Rushing thru London, Paris and Rome
Mar 24th, 2009, 06:19 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rushing thru London, Paris and Rome
My husband and I are going to London-Paris-Rome this August. It's a quick 13 day trip and it's our first time at all cities so we are packing in a lot. I'm wondering if we are being realistic in thinking we can do it. For example, I have one day to see all the major tourist sites in each city (the rest of the days are for out of otwn sites or the more leisurely things like Louvre or British Museum).
London we are doing Parliament area, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace all in one day...crazy? Also, in Paris we are doing Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe area, Seine cruise in one day. Also doing Versallies and Montmartre in one day. Is this doable? We've already booked transport so we can't cut out Rome at this point. We have 4 full days in London, 5 full days in Paris and 2 full days in Rome. The rest are half days or less due to transport. We are doing pretty much everything on our own to save money except for the Vatican and Stonehenge-Windsor (already booked these tours).
London we are doing Parliament area, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace all in one day...crazy? Also, in Paris we are doing Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe area, Seine cruise in one day. Also doing Versallies and Montmartre in one day. Is this doable? We've already booked transport so we can't cut out Rome at this point. We have 4 full days in London, 5 full days in Paris and 2 full days in Rome. The rest are half days or less due to transport. We are doing pretty much everything on our own to save money except for the Vatican and Stonehenge-Windsor (already booked these tours).
Mar 24th, 2009, 06:24 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 25,874
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you have already booked your tickets and all the tours, I'm wondering what you want us to say? Yes, you're crazy?
For London, head to Tower of London first thing in the morning. When you say Buckingham Palace and the Parliament, do you mean touring the INSIDE or just looking from the outside? If you mean touring INSIDE then yes that's way too much for 1 day.
Versailles takes a whole day, but I guess you can head there early in the AM and visit Montmarte when you get back. The only thing that is working FOR you is long daylight hours.
For London, head to Tower of London first thing in the morning. When you say Buckingham Palace and the Parliament, do you mean touring the INSIDE or just looking from the outside? If you mean touring INSIDE then yes that's way too much for 1 day.
Versailles takes a whole day, but I guess you can head there early in the AM and visit Montmarte when you get back. The only thing that is working FOR you is long daylight hours.
Mar 24th, 2009, 06:29 PM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We haven't booked our tickets for any of the sites aside from the 2 tours, just the transport between each city so I just mean we can't change how many days we have in each place. You've helped me already by telling me we can't tour the inside of those places in one day. I guess I need help putting our itinerary together so any tips is great. Then once I have it done I'll post it for feedback on whether it's realistic. I don't want us to be disappointed we missed something so definitely need the experienced traveler's opinion 
Mar 24th, 2009, 06:30 PM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We're doing other things the other 3 days. I just mean we're craming the typical tourist things into one day. What i'll do is I'll post the itinerary I have so far and see what you guys think. I'm at work so I'll do that tomorrow and I look forward to your thoughts.
Mar 24th, 2009, 07:49 PM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Okay, I found my itinerary. I would love your thoughts and suggestions.
Day 1- arrive in London at noon. Explore area of hotel then check out sites (see below)
Day 2- see more sites
(in Day 1 and 2 these are the sites we want to see, what order should we do them in? :
Tower of London (inside), Buckingham Palace (inside and changing of the guard), St. Paul's Cathedral (inside), Westminster Abbey (inside), Parliament and Big Ben, night river cruise (should we bother with this?).
Day 3- prebooked tour to Stonehenge and Windsor
Day 4-British National Museum, Natural History Museum? (should we do both?) or should we visit Notting Hill or Kensington Gardens?
**note, I could use a few suggestions for evening activites in all cities
Day 5-arrive in Paris at 2:30pm, exploe area around hotel then go to Louvre
Day 6-out of town tour
Day 7-Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and walk Champs Elysees, Notre Dame, should we do an evening cruise?
Day 8-out of town tour
Day 9- Versailles, then to Montmartre in time to see Sacre C'oeur then I thought we could use the evening to walk around Montmartre
Day 10-arrive in Rome at 11:15am, Colliseum, Roman Forum
Day 11-tour of Vatican
Day 12-Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Pantheon
Day 13- we leave at 4:35pm, I'm thinking of using today to visit Villa Borghese and Borghese Gallery (I love Caravaggio).
Day 1- arrive in London at noon. Explore area of hotel then check out sites (see below)
Day 2- see more sites
(in Day 1 and 2 these are the sites we want to see, what order should we do them in? :
Tower of London (inside), Buckingham Palace (inside and changing of the guard), St. Paul's Cathedral (inside), Westminster Abbey (inside), Parliament and Big Ben, night river cruise (should we bother with this?).
