Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ilsanman]

I am planning a trip to Uk to see family. While I am in Europe, I might as well see another country. I have narrowed it down to Austria or Holland.

For anyone who has been to either or both, which one do you think is a more worthwhile place to see?

[bossface]

i've been to both counties, and enjoyed them both. depends what you want to do, i guess. there are cheap flights to vienna, and london-amsterdam is a pretty quick train trip, under 5 hours via brussels. if you are looking for museums and churches, both cities are great, but i liked vienna more in that regard. if you are looking for nightlife, obviously holland is the way to go.

[Tiger Beer]

I've been to AMSTERDAM in Belgium and INNSBRUCK in Austria. I enjoyed Amsterdam significantly. But if you wanted a mountain town, than Innsbruck would fit that bill. I've never been to VIENNA which is probably the place to compare the two (if you are into the largest city of each country.

[Ilsanman]

Since when is Amsterdam in Belgium?

[Yaya]

I have a Korean buddy who spent his honeymoon in the Czech Republic and Austria. He said Austria was so dull and the people so unfriendly that it made him not want to even return to Europe again (he spent six years in New York and one year in Wales).

Holland seems like the better bet.

[Tiger Beer]

[articulate_ink]

I've spent some time in both. If you've never visited either city, I'd say start with Amsterdam. There's nothing like it. The canals and the architecture are amazing, there's a lot to do, the food's great, it's very multicultural and laid-back and tolerant, and certain pleasures are legal there that can't be as freely obtained elsewhere. (In other words, go smoke up if that's your thing.) The art museums are essentials if you're into culture. An American expat friend in Paris once called Amsterdam a four-day city; I think that's about right. If you have more time than that, you can take a day trip down to Rotterdam, The Hague, or wherever. If you can get to Bruges in Belgium, it's also pretty spectacular.

Vienna? It's like a jewel box: pretty on the outside but mostly designed to showcase its contents. I wanted to like Vienna more than I did. Part of the problem was crappy weather. It's a beautiful city with a lot to offer. It punches far above its weight. But it was clammy and dreary when I was there, after the warm spring-like conditions of Paris and Amsterdam. Plus, the sidewalks in Austria are rolled up a lot earlier than they are in other places. Nighttime can be deathsome. That's another reason why I'd go to Amsterdam first: you're not going to find yourself wandering around looking at all the darkened shopfronts once the sun sets. If you're on an extended trip through Europe, and you've got time, Vienna ought not to be missed.

Random idea: Vienna + Budapest, depending on how much time you have. It's not what you suggested, but that would alter my answer somewhat.