46 days in Europe!
Hi! I have 46 days to spend in Europe! Here is the itinerary I came up with of the places that interest me the most. I know there is a more logical order to this, but based on when other people are able to meet up with me this was the best I could do (I just don't feel super confident about being alone for a majority of my trip, plus why do it alone when it's possible to explore with your best friends?). Please let me know if this seems doable! and any advice about the best way to travel btwn cities would be appreciated!
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28-Apr TRAVEL DAY
29-Apr Vienna 30-Apr Vienna 1-May Vienna 2-May Budapest 3-May Budapest 4-May Budapest 5-May Budapest 6-May (some random day trip) 7-May Athens 8-May Athens 9-May Athens 10-May Athens 11-May Santorini 12-May Santorini 13-May Santorini 14-May TRAVEL DAY 15-May Amalfi 16-May Amalfi 17-May Amalfi 18-May Amalfi 19-May Italy/Verona 20-May Italy/Verona 21-May Italy/Verona 22-May Salzburg 23-May Salzburg 24-May Salzburg 25-May Prague 26-May Prague 27-May Prague 28-May Prague 29-May Prague 30-May Berlin 31-May Berlin 1-Jun Berlin 2-Jun Berlin 3-Jun TRAVEL DAY 4-Jun Amsterdam 5-Jun Amsterdam 6-Jun Amsterdam 7-Jun Amsterdam 8-Jun Amsterdam 9-Jun Brussels? 10-Jun Brussels? 11-Jun Brussels? 12-Jun Brussels? |
I would start in Greece and end in Amsterdam and drop Brussels. And, I would add Tuscany/Florence to your Italy mix.
I am envious. We did 56 days one year, but had a car for most of that. |
Well best way to travel between places except for Greece where you'd have to fly or take the overnight ferries between it and Italy trains are your best bet and if going to all those places investigate some kind of railpass - anyway for loads of great info on European trains check these IMO info-laden sites that will help understand the fantastic European rail system- www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com - for schedules I always use www.bahn.de/en - the German Railways all European train schedule site as it is the easiest I've seen to use.
and I think you have put the right number of days into your stops - at least not too few as so many do. |
Drop a day in Amsterdam, Prague and Brussels and stop in Siena or Florence.
Why Verona? If you have never been there, I would suggest Venice. I agree with the suggestion that you start in Greece and work your way north, especially if this is a spring trip. |
If these are the places which interest you the most then what is the question? If it is whether or not you are spending too much/not enough time then we need to know WHY these places interest you the most IMO
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I would stay in Bruges or Ghent, not Brussels. Do a day trip to there instead.
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I just wanted to see if this was doable/not some crazy impossible itinerary and not too fast paced where I would just be tired the whole time and not really get to enjoy and experience the cities. Im hungarian/german/italian so I'm interested in seeing the countries where my family came from and learning about the history of the cities. And I've also always been really fascinated by the history of Athens.
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Hi Carolyn- sounds like a great trip! I noticed the question mark after Brussels. I agree with the question mark and would substitute " PARIS !! " for " Brussels ? " ...
((B)) |
Strange than in most travel forums nobody really likes Bruxelles.
I live close and I love the city. But I guess I'm totally biased. I should start a thread asking why... |
Yes Paris is great!! I've already been there so was going to try to see something new with Brussels and then probably Brugge. Thanks everyone for your input. One more question I'll be alone in Athens for a day will I be safe?
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Athens is a very safe city, just use common precautions. (Pick-pocket was unknown in Athens some years ago, but not any more unfortunately. Thieves target mostly the bus and metro lines around the city center and the lines heading to Piraeus or the airport and of course everywhere the tourists concentrate).
PS: "I just don't feel super confident about being alone for a majority of my trip, plus why do it alone when it's possible to explore with your best friends?" I could write an essay about this, but anyway, solo traveling is not for everyone.... |
Although I usually travel solo, I know it is more fun to share your experiences with friends, so adjusting your itinerary accordingly makes sense to me. I note you have included "travel days" on 14 May and 3 June. Every day you change locations is a travel day, though, and the more locations, the more time lost in transit.
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You have 7 days in Italy and you will spend it just in Verona and Amalfi? Don't do that. Personally I think Verona is good for maximum 2 days, not for more. It is a beautiful city but it has few things to do. Instead, try Rome, one of the most beautiful cities in the world with -tons- of things to do and see. You just can't say you have been in Europe if you haven't been in Rome.
And one more thing, why you think Athens is dangerous? I just don't understand. From the capital cities you have mentioned, Athens is the safest! The media propaganda is just outrageous, I live in Athens my whole life and I have never, ever, lost a thing. |
Agree with mariha2912 and PetrosB3! I feel safer in Athens than in any other large city, even when walking around the central area after midnight. Take sensible precautions with your belongings and you won't be bothered by pickpockets — they will look for easier targets.
