Post your favorite region in Europe for each of these categories:
>Best nature
>Best history
>Best food
>Nicest people
>Best overall
And by best history I mean best *visible* history.
my choices:
>Nature
Scotland, no doubt. If I ever visit Sweden I might reconsider.
>History
Catalonia because of all the untouched -- literally -- medieval villages. Places like Besalu and Vic are basically what you're hoping to see when you visit Europe. With less tourists than, say, Carcassonne.
>Food
Prague
>People
All UK countries except England
>best overall
Spain scores high on all these categories.
>food, prague
Are you fucking mental? The food there is disgusting pig knuckle stews and sauerkraut dumplings, it was hideous.
Best Nature- most areas bordering the alps. Probably switzerland.
Best History- Greece/Italy
best food- Italy, especially Bologna.
Nicest people - Romania.
Best Overall- Probably Italy for a mix of all those things.
Italy would win in all categories. Maybe not in nicest people. But this varies with personal experience.
>>1120195
What's wrong with the English anon? Are we really worse than Germans or the French? :'(
>>1120282
I didn't say you were bad, I meant you didn't rank top-tier like the Celtic peoples do.
Basically I judge populations by how easy it is to hitchhike in that country. Pick up a hitcher sometime and redeem your people.
>>1120214
Hey, I like sauerkraut. And have you ever eaten at the Strahov Monastery? 10/10
>>1120284
Well, to be fair, we are bad. And would never pick up a hitch-hiker. Other Europeans are just as rude though, so I don't think we're the worst overall.
>Nature
Dolomites or Corsica
>Ancient History
Campania
>Medieval History
Midi-Pyrénées
>Renaissance
Tuscany / Flanders
>Modern History
Île-de-France
>Contemporary history
Normandy
>Food
Emilia-Romagna
>Overall
Italy, France as a close second
>>1120284
>>1120284
>I judge populations by how easy it is to hitchhike in that country
Gotta agree with you there. England was shit to hitchhike in, but we started crossing the Severn Bridge (the border between Wales and England) on foot, and immediately some welsh dude stopped for us and gave us a lift. In Ireland people gave us food, drove 30 min past their destination to get us closer to ours, one old couple even invited us into their home. My advice is, when hitchhiking the UK, get out of England as fast as you can.
Also, two of the four cars who picked us up in England were french, lol
>>1120194
Nature: Slovenia
History: depends what you're into, I guess. Anywhere in Europe is pretty rich to me as a North American
Food: Italy or Malaysia
people: surprisingly, Germany and Netherlands for me
Best overall: Italy
At the end of the day it really depends on who you meet. You could be in the most boring places with the coolest people and it'll make the experience.
>Best nature
Northern Sweden
>Best history
France
>Best food
Spain
>Nicest people
Copenhagen
>Best overall
Slovenia
>>1120194
>Best nature
Probably Slovenia. Just stunning. But the Alps overall, Scotland and Croatia are up there too.
>Best history
Depends strongly on what you're into. Italy and Spain come to mind. But so do The Netherlands or Belgium.
>Best food
Overall, Greece. But one single dish tops it all - Haggis.
>Nicest people
Definitely France. Ok, that was a joke. Honestly either Scotland or Slovakia. I've been to both a lot and was never greeted with anything other than friendyness and helpfulness.
>Best overall
>>1120554
Forgot best overall. But then again, I wouldn't be able to decide anyway. A lot of places I've been have been amazing for too many different reasons.
>nature
tough one, I like all sort of things like mountains and sea and warm climate...so maybe Italy and mediterranean in general.
>history
Italy, hell yeah
>food
central Europe
>nicest people
British isles
>Definitely France. Ok, that was a joke
>>1120554
>Definitely France. Ok, that was a joke.
S-Stop I've met a lot of people who loved us despite the memes
It's not that hard to believe out of 65 million people they aren't all cunts
>>1120608
In fairness I've met a lot of nice people in France, but also a fair lot of stereotypical assholes.
First time we were in the French Alps we wanted to go for a drink. But we got sent away everywhere we sat down. My wife and I both aren't very good at French. So the conversations went something like:
>Ah, madame, monsieur, manger?
<Non, boissons s'il vous plait?
> Non non, manger!
< Ehm??
