Have been thinking about flying into Europe and 'Sampling' major destinations by train. Looking for route, itinerary and time table ideas/suggestions/advice: i.e., "Fly into Hamburg, spend 2 days, train to ... ???">

Well check out the yes fantastic www.seat61.com site and also www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - for answers to your "where to" suggested rail itineraries download that latter's free online and superb IMO European Planning & Rail Guide (http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id2.html).

When are you thinking of traveling - this would make a difference in my advice - weather and seasons are factors in several places - such as Switzerland and northern Europe - dank and dark with very short winter days, etc.

I've had zillions of railpasses over some decades and always found them a great deal but it depends on how many train travel days and where you will use them that may tell whether a pass if a good deal for you or not.

What time of year?

Sorry... Meant to say September, though we could do almost ANY month, except June.

Could even post-pone THIS trip until Spring if that is deemed advisable.

Both of us are Retired, so ...

Bob

Does the 20+ days on the ground include or exclude the 4-6 days in Ireland?

"Am thinking Vienna, Venice, Rome, Turin, Switzerland, Berlin and Budapest are likely candidates." This is definitely a "sampler" of big European cities. If your "sampler" list is generally what you want to do, you should decide how many hours you want to spend sitting on trains and consider flying between some destinations.

No one can tell you how much time you need to "Check the Box" on a place. (Even your "sampler" list would not be my sampler list.)

Time on ground listed would EXCLUDE Ireland. I'm looking for suggestions / recommendations on WHICH destinations to see.

As in, WHERE would YOU go?

Thanks,

Bob

I'm not sure how helpful some else's list would be but here's mine for 20 days. A sampling of Italy.

Trieste, Venice, Bologna, Verona, Ravenna, Parma

Hi Bob
We are returning to Europe this March for our second Europe adventure. Our itinerary in 2010 included Paris and Barcelona. The usual tourist places we covered - loved the Musee D'orsay, a 'free' (paying a small recommended fee at the end of the 2 hour walk) to our guide, a Parisian of the Right Bank, and Notre Dame; Montmartre; we stayed near the tree lined Canal St Martin, the Eiffel Tower, etc....and just soaking in the atmosphere...and loving every bit of it. Barcelona was great...especially the Sagrada Familia, all things Gaudi inspired, the La Ramblas, tapas eating, stumbling on the best gelato, we stayed in la barceloneta (fishing village) on the beach, long walks on the promenade, fantastic!!
We also drove and spent four nights in the Loire valley....beautiful...even my daughters age 6 and 9 were inspired by the chateaus they saw...Rome we stayed 3.5 weeks and still did not see everything...the Colosseum, Palatine, long walks, Vatican City (we attended the canonisation of Australia's first saint, Mary Mckillop), Pantheon, just a sampling...other places Lake Como, Nice, Monte Carlo for a day visit, London...
This trip we will revisit Paris, Barcelona, drive to San Sebastián, Madrid, Seville, Granada, Lisbon, Amalfi, Athens, Crete, Santorini, Tuscany, Venice...it's a big trip but we are doing it over 4 months...can't wait!!
Have fun on yours!

See if you can find a copy of "France on the TGV." It has good suggestions for itineraries by train.

Two printed rail guides that may be helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/Europe-Eurail-2013-Touring-Train/dp/0762781076/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359943401&sr=1-2-fkmr0&keywords=thomas+cook+european+rail+journeys

http://www.amazon.com/Europe-Rail-Definitive-Independent-Travellers/dp/1848485530/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359943401&sr=1-2-fkmr1&keywords=thomas+cook+european+rail+journeys

Sorry... Meant to say September, though we could do almost ANY month, except June.

Could even post-pone THIS trip until Spring if that is deemed advisable.>

Well IMO September is a fine fine month - summer tourist mobs have dissipated most places and the boiling heat of southern Europe is also gone - that said I would start such a trip in northern Europe as the weather there IME can deteriorate rather quickly as that month drags on.