Rome - Prague - Istanbul (How would you spread 9 nights?)
 

My wife and I are planning a trip to Europe and want to visit Rome, Prague & Istanbul. At first, I figured 3 nights on each city but now I'm not so sure and would like some opinions.

We already visited Rome once and really loved it so we want to go again, but maybe 2 nights is enough and give that night to one of the other two places.

We've never been to Prague or to Istanbul, so I don't know how many days might be better spent on each place.

The dates we're looking at are at the beginning of March, so an idea of what we can expect, weather wise, would also be really helpful.

Thank you very much!!!

Mike,

With only 9 nights I would not visit those 3 cities as part of the same trip. They are too far apart and you will spend full days traveling between them. Perhaps Rome and Istanbul make sense if you can find a reasonably priced flight between the two. The weather in these two southern cities ought to be better than Prague in March.

That said I loved Prague but would pair it with another city.

I agree with Scootoir - I personally wouldn't try to visit these 3 cities in the same trip. IMO, Prague deserves at least 3 (or better 4) days and Istanbul deserves a minimum of 6 days.

For weather info, check any decent guide book (library or book store) or google it.

Thank you both so much for your replies, I guess we still have a lot more thinking to do!

I agree as well.

If you're set on 9 nights, then pick Rome OR Istanbul - either of which you could easily spend a week in (and still not see everything). Spend six nights in Rome OR Istanbul and spend the other 3 nights in Prague.

OR....

Go for 12 or more nights and just see Rome AND Istanbul.

OR...

Go for 15 nights or more (if you want to add side trips) and see all three.

I haven't been to Rome, but I can speak for PRague and Istanbul Prague is brilliant, but it pales in comparison with Istanbul.I would suggest using those 9 days only in Turkey,perhaps visiting Cappadocia or Ephesus.
Otherwise skip Rome,spend 3 days in Prague and 6 in Istanbul, Rome itself seems to be another big trip, you could visit Rome some other time along with other parts of Italy.
With 3 cultural "giants" in 9 days, I would call it an overdose.

no way three cities of that magnitude in that amount of days...travel alone will take up total 2 days. Istanbul combined with another place in Turkey would be a great trip. Since you have been to Rome make this trip a new experience.

If you spend all that time getting to Istanbul, then use the whole 9 days to see two places in Turkey. Six days in Istanbul and 3 in Cappadocia would be perfect. You would not regret it; Turkey is beautiful and amazing.
If you could stretch the trip to 10 days, you could use one or two to visit Ephesus.

OTOH, if Rome is a must, what about other cities or towns in Italy? Venice, Florence, etc.

Cappadocia is one of the more interesting places we have visited. And we spent a week in Istanbul and it wasn't enough. We love Rome and Italy, for me Prague is an interesting city, but no where in the league of Rome and Istanbul.