15 days in europe? Doable itinerary?
Nov 5th, 2015, 01:55 AM
#1
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15 days in europe? Doable itinerary?
Im first time travel to Europe. Please let me know if my intinerary is doable for 15days in Europe:
Arrive at Paris (4 days)by flight
Bruges/Brussel (2 days)by bus/train
Amsterdam (3 days)by bus/train
Venice (3 days)by flight
Florence (3 days)by fligt back home
Should I narrow down the number of places and oncrease the stay in particular place?
Have a nice day
Arrive at Paris (4 days)by flight
Bruges/Brussel (2 days)by bus/train
Amsterdam (3 days)by bus/train
Venice (3 days)by flight
Florence (3 days)by fligt back home
Should I narrow down the number of places and oncrease the stay in particular place?
Have a nice day
Nov 5th, 2015, 03:37 AM
#2
Hi Rag, not sure when you will be here but I'm going to guess the winter, when the daylight will be short. Lets assume you may have a jetlag so day 1 will be shot getting to the hotel and staying out in the light.
I'd drop Brussels unless you love some of their musuems, Bruges is lovely but small. I'd plan to get to Bruges late in the day and leave early might be better that leaves you with one full day in Bruges which would be fine.
A little rushed but no it works ok.
I'd drop Brussels unless you love some of their musuems, Bruges is lovely but small. I'd plan to get to Bruges late in the day and leave early might be better that leaves you with one full day in Bruges which would be fine.
A little rushed but no it works ok.
Nov 5th, 2015, 04:31 AM
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Doable, but rushed and your days are not properly calculated. You must allow time to get from your hotel to train station or airport, wait time at airport, time getting from station or airport to hotel.
Also, are your 15 days time on the ground total or is that your total including travel to/from home?
Assuming it is only time on the ground, your trip looks something like this.
If it includes travel time, you won't have even this much, and will need to cut something.
Day 1, arrive Paris, get to hotel, checked in by noon, some jet lag, so 1/2 day max.
Day 2, Paris
Day 3, Paris
Day 4, Paris
Day 5, travel to Bruges, 1/2 day travel
Day 6, Bruges
Day 7, travel to Amsterdam, 1/2 day travel
Day 8, Amsterdam
Day 9, Amsterdam
Day 10, travel to Venice, at least 1/2 day travel
Day 11, Venice
Day 12, Venice
Day 13, travel to Florence, 1/3 day travel
Day 14, Florence
Day 15, Florence
Day 16, fly home
3 & 1/2 days, Paris jet lag first day
1 & 1/2 days, Bruges
2 & 1/2 days, Amsterdam
2 & 1/2 days, Venice
2 & 1/2 days Florence.
Are you flying out on day 15 or 16? Day 16, fine. If it is day 15, then you have only
1 & 1/2 days, Florence
If day one is really travel from home, then Paris is only 2 & 1/2 days.
Also, are your 15 days time on the ground total or is that your total including travel to/from home?
Assuming it is only time on the ground, your trip looks something like this.
If it includes travel time, you won't have even this much, and will need to cut something.
Day 1, arrive Paris, get to hotel, checked in by noon, some jet lag, so 1/2 day max.
Day 2, Paris
Day 3, Paris
Day 4, Paris
Day 5, travel to Bruges, 1/2 day travel
Day 6, Bruges
Day 7, travel to Amsterdam, 1/2 day travel
Day 8, Amsterdam
Day 9, Amsterdam
Day 10, travel to Venice, at least 1/2 day travel
Day 11, Venice
Day 12, Venice
Day 13, travel to Florence, 1/3 day travel
Day 14, Florence
Day 15, Florence
Day 16, fly home
3 & 1/2 days, Paris jet lag first day
1 & 1/2 days, Bruges
2 & 1/2 days, Amsterdam
2 & 1/2 days, Venice
2 & 1/2 days Florence.
Are you flying out on day 15 or 16? Day 16, fine. If it is day 15, then you have only
1 & 1/2 days, Florence
If day one is really travel from home, then Paris is only 2 & 1/2 days.
Nov 5th, 2015, 04:34 AM
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Thanks Bilbo, I will be travel end of March. so u'd suggest to get Brussels late in the day and leave early might be better that leaves you with one full day in Bruges which would be fine.
Nov 5th, 2015, 04:39 AM
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Agree that this itinerary is doable but rushed.
My biggest question is the time of year. If in winter you have to allow for very short, gray days and the fact that many sights are not open extended hours as they are in high season.
Also there would be the potential for travel delays - much more likely with plane than train - esp if you run into fog, sleet/ice or even snow.
For transfers between othe cities you should use train - much faster than bus. Be sure to search for train fares as far in advance as possible to get discounts,
My biggest question is the time of year. If in winter you have to allow for very short, gray days and the fact that many sights are not open extended hours as they are in high season.
