I'd recommend the 10-24 as well. You already have someone who lives in Germany suggest that lens. I was able to travel to Italy, Greece and Turkey last year and found the 10-24 to be very useful. That and the 16-55 were the lenses I went out with every day. I did take the 55-200 on the trip but brought it out only when I thought it might come in handy. Checking my EXIF data I seem to have used the 10-24 from about 15mm-24mm most of the time. You have all these other people debating the use of primes vs zooms so I don't have to burden you with my interpretation. I was recently able to find a new 18-135 for a, for that lens, reasonable price. If I were to travel to Europe now I would take the 10-24 and the 18-135 plus the 27mm prime. I'm not suggesting that you consider the 18-135 nor am I asking anyone to debate the pluses or minuses of this lens, I'm just adding what I would do today. If you feel comfortable with flash I recommend that you take a small one for fill in backlit situations. Regardless, you will be fine no matter what you take but most of all have a great trip!!