European Honeymooners?

goetzr19

Hello ladies!  H and I are planning our HM to Europe in April, and I was wondering if any of you have been over there, and could offer some unique ideas for places to visit in some of our cities we are visiting (Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Prague, Vienna, Zurich, Milan and Venice).

Thanks!

annakb8

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_european-honeymooners?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:11Discussion:b1fce20a-e1be-44be-bf66-1099dc64ae6bPost:d4d7f32c-ae85-4a38-bf22-2dde7796f912">European Honeymooners?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hello ladies!  H and I are planning our HM to Europe in April, and I was wondering if any of you have been over there, and could offer some unique ideas for places to visit in some of our cities we are visiting (Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Prague, Vienna, Zurich, Milan and Venice). Thanks!
Posted by goetzr19[/QUOTE]

We honeymooned in Spain and Portugal, but I've been most of the places on your list.

Can I ask how long your trip is? Because that is a very long list. It's going to be hard to do much in each place and you will spend most of your time traveling.

In Munich I recommend going to the beirgarten in the Englischergarten and taking a day drip to Dachau (the suburban train goes there) and visiting the concentration camp.

In Vienna I think the trip to the Shonbrunn Palace is worth it. I also liked the Imperial treasury museum.

I really love Venice, and really the best thing to do there is just wander around and try to see some of the neighborhoods away from Rialto and San Marco. It's also worth it to take the vaporetto over to Murano for an afternoon.

I have nothing really good to say about Zurich. Switzerland is ridiculously expensive and kind of boring. Unless you're planning on doing outdoorsy stuff I'd probably skit Switzerland alltogether.

I haven't been to Milan, but I've heard its also expensive and boring. I just don't think there is a ton to do there besides fashion related stuff.

AdeleDazeem

I recommend walking Paris, goetzr.  See the Arc de Triumphe, Place de la Concorde (+ ferris wheel still, I think!), Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, Champs Elysees, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame (obviously).  There's a large park behind the glass pyramid at the Louvre, too. 

At the Louvre: La Jaconde <-- Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo.  I might also mention my favorite sculpture of all time: Cupid and Psyche!

Have an awesome time!

mandork

I agree that you will need a rather long honeymoon in order to appreciate the beauty of the cities you are visiting without running yourself ragged! I can only speak on Paris, but I have been several times, and it is definitely not a "one day" trip. I would recommend at least 3 days in Paris alone. This would allow you to see the big sites such as the Eiffel Tower, L'Ile de la Cité, L'Arc de Triomphe, le Louvre, Notre Dame, etc. However, those are the sites that are PACKED with tourists, so you would need to account for hours of long lines just to see the big sites. I loved the Louvre, but you would likely need an entire day just to see that. I recommend VISITING the Eiffel Tower, but not going up in it. Same with the Arc de Triomphe. Take the time to walk along the Seine, visit the Jardin du Luxembourg, have dessert and coffee in a sidewalk café, etc. Oh, and if you want to visit a church, check out Sainte Chapelle. It is the most beautiful church I have ever been in. Notre Dame pales in comparison. 

I imagine that the other cities that you are visiting have millions of things to see and do as well...and therefore I hope that you get at least a month to tour everything

73jewels

Wow... how long is your honeymoon going to be?? That sounds amazing!! I have only been to Munich on your list and it was great.  I found a English walking tours that leave from the main square (I can't remember what it was called), but they had tours for everything and they were great... we did a few of them while we were there and we also went to Dachau, which was an amazing experience, but might be overwhelming on a honeymoon.  All the biergardens are great too and the food...

I am going to Italy - Rome, Positano and southern Tuscany.  Anyone have any good recommendations?!?

katslack

If you can, get tickets to the museums online to avoid longlines. Waited approximately 20 minutes to get on the louve and about an hour to get into Versaille. I'm not a big museum person, after 5 minutes the paintings start blending together. The gardens at Versaille however, i loved. Amazing place, we spent about 3 hours walking the whole garden. its huge. Also I forget which day we went but the Lourve is closed one day a week. Check the site. We spent 4 whole days there and could of had one more. Get a bottle of wine and some sandwhiches and go watch the Eiffel tower at night in the park(everyone does this, just remember the opener). Just remember Paris is super expensive. 5 euros for a beer is the average and food expensive too. We saved by buying wine from the shops and drinking in the parks or the courtyard in our hotel.

hz80408

We're heading to Amsterdam and Paris at the end of March.

Depending on how long you have in these cities and when you're going, I'd consider doing/getting (mainly based on research than personal experience)

AMS suggestions:
-iAmsterdam card
-Anne Frank house (buy tickets in advance, you get 30 minutes inside but lines to buy tickets can be up to 1.5hrs long)
-Keukenhof Tulip Gardens <this is at least a half day trip total from Centraal AMS
-Upstairs Pancake House
-Van Gogh Museum
-Vondelpark
-Canal boat tour
-Bike tour
-Rijks Museum

Paris:
-Fat Tour Bike tour
-Lourve
-Eiffel Tower
-Sacre Couer (and while you're out there, Moulin Rouge)
-Catacombes tour
-Boat ride on Siene River
-Paris Museum pass
-Berthillion Ice Cream
-Notre Dame
-D'Orsay -
Stroll CHamps-Elysees
-Arc de Triumph
-Jardin de Luxembourg
-Staint Chapelle
-Musee Rodin
 -l'Organerie Musee
-Tour Montparnesse <great city view; including of Eiffel Tower

If you have any questions on the above, feel free to PM me and I'll share the info I have

Elinetrouwt

I agree, those are many cities for a short trip... I'd try to spend a few nights in each city, otherwise your trip will be spend in buses, trains and airports instead of in those lovely European streets. Depending on how much time you have and if it's still possible to make changes, I'd skip Zurich and Milan, unless you have special reasons for visiting those.

My favorite things from the other cities:

Paris - Rodin Museum and Picasso Museum: smaller and less wellknown than some of the bigger ones, but worthwile

Amsterdam - walking by the canals

Munich - haven't been there, but hear it's great

Prague - Take a hike through this forest on the border of this city, where you can see all of Prague, and eat little cakes in their pastry shops

Vienna - the Museumquarter, they also have this little square there with food places, yummy

Venice - take the boat everywhere. their public transport is very cheap & consists of boats, yay.

MrsGandthebeag

I love Venice.  It's my favorite city.  I agree with Anna, just wander around.  Get off the main roads for a place for lunch or dinner.  Ask the natives where to eat.  The food is to die for.  I've never stayed at a hotel in Venice b/c my grandma lives about an hour away by train so I always go for day trips.  It's probably cheaper to stay somewhere outside the city and take the train in.  It's super easy.