Where should we go for our first trip to Europe ? (from usa)?

Question

We have lots of questions and don't know where to start. Some have said that Ireland is the perfect place for the new traveler. We're retired.
tia, Al

Answer 1

If this is your first European trip, you might want to start with Great Britain (including Ireland). Things are a bit more familiar, yet culturally and geographically new.

However, my first European trip was to Italy. Truly beautiful, nice people, and the thrill of seeing all those sights (Colesseum, David, Venice, etc.) in person is incomparable.

Answer 2

I see a lot of the answers are suggesting Ireland. If you are planning on going soon, that would be a good choice. While I haven't been there, it's the right season. My daughter was in France for 9 months and had been thinking about going to Ireland in November or December. After checking on a few things, we recommended that she not go. In the winter there is only 5 or 6 hours of daylight there. She did go to England and Spain and Italy. She enjoyed Spain and Italy much more than England because it was so cold in England. If you go now that would be reversed. It's summer, Ireland and England should be nice, while Italy and points south would be too hot.

Enjoy your trip where every you decide to go.

Answer 3

I would venture to say that where you decide to go on your first trip to Europe would depend on a few things(I am Owner of a Travel Agency):

1-First of all, any country in Europe can be a good country for the first time traveller. Depends really on what you have in mind once you get there(Sightseeing? Experience the local culture?)

2-Before both of you decided to finally go to Europe, in your previous discussions did a particular country get mentioned more than others? Usually that's a sign that this particular country should be the first to be visited.

3-If you have specific interests...for example- Wine. If you love wine, then perhaps a visit to France or Italy is in order. Do you love the Arts? Depending on the arts in question, that could be either France, Italy, or even Germany. Are you a history buff? The UK(England, Scotland, Ireland) and most of the Western European nations are good bets.

Some things to consider before you make a final decision on where in Europe that you want to go. If you could kindly either call, email me, or reach me through Yahoo Messenger with your thoughts and ideas, we can discuss what kind of European vacation would make the most sense, from a preference standpoint, time-wise, and just as importantly, cost-wise.

Answer 4

Ireland IS really pretty because it's so peaceful, but it doesn't have all that much to do really, unless you go to Dublin. But it is a beautiful place for scenery.

Italy and Greece are both amazingly beautiful countries, if you'd like to look into those. They might be more expensive trips than Ireland, though.

Answer 5

Southern Germany (Bavaria). The infrastructure is excellent, the cities generlly safe, and there's a lot to see and learn about in a country that is not always visible in the world, but is one of the most technologically advanced on the planet. Don't worry so much about the language barrier. You'll make due. Beautiful museums, wonderful theater, parks, restaurants, it has it all.

Answer 6

depend on what makes you happy
museum,art,nature,culture,history,spend as lees money as it is possible,you want to see 1 country or you will have a car and travel some countries
you have to decide what you want to see and to do and your travel agent can recommend the best places for you
or you can by a travelers book about Europe
Romania is good like geographical nice places =they have sea and mountains and delta
and i think is some cheaper
Austria has Tirol the most beautiful place on earth for me for his landscapes and Frants Josef palaces and Vienna the middle of European musical culture
France =museums,art,cancan shows night life Eiffel tower the legend,street painters=all this in Paris
Italy with Venetian the town on water,Colosseum,a lot of history ,art,and pizza,,,,,,,,
so on .........UK all the country is a nice vacation

Answer 7

Ireland or Greece. The people are very nice in greece and there is thousands of ruins and islands. Maybe a cruise in the cyclades if you are into that?

Answer 8

Please,go to Spain and Italy ,personally I don't like Paris, the parisians are arrogant and have no respect for americans.

Answer 9

The first place I would go is Budapest, Hungary. It's friendly, easy to navigate, easy to talk to the people, and it's spectacular.

Answer 10

Switzerland or Italy