bwalsh019

My wife and I are heading to Europe the first two weeks of October. We are starting our trip in Paris and flying out of Naples, Italy. We have a total of 16 days.
I'm thinking about doing the first 4 days in Paris. Then traveling south thru Switzerland for 2-3 days.
2-3 days in Venice. Then heading to Rome for a few days, and then Amalfi Coast.
Do you think I would have time for Cinque Terre, then head south towards Rome?
We are looking to see as much as possible within those 16 days.

nytraveler

Sorry - but this isn;t going to happen. Even putting the few days you have in each place (which is giving very short shrift to major cities you are up to 21 or 22 days). You cavalierly say 3/4 here and a few there - but don;t seem to have even added them up - never mind laid out a day by day itinerary.

Many people when they say 16 day really mean they have 14.5 days on the ground (not realizing your first day is 1/2 d jet lagged and your last day you leave so can do nothing). Then you have ignored that it takes 4 nights in a town to have 3 full days there. Then you have not included the time to get from one place to another - which is typically 1/2 day from city to city - so that would take another 3 days out of our 14.5.

So - get a map of europe and mark the places you want to go.

Lay out your trip day by day, showing where you will start, where you will spend the day, what travel you will do (and how long it will take) and where you will sleep. (Look at bahn.de to see train times from one city to another.)

If you do this I think you will run out of days long before you get to all the cities on your list.

Now, if you want a very rushed trip with just a small taste of these places so you can decide where you want to back and see in depth later - that's fine. But do realize what you're doing.

There are times when less is more - and this is one of them.

RonZ

What mode[s] of transportation are you planning on using?

mjs

It is easier to plan by using nights instead of days. Five nights in Paris gives you 4 days. How do you propose to travel through Switzerland and what do you want to see? 4 nights gives you 3 days in the Alps. Three nights gives you 2 days in Venice. Thats a total already of 12 nights and you have not gotten to Rome yet.
I do not think you have time for the Amalfi or CT.

nytraveler

Be very aware of the ZTL (pedestrian zone) in almost every town in Italy. If you enter in a car they will catch you (cameras are everywhere) and the fines are large (hundreds of $). For the smaller hill towns you typically have to park in a lot in the outskirts and walk into the town.

Also be aware that you can never leave a car in Italy with anything showing in it - not even a map or similar. Everything should be stowed in the trunk when you leave the hotel. If you wait until you arrive at a town there are likely to be watchers - and the rate of car thefts and thefts from cars is very high. And have you arranged for a car with automatic or do you prefer driving standard transmission?

bwalsh019

We are planning on doing trains.

Nothing is set in stone so far, except for flights to Paris and out of Naples.

Switzerland was just a bonus for us and we are starting to think we should spend one night while traveling towards Venice.



Oct 7 - Flight
Oct 8- Land in Paris 9:00 am
Oct 9 - Paris
Oct 10 - Paris
Oct 11 - Leave Paris Early AM Arrive Switzerland (Train)
Oct 12 - Switzerland
Oct 13 - Switzerland travel to Venice (Train)
Oct 14 - Venice
Oct 15 - Venice
Oct 16 - Venice fly to Rome
Oct 17 - Rome
Oct 18 - Rome to Amalfi
Oct 19 - Amalfi
Oct 20 - Amalfi
Oct 21 - Amalfi
Oct 22 - Amalfi
Oct 23 - Fly Home

Thoughts?

Cjar

How sad for Rome. It's really getting the red headed stepchild treatment. A day in Switzerland hardly seems fair either. I know it's hard to hear when you want to see it all, but you might enjoy yourselves more if you saw fewer places. Have you looked to see what interests you I each place and then planned according to that? If Paris holds a million things that interest you why rush on to Switzerland for just one day and if Rome doesn't interest you as much why go at all? This itinerary seems terribly cramped. Have you traveled at this break neck pace before? If so, you may love this, but it doesn't sound very enjoyable until you get to Amalfi. Only you know what kind of pace works for the two of you, but slowing down and drinking more wine or taking longer walks is never a bad thing.

Whathello

If you are young, why not. Some like it rushed.

RonZ

Evaluate your plan in terms of full days on the ground. Starting with 15, with this itinerary you only have 9. Here's a handy site for options going from one place to another:

http://www.rome2rio.com/

Man_in_seat_61

This seems perfectly doable, if it's what you want to do.

I'd go via the Bernina route:

1. TGV high-speed train Paris-Zurich from €25 www.captaintrain.com and onward connection to Chur, www.sbb.ch. Stay overnight in Chur.

2. Bernina Express Chur-Tirano, www.rhb.ch - THE best train ride through the Alps that there is. Onward regional train Tirano-Milan, €11, buy at station, www.trenord.it

3. Milan to Venice in 2h35 from €19 www.trenitalia.com

4. Venice to Rome in 3h45 from €29 www.trenitalia.com or competitor www.italotreno.it (nobody flies this route any more, too much hassle and takes as long)

StCirq

<<We are looking to see as much as possible within those 16 days.>>

You'll certainly see as much as possible of train stations.

kleeblatt

Man in seat: You are brilliant.

I'd personally add a few hours and have them continue their trip to Pontresina, where they could spend the night and enjoy a lovely day in the area.

mjs

Just a few thoughts. First 2+ days is IMHO inadequate for Paris, would add a 3rd day and even that is skimping. Switzerland with one stop is certainly easy to do. I was thinking of TGV to Lausanne than Milan to Venice with a stop in Lausanne but Man 61 knows much more than me. Weather however in October may be an issue with a 1/3 chance of rain and the possibility of fog in the valleys making a trip through Switzerland in mid October a little hit and miss. A full day in Venice is quite minimal 2 days would be much better. Train 3 1/2 hour to Rome but would skip Rome if all you are going to give it is one day. I'm not sure why you want to spend 5 nights In Amalfi at the end of October. temperature will be decent at around 60 but with about a 40%-50% chance of rain in a seaside resort where you will not be swimming.

bwalsh019

Thank you for all the replies! I understand this trip looks rushed, but we like to travel and see more. We have done trips like this across the US and Ireland and loved it!

I've spent a summer in Paris, and feel confident I can show my wife everything she wants to see in 3 days. - Cjar

Man_in_seat_61 - Those train options look perfect!! We will definitely avoid flying from Venice to Rome. I would prefer a train over a plane anyways. Very helpful!

mjs-- I'm thinking I should cut a day or two from Amalfi and add a day in either Switzerland or Venice. Rome is not a top priority of mine, and my wife has been there before.

There is still plenty of time to plan this trip and i'm confident we will see everything we are looking for.. If anyone has any other suggestions, I would really appreciate them.

Thank you!

stevectravel

I wouldn't spend more than three nights in Venice. I think two is fine if you arrive early and depart late. As far as cutting almafi, I'm heading there in two weeks and just cut our stay down to three nights from four. I'm still wondering if that was the right choice.. It feels like three nights is bare minimum for that region.

-Stephen