Day 3- prebooked tour to Stonehenge and Windsor
Day 4-British National Museum, Natural History Museum? (should we do both?) or should we visit Notting Hill or Kensington Gardens?
**note, I could use a few suggestions for evening activites in all cities
Day 5-arrive in Paris at 2:30pm, exploe area around hotel then go to Louvre
Day 6-out of town tour
Day 7-Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and walk Champs Elysees, Notre Dame, should we do an evening cruise?
Day 8-out of town tour
Day 9- Versailles, then to Montmartre in time to see Sacre C'oeur then I thought we could use the evening to walk around Montmartre
Day 10-arrive in Rome at 11:15am, Colliseum, Roman Forum
Day 11-tour of Vatican
Day 12-Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Pantheon
Day 13- we leave at 4:35pm, I'm thinking of using today to visit Villa Borghese and Borghese Gallery (I love Caravaggio).
Mar 24th, 2009, 08:11 PM
#10
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you arrive in Paris on a Wed or Fri?
If so, doing the Louvre any kind of justice after hitting town at 2:30 might be possible, because it's open late.
If not, I suppose a person could race past the Winged Victory of Samothrace, glimpse the Mona Lisa, get herded out at 6 PM closing time, and feel that she had done the Louvre. Better than not seeing those things at all.
If so, doing the Louvre any kind of justice after hitting town at 2:30 might be possible, because it's open late.
If not, I suppose a person could race past the Winged Victory of Samothrace, glimpse the Mona Lisa, get herded out at 6 PM closing time, and feel that she had done the Louvre. Better than not seeing those things at all.
Mar 24th, 2009, 09:01 PM
#13
No - most of your plans are foolish -- sorry, but that's the truth. "<i>I have one day to see all the major tourist sites in each city</i>" That is just nuts. The major sites aren't all lined up next to each other like rides at Disneyland. You have to get from one side of the crowded city to the other by tube/metro, have a couple of meals, walk miles --
You have nowhere near "4 full days" in London. Day 1 you arrive at noon - <u>jetlagged</u>. It will probably be nearly 3 PM before you are even checked in/unpacked. So you really only have 3 days free.
You have 4.5 days in Paris - but you are spending 2 of those out of town.
"<i>2 full days in Rome</i>" - at least you got that part right. But you overestimate what you can do on your departure day. You will want to be at the airport by about 1:30 or 2 PM. The train ride will take a bit over 1/2 an hour - so w/ checking out and getting from your hotel to the station - you will want to get started between noon and 1:00.
You have nowhere near "4 full days" in London. Day 1 you arrive at noon - <u>jetlagged</u>. It will probably be nearly 3 PM before you are even checked in/unpacked. So you really only have 3 days free.
You have 4.5 days in Paris - but you are spending 2 of those out of town.
"<i>2 full days in Rome</i>" - at least you got that part right. But you overestimate what you can do on your departure day. You will want to be at the airport by about 1:30 or 2 PM. The train ride will take a bit over 1/2 an hour - so w/ checking out and getting from your hotel to the station - you will want to get started between noon and 1:00.
Mar 25th, 2009, 06:00 AM
#17
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And it's in August to boot.
All I want to know is why?
I started a thread awhile back on people cramming so much into such little time.
http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...a-vacation.cfm
Even after reading the replies it still just wasnt for me. Each to his own I guess.
What stokebailey just said is so true. I hear it all the time.
nicbur...LESS IS ALWAYS MORE...
Vacation is suppose to refresh and enhance your being..
Sit,relax,....ponder....
All I want to know is why?
I started a thread awhile back on people cramming so much into such little time.
http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...a-vacation.cfm
Even after reading the replies it still just wasnt for me. Each to his own I guess.
What stokebailey just said is so true. I hear it all the time.
nicbur...LESS IS ALWAYS MORE...
Vacation is suppose to refresh and enhance your being..
Sit,relax,....ponder....
Mar 25th, 2009, 06:06 AM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 25,874
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll try to tackle your London & Paris part:
<i>Day 1- arrive in London at noon. Explore area of hotel then check out sites (see below)
Day 2- see more sites
(in Day 1 and 2 these are the sites we want to see, what order should we do them in? :
Tower of London (inside), Buckingham Palace (inside and changing of the guard), St. Paul's Cathedral (inside), Westminster Abbey (inside), Parliament and Big Ben, night river cruise (should we bother with this?).
Day 3- prebooked tour to Stonehenge and Windsor
Day 4-British National Museum, Natural History Museum? (should we do both?) or should we visit Notting Hill or Kensington Gardens?</i>
Like janisj said, you'd be really jetlagged by the time you arrive on Day 1, and don't count on getting to your hotel by 2pm the earliest. After checking-in and freshening up, it won't be until 3pm before you can even consider heading out for sightseeing.
