42 replies to this topic

[alicebrallice]

so me and a friend are most likely gonna interrail through europe (a month) starting in august, and since I've noticed that most members here are european I was hoping you guys could come with thoughts/comments. our route isn't set in stone yet but we're thinking something like this:

Copenhagen - Hamburg - Berlin - Prague - Vienna - Ljubljana - Venice - Rome - Bern - Brussels - Amsterdam and then MAYBE london and then fly back to sweden if we have enough money/time. we might skip paris too.

so... dos and don'ts in these cities? is our route missing an awesome city that we absolutely CAN'T miss? are there any cool events happening in europe during aug/sep?

[Quint]

This could be an interesting thread for me because we're a planning a Euro trip ourselves in a few years.

[Romão]

You're missing Portugal and Spain

[Stefancos]

Because those two countries are now so bankrupt that the locals have started using the trains as houses.

[Luke Skywalker]

You're missing Portugal and Spain

Ditto

Visiting those countries in the summer could be a great experience if you like sea and beaches

[Stefancos]

Not to mention gorgeous women!

[Chaac]

I have friends who have done this. They say is great.

I had planned to do this, but I can't this summer. I have to study, go to two work camps and finish my comic book thing to send it in September. Someday, I'll go in interrail, I want to go through Germany and practice the language, and visit their museums...

[alicebrallice]

I have friends who have done this. They say is great.

I had planned to do this, but I can't this summer. I have to study, go to two work camps and finish my comic book thing to send it in September. Someday, I'll go in interrail, I want to go through Germany and practice the language, and visit their museums...

cool! yeah I'm ridiculously excited about germany.

merkel & luke: I've already been to spain and portugal... maybe next interrail trip!

and cowman, aside from coffeshops and red light district, what are the attractions/sights in amsterdam?

EDIT: LOL cosman*, damn autocorrect:(

[Chaac]

The only thing I know about Amsterdam is that. Sounds boring. Surely there must be something worth visiting there.

Edit: Rembrandt and Van Gogh. Not bad... And the canals.

[Pasi Tiitinen]

Well the city of Amsterdam itself is very beautiful. They are closing the coffeeshops for tourists soon, which is only a good thing.

Highlight of your list of cities is naturally Prague.

[Stefancos]

Cowman?

Are you into clubbing? Museums?

The only thing I know about Amsterdam is that. Sounds boring. Surely there must be something worth visiting there.

I've driving through that little rathole you call a village 8 times, so screw you!

[alicebrallice]

Highlight of your list of cities is naturally Prague.

oh yes! I've heard so many great things about prague. stunning architecture, nice people, cheap food, alcohol etc.. can't wait!

Cowman?

Are you into clubbing? Museums?

clubbing? sure. but I like cosy pubs as much. museums? absolutely!

and what about the typical dutch cuisine? I only know pannenkoeken.

[Stefancos]

Pannekoeken, poffertjes, zoute haring, drop, etc...etc...

Amsterdam has clubs, coffeeshops, cosy bars and some great musuems and one of the best concert halls in the world. Top 3 actually!

[Chaac]

The only thing I know about Amsterdam is that. Sounds boring. Surely there must be something worth visiting there.

I've driving through that little rathole you call a village 8 times, so screw you!

I didn't say anything bad about Amsterdam, I just stated my ignorance on it and that I was curious!

(There's the Iberian/Carthagianian/Roman town that they teared apart and little else. You might prefer Córdoba, Granada and the natural landscapes to the East of the province, all of that is great. Besides, I wasn't born there, I don't live there most of the year, and none of my family is from there, and I hated my rathole for all the years I was trapped there.)

[Luke Skywalker]

So Mr cowman, you got your driving license?

[Ren]

no I'm going to teach him to drive

[Josh500]

so me and a friend are most likely gonna interrail through europe (a month) starting in august, and since I've noticed that most members here are european I was hoping you guys could come with thoughts/comments. our route isn't set in stone yet but we're thinking something like this:

Copenhagen - Hamburg - Berlin - Prague - Vienna - Ljubljana - Venice - Rome - Bern - Brussels - Amsterdam and then MAYBE london and then fly back to sweden if we have enough money/time. we might skip paris too.

so... dos and don'ts in these cities? is our route missing an awesome city that we absolutely CAN'T miss? are there any cool events happening in europe during aug/sep?

