“One advantage of traveling to Europe is the proximity of the countries. My wife and I visited three great cities in 8 days by train and found the trip relaxing and easy. Here are the top 10 things we recommend for this European tour.”
from Thomas
Thomas’ Top 10 in Europe
Munich, Germany
Landing in Germany, we stayed in Old Town and found it a wonderful walking city.
Marienplatz: This central square (even though it’s full of tourists) is a must-see. The Glockenspiel plays daily at 11:00 a.m. and noon, so we grabbed a table and had lunch at one of the outside cafes to watch.
Tap-House: Instead of visiting the famous (and crowded) Hofbräuhaus, we decided to try a German “craft” brewery and loved the Tap-House.
Viktualienmarkt: This market, located in the heart of the old town, was an easy walk from our hotel. It used to be a farmers' market, but today, it has a variety of foods and kiosks where you can wander and shop while you eat.
Prague, Czech Republic
After a scenic, five-plus-hour train ride, we stayed near Old Town Square, where we found many restaurants and sites. One site we would not recommend is Prague Castle. Although beautifully situated on the hill, there were too many people and little to see. If you do decide to go, try to catch a changing of the guard.
4. Prague Orloj: This medieval astronomical clock is mounted on the Old Town Hall and has an hourly show of apostolic figures. The tower of the Old Town Hall is also open to the public and offers panoramic views.
5. Charles Bridge: This medieval stone arch bridge crosses the Vltava River and is a must- see. We went over in the late afternoon and found an excellent restaurant in Lesser Town. Returning after dark, when the bridge was lit, offered an entirely different experience.
6. Cathedral Church of Cyril and Methodius: This beautiful church is a memorial to the paratroopers who hid in the church crypt after they assassinated Nazi Reinhard Heydrich in 1942. An exhibition about Heydrich’s reign of terror is located in the underground vaults.
Vienna, Austria
The train to Vienna takes about four hours. We stayed in Innere Stadt.
7. St. Stephen’s Cathedral: This symbol of Vienna is in the heart of the city. Although you'll need to pay to get close to the main altar, climb a tower, and view the catacombs, it’s well worth it.
8. Schonbrunn Palace: This is one of the most stunning palaces in Europe, with an impressive history dating back to 1569. We loved walking through the fully furnished rooms and reading the royal history.
9. Music: Vienna is the world’s center of music. We decided to get tickets to a concert in the famous House of Strauss. A bonus was the ballet dancers who performed during a few songs. It was magical.
Munich
The return train to Munich (we flew home from here) is about five hours.
10. The English Garden: It seems silly to be in Germany and go to an English Garden only to see the Chinese Tower, but that’s what we did. The park has loads of exciting things, and it’s a nice walking day before getting on the plane home.
Comments