2018 Europe Travel Advice

[ISUCHIEF]

My wife and I are going to Europe near the end of September and figured I’d ask if anyone has recommendations for the cities we will be in. I saw some older threads that had some advice too but figured I’d ask in case there’s anything more current.

Any info or recommendations on things to do / food / beer is appreciated. If people want to discuss other locations, that’s cool too.

We start the trip with 5 days in Seville.

After that, we fly to Munich for 6 days (staying in a small town between Munich and Salzburg). We do already have a reservation in an Oktoberfest tent with some local friends.

Final stop is Prague for 5 days.

 

[ISUCHIEF]

Since the first post, I stumbled on a YouTube channel for Prague - Honest Guide Prague

Very good stuff there.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt7oj318jVQi7vRbc1bNjJA

 

[MLawrence]

I have been planning my own European trip, and I cannot help you in terms of your locations. However, I will say that I have been using Rick Steves as a source to plan my own trip. He has his own guidebooks, YouTube channel consisting of his TV show, and a website which includes forums.

He are his videos about about the locations but I am not sure how up to date the information or how helpful you might them.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

My advice would be to find a smaller city festival in addition to octoberfest. I've been to one called Sandkerwa in Bamberg a couple years ago (home of the smoked beer). Last year we stayed near the airport in Munich and got lucky. There was a festival going on in Erding close by, which is also home to a well known Weis beer called Erdinger. Aug-Oct you can find a festival in Bavaria every weekend

 

[cdface]

Tell everyone you're Canadian.

 

[TOFB4ISU]

I have never had a great time in big cities internationally. Small to mid sized cities are where the real experiences lie.

 

[FarminCy]

I have been planning my own European trip, and I cannot help you in terms of your locations. However, I will say that I have been using Rick Steves as a source to plan my own trip. He has his own guidebooks, YouTube channel consisting of his TV show, and a website which includes forums.

He are his videos about about the locations but I am not sure how up to date the information or how helpful you might them.

I could watch Rick Steves all day. I’m trying to figure out how I can be his replacement when he retires.

Seriously though his website, shows, and books are a great resource for all types of trips. I check his forums every time I go across the pond. Even something as simple as a 16 hour layover in Heathrow two years ago and the forums on his site were great for ideas and itineraries to spend a day in London and still get back in time. Including the best spot to find showers, etc. I’ve got a four country trip for work this summer and I’ve been checking in there to get ideas about what there is to see when I have some free time.

On a side note one of my favorite Rick Steves episodes is the Scandinavian Christmas episode.

 

[FarminCy]

I have never had a great time in big cities internationally. Small to mid sized cities are where the real experiences lie.

For the most part I will agree with this. However there are just some things that you must see that are in large cities. Central London is one of those areas for me. I enjoy my time far more in other parts of the UK but the amount of history in Central London is worth it. It's surreal to see that such a small country with such central control at one time controlled so much of the world.

Back to your original point you are correct that the best way to experience a country is to get away from the large tourist areas. When I travel for work I'm lucky that at times I get to stay at farmers or agronomists houses with their families. Being part of day to day life with those people is the best part of any trip and the best way to see what the country is about.

 

[ISUCHIEF]

I have never had a great time in big cities internationally. Small to mid sized cities are where the real experiences lie.

This trip will be my first time staying in larger cities. We have friends in Seville, but will be on our own in Prague.

I have previously visited Salzburg and Munich but stayed in a small town on the German/Austrian border. That experience was incredible and is why I will stay there again even though the train to Munich is 2 hours.

 

[ISUCHIEF]

My advice would be to find a smaller city festival in addition to octoberfest. I've been to one called Sandkerwa in Bamberg a couple years ago (home of the smoked beer). Last year we stayed near the airport in Munich and got lucky. There was a festival going on in Erding close by, which is also home to a well known Weis beer called Erdinger. Aug-Oct you can find a festival in Bavaria every weekend

We will try to find a smaller one too. I remember a festival tent we found in Salzburg on my previous trip that was a great time. Also planning on stopping in Budweis on the way to Prague to get a “real Budweiser”.

 

[2forISU]

Take a day trip over to Granda when you're in Seville.

 

[CycloneSarah]

Seconding a day trip to Granada. The Alhambra is the main attraction and can take several hours if you want to see everything. The Granada Cathedral is my favorite in all of Spain since it was built during the Renaissance period instead of Gothic like most others. The other thing I would say is a cant-miss in Granada is the Mirador San Nicolas which is a gorgeous overlook of the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada mountains behind it. And make sure you eat all the jamon serrano!

 

[boone7247]

Haven't been to the other two, but I have been to Prague. Fun city. Try to stay as close to Old Town as you can. The square offers many dinning and drinking establishments. Prepare your liver for Liter beers, I know you are going for Oktoberfest, but the amount of beer you will drink is incomprehensible.

Beyond all the normal attractions when in Prague one must have Absinthe. I recommend a small little Irish bar called Caffery's, it is located just off the main square along the road that travels NE. Go before it is busy so you can chat up the bartender. Eat an hour in advance, drink some liquor, but don't be wasted, maybe an Irish car bomb or two. Ask the bartender for Absinthe. Be sure they cook the sugar. Trust me it is important. I have been drunk before, I have smoked weed before, but neither prepared me for the effects of Absinthe. We had our one shot, around 5 PM, and I didn't need another alcoholic beverage until well after midnight. I have no clue, how the locals drink whole bottles of the stuff. Don't worry, it doesn't' stay with you after, no ill effects. Just a completely different state of mind for a few hours. Not something I ever have to do again, but worth doing once for sure.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I've been to southern Europe (Spain, Italy, etc.) and the Baltic (Copenhagen, Sweden/Norway, Finland, St. Petersburg, etc.) but never the "central" part that seems to be the subject here. I would love to do a Danube tour at some point in the future, though.

 

[mramseyISU]

Two recommendations when you're in Munich. First and foremost is visit Dachau, everybody needs to visit one of these camps once in their life as far as I'm concerned.

The other thing I'd check out is Neuschwanstein Castle. It's the one Walt Disney used for inspiration in the design of Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland.

 

[The_Architect]

Since the first post, I stumbled on a YouTube channel for Prague - Honest Guide Prague

Very good stuff there.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt7oj318jVQi7vRbc1bNjJA

Janic! I've met him and drank several beers with him - a really nice guy who loves his city and loves meeting new people. His videos are great and really helped us a lot!

 

[Benny34]

Two recommendations when you're in Munich. First and foremost is visit Dachau, everybody needs to visit one of these camps once in their life as far as I'm concerned.

The other thing I'd check out is Neuschwanstein Castle. It's the one Walt Disney used for inspiration in the design of Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland.

I can't recommend these two enough. I travel to this part of Germany for work and Dachau is a must hit IMO.

 

[Benny34]

I took a day trip down into Austria from near where you are staying and went hiking. That was a ton of fun. I went up Gaishorn. Another thing is there are some castle ruins in the area (could google search for some im sure) that were very cool to me.

 

[LincolnWay187]

Watch your pockets, Europeans are pro pick pockets and I know several people that have been ripped off on that Continent.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I was in Sevilla a couple years ago. We were only there for maybe 3 days, but I really enjoyed it. I wished we'd spent more time there, honestly.

There's tons of stuff to do, but the big ones we saw was the Seville Cathedral and Real Alcazar (Dorne for Game of Thrones Fans).