Itinerary for Germany, Italy and Austria
 

Who: My wife, sister-in-law, me, my 15 year old son and my 19 year old daughter
When: Last week of June
Where: We would like to visit Germany, Italy and Austria - visions of cool high country - but we are flexible to accommodate what is practical.
Duration: 10 days

Unknowns 1 many
euro pass? Rent a car? Best cities to visit?

Ray,

10 days to visit 3 countries is NOT going to be a fun trip. You say you have visions of "high cool country", then ask best cities to visit.
Does the 10 days include flying days?

If you had in mind 10 days to see just the mountains/castles of the 3 countries mentioned, maybe doable if you stay in as compact an area as possible.

If you think you are going to visit the "big 3" (Rome, Florence, Venice) in Italy, then 10 days would JUST barely be possible in 10 days, but rushed.

You all need to sit down with guidebooks and decide what you want out of the trip. Top priorities?

If you have a better idea of exactly where you want to go, then we can help. Lots of answers here for detailed info that is invaluable!

Happy planning!

I love that trip---starting in Munich and ending in Venice and including the Bavaria castles, the Salzkammergut, Lago Garda, the Dolomites, and Venice. But, you will need at least 15 days to do it well. With only 10 days, pick 3 of these.

If your entire trip is 10 days you will only have 7.5 days free on the ground (1.5 days is spent getting to Europe and to your hotel/settling in, and a day is spent getting home. So pick one country and and two or three max places in that country.

Or - do a short visit to two cities in different countries.

. . . but not three countries or lots of destinations.

Hi,

If you have "visions of cool high country", limit your trip to the Bavarian alps and the Austrian alps. Munich is ideal to fly into/out of for these regions. IF you have 10 nights IN Europe, you could fit a couple nights Zell am See, Austria, a few in the Italian Dolomites and end with a couple of the nights in the Mittenwald/Garmisch, Germany area.

Paul