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Best Vacation Ever: Grand European Tour
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items Take inspiration from the Grand European Tour of ages past and plan your own! Whether it’s one city or five, you’ll see why this time-honored tradition is still a fundamental experience for many. Categorized by city, here are a few of my suggestions ...
Sections
7
Berlin
Rome
Florence
Amsterdam
Paris
London
Berlin
Make sure to try the iconic Berlin street food of currywurst while visiting - there's even a currywurst museum in Berlin. Visit Curry 61 for the best takeaway currywurst in the city!
A really good Italian restaurant in Berlin - the people are really nice and the food was delicious! Make sure you make a reservation, it's always quite crowded.
Restaurant A Mano – Berlin – Ristorante Italiano
Think Sweetgreen but even better. Dean & David has salads, bowls and wraps with multiple locations across Berlin for a quick meal while exploring.
dean&david
Really good street tacos located in a food hall in Prenzlauer Berg.
Taqueria El Oso
Plan a visit to the Mauerpark Flea Market on Sunday for vintage find, art and unique souvenirs. Just a few blocks walk from the Berlin Wall Memorial.
Mauerpark Flea Market
Modern and Contemporary Art, my sister's favorite museum in Berlin! The staff is super nice and helpful, sometimes there are also interactive activities.
Berlinische Galerie Museum of Modern Art
The best museum on Museum Island - classic art through the centuries.
Old National Gallery
A must-see when in Berlin, the Jewish Museum is a very well done space. For a less well know attraction, look for the Stolpersteine (Stepping Stones) throughout the city.
Jewish Museum Berlin
Walk along a preserved portion of the Berlin Wall that's been turned into an art gallery. You see as much or as little of the East Side Gallery as you want.
East Side Gallery
If you've enjoyed the unique crosswalk lights while in Berlin, you'll love visiting one of the Ampelmann Berlin stores! It's the best spot for souvenirs for people of all ages!
AMPELMANN Shop am Berlin…
An outdoor biergarten - get a drink and sit on the river to enjoy a nice afternoon/evening in Berlin!
Holzmarkt 25
Rome
A peaceful city to visit with great food and really nice people! Might be for more of an intermediate level traveler as navigating the city can be difficult with not the best public transport.
A bakery and coffee shop in Rome - make sure to get the fruit tart and a cappachino gin seng if you visit!
Giselda
Go there for apertivio (a drink and snack before dinner). They have so many good drinks and snacks for a good price!
Mimì & Cocò
Slightly more unique Italian food without sacrificing the traditional flavor. Also has an adorable interior!
Controluce
Go here for Tiramisu and Cannoli's while in Rome - two sizes of each are available just like their name!
Two Sizes
You can get a ticket to the Roman Forum with a Colosseum ticket. If you only have time for one visit the Roman Forum - it's way more interesting and less crowded!
Roman Forum
An interesting art museum with art and sculptures. Very pretty!
Giardini Di Villa Borghese
Walk through the gardens at the Villa Borghese and rent a boat for a peaceful activity. A great spot for pictures!
Laghetto di Villa Borghese Boat rental - Turismo Roma
Near the Vatican, great views of Rome and the Vatican!
Sant'Angelo Castle
A fun viewing on your way to other activities. The cats live in the ruins and are so cute!
Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary
A ceramic store with the most beautiful items, you'll want to furnish your whole kitchen from here!
De Sanctis 1890
Florence
The perfect city to end your trip with, Florence is approachable while brimming with history and delicious food. The Tuscan countryside is easy to reach while staying in the city center.
The iconic center of the city. Be sure to take a tour and climb to the top!
The Duomo in Florence, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in ...
While a stop at the Duomo is crucial for any visit to Florence, be sure to see the Baptistry for the Byzantine period mosaics.
Florence Baptistery
The home of Michelangelo’s David, the museum also has a fascinating musical instruments exhibit.
Home - Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze
Incredible architecture and beautiful interior, this library now functions as a museum.
Laurentian Library
While filled with tourists, this bridge is fascinating both from afar and up close.
Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy: Oldest bridge in …
Take pizza and drinks of your choice to watch the sunset over the city. Be sure to arrive early for the best views.
Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo
An incredible market place, and a great early morning stop before the heat of the day encourages a mid-afternoon rest.
Mercato Centrale Firenze
Choose a wine tour that fits your time and budget, but this experience of the Tuscan hills is not to be missed.
Chianti WINE TOURS
While in Florence, one of the local delicacies is bistecca alla fiorentina, a great choice for celebrating either your first or last night in Florence. We had an excellent evening here celebrating the conclusion of our European Adventure and reminisc...
Trattoria Lo Stracotto
Oldest gelato shop in Italy. There’s nothing quite as fun as stopping for a scoop of gelato as you continue sight-seeing. Be sure to look for all the signs of a quality Gelateria including no bright colors (think natural coloring) and no gelato piled...
Vivoli Artisan Ice Cream Shop - Firenze
Amsterdam
Whether part of a longer trip, or a quick weekend getaway, Amsterdam is easy to navigate and a great first city to conquer jet leg or rest up partway through your trip.
If fighting jet lag, an excellent stop for dinner, be sure to order the Rijsttafel to share. Afterwards enjoy a walk along the canal and stop by the nearest Albert Heijn to pick up a few snacks for your hotel room.
Mama Makan, Indonesian Kitchen
While the tulip fields of Amsterdam are legendary, if you can’t squeeze in a visit to the country, this museum is a fantastic stop before your boat tour launches.
Amsterdam Tulip Museum
A great option for the first day in any city is to take a tour. Highly recommend this canal tour as you will be able to go through the historic canals while seeing the city from the water.
