What European city to visit for 4 nights as a young person?

Mr_Anonymous

So, me and my girlfriend are first year college students in Ireland, and want to go on holiday together this summer. Neither of us are "Sun holiday" people, we prefer city holidays with plenty to do and see. We've decided we'd like to spend a few days in a nice mainland European city. She's visited Rome, Barcelona and Paris before, and we'd both kinda like to visit Paris together (I speak French, though her interest = EuroDisney ), but as she's been before I'd like to take her somewhere new.

But I have no idea where would be good. Paris is still an option, so if you all think it's the best plan, I'll go with that, but I'm open to suggestions. If you could recommend a few things to do in the place you suggest that'd be great also.

Of course, being students, the budget isn't high which is why we aren't looking further afield than the continent, though if anyone knows of any amazing deals going on anywhere, the States for example, or Scandinavia, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks in advance!

Janson

Eastern Europe's cheap and doesn't attract quite the vast numbers of tourists that Paris or Rome do. Budapest has made the biggest impression on my family and friends, there was a thread on Prague here a couple of weeks ago which you may want to dig up, and almost any large or capital city is going to be pretty fun, to be honest.

LewieP's Mummy

Istanbul is fab, relatively cheap, but a bit challenging for women - you have to cover up or expect to be groped on the trams, the bus, in the street, even when you're walking holding hands with your bloke. That is the only negative though, its a fantastic city, transport around is cheap, if you stay in the old town, everything you'd want to cram into a few days is within walking distance, the ferry up the Bosphorus is amazing, the Hamams are great.

corcorigan

Krakow. It's pretty, historical, full of culture, and bars.

Tav

Dublin is great, but pricey. I'd highly recommended it if you're not going to be spending the bare minimum.

e: Crap, didn't read your first line :P

Thanatos

I've heard awesome things about Prague.

corcorigan

Thanatos wrote: »

I've heard awesome things about Prague.

Yeah, it's a good place. Small, quiet, pretty, quite a lot going on (enough for 4 nights anyway) and not too expensive.

TexiKen

Some friends and I went to Prague in Summer '06 while in Europe (as well as other western European cities), because everyone was saying "Oh my God, it's like Paris was twenty years ago or something" and because I wanted to visit an old soviet satellite that was once the center of the Holy Roman Empire. But the problem was, everyone wants to go to Prague now. Especially during the weekend for cheap beer and lots of strip clubs. It doesn't feel like this place that used to be the center of the Holy Roman Empire; it feels like a place that it going gangbuster in their economy since being free of the Soviets and are putting it to good use.

It does have some really, really nice stuff to see and do (the old town square, Charles Bridge, Jewish Quarter), but we found that doing it in the morning while everyone is sleeping/hungover is the best time, because the tourist shops aren't open but the regular Czech shops are.

And as stated earlier, lots of strip clubs and lots of people trying to sell you pot as well. It is fairly safe though, except for the train station. And just know that all the crystal there is pretty much the same stuff, just in about 500 different tourist shops.

I'll try and upload some photos this evening to show you some scenery so you can decide.

I liked Prague, but it wasn't what everyone made it out to be. It's just the "in" place to travel to.

Munich is nice and big, and has lots of stuff to do. Only downside is that it rains about every hour there in the summer. I would recommend it or other Southern German cities in Bavaria.

Cojones

TexiKen wrote: »

Some friends and I went to Prague in Summer '06 while in Europe (as well as other western European cities), because everyone was saying "Oh my God, it's like Paris was twenty years ago or something" and because I wanted to visit an old soviet satellite that was once the center of the Holy Roman Empire. But the problem was, everyone wants to go to Prague now. Especially during the weekend for cheap beer and lots of strip clubs. It doesn't feel like this place that used to be the center of the Holy Roman Empire; it feels like a place that it going gangbuster in their economy since being free of the Soviets and are putting it to good use.

It does have some really, really nice stuff to see and do (the old town square, Charles Bridge, Jewish Quarter), but we found that doing it in the morning while everyone is sleeping/hungover is the best time, because the tourist shops aren't open but the regular Czech shops are.

And as stated earlier, lots of strip clubs and lots of people trying to sell you pot as well. It is fairly safe though, except for the train station. And just know that all the crystal there is pretty much the same stuff, just in about 500 different tourist shops.

I'll try and upload some photos this evening to show you some scenery so you can decide.

I liked Prague, but it wasn't what everyone made it out to be. It's just the "in" place to travel to.