Also there would be the potential for travel delays - much more likely with plane than train - esp if you run into fog, sleet/ice or even snow.
For transfers between othe cities you should use train - much faster than bus. Be sure to search for train fares as far in advance as possible to get discounts,
Nov 5th, 2015, 04:57 AM
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Thanks Sassafrass, I will be on the ground 16 days, 15 nights, but the first day and night + the last day would be leave out due to jet lag and fly home. In the end it is 14 full days and nights. I guess i will leave Florence out of the list then, the new one is:
Paris (4days)
Bruges (2days)
Amsterdam (4days)
Venice (4days)
What do you think?
Paris (4days)
Bruges (2days)
Amsterdam (4days)
Venice (4days)
What do you think?
Nov 5th, 2015, 04:59 AM
#7
Also need to think a little about Mondays. Museums tend to have a day off on Mondays in both France and Italy, not all but certainly the smaller ones. Hence if you travel on a Monday during your fortnight time would be best used.
Nov 5th, 2015, 05:16 AM
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Really a shame to miss Florence. I would eliminate Belgium and Amsterdam, add a day to Paris, and visit Venice and Florence. Or if you prefer, add time to Paris, visit Belgium and Amsterdam and save Italy for another trip. It would make your trip less rushed and more enjoyable.
Nov 5th, 2015, 06:36 AM
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Forgoet buses as they basically do not exist or are not practical for your towns you have bus/train for - for a good fix on European trains check www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. Especially check www.seat61.comfor tips on scoring deep discounted train tickets - like on the Thalys train Paris to Brussels for as little as 29 euros vs full fare of probably 100 euros or so.
I think you have a very doable itinerary but in some cases less can be more!
I think you have a very doable itinerary but in some cases less can be more!
Nov 5th, 2015, 07:25 AM
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Agree with Mamcalice.
Florence is so close to Venice and an easy trip by train directly city center to city center, I personally would not cut Florence if I was going to Venice.
I hate to suggest entirely different places because you probably have personal reasons for your choices. However, March can be still cold and rainy in the Netherlands, so I might consider dropping Bruges and Amsterdam and spending all the time in Italy, seeing Florence and Rome. Of course, it can be rainy in Rome then too and I have been in the Netherlands twice at that time of year - once it was snowing and cold, once with flowers blooming. As long as you know ahead the weather possibilities, go to the places that most appeal to you.
Unless you plan on day trips from Venice and Amsterdam, and there are great ones from each city, I would not give the same time to them as to Paris. I think I would cut at least one from Venice and give it to Paris (or another place) and perhaps one from Amsterdam.
If you have not already bought tickets, look at different arrangements of the itinerary.
If you keep Venice, but skip Florence, start in Venice and depart from Amsterdam.
Arrive Venice
Fly to Paris
Train to Bruges
Train to Amsterdam
Depart
If you keep Florence, and if you can fly into Florence, start there. If you cannot fly into Florence, fly into Rome, train to Florence, train to Venice and continue.
Florence is so close to Venice and an easy trip by train directly city center to city center, I personally would not cut Florence if I was going to Venice.
I hate to suggest entirely different places because you probably have personal reasons for your choices. However, March can be still cold and rainy in the Netherlands, so I might consider dropping Bruges and Amsterdam and spending all the time in Italy, seeing Florence and Rome. Of course, it can be rainy in Rome then too and I have been in the Netherlands twice at that time of year - once it was snowing and cold, once with flowers blooming. As long as you know ahead the weather possibilities, go to the places that most appeal to you.
Unless you plan on day trips from Venice and Amsterdam, and there are great ones from each city, I would not give the same time to them as to Paris. I think I would cut at least one from Venice and give it to Paris (or another place) and perhaps one from Amsterdam.
If you have not already bought tickets, look at different arrangements of the itinerary.
If you keep Venice, but skip Florence, start in Venice and depart from Amsterdam.
Arrive Venice
Fly to Paris
Train to Bruges
Train to Amsterdam
Depart
If you keep Florence, and if you can fly into Florence, start there. If you cannot fly into Florence, fly into Rome, train to Florence, train to Venice and continue.
Nov 5th, 2015, 10:29 AM
#13
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Arrive Venice
Fly to Paris>
There is also the Thello overnight train between Venice and Paris - save daytime travel time even over flying and the cost of a hotel night - that said not everyone can get a good sleep on night trains so if a light sleeper if may not be the best idea. www.thello.com for schedules and fares including discounted ones if you book far enough in advance.
Fly to Paris>
There is also the Thello overnight train between Venice and Paris - save daytime travel time even over flying and the cost of a hotel night - that said not everyone can get a good sleep on night trains so if a light sleeper if may not be the best idea. www.thello.com for schedules and fares including discounted ones if you book far enough in advance.