Great idea!

But instead of Prague, Vienna, and Ljubljana, I think you should stick more to the west (France, Spain, etc), and I would stay in Germany a bit longer (visit more cities in Germany like Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, etc--these are all worth visiting!). Oh yeah, you definitely shouldn't skip Paris and/or Southern France (Nice, St. Tropez, even Monaco, etc.)

Have fun.

[alicebrallice]

so me and a friend are most likely gonna interrail through europe (a month) starting in august, and since I've noticed that most members here are european I was hoping you guys could come with thoughts/comments. our route isn't set in stone yet but we're thinking something like this:

Copenhagen - Hamburg - Berlin - Prague - Vienna - Ljubljana - Venice - Rome - Bern - Brussels - Amsterdam and then MAYBE london and then fly back to sweden if we have enough money/time. we might skip paris too.

so... dos and don'ts in these cities? is our route missing an awesome city that we absolutely CAN'T miss? are there any cool events happening in europe during aug/sep?

Great idea!

But instead of Prague, Vienna, and Ljubljana, I think you should stick more to the west (France, Spain, etc), and I would stay in Germany a bit longer (visit more cities in Germany like Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, etc--these are all worth visiting!). Oh yeah, you definitely shouldn't skip Paris and/or Southern France (Nice, St. Tropez, even Monaco, etc.)

Have fun.

hmmm, the french riviera you say? jet set! I'd LOVE to go someday but maybe not as a backpacker and I've already been to spain twice, I want to discover other places now:) and from what I've heard/read, france is the least interrail/backpacker friendly country in europe hehe. at least paris.

but I'm guessing you've been to hamburg and berlin though? got any tips?

[Pasi Tiitinen]

To chance Prague and Vienna to arrogant French/Paris, Josh?

[Stefancos]

The French nation consists mainly of peasants and communists.

[KK.]

I may not be European but I love going there anytime I get the chance. As Josh recommended, you should totally go to Southern France when you get the chance. Along with places like Nice and Monaco, Marseilles and Toulousse are great too. And of course you can't miss out on Paris. It really is a great city, if it weren't for the unpleasant street vendors (although that issue is worst in Italy).

You'll enjoy Austria. A great place for music-lovers. I love Salzburg and Vienna, and you'll especially enjoy the more natural landscapes of the country near the alps. The last time I was there, I went to this small village in this valley called Ginzling...it was absolutely gorgeous.

Oh and where will you stopping by in Italy?

[alicebrallice]

yeah, I want to spend like a whole month discovering just france.

I'm really looking forward to vienna. got any tips for restaurants, pubs, maybe record stores?

we'll probably stop in venice and rome. but you never know, maybe we'll love italy and stop by other places as well

[BloodBoal]

Go pay a visit to Maurizio while you're there. I'm sure he'll welcome you in his house, and give you food and a place to sleep for free. We JWFANers must help each other on such occasions.

[Stefancos]

I can offer an inflatable bed....

[BloodBoal]

What about Ketu, Stiff?

[Stefancos]

Well, I'll have to ask her permission of course.

[alicebrallice]

well would you be playing us a lullaby?

preferably "the fountain scene" from the terminal.

[Incanus]

Stefan doesn't even know what Fountain Scene from Terminal sounds like. But perhaps he can sing you some nice Dutch lullabys with his honeyed voice, so famous around here.

[Stefancos]

Never heard that score.

If you are coming with a friend and he's male, I might be able to get away with it, if it's 2 Scandinavian women....

[SF1_freeze]

If you travel through Austria i also have to recommend visiting Graz. It's a beautiful smaller city (still the second biggest city of Austria) with the highest students per citizen ratio. It's a great city to study in. The train ride from Vienna to Graz also is a great experience. You travel from the Vienna basin through the prealps. The landscape is astonishing and a section of this train ride takes place on the unesco world heritage Semmering railway (http://en.wikipedia....mmering_railway).


Concerning Vienna

The Schweizerhaus in the Viennese Prater has good beer and meals and is one of the most famous beergardens of vienna. On the contrary the service
isn't the best and there are tons of tourists especially during the summer months.

Pointers is a nice pub with really good burgers and french fries (though the waiters can be a bit perky). (http://www.restauran...t/pointers.html)

There aren't many record stores left in vienna but you can try the EMI music store. They usually have a selection of soundtracks but prices are quite expensive (http://www.emimusic.at/emi/2473).

