icetwirl

Hello, I am travelling with my friend in October 10-19 to Europe. That will be our first time in Europe. We are planning to visit Paris, Zurich, Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice in 9 days. I am wondering if that is even possible to do in such a short vacation? I know I have to consider the travelling time (train/bus ride), but we are thinking staying 1 day in Florence, Milan and Venice. Anyone here had experience this tight travel? Please let me know your thoughts. Also, we are planning to do train/bus rides to each cities how safe is it to walk or travel at night time in Italy specifically (Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice). Any suggestions and thought will be greatly appreciated!

Trophywife007

>>Please let me know your thoughts

PalenQ

No worries about walking round those cities at night -just use proper precautions as usual.

For lots of neat train info: www.seat61.com (great info on discounted tickets you can nab if you book early enough to get them; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

forget Zurich and Milan - better spend your time in Rome, Venice and or Florence. There is an overnight train between Paris and Venice - save daylight travel time and the cost of a hotel - www.thello.com.

Kathie

Choose two - otherwise you'll spend all of your precious time in transit. Or, if you already have tickets in and out of Paris, spend all of your time in Paris, taking day trips to nearby places.

If you want one day in a place, remember you'll have to stay two nights to get one full day.

StCirq

No, this will not be a pleasant trip if you race around to all these places in such a short time, and it will be expensive to be constantly on the run. You needn't worry about safety in any of those places. Just pick two and enjoy them.

PalenQ

Yes 9 days with say 4 stops is really more like 5 full days - takes time to pack up get to the train relocated, etc.

Sue_xx_yy

Are you taking off on the 10th or arriving on the 10th (important to clarify as most flights transatlantic are overnight.) Have you bought your air tickets yet? If not, an open jaw (fly into one city, fly out of another) is more efficient.

Do I recommend the following? eh, it sounds like you are young and determined. HOWEVER, trains in Italy have a funny way of going on short strikes, and there's been a lot of labour unrest in France as well, so you need to be prepared for the possibility of having to reorganize your schedule at the last minute.

1. Fly to Venice. Spend 2 nights

2. If memory serves, it's about 3 hours by train to Milan. You can leave Venice after lunch if you are still enjoying Venice (but a warning, it is an expensive place.) Spend 1 night in Milan just to break up the trip.

3. Milan via Brig and Spiez to Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. This is a 3.5 to to 4.5 hour journey but quite scenic; it crosses the alps and passes by Lake Thun. Spend 2 nights here. I'm suggesting Lauterbrunnen instead of Zurich since it is closer to the Switzerland most people want to see. Otherwise, pencil in Zurich for a couple of nights. You've now used 5 nights subtotal.

4. Okay, now it's a long trip from Lauterbrunnen (or even Zurich) to Paris, about a 5.5 or 6 hour journey, plus the time you need to find your way from the Paris train station (likely Gare de Lyon) to your hotel. So with 3 nights in Paris ,you really get only 2 days as the day of your arrival is mainly spent traveling. This makes 8 nights.

5. I've left the 9th night open as you haven't specified your other parameters. For example, you will need the better part of a whole day to fly back to North America (assuming that's where you are from!) So if you have to get back to work, don't push the schedule too tight - planes can be delayed, etc. etc., and after a trip this whirlwind you might need a day to unwind.

If you want to do Florence and Rome, then scratch Milan, Switzerland, and Paris.

PalenQ

This itinerary begs for a look at the Swiss Transfer Ticket and with it a half-off Half-Fare Card. check sights I gave above for details.

historytraveler

This itinerary begs for a revision.

nytraveler

While this may be physically possible (you would have to confirm with the local RRs and airlines) you would not have any time to actually do or se anything.

You really have 8.5 days on the ground and the first will likely be very jet lagged. IMHO you really have time to see 2 of these cities - which are major world capitals with dozens of wonderful sights.

What you are planning would be a very expensive, exhausting and frustrating tour of the train stations of europe that will be nothing but a blur long before you get home.