2 weeks Europe trip

Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 09:10 AM
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2 weeks Europe trip

We are planning a 2 weeks trip in last week of July-August. Our flight connection is from Amsterdam. I'm confused to select places to visit. We are interested in culture, food, and relaxing; also this will be our first Europe trip. We are thinking of Amsterdam, Paris, Italy (Rome, Venice and Florence), Prague and Budapest. We are a couple travelling on our own.

Could someone suggest possible itinary which can cover some of these places?

I'm aware that it will be summer but this is when I have the most time off.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 09:52 AM
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Since this is your first (not your last) trip to Europe here are my tips for what they are worth. London, Paris & Rome are the big three because they have so much to offer. Plan at least 3-4 days for each city and remember it eats into your schedule to travel from one city to the next. I like the idea of each of you closing your eyes and imaginaning yiurselves in Europe. Now open your eyes and share your thoughts with each othere. Were you shopping on the Champs-Elyses, touring the colliseum or ogeling the crown jewels at the Tower of London? That should guide you... it's your trip and you are the only ones who have to be pleased. Have fun planning and traveling.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 10:36 AM
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A variation from the excellent suggestion above--What have you always wanted to see? "The Eiffel Tower!" "The Vatican!". That can help you determine where to go. Don't bite off too much--many people have the tendency to do this. Leave days for just wandering or returning to something you loved. You will waste time traveling, so how about one country with three highlights? Set a budget or a spending limit to help you figure out where and what you will see. Keep in mind that admission to tourist places will add to your spending. Have fun!
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 01:15 PM
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Look carefully at your actual time. Win you say two weeks, does that mean you have two full weeks on the ground in Europe (15 nights)? Or does the two weeks include flight time to/from Europe?

For about two weeks, I'd recommend you choose three destinations. As mentioned above, you lose time each time you change locations, from half a day up to most of the day.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 01:29 PM
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To help you narrowing down your choices: southern Europe can be uncomfortably hot in summer.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 02:09 PM
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We are thinking of Amsterdam, Paris, Italy (Rome, Venice and Florence), Prague and Budapest. We are a couple travelling on our own.>

Two weeks....ummh...

I'd forget Prague and Budapest and hit the biggies - Amsterdam, Paris and Italy- a little rushed - a few more days all told would be sweet:

Land in Amsterdam
3 full days

Thalys high-speed train to Paris
4 full days

Overnight Thello train Paris to Venice
2 days

Train to Florence
2 days

Train to Rome
3-4 days

Fly home from Rome

For lots of info on the superb train system check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com (check out their online European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of rail itineraries); www.ricksteves.com.

If Budapest and Prague -ditch Italy and go Paris to Munich-Prague=Budapest-fly home from Budapest. Spend a few days in Munich too -right on the way.

And yes Rome and Florence boil in summer - avg high in Florence in 90s I believe and those places and Paris will be especially crowded in mid-summer but if you may never return... there is always a bit of travail in travel.

For schedules of all European trains- www.bahn.de/en - German Railways site.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 05:25 PM
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You have time for 4 or 5 destinations--no more.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 06:15 PM
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Thanks you all for your response.

"Look carefully at your actual time. Win you say two weeks, does that mean you have two full weeks on the ground in Europe (15 nights)? Or does the two weeks include flight time to/from Europe?"
Yes Kathie, it will be 15 days in Europe.

Thanks, tonfromleiden we are considering of skipping Italy for this time as it will be hot.

PalenQ, thanks for giving an itinary.

"And yes Rome and Florence boil in summer - avg high in Florence in 90s I believe and those places and Paris will be especially crowded in mid-summer but if you may never return... there is always a bit of travail in travel."
if this is the case, we can skip Italy and come next time only for Italy.

"If Budapest and Prague -ditch Italy and go Paris to Munich-Prague=Budapest-fly home from Budapest. Spend a few days in Munich too -right on the way."
Could you share more details about this, how would be wheather and crowd in these places?
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 12:44 AM
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No one knows what the weather will be like, but statistically Italy will have a damp hot feeling more so than anything else.

Going into the centre of the continent like Munich/Vienna/Budapest is likely to have lovely mornings with big cloud build up followed by flash rain storms in the late afternoon.

UK could be anything but London indoors will be dry and the city is unlikely to be above 28C and more like 24 25.


Based on climate, your defined interest and ease of access, I'd look at

Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest. Of these Prague will be packed. The first two will have loads of people but are big cities so can absorb them, while many of the people of Budapest will be in the countryside.

If it were my first visit at this time, I'd do London, Paris, Amsterdam, fly into London and out of Amsterdam. Book the trains soon to get the best prices. seat61.com explains
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 02:18 AM
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I too would do London, Paris and Amsterdam as per Bilboburgler's advice if this was my first trip to Europe.
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 12:37 PM
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I too would do London, Paris and Amsterdam as per Bilboburgler's advice if this was my first trip to Europe.>

Yesminimizes travel time and expenses - could do some day trips from each to smaller cities or easily stop overnight in Bruges when going between Paris and Amsterdam.

3 of Europe's great cities and little language barrier in Amsterdam where most folks speak rather good English you will encounter.

book train tickets early for discounts:

www.eurostar.com for Paris to London
www.thalys.com for Paris to Bruges or Amsterdam.
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 01:28 PM
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Ditto me, though I like breaking up a trip with something different - e.g. London to start, Paris to finish, and in the middle something like a biking holiday in the Netherlands. Bilbo would know more about that than I do, but physical activity always seems to make a holiday seem longer and more fun.
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 11:12 PM
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good idea ann, I'm not sure I'd advise part-time cyclists to ride in central amsterdam (imagine a motorway of bikes), Palenque would know better than me, but catch a train out to a local beauty sport and hire there for an afternoon's ride is a lovely way to spend time.

NB majority of riding in the netherlands is incredibly safe, no need for helmets etcs
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 11:14 PM
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Kroller-Muller is a great day's visit
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 10:55 AM
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There have been free bikes at entrance to the vast park Kroller-Muller sits in.

From A'dam take train to Ede-Weningen(sp?) and bus to park entrance or onto the museum.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 11:18 AM
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7 cities is way too much for 2 weeks. Only you can say which places are of the most interest to you.

2 weeks would be great for the 3 cities in Italy only (one example).

Or do Amsterdam (since you're flying in there) with Paris, maybe London.

Like that.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 11:24 AM
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"We are interested in culture, food and relaxing"

How about Amsterdam, Netherlands and Belgium outside the major cities? (e.g. Delft, The Hague,Kroller-Muller and Het Loo, Ghent, Bruges, Mechelen). There is lots to see and do, and it is pretty laid back.

We visited Belgium and the Netherlands a couple of years ago and found the food better and less expensive than in Paris, where we stayed for a week after that.

To do much more is not going to give you much time to relax.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 11:25 AM
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P.S.--if you do decide to do that, you should include Rotterdam.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 01:11 PM
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good idea ann, I'm not sure I'd advise part-time cyclists to ride in central amsterdam (imagine a motorway of bikes), Palenque would know better than me, but catch a train out to a local beauty sport and hire there for an afternoon's ride is a lovely way to spend time.>>

Bilbo, I wouldn't consider cycling in any big [or even small] city in the Netherlands unless one were a very experienced cyclist - I think that they are lethal. I was thinking more of the countryside or along the canals - that's why i didn't say Amsterdam.
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