What to see in Europe in 10 days

Going to Europe for 10 days can be a whirlwind trip, but with a little planning it can be done. Lets start with flying into London, and I will be using Los Angeles as the departure city.

Day 1 I like night flights, as they appear to be shorter, of course they are not, but if one is able to sleep on the plane - as I do - then the flight does not seem too long. Arrival in London is in the morning, putting you in the right time of day in their time zone. This is important as it gives one many hours to become adjusted to the time difference. There are many ways to get into the city from the airport - the metro goes to the heart of the city, rental cars are available and there are airport transfer coaches, which makes stops at certain points of the city, choose the one nearest to your hotel, and of course there are private transfer companioes that pick up at the airport and goes directly to the individual hotel.

Day 2 A good way to start your visit to London is by seeing the "Changing of the Guard" at Buckingham Palace. The actual ceremony takes place at 11:30am daily in front of the main Palace gates. For a good view it is recommended to get there by 11:00am, as the guards begin arriving at 11:15am. If you attend on your own it is free, but for those who prefer they can include it in a City Tour of London. There is a guide booklet, with many tips and information about the ceremony, for sale, and depending on ones knowledge about this event, it is a good thing to have, it even suggests where to stand for the best pictures. The changing of the guards is over by 12 noon. find a Pub in the area for lunch they usually have the best food. Now as you are already here, you might want to tour the Palace. The State Room and Gardens are open, from the end of July to late September and one ticket will give admission to the Queens Gallery and Royal Mews as well - these two can be visited at other times of the year. Not far from the Palace is "Speakers Corner" in Hyde Park, It has for over a 150 years been one of London's most eccentric and unique attractions. On any given Sunday morning, anyone with an opinion to air can hold forth, sometimes they become very loud and contentious, but if one is lucky they may catch a glimpse into the city's real past. Also in the park is "The Serpentine" a large artificial lake, and Marble Arch which was originally built in 1827 as the gateway to Buckingham Palace

Day 3 and 4 I recommend using the hop-on hop-off bus, a convenient way to visit all the main tourist attractions, and how long one wants to stay at each. The ticket is good for 24 hours, has live commentary on board and includes free walking tours and river cruises. On one of these days visitors can visit attractions that were not included on the bus tour. Among the sites are Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Picadilly Circus, Downing Street and London Bridge to name a few. There are different routes for these buses some go to the Museums - of which London has many that are free to visit.

London's Theatre district is famous, but it can be expensive, visitors can save on the prices by visiting the most famous discount theatre shop in the Clocktower building in Leicester Square, where they can purchase half-priced tickets for the day of performance to West End plays, musicals and operas. They also sell advanced tickets at a discount.

There is more than one way to get to Paris from London, one can take a flight, of which there are many to choose from, during the day or evening, or one can take the train, which links London to Paris, via the Chunnel, in about two and half hours. There are standard, leisure and business class tickets, which start at about 61USD oneway.

Paris has so much to see that it is recommended using the Hop-on-hop-off bus for one or two days to see the sites at your leisure. This is the easiest way as there are four interconnecting routes whose highlights include the Louvre Museum,Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Trocadero, on one route while other places to see on the other routes include Montparnasse, The Bastille and Saint Germain Des Pres, There are Bus Tours that will take you to many of the same places, but they are more structured.

Getting around Paris, visitors have the option of walking, this is my favourite, especially on the West Bank which has long winding walking paths along the river seine, with places to sit and rest. There is also the Paris Metro and inexpensive way to get around the city, it is easy to use as the stops are clearly shown above the seats. While there have lunch at a sidewalk cafe along the Champs-Elysees.

One of the best attractions in Paris is the Bateau Mouche Riverboat Dinner Cruise. Passengers enjoy a 3-course dinner and drinks while enjoy Paris at night through the glass roofs as they glide along the Seine River, under the many bridges, with intricate art work and statues.

Of the many out of the city attractions, the one that should not be missed is a visit to the Palace of Versailles half-an-hour outside Paris. Visitors can take a guided tour, which I highly recommend as there is so much to see, both inside and outside the Palace. The Palace began in 1624 as a hunting lodge for Louis XIII, King of France, he updated it over the years to become the Grand Chateau it is today. In 1837 Louis-Philipe converted it to a Museum of French History, definitely worth a visit, especially the world famous Gardens. Visitors can take a tour from Paris, or use the train, which goes directly to the town of Versailles, just a short walk from the Palace.

There is so much to see, both in London and Paris, that 10 days is not nearly enough time. Also, if you were able to visit all the many attractions, in both London and Paris, you would not have got any rest, or really seen each place fully. It is best to spend more time at each city, so that you can really see all they have to offer.