Where to go in Europe - 2 weeks - help
 

I am planning a trip for September & hoping I can get as many suggestions as possible on where to go and a general itinerary covering how long to stay in each place.

I will only have two weeks including time spent flying over and back so I will have 13 nights in Europe in total.

I have a lot on my list of places I would love to see so I guess the places I visit this trip will depend on convenience.

Cities & places at the top of my list would have to be: the Amalfi Coast, Naples, Berlin, Barcelona and Instanbul.

Other places include - Sicily, Nice, Monaco, Prague (which would fit in we'll with Berlin & a trip to Vienna, but they aren't on the top of my list like the others unless someone can convince me otherwise), Amsterdam (because I want to visit Anne Frank's house).

I would happily pick two or three of these places but as they are not too close together will it be a waste of time flying? Should I stick to say one country that is easily connected by rail?

Also I am a 24 year old girl so not 100% sure about travelling around Instanbul on my own. I have looked into the 7 day tour with Rick Steves if anyone has any comments on that?

It may help to let you know I have already been to Paris, London, Edinburgh, Rome, Abruzzo region of Italy, Florence, Bologna, Sienna & Pisa.

I greatly appreciate any advice anyone can give me.

Thanks!!

One thought would be Naples, the Amalfi Coast and Barcelona. Another would be Berlin, Vienna and Prague. By grouping destinations to make travel between locations more convenient, you maximize your time.

I would spend a little time doing research until you can narrow down your wish list.

What's your budget?

You can get really inexpensive flights from Berlin/Frankfurt/Munich to Barcelona.

Berlin ,Prague, and Vienna makes sense and is well connected by rail

You are under 26 so can being so lets you buy and use the various Youth Railpasses like the Eurail Youthpass and trains are the best way IMO for a single traveler to get around - you will find many younger folks from all over the world riding trains.

In most countries you can still just hop on any train anytime - fully flexible tickets which can cost a ton of money (Italy, France and Spain require seat reservations before boarding and cost between 3 and 10 euros or so.

For lots of great info on European trains and passes, etc I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latter's free and superb IMO online European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of rail itineraries in various countries - a great primer on using European trains!

and remember YOLO!

You've seen many of the typical Western European destinations, and spent a lot of time in Italy. I'd vote for a trip to the more central and Eastern areas; in many ways we enjoy them more than the more western areas. Research Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Krakow, Wroclaw, Budapest, Estergom and the Danube between Vienna and Budapest. I'd think you could add some of these on to Berlin.

And, how much time do you want to spend traveling between locales?

Thank you all for your replies, I really appreciate it.
Sparkchaser I am hoping to spend $8,000 (Australian dollars) at the most including flights.
Julies I actually had a look into Krakow since my first post & I think I would really like to go there. Mainly because I want to visit Auschwitz.

Perhaps Berlin, Prague & Krakow could work.

I think mamcalice is right - I definitely need to narrow my list down because at this stage I want to see everything!

If anyone has anymore suggestions please post them.

One other thing - when I travel one of my favourite things is sitting outside a restaurant enjoying great food & soaking in the surroundings & culture if that helps.

As you will know from your orevious travels, Your airfare from Australia will take up the best part of $2,000. There are cheaper fares available but they often involve very, very long layovers which doesn't matter as long as you incorporate that into the trip. But, they can result in a 36 hour flight and you will feel dreadful when you get to your destination.

That leaves $6,000 for your two weeks which should be very manageable. I would suggest seeing fewer places and exploring them more thoroughly. The popular destinations tend to be more expensive, I know that's fairly obvious but it's worth noting.

You will get lots of help here if you are prepared to listen.

Cathies,
Thanks for your reply. Yeah my flights have always been 2000+ flying emirates or Qatar. I don't mind paying that and avoiding China Eastern etc with the long lay overs & unreliability.

Regarding the popular places being more expensive - one city being more expensive would definately not stop me from going there especially with my trip being so short. So that isn't a factor in deciding where to go.


I am definitely prepared to listen & appreciate any help & advice.

After doing some more research I am thinking of Berlin - Barcelona - Madrid.

My daughter and her husband are just home from a trip that included Barcelona and they loved it. It was one of their favourite destinations. They are only a little bit older than you.

ttt

s I actually had a look into Krakow since my first post & I think I would really like to go there. Mainly because I want to visit Auschwitz.

Perhaps Berlin, Prague & Krakow could work.>

Yup - sweet. Krakow also has the UNESCO World Heritage site the Wieliczka Salt Mines that were fascinating - just a few miles south of Krakow - which to me is the nicest city I saw in Poland.

http://www.wieliczka-saltmine.com/

Since you've already spent a lot of time in Italy, I'd go with your other top picks.

With your time you could do any two (or three) cities if you flew between them (or depending which two maybe train or overnight train?).
Berlin/Barcelona
Amsterdam/Berlin
Prague/Berlin/Amsterdam

To me Istanbul seems more like a trip unto itself. Yes I think the traveling would be a bit more 'adventurous' and challenging than major cities of western Europe for someone young, female and on their own.

Hi
You have chosen popular destinations, and you are leaning more towards Eastern Europe. It's more budget friendly and you can visit Auschwitz too.
But consider taking a flight to Nice ( pebble beach) from there you can be in Cannes (sandy beach:), villefranche, Eze, Monaco, Grasse (perfume capital:), St. Paul/Vence.
From Nice take a train to ventimiglia (Italy), you can be in ( monterosso) cinque terre or take a train to peschria del gara (lake Garda).
More Americans prefer amalfi coast as compared to lake Garda which is the most visited European lake resort.
You should have done amalfi from Florence/Rome trip. Lake Garda has many amalfi's from coast to mountains, it's spectacular.