I will be traveling to Europe this summer with my family of 3. I would like suggestions for an itinerary. We will be visiting family and friends in the following cities: Munich, Paris, Zurich, Valencia, and Barcelona. Thank you.

Stop it will you.

How much time do you have?

Who is the "3" - parents and a baby - or do you mean parents PLUS 3 kids? Or?

Where are you coming from (which may affect what air tickets are most convenient/less costly)?

We are not mind readers - you have to provide SOME information.

I do hope you have more than 7 days. Otherwise you will just be too rushed.

: Munich, Paris, Zurich, Valencia, and Barcelona. Thank you.>

Ok not sure how much time you have but hopefully at least 2 if not 3 weeks to do all that leisurely.

Land in Barcelona or if possible Valencia (or Madrid and take train to Valencia (assume you are not driving as drop-off charges for rentals picked up in one country and dropped off in another can be dauntingly steep -

1- Valenica - a few days here is enough for most.

2- Train to Barcelona

at least 3 nights there

3- Overnight or long day train to Paris (overnight train leaves from Perpignan, France with day train connections to it from Barcelona from there)

3 full days in Paris

4. TGV train to Zurich

Day train to Munich.

a perfect 2 1/2-3 week trip IMO.

For lots about European trains check out these IMO superb sites: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com. Check on a Eurail Select Pass for Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany or buy discounted tickets from national rail web sites - but these ducats are usually non-changeble non-refundable and being sold in limited numbers must often be booked weeks or months in advance to get - but could be the cheapest way - the pass if over 25 is automatically first class - in my decades of European rail travel I urge folks with perhaps too much luggage and on the trip of a lifetime to go first class, in many ways a much more relaxed ride.

Drive, rail, fly...? Really we need to know a bit more about your travel plans.

Thank you for everyone's help. The 3 of us are my two daughters (college & high school age) and I. We have 30-40 days for this vacation. Munich, Germany--preset date to stay with friends--12 days) Sometime during the trip we need to visit family in Valencia, Spain for 7 days. We have decided not to do Zurich.
I need help planning an itinerary and when to travel by train or plane.

Our must see cities: Munich, Valencia, Barcelona, Paris

Thanks.

I will be leaving from the USA

As far as itinerary of what to see and do, I suggest you get guidebooks and just plan as you go with that much time. Your older daugbhter is an adult and both are at an age where they can help planning.

You have a lot of time. I'd fly from Munich to Barcelona, see Barcelona, and then rent a car and drive down the coast to Valencia. Or fly Barcelona to Valencia to Seville. I'd also spend some time in Andalucia (Seville, Granada, Cordoba etc.)--that is "picture post-card Spain." Drive up to Madrid and drop the car, then train to Toledo for a couple of nites. Total of about two weeks in Spain. Fly Madrid to Paris and fly home from there (Open-jaw tickets)

With three of you, and all of driving age, you'd probably be better off driving the shorter distances around southern Spain. Otherwise fly the longer distances.

AVE trains though in Spain go up to about 200 mph - if just going to the main cities you mention take the train - cars are not much use in large cities but if have the time take the drives dwdvagamundo talks about - if short on time take the train - there are overnight trains running all around Spain as well.