<<so I am passing in and out of France and Spain so that I can see all of Spain and also make it to Lisbon! >>

You're not going to see much of anything of France or Spain or Portugal, never mind all of it. Frankly, I think you're delusional.

It's nuts, this itinerary. Sorry, but if you want to undertake a major expedition and just criss-cross Europe and come home and say Hey, I DID EUROPE, this is perfect. You'll be cross-eyed and sleep-deprived and have no recollection of anywhere you went, but hey, go for it.

Sassafrass and AJ - I appreciate your responses! I do plan to have some downtime, some time to go out, etc. I also do want to take time to just "take in the city" wherever I am. I know that my itinerary is ambitious. I am still perusing some books and websites to see what I want to see in various places.

I have been to London, Paris, Italy (Rome and Florence), and Greece. I was younger and don't really think I fully appreciated what I was seeing at the time! My sister and I knew what we wanted to see in the Louvre, for instance, and so we ran to those paintings/sculptures, and left. I think we "saw" the Louvre in 45 minutes. We went into the Musee D'Orsay and went "Hmm....flowers. Pretty. Next." We saw all the sites that are standard tourist fare.

For this trip, I do have plans to visit Versailles (that's one of the tops on my list for France), and I have time for the Alhambra in Granada (I haven't finished going through the Spain section in my book!). My feeling in terms of travel now that I'm older is to see the things that I can say "Yah, been there!" and on top of that, to be able to tell people about the wonderful places that they might not know about (as you described)!

As far as my schedule goes...what I listed is ideally what I would like to do. If I can swing it, I'm gonna go for it. But, once I am in Prague, I am going to be on Eurail, and have already decided that nothing is going to be set in stone. I may go to Italy, fall even more in love with the place,, and not go anywhere else until I have to get to London to fly home. I really don't know. This is a "footloose and fancy free" trip for me. The scheduled list of places I gave are my ideal trip, but the only thing I am going to have dates scheduled for are my flight into Greece, my flight to Prague, and my flight home. From there, I am going to see what I can at my leisure.

I'm doing this alone, too! My husband works 24/7 and can't commit to being away for 2 months, so he is going to try to join me in various places at different times throughout the 2 months. I have a couple friends who said they would come join me for a week at a time, so we'll see!

Of course, travel reports would come when I return (or perhaps even while I am away...although from what everyone is saying, I'm barely going to have time to breathe, let alone post on Fodor's).

Thanks for all your responses and insights. As my preparations continue, I will keep you updated!

Hi Julesua,

I'm also a socal native so I understand how you feel about wanting to see everything in Europe, especially since it seems so far away from the west coast. But really, are you sure you want to come home exhausted, broke, and feel like you need a vacation from a vacation? I'm all for the idea of a European adventure, but two months is really not enough time for you to be able to travel through all those countries as well as have some "downtime" (days when not on a train/plane/automobile). Although your itinerary is not impossible, you just might regret it for the reasons explained by the others on this forum!

I don't know if this will be your first (or hundredth!) trip to Europe, but it's very very very very likely that Europe will be there the next time you are able (and willing to) visit! So don't worry about seeing EVERYTHING...that you'll never be able to do...but think about planning a trip around your interests and budget.

Enjoy the planning process...it's all part of the ADVENTURE!
;-)

Wasn't going to make this suggestion but based on your last post, I thought why not. Instead of flying to Praque, fly to Berlin and stop in Dresden on your way to Praque. Also don't miss Cesky Krumlov on your way to Vienna.

Have fun on your adventure and as others have said be sure to take time out along the way to "smell the roses".

The train line just south of Dresden is really scenic when it goes thru Saxon Switzerland - a land along the Elbe River featuring high sandstone cliffs with fortresses like the Bastei on top of pinnacles. In fact if you want to stay a few days in Dresden a day trip into Saxon Switzerland can be great fun - in season there are boat services there from Dresden or take the train to a town like Bad Schandau, a neat resort town, and do a shorter boat trip on the river.

Sure, I'll toss my 2-cents-worth in here on your latest itinerary.

I'm a voracious sightseer, and even I'm thinking your plan is far, far too ambitious. Unless you really want to spend your precious 2 months playing "city tag-you're-it" and log a lot of time in transit, I'm thinking you're not likely to get a lot out of this trip as constituted presently.

I'm fine with devoting your time to big cities, but consider narrowing things down to a city per week over your two-month stretch to really experience the attractions, food, and people. Here's how I'd do this: start off with the eight cities you want to see most, research the attractions that interest you, and then estimate whether or not you'll need a week in each (for many of the major destinations, am thinking it's a good idea). Depending on your interests, you might consider starting off with a template of:

-Berlin
-Prague
-Vienna
-Venice
-Florence
-Rome
-Paris
-London

and then start adjusting.

