Hi there!! I am from the small state of Connecticut in the U.S. and am attempting to plan a 2 week first-time-solo trip to one country in Europe, but am conflicted on where to go! What country out of these (or other recommendations perhaps!), would you choose? I usually put wildlife and nature first and foremost when traveling, but for this trip I'm dabbling a bit in looking at some cities or towns for ease of access/I want to have fun things to do in populated places during the day and night(although there are some more rural exceptions in this list)! I would love to hear any insight! Thank you so much for any help provided!! 🙂

Sweden (I would love to go to the countryside, but for this trip I think I would focus on Stockholm ~ I am particularly fascinated by Gamla Stan ~ or Stockholm and then a few days in Visby)

Slovenia

Romania (to explore one or many of the whimsical looking cities like Brașov, Sibiu etc. and the surrounding beautiful nature!)

Croatia

Germany (interested in Rothenburg, Freiburg im Breisgau somewhat)

France (I travelled here awhile back and, while I'm not one for Paris honestly, I really liked St. Malo, but I know I would love Alsace&Grand-Est regions with places like Colmar, Riquewihr, Eze, Eguisheim, Strasbourg, Obernai, Annecy

Greece

Italy (I adore this country and have been a few times already. I adore Ravello and Venice ~ Rome/Florence/San Gimignano/Sienna I enjoyed very much as well, but those two are my favorites! 🙂 I would love to adventure to Sicily, Sardinia, Alberobello, Cinque Terre, or any of the towns deemed the most lovely really lol ~ I feel like nearly everywhere there is gorgeous and I feel very at home)

Malta

Switzerland

Wales (Anglesey)

England (London I have been to many times alongside a very small village in Suffolk, but I'd maybe enjoy a trip back to London with a fun list of things to do ~ I would love recommendations!! ~ other options would be Brighton or Bath or maybe even Robin Hood's Bay and York!)

Portugal (Algarve)

Spain (Majorca)

Czech Republic (Prague)

Poland (Wrocław)


15 comments

  1. Are you asking for advice for things to do or places to see?

    Please use WikiVoyage! https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Europe for destination ideas or if you already know your destination you can replace “Europe” with the city, region, or country you’re visiting.

    *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskEurope) if you have any questions or concerns.*

  2. Right now anti US feelings are high in Germany. Stick to the tourist hot spots. Heidelberg etc.

  3. Definetly Italy

    No seriously, it’s just one of the greatest places on earth even if it’s considered a bit “basic” when it comes to vacations in Europe. If you go to northern Italy, you could easily see Croatia and Slovenia as well – although if you’ve been to Italy, I don’t really see the need to, personally.

    Finally, I’d recommend Austria – especially the south tends to be overlooked. Alps are nice too tbh.

  4. Mallorca is a touristic island, with limited options and loads of foreigners who love.to drink beir in pubs so the “real” spain is not there
    I suggest Malaga for a better solution, or Valencia.

    Algarve more or less same feeling, lots o brits and Germans so what they offer.is designed according to tjeir needs, not to real local culture anymore. Go to visit Porto instead, still quite Portuguese vibes

  5. The world is kinda pissed at the US, maybe stay home, or do vacation in the US. I was always nice to tourists, still am, but if they’re Americans i simply won’t help and say “ask someone else”.

  6. Portuguese here
    If you like widlife, don’t go to algarve.

    I recommend you to go to the serra do gerês (or maybe serra do luso too but i am not sure how is it’s wildlife) as it is a beautiful forrest with some interesting wildlife.

    And, if you want to go to the algarve just for the beaches, i recommend you not to go there. I love the food, the heat, the sights and the cities but it is an overpacked canned sardines place. Also, the most vistors it gets, the worse impact it has on a lot of factors, including the housing prices and the rising, non unaffordable, accomodation prices. If you want to go somewhere beautiful that has a lot of sun, i reccomend you to go to vila praia de âncora or peso da régua (a place located amongst the douro valley) as they are in the north and the otger places i recommended are in the north, so might as well😂 and i noticed that they are as hot as the algarve.

    Edit: go to malcata to see the iberian lynxes in a natural reserve, which is a species in extintion.

  7. I am from the Algarve and would not recommend coming here if you’re planning a culture or wildlife focused trip. That isn’t to say that this region is devoid of history, culture, and nature, just that there are better places in Portugal for that. This is mostly a beach holiday destination, plus you pretty much need a car to get around here. However if you are interested in coming here then check out [this guide](https://www.vagamundos.pt/roteiro-algarve-o-que-visitar/) for activities and places to visit (you need to use Google translate though).

    I personally would go somewhere like Malta or Italy.

  8. Bro just listed half of Europe here and wants us to pick one country for him

  9. Not Anglesey. Flat boring nothing there, only ok if you go dinghy sailing or fond of sheep.

  10. If you want to see wildlife, hike, etc Romania is the best pick. Slovakia has also nice hiking routes in their mountains but its much more rocky and less spacious than Romania (afaik). Also in Romania many people in smaller cities or countryside might not know english so be prepared for it. Its not that tourist focus place (or was these few years back I hope that didn’t change)

  11. Personally I’d always pick Italy over anything else. But you listed so mamy countries, i could easily recommend half of them (i have no or close to none experience with the rest)

  12. Sweden. Stockholm is not too big place and like everybody knows English If you manage to get lost.

  15. For a nice, quiet and safe vacation with nature everywhere you go, look at the Faroe Islands 🇫🇴

Leave a Reply