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Original poster

What was the last European city you visited?

220 replies

AGHHHH · 09/12/2018 00:41

And what did you think of it?

Currently in Paris and due to the current unrest and terrible weather it's not been enjoyable and it does seem to be overrated from this experience, but I'll come back at a better time.

Where have you last been in Europe? I'm thinking about where I should next go. Berlin and Warsaw are on the cards. What do you think of those?

OP posts:
ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 09/12/2018 11:02

Marrakesh (and Essaouira). Obviously not European (and don't remotely feel it) but very close (3hour flight) and completely fabulous. Stay in a riad near the centre (Azzouna 13 is incredible and v cheap). They look like nothing from the outside but are beautiful oases on the inside. The street life is so bustling and the markets are so enticing. I love it. Feels properly foreign. You have to be prepared to barter with a smile and just take the city as it is rather than wishing it were cleaner/less busy/less confusing. Let yourself go with it, and it's wonderful.

Essaouira is posher and by the seaside but still has the medieval Medina. Also has a beautiful fish market/ food stall area on the old walls of the city overlooking the sea.

Taffeta · 09/12/2018 11:06

Can highly recommend St Petersburg, Copenhagen, Valencia and Lisbon. Also love Rome & Venice (November great time to go).

Was nonplussed by Madrid. Prefer Barcelona, Palma and Valencia

jenthelibrarian · 09/12/2018 11:12

We were in Vienna in the summer, gorgeous city. I think it's been named 'best city in the world to live in' or somesuch similar accolade.
Budapest is wonderful.
Stockholm is brilliant, but expensive.
I went to Florence in November and loved it, not too crowded.

CountFosco · 09/12/2018 11:17

We were in Paris in the summer with the kids and had a fab time. Previous European cities outside UK were Dublin, Barcelona (had a fortnight there and had a wonderful time, so much to see), Venice (my favourite place in the world), and Stockholm (gorgeous setting and did lots of boat trips out to various places out of the city itself).

MissWimpyDimple · 09/12/2018 11:25

Kraków. Loved it.

Next plan is Porto.

dementedma · 09/12/2018 19:20

Seriously thinking about Budapest for 2019. we always stay Air BnB to keep the cost down.
Any comments/advice on budapest gratefully received. it will be me, DH and teen DS.

TartanHare · 09/12/2018 19:25

Erm, Manchester yesterday, does that count??
Edinburgh last week, beautiful but I'm biased as it's my home town.
Lisbon a few months back, very hilly but beautiful, loved it.
Last December, Berlin, really interesting, somewhere I will definately return to.

JustanotherCHRISTMASuser01 · 09/12/2018 19:27

Budapest was my last European also done Palma and Berlin in the last 12 months loved them all.

Julianaa · 09/12/2018 19:28

Went to Segovia today. Before that I visited Worcester at the end of October, for the first time. Segovia is stunning. Worcester has some beautiful architecture and I really liked walking by the river. The centre with the shops didn't really strike me as very nice but that's the same in most cities. I loved the cathedral.

WildImaginings · 09/12/2018 19:34

Krakow is my favourite place. Will go back again next year.

I went to Prague in November and I would visit again.

Kat70 · 09/12/2018 19:42

Budapest is truly gorgeous. Buy a travel pass to go on trams, underground and buses and just whizz about. It's not too big so you can't really get lost. Margaret island in the middle.between Buda and Pest is beautiful. Dancing fountain and lovely outdoor pools. Buda castle - stunning. House of parliament - stunning. All bridges and monuments lit up at night - magical. Fab coffee houses and delicious cakes!

ShalomJackie · 09/12/2018 19:43

St Petersburg
Rome

dementedma · 09/12/2018 19:46

thanks kat, any ideas of the best area to stay?
Not too noisy but maybe near some cool bars with live music?

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/12/2018 19:48

Berlin - utterly wonderful. I can't imagine myself ever getting tired of it.

Grinchly · 09/12/2018 19:48

Paris. Stay in the Latin quarter.
Seville is very under rated.
Loathed Budapest.

StorminaBcup · 09/12/2018 19:52

Berlin is fabulous. Great infrastructure makes it really easy to get around. Steeped in history (obviously!), but a lot of it is still accessible by just walking around. Great restaurants, shopping, bars, hotels. So much to see and do for adults, kids, history-seekers or if you want something a bit more quirky. And I'm saying this as someone who took a toddler and a preschooler with them. Can't wait to go back and enjoy it all over again!

Mendingfences · 09/12/2018 19:56

Trondheim and London

Kat70 · 09/12/2018 19:57

You can stay anywhere in Budapest really because it is so compact and easy to get about on the trams. It's actually split in two- Buda the old part and Pest the new part. House of parliament on Pest side. The Oktogen is the central underground station so if you are near there you can travel around with ease. If you get lost - go back to the Oktogen and you'll be fine. Oh and the most extratravagent and opulent mcdonalds that I have ever seen is next to Nyguti train station- crystal chandeliers!!!

piperatthegates · 09/12/2018 20:00

Went to Ljubliana in the summer, loved it, it's quite a small city but has everything it should have. A castle, a river, great food and the Slovenian people are lovely. I would thoroughly recommend.

LittleLlamaontheduskyroad · 09/12/2018 20:34

Lat place we went was Vienna. Absolutely stunning city.

GenderApostate · 09/12/2018 20:39

Venice is my favourite, just magical. Going back at Easter and fitting in a visit to Lake Garda and Verona for a couple of days.
Krakow is lovely. Got to go back to Poland.
Going to Berlin on Wednesday, despite living in Germany for 8 years in the late 1980s, we never actually visited. Looking forward to it immensely, especially the Xmas markets.

GenderApostate · 09/12/2018 20:43

Spilt , Dubrovnik and Kotor are places I want to revisit- we saw them on a cruise so had little time there. It was also July and insanely busy!
Rome was nice but Venice beats it imho.

HundredMilesAnHour · 09/12/2018 20:52

Last European city I visited was Oslo. Hadn't been there for a few years but one of my closest friends is Norwegian and he'd just moved back to Oslo (from Canada) so it was a much quicker flight than usual to visit him. And see all his Norwegian friends who I hadn't seen for years. But f* some times I forget how bloody expensive Oslo is for eating out and drinking.

However, my preference is always Paris. I've lived there twice and every time I go back to visit I usually end up in tears on the Eurostar when I'm leaving. As for the protests, well that's just the French way. Ah I miss the days of being a student in Paris and getting quite familiar with tear gas being released by the riot police. It was just one of those things. I've never experienced tear gas anywhere other than Paris so that tells you something. Paris in winter can be grim though if you don't live there and have friends to spend time with indoors (or money to spend in Sephora). London is an easier city to be a visitor in during winter.

poorbuthappy · 09/12/2018 20:57

Not the last European city I've been to but I can recommend Freiburg wholeheartedly!!!

DotForShort · 09/12/2018 20:59

Riga. I was there for work initially but stayed on for a few days to enjoy the city. The old town is gorgeous, as is the art nouveau area. Some excellent museums and wonderful little cafes.