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[KimyReizeger]

I'm planning on heading over in the next couple of weeks (cheap flight depending). The only clear idea I have is a few days in Berlin, otherwise, I've a month and an 'all-access' railcard to fulfill! Just wondering if anyone has any 'must-see' places to offer that differ to the guide books / general opinion. Main areas of focus (at this, most likely to change stage) would be Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Holland, Northern France.

Cheers

Ps, ever worked abroad NOT as part of a feeding sick elephants / behind a bar in Aus thing? I really want to work somewhere that could facilitate language learning, but I'm not sure how difficult it is to find relevant (hotel or something) opportunities without proper communication ability in the first place (assuming I'm not relying on the 'everyone speaks English anyway' attitude.

[Cloud]

I'd give Poland a general bodyswerve - it's not a good place if you don't have a working understanding of either Polish/similar language or German. Warsaw is a complete dump, even by Eastern Europe standards and it just feels like they're still stuck in the early 90's. It's a pretty intimidating place - and because of the place being razed in WW2, there's not much of a 'must see' about there.

The Baltic countries are probably worth a visit if you can - the rail infrastructure is a bit crap there, but Lithuania in particular is ridiculously clean. Latvia has the most charm though - probably because it's a little bit behind Estonia and Lithuania in their development. In Riga, the tourist side of things isn't as developed as Estonia's and so there's more to enjoy - there's a particularly brilliant little museum in the old town called the "Museum of the Barricades", dedicated to those that built and manned the barricades during the events of 1990-1991 and the struggle for independence.

In Berlin, I'd recommend getting lost on purpose - it's a fantastic city, yet there's history screaming at you from all over the place. I'd also try and catch something at the Tranenpalast (Palace of Tears) before it gets torn down too. I also loved the Potsdamer Platz despite the fact that it's all new - walking from there to the Brandenburg Gate (taking in the location of Hitler's bunker and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) is very touritsty, but is a definitely must do in my experience. It's also worth taking a trip on the Spree if you can. I think the walk along the Strasse des 17 Juni and Unter Den Linden is unappreciated too - particularly if you do the entire walk from the monument (I forget the name) on the Strasse des 17. Juni to the Berliner Dom/Palast der Republik. The Tiergarten is nice at any time of the year, too. Apart from that, Berlin is absolutely ram packed of things to see of a historical context - though they are sadly hell bent on eliminating almost every trace of what East Germany left behind.

As for France - as far as I've found, the best bet is simply to explore. Northern France is a bit hit or miss though - if you're going to Brittany, then it's not really different - and the North East of the country is just industrial heartlands. I'd personally recommend heading down towards places like the Massif Central - far enough away from the Riveria to not be full of tourists, yet decent climate (if the Mistral isn't blowing, that is!) at this time of year. From there, you can also make a few side trips - for instance, the (Spanish) Basque Country is a beautiful place, San Sebastian (Donostia to the Basques) has a beautiful bay and a lot of charm. Generally speaking though, keep away from the coasts and the ski resorts and you'll be fine in France.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Cloud

I'd give Poland a general bodyswerve - it's not a good place if you don't have a working understanding of either Polish/similar language or German. Warsaw is a complete dump, even by Eastern Europe standards and it just feels like they're still stuck in the early 90's. It's a pretty intimidating place - and because of the place being razed in WW2, there's not much of a 'must see' about there.

Utter bollocks. Have you actually visited Warsaw?

[Free Korps]

I enjoyed Krakow, could easy spend a few days trying to cram in a lot of sights and day visits, such as Auschwitz.

[KimyReizeger]

I'm actually really excited at the prospect of going to Poland; not sure why, though it probably has a little to do with the number of Polish I've worked with..Probably end up in Krakow at some point, though also hoping to visit a friend in Szczecin (which is conveniently close to Berlin.)

Anyone ever gone fruit-picking?

[Bodast]

Umm... I just got back from a few weeks in Eastern/Central Europe and Warsaw is really nice! It wasn't one of my favourites because it's one of the bigger and more skyscrapery (¬_¬) places but the old town is definitely worth a look and I think calling it a dump is somewhat over the top. Just be careful if you go to a museum called... I think... the History of Warsaw Museum on the main square, it's full of stuff they rescued from the war bombing and is pretty interesting for a bit but after the fifth floor and no place to escape from the guides who see you've finished a room and appear immediately pointing to the next one and saying, "PLEASE! " in a way you can't refuse, I kind of wanted to smash up their history.

Riga and Vilnius are really nice places like Cloud said, I preferred the latter because it seemed to have a bit more to do in the centre without losing too much quaintness to tourism, and there's a bit just off the main centre called Uzupis which was made by artists and musicians of the city: "In 1997, the residents of the area declared a Republic of Užupis, with its own flag, currency, president, constitution, and an army (numbering approximately 12 men)." The constitution's up on the wall there, I thought it was all pretty charming and not (yet) filled with wannabe bohemians (except myself).

Budapest is a really beautiful city if you're going that far, but unfortunately I coincided with 43 degree heat/no air conditioning ANYWHERE and release of Harry Potter 7 there so I can't recommend much apart from the baths (really good ones at Széchenyi near Heroes Square) and the castle bit over the river in Buda. The public transport system was a bit confusing and ended up being much more expensive than other places although I may just have been being stupid and not realising how to use it propaly.

Prague is my third or fourth home and I lav eet, probs would recommend everything the guidebooks say: the Old and New Town Squares, the castle (and the other castle Vysehrad), Letna park (Letenske sady) is nice for a walk and beer garden and then there's a nice view from the top looking down over Cechuv most and the city, and Cross club near Holesovice is my favourite bar, with lots of contraptions for decoration (like that woman's garden in Harriet the Spy) and usually some interesting music. There's a website called Expats.cz - Prague Jobs, Prague Community, Prague Real Estate in Czech Republic with job listings and loads of other useful stuff, I worked in Prague and it's quite hard to find an enjoyable job with no Czech at all but most of the hostel/hotel ones require excellent English and only conversational Czech. I'm not sure about anywhere else though. Oh and Cesky Krumlov is approx. half populated by tourists and very small but it's still worth going for a couple of days, to see the castle, go along the river in inner tubes and just wander about a bit.

Naturally, all of these places are also inundated with groups of men wearing "LEE'S STAG DO 2007" t-shirts and causing an unpleasant ruckus.

[KimyReizeger]

Originally Posted by Bodast

, I worked in Prague and it's quite hard to find an enjoyable job with no Czech at all but most of the hostel/hotel ones require excellent English and only conversational Czech. .

Nice, kinda hoping the old mother tongue might secure something!

[Mr Owl PhD]

I found it easy to travel around Poland and lots of people spoke good English. I didn't spend much time in Warsaw but went to Gdansk, which is an interesting city that seems to have been at the heart of much of European history. There's some great places in the countryside too. I'd recommend Bialowieza, 'Europe's last primeval forest', which is in northeast Poland near Bialystok. Slovakia is rather good too, and very cheap. The Tatra mountains are excellent for walking. Like others, I'd recommend Vilnius. I wasn't quite so keen on Hungary, a bit pricier and people weren't always as helpful. Probably the worst Eastern European country to visit if your vegetarian, although good if you're not. Finally, if you fancy some sun and sea, then you could do a lot worse than Croatia.

[Paranoid Android]

I'd reccomend Ljubljana if you get a chance. Beautiful city and you can easily explore lots of other things Slovenia has to offer as a day trip from there. Good nightlife too.

[stuartmaxwell]

cloud in talking out of his arse shocker