau]

I'm married to an Italian and I spend a lot of time in Italy. Italy is chock full of magnificent sights. Just driving down the freeway you see fairytale hilltop town after fairytale hilltop town.

Rome, however, is Rome, one of the great cities of both the modern and antique worlds. Florence is within easy reach of Rome so you could pop over pretty easily or vice-versa. Unfortunately, this is a Catholic Jubilee year and Rome will be full of pilgrims for the entire year, but it's a major tourist destination, so it will be reasonably well managed since tourism is one of the things that's reliably functional. It might make sense to stay in Florence and get up early one morning to make a day trip to Rome.

Venice is amazing, stunning, once in a lifetime, but it's also packed with tourists. It's literally difficult to move around there — you just sort of drift with the crowd.

It's sad but true. The most desirable "tourist spots" will be over run with (wait for it) tourists. I see it in Waikiki. I stay away now that I'm no longer a tourist. A couple of times a year, DW and I go down there hoping to recapture our youth. Our walk keeps getting shorter and shorter.

Too many tourists.

(Full disclosure, I love tourists because they pay my taxes!)

 

[Gumby]

My only advice is to go off season. When have only been to Italy in February or April, except for one trip to the Lake Region next to Switzerland, where we went in July.

 

[tulak]

I’ve been to Rome three times, twice in the summer and once in November. Even though it was rainy at times, the November visit was by far my favorite.

 

[braumeister]

My only advice is to go off season.

Yes, I rarely go to Europe in the summer unless there is some special reason. All three other seasons are fine.

 

[Teacher Terry]

We went to Rome and Venice in feb 2002 and didn’t encounter big crowds at all. It was amazing.

 

[NoiseBoy]

I wouldn’t miss Rome. We spent 10 days just in Rome and couldn’t see everything. I’ve been to Europe 6 times and it’s my favorite city. My second favorite is krakow.

Agreed. We love Krakow and it's a bargain compared to most of the rest of Europe. We've been there 3 times.

I think the OP needs to take DW to Rome. You simply must see the Sistine Chapel in person. The Vatican museum has always been very crowded when I've visited so I suggest that the OP look for "private" tours which I think take place in the evenings. Most of the major sites in Rome are actually really close together and walkable if you stay in the city center.

After Paris and Rome, for me I think it would be Athens, but I really enjoy ancient history. I share the OP's dislike of moving hotels every few days, so something to explore would be a river cruise, say one down the Danube. There are also lots of cruises in the Med, although you will only have a limited amount of time in each city, if you take a cruise.

 

[Midpack]

OP here. DW still seems lukewarm on a big European trip, but still thinking about it. I am shocked TBH. I was sure Paris would be #1 on her list, she says nope. She's mentioned Venice and Florence so far. I've reminded her we're not getting younger and travel won't get cheaper. Repeating I lived in Germany for years, and traveled all around, so it's really her choice.

 

[donethat]

While I would never argue with your choice of Paris, IMHO prepare to be totally underwhelmed by the Mona Lisa.

 

[audreyh1]

OP here. DW still seems lukewarm on a big European trip, but still thinking about it. I am shocked TBH. I was sure Paris would be #1 on her list, she says nope. She's mentioned Venice and Florence so far. I've reminded her we're not getting younger and travel won't get cheaper. Repeating I lived in Germany for years, and traveled all around, so it's really her choice.

It’s hard to beat northern Italy.

 

[rembrandt]

I would like to see the bust of Nefertiti in Berlin. Many experts think it's a fake.

 

[flyingaway]

I don't think that any city in Europe that one MUST see, but I like the museums in Paris and Rome.

 

[sdtech]

While I would never argue with your choice of Paris, IMHO prepare to be totally underwhelmed by the Mona Lisa.

I saw the Mona Lisa after a fairly short line (near closing time). I was prepared to be unimpressed, but found it to much more beautiful - and smaller - than I expected.