annavontrapp

Hi there! My younger brother and his girlfriend and I (all 22-23) are planning a trip to Europe for 2015; late May to June. We are going to be doing more backpack-style traveling, and will not have a car. I studied abroad in Salzburg so I am somewhat familiar with the region; have been to Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Vienna, Melk, Salzburg and Munich, but it has been a while.

We are looking at a 3-week trip, however I need to confirm with my work; otherwise it will be a 2.5-week trip. I've posted 3 potential itineraries and would appreciate some feedback! \\

3-WEEK ITINERARY (ALL CITIES)

Day 1, Sat 5/30: Drive Seattle => Vancouver, then Vancouver => Amsterdam
-Night 1: Flying
Day 2, Sun 6/1: Arrive into Amsterdam!
-Night 2: Amsterdam!
Day 3, Mon 6/1: Amsterdam!
-Night 3: Amsterdam!
Day 4, Tues 6/2: Amsterdam!
-Night 4: Amsterdam!
Day 5, Weds 6/3: Amsterdam => Berlin! (probably plane but maybe train)
-Night 5: Berlin!
Day 6, Thurs 6/4: Berlin!
-Night 6: Berlin!
Day 7, Fri 6/5: Berlin!
-Night 7: Berlin!
Day 8, Sat 6/6: Berlin => Prague (probably train)
-Night 8: Prague
Day 9, Sun 6/7: Prague!
-Night 9: Prague!
Day 10, Mon 6/8: Prague!
-Night 10: Prague!
Day 11, Tues 6/9: Prague!
-Night 11: Prague!
Day 12, Weds 6/10: Prague => Cesky Krumlov (not sure if bus or train will be best; also not sure if we will want to spend the night here or not but for now we have planned on yes)
-Night 12: CK
Day 13, Thurs 6/11: CK => Vienna (again, not sure if train or bus)
-Night 13, Vienna!
Day 14, Fri 6/12: Vienna!
-Night 14: Vienna!
Day 15, Sat 6/13: Vienna!
-Night 15: Vienna!
Day 16, Sun 6/14: Vienna => Stift Melk (would be a bus or a train)
-Night 16: Melk?
(The original plan here was to leave Vienna early in the morning, sightsee around Melk, hop on a boat up to Spitz, then bike from Spitz to Krems. Then we would train from Krems to Salzburg. But I haven't quite figured out what we're doing with our packs while we bike; also, this is supposed to be an absolutely gorgeous valley on the river with lots of wine . So I think we may want to stay at least 1 night here, but I'm not sure in which small city will be best.)
Day 17, Mon 6/15: Melk/Spitz/Krems (somewhere) => Salzburg (probably train)
-Night 17: Salzburg!
Day 18, Tues 6/16: Salzburg!
-Night 18: Salzburg!
Day 19, Weds 6/17: Salzburg!
-Night 19: Salzburg!
Day 20, Thurs 6/18: Salzburg => Munich (train)
-Night 20: Munich
Day 21, Fri 6/19: Munich!
-Night 21: Munich!
Day 22, Sat 6/20: Munich!
-Night 22: Munich!
Day 23, Sun 6/21: Munich => Vancouver and Vancouver => Seattle

I allowed for 3 full days in Amsterdam to allow us time to enjoy the city while getting over our jet lag; does this seem like too much? If so, should we allow 1 more night in a different city, or is there another small stop-over town where we should spend one night? Also, I know most people would prefer to stay less time in Salzburg; the reason I've allowed us so much time here is because of my studying abroad.

