StCirq

I have been to Amsterdam quite a few times and would never consider it "crucial," unless you are vitally interested in the museums there. The food is meh, the traffic is horrible, and once you've done a few hair-raising sprints around the canals admiring the architecture and dodging bicycles and trams, not much else to do except get out of town to more pleasurable Dutch (and Belgian) venues. IMO, of course.

I would spend more time in Italy, and not just major cities.

And FWIW, I've never warmed up to Munich.

bussa17

The plan seems pretty cool to me.
Only thing I will try to squeeze in Florence before leaving as I think it is pretty awesome!

PalenQ

Day 20 Rome - Day trip somewhere close?>

could day trip in little more than an hour to Florence - and yes a day in Florence would be sweet.

Or day trip to nearby Ostia Antica, ancient Rome's port whose ruins are in many ways IME comparable to Pompeii sans the overwhelming crowds. Just a short metro ride from Rome.

Or day trip by train via Naples to Pompeii though would take about 3 hours each way.

mgtaylor

Thank you for all of the great suggestions!

PalenQ

Please if inclined to report back after fact - always interesting to see what actually happened!

Cheers!

PalenQ

and yes at least stop off for a half-day or so en route Venice to Rome by train or add a night there and take one from Rome. Or again day trip there from Rome.

5alive

Hey, you are asking all the right questions as you plan your trip. I just noticed that your wife really wants to see Berlin, so I would leave that in. But you could fly Paris to Berlin and then Berlin to Venice. Fly home from Rome. Save Munich for a future Central Europe trip.

I have been on two longer trips to Italy, and have spent close to a month in Rome. I have not seen everything I want to see. Rome has so many layers of history.

More side trip ideas for Italy? Near Rome, I have been to and loved:

--Umbria: Assisi, Perugia (would recommend at least one overnight here)
--Subiaco to the monastery founded by St Benedict the beginnings of Western monastacism (remote, and you will need a driver, maybe 1 to 1.5 hours from town)
-- Bracciano for its castle and the lake (straightforward train ride).
--As mentioned above, Ostia Antica.
--the main catacombs of Rome


On my wishlist:
-- Orvieto, long daytrip or overnight, unique cathedral, underground Etruscan caves (my brother and dad went and recommend)
--WWII memorials near Rome at Anzio and second nearby city (Nettuno?)
--Etruscan ruins between Rome and Tuscany: Ceverteri, Tarquinia are said to be great.

Finally, do you know what town or region your wife's family comes from? Even if you don't know relatives living there now, it would be cool to visit the general area.