Favorite countries to visit that you've explored more than 3 cities in?

Austria

In the late 90's, my brother and I were invited to cook jambalaya for a festival in Fieberbrunn, Austria. All of our expenses were paid by the festival. Flights, hotels, meals, everything. This trip was the first time I traveled out of the USA and sitting on a balcony of a brewery with the backdrop of the Alps in St. Johann, Austria before arriving to Fieberbrunn was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Drinking beer and eating fresh baked bread and pretzels was one of the greatest experiences I have had up to that point in my life. Being this was at the height of my professional drinking career, this trip was heaven.

While there I met several people and stayed in touch via email until 2009 when I decided that I would return for the festival. Since 2009, I have made 10 trips back to Fieberbrunn either as a destination or part of a trip to Europe. I have made some good friends there and feel very much welcome in that little village.

Sometimes it is hard to explain exactly how you feel towards someone that has impacted your life and this is one of those times. That trip did a lot to influence what direction my life would take and for that I am ever grateful to the people of Fieberbrunn.

I wasn't able to visit this year and I will try to make it the last time that I don't visit there at least once a year.

Why

I get what you're asking, but I'm not sure if there's a better way to put it.

I enjoyed the nine days I spent in Iceland and driving the Ring Road, but Iceland really only has two "cities" (do we count towns?).

The week I spent driving around Jordan was fantastic, but I only spent one night in Amman and didn't explore the city at all.

Peru goes on the list for sure. I spent 17 days there and really enjoyed getting off the gringo trail in places such as Iquitos, Tarapoto, Chiclayo, and Trujillo.

My favorite place is the Azores, and I visited four islands, but the Azores are part of Portugal and not really their own country.

Bali:

Every place we went offered entirely different experiences.

1. Black sand beaches with a really relaxing resort atmosphere
2. National wildlife preserve with beaches and jungle, lots to hike and explore
3. City with shops and restaurants

Northern Italy:

1. Modena: European city with a college town feel, amazing food and open air markets
2. Piedmont: smaller town feel in the hills and surrounded by vineyards, but also amazing restaurants
3. Florence: Meh at best
4. Cinque Terre: Never again
5. Lake Como: relaxing place with incredible views

Nope ok

Switzerland - seems like every town/city that you stop into is something out of a fairy tale.
Lucerne, Lauderbrunnen, Grindelwald, Interlaken, etc. All a little different, but all wonderful.

Hope to be able to add Slovenia to this, because we'll get to do City, Mountain/Nature and coastal town all in one trip.

Obvi, France, Italy, Germany, Austria....but the recent sleeper hit was Scotland. Edinburgh, Stirling, smaller towns like Glencoe, Ballachulish, etc. Country in fall is scenic, damp, and farm from overrun. Dramatic views abound in the southern Highlands.

Portugal would probably be tops for me.

Sao Miguel island in the Azores for a complete nature overload.
Porto for the wine and port.
Sintra for castles and palaces.
Lisbon for the big city.

I really enjoyed doing the Rome>Florence>Venice Italy circuit as well.

Doing Paris, Bordeaux, and Lyon was also great.

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Why

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I have updated my post.