> Manger!! *rapid French shouting*
< *us leaving*
Turns out we didn't know the custom that when a table is set it's only for food. But instead of telling us (or even trying to speak English) they all just got mad. Later on in the mountains the owner of a small cafe explained it to us (in English as well) and he was super friendly and joked about it. But overal that was a pretty poor first introduction to the French really. That was around Annecy by the way.
And then there's Parisians. Not the calmest of folk either. ;) Again, I'm sure there are a lot of exceptions, but also a fair lot of walking stereotypes. No offense man. :)
>>1120631
No problem lad, I'm aware the stereotypes have to come from some truth, after all they didn't just appear straight out of nowhere
It's just that sometimes when I ask people why they found us rude I discover it came from misunderstandings, cultural differences
Exemple I worked at a restaurant on the French Mediterranean coast and often we'd get American tourists that were noisy as fuck, when it's usually customary to mind his tone in these places. As a consequence the people around would give them bad looks, and they would not understand why. Or treating waiters like shit (snapping fingers to call them and such) because over there the tip "excuse" this kind of behavior and not here. Or straight up talking to someone in English in the street to ask for direction, here it's considered rude when someone assume we all talk English instead of starting with greetings in French and then asking if it's possible to switch to English
Buuut yeah, sometimes it's just bad luck and you met shit people, overall it's pretty random I'd say, people rarely have the same opinion on us French, from confirmation that we are assholes to being completely surprised by our hospitality. Works for other countries too, for instance most people consider the Dutch to be great and I mostly saw annoying ones when I visited or when they come here as tourist
>>1120608
>It's not that hard to believe out of 65 million people they aren't all cunts
I got you, Francebros. I actually had the best experience with people in France. No assholes despite everyone always bitching about it. But the only reason I didn't put it on my list is because I wasn't there as long as the other countries.
>>1120194
>Best nature
Britain
>Best history
Greece
>Best food
Spain
>Nicest people
Italians
>Best overall
Spain and Italy
>>1120638
>for instance most people consider the Dutch to be great and I mostly saw annoying ones when I visited or when they come here as tourist
Hah! Good example - I'm Dutch. ;)
>>1120631
Restaurants not allowing guests to just drink is pretty common elsewhere in Europe, particularly at busy times of day.
>>1120655
>It's 2016 and the french still react pissed when talked to in english
I see it as simple politeness. When I go to a foreign country I learn basics of the language, just enough to greet people and then ask if it's okay to speak English because I don't actually speak the language. It doesn't take much effort.
Now it doesn't mean if someone speaks to me in English in the street I'll tell him to piss off, but still we consider it arrogant when people assume we must know English. If you are in Paris and ask young people sure they'll be able to understand it, but doing it in the countryside where a lot of people barely know how to say "hello" will be seen as unfriendly
>>1120655
>the french still react pissed when talked to in english
They'll be more tolerant if you attempt French first.
>>1120660
Yeah, also people don't realize we genuinely suck at English
Our English classes are utter shit, I learned everything through internet and books, I had more (optionnal) English hours during highshool and even the people that chose them too were bad. So sometimes it's not even that they want to be rude, it's just that they truly can't speak English
>>1120657
>>1120660
>>1120661
Thank you very much for your posts. I will refrain from commenting every single one of it, because I understand, agree, and cannot really add anything productive.
I have been displeased by this clichee sometimes, but in most of all times, the whole situation could be solved with a polite smile.
>people saying Scotland has nice people
>mfw I'm from Aberdeen
Pray you, avoid it. Or maybe I just know a lot of assholes
>>1120286
Frog detected
>>1120670
And ?
>>1120666
I've never been to Aberdeen or Edinburgh, but other than that I've been all over the country on 5 separate trips. Never a bad experience.
>>1120194
>Best nature
Iceland is breathtaking everywhere, although it's not as varied as some other countries perhaps.
>Best history
France, by far. Everywhere you go has an interesting story behind it.
>Best food
Going with Italy on this one, as you can get absolutely excellent food from every price class there.
>Nicest people
Denmark
>Best overall
Portugal or Spain
>>1120286
>no nicest people category because all frogs are cunts
>>1120717
>he French our most helpful if you can only communicate using signs, and gestures
That must be because most of us are used to not understand English. most visited country + shit English = you must communicate one way or another to not lose all that delicious tourism money
>>1120722
Well it's a bit more complicated than that but it's undeniable starting with a few French word will help you
>>1120194
>Best nature
Norway
>Best history
Andalusia
>Best food
Italy, Spain
>Nicest people
Italy, Spain
>Best overall
Spain
>Nature
I say Norway without any doubt. Also, I think Scotland and Iceland are very beautiful.
