I have decided what 3 cities I want to go to but need help making sure my itinerary is realistic. I will be going from 13th-22nd, leaving home on the night of 12th.
1. Land in Amsterdam
2. Amsterdam
3. Fly/Train to Munich
4. Munich(BMW Welt/Museum)
5. Train to...
This is where I get stuck. I want to see Italy but I know I don't have enough time. What cities are a must and how many can I see in the remainder of the time?
Thanks.
Need help planning trip...
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Most folks could use two days at least in Amsterdam - jet lag day you arrive you may or may not do much - it takes several hours to train to Munich but there is a spiffy CNL CityNightLiner train that does it at night and you save on a night in a hotel - check www.bahn.de for discounted tickets.
Munich offers some nifty day trips by train - Fussen for Neuschwanstein Castle or Salzburg, one of Europe's prettiest and most historical cities just 1.5 hr by train or Innsbruck - so why move to another base - also Dachau is in the suburbs.
For lots of great info on trains in this area check out these fab IMO sites - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id9.html. You are not traveling enough to even consider any railpass but check www.bahn.de for online discounts as low as 29 euros regardless of distance.
This is where I get stuck. I want to see Italy but I know I don't have enough time. What cities are a must and how many can I see in the remainder of the time?>
You could take the Munich to Venice or florence or Rome overnight train and end your trip with a few days in one of those cities and fly back from there. Save a night in a hotel if you travel on overnight trains.
do i need to book these trains in advance, i plan on taking one from amsterdam to munich and then one from munich to rome
No you need not book in advance - at least before getting to Amsterdam or Germany IME - once there book at any station ASAP as at times they may sell out or the type of sleeping accommodation you want may be sold out - there are several sleeping options from reclining seats (not always) to multi-person couchettes (4 and 6 berths in one compartment) to private singles, doubles and triples - but you can save a lot of money by booking online weeks or months early to get the limited in number discounted tickets - which however are non-changeable and not refundable but which can save oodles of money over just showing up at the station and buying once there.
Go to www.bahn.de/en to see about discounted Amsterdam to Munich fares and same for Munich to Rome.
Since you appear to be a driver to me, I suggest that you fly to Amsterdam but take a flight to Italy. If you can get a flight to Bologna, and you should be able to, you can go see the Ferrari museum in Maranello, which is short distance from Modena (and about 35 minute drive from the Bologna airport.
After that, it depends on what time of year you are going and what appeals to you about Italy. You can really go in any direction so long as you identify an airport/train station where you can drop off the car and conveniently get to Munich.
You actually don't need a car to see the Ferrari factor in Maranello. It's just easier. However, if you don't want a car, just go by train to Modena (it's well connected in every direction) and use taxis to get to Maranello. (You can find directions on the Ferrari Museum website I believe).
Without a car, the options include combining the Ferrari Museum with (pick one or 2 max) Venice, Verona (has Roman ruins), Florence, Bologna/Parma, and it's not crazy to think of Ferrari + Rome if you fly out of Rome to Munich.
Do you need to fly back out of Amsterdam? If so, consider saving it to the end. If you haven't bought tickets, think of flying into Italy and heading north, leaving from Amsterdam.