I am quite possible the worst offender when it comes to greedy travel. And by that I mean I’m seemingly incapable of planning a trip to just any one place. Once I commit to a next destination, my brain begins
instinctively mapping out other nearby cities I’ll be close enough to to justify an excursion. And you can imagine the outlandish trips I’ve supposed given I possess a knowledge of world geography that probably tests at a second grade level. (Heads up that Glasgow and Krakow are two very different – and distant – places.)
But never fear! The greedy traveler’s vacation is still devilishly possible, you just have to pick two realistic cities to hit in one trip to Europe. That means cross-continent trips are out (unless you’re headed to Istanbul,) but dual language, double trouble journeys are in. Check out these three suggestions and the best ways to get there and back. And no planes – this is an eco-friendly house, after all.
London – Paris
Let’s start out in the only English-speaking city on the list, to put a toe in the proverbial adventure waters. While the London Eye and Big Ben are truly sights to behold, they kind of always make me long for the Eiffel tower. Maybe it’s the lack of baguettes in London. Maybe it’s that the city of love is so much closer once I’ve hopped across the pond. Regardless of reason, if hanging with the Brits gives you a hankering for l’amour, consider a high speed train over to ol’ Paris. The route between the two cities is one of the most popular and frequented by trains in all of Europe. The best part – it’ll only take you two hours from famous Kings Cross station to arrive in France’s capital. Find affordable train rates on Rail Europe. Tres jolie!
Rome – Venice
Let’s face it – Rome doesn’t exactly come up short when it comes to things to see. You could probably spend a year in the historic city and still not be bored. Italy’s
capital is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, and with good reason. It boasts the legendary food, world-class art, oh, and the remains of the Roman empire. But truth be told, making the trip all the way over to Rome without visiting another Italian city can make you feel like you’ve been cheated. Some of the most picturesque and recognized images of Italy come from Venice. So to Venice we shall go! It’s about a four hour ride that cuts right up the middle of the country, but it’s definitely worth it. Visiting the island city of Venice is an absolute must for most travelers. And after the hustle and bustle – ahem, traffic – of everyday life – a city without roads sounds pretty darn nice.
Prague – Vienna
So as it turns out, Prague isn’t anywhere near as close to Berlin as I’d thought when I originally planned to go there last year. Serves me right for not consulting a map. (I’ve since brushed up quite a bit on my geography, I promise.) But Prague is under five hours from Vienna by train, making the two cities totally manageable in one trip. And from the Czech Republic culture of Prague you can be whisked away to the classic architecture of Vienna.