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Go where you want to go in Europe, and don't be overly influenced by other people's ideas of how certain countries are to be approached or what "Italy" is. Italy is actually a lot of different things, and one of the great advantages of Verona is that not only do you have Roman ruins, but also great wine country, one of Italy's most fun-looking medieval castles, Renaissance architecture plus modern sass yet less hustle and hassle. Good for day trips too. By all means go to Rome if you come to the conclusion you'd prefer it, but it's not the definition of Europe -- funny, but I would say the Acropolis is!
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It seems that a few people missed the fact that the OP HAS to be in certain places at certain times to meet and travel with friends. She only asked if anything in her order of travel was really not doable, for advice on how to best get between each location and if Brussels was a good place t end the trip.
Starting in Greece and visiting completely different places in Italy seem inconsistent with the the prime objective and the ask of the OP. So, here you go; 28-Apr TRAVEL DAY 29-Apr Vienna 30-Apr Vienna 1-May Vienna Train to Budapest - about 2:40 hours 2-May Budapest 3-May Budapest 4-May Budapest 5-May Budapest 6-May (some random day trip) - you may want to take the day trip on another day, not the day before an Athens transfer Fly to Athens - 1:50 if you are lucky (once a day direct flight) 3:45 if you are okay through Belgrade, 7:00+ otherwise 7-May Athens 8-May Athens 9-May Athens 10-May Athens Fly to Santorini - 0:45, otherwise 4-5 hours on the fastest boats and 9-10 on a ferry 11-May Santorini 12-May Santorini 13-May Santorini 14-May TRAVEL DAY - this will be a long day. Correct! You can fly DIRECTLY TO ROME 2:15, then train to Salerno 2:30 (after getting to Termini station from the airport), then bus, or whatever, to where you are staying 15-May Amalfi 16-May Amalfi 17-May Amalfi 18-May Amalfi 19-May Italy/Verona - another long day. Correct again! Train from Salerno to Verona. Options are 5-7 hours with a change in Bologna. There is an overnight option, leaving at 19:37 changing in Rome at 22;34 and arriving in Verona at 05:30 20-May Italy/Verona 21-May Italy/Verona Train to Salzburg. About 6:00 hours, with a change in Innsbruck 22-May Salzburg 23-May Salzburg 24-May Salzburg Train to Prague. About 6:18 with a change in Linz 25-May Prague 26-May Prague 27-May Prague 28-May Prague 29-May Prague Train to Berlin Second easiest day! 4:45 direct train 30-May Berlin 31-May Berlin 1-Jun Berlin 2-Jun Berlin 3-Jun TRAVEL DAY Train to Amsterdam. 6:24 direct train. Flying may be comparable due to ease of connections from the city to each of the two airports. Total time about the same - your call on convenience and price 4-Jun Amsterdam 5-Jun Amsterdam 6-Jun Amsterdam 7-Jun Amsterdam 8-Jun Amsterdam Train to Brussels. 3:18 direct. I'm not a Brussels fan but if you have t be in Amsterdam and then have 4 days more and need a gateway airport to fly back from, and don't want to see Paris, it makes some sense. Do consider Brugge as an option, returning to Brussels to stay at airport hotel the night before you fly out. 9-Jun Brussels? 10-Jun Brussels? 11-Jun Brussels? 12-Jun Brussels? You do have some long days of travel - usually 5-7 hours on a train, but I think you knew that requirement. The keys here are getting the direct flight to Athens from Budapest and planning the Santorini to Rome to Salerno transfer (early enough flight to catch a train plus bus or whatever else you need to do to get to your ultimate Amalfi destination) If you have any more questions, please post. Have fun! |
Thank you so so much Aramis! This was so helpful! I've been to Europe before (only Rome, Venice, Florence, and Paris), but that was more structured since it was a study abroad program. This is the first trip I'm planning on my own, so thank you for your help!
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Brussels for 4 days - never - yes Bruges for a few days - Bruges has some really neat youth hotels - good meeting place and saves money over a hotel.
Maybe day trip from Bruges to Gent - or stay in Gent, a student-city because of a large university and really neat too. a day for Brussels is enough for many though like any European city you would spend days there - but Bruges and Gent are much more romantic looking - old-worldish than modern busy Brussels. and again with those train trips look into some kind of railpass - like a flexi one good for a 2-month period - use the days as you like as you go along - for long trips between bases and even when you get to where you're going on weekends, etc. If under 26 look at the bargain IMo youthasses. Nearly all your train trips with a pass you can just jump on any train anytime - in Italy you do need a seat reservation to ride fast trains - easily gotten for 10 euros extra though. |
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