>History
As a North Italian, I focused a lot on Italian and Austrian/German history, so I would say one of these.
>Food
France?
Nicest people
Spain
Best overall
Spain
>>1120194
Food > Greece
The rest > Spain
>Best nature
Norway, so fucking impressive.
>Best history
Northern Italy, especially Tuscan. Firenze and Sienna are mezmerizing.
>Best food
France, so many different kind of food depending of the region. And i love wine & cheese.
>Nicest people
Had an amazing time in Serbia. People were so fucking nice.
>Best overall
Most of countries can be wonderful for a trip. Except some places like Switzerland, Luxemburg and Baltic countries.
>>1120664
I come from a place (Jura Suisse, French speaking Switzerland) were it's considered as fucking rude to make contact with people in another language as French.
It's not a very smart tradition, but people are very defensive about their language. Jura was, for a long time, depending from a German speaking administration. So if somebody is coming to them and starts talking in something else than French, they just don't like it.
>Best nature
Switzerland or Northern Italy
>Best history
Turkey, if that counts
>Best food
Italy
>Nicest people
Germany
>Best overall
I'd go with Germany
>>1120717
>The French our most helpful if you can only communicate using signs, and gestures...
I was inclined to use gestures on them. But I strongly doubt they'd make them more helpful..
>>1120194
>>Best nature
Switzerland is absolutely and definitely number one when it comes to nature.
>>Best history
Italy or France.
>>Best food
Southern Italy, Sicily, Calabria.
>>Nicest people
Albania, surprisingly.
>>Best overall
Difficult, probably Italy.
> Nicest people - Spain
you guys say that because you don't really know us. Spanish people is fake as fuck.
>>1120214
>Not liking God tier comfy Czech food.
They have the best beer, goulash is fantastic, great spiced potato dumplings, etc.
Try eating at more traditional places, rather than just the goulash shop in the fucking mall.
If you can afford it, try getting a booking at La Degustation.
>Best nature
Hard choice. Probably Norway.
>Best history
England, Czech Republic
>Best food
Serbian, Czech, Belarusian
>Nicest people
Serbs
>Best overall
England
>>1120194
>Best nature
Corsica, France
Switzerland
>Best history
Paris and the king valley (Loire valley)
>Best food
South west of france
>foie gras
>Magret
>jambon de bayonne
>Poulet basquaise
>Bordeaux wines, Cognac, Armagnac
>Nicest people
Everywhere , if its not in France
>Best overall
French Coast , North of Italy, Switzerland
>>1120649
>Best nature
Britain
WTF i just read ? You just have green and grey land ... Come to visit South of France, North of Italy, Croatia, Greece ...
>>1123229
I gotta say northern England is very comfy and different from mainland Europe, and Scotland is god tier, but yeah best isn't the word I'd choose
>>1120194
>Best nature
England.
>Best history
England.
>Best food
England.
>Nicest people
England.
>Best overall
England.
>>1123229
Scotland and Wales are incredible
>>1123971
This is absurd.
>>1123971
God bless you, lad
>>1123995
Tell me you meant that in the way we Americans from the South do.
>>1120655
>>1120657
>>1120660
>>1120661
I actually respect the French more for shunning English. As a native English speaker, it would be much more convenient for everyone to speak English. but ffs I'll be damned if I'd ever advocate the erosion of a culture just to make my life a little easier. If I could travel and have everybody speak to me in my native tongue, there would be no point in travelling and I wouldn't do it.
[Spoiler] Je ne parle pas français trés bien [/spoiler]
>>1124234
>I actually respect the French more for shunning English.
This. Honestly, the French are doing globilzation the right way. You don't need to isolate yourself like North Korea, or become belligerent towards foreigners, but you should know what your culture is, and insist upon it within your borders. Language is where that begins, it's the most important part.
>>1120195
Do you mean he EU? The United Kingdom only consists of Britain and Northern Ireland. Also Scotland but that's not even considered its own country atm
Croatia and Italy are your best choices when it comes to food, nature and history, Croatia is a little bit better
>Best nature
Switzerland
>Best history
Italy and France
>Best food
Denmark
>Nicest people
Denmark
>Best overall
Denmark
I fucking love Denmark, especially in winter. So comfy.
>>1124288
What are you on about? The UK is the union of the countries of england, scotland, wales and northern Ireland. Are you saying England is also not a country?
