Mohammed

We are a family of 4 with two young adult daughters and planning a trip to Europe. My daughters are especially interested in Germany and its history. Also we thought we like to see a little Switzerland and alps etc and charming Italy. We love food, countrysides, great scenery, perhaps a little adventure activity/trekking etc, and I am an avid nature/landscape photographer. While we like to spend time in the countryside we also want to take in the great city sights of Berlin, Florence and Rome etc.

We have 17 nights/18 days in total and I made a tentative plan from Berlin to Rome as follows and appreciate any tips and advice. Any other alternate route suggestions? Is this too much places to cover? Perhaps I should drop Venice or Amalfi and spend more time in other places. Appreciate all advice.

The plan as follows:
Day1 - Arrive Berlin by air and afternoon sightseeing and overnight in Berlin
Day 2 - Sightseeing a and overnight in Berlin
Day 3 - Rent car and drive to Nuremberg.
Day 4 - Sightseeing/Museums etc in Nuremberg
Day 5 - Full day drive and see along route to Interlaken Switzerland overnight in Interlaken
Day 6 - Sightseeing and activity in and around Interlaken overnight in Interlaken
Day 7 - Sightseeing and activity in and around Interlaken overnight in Interlaken
Day 8 - Full day drive to Como Italy overnight near Como
Day 9 - Drive to Venice Park car outside and overnight in Venice
Day 10 - Sightseeing in Venice in morning and drive to Florence (Tuscany) in afternoon overnight near Florence
Day 11 - Sightseeing in and around Florence (Tuscany)
Day 12 - Sightseeing in and around Florence (Tuscany)
Day 13 - Drive to Amalfi Coast and overnight in Amalfi Coast (Positano?)
Day 14 - Sightseeing in and around Amalfi Coast
Day 15 - Sightseeing relaxation in and around Amalfi Coast
Day 16 - Drive to Rome and return car in Rome
Day 17 - Sightseeing in Rome
Day 18 - Flight home from Rome airport

Sassafrass

Check costs of picking up car in one country and dropping it off in another.
So many days to pay for parking the car seems a waste of money, both for parking those days and the cost of the car.

Really look at trains in Italy. It might be just as cheap and it is easy. You do not need a car in Venice, Florence, Amalfi Coast or Rome.

Driving to Como and spending only one night, no days, seems a real waste.
The same is true of Venice, not even a whole day.

Rome for a day is barely enough time to get oriented.

It is easy to get caught up in trying to go to all your dream places, especially if you are coming a long way. However, it is not possible.

You are trying to do in 17 days an itinerary that requires a bare minimum of 21 days (23 nights), and even that would be extremely, extremely rushed. So, at least two places must be cut if you are to see any of the places you are going.

Also, look at all your travel time versus actually being someplace to experience it. Out of your 17 days, 7 are driving days, most of them very long, plus time finding parking and checking into and out of hotels. That leaves only 10 days of sight seeing. That, IMHO, is not a good balance of time or money spent. Seriously rethink your whole trip.

When are you doing the trip? That could be important as to suggestions.

If 17 days is the max, then pick two countries, Germany and Italy, Switzerland and Italy, or Germany and Switzerland and a max of two places in Italy, one being Rome.

Kathie

Hi Mohammed, It's fun to run into you over here on the Europe forum when we usually see each other over on the Asia forum.

I agree with Sassafrass - you are trying to cover too many places. With 17 nights (that is really only 16 days), I'd choose just three of four locations. Remember that it takes three nights just to have two days in a place. I'd also reconsider the car rental. As mentioned, picking up a car in one country and dropping it i another incurs huge drop-off charges. I think you would generally be better off taking the trains. if there was somewhere you wanted to go that can't be reached by train, then rent a car for a few days. Be aware that there are many towns in Italy that allow no cars into the city... having a car would just be a lot of (expensive) trouble.

Sit down together and decide the three or four places you would all like to visit, and restrict your itinerary to those places - I think you will have a more satisfying trip.

Happy planning!

kleeblatt

Skip Switzerland and Como. Fly from Berlin to Venice.

Skip Florence.

janisj

You will basically have no time for either Lake Como or Venice. Such a shame. From the lake to Venice is a 4 hour drive by the time you deal w/ the car, parking and getting into Venice half your day is gone.


Same applies to the Interlaken to Como stretch.

You simply are not allowing enough time for any of your transport or sightseeing in most places. Less than 1.5 days for Rome for instance.

So you will be dashing from place to place and not really see much of anything. The only places you are spending any time are Interlaken and the AC. I'd re-think everything -- including the one way car rental.

nytraveler

Sorry - I don't see that you have said when you are coming. If this summer - you are very late planning. If another time of year that may affect which places you choose.

But agree that you are trying to see way too many place in too few days - and spending next to no time in the scenic countryside you say you want to see.

Your itinerary would be much better done by train unless you actully will spend time driving and staying in the countryside. And this is fom someone who loves driving and has done numeorus road trips through europe - but much of the time spend in smaller towns and countryside - not just major cities an resorts.

I would do 3 - or at most 4 cities and hotels if you actually want to see anything - versus a mad whirl when everything will be a blur.