Backpacking

Well in London make sure to see the old cathedrals and especially the old Templers cathedral. I’ve never seen it but it sounds awesome.. Hyde Park,(speakers corner) Buckingham Palace, Crown Jewels, London Bridge, Piccadilly, Oxford Street, etc etc. It helps if you read a novel set in London before you go. It will ad a whole new dimension to your visit:) Although strictly high fiction, read The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown) before you go. It travels between France and London and will give you a great feel for both places when you get there. In Holland, stay away from Amsterdam and see the rest of the country. Find a tour that will show you what Holland is really like. Having said that Amsterdam is interesting, just not repesentative of the rest of the country. Have a great trip.

Do you really not have any more time than 2 days per country? It seems a shame to visit these amazing cities and not stay more than two days! Anyway, perhaps you have constraints - you’ll still have a great time
In London do not miss - Tower Bridge (not London Bridge - and don’t get the two confused!) - Clock Tower (Big Ben), St James’ Park ( Buckingham Palace - though it doesn’t really look that palatial, you can’t really go to England and not visit!), Westminster Abbey Westminster Cathedral (they’re on the same road, just walk all the way down it), the food halls at Harrods in Knightsbridge, a curry at Brick Lane
Paris: of course Le tour de Eiffel! It’s gorgeous, walk along the river and visit the street sellers. The Arc de Triomphe, The Louvre, and do not miss the Sacre Couer. BEAUTIFUL. In Rome: St Peters Basilica la capella sistina, Piazza Navona, Fontana di Trevi, the spanish steps (at night is good), the colusseum (and go inside it), the pantheon.
In Greece: depends on whether you’re going to the mainland or the islands. If it’s the mainland, there’s really not that many ’sights’ in Athens as you’d think after you’ve climbed the acropolis. The tube stations are pretty nice too! ha! As for the islands, Santorini is gorgeous and you can’t really go wrong if you visit there. Ios is right next door and they make a good couple of days. In Amsterdam, DO visit the crazy red light district, walk about the canals and eat fantastic food, visit Anne Frank’s house and hire a bike and ride somewhere. As for Belfast…I’ve never been! sorry!
Have fun! The things I’ve listed are on many a tourist route, and there are hundreds more….Enjoy your trip.

Belfast: take the bus tour of the ‘Troubles’. Visit the uni there. Across from the bus station is an authentic pub from the Victorian Era that is worth popping your head in to. Visit the museum and the botanical gardens near the uni. Walk down both the Falls Road and Sandy Row if you can’t take the bus tour. Visit City Hall. It’s a great city, but you need more than only two days per each city. You’d have more money to spend if you cut down on the stops you’re talking about.

Germany is absolutely fantasastic, and a great deal cheaper than France and England, avoid staying the city centres, travel into them via local transport. Check out google earth that will give you a great idea of where these places are and you can see other peoples pictures of where they have visited.

London - The tower of London , Tower Bridge, go to the top of St Paul’s and try the London eye. Take a trip down the Thames to Greenwich
Paris - The Eiffel tower , Champs Elysee and Note Damm, take the bateau Much down the Seine
Rome - The Colosseum, Trvesi fountain and the Vatican (long queues)
Amsterdam - Take a canal trip, go in a sex shop and view he red light district. Chill out.
Ive yet to visit Greece

Get a copy of Let’s Go Europe. It’s probably the best book for backpacking…It was my bible.

But I have news for you…2 days per country is hardly worth it. You would do better to spend a little more time, and do fewer places, or try to find some way to spend longer, altogether.

You won’t remember a thing.

I wouler personally miss out of Belfast, Amsterdam and Greece and stick to maybe London and Paris and Rome. I spent 5 days in Paris and did not feel I had done it all!!!! I also spent 3 days in Rome….not enough time!!!

There are large cities with HEAPS of things to see and do. If you also travelled as much as you are intending in the time you have, you will find you will be continually travelling from A to B to C to D…and not seeing much of anything. It takes time to get to airports, wait for planes ( not to mention delays) get thru customs, go to accommodaiton ( or find it!)…I assume you are flying as you would be on a bus or train for longer if that is your actual thought.

Cut down, spend more time in 2 or 3 places and see it better. I am still annoyed I missed out on seeing places in London ( and I was LIVING near it for 18months!!!!!)

Another point, if you are on a budget and using hostels, try not to get the ones a long way out of the city centres as again it takes more of your precious time to get in and out of the centres to do anything…..eg In Florence I had to spend 40-50mins on a bus to get into the centre as I chose a cheap place out of town…it did work out cheaper ( even including bus fares for each direction) but the time wasted….2 trips every day for 4 days that 8hrs travelling!!!!! Sometimes paying a bit more for a central location is better. In London travelling will be expensive….I could fly to europe for cheaper than getting to the airport!