Europe has been on my bucket list for years… and this summer/early fall, it is finally happening!
My mom and I are leaving California on September 19 for a whirlwind of an adventure around Europe. This past (mother-daughter) weekend, we mapped out a rough draft of our itinerary, a 15-night European expedition. Not surprisingly, it was somewhat of a struggle to decide on a route. We both agreed we could stay in one country for two weeks, but seeing as though I’ve never been across the Atlantic, the travel bug inside me is ambitious. Too many places, so little time. We will be in five areas in four different countries. I am already exhausted (and honestly overwhelmed) just thinking about it!
Below are the bare bones of our itinerary. Now here is where we need your help. If you have traveled to any of the following areas/surrounding areas, we would love your recommendations and suggestions for lodging, dining, and activities/sightseeing. From navigating public transportation and finding the flakiest croissant (and creamiest gelato!) to a favorite hostel in the Swiss Alps or farmer’s market in France – we are all ears!
Feel free to email me with your Europe recommendations – thank you in advance!
Paris – 4 nights
Is there anything we should avoid?
Provence/Southern France – 3 nights
What specific cities/towns should we visit? Cute B&B?
Cinque Terre, Italy – 3 nights
Swim spots?
Switzerland (Interlaken/Jungfrau Region) – 3 nights
Gondola? Hiking? Hostels?
Stockholm, Sweden – 2 nights
With little time to scope out Stockholm, what should this Swedish American put at the top of her list?
Do you have any big travel plans for 2015?
All of these photos were sourced from Google Images.
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Sounds like an amazing trip!! I traveled to Cinque Terre last summer, also for 3 nights. I loved the village of Vernazza the most. In Vernazza, don’t miss a visit to Il Pirata Cafe. This place had the best pastries of anywhere I’ve ever been and we had an amazing breakfast there. Also make sure to try an Iced Cappuccino! We met the sweet owner Lucca during our breakfast, who comes from southern Italy. This restaurant is up the hill past the train station. Here are the Trip Advisor details: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187822-d1061941-Reviews-Il_Pirata_delle_Cinque_Terre-Vernazza_Cinque_Terre_Italian_Riviera_Liguria.html#photos.
We also spent one night in Monterosso. It is a larger village compared to the others. We liked it, but it is definitely more touristy. However, it is the only town with a traditional beach (we rented umbrellas for a few hours one afternoon).
I also highly recommend the hike from Vernazza to Monterosso!
An iced cappuccino and a cannoli from that cafe sounds like perfection!
That sounds like an amazing trip! I am living in Naples, Italy right now. Though we are close to Cinque Terre, I haven’t been there yet. I have heard great things though! Paris is beautiful. I have been there twice. I don’t really have tips on what to avoid, but just make sure and walk through the Montmartre neighborhood. It is so fun. Notre Dame has an awesome view of the whole city. And go to Laduree on Champs d’Elysses. They have the BEST macaroons EVER!! The first time I was in Paris was my honeymoon. We were there for a week and probably went to Laduree every single day. Thank goodness for all the walking. Bahahah.
Cinque Terre was my favorite part of my Europe trip last summer! The best beach to swim at is the most northern of the 5 towns, I get the names mixed up. Also I recommend hiking the “red” trails instead of the “blue” – they are definitely do-able for anyone at least moderately in shape, even though the tour books bill them as “difficult.” Far fewer tourists and much better views!
I am very excited about Cinque! Swimming in the Mediterranean – yes please!
Aix-en-Provence is absolutely beautiful. It’s a bit of a university town, but it has a lot of charm and there is always something to do. It’s about 30 minutes away from Marseilles.
Wow, it looks like it’s going to be a dream trip!! I’m so excited that you’re going to the Jungfrau region too. You’re going to LOVE it. I can’t wait to see all of the pictures, eeek!
Ahhh have been wanting to go to that spot in Italy for a while now! So jealous. You’ll definitely have an amazing time.
This sounds like an amazing trip! I, too, will be doing a trip to Europe in June! I’ll be starting in London and going through France, down to Spain, into the French Riviera, through some major spots in Italy, up to Austria, through Germany, Swiss alps (I’ll be in the Jungfrau region, too!), and then into Amsterdam. I am so excited! I will definitely let you know if there is anything I recommend particularly from Paris and the Swiss alps :)
Wow, this sounds like a HUGE trip! How long will you be in Europe? Happy, safe travels :)
Oh wow! I can’t wait to hear all about this trip. I have only been to Paris out of the above. If you do one thing it has to be the Louvre. Enjoy!!! Oh and my vaca this year involves a beach in Aruba, but I am also trying to plan a trip to Ireland to run the Dublin Marathon!
