4 weeks by rail starting Rome
 

Hi we have 4 weeks to spend in Europe, we are flying into Rome near the end of May. We are very interested in history and love the outdoors, happy to hike camp etc but don't know where to start with our holiday. We have come up with an itinerary, but are worried its too ambitious and we will be spending too much time on the train. Also not sure if we are just flying by some smaller downs and nice places that would be nice to stop in in summer.
thanks for your help.
21-23 Rome
24-27 Sorrento/Amafi coast
28-29 venice
30 May -3 June Budapest
4-5 Vienna
6-9 Prauge
10 Berlin
11 Berlin-Malmo Sweden overnight
12 malmo-stokholm
13-16 stokholm
17 train to Copenhagen
18 copenhagen
19 Cruise to Oslo
20-23Oslo
24 Voss
25 fly out of Voss Norway

IMO, you have lots of time for a great trip, but this isn't it. Too many places (I count at least 12 hotels) and not enough time in most of them. Have you researched the time needed to travel between cities? For example, you won't be in Venice and Vienna for 2 days each, and you won't have a full day in Berlin.

"Also not sure if we are just flying by some smaller downs and nice places that would be nice to stop in in summer."

Of course you are. You're plans include only cities and no small towns anywhere except the ones you'll see whizzing by your train windows.

Too much, sorry, in to little time. You lose a lot of time in transit, on train, packing, checking out, checking in, unpacking. For every 2 days in a city, you perhaps 2 half days to do anything, maybe not even that much. [like you show for Venice, Vienna]. There is so much to do and see in all those places - slow down and do a few cities. Less is more; you can and will return.

You need 2 hotel nights somewhere to give you 1 full day in the place.

Too much travel time to the point you will be seeing the insides of trains and train stations instead of cities/sites.

Agree with all.
Please reconsider.

Several years ago we did 30 days in Europe with a Eurail pass. Only twice did we just stay one night in a place, and those were due to travel arrangements.

This is a really great trip and you'll have lots of fun, but each day you will spend a lot of time getting to and from the station, finding your hotel and locating restaurants. We tried to travel at the end of the day, which is usually wasted time anyway. I would recommend you cut out either Prague or Budapest, rethink Berlin and Malmo and cut your time in Stockholm and Oslo. Personally, I would drop Venice and add Florence, but that's a very personal choice.

If I were doing it:
Rome
Florence or Venice (possibly time for both)
Munich
Salzburg/Vienna
Budapest
(Berlin)
Fly to Stockholm (really cheap flights available)
Copenhagen
Oslo

If doing all that by train or even most of it then yes look strongly at a Eurailpass or some kind - in most countries can still hop on any train anytime - complete flexibility - in Italy though you must get a seat reservation before boarding - 10 e the pass won't cover but the other countries just show up for nay train and if you are over 26 then the railpass comes in first-class only - another perk IME of years of European train travels - so when comparing ordinary tickets in 2nd class keep that in mind.

Great sources for tons of info on European trains and passes, etc: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.

Look at budget flights when can often be cheaper than trains.

www.whichbudget.com
www.skyscanner.com

There are many wonderful places in Eurooe to hike and enjoy the outdoors, but they are not part of your current itinerary. You have listed primarily large cities, which are wonderful in their own way, but do not provide the outdoor experience you say you are interested in. You should get some good guide books to find the places that appeal to your interests, and then be sure to select just a few spots so you can truly enjoy your experience there. The planning is half the fun of a trip like this. Slow down and enjoy!

Also consider overnight trains that can save travel time and the cost of a hotel room - lots of them running. For example take the overnight train Venice to Vienna then go onto Budapest the next morning - on a flexi pass using just one day up per the 7 pm rule - board an overnight train after 7 pm and the next day is your unlimited travel day - can literally go from one end of Europe to the other. And quicker than flying which inevitably takes half a day all told no matter how short the flight.

Where did you get the idea that there was an airport in Voss? And Voss as the endpoint highlight of the trip? What you should be doing is the Norway in a Nutshell route to Bergen! (and there is an international airport there)!