Help needed with a Europe trip???
 

Hi all, I've been trying to work out what the best route is for a trip in Europe I want to travel around march and go between 1 and 2 months I know it is hard to fit in slot of countries in that short space of time but I want to start in London or Dublin and go to
Ireland – Dublin
United Kingdom – London
Spain – Madrid - Barcelona 
France – Paris
Italy – Rome -Florence - Venice 
Greece -Athens
Russia – Moscow
Germany – Berlin
Hungary – Budapest
Netherlands – Amsterdam
Vatican City – Vatican City
What countries would work out best put together I am planning on doing some flying and eurorail between countries
So let me know what you think, thanks!

A best route would be one that minimizes backtracking, in/out cities with great public transportation hubs. You have listed 11 countries and 14 major European cities. Basically, a pipe dream. Can it be done? Of course. Can it be done in a month? Only if going nuts.

First off, divvy up the CITIES list you provided on two columns; MUST SEE and NICE TO SEE. Another suggestion is group the cities in geographic quadrants. Pick two quadrants and that is your trip. Europe is not going anywhere; don't waste time and money getting mnostly acquainted with Europe's transit systems.

This isn't specific advice, but for longer trips, I sometimes print out blank calendar days, say two weeks to a page (landscape) and then start filling in blocks of time that I want to spend in specific places. Somehow, the visual of the calendar makes it more manageable to organize for me.

Also, I have used Google calendars. It's nice because you can put city names in one color, accommodations in another and transportation or other notes in a third color.

Another note, if it were me, I'd do Italy and perhaps Greece early in the trip saving the more northerly destinations for later.

Have fun planning!
H

Hi Alice first congrats on your trip

Post up more details on budget time u have and time of year

you want to go...

If budget is good fly/train like a local eurocheapo.com tips

skyscanner.net long legs seat61.com train short legs

Do a round Robin Spain France Italy Greece work your way back
up through Hungary Austria Germany etc be off all beaches in the South in August too crowded.

If budget not so good www.backpackeurope.com www.eurolines.com
Bus pass top hostels on your way...

travel.state.gov for entry safety columbusdirect.com ins wise

Do lots of research for best experience.. Have fun!

If only one month then you really need to totally rethink things. Even the most energetic traveler who only desires a "taste" of places would find ten countries in that time to be a total waste of time and money. If you really do have two months, then MOST of it could be done. The majority here will tell you to pick only your few most favorite and enjoy those places, and I actually agree with that advice. BUT, if you want to see a lot of places in a relatively short time frame it can be done - but with some limitations.

First, do you realize that each time you move you loose the MAJORITY of a day - even if the flight or train ride is only an hour or two. You have to: check out of hotel --- get to airport--- go through security ---- wait for flight ---- fly ---- get luggage ---- get from airport to city center ---- check into next hotel. It's more exhausting than you would think and way more time consuming.

Also, Russia is an outlier in your plan. Every place else you list can be visited without a visa (depending on where you are from) and easily navigated by a novice tourist who doesn't speak the language. I would seriously considering cutting Russia from this trip.

You only have major cities listed. Do you have any interest in seeing any countryside or smaller towns?

Here's my suggested itinerary given what you say you want.

Dublin - 3 days/nights Fly to London

London - 6 days/7 nights with a day trip to Oxford, Warwick, Bath or some other easily accessible smaller town. Train to Amsterdam

Amsterdam - 4 days/ 5 nights with one day trip Train to Paris

Paris - 5 days/ 6 nights Fly to Barcelona

Barcelona - 4 days/ 5 nights Train to Madrid

Madrid - 4 days/ 5 nights with a day trip to Segovia or Toledo. Fly to Rome

Rome - 4 days/5 nights (Vactican City is IN Rome) Train to Florence

Florence - 4 days/5 nights with a day trip to Siena Train to Venice

Venice - 3 days/ 5 nights Fly to Budapest

Budapest - 4 days/ 5 nights Fly or train to Berlin

Berlin 4 days/ 5 nights Fly to Athens

Athens/Greece - 6 days/7 nights some of that time on an island. Fly home from there

That's 62 nights - or two months. If you can't go for that long I'd cut places, not time in each place. The more places you go, and the longer the trip, the more time you want to spend in each place - even though this may seem counter-intuitive. Otherwise the trip will be a blurr and you'll get to know the transit systems well and the cities/countries not so well.

Furst if all, you need to decide whether your trip is 1 month or 2 or somewhere in between. Then you need to follow the advice above and consider what you really want to see and do. March isn't a great time for travel in northern Europe so consider traveling south to north. If you have one month, think about the UK, France and either Italy (including Vatican City) or Spain. If you have two months, add 3 or 4 countries.

As it stands, your trip is mostly large cities. The charm of Europe lies also in its countryside and small towns. Be sure to get guidebooks and research what you want to see and do while in each country.

Thanks for all your help and tips :) will most deffinately do 2 months I didnta really think about all the travel dates.. Cutting out Russia hard choice but it mak sense why I should,
Cheers for the google calendar idea that is terrific!!
I have a well budget and want to do all the main cities as I plan to move over in the following year which is when I will do all the countryside,
Isabel thanks for that itinerary plan I'm gonna base my planning on that and deffinately do 2 months!

Another question what are some of the best things to see in the cities I've listed??