Has anyone been...

[soulhalshall]

I agree that people in Paris can be a challenge. I lived half an hour outside Paris for a year, and so was in the city most weekends.

And although it can be irritating in similar ways to London, you should have a fun time. The sights are the sights for good reason and obviously you tend to pay over the odds to visit and for the food and drink nearby, which is probably more annoying.

So I would say in that sense if you could research a bit about places to eat that are slightly off the beaten track that wouldn't do any harm, but I suppose that's the same anywhere. I used to ride around on the bikes just sort of get lost about the place but that may not be as practical for a family.

I'd say perhaps it's slightly sketchier than London but I don't see why you couldn't have a nice trip.

[Mark Peters’ Bonce of Power]

Any recommendations for Gdańsk?, just booked a week there in early June.

[Denton]

Mar 1, 2023 14:10:10 GMT Mark Peters’ Bonce of Power said:

Any recommendations for Gdańsk?, just booked a week there in early June.

Sopot is class, short train journey away. Has a restaraunt that has a brewery built into it and the beer is lovely. Otherwise I stayed in and around the old city, lovely place. The bars are dirt cheap, you can live like a king and i'm sure there's some football there somewhere.

The other thing is to use Uber, it's still cheaper than taxi's but easy to get hold of and usually cheaper than public transport

I also went to Malbork castle about an hour away on the train, biggest in Europe and that took up nearly a day. Fairly bog standard but it's a Tutonic castle so not something we have around here.

[Mark Peters’ Bonce of Power]

Mar 2, 2023 11:52:18 GMT Denton said:

Mar 1, 2023 14:10:10 GMT Mark Peters’ Bonce of Power said:

Any recommendations for Gdańsk?, just booked a week there in early June.

Sopot is class, short train journey away. Has a restaraunt that has a brewery built into it and the beer is lovely. Otherwise I stayed in and around the old city, lovely place. The bars are dirt cheap, you can live like a king and i'm sure there's some football there somewhere.

The other thing is to use Uber, it's still cheaper than taxi's but easy to get hold of and usually cheaper than public transport

I also went to Malbork castle about an hour away on the train, biggest in Europe and that took up nearly a day. Fairly bog standard but it's a Tutonic castle so not something we have around here.

Thanks good info, Sopot was already on the list and I’ll probably check out that castle. Have changed the plan slightly, splitting the trip between 4 days in Gdańsk and 3 days in Olsztyn, in order to be closer to the lakes and forests.

[mrjimmy]

Has anyone been to the North coast of Germany/Poland? Looking for somewhere to go during the last week of July that is not gonna be too hot or too crowded.

[Denton]

Jun 28, 2023 8:04:42 GMT mrjimmy said:

Has anyone been to the North coast of Germany/Poland? Looking for somewhere to go during the last week of July that is not gonna be too hot or too crowded.

Think it's how this thread started but Gdansk is amazing, I went in the height of winter and the beach looked like it would be amazing in the summer.

It'll be much cheaper than Germany as well so i'd recommend there

[Mark Peters’ Bonce of Power]

Just back from Gdansk/Olsztyn a week or so ago, can also highly recommend. I stayed just on the edge of the centre of Gdansk and it was the perfect location, very quiet at night but close enough to everything to walk there. Beautiful city, friendly people, great food and beer. The WW2 museum is excellent and takes most of an afternoon but well worth it.

Nearby Sopot as recommended by Denton is another lovely place, it’s either 15 mins from Gdansk on very frequent trains, or you can take a ferry that departs from the canal in the city and goes through the famous shipyards and harbour out to the Baltic and along the coast to Sopot pier in about an hour. I took the ferry in the morning and got the train back in the evening, as the last ferry back was quite early. The beach is beautiful and the town is lovely too.

Inland a bit but Olsztyn was also excellent, almost no foreign visitors but very popular with domestic tourists, as it’s right in the heart of the Polish lake district and is surrounded by stunning lake and forest scenery. The town itself is quaint enough but small and nothing to shout about, but it’s the perfect base for exploring the beautiful countryside.

