If you were planning a trip to europe for 6 months...?

what months of the year would you go?


I want summer in spain/greece etc, but snow in france/ denmark etc...and i've always wanted to see new year in paris...but i dont want to pay the peak airfare costs in june-august


also what are some really intresting suggestions for 'not typical' places to visit, i love beautiful scenery, food, architecture, but also some nightlife...

If you were planning a trip to europe for 6 months...?
Oh Lady! You dont want to be in Greece in the summer! Or anywhere along the Mediterainain. It is way too hot and dry! It's not like Florida, where it is hot and rainy (tropical) it is hot and DRY! I would hit Greece and Spain in September or October, then wonder arounf the North EUrope, Germany, France, Benelux, in late fall/winter it wont be that different than in the summer up there because of the ocean.


Check out Croatia's Roman Palaces(Cheap!), and then Bulgaria's Black Sea region(Still not too expensive) Bounce up to St. Petersberg, then to Helsinki. Peace
Reply:Avoid Europe in July and August, over-crowded and you need to reserve hotels or hostels far in advance.





For Scandinavia in summer June or even July is acceptable, but the rest of Europe is much better outside those months.





Snow in the mountains in central and southern Europe will be roughly Christmas to March, Scandinavia longer, (Denmark is not snow certain any time of the year, as it has no mountains, Norway, Sweden and Finland will have snow November to April, in the north and the higher mountains at least.)


I would say, come in winter and stay till June, alternative, come in September and stay as long as you can.


All city destinations are also good in winter.





For the best places to visit, listen to the people you meet underway. I found the best breakfast in the world because several people I met mentioned it, (but that was back in the 80's, I doubt the hostel in Andalsnes in Norway is still doing them, but Norway has a breakfast culture,) and found several very nice hostels all over Europe that way.


If you are coming over for 6 months there is no need to hurry.





In any country you go, visit the capital city, several other cities and some small towns, stay a few days in a national park and do some long distance hikes (or parts thereof.)


Think about couch surfing for contact with the locals, you do not need to stay with the people you contact, but they can also just show you around:


http://www.couchsurfing.com/


http://www.hospitalityclub.org/





And remember, Europe is expensive at this time, most people use about US$150 per day when backpacking, US$75 is the absolute minimum.


It is better to travel shorter and have a bit more to spend than to stretch your money the furthest.