Crowd-sourcing Mrs. Rhythms European Vacation

[Jenny A]

First of all, if you want to take her to see a lot of Europe, fly open jaw (in one country, out another, and don't backtrack). Yes the tickets will be more expensive, but not more than doubling back by plane or train will be.

From there, my question is what does Mrs. Rhythm most like? Mountains and natural wonders? Then the southern British coast, Wales, the Lake District, Northern Scotland, The Alps (French, Swiss, German, and Italian), The Italian Lakes, The Greek Isles, Bavaria, much of Austria, all make much sense. Architecturally grand cities? Venice, Amsterdam, Paris, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Rome. Barcelona is is a thing unto itself and wondrous. Twisting narrow European Streets? Florence, Tuscany generally, much of Spain, Prague again, Venice. Picturesque seaside towns? The riviera Italian and French, Portugal, Southern England, Wales, Northern France, and many places I'm missing. Art? London, Paris, Madrid, Vienna, Florence, Rome, Amsterdam. Cities with canal "roads"? Amsterdam, Bruges, Venice.

A classic trip is London, Paris, Switzerland, Venice, Florence, Rome. An easier saner trip is London, Paris, Amsterdam or London, Paris, Venice, Rome. Or London, York, Hadrian's Wall, ferry to Amsterdam, Bruges.

Personally, and it is personal, I prefer to travel slow and stay for at least three days if not a week in each city with two or three day stops in smaller places. For a first trip European sampler, I'd do one week London with day trips to two or three of: Oxford, Bath, Salisbury, Cambridge, or Canterbury; four or five nights Paris; Florence with a day trip to either Lucca or Siena (but unless you and Mrs. Rhythm really love Renaissance Italian art there are better choices than Florence) such as Rome or Venice. Given another week I'd add Rome or Venice (but then I really love Italy and you could add Switzerland, Bavaria, Barcelona, or Amsterdam instead). A marvelous and varied trip is the triplets: Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. It's easy to add a Salzburg, a little Germany or Poland to the mix.

Remember that five nights anywhere is really four or four and half days sight seeing. So every day traveling loses you a day unless the train ride itself is very scenic.

If you can, go in the Spring or Fall when the weather is still good, but the cities less crowded.

You are really asking much too broad a question. I'd go to the library and get DK EyeWitness Guides for a variety of places. They are lousy for planning details, but full of photos that will help you decide where to go. Then use Rough Guides, Lonely Planet, and Rick Steves guides to hash out the details like cost, and transport.