Travelling to europe for the first time
 

I am getting married in feb 2016 and i want to travel to Europe for my honeymoon,
I am planning to travel three cities this time in which Prague and Paris are mandatory and for third I am little confused although i need to choose between Santorini(greece), Rome(Italy) and barcelona(spain).
I am planning for 10 nights travel.
I am thinking of some possible travel through Train or by self driven hired car.
Please help me to finalise the itinerary according that time of year.

Note- I love history and my finance loves romantic and exotic destinations.

With just 10 nights, I'd stick with two destinations, especially as this is a honeymoon. It takes time to get from place to place, at least half a day each time you change locations. If you go to three locations, you could get 3 nights in each place, but that is just two full days - not enough time to see or do much. If you have 5 nights in both Paris and Prague, that is enough time to get a small sample of Paris and a larger sample of Prague (as it is a smaller city). You don't want to waste too much time in transit.

Santorini in February will be wet and freezing cold. Almost all shops and restaurants will be closed and the wind will be blowing strong.

Thanks for the advice, what mode of transportation should i take to travel between these cities, i love to explore but as i am unaware of the surroundings there and the actual distance and speed proportions i am susceptible travelling through car or train please suggest.

Don't try driving in winter weather unless you are very used to it. Take trains or fly.

10 nights will give less than 8 full days "on the Ground" so Paris and Prague (if they are your musts) is really ALL you should consider.

If it is Paris and Prague -- then fly. The train journey is very long. Driving makes no sense.

You will want to fly open jaw (called multi-city) in to one city and home from the other. Otherwise you will spend a whole day getting back to your arrival city.

Tell me something about the weather there in Prague and Paris from first week of feb to mid of feb will that be suitable to sightseeing?

10 nights is nine days, not enough time for three major cities or islands not close together or with longer plane flights. It is also cold in February, perhaps snow in some areas. It will get dark early, so shorter hours for being out and about, walking for sightseeing and no sitting outside at sidewalk cafes.

Winter is not good for a beach/ island place like Santorini, plus in winter, I am sure you would have to take a flight through Athens, eating up a lot of time, getting to a place better in warm weather. So, nix Santorini.

If Paris and Prague are musts, then you do not have time for Rome. That leaves Barcelona as a very rushed option. Too rushed for me, perhaps not for you.
Book "multi city" tickets, into one city, out of another, to maximize your time.

Possible itinerary, if all goes well and you get super early flights, this is the maximum time you can possibly have in each city with no time for day trips.
Arrive Barcelona, 3 nights (2 - 2 & 1/2 days)
Fly to Paris, 4 nights (3 & 1/2 days)
Fly to Prague, 3 nights (two & 1/2 days)
Fly home from Prague

Consider many museums and indoor places, rather than river cruises, etc. What had you envisioned doing/seeing?

Consider cutting Barcelona and giving an extra 2 nights to Paris and an extra night to Prague. Lovely trip that way.

>>Tell me something about the weather there in Prague and Paris from first week of feb to mid of feb will that be suitable to sightseeing?<<

I don't know about you, but weather usually has no effect on my sightseeing in cities (out in the countryside can be different sometimes but not in cities). Of course you won't be having picnics sitting on the grass in the park . . . But museums and galleries and cathedrals and theaters and restaurants are open in any weather. You really don't know what the weather might be - could be crisp/clear/beautiful, could be rainy/damp, or could be freezing/snowy. Or it could be all three. Definitely NOT beach weather.




>>10 nights is nine days<< More like eight days because the first night is spent in the air enroute

It will be cold and wet, raining with the possibility of snow.

The average daily high temp in Prague in February is 36F/2C. The average daily low temp is 25F/-3C. Sunset will be at 5:00p at the start of the month and 5:20p by the middle of the month.

In Paris, average daily high in February is 47F/8C, and average daily low temp is 37F/3C. Sunset will be at 5:45p at the start of the month and 6:10p by the middle of the month.

ak456garg: Do realize those are 'averages' and it could be warmer or colder (or MUCH colder)

I don't know Prague, but I've been to Paris during the winter months a few times, and specifically in February.

I liked it quite a bit. Cultural activities are in full swing in the winter: lots of gallery shows, concerts, museum shows, etc.

People are wearing boots and winter clothes. Hot, hearty food is tempting and available. Lots of fashions on the people and in the store windows.

We've had nice days when we could be outdoors more, but not really spending a lot of time in parks or on the Seine.

To me, Paris in winter would hit the marks for historic and romantic.

The big three are Paris, London and Rome because they have so much to offer. Weather in February could be a factor. The further South you go the better your chances of better weather.

Also consider travel between destinations into your plan. You might think about flying unless you are just going a short distance. Look at Europeandestinations.com and try putting in different itineraries and pay attention to the flight times between places. Also factor in the getting to the airport and going through security times. If you do the train it is usually from city center to city center.

In the limited time you have IMHO 2 cities is all you can manage, esp since there may be weather related travel delays. You are going in winter (temp averages shown above) and will need appropriate winter clothes/boots. Days will be short and mostly grey - and you can have rain, fog, sleet, ice or snow - or sunshiny brisk days when you ant to walk outside. No leaves on trees and probably no flowers (too early for earliest ones unless you get a warm spell.)

I would love this - since I am a museum, castle, cathedral person. But if you want to spend a lot of time outside, sit in cafes and people watch you should wait until late April or May for better weather.

From Paris to Prague you fly. Train would be at least 11 hours with one or more connections and driving would be a complete nonsense.

When you look at air tickets select the multi-city option, into Paris and returning from Prague.

Hi
congrats for your wedding.
Feb in Paris can be miserable but I have memories of bright (cold) days.

Personally, I'd do Paris and Barcelona, where the weather will definitely be better (check on wikipedia.org or somewhere else for average, min and maxw temp per month).

Prague wil also be dark very soon - it is much to the east and I think we share the same GMT zone as in Paris.
I usually fly with easyjet to Prague - very cheap but read the small prints about luggage (and more) to avoid surprises. I took Ryanair to Barcelone last time, but not from Beauvais, which is outside Paris, but with ok shuttles I've been told (book as far in advance as your plane ticket).

Mvg

I agree with those who say with only 10 days don't try to see more than 2 cities.

Frankly I can, and have, spent 10 days in Paris alone. But, I understand when people think "well, I'll be in Paris and be so close to _____ . So, I need to see that city as well."

Just don't spread yourself too thin and try to go to too many places. It really takes time every time you move from one city to another and you generally lose a day or a minimum of half a day.

Well it's winter in all the places you ask about.

I agree if Paris and Prague are "mandatory" then that's plenty for a 10 day trip. Don't add another city.

Good advice given!

To see general weather info, check worldclimate.com. It has average/high/low temps and precipitation by month.