19 replies to this topic

[Yarrum]

Hey guys. In about 36 hours, my siblings and I will be departing for a five-and-a-half week backpacking trip through western Europe, and we need ideas on stuff to do in the various cities we'll be seeing. Here's the list(basically in order): London, Brighton, Dublin, Galway, Cork, Rouen, Paris, Bruges, Antwerp, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Venice, Marseille, and then Madrid, where we're spending two nights before we fly home. We're spending about three nights in each city, some two, one each in Brussels and Antwerp, and four in Dublin. Any advice on things to do from our plentiful European community?

Edited by Yarrum, 16 July 2011 - 03:59 PM.

[Vortigern]

There's plenty to do in London, but honestly there's plenty more to do in other parts of Britain. Edinburgh's beautiful in the summer, as is Oxford and any number of places around the countryside, but if you're only going to London then you'll still have plenty to keep you occupied for three days. I would suggest Camden Lock market, because I love it there, but it's a very subjective kind of place. But one way or another, there's a whole bunch of cheap takeaway places for lunch. You should also absolutely go to the British Museum, because it's possibly the greatest place in the world. Seriously, it's freaking awesome. Apart from that, I can't offer too much more because I'm not a native and only really know London in the day-trip manner. But yeah, sounds like a fun trip.

[Buffo]

In Munich you must visit the concentration camp "Dachau". It's very impressive to see how the poeple had to live there. The website
If you like soccer or architecture the "Alianz Arena" is pretty nice too (this is the soccer stadion of Bayern München).
But I was also just there for day trips or for watching some soccer matches, so I don't now that much about it..

In London you should visit all the famous buildings: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower Bridge. However, I just visited it as a tourist and stayed only for one day, so I can't give you insider tips^^

[Elvenlord]

Take pictures. Lots of pictures. Then share them with us too poor to travel.

[Yarrum]

Oh, trust me Elvenlord, there will be lots of pictures. Thanks for all the info guys. Any of the resident dutch-folk want to tell me what to do in Amsterdam?

[Mathijs]

I don't like Amsterdam very much. What do you want to do there? If you want to visit some museums, I've got a list.

[Puppeteer]

There is so much to do in Berlin. Love that city - make sure you do as much as possible! All the museums, memorials etc. The metro system is wonderful - you'll see a lot. Go to local markets and stay in a local hostel, not a hotel.
If you don't go to any other concentration camp or you want to go to a few, take a train to Oranienburg and see Sachsenhausen Camp. It's not a long journey by train, but take at least half a day, if not a day, there. I've been there twice, and each time I made sure that I went round by myself. If you want a more sombre trip, other than Sachsenhausen, you can take half a day out to go see Wannsee Conference (the origin of the Hess' Final Solution).
It's nice to learn some German phrases (Ich möchte is very useful for shops...), but their English is nigh-on flawless.
Go up the Fernsehturm tower, for the view. If you can, book a small tour in the Bundestag. If there's a football game going on in the Olympic Stadium, go. I don't like football, and had no choice in going (when I went with friends from school), but you might like the atmosphere. Just wander round the city too, alongside a schedule - you can find remnants of the Berlin Wall or lookout-towers embedded in the city.
Nightlife is good. Beer-halls, though I dare say you'll find more in Munich.

For London, as Vortigern said you should broaden your horizons - Britain's not too big. Even if you stay in the south-east of Britain, visit other locations, such as Warwick Castle. If you want fun, visit Thorpe Park (Surrey) or Alton Towers (Staffordshire) - they're great theme parks.
Buckingham Palace is overrated, but it's a standard tourist trap. There are some real gems you can find, such as the Globe Theatre. British Museum, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern Art Gallery, Imperial War Museum... there's too much to do.

Edit: Yay, Dublin! You must take a tour in Guinness Brewery and spend time in Phoenix Park, where the Dublin Zoo is. You should consider taking a tour of Kilmainham Gaol too. The local hostels and cafés are extraordinarily friendly and good value.

Edited by Puppeteer, 23 June 2011 - 10:22 PM.

[Fudge]

I'd like to help with london but I rarely visit

When I do Go I like to go to the museums (Especially the natural history museum) and the Aquarium.

If you come down the South-west I might be of more use.

Edited by Fudge, 23 June 2011 - 10:25 PM.

[Yarrum]

I don't like Amsterdam very much. What do you want to do there? If you want to visit some museums, I've got a list.

Typical touristy stuff. Eat good food, see museums and monuments, smoke pot. Anyone have more stuff for Munich?

