ladyhsu

Hello all. please help. im planning a trip to europe in april.. for 16 days.. my first time to europe. please help me see if this is feasible:

Rome - Venice - Milan - Zurich - Paris

Is this ok? how long should i spend on each place? is there any i am advise to cancel? or can i add any more cities inside?

is april a good time? or would you all suggest other months?

Hope to be able have farm stays, pick berries, see the pretty blue sky, the lake and greens...

wanted add Prague into the itinerary.. but not possible right? sighss.

StCirq

April is a great month to visit. Zurich is about my least favorite place in all of Europe, so I certainly wouldn't go there, but it might appeal to you. I would ditch it and substitute Prague, which is a wonderful destination.

janisj

You have listed only very large cities -- there are no countryside or berry picking or farms.

If you want to see countryside/farms you will need to cut way back on the number of cities. Maybe pick two or three cities and then add some time in the countryside near one of them.

nytraveler

I think that April is too early to pick berries most places - and you are rushing from city to city - with barely any time to see a couple of major sights (2.5 days per city) since you have not allowed for time to travel from one city to another.

It it were me I would limit myself to 3 cities and actually see a little bit of them - and have a couple of days to see the countryside (but be aware that Swtiz mountains will still be snowy - not green).

fmpden

Why did you choose those cities? It is a long way between Paris and Rome and you would have some long travel days. Does your 16 days include travel to and from Europe? What research have you done? And what are your interests? Farm stays can be difficult if you don't rent a car. Are not going to pick many berries in Rome or Venice. You need to get a map and put some pins in it.

It would be best to use open jaws - into Paris and home from Rome or reverse. Kind of agree with StCirq about Zurich. It is worth a day but only if in route. While I like Milan others would suggest that it is not worth a lot of time.

If it was my trip for 14 days I would focus on Italy - Rome, Florence, Venice, and Tuscany for picking berries and save Paris for another trip and it keeps you a little further south.

I think April can be marginal - cool if not cold and rainy. Personally prefer May or Sept/Oct.

Need more information from you before making an recommends other than general comments.

adrienne

I would take Zurich off the list and devote your time to the other 4 cities.

Rome - 5 days
Venice - 2 days
Milan - 2 days
Paris - 5 days

The other 2 days will be taken up traveling between locations. I wouldn't add anything to this list except perhaps a day trip outside Rome or Paris.

What type of berries are ripe in April? I'm not a gardener but I don't know of any berries that ripen before summer. Plus there won't be any berry picking in cities. If you're lucky you might see some wisteria in Rome or some pansies some place - things that bloom in cool weather.

Even if you're outside cities I would not pick some farmer's crops - that's their livelihood and you'll be trespassing on private land.

You also need to get serious with the lakes. You'll find fountains, perhaps some ponds, in cities but not lakes. If there's enough rain things will be green.

Phil306

I'd agree with Adriene. Unless you have some overwhelming reason to see Zurich (family, etc), I'd dump it from the list. In fact, I'd dump Milan too. It would be easier to fly into Venice for 3 days, train to Florence (much better the Milan), then train to Rome. You can then take an overnight train from Rome to Paris. You are going to need a MINIMUM of 4 nights/days in Rome and Paris. Work the rest out between the other two and/or add extra nights in Rome or Paris.

Everyone keeps talking about travel times within Europe. While a factor, yes, not a huge factor. Two reasons: There are MANY over night trains, which really makes it moot. Moreover, most flights within Europe are very short (On May 23rd, I'm flying from Rome to London; leave at 7am and I'll be in London by 9 am. I'll have the whole rest of the day) and moreover, flights are very cheap within Europe. So long as you book early. Of course, going to the airports with security and all is a pain.

adrienne

<< Rome to London; leave at 7am and I'll be in London by 9 am >>

You must have a magic carpet to make that trip in 2 hours. It's at least 30 minutes to/from the cities to the airports and you need to be at FCO 1 hour before the flight, flying time 2 hours 40 minutes = almost 5 hours.

ladyhsu

hello all. thank you for the advice!! no special reason for zurich.. just thought when i view the map.. Switzerland near France.. so thought could make a trip there..

yes.. 16 days include travel..

april is spring right? but will be cool and rainy? will may be a better time then?

yes yes im reading up and it seems florence is a better option than milan..

maybe no fruit-picking but anywhere near hv countryside and farm stays? or farm stays are not popular in italy/france...

janisj

I took the 'berry picking' just to mean being on a farm or in the country -- not literally picking berries. If you do really mean picking berries - you need to go at the end of summer.

Phill306: >>On May 23rd, I'm flying from Rome to London; leave at 7am and I'll be in London by 9 am.<<

City center to city center your trip will be more like 7 hours.

janisj

oh - we were posting at the same time.

ladyhsu

ok hello all. im revising:

Venice (2n)
Florence (3n) including a daytrip to siena, san gimignao
Rome (5n) including 2 day trip to val d'orcia and pompeii
Paris (4n)

does it seems better?

Bamaman

You'd do best to go via fast trains Rome to Florence to Venice and fly on a budget air carrier over to Paris. And in that order. Your time split between the cities is correct.

adrienne

This itinerary is looking better. You might want to consider starting in Rome and working north. You could take a night train from Venice to Paris, that would give you an extra day in Venice.

adrienne

Farm stays are popular in Italy (and France); they're called agriturismos but you would need a car to get around. Look for places that offer dinners so you don't have to drive over dark and winding roads from a restaurant. These places are not necessarily working farms and probably would not have their guests pick berries if they were. You could pick berries at home.

ladyhsu

start from rome first also can? cos i was doing some readings and seems all that i read up pple goes from rome to paris.. so i thought venice couldnt.. yes.. im looking at overnight train for rome/venice to paris...