Hi, my wife and I are planning to visit spain, italy, greece and france for 27 days taking a cruise in between, I am torn between visiting either florence and rome, or visiting them on the cruise ship for a day each and doing the bernina and glacier express in switzerland, here are the two itineraries.
Itinerary 1
1st July Islamabad-Barcelona
1,2,3,4,5 Barcelona (5 nights)
6th Cruise 12 night Holland America cruise cities in Italy, Greece
18th Venice half day
18, 19 Florence (2 nights)
20,21,22, Rome (3 nights)
23 Rome-Paris
23, 24,25,26 Paris (4 nights)
27 Paris-Islamabad
Itinerary 2
1st July Islamabad-Barcelona
1,2,3,4,5 Barcelona (5 nights)
6th Cruise 12 night Holland America cruise visiting Italy, Greece
17 Venice half day
18, Venice-Milan-Lugano Lugano (1 night)
19 Lugano-St Moritz st Moritz (1 night) Bernina Express
20, 21 St Moritz-Zermatt Zermatt (2 night) Glacier Express
22 Zermatt-Geneva Geneva (1 night)
23 Geneva-Paris
,23,24,25,26 Paris (5 nights)
27 Paris-Islamabad
4 country europe itinerary in July, need HELP!!!
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Never been to Barcelona but Rome - love that city. If you're into ancient history, can't beat it.
i am just back from 25 days trip of spain and italy what advise u need ,pl specify
for rome 1 day is not enough,same for florence if u need to go to pisa and cinque tere villages,if u like history,rome is perfect ,florence has scenic excursions to tuscany
Well the Bernina Express IMO is Europe's most awesomely scenic train line - the only line to go up and over the Alps north to south and not tunneling under it - a Top of the World scene at the pass - Glacier Express IMO is Europe's most over-hyped overrated scenic train line - except for portions by st Moritz (fantastic Albula Loops part) and Zermatt to Visp the other scenery quickly becomes ho-hum IME - an 8-hour marathon ride if you go straight thru St Moritz to Zermatt.
Anyway your Swiss train travels if you take that option dictate strong consideration of a Swiss Pass - valid on all your trains, including Bernina Express and Glacier Express though you do have to pay seat reservation/supplement to use those official scenic trains - otherwise regular trains over same route you can just hop on like any train in Switzerland.
Great sources of info IMO on Swiss trains, Swiss Passes (also valid on lake boats, postal buses and free entry to over 400 Swiss Museums and city trams and buses) I always spotlight these IMO fab sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html; and www.ricksteves.com. Swiss Passes are often IME cheaper when bought in the US or Canada than for the exact same pass in Switzerland - ain't always true but has been for much of the past several years. You could also consider the Half-Fare Card and Swiss Card but for your wide-ranging travels I'd go for the pass - with a pass I always also end up using it much more than previsioned!
Oh on Bernina Pass Railway you have local trains about every hour you can just hop on with a pass or ticket and then 3-4 or so a day of official Bernina Express trains - certainly one of the world's slowest 'express' trains but a bit faster than local trains and they do not stop as much - these fancy trains with domed observation cars and commentary in several languages are meant strictly for tourists - kind of a guided tour. But the scenery is exactly the same of course on either train.
I think your second itinerary is too much moving around.
I do agree with kybourbon on he last comment. I would drop Milan and Lugano - spend more time in Venice and go right to the Bernina Pass railway from Venice, via Milan and Tirano, Italy.