Please help me narrow this darned list down!
#1
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Please help me narrow this darned list down!
Hey everyone,
Normally I hate posting lists like this, but I'm having serious troubles narrowing it down. When I visit my friend in London, we typically like to leave for a couple days to go somewhere else. Usually I check out the cheapest flights first, and go from there. Last time we went to Riga.
This time, I've narrowed it down to the following:
Copenhagen, Budapest, Zurich, Gdansk, Salzburg, Vienna.
The catch is that we'd be going for 2 nights, during the last week of November. That said, I won't expect great weather. What I do want is, prettiness (architecture, etc.) good shopping, Christmas markets (the cozier and prettier, the better), and nice bars and coffee shops. My mom is a painter and I like to also take photos of really nice scenery and buildings, for her to paint. The most expensive place seemed to be Zurich, but for two nights I won't worry about prices too much.
I know it's kind of hard to just generally compare six different places, but if anyone can help me knock off a couple of places based on what I want that's mentioned above, that would be great!
Normally I hate posting lists like this, but I'm having serious troubles narrowing it down. When I visit my friend in London, we typically like to leave for a couple days to go somewhere else. Usually I check out the cheapest flights first, and go from there. Last time we went to Riga.
This time, I've narrowed it down to the following:
Copenhagen, Budapest, Zurich, Gdansk, Salzburg, Vienna.
The catch is that we'd be going for 2 nights, during the last week of November. That said, I won't expect great weather. What I do want is, prettiness (architecture, etc.) good shopping, Christmas markets (the cozier and prettier, the better), and nice bars and coffee shops. My mom is a painter and I like to also take photos of really nice scenery and buildings, for her to paint. The most expensive place seemed to be Zurich, but for two nights I won't worry about prices too much.
I know it's kind of hard to just generally compare six different places, but if anyone can help me knock off a couple of places based on what I want that's mentioned above, that would be great!
#3
Why not just save the bother of flying, especially in winter when weather can wreak havoc with flights, visit a place you haven't yet in the UK. Don't know if fall Brexit could impact plans but for 1 day, I don't see the point.
#6
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It would be more than a day - wherever we go we'd arrive by late morning day 1, have full day 2, and leave in late afternoon/early evening day 3. We did this with Riga, for example, and found we had plenty of time to see a ton of things.
#7
>>It would be more than a day - wherever we go we'd arrive by late morning day 1, have full day 2, and leave in late afternoon/early evening day 3<<
Still only a little over 1.5 days. (after Oct 31 -- immigration into Schengen/the EU may be more complicated/time consuming so a late AM arrival might not get you to your hotel until mid afternoon).
Have you see everything/everyplace in the UK? York or Edinburgh or Bath or someplace would be better logistically. If it has to be one from your list, I probably choose Copenhagen (but that is just me)
Still only a little over 1.5 days. (after Oct 31 -- immigration into Schengen/the EU may be more complicated/time consuming so a late AM arrival might not get you to your hotel until mid afternoon).
Have you see everything/everyplace in the UK? York or Edinburgh or Bath or someplace would be better logistically. If it has to be one from your list, I probably choose Copenhagen (but that is just me)
#8
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Entry in to the EU/Schengen will be no different if both OP and their friend have non UK passports. If one or both has an UK passport who knows what will be involved. The UK resident will need travel insurance in any case as they will no longer be covered by EHIC.
I agree with visitng somewhere in the UK rather than added to your carbon footprint and flying somewhere for such a short time. If you must travel then what about Lille or Bruges and go by train.
I agree with visitng somewhere in the UK rather than added to your carbon footprint and flying somewhere for such a short time. If you must travel then what about Lille or Bruges and go by train.
#9
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>>It would be more than a day - wherever we go we'd arrive by late morning day 1, have full day 2, and leave in late afternoon/early evening day 3<<
Still only a little over 1.5 days. (after Oct 31 -- immigration into Schengen/the EU may be more complicated/time consuming so a late AM arrival might not get you to your hotel until mid afternoon).
Have you see everything/everyplace in the UK? York or Edinburgh or Bath or someplace would be better logistically. If it has to be one from your list, I probably choose Copenhagen (but that is just me)
Still only a little over 1.5 days. (after Oct 31 -- immigration into Schengen/the EU may be more complicated/time consuming so a late AM arrival might not get you to your hotel until mid afternoon).
Have you see everything/everyplace in the UK? York or Edinburgh or Bath or someplace would be better logistically. If it has to be one from your list, I probably choose Copenhagen (but that is just me)
It's so much more expensive to fly to these European places from Toronto, hence why I try to mosey on over to one whenever I'm in England. Weather be damned.
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A three day/ two night short trip by plane is not exactly a bizarre extravaganza. I guess a lot of Europeans make trips like that each weekend.
Vienna would be my favorite.
Enough to explore outdoors if weather should be fine, enough options for bad weather.
The Christmas Market is fabulous, Salzburg would be a competitor but it’s just a small town and if you hit bad weather your options are limited.
If you don‘t only stick to the 1st district in Vienna, the city is a surprisingly young and non-stuffy place.
Vienna would be my favorite.
Enough to explore outdoors if weather should be fine, enough options for bad weather.
The Christmas Market is fabulous, Salzburg would be a competitor but it’s just a small town and if you hit bad weather your options are limited.
If you don‘t only stick to the 1st district in Vienna, the city is a surprisingly young and non-stuffy place.
#12
I love Budapest, which also has a Christmas market. It is getting crowded, although not as bad as Vienna.
Before deciding to fly somewhere (especially in winter, when flights may be canceled for bad weather) you might read this: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...2d3_story.html
York or Bath would be obvious destinations in the UK, along with Oxford and Cambridge. A less well-known place like Norwich or Worcester would also be worth a look. All accessible by train.
Before deciding to fly somewhere (especially in winter, when flights may be canceled for bad weather) you might read this: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...2d3_story.html
York or Bath would be obvious destinations in the UK, along with Oxford and Cambridge. A less well-known place like Norwich or Worcester would also be worth a look. All accessible by train.
#14
Gdansk airport is well connected by transit. Old city center is a $2.00, 20 minute train ride.
It is pretty enough, the Xmas market is a bit of a dud, with some exceptions.
Shopping is good if you like and can afford silver and amber jewellery.
Stay at the Hilton, have dinner at Kubicki restaurant.
It is pretty enough, the Xmas market is a bit of a dud, with some exceptions.
Shopping is good if you like and can afford silver and amber jewellery.
Stay at the Hilton, have dinner at Kubicki restaurant.
#16
#17
These aren't on your list but how about Lucerne or Bruges? Lucerne is nicer than Zurich and less than an hour from Zurich so still doable in your timeframe. Bruges is lovely, is small enough to really get a feel in your two-ish days, and you could take the Eurostar to Brussels w/ a ticket that includes the train journey on to Bruges.
#19
If you mean the Hilton proper, as opposed to the Hampton by Hilton, it is over a kilometer from the train station, and there are a lot of hotels and apartments closer and cheaper. I don't go to Europe to stay in American chain hotels.
#20
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These aren't on your list but how about Lucerne or Bruges? Lucerne is nicer than Zurich and less than an hour from Zurich so still doable in your timeframe. Bruges is lovely, is small enough to really get a feel in your two-ish days, and you could take the Eurostar to Brussels w/ a ticket that includes the train journey on to Bruges.
I think from my original list posted, it's down now to Copenhagen or Salzburg...just need to decide between these three now!