[alicebrallice]

thank you so much!!! I'll definitely read more about graz, sounded really interesting.

and where should we go if we want to taste traditional austrian food?

[Stefancos]

Austria???

[alicebrallice]

ja, natürlich! österreich, warum bist du so schön?

[Pasi Tiitinen]

Once I ate in Vienna fabulous Schnitzel, it was big like a pizza and the house wine was excellent.

I have never played that well in a concert after that meal and two pints(yes they sold the wine in very big glasses) of red wine...

Damn I don't remember that place.

[Thor]

Hey, Alice, that sounds like a great trip! Sadly, I never got to interrail back in my teenage years (and early 20's), and I'm probably too old for it now, but I've been around Europe quite a bit.

I think your itinerary sounds fine as it is. I've never been to Bern, Ljubliana and Venice (although I aim to visit the last two next year on a road trip), but I've been to the other places. Prague, Paris and Budapest are IMO the most beautiful cities in Europe, and I'm glad to see you have Prague on your list. Brussels is fine, but I'd rather take a 30-minute train to Ghent from there (or Brugge) to get some fantastic Medieval architecture, great eating places, pubs etc.

Berlin is a nice city too, but a bit frustrating, as there doesn't seem to be a real city centre with a pedestrian avenue etc. More like several centres spread out across the town, a bit like LA. Hamburg is better that way, but from what I remember a more industrial city (it's been many years since I was there).

Rome is always a treat, but be prepared for LOTS of tourists. The big tourist sites, in particular (Colloseum, St. Peter's etc.). When I was in the Vatican Museum last month (to see the Sistine Chapel), it was like walking in one long exodus from a big football match or something. Not really the cultural mood I was looking for. The prices are also steep, unless you know someone to take you outside the tourist routes. But there's obviously lots of tradition and a ruin or historical site wherever you turn, so lots to see.

Amsterdam is cool. Cozy atmosphere, quite 'beatnik'. But don't go wandering into dark back alleys alone.

Copenhagen is always great. Lots of pubs, restaurants and intimate atmosphere.

And of course, London is a classic. But most pubs close at 23-midnight, and it's not always easy finding a night club for clubbing after that if you're in a pub-heavy area. Check around first.

I wish you an excellent trip, Alice. Travelling is my favourite thing in the world, so I'm quite envious.

[alicebrallice]

wow! excellent! thank you so much, thor.

actually, I rewatched ratatouille the other night and got this strong desire to visit paris. hmmmm... we'll see what happens.

ghent looks amazing so we might go there! and only a 30-minute train ride? that's nothing! man, too bad the world soundtrack awards is in october and not september.

yeah, we actually decided to go in the end of aug/sep to avoid the big tourist masses. I guess there'll always be lots of tourists in e.g. rome but not as much as in spring or mid summer, I'd imagine. and most importantly: not as hot. where in rome did you stay btw?

I've been to london so I already have my favorites! there's a great cocktail bar in convent garden called dirty martini. koko is a great live music/club venue, and the best fast food chain: pret a manger! MY GOD, I miss pret. why don't we have that in scandinavia? beats me.

and of course you're not too old to interrail! what are you, in your early 30's? if you're so passionate about travelling I think you should definitely try it out before you start getting closer to 40

[Pasi Tiitinen]

The isn't age limit anymore in InterRail.

[Thor]

The isn't age limit anymore in InterRail.

There isn't?

Then maybe it's hope for me yet!

yeah, we actually decided to go in the end of aug/sep to avoid the big tourist masses. I guess there'll always be lots of tourists in e.g. rome but not as much as in spring or mid summer, I'd imagine. and most importantly: not as hot. where in rome did you stay btw?

Here:

http://no.hotels.com...rst#description

It's a relatively cheap hotel close to all the sights, but may be off your budget if you're on an interrail. There might be hostels there too, but we didn't check out those.

and of course you're not too old to interrail! what are you, in your early 30's? if you're so passionate about travelling I think you should definitely try it out before you start getting closer to 40

I should. I have many travelling plans lined up. Maybe I should include an interrail as well.

[Stefancos]

Thor will be preaching his anti-C&C gospel all over Europe!

[Romão]

I'll visit Rome in mid August. Lookig forward to it