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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

European trip at Easter

23 replies

FallenFigs · 27/02/2023 22:05

Tips for a European trip at Easter for me and DC - 14 and 12.

Ideally somewhere you can get to on the train - perhaps one city for a few nights then another for a few.

Have done Rome and loved that. Don’t love Paris.

DC love cities as long as there is plenty to do, some open space and some good food.

OP posts:
Fivemoreminutes1 · 28/02/2023 06:03

Amsterdam is great for that age. When we went, my dc enjoyed the Nxt museum, Amaze, This Is Holland, A’dam Lookout, a diamond factory tour, pancake boat canal cruise, Anne Frank’s house and Moco Museum. We also took the train to The Hague for the day.

MinnieMountain · 28/02/2023 06:20

Munich.

Original poster
FallenFigs · 28/02/2023 07:41

Good tips, thank you. Would 4 nights be enough?

OP posts:
MinnieMountain · 28/02/2023 08:21

For where OP?

guzzywuzzy · 28/02/2023 10:58

My brother flew to Verona, spent a day or two there/Venice, then got an overnight sleeper train to Vienna and a few days there. All the Vs, really want to try this myself!

Fivemoreminutes1 · 28/02/2023 11:15

Four nights would be fine in Amsterdam if you didn’t do any day trips out of the city.

LlynTegid · 28/02/2023 11:16

If only four nights, perhaps Brussels or Ghent.

NotPennysBoat · 28/02/2023 14:54

Sorry to hijack, but @MinnieMountain do you have an specific kid-friendly recommendations for Munich?

Original poster
FallenFigs · 28/02/2023 17:18

So Verona v expensive on train, as it Vienna.

what about Berlin and Munich? Over 5 nights…

OP posts:
maranella · 28/02/2023 17:21

If you're going on the train for only 4 or 5 nights I'd go somewhere close. Lille, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Maastricht - all nice places to visit.

Original poster
FallenFigs · 28/02/2023 18:26

Amsterdam - v expensive at Easter it seems. I’d been planning to go in October and think will stick to that.

Poss back to the Germany plan

OP posts:
Original poster
FallenFigs · 28/02/2023 22:08

Ok so if I could make it 7 nights, how about 5 nights in Hamburg with a stop over in
Brussels at the beginning and end (to break train journey).

Thoughts?

OP posts:
reluctantbrit · 01/03/2023 17:48

FallenFigs · 28/02/2023 18:26

Amsterdam - v expensive at Easter it seems. I’d been planning to go in October and think will stick to that.

Poss back to the Germany plan

For Germany - do research thoroughly.

Lots of things are closed in Germany on Good Friday, they are really strict, that may include restaurants.

deplorabelle · 01/03/2023 22:40

Cologne is only a short hop from Brussels and a nicer stopover than Brussels. I love Hamburg but Cologne might be a better destination for a short trip. We had a four day break there and it was one of our best ever. Cathedral, Roman mosaics, the obligatory chocolate museum so many places have now and a phenomenal zoo (we are not really zoo people but it was just amazing - the elephants alone are worth the entry fee)

Bonn and Aachen are also day trippable easily enough.

If you do choose Hamburg then take a trip to Lübeck or overnight there.

reluctantbrit · 02/03/2023 07:51

deplorabelle · 01/03/2023 22:40

Cologne is only a short hop from Brussels and a nicer stopover than Brussels. I love Hamburg but Cologne might be a better destination for a short trip. We had a four day break there and it was one of our best ever. Cathedral, Roman mosaics, the obligatory chocolate museum so many places have now and a phenomenal zoo (we are not really zoo people but it was just amazing - the elephants alone are worth the entry fee)

Bonn and Aachen are also day trippable easily enough.

If you do choose Hamburg then take a trip to Lübeck or overnight there.

I know Hamburg quite well (my husband is from there) and 4-5 days are good for a visit, especially if you add Lübeck to it. Easy train, not sure for an overnight stay though. The Hanse Museum is great, well done in English as well.

deplorabelle · 02/03/2023 08:29

reluctantbrit · 02/03/2023 07:51

I know Hamburg quite well (my husband is from there) and 4-5 days are good for a visit, especially if you add Lübeck to it. Easy train, not sure for an overnight stay though. The Hanse Museum is great, well done in English as well.

Show quote history

We went to Lübeck and Travemünde for the day from Hamburg last summer and I agree it's perfectly doable as a day trip but I've also stayed (in Travemünde) years ago and it was lovely to wake up smack dab on the beach. I think it would also be lovely to wake up in Lübeck and see it before the day trippers get there.

It's possible to get from the south of England to Hamburg by train within the day but it is quite a stretch, needs an early Eurostar and if you need to get a train into London, you will be paying top dollar for early commuter trains. Cologne is an easy change from Brussels so you could set off much later and get there.

reluctantbrit · 02/03/2023 17:09

@deplorabelle I agree, adding Travemünde means a second day.

You can take a the Eurostar from London to Amsterdam and then change in Düsseldorf or Osnabrück for a train to Hamburg. I agree, it takes longer. We normally fly Easyjet when we go.

Hobbesmanc · 02/03/2023 17:14

There's some good deals on Athens flights on Skyscanner. Greece is so lovely in the spring and whilst bits of Athens are a little concretey there's so much to see and the Athenians are so welcoming. Remember Greek Easter falls later than ours.

TreesAtSea · 02/03/2023 17:40

If thinking of Germany, you can now book through tickets to some German destinations, including Cologne, with Eurostar, changing in Brussels, as they've recently merged with Thalys.
Check seat61.com for comprehensive info about train travel.

whiteroseredrose · 02/03/2023 19:59

We loved Bruges. You can get the Eurostar to Brussels then train to Bruges I think.

There are a number of museums and tours, some traditional some aimed at young people. There are art galleries, a tower to climb, boat trip and brewery tour. Also a chocolate tour. And it is really pretty.

You can watch the film In Bruges either there or before.

Note that lots of attractions are closed on Mondays which is why we will go again!

Original poster
FallenFigs · 04/03/2023 19:20

These are excellent tips all, thank you.

re closing over Easter. Does that apply to other European cities too?

I would love to go to Greece but trying to avoid flying.

So, trains to get us to Germany are cheaper than going South, but accommodation more expensive, and likely food. Also colder?! Whereas trains are more expensive to go south, but it we went to Northern Italy, accom is cheaper and likely food.

decisions, decisions.

OP posts:
Original poster
FallenFigs · 04/03/2023 21:52

@deplorabelle Cologne is looking like a good option - pretty rapid from London and the fares are reasonable. Enough for a couple of teens to do for a few days? The zoo sounds excellent.

Which area did you stay in?

OP posts:
deplorabelle · 04/03/2023 21:57

FallenFigs · 04/03/2023 21:52

@deplorabelle Cologne is looking like a good option - pretty rapid from London and the fares are reasonable. Enough for a couple of teens to do for a few days? The zoo sounds excellent.

Which area did you stay in?

I'm glad you are thinking of this I hope you have a great time. The train is definitely the way to arrive in Cologne as you come out right in front of the cathedral.

It was quite difficult to book hotels when we went. I think we had a Novotel not far from the chocolate museum, which was fine.

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