Advice please! Which European city would you recommend for a visit?

[Baldrick]

A few friends and I will all celebrate our 40th birthdays in July 2006, and we have decided to book a 3-day trip abroad to celebrate The problem is that we can’t agree where to go. We don’t want to spend too much time travelling, so we have agreed to remain in Europe. Apart from that, there are no restrictions.

So which European cities would Covers recommend? Have you visited somewhere on your travels that surprised you? Somewhere that you can’t wait to return to? Should we come to YOUR city? Is there something happening there in July that we have to see?

And finally, are there any cities you would definitely NOT recommend?

I’d love to hear views from anywhere in the world.

Thanks in advance - and have a great weekend wherever you are.

[D.Scott]

I hope you have a great holiday. I can't think of too many places I would rather go than South Wales. Anywhere along the coast from Newport west would suit me just fine. That is some of the most beautiful country in the world. The whole area is full of history, castles and scenic beauty.

I guess "home" is never as attractive to those who are already there. I saw a movie one time where a young Greek girl was standing on her balcony overlooking the sea and longed to see the beautiful cities of Europe. I couldn't help thinking I would be happy to stay on that balcony for the rest of my life.

Dave

[gszekely]

Baldrick !
I suppose that you are going to get a lot of fascinating proposals. Here is my one. I can help, if needed.
http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en
Regards
György

[QualityPhD]

http://www.salzburgfestival.at/ka_suchen.php?lang=2

If you are a music lover, the Salzburg Music Festival will be in full swing beginning on July 23rd. Another favorite area of mine is Mattsee, Austria (just up the road a bit). Considered to be the "Venice of Austria". http://www.salzburger-seenland.at/en-mattsee.shtml

and several pints of dunkel weiss on one's birthday is not a bad thing either!!!

[isoboy]

I am in England on an audit right now and will be ariving in Amsterdam tonight for my fourth visit. Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful and eclectic cities I have ever experienced. Don't let its reputation as a drug and prostitution haven fool you. I have never been bored, never felt unsafe, and always enjoyed myself there. There are more museums per capita here than any city in the world. Rent a bike for the day or week and see the city from a pedestrian's perspective. Take a canal tour. I spend a full day at the Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark every visit. Heinekin tastes better than anyplace else since it's brewed locally (take a tour) and the "coffee" makes for an interesting outlook on things if you choose to try it!

[RCBeyette]

I loved Berlin and all that it had to offer...arts, culture, fun...

But why limit yourself to a city? Take a country....Malta!

[ezorangee]

Valencia, spain. The beaches, fireworks at night (and sometimes during the day), the beaches, great weather (if you like it hot), the beaches, paella, the beaches. Lots of other stuff too. Did I mention the beaches?

[Celtic Warrior]

Hey Baldrick
You could do a lot worse then Prague.
It has the culture and history thing if thats what you want.
It has the music thing (classical and any others you can think of!)
It has plenty of the beer thing, which being a valley boy myself, has to be around the top of your list!

Good luck