I went to a lot of the same places on my Europe trip in 2009 with a friend. Paris – I highly recommend the Velib bike system (city bikes). You go to the website that morning and pay for your bike for the day (about $2-3) and they email you a code and you can check out bikes all day long. They are used mainly for commuting from one part of Paris to the other, so you have to check them in within 30 min, but it’s really no big deal because there are a million bike stations around the city. Much cheaper or easier on the bod than taking public transportation or walking to everything as Paris is huge. HIGHLY recommend the d’Orsay museum. I didn’t go into the Louvre because I just didn’t want to spend half a day inside a museum.
Cinque Terre – we stayed in Vernazza at the Pensione Sorriso and, at the time, it was owned by a youngish couple with a small child. Loved the breakfasts there. I swam in the ocean in the last town (Riomaggiore) after we finished the five cities hike. So glad I did it! Also, try the Limoncella from one of the local liquor shops. Yum! The lemons are grown right there.
Interlakken – Yes, take the train and then tram up to Gimmelwald and hike. The cows look happy there and actually have real cowbells around their necks, which I found humorous for some reason. Feel free to shoot me an email if you have questions!
Thanks, Lauren! I just may send you an email… or two ;)
OMG you are doing almost the same route I took a few years ago! I lived in Paris for 4 weeks studying abroad. You have to have a picnic in Luxembourg Gardens, and I highly recommend the Louvre and taking a boat along the river so you can see Paris all lit up at night. It’s worth it to climb to the top of the Eiffel tower, too :)
In Cinque Terre, we stayed on the fifth island (I can’t remember the name), but it was the farthest one out and kind of a hike from the train that takes you between cities. Cinque Terre was still my favorite place to relax so bring a swimsuit and enjoy the beautiful beaches.
I also went to Nice in the south of France and it’s beautiful. We saw the Monte Carlo (famous casino) and everything is so rich and elaborate. Pack lightly though since carrying a suitcase between countries and trains can be kind of a pain. Hope you have an amazing trip!
Thank you, Kellen! I can’t wait to relax on the beaches in Cinque Terre!
How very exciting! I just got back from Paris three weeks ago, so I’ll try to shoot you an email with some recommendations :) Sounds like you guys have a great itinerary planned!
Okay, thought of one more thing that I wanted to pass along now: you can buy your tickets to the Eiffel Tower ahead of time to avoid the lines. We went up around dusk and it was amazing to see the city at night (and I went in with high expectations!) You can get the tickets here: http://www.toureiffel.paris/en/preparing-your-visit/buying-your-tickets.html
Make sure you only buy them through the official website. Other websites will try and charge you a lot more money. They should only cost ~15 euros each. They sold out early, so I would get them as soon as they are available!
Thanks – so you definitely think it’s a must to go to the top?
A lot of people told me we could skip it, but we went anyway and I was incredibly happy we did. I’ve seen a lot of views from city towers and I think the Eiffel Tower was my favorite. So I would say, yes, definitely go!
Thank you, Lauren! I would love that.
For Paris, the Musée D’Orsay is fantastic. It’s much smaller than the Louvre, but it’s filled with some amazing pieces of art.
For Stockholm, just a warning: All of Scandinavia is expensive, so it would probably be good for y’all to stay at a hotel that includes breakfast in the cost of the room. Scandinavian breakfasts are so delicious, so you’ll want to have a big meal!
This trip already sounds like it’s going to be such a blast!! I absolutely love Europe, especially Italy, but I’ve never been to Cinque Terre. The last time I was in Europe was about a year and a half ago, and I’ve been pining to get back there already!
Where did you go in Italy? Where else have you traveled in Europe?
I studied abroad in Sicily, and have also been to Venice and Rome. I’ve been to the Netherlands a couple of times for work, and have vacationed in Salzburg, Austria and Munich and Cologne in Germany. I have about a dozen European destinations at the top of my bucket list and can’t wait to hear about your trip :)
I haven’t traveled to Europe, but as far as lodging goes for any vacation, check out airbnb.com. It seriously is so awesome and you’ll stay in some local spots. Locals rent out their home/apartment/studio. You get the privacy of a hotel and the cheap pay of a hostel. Just a thought for easy travels. Sounds like a fun trip! I can’t wait to do something similar.
We definitely used AirBNB! :)
As a fan of Stockholm, I would suggest you visit the iconic Vasa museum, old town (gamla stan), and the Salu Hall. I’d also recommend you peek inside the Opera House, take the “under the bridges” boat tour, and watch the changing of the guards at the Royal Palace. If you want to splurge, the Grand Hotel has a buffet breakfast of traditional Swedish food fit for a queen. If you’re there on a Thursday, tradition dictates a lunch of pea soup (ärtsoppa) and Swedish pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. ?
Thanks for the recommendations, Aunt Lisa!