Short overseas vacation

[Milks]

I want to take a short overseas vacation, preferably to somewhere in Europe for a week or two. I have my passport and all that shit already from a trip I took a little while back. I've never been to Europe before, and I wanna know if there are things to see that are worthwhile for a couple of weeks. I don't feel that I really have the time to traverse the entire continent, so one or two countries is fine.

Any ideas on how much money I should bring, primary ways of spending (cash or plastic), should I get a Eurail pass, etc.,

Also, staying in a hostel is fine by me, so if anyone has any recommendations, please do so.

Help me out!

[Crouchingllama]

I went to Germany for 2 weeks a couple years ago and in the process visited places all over that country and Innsbruck, Austria. I was going to see my sis and my family rented a car rather than doing the Eurail pass because the places we wanted to visit/scheduling was easier to deal with than being tied to a rail schedule/places you can get to easy. I found cash and plastic (visa) worked most places, but check the exchange rates on the currencies involved before you go, they vary between airports here in the US and the various places you can get the exchange done where ever you're going. I can't comment personally on hostels but I've heard they work well.
As for places, it depends on your interests/destinations...

[Wintermute]

Is there any place in particular you'd like to go or see? May be easier to narrow down a few spots then pick a place you can use as a HUB to go to and from with relative ease.

[Milks]

The countries I'm interested in are Germany, Italy, France, and Greece, in that order. So I'd like to fly into Berlin or possibly Munich, and stay somewhere around there. Any ideas? I was told Wombat's City Hostel is a great place to stay for an extremely cheap price.

[Crouchingllama]

I flew in to Germany at Stuttgart (where my sis was) but freakin'A there's so much just in Berlin and Munich you could spend your 2 weeks just between those 2 cities and places on the way. Personally, I was thrilled to see both of the cities; Berlin's museum district on the river is awesome especially the Pergamon museum on museum island and the Hofbrauhaus in Munich, yeah I know the Hofbrauhaus might be considered touristy by some, but those were the 2 things I wanted to see most in Germany, I saw them, among many other things. If you're a city that has a bell tower or some such that you can walk up, as cheesy as it might sound, it's totally worth it, did that in Innsrbuck and Munich. Also, Martin Luther's original church in Lutherstadt was a neat site, Regensburg was gorgeous and my sis and I had a damn lot of good fun food and beer at the Braueri Kneitiger there! I could go on and on, the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Porsche museum, there's so much I didn't get to see. Another cool place is the Zugspitze south of Munich, the highest mountain in Germany is also a skiing place and the place at the top has entrances to ski lifts that take you in to Austria as well and Itally is right down the road 30 min or so by car.
Berlin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pergamon Museum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Munich - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hofbräuhaus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zugspitze - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I haven't made it to anywhere else in Europe but a bunch of places in German and Innsbruck Austria, but there's so many places to see, so little time.

[eunhye]

I've been wanting to back-pack in Europe, a month at most. Anyone's ever done that?

[Heian]

I've been to hostels in Rome and Naples if you want the info for those two cities. Both were nice and clean, but I do not recommend going to Naples it's a waste of time besides Pompeii.

[Mr.T]

Being from Italy (and having been around pretty much every country in Europe), if you wanna go there you HAVE to visit at least Rome and Florence. In my opinion two of the most beautiful cities that continent (and the world in general) has to offer.
I'm surprised you didn't mention Spain in the countries you want to visit, Barcelona is simply stunning, I'd recommend stopping there for a little bit.

As far as France and Greece: I went there and did not like it one bit. Sure France might be a nice place to visit, but I really didn't like the people there (there are exceptions of course, but in general I didn't like the attitude). Same goes for Greece.

Also if you're into that kind of things, Amsterdam is a must.

edit: about France: french and italians don't go well together most of the times in my experience, so idk for you might be different

[Milks]

I've been to hostels in Rome and Naples if you want the info for those two cities. Both were nice and clean, but I do not recommend going to Naples it's a waste of time besides Pompeii.

I'd like to know about your stay in these hostels. I don't plan on going to either city soon, but I'd like to go to Rome eventually. What should I be looking for when I book a stay at a hostel?

EDIT: Booked a flight to Berlin on May 26. What should I see?

[Crouchingllama]

the zoo is huge, i missed it though, didn't have time
sex museum was right across the street from our hotel, didn't go... should have >>
checkpoint charlie. must
brandenburg gate. must
i saw a concert by the Berlin Radio Symphony while i was there too, that was worth it. plus the opther stuff i mentioned. i only had two days there.

there's a restaurant built under the train tracks near (walking distance iirc) the Pergamon Museum that was great but i forgot the name of it.