Samantha_Bartlett

Can someone help me plan a route in Europe for two weeks? My husband and I plan on backpacking, staying in hostels, eating cheap, and go go go. We don't want to stay at a place for more than a couple of days at a time. We have lots of energy and want to see as many things as we can. What is the best route and how much time is realistically possible?

StCirq

If you have lots of energy, sprint to your nearest bookstore or library and start reading. Europe is enormous. No one can plan a route for you until you've done your own research and come up with a few good ideas.

HG001London

hey there,

Hi there, my advise would be to pick one country and really see it, you can still move around a lot but the journeys will be shorter and you';; spend more time seeing lots.

If you really really want to see a variety of places what about...


Venice,italy...to
Lake Bled,slovenia...to
vienna, austria...to
prague, CR...to
budapest,Hungary...to
Krakow,Poland...to

Have fun planning

HG001London

it would be very much go go go but if you fancy that this could be a good route ( or maybe changethe last bit round to prague-krakow-budapest)

PalenQ

We don't want to stay at a place for more than a couple of days at a time>

I gather you have not been to Europe before? So you may naturally wish to see the big tourist cities you've been dreaming about all your lives - Paris, London, Rome, Florence, Venice and Switzerland pop to mind - and a route, yes fast-paced as you indicate and which I often have done (but many will condemn here for sure per past discussions!) try

London - 3 days, including landing
Eurostar Chunnel Train to Paris
Paris 3 days
Switzerland 2 days
Venice 2 days
florence 2 days
Rome 3 days
fly home

and to visit big cities cars are practically useless so take the train - European trains are fast and frequent - there are also overnight trains to cover ground at night and save a night's hostel or hotel costs to boot. Investigate a 15-consecutive-day Eurailpass if you are moving every few days or a Eurail Select Pass valid in 3, 4 or 5 countries for a number of days of your chosing - if under 26 you can get the bargain Eurail Youthpass - for loads of great stuff on European trains I always spotlight these fantastic IMO sites - www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latter's free and superb IMO online European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of sample rail itineraries, etc. For London to Paris cheap tickets (Chunnel trains not covered by railpasses) go to www.eurostar.com and book as early as possible as tickets are sold in tiers of strict allotments from cheapest to most expensive - early bird gets the worm - again has a youth fare possible if under 26).

adrienne

<< We don't want to stay at a place for more than a couple of days at a time...want to see as many things as we can >>

Keep in mind that a fast-paced itinerary with lots of changes of venue will not allow you to see as many things (I gather you mean sights) as moving less frequently. You'll spend lots of time in transit rather than sightseeing.

This is not to condemn your fast-paced plans. You'll see lots of places but not lots of sights.

Where you go depends on what types of things you want to see and when you'll be going. Will you be using public transport or renting a car. What you'll get here is other opinions of the best itinerary.

Paris, Normandy, Provence
OR
Venice, Florence, Rome
OR
Prague, Krakow, Vienna

jent103

As others have said, it's REALLY hard to ask others to plan a trip for you without knowing what specifically interests you. When you get excited about going to Europe, what specifically are you thinking about? I could tell you to head to Italy for history and architecture, but maybe you want to drink beer in Germany and see theatre in London.

Some general tips: Buy open-jaw or multi-city plane tickets and put your trip in geographic order. For example, fly into London, take the Eurostar to Paris, fly to Venice, take the train to Rome and fly home from Rome. You'll save a lot of time and probably money backtracking that way. Book or at least do research on hostel options before you go. A lot of people like the idea of winging it, but doing that means you spend a lot of time when you get to each new place trying to figure out where you're going to sleep.

When are you planning to go? Summer vs. spring, fall or winter would make a big difference in recommendations.