Munich is nice and big, and has lots of stuff to do. Only downside is that it rains about every hour there in the summer. I would recommend it or other Southern German cities in Bavaria.

It's really not for everyone, but Beirut is absolutely fantastic. Fluency in French will help(though expect to hear a hell of a lot of Arabic) but if you're going in the summer then do be careful - it gets really quite hot.

It's a remarkably beautiful city and there's quite a bit to do in the surrounding areas too - the cedar forests, mountains, and especially where the two meet, make for some of the most beautiful landscape I've seen.

On the other hand, I probably shouldn't recommend visiting Lebanon without in the same breath mentioning how the country went through an ugly civil war not that long ago, while you no doubt remember the 2006 conflict between Lebanon and Israel. This isn't to say that you'll be at any great risk if you go, but it pays to be wary of this kind of thing.

Mandor

Since there haven't been any suggestions for German cities I will recommend Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne (in no particular order). Each has a very active night-life and many possible daytime-activities and stuff to direct your gaze at.

TexiKen

Mandor wrote: »

Since there haven't been any suggestions for German cities I will recommend Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne (in no particular order). Each has a very active night-life and many possible daytime-activities and stuff to direct your gaze at.

I recommended Munich. I also loved Dusseldorf, but I say that everytime one of these threads pop up.
Cologne is a good spot as well. Koblenz as well, but that's a college town. Shit, just ride down the Rhine and visit every town and city.

I liked Germany the most in my travels since I spoke German, and if you at least try to speak it the people absolutely love it. Plus, so many tennis courts to enjoy. And clay ones too!

And nothing beats renting an Opel Astra and driving through Germany. You think the Autobahn is this novelty thing over here, but once you're just humming along at 80 without a care in the world (because you're in college!) you really love it. Screw environmentalists, it's the best.

I'll post some pictures tonight when I get home from work, promise.

Edit: OK, here are some pictures of Prague (might be big stuff yo):









^ That's a McDonald's marker in the left corner.





^ They were finishing up filming of Casino Royale in that last picture.

Dulcius_ex_asperis

I'd suggest Vienna. I visited there with a friend and it was marvelous. We spent 3 days there, but I really wish it'd been a bit longer. There are plenty of historical sites, you can go to amazing classical concerts that aren't too expensive, the weather is gorgeous (we went in late November, and it was a little snowy but not too cold). There are also so really neat museums like the Haus der Musik , which was only 8 euro when we visited. I loved Vienna, it was by far my favorite city (even after spending lots of time in Barcelona, Granada, London, Oxford, Paris, and Bratislava). I highly recommend it. It's very old world and lovely, and the people were the kindest of any of the cities I visited.

Also, if language barriers are the kind of thing you worry about, many to most people in Vienna speak English along with their perfect, accentless German. I also recommend staying at the Wombat City Hostel, which is run by hilariously fun-loving Australians and is moderately priced. Drink lots of coffee, visit Prater Park, go see famous gravesites at the Zentralfriedhof, and maybe take a day or two in Salzburg. You'll love Austria, I promise.

EDIT: ...annnnnnd I sound like a travel agent.

Chen

Vienna is a lovely city.

If you can rent a car, then going on a road trip through France might be an option if you dig adventure and wouldn't mind getting lost. Being able to speak French is a big plus though. First destination would be Paris of course, especially for your first time, visiting the Eiffel Tower, the museum du Louvre, the Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe are a must. Going to the latter is an experience in itself trying to maneuver your car through the chaos where you will find a fancy shopping district barring accidents.

Then you can continue your journey to Lyon, visit Cannes and Monaco, sniff the Mediterranean Sea and either go back or continue to Spain (Barcelona) or Italy (Turin). It sounds daunting, but me and my friends were crazy enough to go through this and it was a blast. Most likely not the most relaxing and cheapest time to spend the vacation - French highway tolls are a bitch - but I felt like mentioning it for possible adventure seekers.

supabeast

If you like art, the Louvre alone could kill four years. 4 days in Paris is just enough time to rush through all of the major museums and do some shopping. Definitely a good choice. If you dig the countryside try hanging out in Provence, doing a different town every night!

Dulcius_ex_asperis

If you want a smaller, more romantic feel in France, you can always go to Normandy. You can also visit all the D-Day beaches and whatnot, if you're interested in that kind of thing. The towns are petite, the people are amazing, and Bayeux is a gorgeous little village. Caen is nice, too. Actually, all of Northwestern France is a bit overlooked, generally, I feel. It's beautiful.