2.5 WEEK ITINERARY (ALL CITIES, does not include night in Cesky Krumlov)

Day 1, Weds 6/3: Drive Seattle => Vancouver, then Vancouver => Amsterdam
-Night 1: Flying
Day 2, Thurs 6/4: Amsterdam!
-Night 2: Amsterdam!
Day 3, Fri 6/5: Amsterdam!
-Night 3: Amsterdam!
Day 4, Sat 6/6: Amsterdam => Berlin! (probably plane, but maybe train)
-Night 4: Berlin!
Day 5, Sun 6/7: Berlin!
-Night 5: Berlin!
Day 6, Mon 6/8: Berlin!
-Night 6: Berlin!
Day 7, Tues 6/9: Berlin => Prague!
-Night 7: Prague!
Day 8, Weds 6/10: Prague!
-Night 8: Prague!
Day 9, Thurs 6/11: Prague!
-Night 9: Prague!
Day 10, Fri 6/12: Prague => Cesky Krumlov => Vienna (not sure if bus or train will be best; also not sure if we will want to spend the night here or not but for now we have planned on no)
Night 10: Vienna!
Day 11, Sat 6/13: Vienna!
-Night 11: Vienna!
Day 12, Sun 6/14: Vienna!
-Night 12: Vienna!
Day 13, Mon 6/15: Vienna => Stift Melk (would be a bus or a train)
-Night 13: Melk?
(The original plan here was to leave Vienna early in the morning, sightsee around Melk, hop on a boat up to Spitz, then bike from Spitz to Krems. Then we would train from Krems to Salzburg. But I haven't quite figured out what we're doing with our packs while we bike; also, this is supposed to be an absolutely gorgeous valley on the river with lots of wine . So I think we may want to stay at least 1 night here, but I'm not sure in which small city will be best.)
Day 14, Tues 6/16: Melk/Spitz/Krems (somewhere) => Salzburg (probably train)
-Night 14: Salzburg!
Day 15, Weds 6/17: Salzburg!
-Night 15: Salzburg!
Day 16, Weds 6/18: Salzburg!
-Night 16: Salzburg!
Day 17, Thurs 6/19: Salzburg => Munich (train)
-Night 17: Munich
Day 18, Fri 6/20: Munich!
-Night 18: Munich!
Day 19, Sat 6/21: Munich!
-Night 19: Munich!
Day 20, Sun 6/22: Munich => Vancouver and Vancouver => Seattle

2.5 WEEK ITINERARY (Does not include Amsterdam, does include 1 night in CK; we would probably cut out Amsterdam or Berlin for this itinerary since they are the farthest away, but could cut out Munich instead and do Amsterdam + Berlin, since both my brother and I have visited Munich)

Day 1, Weds 6/3: Drive Seattle => Vancouver, then Vancouver => Berlin
-Night 1: Flying
Day 2, Thurs 6/4: Berlin!
-Night 2: Berlin!
Day 3, Fri 6/5: Berlin!
-Night 3: Berlin!
Day 4, Sat 6/6: Berlin!
-Night 4: Berlin!
Day 5, Sun 6/7: Berlin => Prague (probably train)
-Night 5: Prague
Day 6, Mon 6/8: Prague!
-Night 6: Prague!
Day 7, Tues 6/9: Prague!
-Night 7: Prague!
Day 8, Weds 6/10: Prague!
-Night 8: Prague!
Day 9, Thurs 6/11: Prague => Cesky Krumlov (not sure if bus or train will be best; also not sure if we will want to spend the night here or not but for now we have planned on yes)
-Night 9: CK
Day 10, Fri 6/12: CK => Vienna (again, not sure if train or bus)
-Night 10, Vienna!
Day 11, Sat 6/13: Vienna!
-Night 11: Vienna!
Day 12, Sun 6/14: Vienna!
-Night 12: Vienna!
Day 13, Mon 6/15: Vienna => Stift Melk (would be a bus or a train)
-Night 13: Melk?
(The original plan here was to leave Vienna early in the morning, sightsee around Melk, hop on a boat up to Spitz, then bike from Spitz to Krems. Then we would train from Krems to Salzburg. But I haven't quite figured out what we're doing with our packs while we bike; also, this is supposed to be an absolutely gorgeous valley on the river with lots of wine . So I think we may want to stay at least 1 night here, but I'm not sure in which small city will be best.)
Day 14, Tues 6/16: Melk/Spitz/Krems (somewhere) => Salzburg (probably train)
-Night 14: Salzburg!
Day 15, Weds 6/17: Salzburg!
-Night 15: Salzburg!
Day 16, Weds 6/18: Salzburg!
-Night 16: Salzburg!
Day 17, Thurs 6/19: Salzburg => Munich (train)
-Night 17: Munich
Day 18, Fri 6/20: Munich!
-Night 18: Munich!
Day 19, Sat 6/21: Munich!
-Night 19: Munich!
Day 20, Sun 6/22: Munich => Vancouver and Vancouver => Seattle

Of course the 4th itinerary would be to take the 3-week trip but still leave out a city (Amsterdam or Berlin, or possibly Munich).

Obviously the 3-week itinerary would be best; this is what I'm hoping for. Any feedback on whether we should move days around from city to city? Also, please provide some feedback on the 2.5-week itins just in case?

Thank you so much everybody!

annavontrapp

Oh, one other question, just to see if anybody has any opinions; if we do end up cutting Amsterdam or Berlin, which one would you recommend cutting?

Toomuchloveliness

Hi Anna,

Rather cut Berlin over Amsterdam. Berlin is huge and a little overwhelming if you're going to visit you need to have adequate time there.
You could easily spend three full days in Amsterdam. We did a back packing travel trip in November and spent 5 full days in Amsterdam and still felt it wasn't enough.

Have a wonderful trip