Start Frankfurt and 2 weeks later home from Paris
 

Going to Europe starting in Frankfurt for about 14 days, going home from Paris, does anyone have a good itinerary for me? I have NEVER been to Europe before. Thank you. Carol

It's a long walk but a straight line and two weeks and you should make it.<BR>You will enjoy every km.

What time of year are you going, and how are you planning to get around? And what are your interests? Wine? Hiking? Cities? Mountains? Art? History? Architecture?<BR><BR>I would definitely plan to spend at least 5 days in Paris at the end of your trip -- more would be better -- but what you do up until then would largely depend on what time of year you're going and what your interests are. <BR><BR>If you're a wine lover, one idea would be to take a combination of trains and boats from town to town along the Rhine and Mosel rivers, from Frankfurt to Mainz to Koblenz to Trier. This route takes you by castles and vineyards and is very picturesque. You can rent bikes in many of the towns or explore on foot. This part of the trip could take anywhere from a few days to a week -- I would suggest 4-5 days. From there you could easily head up to Belgium and spend 2-3 days in Bruges -- OR spend a few days in Alsace (Strasbourg, Colmar) -- and after that, head to Paris for the end of your trip.<BR><BR>A slightly different option would be to spend 3-4 nights in Amsterdam, 3 nights in Bruges, and the remainder of your time in Paris (with daytrips).<BR><BR>Alternatively, if it's hiking in the mountains that you're after and you're going in summertime, perhaps head south from Frankfurt and spend a week exploring Switzerland, then to Paris. <BR><BR>A different option, if you prefer cities, would be to take a train from Frankfurt directly to Munich and spend several days there, then a few days in Venice, a few somewhere in Switzerland, and the remainder of your time in Paris -- although I must say that I think this would be too much.<BR><BR>Whatever you do, don't try to see too many places -- try to spend at least a few nights in each area rather than seeing lots of places but only spending one or two nights in each.<BR><BR>While Frankfurt is a fine city, on a first trip to Europe with only two weeks, I would not recommend spending any significant time in Frankfurt. But it is an excellent transportation hub for getting elsewhere.

Caroline,<BR><BR>The people on this board are not travel agents. We help you fine tune your itinerary after you have one. Frankfurt and Paris with 14 days is too broad.<BR><BR>Do some research......it's all over the place.....and come back with specific questions.<BR><BR>Not a TA

Lisa, I think I like your first recommendation better! Less training around. I also like Frankfurt, but for a first Europe trip I think I would spend no more than a couple of days there. Maybe take a 1/2 day city tour on your first day, then look around the main shopping area and Sachsenhausen. Definitely more time in Paris.

Thank you for all the responses, even the sarcastic ones.

Hi Caroline. When you think of Europe, what picture comes into your mind? Will you be traveling by Eurrail Pass? Would you like to just taste several places so you can come back in the future? Or are you thinking of staying a least 3 nights at each destination? How old are you and what are your interests? Answers like that will help folks at this forum help you. I don't suppose your local library has the Rick Steves travel shows on video? That would also give you an overview of Europe. <BR><BR>Let's pretend your answers are overview, Eurrailpass, young, etc. My first European trip was when we could afford three weeks, so I'll have to amend it, but the trip was indeed just a sampling of places I'd return to again and again. So landing in Frankfurt, Munich, Salzburg, Venice or Florence(no time for both), Lucerne, Berner Oberland, Paris. To stay longer -- Munich, Venice/Florence, Berner Oberland, Paris.<BR>Have fun planning. J.