Eglu Go & guinea pig zippi run

[kannie]

We're thinking about having a long weekend away in November. Not sure where too though: somewhere fun and lively with good food and a lot of style. Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, and Madrid come to mind as possibilities. Any thoughts or recommendations?

[jill the potter]

I would say Madrid, food, wine, culture and it might still be warm!!!

[Yorkshire Pudding]

It's not on your list, Kannie, but we had a wonderful weekend in Oslo a couple of years ago. I would heartily recommend it if you haven't already been there - lots to do and see, good food, the price of wine and beer was the only drawback we encountered!

[Willow]

Copenhagen is one of my all time favourite cities Small enough to walk around, friendly locals, attractive, clean.

If I was going away for a w/e in Ireland I'd chose Galway over Dublin, smaller with great bars and restuarants.

[Omletina Kyckling]

I've only got experience of Copenhagen out of those, but it's a lovely place and the Danes are very friendly. I'd also recommend Stockholm, which is a beautiful place and the Kronor-£ rate is pretty good for shopping at the moment!

[jill the potter]

Another nice place for a weekend is Prague - go when the Christmas market is on. Food and drink really cheap and good. It will be cold though depending on how late you leave it.

[Lydia]

Copenhagen is lovely but bear in mind many of the attractions may be shut in November. The best time to visit is before mid May and September.

 

Prague is recommended definitely. Lots of things to do and see and very easy to walk around (or you can get a tram).

 

Dublin is terrific at any time of year and I love it! Not necessarily cheap but lots of places to stay to suit all costs and lots to do. Pick a hotel a bit outside the main city (such as Jurys Inn Custom House) as they will be much cheaper and only about 10-15 mins walk away.

 

Best way to get around is buy a ticket for one of the tourist buses as this will take you to all of main attractions and drop you near many others and you can hop on and off as many times as you like. The drivers are pretty knowledgeable too.

 

One place not on the main attractions list but well worth a visit is Kilmainham Gaol. Hop on a bus and ask the driver, they go near it.

 

Can't comment on Madrid or Berlin as I've never been.

[Blackrocksrock]

dublin is great - loads to see - take the open top bus tour and also the temple bar area has loads of different food outlets and live music also the theatres. The guinness factory is a must. The view from the restaurant up the top is marvellous.

[Tessa the Duchess]

I think all four places would be great for a long weekend, to my shame I have never been to Ireland, Dublin sounds great though, but Madrid would probably be best if you want some sun. Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities, loads to see, great choice of different foods and good shopping, and they all speak English

 

Tessa

[stoice]

They all sound lovely. Dublin has REALLY expensive lately though unfortunately (over 4.50 euros a pint). Galway on the west coast is beautiful - especially Connemarra. VERY cold though as it gets all the prevailing wind off the Atlantic. Madrid has some lovely beautiful old buildings, football stadium (If you like that sort of thing) shopping's good and the local food is lovely. I don't think you'd get sun in Madrid in November - the weather today looks as cold as parts England, I went in late Nov a few years back and it was Freezing. Haven't been to Berlin or Copenhagen so I can't really comment

[abwsco]

How about Krakow. It's beautiful plus has lots of culture and good food and drink. We're going again on my birthday and I can't wait.

[kannie]

Hmmm! Hadn't though of Prague, Oslo, or Krakow! They sound a little cold! Not that heat is a primary consideration, realistically. I love Amsterdam, but we were there just a couple of years ago.

 

Decisions decisions!

[Laura007]

berlin is a great place to visit, we went last march. loads of stuff to do there. oslo is also a top place to go but it will be cold, only been in summer time. copenhagen really is a lovely city and if you go, go to the carlsberg factory, free to get in and they give beer on your way round. i had some carls special at about 10.15 in the morning and lets put it like this, i needed a glass of water. it was very strong and a bit to early in the morning. you live and learn.

munich at this time of year is good and as has been said before, prague is brilliant for the christmas markets, its not as cheap as it was a few years ago, but still good value.

[abwsco]

This was Krakow when we went in November last year We're hoping for the same this year

 

 

Apart from lots of walking and eating we did amongst other things:

 

Wawel Cathedral

Auschwitz and Birkenau

Plaschau

Salt Mines

Krakow Mound

Kazimierz

Podgorze

Czartoryski Museum, so saw the Leonardo da Vinci painting and a Rembrandt

St. Mary's Church

 

If you go late enough in November there is the Christmas Market. We'll miss it again

 

We both fell in love with Krakow and would go more often if we could.

[GreenGirl]

I can back the others up with Prague - beautiful place and nice in the winter, you can get round it all on foot. And if you had time and were interested you can drive into Poland and go to Auschwitz, a long drive but one of the most moving places I have ever been, not cheery obviously but touching and memorable.

 

Otherwise, Madrid is a cheery kinda place, Berlin is nice too - we stayed in a hotel at the Brandenburg gate which was cool, there was less to do there than I expected, depends on your interest but a lot of the WW2 history is hidden, I guess understandably. But the wall and Checkpoint Charlie worth a look, albeit more brief and more touristy than you might expect.

 

Dublin is my mum's home town so am bias there

[Christian]

I love Berlin (as my Mum is from there) and there is plenty to do and see. It will be cold, so wrap up warm!

 

Copenhagen would be my choice. Stunning place, friendly people, great shopping, Tivoli gardens will be magical - all light up for Christmas by then. The food isn't very cheap, but good quality. You can walk everywhere!

 

I meant to bid for a Cpenhagen nightstop (through work) for November and forgot, but luckily, got one anyway First flight out in the morning and all day there

 

Might even see you on the flight

[kannie]

Might even see you on the flight

 

Not if its the first one out in the day Christian! I guess you're used to early starts, but getting up and dashing out at 5am would mean I'd need a full day to recover!