Since you'd be tired, I'd recommend something "lightweight" to do: Go for a walk in Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park, then head down to Parliament/Big Ben around sunset and walk along the Thames. Don't bother with the night cruise on the Thames... the Seine is much nicer.
Day 2: first thing in the AM visit Tower of London. That will take up the entire morning, then go to St Paul's Cathedral. You can then head to British Museum for the rest of the day.
Day 4: Westminster Abbey; Nat History Museum (or the V&A across the street). If you really want to visit the INISDE of Buckingham Palace, then don't visit either museums and do that instead. Forget about changning of the guards... you have to get there early in order to have a decent view.
You need to prioritize what you <u>really want to see</u> on this trip and give up the ones lower on your list.
<i>Day 5-arrive in Paris at 2:30pm, exploe area around hotel then go to Louvre
Day 6-out of town tour
Day 7-Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and walk Champs Elysees, Notre Dame, should we do an evening cruise?
Day 8-out of town tour
Day 9- Versailles, then to Montmartre in time to see Sacre C'oeur then I thought we could use the evening to walk around Montmartre</i>
I don't understand why you are doing 3 day trips when you only have a little over 4 days in Paris. Are those "out of town" tours booked? If not, forget about those and just concentrate your time IN Paris. Versailles, as I've said before, easily can take up an ENTIRE day. True, the main palace building can be toured in just 2 hours, but the garden and grounds are huge and it's several miles to walk from the Palace to the Trianons and to the Hameau. It's a waste of time and $ to go all the way to Versailles for 2 hours just to say "I've been there".
<i>Day 1- arrive in London at noon. Explore area of hotel then check out sites (see below)
Day 2- see more sites
(in Day 1 and 2 these are the sites we want to see, what order should we do them in? :
Tower of London (inside), Buckingham Palace (inside and changing of the guard), St. Paul's Cathedral (inside), Westminster Abbey (inside), Parliament and Big Ben, night river cruise (should we bother with this?).
Day 3- prebooked tour to Stonehenge and Windsor
Day 4-British National Museum, Natural History Museum? (should we do both?) or should we visit Notting Hill or Kensington Gardens?</i>
Like janisj said, you'd be really jetlagged by the time you arrive on Day 1, and don't count on getting to your hotel by 2pm the earliest. After checking-in and freshening up, it won't be until 3pm before you can even consider heading out for sightseeing.
Since you'd be tired, I'd recommend something "lightweight" to do: Go for a walk in Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park, then head down to Parliament/Big Ben around sunset and walk along the Thames. Don't bother with the night cruise on the Thames... the Seine is much nicer.
Day 2: first thing in the AM visit Tower of London. That will take up the entire morning, then go to St Paul's Cathedral. You can then head to British Museum for the rest of the day.
Day 4: Westminster Abbey; Nat History Museum (or the V&A across the street). If you really want to visit the INISDE of Buckingham Palace, then don't visit either museums and do that instead. Forget about changning of the guards... you have to get there early in order to have a decent view.
You need to prioritize what you <u>really want to see</u> on this trip and give up the ones lower on your list.
<i>Day 5-arrive in Paris at 2:30pm, exploe area around hotel then go to Louvre
Day 6-out of town tour
Day 7-Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and walk Champs Elysees, Notre Dame, should we do an evening cruise?
Day 8-out of town tour
Day 9- Versailles, then to Montmartre in time to see Sacre C'oeur then I thought we could use the evening to walk around Montmartre</i>
I don't understand why you are doing 3 day trips when you only have a little over 4 days in Paris. Are those "out of town" tours booked? If not, forget about those and just concentrate your time IN Paris. Versailles, as I've said before, easily can take up an ENTIRE day. True, the main palace building can be toured in just 2 hours, but the garden and grounds are huge and it's several miles to walk from the Palace to the Trianons and to the Hameau. It's a waste of time and $ to go all the way to Versailles for 2 hours just to say "I've been there".
Mar 25th, 2009, 07:36 AM
#20
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm thinking your out-of-town excursions are not worth what you're giving up in town. I can understand wanting to see some particular sight, like Stonehenge or Versailles, and I can understand even more wanting to see something of the countryside. But you need a longer trip to do all this.
To fill your empty evenings in London, you could take a walking tour of the pubs: www.walks.com. And the theater is great there. A play at Shakespeare's Globe Theater?
The sights scheduled for your day 12 in Rome won't take that long. But maybe you'll need a rest by them. A little dolce far niente is part of the Italian lifestyle.
To fill your empty evenings in London, you could take a walking tour of the pubs: www.walks.com. And the theater is great there. A play at Shakespeare's Globe Theater?
The sights scheduled for your day 12 in Rome won't take that long. But maybe you'll need a rest by them. A little dolce far niente is part of the Italian lifestyle.
