Hi guys!

So two of my friends and I are planning a trip to Europe in December not longer than 7-12 days.

Basically this is the first time I'm travelling to Europe and planning a trip on my own so I have no idea how to go about it.
We do have a little bit of a criteria but like I mentioned we dont know where to go where to see so based on the following criteria I need help narrowing it down.
Our budget is around $1500 preferably including airfare- We do not care about high end hotel however cleanliness is important
-We dont have any fixed dates yet but tentative dates -17th to 24th Dec
- I understand that most of the places in Europe will be really cold at that time but since Europe is my dream im ready to brave the cold for that however any suggestions of places that are milder comparatively to others will be appreciated.
-What were mostly interested in is scenic fairy tale like towns, christmas attractions(i love the holiday season and christmas decorations) a little bit of architecture and some game of thrones type places(sorry dont know how else to explain)

Now the complicated bit
-Ill be travelling from Pakistan, one of my friends from India and another from US ---so need a place where airfare should be reasonable for all three of us.
-Since I have a Pakistani passport, visas are a little bit of an issue however I've heard getting a visa through German or Italian embassy is relatively easier

So based on those two important points I've narrowed down two options
1- Germany+Austria( Prague too if possible)
2-Italy+ Croatia

I now need someone to help me plan out an itinerary(picking out what places to visit) also some guidance about getting around the cities and getting from one country to another(would love to go by train)

Thanks a bunch in advance and sorry if this post is a headache!

I now need someone to help me plan out an itinerary(picking out what places to visit) also some guidance about getting around the cities and getting from one country to another(would love to go by train)>

some superb IMO sources for learning about the fabulous European rail system: www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - check out the latter's free online European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of suggested rail itineraries. You probably are not taking enough trains to even consider any type of railpass.

I think you first need to run your numbers. I know getting to europe from the US (you don;t say where and it matters) is usually at least $1K - and you are saying $1500 all in including airfare - which for 12 days is simply not enough. Not sure of cost of airfare from India and Pakistan - so that is the first thing for you to determine.

Just so you know - student guides suggest 50 euro per day per person as the absolute minimum for travel in europe (staying in hostels, eating picnics or sandwiches from supermarkets, walking versus using local transit and avoiding high priced sights - which may be as much as 20 euros each). Also you need to allow for intercity travel - which can be fairly cheap (depending on getting nonchangeable discount fares in advance) but on top of the 50 euros per day.

And yes, that time of year will be cold and possibly snowy (you will need warm winter clothing and boots), the days will be short and gray and the scenery will be not much - no flowers, trees leafless etc.

Once you have determined what your basic costs are and if you have the funds to do this come back and people can provide more detailed info based on your budget/number of days. And no - you can't visit all those places in 12 days and certainly not 7 days - or you would just be spending most of your time sitting on buses or trains.

Between "fairy tale like towns" and "Game of Thrones" type places, honestly it sounds like you should be visiting England, Wales, and Scotland. The Cotswolds will check off the "fairy tale" box. And you'll speak the language!

King's Landing is essentially London. York and Edinburgh can fill in for Winterfell. Hadrian's Wall is, well, The Wall. All of rural Scotland looks just like the North. For that matter, it's not too difficult to jump to Northern Ireland and be where they actually film much of GoT. Ruined castles are seemingly everywhere.

<Our budget is around $1500 preferably including airfare>

I don't think that budget will cover 7-12 days in Europe even at the most basic accommodations.

My first suggestion for planning is to find out how much plane tickets cost from each of the 3 departure airports.

Then subtract that $ from $1500, then divide by 7 or 12. This will show you how much per day you have left to cover... a place to sleep, transportation between places, food, admissions, incidentals.

We do not care about high end hotel however cleanliness is important>

check airbnb.com for cheap digs and usually as clean as a B&B - very very popular now in Europe.

Thanks all for the helpful responses

-we can try and increase our budget upto $2000 and decrease the number of places. Which is what I need suggestion for the places or decided aren't fixed or anything.

-as for the Scotland, England and Wales suggestion that sounds awesome but getting a visa for those places is relatively harder

-italy and Germany are the easiest for me to get a visa and which is why I have to have an itinerary that includes either of those two places-

I still don;t think you have run the numbers. Or really taken into consideration the weather (can easily be below freezing and snow is not rare north of the alps). Do you have warm jackets, hat, scarf, gloves and snow boots as well as warm pants and sweater?

At an absolute minimum you will need 50 euros per day - so 350 for 7 days and 600 for 12 days PLUS plane fare and train fares between cities.

Be aware that you will have to prove enough money to live on plus a return ticket in order to get a visa. (I don't know if the authorities will consider the above amount enough - since that is backpacker/couchsurfer costs - they may want to see proof of more. I would check with people you know who got a visa to see what amount of spending money they required. Also you may need proof of lodgings in advance - check on this as well)

http://www.hostelworld.com/search?ci...ountry=Germany

http://gameofthrones-croatia.com/

http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/

Hostels have kitchens so you can at least buy some food and eat there. Save a ton of money that way.


Train travel www.seat61.com

Nuremberg has a great Christmas market.
Dress warm/layers/wool socks for your feet.
Airfare will be biggest expense.

http://www.hostelworld.com/search?se..._to=2015-12-18

@flpab great links! Thanks for all the help! I'm gonna check them out