re: IM wondering.. where is your first visit to out of country, if you could?

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My favorite part of the Bayern region is the fact that its so close to so many other places.

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Agree. To me, the "Big 3" cities that are must-see for anyone wanting to go to Europe are London, Paris, and Rome. There is literally so much to see and do in those cities and in the surrounding areas that even a week can't scratch the surface.

However, my next favorite big cities in Europe are Munich and Barcelona.

I went to Munich last September and had an absolute blast. We stayed just outside the old city at a brand new A-Loft. It was a very short walk into the heart of the old city... but it was also next door to the train station and a very short walk to the Augustiner beer garden. Day trips to Neucswhanstein and Salzburg are a must. While Munich is a city of about 2 million people, it has a smaller feel to it.

As far as big cities go, here is how I rate the cities of Europe in terms of the most important to see:

1. London
2. Rome
3. Paris
4. Munich
5. Barcelona

To me, these five stand out far above all the other big cities.

As for "smaller cities", but cities nonetheless, in no particular order I'd say Venice, Florence, and Seville are my favorites.

And for places off the beaten path, the Amalfi Coast is my favorite. The Cinque Terra is nice as well.