Edited by Yarrum, 24 June 2011 - 04:40 AM.

[Vortigern]

I second Puppeteer on the Warwick Castle suggestion, I haven't been there in years but I can only assume its still just as much fun as I remember, and the same goes for the Globe Theatre. It's not the original Globe, but it's a pretty good replica and has all kinds of Shakespeare-themed tomfoolery in which to engage.

Oh, and the Imperial War Museum is very cool too. Right outside the main doors there are two giant battleship cannons, assuming I'm remembering the right place. I seem to recall they had a range of about 26 miles, but I might be making that up. Either way, loads of cool stuff.

[Imdrar]

Puppeteer already named most of the essentials, and I guess sights like the Brandenburg Gate and the victory column don't need to be mentioned.
Though I don't know your favourite kind of music, I would recommend you to visit the philharmonic hall - if your stay includes a tuesday. On tuesdays, you don't need to pay for entrance. For one thing, this would allow you to listen to the lunch concerts in the foyer (if you're early), and for another thing, you could visit the souvenir shop which keeps some real treasures.
Furthermore, I'd suggest a visit to the Old National Gallery, the Bode and the Pergamon Museum, all three of them located on the Museum Island. And maybe you would enjoy a boat trip through the Nikolai quarter. There are also some very nice places in the north of Berlin, but I assume it would require more than three or four days to discover them all in an appropriate way.
Whatever you do, don't forget to have some earplugs with you, because currently, the heart of Berlin is a huge construction site.
If you find the time for a trip to Potsdam, you should go for a walk through Park Sanssouci and see the New Palais. I think they finally should be done with the restoration works. And the nearby Belvedere tower is another place to enjoy a beautiful panorama.

By the way, it's a pity that you won't come around our coastline during your vacation.

[{IRS}Athos]

I second Puppeteer on the Warwick Castle suggestion, I haven't been there in years but I can only assume its still just as much fun as I remember, and the same goes for the Globe Theatre. It's not the original Globe, but it's a pretty good replica and has all kinds of Shakespeare-themed tomfoolery in which to engage.

I third the Globe. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Also, if you're ever going to make your way out to Wales, you should visit Aquae Sulis in Bath. The Romans were pretty amazing architects, and a surprising portion of the complex is still intact.

[Yarrum]

Thanks a ton guys. Any of you know Brighton particularly well? I forgot that we put it on the list.

[Buffo]

Yep, I was there for a language exchange. I can recommend you to visit Seven Sisters. It's not far away from Brighton and there are very impressive cliffs.
The Royal Pavillion is also worth a visit.
Pubs: I can recommend you "the Basketmakers Arms". Website
The Brighton Pier is also very famous, but I personally didn't find it that interesting and funny.
A friend of mine also recommended the Sea Life. I never visited it myself, but it should be quite nice too.
It's also a nice place to take a break, go swimming or play beachvolleyball.
There are plenty of restaurants, so you can eat what you want. You can eat Thai, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, ... I can recommend you Donatello. You eat good Italian food there (not as good as in Italy, but still very good^^).
There are also a lot of clubs, but I never went there, I preferred the pubs^^.

[Vortigern]

Athos: Bath isn't in Wales, it's in Somerset. Very hilly town, but yes, the old Roman stuff is very well maintained and very interesting if you're that way inclined.

As for Brighton, I've been to see the Seven Sisters, but that was years ago. I seem to recall it being pretty cool, though. Excellent cliffs indeed. All I know about Brighton apart from that is that the football team (soccer to you) are playing some very exciting attractive stuff these days, because Gus Poyet is their manager and he is a man of both substance and style. I met him once when he played for Spurs. Awesome dude. However, the football season doesn't start up again until mid-August, so I guess you won't get a chance to see them even if you are interested. Never mind.

[Yarrum]

And away I go! It'd be great if you guys could keep the suggestions coming though, as I should be able to check this thread often enough. No telling whether or not I'll be able to make any posts though.

[{IRS}Athos]

Athos: Bath isn't in Wales, it's in Somerset. Very hilly town, but yes, the old Roman stuff is very well maintained and very interesting if you're that way inclined.

In the direction of Wales, anyway.

[Yarrum]

Got in to Machester this morning, and due to errors during the booking of our accomodations, we get to high-tail it out of Machester a day early! Everything else in the itinerary remains unchanged though.

[Lauri]

Well, Machester isn't a place to stay anyways...

[Fudge]

Indeed