>>1124442
Switzerland is my second favourite European country (after the Czech Republic), but God damn it's expensive there.
>>1124442
>Best food
>Denmark
What the fuck is wrong with you?
>>1123971
RULE BRITANNIA
>>1124442
But Switzerland has no beaches.
Jesus Italy is amazing. Why haven't I been there yet; It's obviously the best at everything. Maybe not niceness but I'm not sensitive so I don't care about that.
>>1125248
>Nature requires beaches.
Top kek.
Coastal Ausfag here, I know beaches, and they're honestly not that great compared to swimming in the crystal clear canals and rivers in Zurich.
Also, a lot of Italy's beaches are terrible, mainly rocks and very little sand in a lot of areas.
>>1124614
He probably enjoys different things to you.
It's a shock, I know, but you'll adjust to this new knowledge.
>>1120194
>best nature
Turkey
>best history
Italy
>best food
Italy
>nicest people
Turkey
>best overall
it's between Italy and Turkey
>best brothels
Zurich
>best escorts
London
>best sex tourism value
Frankfurt
>>1124614
I was thinking about fine dining. Copenhagen has many great restaurants.
>>1125305
>Nicest people
>Turkey
>Best nature
Sardegna, Alps. Expecting great things of Norway and Iceland.
>Best history
Italy
Malta (esp. for prehistoric stuff, but that's not all)
>Best food
Italy
>Nicest people
Southern Italy
>Best overall
I'm sorry, but Italy is great.
>>1120194
My travel in Europe is pretty limited, but here goes. If you hate my choices, bear in mind I maybe haven't been to your netter choice yet.
>Best nature
Scotland's highlands, unless you count Iceland as Europe, in which case, Iceland.
>Best history
Rome and environs. But I got a bonar for Roman History. Honorable mention -- London, what with the Tower and Churchill's Bunker and all that stuff in between.
>Best food
Italy. Honorable mention, France, but I was on a tight budget in France and didn't eat as well there.
>Nicest people
Ireland. No contest. But I was NOT there at the height of tourist season, when everybody might be a bit more tired of us.
>Best overall
Probably Italy, Ireland a close second.
>>1120516
>Malaysia
>Europe Superlatives
>>1120608
I'll echo what somebody else said -- I met plenty of great people in France -- as I met plenty of nice people everywhere. The trouble with France is not that they have fewer nice people than other places, it's that they have a higher share of jerks than many other places -- and add to that that, when a Frenchman decides to act like a dick, he does it with a superciliousness unmatched anyplace else in the world.
ADMISSION -- That about the jerks applies more to Paris, really, than to the rest of France, in my experience.
>>1120653
Go back and read again, the point was not whether you could sit and drink.
>>1120657
Manners works both ways, though. Sure, it is nice to learn a few words of French if you are going to France. It would also be good manners to avoid assuming the worst of people whom perhaps, are embarrassed by their atrociously bad accents, or for any of another dozen harmless reasons speak to you in a different language. Getting angry at guests with so little provocation is never good manners.
>>1120666
>>1123990
Maybe he has only been to England? In which case his range of options would be limited...
I love living in Europe. With a 1 hour flight you can go to a very different country and experience a different culture without too much hassle. I feel bad for people in the US.
>>1125467
You forgot the step where instantly some ____aboo who went there for 10 days with his parents and loved it, will flip his lid and either
>accuse you of being from /pol/ or /b/
>if the country is DPRK, Cuba, or anywhere in Africa, accuse you of being a stupid American who watches too much CNN
>if the country is Israel, accuse you of being an Arab hellbent on destruction of all Jews
>if the country is UAE or Singapore, accuse you of being a dirtbag Real Traveller
>>1125734
How about us poor cunts in Australia.
My nearest city is almost 5000km away.
>Best nature
Sweden
>Best history
Greece
>Best food
Italy, especially Sicily
>Nicest people
Sicily
>Best overall
Sicily!
>>1125465
You are right, but I don't know such people, I think it falls under bad luck to encounters asshats like this. Because it's the same for the French speaking English, it's also because a lot of us have absolutely shit accents that we are reluctant to speak it and are relieved when it's possible to use some French with tourists
>>1125734
We do OK, we have a range of cultures within the country, between regional differences and immigrant communities/cultures. But thanks for being concerned for us!
>>1125736
You're an Arab-American real-traveler, aren't you?
