Congratulations, you’re going to Europe in 2024. However, you looked at the calendar and realized you cannot take a week off. You only have enough time for a long weekend. With that thought in mind, I will identify five Northern European cities perfect for a long weekend getaway.
Who should read this blog or watch the video?
Let me start by answering who should read this blog and watch this video. I’m designing this content for North Americans who are considering spending a long weekend in Europe. In other words, you plan to go to a fabulous northern European city for three to four days. Who shouldn’t read this blog? If you already live in Europe or can get there quickly from wherever you are, don’t waste your time. You have so many more options than what I’m going to cover. I will focus only on the creme de La Creme, the best of the best when it comes to European cities.
The criteria used to create this list
Below are the three criteria I used to create this list.
- I have to have visited the city in the past decade. I don’t want to provide dated information or discuss places I haven’t visited.
- I’m defining a northern city as Paris and any city north of Paris.
- The city has to be easy to get to by plane from America. You don’t want to spend an entire day getting there, much less coming back.
I’ll finish by dispelling a travel myth. Some Americans believe Europe is too far away for a long weekend getaway. I’m here to tell you it is doable. I’ve done it several times before. I will write a separate blog explaining some best practices for doing it. For today, I’m going to focus on where to go. After all, if you’re committing to a long weekend, you will want to go someplace that is awesome.
Northern European City #1 – London, England
I won’t get into excruciating detail about why I love visiting each of these cities. I have separate videos and blogs if you want to hear those details. Instead, I will talk about why I placed it on the list where I did and share one recommendation. London is number one for three reasons.
- It is easy to get to. There are a lot of international flights going in and out of London.
- Culture shock is less common among Americans because of the common language.
- There’s a ton to do. I’ve been there multiple times and feel I have only scratched the surface.
My recommendation for London is to stay near a tube station. You will want to leverage the tube, AKA subway, to get around this large city. You don’t want to walk far from your hotel room to get there, especially after a long day of sightseeing.
City #2 – Paris, France
I love Paris. I like it even more than London. I’ve been there four times, and every trip has been excellent. I remember my first time there. I completed the Paris Marathon decades ago. We ran around the city, and I thought about what a beautiful city it was. When some people talk about disappointment when they go to Paris, I don’t understand what they’re talking about. My one recommendation is to look at what’s going on in the city for when you plan to go. For example, there were protests in Paris recently. You don’t want to ruin your vacation by getting in the middle of all that. A quick reminder – the Summer Olympics are coming up. I would not go to Paris this summer during the Olympics. It’s going to be a zoo.
Northern European City #3 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands
My wife, Kim, and I went to Amsterdam a few years ago and had a blast in the capital of the Netherlands. It is a unique city with canals, houses, and world-class museums. I was impressed by what we saw and experienced while there. Some of you are worried about pot and prostitutes. Both are legal in the city. My recommendation is to avoid the red light district at night. Make sure you know the difference between a coffee house and a cafe. Don’t worry. Your nose will let you know which one the pot is being smoked in. It has a unique aroma, for sure.
City #4 – Edinburgh, Scotland
Kim and I went here last year and had a ton of fun in the capital of Scotland. Good news – there’s a fair number of direct flights from the US to this medieval marvel of a city. One recommendation is to take a good raincoat. You will likely get wet if you’re in Scotland for three or four days. As the Scots say, today’s rain is tomorrow’s whiskey.
Northern European City #5 – Brussels, Belgium
Brussels is underrated in many ways. The food in the capital of Belgium is magnificent, and the beer is world-class. I’ve been to Brussels many times and had a great time on every single visit. When you visit Brussels, I recommend leaving some room in your suitcase for souvenirs you will bring home, like Belgian chocolates.
Bonus City – Dublin, Ireland
My wife and I went to Dublin to see U2 in concert a few years ago. We had a fantastic time. Dublin is such a fun city. If you like Guinness, you need to get to Dublin. It does taste better there. The pub scene is a lot of fun, and there’s music all over this town. My recommendation is to stay near the Temple Bar, not in it. You will likely spend time in Temple Bar, but I would not want to try to get sleep in this area. There are a lot of bachelor and/or bachelorette parties that are held at all hours of the night.
One city I do not recommend – Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt, Germany, is one northern European city I would not spend a long weekend in. Yes, there are a lot of flights from America to Frankfurt. However, I would not spend three to four days in this German City. Simply put, there are much better options in Germany than in Frankfurt.
Three Northern European cities I want to visit soon
- Berlin, Germany – it has been decades since I was last there.
- Copenhagen, Denmark – several friends spoke highly of this city.
- Reykjavik, Iceland – looks like a fun place to visit.
I am Doug Keating, and this is my letter to my sons.