claudia0124

Hello everybody! I’m planing a trip to Europe (my first time) I will be traveling from Philadelphia to Zurich to me my friend who lives there, so some site seeing in Switzerland. From there I would love to go to Poland (Auschwitz) Paris and Italy. Do you think this is possible, or am I cramming too much?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

marvelousmouse

Yeah, way too much. 4 destinations at least, but let’s say 5 since you listed Italy- 2 nights AT MOST in each destination. And lots of traveling. None of your destinations are close to each other.

You could do Zurich, Munich (Dachau), and Paris? I would make Italy its own trip and I think Poland is the outlier.

Or consider Paris and Rome are world class cities like NYC, just with much more history. I’d be happy with 2 Days in Switzerland and 7 in either Paris OR Rome. I did about 8 Days in both cities and felt like I’d barely scratched the surface.

janisj

Two nights in a city nets one full day. You are planning a tour if train stations and airports.

If your trip is 10 days total, you will only have 8 nights/7.5 days on-the-ground.

Switzerland and one other city if it is large like Paris is about the best you can do. Two other cities if they are smaller.

Sue81

Hi, Good suggestions above, Cut down on the cities. Zurich is a very nice city, I was there in July in Zurich and also Wengen and Zermatt. Wengen is a lovely little village an hour from Zurich, just below the Jungfrau and Monch....with a lift up to the Mannlichen...which is unlike anything I've ever seen...I am from the Southern US. Amazing mountians and hiking trails. I'd do Switzerland and Paris. Take advantage of a friend in Switzerland, as it is very expensive there, can you stay with this person for a bit? Great food in Zurich/fondue, which I love, great chocolates, Less is more when traveling, at least for me, or you will not enjoy it as much. The first day is often lost in jet lag from flight. Zermatt is also an interesting stop with the museum, sort of underground next to church where climbers are buried, tram up to Gorgernaut (sp). I love Switzerland. Sue

neckervd

All depends on the place you want to visit in Italy. If it's Milan, you could go by train in 3 1/2 hrs from Zurich to Milan and by plane in 2 hrs from Milan to Katowice (with ryanair, fares start at 2 EUR without checked in luggage), a airport close to Auschwitz. Another Ryanair flight from Krakow (close to Auschwitz too) to Paris Beauvais would last 2 1/2 hrs.

PalenQ

Way too much. Chose Switzerland - leave Poland out - would take 2-3 days just to fly there and get to Auschwitz, etc. and take train from Switzerland to Italy - Venice and then maybe Rome. Trains great Switzerland and to Italy - for lots of info check: www/seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

10 days

3-4 days with Swiss friend planning that
5-to Venice
6 Venice
7- Rome
8-10 Rome

claudia0124

You guys are amazing! Thank you so much. Just one thing. My main focus is Poland, (I’ve read so many books of the struggles people faced during that horrible time, I really want to go there and pay my respects) can I do Zurich, Poland and Paris (main focus, Eifel tower and the Louvre Museum)? And then flight out from Zurich back to the U.S?

janisj

So you want to do Zurich, Poland ( a country- not just one city ), Paris and back to Zurich in 10 days?

If the 10 days include your transatlantic travel days that is pretty tough. One night over the atlantic, say 2 nights in Zurich, then fly to Warsaw or wherever spending 3 nights in Poland, fly to Paris for 2 nights, back to Zurich for the last night. - there is 10 days

StCirq

<<can I do Zurich, Poland and Paris (main focus, Eifel tower and the Louvre Museum)? And then flight out from Zurich back to the U.S?>>

No, and you should not be flying into and out of Zürich. Buy open-jaw tickets.

Sue81

Id suggest that you do Poland on another trip. You could make a quick stop in Munich from Switzerland, and go out to Dachau, which is only about 20 minutes or so on the train from Munich. Then on to Paris. If you pack in so much you will not enjoy much, it will be from train/plane windows. Go and enjoy where you are, Switzerland is really amazing, take time to enjoy and with a friend there you are fortunate as it is more expensive in Switzerland. Take advantage of that. I'd do 3 or 4 nights in Switzerland, then down to Munich (one night...Palen how long from Zurich to Munich?) then on to Paris. First day is pretty much shot from jet lag...so be wise. Sue

pariswat

Why land n Zurich if you want to go to Poland ?
Either go to Poland and spend your days there or go to Switzerland and spend your days there.
Your itinerary is like me going philly and saying I want to visit Canada and Puerto Rico.
Get a map and decide what you want to see and where you want to land and depart
Take half a day fir each move : check out move to airport waiting time flight deplaning go to hotel and check in.

historytraveler

If you want to go to Poland, go to Poland and work rest of your itinerary around it. You may have to drop something and, if necessary, do so. I've been traveling to Europe for some 30 years now and on every trip I have to cut back on my itinerary. It is essential to set your priorities. By flying open jaw you'll save some time. Use one of the many train websites to figure out which routes work best for you and also have a look at Skyscanner for flights. A little research will give you a better idea as to how best plan a workable itinerary.

suze

Zurich
site seeing in Switzerland
Poland (Auschwitz)
Paris
Italy

No you can't do all that in 10 days. You need to prioritize.

Zurich to see your friend, then ONE other place.

Sassafrass

Check your other post.

StCirq

<<Great food in Zurich/fondue and chocolates...>> is pure hyperbole IMO. I can't think of anyplace in Europe I'd less rather eat, and it will absolutely kill your wallet.

PalenQ

Zurich gets rather blah reviews here - so many other nicer cities and places to spend time. Zurich is a nice modern city but the lure of Switzerland to most is in its Alpine areas.

kerouac

Acturally, Claudia, if you have a friend who lives in Zurich, you will probably have a fabulous time. I have a close friend who lives there and have always been taken to really excellent places which no tourist would ever find. This said, it should be mentioned that even though these are not luxury venues, he always insists on paying for everything because he is well aware that Swiss prices are totally outrageous to people from most of the rest of the world. Of course if your friend is not Swiss he/she will probably not really know of such places and also may need to just go to places for the bottom of the budget (which I would normally do in Zurich).

As Suze said, in 10 days there is no way to go to the places on your list. Choose just one other destination besides Switzerland.

Of course the principal problem is just "10 days." Why is the trip so short?

janisj

>>Of course the principal problem is just "10 days." Why is the trip so short?<<

Per her other thread her husband doesn't want her to go at all - Maybe even just 10 days is pushing things . . .

PalenQ

Zurich, Poland, Paris and back to Zurich in 10 days?>

Figure a whole day travel between even if flying. Fly into Poland -
Warsaw and Krakow and then fly to Paris - will fill all of 10 days.

suze

I have a friend in Switzerland I visit. 10 days is short but you can make it work. I usually just stay in Switzerland, but I have also added one other city (Amsterdam, Venice, Paris all work).

Buy your plane ticket so you fly into Zurich and out of the other city at the end.