Mags FTW wrote:Looking for European vacation recommendations. Would like to go sometime between Aug-Oct. I lean more towards natural attractions such as the Swiss Alps, Iceland, the Cliffs of Moher/Dover, etc.
The biggest decision point is probably deciding between traveling throughout the continent ourselves, or doing a cruise. The Viking cruises look appealing, but are mostly pretty long. I think we would want to be gone no more than 10 days, including the flights there and back.
Thanks in advance!
Just got back from Italy, having spent time in Florence (Tuscany) and Rome. Not sure if Tuscany would check your natural attraction box (it did at least in part, for me), but can definitely go into more detail if you're interested. TLDR, at least:
We had 10 days total and did a 6/4 Florence split. I don't regret going to Rome and not sure I'd change the trip overall (maybe 7/3), but I have no desire to go back there. Great to see the attractions, but once those are done it's just a big city. Florence, on the other hand, I'd be happy to just exist in. Quaint, idyllic Italy, and in the heart of Tuscany with ample daytrips for wine, nature, or to other Central/North/Western places in Italy (e.g. Pisa, Lucca, or e.g. Venice, Genoa for overnights).
I've done a cruise of the Hawaiian islands, which was great to get a taste of each place, but we ultimately wanted more of literally all of them. I think trying to cram a cruise into 8 days would feel rushed IMO, unless it's really focused on just a few places.
Aug-Oct would be a great time to go to Scandinavia, if you're at all interested. The fjords (Norway) sounds like it'd be right up your alley.