[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

What countries in Europe?

[bkepley]

Italy, Italy, and Italy.

[Cowboy Bob]

Europe is a big place, so it will be tough to see a lot in 3 weeks.

I like Venice and Salzburg (among man others).

[DCBryan1]

You could spend 3 weeks in Northern Italy and still not see all of it. Can you narrow it down, say, from a continent to a geographical region such iberian penninsuala? balkans? france? central plains? alps? scandanavia?

[Dick Bachert]

I believe that’s “My friends and I...”
And if you go to Italy, don’t waste too much time in Venice. The canals are filthy and smell. Head to the Lake District around Stresa or Lake Como. BEAUTIFUL and no crowds (at least in 1989).

[US Navy Vet]

Verdun and the Somme area(s), Also Berlin and the Normandy Beaches and London(I am kind of of a WWI/WWII Battlefield Historian).

[BBB333]

Begin like this:

A few friends and I...

You will be treated with more respect.

[Cementjungle]

Amsterdam... one of my favorite cities. Hundreds of great museums, lots of good food, fun bars... everyone speaks English so it’s easy to navigate. Fun place.

[1rudeboy]

The best thing to do is to pick a geographic area and immerse yourself there. Three weeks isn’t a lot of time, and unless you like looking out of train windows, you shouldn’t waste time while in transit. So put a map of Europe and throw a dart. Aim for France.

[Justa]

All of these cities have guided tours which will provide the most cultural viewing. Paris 5 days, Brussels 1, Amsterdam 2, Aaschafenburg, Hessen 1, Vienna 2, Salzburg 2, Prague 1, Livorno 1, Rome 3, Naples 1.

[married21]

My brother is in Stutgartt, Germany, right now. His visitors hit the Mercedes Museum in Stutgartt, and a little village in Bavaria that makes cuckoo clocks. I guess my bottom line is that if you hit one or two charming things that are off the beaten track, you will have something to say to people who have been to all the main attractions.

Other advice: The best travel companions are those who are well-rested and well fed. Take care of that, and you will have a pleasant trip no matter where you are.

[esopman]

Krakow, Poland

Lugano, Italy/Switzerland

Dublin, Ireland

Berlin, Germany

Salzburg, Austria

Mrs. Esopman

[skeeter]

Normandy, Bayeux if you’re going to France.

[Lake Living]

Prague in Chez Republic, Brugge, in Belgium - a very cool city. One of my favorites with some old beautiful buildings and history - also lots of little bed & breakfast places to stay, several city gates that are each unique and beautiful (I know an antique dealer there), Paris, France - still a really great place, people were friendly and generally helpful - sooo much to see there. You can spend all day in just a couple museums. Italy, many places, you won’t be disappointed. Germany is a very manicured country and Oct is often a great time as the weather is usually nice (though Christmas is awesome because of all the little Christmas markets). I lived in the Stuttgart area. Lots to see and do there - great food, yum! I would suggest you not try to see too much. Pick a couple of places that interest you as you can spend too much time “traveling” and not enjoying. My two cents ;- )

[RegulatorCountry]

Define “Europe” and what are your interests?

Prague is great but may be a little out of the way. Myself, I like history and interesting geology, so the Dordogne Valley of the Aquitaine region is great, nice climate too. That says Sarlat for a city, but admittedly very few people would name Sarlat for a first European visit/tour.

[Ann Archy]

Brugges, Belgium and Aix de Provence, France and of course Rome and Venice.....don’t miss these!

[Buckeye McFrog]

Have not been there myself, but some of the favorites of friends who have:

- Virtually anyplace in Italy
- Virtually anyplace in Spain
- Prague, Czech Republic

They seem to agree that Paris was a “must avoid”.

[NYer]

What are a few things "We shouldn't miss"?

The answer depends on your personal interests. I have traveled frequently to Italy, France, Denmark and Great Britain. Each country offers a plethora of sights that appeal to different tastes. Italy is my favorite. Foodies can experience the amazing differences in cuisine from risotto served in the colder northern climes to pasta, served up in the warm, sunny climate of the south. Art connoisseurs will relish the breathtaking works of Michelangelo in Florence and Rome. Historians enjoy visiting the Colosseum, the catacombs, the restored cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Naturalists revel in the awesome vistas along the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre. Travel over to the Adriatic side and you find Alberobello ..

... a small town and comune in the province of Bari, in Puglia, Italy. It has about 11,000 inhabitants and is famous for its unique trulli constructions. The Trulli of Alberobello are part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites list since 1996.

Here is a tip that applies regardless of where you travel in Europe. August is when most europeans go on vacation. As a result, popular tourist attractions offer limited access. It is also helpful if you or another member of the group, has some foreign language training. No need to be fluent - just making an effort to speak their language will go a long way. Happy planning and enjoy the trip!

[Ann Archy]

Buy a Rail Pass and just GO! I wouldn't spend more than 2 days in any one city......get up early, go to bed late and you'll be surprised at what you can see and do in a short time.

Don't immerse yourself in one place, there's SO MUCH to see in Europe. Get a Rick Steves book and follow his advice...he also has shows on PBS that are great.

Do your homework and planning BEFORE you go.

oops...forgot about London.....I lived there for a year, but you can see a ton in 2 days.

[Ann Archy]

You’re a NEWBIE!!