I've been to all but Berlin, and with the exception of Venice and Prague, I found a week in each (including day trips) to be a perfectly good amount of time. Am hoping to go to Berlin someday, and if I do, will plan to spend a minimum of five days there. I spent about two full days in Venice and five full days in Prague and saw most everything I wanted in each. From here, you can adjust as needed -- if for example 2 days in Venice and 5 in Prague is enough, you might add in another city or two along the way.

Am also thinking adding in anything in Spain or Portugal will be tough to manage (given what I've looked at -- I've only been to Madrid and surrounding areas) you could easily spend a month or more in the Iberian Peninsula doing justice to Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial, and Aranjuez.

And by the way, don't be too quick to dismiss Vienna -- I loved the city, myself.

Hi Julesua,

Europe is the best place in the world for travel freak. It has everything in a very small place. History, culture, architecture, nature, technology and much more.
The train and other travel systems are so efficient, that one is tempted to pack too many things in too little time.

I do not know how old you are. But I guess you are quite young and have a lot many years to see the world.
I think you are a Crazy Genius.

I remembered my 1st trip to Europe.
I made my 1st 35 days trip with 12 countries, doing 9 night journeys in a 21 day unlimited Eurail pass.
I laugh at myself now. But it was fun.
I thoght then that this may well be my only trip to Europe, and I wanted to see every place mentioned in Thomas Cook brochure. Who knows if I will have money and time later. And this world is so big. I needed to travel to every continet.
( I am 44 now and have made 6 trips to Europe from India since I was 21 and am planning one more this summer to turkey and Switzerland)
Now after travelling to many countries and continents, I feel..
It is better to make every trip to Europe, and explore and experience countries, cultures; rather than just seeing them.

To make the long story short... take advantage of the vast experience of your senior fellow fodorites and pick only limited places and see them nicely. Life will be gracious and will allow you many more occassions to visit Europe again and again.

My Suggestion--
Have a mix of Big cities, Lovely towns, small villages.

Drop London-- It needs a separate visa and you can do it later with Scotland.

Start from South and End up North, if you are travelling in Spring, as the weather will become better as you travel north.

1. Greece- 5 n
2. Italy- 8 Days
Rome 2 n, Florence 2 N with Pisa day trip, Milan 2N with a day trip to Portofino, Venice 2 days
3. Austria- 7 Days
3 Vienna, 3 Salzburg with a day trip to Salzkamargut, 1 innsbruck
4. Germany- 8 days ( 2 Belin, 2 Munich, 1 Romantic Strasse, 2 Rhine valley, 1 Black forest)
5. Prague- 3 days
6. Amsterdam- 3 days
7. brussels- 2 days- ( Avoid Brugges, as you would have seen Venice)
8. Paris- 3 Days
9. Switzerland- 5 days
10. Nice- 2 days
11. Spain- 9 days ( 2 Barcelona,1 Granada,3 Seville, 3 Madrid)

12. Portugal- 4 days ( 2 Lisbon, 1 Sintra, 1 Obidos)

That makes it Best of Europe 60 days Itinerary.
You can do it, but you may not absorb all.

Best luck.

This is for Paragkash on Nov 11, 09 at 5:32am

thank you, your comment is VERY helpful.

I am planning a 2012 Europe trip and will be basing it on your advice.

Thanks

Jeni - you might want to seek some new advice.

Examples;

Ask what people think of a recommendation to spend you only 2 days in Belgium in, while "avoiding" Brugge because you would have already seen Venice.

I also don't think you will find too many who recommend interrupting a short 2 night stay in Florence for a day trip to Pisa.

The recommended day trip to Portofino from Milan is 2:30 by car, or train - each way.

There's more.

Julesusa:
Now that it's July 2011...the last time you wrote anything concerning your most ambitious European trip was October,'09...did you ever take that expedition, or not? How about thanking all the kind people who responded to your original post two years ago. A report of some kind would be the proper thing to do. This kind of affront happens all too often on this forum.

stu tower

stu: Julesusa asked about a similarly nutty itinerary in Oz the following year . . . never to be heard from again. Maybe she succombed in the Outback :D

. . . or was committed . .

janis...great comment...those kangaroos are not to be toyed with.

Jeni, I'm with Aramis on this issue. If it were mine and you haven't done so already, I'd post up a draft itinerary on a separate thread (not piggy-backed onto another one) for suggestions.

I too am not a big fan of Paragkash's itinerary, which even for a voracious sight-seer like me strikes me as far too ambitious, with way too many cities included, too little time in each place, and at best minimal consideration for travel times between.