EmilyCC

Hello travellers!
Looking for some thoughts and suggestions on the below itinerary for mid December to mid January of this year. We are a young couple (25) and prefer culture and sightseeing rather than nightlife and 'hip scenes'. We understand there is 'a lot' in the below, but we have no issues going between lots of different places. We are coming from Australia so prefer to see as much as possible after such a long plane trip! We have done the 'relaxed' holidays before (5 or so nights in each location) but prefer to see more....

Thinking:
Budapest 4 nights (1 day recovery from long haul flight)
Vienna 3n
Prague 3n
Munich 3n
Berlin 3n
Amsterdam 2n
London 5n
Paris 4n
Barcelona 3n
Lucerne 2n
Zurich 2n
Monte Carlo 2n
Venice 2n
Rome 3n

Would really appreciate any advice you could share

bilboburgler

Europe is basically cold and wet, or cold and dry so staying in cities makes a lot of sense. Some of your choices are a little dull, I'd rop Monte Carlo and Zurich for instance and spread the time saved into the other towns rather than add any more.

Christmas and New Year may hit into your plans for moving and restaurants. So prices rise for travel just before major holidays while many restaurants will be long booked out in the week before christmas, so take that into account.

Then a lot of the plan is down to cheepo airlines, look at skyscanner to get some ideas or even rome2rio, seat61 gives a good idea on trains.

Budapest is a great place to start. Especially the spa element.

Just in terms of scale, London is way bigger than all the other places you are visiting (probably put together, but I havn't checked) there is a lot to do. I might add a day.

Now switzerland is a fun place with the snow, but the real pleasure of the place is out in the mountains not the big cities.

fourfortravel

Place your time in the days before Christmas through the New Year (and up to Epiphany) onto a calendar. It looks like you might be in Prague, Munich, Berlin during that period, so be prepared for holiday hours, early closings, and holiday closures (and possibly the need for dinner reservations.) You'll also benefit from knowing that Vienna on Sundays (in general) is closed for shopping and many restaurants, as is the case in other cities. Many Christmas markets will be open through the New Year along your itinerary, so be certain to factor in time to see them as well as any planned sightseeing.

As bilboburglar also pointed out, winter in Central Europe is cold, often gray, and generally damp. Your footwear and outerwear should be planned accordingly.

nytraveler

A couple of notes:

The weataher will not only be grey and dreary in many places, but the days will be short, many sights may have shorter hours (rather than the extended summer hours) and sleet, ice and snow are a possibility almost everywhere. The risk is that if you do run into bad weather - likely in at least one place in the time you will be there it can delay or cancel flights and throw your whole schedule off - since you have so little time in each place that there is no "give" to it. You might well need to just drop the next city from your list and move on.

I would absolutely add more time to London since it has more to see and do than any of the other places - unless you have already seen much of it.

For Switz I would head straight to the mountains; Zurich is primarily a business city and quite boring IMHO. From Lucerne you can easily reach several of the smaller mountains but if you want to ascend the Jungfrau that is best done from Interlaken or one of the town in the foothills. Be prepared that you may get 4 or 5 days in a tow with the top wreathed in clouds and or heavy snow - so getting there is useless - you would see nothing. You ha e to be ready to pounce if you can get a day clear at the top.

I would bag Monte Carlo. This is a warm weather rest and usually fun only if the uber wealthy have their yachts in the harbor and can be viewed in the casino - with their James Bond tuxes, gowns and jewelry while you make a fe minimal bets. Otherwise really a shopping center for the uber rich that is very quiet at this time of year (the uber rich are in the Carib generally if they are not in Zermatt or Gstadt).

Finally, not sure if you have been in europe in the winter before but be sure you have proper cold weather clothing and boots. With them it can be fun and energizing - without you can be just freezing and miserable. (Several of the paces you are visiting have real winters with substantial snow possible: Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Munich as well as Switz)

StCirq

I agree about dropping Monaco (a real outlier from all your other destinations and not even much of a draw in high season unless you're wealthy) and Zürich (ridiculously expensive and IMO dull) and adding time to London.

Whathello

Was too lazy to post but Bilbo and StCirq said what I wanted to.
Good itinerary, drop MonteCarlo and Switzerland in that season.

PalenQ

If going to half those places by train check out the Eurail Youthpasses for those under 26 - could be as cheap as a string of discounted tickets or cheaper and you can chose which trains to take once there - in most countries just hop on any train anytime. For lots of goodies on European trains - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. For schedules www.bahn.de/en - most European trains for planning purposes.

PalenQ

Switzerland could be just neat for them in winter if they are winter sports enthusiasts - skiing, snow boarding, etc - allnecessary equipment can be rented on site and if they stay in Interlaken's famed Balmer's Auberge they can do so cheaply and also mingle with young folk their age from all over the world:

http://www.balmers.com/

PalenQ

Emily - what do you think?

EmilyCC

Hi All,

Thank you very much for the help!
Based on your advice, we have removed Monte Carlo and Zurich from our itinerary.

What are your thoughts on Bruges after Amsterdam?

Definitely aware Europe will be cold over Christmas (I have been lucky to do Europe in Christmas and July but much prefer the snow...). My partner hasn't been to Europe before so I think seeing it as a Winter wonderland is a great time to start

Any other suggestions where we could spend the 4 nights we now have available?

bilboburgler

Bruges, is pretty small, it has a fine lace museum and a bunch of old buildings (including some very interesting retirement homes for old people) but really only worth a day.

If it were me I'd look at some of
1) Strasbourg
2) put a day on London and Paris
3) maybe a day trip to York
4) If Bruges is your thing you might look at Ghent as well

I'd also have a look at cheepo airlines and where they fly (skyscanner) and stations seat61 to see where else is easy to get to

If snow and skiing is good then follow P's plan.

EmilyCC

As much as we would love to give skiing a go - we can't due to a knee injury good old torn ACL....

Bruges is off the list now as well haha. Maybe we will just add an extra four days across the cities we have now...

bilboburgler

skking, look at cross-country, less stress just as much fun

PalenQ

Definitely aware Europe will be cold over Christmas (I have been lucky to do Europe in Christmas and July but much prefer the snow...). My partner hasn't been to Europe before so I think seeing it as a Winter wonderland is a great time to start

4 days may be too much in a winter resort if not doing winter sports - hiking is largely out - trains and gondolas run of course but a day or two would be enough I think - try to take a day trip from Lucerne to Mt Titlis to see the Winter Wonderland - Lucerne itself is not a winter resort per say - probably not much snow.

PalenQ

Winter resorts are also aloof to rent out in high season one- or few-night stays.