backpacking through europe for 3 weeks this summer

[kit1049]

I am planning on the following---

1. paris (5 days-but i may leave a little early)
2. brussels (2 days)
3. Amsterdam (3 days)
4. Munich (1 1/2 days)
5. prague (2 days)
6. budapest (2 days)
7. vienna (1 1/2 days)
8. Interlocken (2 days)

any advice? should i maybe take one or two off my list (im starting to rethink vienna)

[herrbert]

Hi Kit1049,

That's not a maybe in my opinion. You don't want to rush yourself when you are visiting a city, so the 5 days for Paris is a good start. (4 days would do, but now you give yourself one day extra to get over the jetlag).

If you want to visit Brussels (and a lot of prefer Brugges instead), 2 days will do, and the 3 days for Amsterdam is OK as it is not a huge city.

After that I think you are rushing it. 1 1/2 or 2 days is too short for all of these places. I know it's very tempting to see as many as places as possible, but remember they will still be here in a couple of years time.

You don't give a lot of information about the things you like, and you would like to see, so it's very hard for us to say, to give you an advice, which suits you best. I guess that if you like Paris, you should also like Vienna, but I could be wrong.

As for interlaken: It's takes some time to get there, and to get out of there (esp. from the places you are mentioning), so you will have to wonder if it is worth the effort, and then only stay there for 2 days.

[me]

Hi, Kit!

what are your interests? what are you going to Europe to see/do?

to me, Vienna is one of the Great cities: the history, the architecture, the art, the palaces, the museums. . . but, i suppose it's not for everyone.

give us what you want, that's the only way we can advise you.

[Eagle]

kit1049, a few comments to add to what the others have posted.

I'm assuming that your trip is about three weeks in length? If that's the case, IMHO you have too many destinations to comfortably fit within that time frame. I don't see any allowance in your Itinerary for travel days? It would help to know also where you're flying from?

You might consider something like this:

> Paris - 5 days (if you're flying from North America, you'll lose the first day; four days in Paris should be OK).

> Brugges - 1 day (day trip?)

> Amsterdam - 3 days

- TRAVEL: Amsterdam/Prague - 1 day

> Prague - 2 days (this is more logical than bouncing south to Munich and then back to Vienna)

> Vienna - 2 days

> Budapest - 2 days

> Munich - 2 days

That totals 18 days. You will need to allot further time to travel days, but I haven't checked www.bahn.de to work out the times (I will have a look when I get a few spare minutes). Some of the trips could be done by budget airlines, however you'll have to work that out on a city-by-city basis.

I felt it was a good idea to make Paris your first stop and Munich the last stop, as it should be easier to arrange "open jaw" flights from those destinations.

As far as visiting Interlaken, I'm not sure there's an easy way to fit that in. Assume you will return and plan for 3-4 days there on a future visit, as there's LOTS to see and do in the Berner Oberland!!!

Hope this helps. Good luck with your planning!