Paris is perhaps the most quintessential European city. It is famous for its French cuisine and people watching at sidewalk cafes. It is also home to several of the world's most popular tourist destinations, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre museum, which houses the Mona Lisa, as well as other famous works of art. Spend a few days in Paris walking through the streets, shopping, eating, chatting with locals and taking in all the museums and culture you can fit into a short trip. Paris also has two convenient airports: Orly Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, so the city can be accessed from just about any country. Splurge on a chic Paris boutique hotel, or save money and meet new people by staying in one of many hostels located in and around Paris.
Prague is one of the most visited cities in Eastern Europe. It is a relatively affordable city compared to other European hot spots like Paris or London. You can spend a long weekend in Prague exploring the city on foot and seeing some of the famous attractions like the Charles Bridge, Bethlehem Chapel, Dancing House and Prague Castle. Prague also has a thriving art scene, and plenty of nightlife options in case you want to socialize with the locals or other travelers.
While Italy is too vast and rich in culture to experience in just a few days, you can certainly hit a handful of Italian cities and regions to get a feel for the Italian culture. Food is always a must in every Italian city. Fly into Rome to see the ancient Colosseum, The Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, then spend a few days sipping wine and relaxing in the Italian countryside of Tuscany. Or, visit Milan for world class shopping and high fashion, or go to Florence to take in Renaissance art and architecture. Venice is another unique city built around a network of canals with plenty of picturesque churches and several museums.
