Where in Italy to do a good, cheap walking/hiking trip?

First trip to Europe--which of these places should I go and when? Website and hotel suggestions welcome too!?

• I'm planning my first trip to Europe sometime next year with my husband. We can probably spend only about a week there, but I have lots I would like to do, so I need some help to narrow it down. Since it's my first trip, we'll probably want to do a lot of the typical tourist sight-seeing like Big Ben, Eiffel Tower, etc. Here's my list of places I'm most interested in going: Italy--this is a MUST, but I can't decide if I should do one city and then go to another country or just stay within Italy Great Britain France Spain/Portugal I would love to do Greece, but I think that would be a trip we could take later because there'd be so much to do Germany and Austria are also possibilities but not likely. I have found a couple websites (virgin-vacations.com and europeandestinations.com) that offer some pretty cheap packages, but if you've found another website or agency that has good packages, let me know! Since I've never been anywhere close to Europe I really don't know what's amazing to see. What's the best time of the year to go there? Where should I stay (neighborhood or specific hotel)? What should I visit? Where has the best food (besides Italy)? Are there areas I should avoid? Any cool tours or sightseeing I should do? Any suggestions are much appreciated! Thanks!

• Answer:

  one week is not really enough time to really appreciate one city. but if it is important to see many things then MABYE you can push 2 cities. but realize two cities means packing, moving, traveling, hotel all that travel from one to another. that is easily a whole day wasted, even with a night train you still miss 1\2 a day. I suggest one city. Personally I am all about Paris or Rome. Both those cities have so much to offer. Great food, great people, great sites, and great ways to save. Hotel - (keep in mind I am a college student so my idea of acceptable might be different) price vs luxury. If $$ is issue look at hostels. Yes its a young scene not usually the fanciest. But if all you need is a place to sleep/shower and change clothes why spend the money on a fancy room you won't spend much time in? Its not hard to find cheaper hostels that have private 2person bedrooms. or look for budget hotels if you want the full hotel digs. Paris -Effiel Tower, Arc du Triumph, Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacred Heart Church (my favorite) and the catacombs are amazing!! Very spooky but very worth it. -Always avoid eating within 200yrds of a major tourist site. You will almost always pay double. Look for old fat local men. French people know good food, especially the elderly. they don't skimp. -I am never one for packages. The metro system is very user friendly, english, its cheap and easy. The best i have ever used. Get yourself a guide book (lonely Planet) and plan out your own route. A package might make it easy but why pay someone 800$ to plan a day for you when you can do it yourself and have a lot more fun. -Watch out for tourist sites if a guy comes up and offers to show you something. They will rip you off. -French people are not horrible, they are just tired of americans yelling english at them. Most guide books have a few key phrases. attempt french and say the site you are trying for and 9/10 you get a friendly point in the right direction -Food - Picnic. This is the best meals. stop in a local market, get some cheese, bread, fruit, wine, pate and just eat along the river or under the effiel tower. It is amazing. Rome Beautiful. But it is dirty. Lots of trash on the streets etc. It is a little suprising. But it is as amazing as you imagine it. Walk or take a bus. Don't bother with any of the other modes of transportation. it leads to headaches trust me... the best hidden site in rome=the bone church. Its up the street from the mermaid statue. I don't remember what its called but not hard to find (if you ask about it). But the church is unlike ANY in europe. It is very cool and free! Definantly take pictures with the gladiators outside the coluseeum. it is stupid and touristy but they are still my best photos! -You must try the local pizza. Be adventerous. it is NOT like any pizza here, despite the "authentic" signs... -if you time it right and get up early stop by the vatacan early in the morning and see the pope. Tour vatican city. And even if you are not religious try going to a mass. I went and it was fun. just amazing to be in a church centuries old, for the purpose it was for. Afterward I meet the priest who turned out to be in an exchange program, he was a priest from jersy doing a year in italy! Who knew the church did that sort of thing? Rome has some great historical sites. Pantheon, hills, gates, the track and temples. If you must do a two city tour then do Rome and Florence. Florence is small, beautiful and charming. It has some of the best art collections in the world. It can be "done" in two days if you really pack it in. But i warn you if you try to do two cities in 7 days you will feel rushed the entire time. most people don't ever relax and stress is not supposed to be apart of a vacation. The best tours I have had was a pub crawl in Rome. A college kid studying abroad from california gave the best tour i have ever had walking the streets of rome. Most museums offer audio guides but almost all except the louvre are terrible. they offer very little and often useless information. I felt ripped off almost every time i've bought one. your better off buying a guide book just for that museum online. Same thing a fraction of the price and much better quality. Other places to concider -Munich The best place to spend a weekend! The entire city shuts down and everyone goes to the park. literrally 10,000 people will be in the park sunbathing, playing soccer or drinking beer. Great museums -Innsbruck. sp? Its in Austria. Tiny little town. It is out of a movie. Spend a few days hiking the alps, exploring castles. The castle that inspired disney is there. If you like romantic mountain get aways that are qujiet relaxing, this is the place to go -if you like hard core action hit interlaken in switzerland. expensive but the capitol for all things bungie jumping, skydiving, cliff jumping etc etc.