Those Dam Boat Guys
Pre-eminent museum of Van Gogh’s paintings. A must-see when in the city.
The Museum about Vincent van Gogh in Amsterdam
Another stop for any art lover!
Museum Het Rembrandthuis
An important living history stop to reflect and memorialize the atrocities of WWII and Anne Frank’s life.
Tickets | Anne Frank House
If you are traveling during the concert season, an evening at the orchestra will not disappoint!
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
A quaint bar with a clever cocktail menu. Fun for pre or post-dinner drinks!
BAR - Flying Dutchmen Cocktails
An escape from the city, in the middle of the city!
Vondelpark
If you are a knitter (check out my other lists if you want to start!), this is a globally-recognized yarn store in the heart of downtown Amsterdam. A great souvenir is picking up yarn for a small project to work on throughout your journey.
Stephen & Penelope
Paris
The city of love captures the imagination of many travelers. Practice “Bonjour” and “Merci” before traveling and you’ll feel like a local in no time!
Any first trip to Paris would not be complete without seeing the Louvre. Don’t be fooled, the museum is large and can be challenging to navigate. Just ask me how I got lost in Egypt!
Louvre Arts Gallery
Incredible artwork and not nearly as crowded as the Louvre. Come here to be inspired!
Musée d'Orsay
The iconic Paris gardens where meandering along the paths is a journey in and of itself.
Jardin des Tuileries
My personal favorite section of this park at the boules court where you can watch and maybe even participate in a game of pétanque!
Luxembourg Garden | Jardin du Luxembourg
While a quick train ride out of Paris, this is a must-see for those who enjoy historical homes and architecture, royalty, and garden fanatics. Be sure to plan time to browse the gardens and see the musical water fountains!
Palace of Versailles
Another journey out of Paris, this is on my list for my next trip!
Monet's Garden
Incredible view of Paris and one of many reasons to spend time in Montmartre.
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
Plan your own walking trip or hire a guide, much of Paris can be seen enjoying a stroll around the city including the Eiffel Tour, Notre Dame, Champs-Élysées, Pont Neuf, Place de Bastille, Pont des Arts, Sainte-Chapelle, and much more.
The Best 11 Free Tours in Paris in English and for FREE!
Another must-taste in Paris is a traditional French meal. Research your restaurant well as it does not need to be Michelin starred to have a wonderful delicious evening. We continue to talk about this evening years later.
Accueil
It is critical to locate your local boulangerie and stop by to pick up a baguette to enjoy along the Seine, or a sweet afternoon treat.
Mon Père Etait Boulanger - Restaurants Paris - Tripadvisor
London
Our first stop in London was Big Ben - look to book early if you'd like to take a tour!
Big Ben in London - fun facts, history and information
We loved taking the Yeoman Warder Tour of the Tower of London, there's so much history to learn! You can also visit the Crown Jewels while at the Tower of London
Tower of London
If you're looking to see some modern art while in London, we really enjoyed our morning exploring the Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Grab some of the viral strawberries covered in chocolate while at Borough Market or one of the many, many other food options! This is a great option for a casual, walking lunch
Borough Market: London's premier food market
If you're interesting in learning more about Winston Churchill's life and career, the underground Churchill War Rooms give an interesting glimpse into him and WWII.
Visit Churchill War Rooms - Plan Your Visit - Imperial War Museums
We really loved seeing SIX The Musical while in London! Such a great show and we listened to the soundtrack for the rest of our trip!
SIX The Musical
Make sure to stop into some of the iconic London Department Stores (Liberty London, Harrods, Selfridges, Fortnum and Mason, Marks & Spencer, etc) while you're in town!
10 best London department stores - visitlondon.com
There's so much to see at the Natural History Museum you could probably spend days exploring and still not see everything!
Natural History Museum
After you visit Buckingham Palace, take a quick walk past St James Palace to No. 4 St. James Street, the site of the Legation of the Republic of Texas from 1842-1845. A fun stop for any Texans traveling with you!
Visit the former site of the Republic of Texas Legation in London
After exploring Trafalgar Square, we enjoyed a yummy pizza for dinner at 50 Kalo and then rode an iconic red, double-decker bus back to our hotel!
50 Kalò di Ciro Salvo
Dublin
While pretty touristy, a visit to Dublin is not complete without touring the Guinness Storehouse. Such a fun tour and you can enjoy a pint of Guinness with a view of the city!
Guinness Storehouse
This was such a unique museum experience - really highlights to storytelling history of Ireland!
National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland
If you want to explore some more of Ireland and love a good factory tour I highly recommend visiting the Waterford Crystal factory! They show you the whole process from start to finish and have a beautiful showroom and cafe.
House of Waterford Crystal Factory and Retail Store
I always like to hit a castle or two when I'm in Europe, so make sure to visit Dublin Castle and take a tour.
Dublin Castle
The student docent led tour of Trinity College was so good, I loved hearing about all of the history of the college. We also booked tickets to see the Book of Kells and really enjoyed the exhibit!
Trinity College Dublin
I love to explore old churches when in Europe, so we made sure to add a couple to our itinerary
Christ Church Cathedral
Another famous Dublin church to visit!
Saint Patrick's Cathedral
The Church is a fun restaurant to stop in while in Dublin
The Church Bar & Restaurant
We had breakfast here one morning and enjoyed a taste of home while traveling!
The Bagel Bar
We really enjoyed our stay at the Fitzwilliam Hotel! The room and service was great while also being super conveniently located right by St. Stephen’s Green Park
The Fitzwilliam Hotel: 5 Star Boutique Hotel in Dublin City ...