Plz critique our 2 1/2 mo. Itinerary
 

Please critque our 2 1/2 month itinerary; thank you!
We are independent slow travelers and have been to Europe at least 10 years ago
to Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Andalusia), Paris, Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome) on different trips. Like walkable cities, a bit of history and museums, art, dance, flea markets and local restaurants.

Trying round the world trip starting in August 2014
USA
Madrid - one month
Lisbon - one week
Munich - one week (sidetrip Salzberg)
Prague - one week
istanbul - two or three weeks (sidetrip to Cappadocia)
Kyoto - one week
USA

Is the above a good itinerary?

Thanks again!

Just curious why you have allocated a month to Madrid and a week or two to other destinations?

A month in Madrid would allow leisurely visits to the many worthwhile towns near Madrid. These include Cuenca (via the high speed train), Salamanca, Avila, Toledo, and Segovia. And of course to visit the world class museums of Madrid plus the lesser known ones and attractions.

If you like slow travel we thought a week in Istanbul was not enough nor was four days in Cappadocia. If you have steal time take it from Prague.

Should be quite a trip! Slow travelers might want a little more time in Kyoto.

If you mean some of the Southern Spanish cities like Cordoba, Sevilla, Antiguarez ans Granada, (or even barcelona)I agree with IMDonehere. however, you say you have already been to all those places. So you may not need that month for just Madrid, North and Northeast of Madrid even if you enjoy comparing and reminiscing.

You can easily chop off a week from Madrid.

If I have the time, i like living the place, feeling its vibe and its people.

We were in Kyoto for only three days and would have liked to stay longer. They have a monthly art market and I hope you chance upon it.

Munich, its environs and Salzburg is also good from the Hoffbrauhouse to the toy museum.

Looks good. enjoy it and let us know how it went.

Thank you all for your comments and recommendations!

Should have mentioned in Madrid area we are house swapping with a neighbor's relative so that's why it's a month in the Madrid area.

Want to go to Cordoba since we missed that town the last time we were going south in Spain. Enjoy the flamenco shows in Andalucia.

Also will research North and Northeast of Madrid.
Will research more about Salamanca and Cuenta. Already been to Toledo.

Kyoto has the Toji temple fair on the 21st of each month and hope our itinerary matches that.

In Istanbul am interested in Whirling derviches and Turkish dance and will google that.
Found Hodjapasha Dance Theatre. But wonder if there are local venues for Turkish dance and other places to see great dancing.
Am planning to stay in the old city Sultan Ahmet area.

I am afraid there is no such thing as "Turkish dance"

There are folk dances of different regions of Turkey. Groups which dance some of them will have touristic shows. Better groups compete in national and international competitions, but there are no clubs where they appear regularly.

however there is a large group which puts up a tremendous show combining Anatolian folk dances with modern dance and this Summer they will be appearing twice a week at Aspendos antique theatre near Antalya in Southern turkey ;

http://www.anadoluatesi.com/

tickets are available on Biletix.com

Thank you, Otherchelebi, for the info on Anadoluatesi. Always adore folk dance.
Not sure if we have enough time to go south.

Found Turkish Oryantal dance shows in Istanbul.
Even though it may or may not get great reviews, will plan to see it anyway.

I did not see the Moulin Rouge show in Paris because of the reviews and have regretted ever since. Will need to go back to Paris someday!

I went to the performances at Hodjapasha. They are definitely touristy. But then, I was a tourist! I enjoyed both the dervishes and the folk dances (including the belly dances).

IMHO you have 28 days too many in Madrid. While I love Spain - it's other parts we adore - the fantastic Moorish influence in Andalusia, the modern architecture of Barcelona, some of the Roman ruins in cities in the center and the lovely beaches of the Atlantic coast.

I just really don't like Madrid - IMHO it's like Chicago (which is fine for the midwestern US but awful for Spain).

If you are going to spend so much time in Spain I would head for more interesting areas.

Thank you for all the replies, guidance and insight to our RTW trip.

Here's the final itinerary:
Starting in August 2014
USA
Madrid - one month - home swapping - also some side trips, Cordoba, etc.
Lisbon - one week - Residential Florescente
Berlin - one week - Hotel Mani
Prague - one week - U Cerneho Medveda -at the Black Bear
Athens - one week - Hotel Attalos
Istanbul - one week - Grand Peninsula
Cappadocia - 3 days - Hidden Cave Hotel Gerome
2 days to be scheduled somewhere
Istanbul - 3 days - Grand Peninsula
Tokyo - 4 days -Citadines Shinjuku
USA

Flight cost about $3,650 per person.
Booked through tim @ ticketsroundtheworld . com
He was very patient with my changing itinerary and time of flights

Should be a memorable trip!

I've posted my comments on your leg in Turkey on your other thread.

I am very surprised that instead of adding time in Kyoto, you dropped it from your plans and replaced it with Tokyo. But to each his/her own!

Don't you want to spend time on the sea while in Greece?

BTW, I loved Istanbul and thought it easily worth a full week if not more. That said, you might want to limit your time there to "just" one week so that you can add time to Japan (and specifically, time for Kyoto).

And while I think you have chosen some great destinations, I'm not sure I understand your underlying interests: What are the factors that are driving your selections? Are you seeking art or history or architecture or cuisine or ...? You might get better feedback if you tell us something about your interests.