Europe in August/September

[HornsHornsHorns]

I'm finishing up a judicial clerkship in August and treating myself to a bar trip (didn't get to take one right after I actually took the bar) from August 25-September 15. Never mind the fact that I am missing the home opener. It's a cost I was willing to endure, since I won't have this chance again in the foreseeable future.

Anyhow, I'm flying in to Amsterdam and out of Madrid. I don't know what I'll do (I am definitely going to visit Normandy along with some obvious places like Paris and Barcelona), so I'm looking for some recommendations for places in France and Spain that may not be obvious.

I've been to the South of France a few times and Paris once. Never been to Belgium; what's worth seeing there? Is Brussels worth a peek? How about the highlights of the French countryside? And Spain? Never been to Spain and I know next to nothing about it. Would Geneva or Milan be worth going a bit out of the way to see?

Anyway, just looking for some thoughts from the hornfans braintrust. Thanks in advance. I'll hang up and listen.

 

[EuroHorn]

I spent about 9 months in Brussels. I really enjoyed the city from a liveable point of view. As a tourist, there is not a ton to do and see there. Probably worth about a day. If you go, there is the Delirium Cafe that has about 2,000 beers from all over the world (they even had Lone Star). It is next to the Grand Place which is a nice place to visit. If you are there over a Saturday night then head to Fat Boys which is an american owned bar and they show all kinds of college football. I watched almost all of the Texas championship season from that place.

 

[Uninformed]

Bruges is great. Rural France is great. Northern Italy is great. You have lots of choices.

Go in September verses August. Prices will be lower. There will be fewer tourists. You will get better service.

 

[Texclerk]

First, 20 days is not as much time as you think it will be. When we go to Europe, we generally stay in the same place for a week at a time. If you are tavelling by yourself it certainly is easier to do more, but do not try to cram too much in.

Your question is really too broad. Do some research on the places that interest you or the things that interest and get some general ideas. Then people can give you better answers. Do you want history, art, architecture, food, wine, etc.? City or country? What kind of budget are we looking at here? You could city hop while doing a stop over in neat, smaller towns/cities. There are just so many options.