Sorry, one more question. We are arriving at Heathrow at 6:30 AM and staying at dorms near Westminster. We can leave luggage, but can not check in until 2PM. Any suggestions on what to do in between? I know we will be very tired from overnight flight so I don’t want to be too ambitious. Is there a nice inexpensive restaurant nearby that we could have brunch at or a close attraction that will not require a lot of walking?

Well, Berlin is perfect for this. Not really out of the way, either. You can get a direct six hour train from Amsterdam. Going to Munich after is a great way to see the differences between the two most popular German cities. Munich has less in the way of nightlife but the beer is excellent. Its also interesting to see the differences between how these two cities view and commemorate WWII.

Thanks, Mim

For WWII history:

Visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

If you can add any time to France, you would probably appreciate the Memorial/Museum in Caen (we spent a good 3-4 hours there), and the Normandy Beaches.

About your arrival, I probably would not be too ambitious. Hopefully you’ll find a cafe and relax and soak up some atmosphere for awhile.

For arrival day. Go from Heathrow directly to your hostel and drop your luggage, then head to some outdoor activity as soon as possible. I think fresh air, real light and moderate physical activity are the best cure for jet lag, sleep deprivation and the fact that’d you’ve probably spent at least 12 hours cooped up in a series of metal boxes (car, bus, airplane, airport, train) under artificial light and breathing recycled air. Catch the changing of the guard at Buckingham and/or head to Kensington and Hyde parks to stroll, people watch and perhaps catch a quick visit to a museum or other nearby attraction. If you want to pick one thing to “go see” the Tower of London involves a fair amount of walking, outdoor time and not a lot of being inside a building.

Do not succumb to the desire to nap when you can get into your hostel in the afternoon. Have dinner and stay up at least part of the evening to try to sync to the time change.

Cil,
Thanks I will definitely be going to The Anne Frank House. If I can add time in France it would only be a half day. Do you think if I do a day trip to Caen that I will be able to return to Paris by early evening?

Thanks oldlady. We are staying a block from Westminster Cathedral. Any suggestions for an inexpensive restaurant or cafe for brunch close by?

I’m a bit confused as you seem to be saying that your family will be with you in London, but also that you will be meeting them in Venice?

As to Germany, both Berlin and Munich have WWII sites, but both were destroyed in the war; Munich has rebuilt to reflect the pre war atmosphere, while Berlin is more modern. Much of Berlin reflects the cold war, rather than WWII. Both have excellent museums; I would give the edge to Munich for art museums, and to Berlin for antiquities. Berlin has little in the way of castles; edge to Munich. I didn’t see a lack of night-life in either city; I guess you could read up on what is available in both, as what is night life to one person is boring to another.

Rome has a lot to see, so six days is not too much. People say you can see Pompeii as a day trip from Rome, but they see very little of it. To see it fully, including Pompeii, Herculaneum,, the crater, and the artifacts from Pompeii (which are in a museum in Naples), and Sorrento (since the train goes there and it is scenic) probably takes three days staying in Naples (and a fourth day if you want to visit Capri.)

I would probably omit Bern, Monaco, and Milan as not having a lot to see and being a bit out of your way, and consider seeing Zurich and taking a scenic train over the Alps to Venice. Milan actually has Leonardo’s last supper, but you need a reservation to visit it.

In Amsterdam, the Anne Frank house is big business and very crowded. We found the The Corrie ten Boom Museum in Haarlem more moving.

Melanie, if you take an early morning train out of the St Lazare train station to Caen, you might be able to do it. The train ride is a couple hours, but still you could spend a good three hours at the museum, have lunch, then make it back to Paris by early evening.
The museum opens at 9am. To me, for anyone interested in WWII, this place is a must.

I am going with my sister in law for the beginning of trip. My husband, children, and mother in law are meeting us in Venice on 26th.

Thank you for the suggestions. Definitely will consider Zurich. None of the other three are must sees for us, we are just having trouble narrowing down what to do between Berlin and arrival to Venice that will not take us too far out of the way. Perhaps we will stay longer in Germany.

Zurich is IMO the nicest city in the world and it’s still my favourite city I’ve ever been to. Its constantly ranked as one of the best to live in as well and if you go you’ll see why. However, (not sure if this is a big factor for you or not, wasn’t for me) when I went I found there were hardly any tourists at all, so it can feel very quiet compared to other cities. However just go out at night to Langstrasse area and its very lively.

And I would add more time to Munich for sure.