Europe stopover suggestions

[Wello]

In Copenhagen at the moment and a great place to stop over. A very friendly walking or cycling environment and lots to see within the city area.

 

[AIRwin]

I found Prague really trashy and the locals mean spirited

Oh I was planning a trip there but was told to avoid the weekends... Any advice other than to stay away?

 

[jase05]

I found Prague really trashy and the locals mean spirited

Copenhagen would be at the top of my list, Denmark is my favourite European country

Sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy Prague. This was our 4th trip there and have always found it excellent and the locals friendly. I must admit that it is getting busier and more crowded each time we return but still love it

 

[Milboo]

I did Prague and Vienna in November. I’d happily go back to both but Vienna was my favourite - the grand buildings, the cafes, the Palace, the Spanish Riding School, Art Gallery.

 

[offshore171]

Another vote for Vienna here.

 

[n7of9]

Oh I was planning a trip there but was told to avoid the weekends... Any advice other than to stay away?

I don't think you should stay away, most people in this thread (and in real life) absolutely adore Prague. I just did not.

I saw a bbq street vendor try to scam a tourist. When the tourist said no to the ridiculous price he was being asked for a piece of bread (like $15, it was a Bunnings sanga type of thing) and walked away, the local threw the bread and loose pork at his head.

That's just 1 example but it epitomises what I saw and felt in the city everywhere. ALL my interactions with locals were dodgy in some way.

But Prague Zoo was lovely!

 

[fairbasa]

Prague is a beautiful city and I would highly recommend it, but it has definitely 'adapted' to the high levels of tourism. Provided you're doing only 'above board' activities you will be safe, but as n7of9 mentions, the local vendors can be quite shifty. Giving you the wrong change, fake currency as change, taxis using turbo meters or just simply no using the meter at all, pickpockets - all those typical tourist scams you hear of happen often in Prague. Provided you're vigilant you will be fine but it is a little annoying having to be on-guard whilst on holiday.

Vienna is also great, but maybe a little sedate in comparison to Prague.

Copenhagen is beautiful but on the expensive side, it would still be my personal pick - but I'm a sucker for Scandinavia.

 

[SponsorSFC]

I would also vote Prague, however they are all good options.

We had an Amazing meal here in January 2017. Fine dining at pub prices.

Café Imperial

 

[dajop]

If you get the timing right, Venice. Why? It is different to just about every other city I’ve been too - and even with the crowds it is just an entirely different experience. I’ve been there at a busy time (late August), admittedly 10 years ago, but an early start to the day always helps.

Having said that, the other cities on the list except Warsaw also seem excellent choices. Even Warsaw would be OK - with the proviso only a day there and rest of your time in Krakow (which is only 2.5hrs away by train, which IMHO rates alongside Prague and Vienna as an interesting place to visit).

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Prague is a favourite of mine. Beautiful architecture, easy to walk around, restaurants and bars very good value for money. The express bus departs outside the airport terminal door and takes you to the central railway station for AUD3.50 per person.

 

[Milboo]

I didn’t experience any of those issues in Prague! Knew to organise a car from the train station (trained from Vienna) and to airport, stayed in the Old Town, easily jumped on trams, went up Petron Hill (and down the other side!), walked the Old Town and Charles Bridge. Had some great food.

No shifty street vendors seen, no pickpockets, no fake currency etc. Not saying it’s not there but it’s not the norm -more an exception. Like any big city.

 

[Himeno]

How about Zagreb as an option? I had crossed it off the list before as Croatia isn't in Schengen, but then I checked the Croatia visa requirements and they are almost the same as Schengen. Zagreb also appears to be the only one with a QF codeshare on BA (would be connecting from QF1).

Of course, it appears that only WAW, VIE and PRG are flown by BA out of LHR T3.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'd stick to Prague, unless you intend going down the Dalmatian coast from Zagreb. And even then I'd probably go to Prague.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

How about Zagreb as an option? I had crossed it off the list before as Croatia isn't in Schengen, but then I checked the Croatia visa requirements and they are almost the same as Schengen. Zagreb also appears to be the only one with a QF codeshare on BA (would be connecting from QF1).

Depends how long you wish to spend there but i loved Zagreb for the weekend. Plitvice Lakes a 2 hour drive away is in my eyes one of the highlights of Europe. I did hate the airport, however perhaps it has changed a bit since i was there.

 

[Happy Dude]

"See Venice and die", the saying goes. That's somewhat grammatically confusing, but I think you get the gist....

 

[Spongbob]

Copenhagen is wonderful, wonderful (or so the song goes).

 

[burmans]

Any advice other than to stay away?

Don't go in August. Avoid the centre of town as much as possble. Go early or late. Walk a few blocks away from the main streets.

Prague suffers in the way all overtouristed places do, the heavily touristed places at the peak of tourist season at the middle of the day are terrible,o verrun with noisy tourists and the bottom feeders that thrive off them.

But like all tourist town the secrets are to avoid the worst of this. The back streets and some of the suburbs are just as pretty and because they dont see so many tourists the locals are much friendlier and less likely to rip you off. When we last stayed we stayed in a lovely airBnB in a "local" nightbourhood, we could still walk to town in 20 mins or 10 minutes by their quite quant train system, people were friendly, food/beer/wine was good&cheap.

 

[SuzieQ68]

Oh I was planning a trip there but was told to avoid the weekends... Any advice other than to stay away?

+1 for Prague. We just came back from our first visit to Prague. Absolutely loved it. It's architecture is beautiful and (from our visit) the people we met were very welcoming. We learnt a couple of Czech words (ie hello, please, thank you), so maybe that made a bit of a difference. We arranged a car to our accommodation from the airport (stayed in the Old Town) and that was the best thing we did since we arrived later in the day - made our first night much easier not having to find our hotel.

We were there on the weekend and literally walked everywhere. It was August and crowded, but nothing too drastic - especially if you avoid the Old Town Markt Square and Charles Bridge in peak periods. There are so many things to see - Vysehrad, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, local markets to name a few. Definitely try some local dishes, maybe even a craft beer or two. You won't be disappointed.

 

[Spongbob]

Copenhagen is wonderful, wonderful (or so the song goes).

Oh, I should have added this link: