EuroTrip 2

EuroTrip 2 by Four On The Move

Planning for our second EuroTrip was easier after having done the first one (see: https://www.fouronthemove.com/2020/03/eurotrip-1.html/ ). This time we knew that: 

• we had a total of three weeks of annual leave,
• we wanted to visit different places than last time,
• we wanted to spend at least a week in our home country.

This time, there were also no sudden or last minute changes to our plans 😊.

Start and end point: Liverpool

Means of transport: car, plus public transport in Venice, Berlin and Amsterdam

Itinerary & Highlights:

1. An overnight stop in Germany – 1 day

We decided to do the longest drives at beginning of the trip: from Liverpool to Frankfurt, where we stayed overnight visiting our family, and then from Frankfurt to Lake Garda in Italy.

Switzerland, on the way to Italy

2. Lake Garda, Italy – 5 days

The Farm

The best part of the entire trip. We stayed in a 400-year-old, charming farm (agriturismo) in a small village Limone di Gavardo, a short drive from the lake. A very relaxed atmosphere, tranquillity, friendly hosts, stylish interiors, farm animals, unlimited pony rides for our daughter – I don’t remember a better holiday place.

The Farm

From there, we visited the local towns by the lake: Saló and a very picturesque Limone sul Garda. We also found a couple of lovely beaches with warm and transparent lake water to swim in. The lake, the surrounding towns and hills are scenic, and so are the roads you drive along the shore.

Road to Limone sul Garda

Practical tip: Lake Garda has pebble beaches, you will need swimming shoes.

THE balcony in Verona ;)

We took a trip to Verona, which is also not far from the lake. We saw the believed-to-be Juliet’s house with the balcony and a nearby wall where people leave love letters. We didn’t go inside though, as it was very crowded and as a fictional place we didn’t think it was worth the wait. We also visited the ancient arena, which was then half-closed due to opera night preparations (it must be amazing to see a performance there). Verona has its charm, but we somehow preferred the tranquillity and atmosphere of the small towns and countryside of the lake area.

In Gardaland

We also spent one day in Gardaland, a place our daughter still talks about, which is probably the best recommendation. It’s a big amusement park, very well-kept and with an interesting offer for every age group. We all enjoyed the day, with various rides and much smaller queues than in Disneyland (or even no queues at all). On this very hot day our daughter loved playing on water slides, unfortunately adults were not allowed in this section, so we could only watch with envy, sweating in the sun 😉.

3. Venice, Italy – 1 day

Before visiting such touristic places like Venice, we mentally prepare ourselves: It will be extremely crowded, nothing you can do about it, just accept it. It helps us to not come back tired and disappointed.

It was my second time in Venice, and to me this is not a place to relax, but it is indeed a must see. This time we really enjoyed the visit, with a ride in the canals in a water bus and strolling along the narrow canals, trying to avoid big crowds on the main routes. We were quite lucky to get inside the beautiful Saint Mark's Basilica after queueing for just about 20 minutes, as well as in getting entry to the Doge’s Palace on the spot. Both sites are masterpieces of architecture and can leave you breathless. When visiting the Doge’s Palace you also get to go inside the famous Bridge of Sighs!

Venice, a view from the water bus

Practical tips:

If you travel by car, there are big car parks at the entrance to the city, where you will need to leave it. We paid 30 EUR for half a day. You can then get a public transport return ticket for the water bus (an attraction itself), it was 10 EUR per person.

You can’t carry a backpack inside the Saint Mark's Basilica but will be able to leave it in a designated place in a different building. You may as well do it before queueing.

We did not stay overnight in Venice, instead decided to book accommodation about an hour drive from there. It was much cheaper and shortened our drive on the next day.

4. Eger/ Miskolctapolca, Hungary – 1 day

Miskolctapolca, cave baths

There is one place we always visit in Eger: The Valley of a Beautiful Lady, with dozens of wine cellars carved into a rock. This time we arrived here on the evening of our wedding anniversary, a perfect occasion for a visit in the cellars and wine tasting.

Practical tip: Take a walk around first, the cellars have very different atmosphere and styles, and prices also differ.

Hungary is famous not only for its wines, but also thermal swimming pools. The next morning we headed to Miskolctapolca to spend half a day in cave baths. It has both indoor and open-air pools, some of them in a huge natural cave, making it a unique attraction.

5. Poland

Family & Friends, Family & Friends, Family & Friends…

6. Berlin, Germany – 1 day

During our first EuroTrip we had decided we would be coming back to Berlin, and so we did! This time only for one day, but it was still great to be here again. We focused our visit on two landmarks which we couldn’t see last time:

• The Berlin Wall Memorial, located on the historic site with the last piece of Berlin Wall, where you can see how the wall looked like and learn more about this period in history of Germany. A step in a (very recent) past, which leaves you thinking. 
• The Reichstag Building glass dome with its impressive architecture and views of the city. A visit here is free but you need to book it well in advance.

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  The Berlin Wall Memorial

  
  

  

  Inside the Reichstag dome

  
  
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7. Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 2 days

It was our first time in Amsterdam, so we mostly wanted to get the feel of the city, as well as visit at least one of its museums.

Jordaan district is the ‘postcard’ part of Amsterdam, with an artistic and laid-back touch. We spent a lot of time strolling along its canals and narrow cosy streets full of galleries, boutiques and restaurants. We also took a canal cruise, which let us see the city from a different perspective and was an adventure for our little one.

Jordaan district of Amsterdam

Amsterdam is home to several great museums. Our time was limited, so we decided to visit the Rijksmuseum, which displays a collection of famous Dutch painters, including Rembrandt and Vermeer’s pieces. The museum is truly impressive, including both the collection and the building itself.

Practical tips: when it comes to accommodation, Amsterdam is probably the most expensive European capital. We could not afford staying in the city centre and instead booked a very good 4* hotel near the Amsterdam Airport. Regarding transport to and from the city centre, we found a very good park & ride system – you leave your car in one of designated car parks, which wasn’t expensive, and can then buy public transport return tickets to the city centre for a significantly reduced price. Probably the best solution if you come to Amsterdam by car and do not stay in the city centre.

            

8. Drive back to Liverpool