gear02

If you had a week, where would you go in Europe?

Specifically, is Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastian, and Lisbon worth going?

Freelance Superhero

By all means, yes. BUT, you'd need more than a week to do any of those cities justice, if you're trying to fit them all in one trip. The travel time alone will cut down a couple days right off the bat. I went to Spain several years ago and spent three weeks in just Madrid alone, and it was awesome.

If you've only got a week, I'd choose one city and spend the whole week there. Don't do the whirlwind tour unless you're really just about snapping photos at famous landmarks and moving on. You'll be exhausted, and when you look back on it later, you might realize you didn't really "experience" anything. And even if you stay in one city, if you do a little research, you'll discover that there are lots of awesome daytrips you can take from that city, in addition to checking out the city itself.

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uncledaddy

I've been to Barcelona, Valencia, Murcia, Malaga, and Rota. All worth it.

Also all over France and England. I lived in Germany for three years.

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zenbooty

My only suggestion for European travel is that if Amsterdam is on your itinerary, make sure it is LAST. Otherwise, you may not make it to any of your other destinations!

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gear02

so which would you pick? Madrid or Barcelona?

thresher

Madrid. For sure. But I would do Paris (France, duh ) before I would do Madrid or anywhere in Spain. Just a personal preference.

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gear02

So...we've chosen Barcelona because it's a bit easier for those of us who have never been to Spain before (or Europe for that matter). I read that Madrid is bigger and better, but Barcelona is easier to get around (Madrid on training wheels as I heard it called). But I read either way, you can't lose.

We wanted to go to a place which people haven't been and some people have been to Paris (I wanted to go ).

guiseppewv

I would go to Italy. I would probably go to Rome and Napoli or Venezia, Bologna, Genova, and Milano


Thankfully, they are in the process of cleaning that hole up.

zenbooty

Don't be a hater, Amsterdam is great!

And I can think of a few parts of Italy that could use said "cleaning up."

guiseppewv

Not a hater, just glad that hole is getting a clean-up. There aren't places in Italy that need the type of clean up that AMS does.

ArkiStan

i have nothing against spain, but if i had only a week and no other preferences, honestly, i would probably start elsewhere. but once again, i have nothing against spain.

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MJ

I love love love Barcelona!!!!

I hope you get to go when the weather is warm.

Walk all the way down La Rambla until you get to the beach...

it really is beautiful

Freelance Superhero

Have you ever been? I was a bit skeptical about Spain until I visited, and it was a freakin blast. There are other, more celebrated European destinations, for sure, but Spain isn't bad at all.

Memo

Spain is amazing, especially Barcelona. Barcelona might be hands down my favorite city in Europe. It gives you everything. Beach, nearby mountains, partying, culture, and food.

I wouldn't go there with the mindset that Madrid is better than Barcelona. They're totally different places. It's like saying LA is better than NYC or NYC or better than LA (Although, truthfully, NYC is actually better than LA ).

zenbooty

Um, Naples, for starters?

guiseppewv

Uh, if you say so. One of the two places we have been discussing is a den of drug (i.e. narcotics and the like) sales, drug use, and prostitution that attracts people from all over the world and the other does not. Now do you know what I am talking about when I say "clean up"?

zenbooty

The other is run by the mob, with all the problems that entails as far as public services go.

Memo

Oh come on, that **** happens EVERYWHERE. Amsterdam just chooses to make tourism dollars from it. Also, last I checked, marijuana and mushrooms were not narcotics.

guiseppewv

Mary Jane and shrooms ain't all that is happening there plus that is why I included "and the like" as a catch-all. Drugs happen in Smalltown USA too but that doesn't put it on the same level as AMS.

ArkiStan

Yeah. I've been there and Spain was awesome! I think it's just really hard to pick just one location out of all of Europe since everybody has different preferences. I personally gravitate toward places that have great architecture or great overall historical charm. Amsterdam had the former, Budapest had the latter, and Paris had both. But for people like Memo, Barcelona is his favorite city in Europe. Just a really tough question.

Freelance Superhero

Ahh, I see. Yeah, that's understandable. I think that Spain is a good place for less well-traveled people because it has a little bit of all of that without being too overwhelming. When it comes down to it, I don't think you can really go wrong with too many of the popular big European cities.

Memo

I think it really does come down to what you're looking for. Like you said, you gravitate to places with historical charm and architecture. I don't think there's a city in Paris that really beats that. It's certainly the best sight seeing city in Europe.

I personally like to experience the mix of cultures and have a good time and prefer modern architecture and contemporary art so Barcelona does it for me. It's a place I'd like to live, not just visit.



I don't know what's overwhelming about having fun or traveling

smeakim

We have been to Paris, Avignon, Eze, Nice, Florence, Monaco, Amalfi Coast, Naples, Spain, and London... Wife loves Paris there are so many day trips out of Paris you could do if you got bored (not possible). We are going back this year in Nov and going to spend 4 days in Venice, then a 12 days cruise which hits Turkey and Greece and Egypt. Then 8 more days in Rome. I loved the Amalifi Coast. Spain was our least favorite destination. We thought people were nicer in Paris.... We both really like Paris maybe becuase I speak a bit of French and people were wonderful in our interactions..... I would visit Naples and Florence. If I won the power ball (we dont play) I would move to Paris, Florence, or Amalfi coast.

VTGreg

I've been to Paris, Lyon, Rome, Florence and Venice. My favorites by far were Rome and Florence. The day trips from those places (Pompei, Amalfi Coast, Chianti Region) are great and the food is amazing.

Echoing what some others have said, with only a week it is best to focus on one city. Otherwise you spend the majority of your time moving from one place to another and don't get to experience much of any of them.

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Jeffbx

Love Paris! I'm usually there at least once a year for work.

You can spend a week there just at the museums & not see everything. Plus there are some great day trips - I highly recommend Versailles. And of course you can't go wrong with the food.