Now, I’ve got four days in Antwerp the week after next and have nothing planned other than a gig and beer. Suggestions anyone?

[Denton]

Just got back from Wroclaw in Poland for the England game.

I think it may well be Europe's hidden secret, didn't know what to expect but it's just so nice. It's like the main square in Prague but 10x bigger. So many bar's and restaurants everywhere and the Museum district is well worth a walk around.

Can see why it won the city of culture award (unlike Hull). Price of a pint was 2 quid which helped a lot

[cufctheparrot]

Sept 11, 2023 14:45:18 GMT Denton said:

Just got back from Wroclaw in Poland for the England game.

I think it may well be Europe's hidden secret, didn't know what to expect but it's just so nice. It's like the main square in Prague but 10x bigger. So many bar's and restaurants everywhere and the Museum district is well worth a walk around.

Can see why it won the city of culture award (unlike Hull). Price of a pint was 2 quid which helped a lot

Me and my son are also back from Wrocław, he’s only been two three places to see the football, Wrocław, Porto and Prague all very nice places, and not too pricy, but I asked him what he preferred and he agrees Wrocław was the best. Not sure I totally agree with him as I prefer Portugal more than most countries, so would say Porto, but I do agree that Wrocław beats Prague which in itself must prove it’s worth. Also thought it was better than other Polish cities I have been to including Warsaw, Gdańsk, Krakow and Katowice.

[cufcwill]

Lisbon?

Going in July wondered if anyone on here has any tips or recommendations for things to do out there?

[cufcdenmark]

Depending on what you are interested in, there is a great aquarium, Oceanário de Lisboa, and zoo, Jardim Zoologico.

The Belem district is nice, with the Torre de Belem, a fortified lighthouse from the early 1500's, there is also a lovely church and monastery in Belem.

There is a palace, Palácio Nacional da Ajudacastle, and a castle, Castelo de Sau. Jorge. The Rua Augusta Arch is also impressive.

There are some museums, an art gallery and a ceramics gallery.

[squibbon]

Aug 21, 2012 20:14:35 GMT Russ Greaves said:

to Iceland (the country) or somewhere inside the arctic circle?

I want to get away in late October for a few days and go somewhere I wouldn't necessarily go for my main holiday.

The arctic circle came to mind as I neglected to take up the opportunity to experience it when I was in Norway as it just didn't fit in with my plans.

However, I'm open to any other suggestions, which should factor in that my girlfriend will be with me.

Yes, went to Karesuando on the Finland/Sweden border earlier this year.

Loved it. Cold like nothing I have felt before (think it was -35 at one point).

Went on a husky sled ride which was brilliant but didn't see the aurora.

Hope this helps with the trip you may have been planning 12 years ago!

[Funky Monk]

Apr 20, 2024 10:00:53 GMT squibbon said:

Aug 21, 2012 20:14:35 GMT Russ Greaves said:

to Iceland (the country) or somewhere inside the arctic circle?

I want to get away in late October for a few days and go somewhere I wouldn't necessarily go for my main holiday.

The arctic circle came to mind as I neglected to take up the opportunity to experience it when I was in Norway as it just didn't fit in with my plans.

However, I'm open to any other suggestions, which should factor in that my girlfriend will be with me.

Yes, went to Karesuando on the Finland/Sweden border earlier this year.

Loved it. Cold like nothing I have felt before (think it was -35 at one point).

Went on a husky sled ride which was brilliant but didn't see the aurora.

Hope this helps with the trip you may have been planning 12 years ago!

Stayed north of Rovaniemi myself for Christmas, only got down to -25 and also didn't see the aurora, but who knew the difference between -15 and -25 was so damn brutal, -10 felt like a nice relaxing summer's afternoon on the last day.

Those huskys bloody love pulling sleds.

[rocky]

Apr 17, 2024 20:14:25 GMT cufcwill said:

Lisbon?

Going in July wondered if anyone on here has any tips or recommendations for things to do out there?

Amazing restaurant in Lisbon: Parreirinha de Alfama

You won't be disappointed.