ebaker,
It's hard to top
MTH's always excellent suggestions, but I have a few thoughts to add.
Based on your Itinerary, it appears you'll be using open-jaw flights (inbound Paris, outbound Rome). That's the best idea and the method I always use.
If this is your first trip to Europe, I'd highly recommend pre-reading the Guidebook
Europe Through The Back Door, as it will provide you with a lot of information to help your trip go smoothly. As you'll be travelling in July (PEAK travel season!) good planning will be important!
Some thoughts on the specific places you mentioned:
> Paris - you might consider dropping one day from here and adding to another location. As you'll be in Paris in July, I'd definitely recommend a
www.parismuseumpass.com/en/home.php, perhaps the two-day version (depending on how many Museums you want to visit?). If you're going to visit lots of sights, it's a good value and the MOST important point is that you can avoid LONG queues and go through a separate entrance. There may still be queues for the Passholder entrance, but they will probably be a lot shorter. One hint - don't try to see all of the Louvre in one visit, as it's just too large. You might focus on the Denon wing (Mona Lisa) and the Sully wing (Venus di Milo). One of my favourites is the Musee d'Orsay which houses a fantastic collection of impressionist art in an elegant old building that used to be a train station. One other important tip about Paris -
be sure to wear a Money Belt, especially near the Eiffel Tower or on the Metro. Pickpockets and scammers will be prominent at that time of year! This is also important advice at most other locations in Europe, especially Florence and Rome.
> Belgium - I agree with MTH in that Bruges would be a better choice, unless you have a specific reason to visit Brussels. You could always stop for a quick look in Brussels on your way to Amsterdam, since it's almost certain you'll have to change trains there.
> Amsterdam - 3 nights is good
> Berlin - this is another location where adding a night would be good. It's a very vibrant tourist destination at the moment and aside from the historical aspects, it has an interesting "culture" that is somewhat different than Bavaria or other parts of Germany. There's a lot of construction happening now, so the city is undergoing a "revival" of sorts.
> Prague - again, I agree with MTH. Depending on the time frame of your trip, you should be able to fit a few days in there between Berlin and Munich. Depending on your nationality, you might want to check on the requirement for a Visa for the Czech Republic.
> Munich - this is another location that definitely needs another day, as there's LOTS to see and do in that area. Some suggestions - stroll around Marienplatz, take a Munich Walks tour to learn something of the history
(more about Munich day tours later), day tour to Fussen to see Neushwanstein and Hohenschwangau, tour Dachau (this can be a bit upsetting for some people, so be sure to consider that), visit the famous Hofbrauhaus (in the men's washroom you'll notice a "unique appliance"; the ballroom on the top floor is where Nazi rallies used to be held but the Swastikas on the roof have been painted over, but there are "authentic" Bavarian shows held there now), tour the Viktualien Market, visit the Deutsches Museum (over 16 kM of exhibits at the main site - it's easy to spend a full day there) or have a look at the Englisher Gardens (you may see some nude sunbathers). For day tours in Munich, you might have a look at
www.radiustours.com/html/tours.html (their office is in the Munich Hbf - check out the website for prices and tour details). If you need to sort out any details with rail trips, I'd highly recommend
www.euraide.de/munich.html (they also have an office in the Munich Hbf). They have english-speaking staff and I found them
extremely helpful.
> Venice - the trip from Munich to Venice will be a bit of a long day, but the trip through the Brenner Pass (Kufstein-Brennero section) is
beautiful! I've done that trip several times and I always enjoy it. You'll probably have to change trains in Verona.
Note that when you buy your ticket to Venice, you'll need to specify Venezia Santa Lucia and NOT Mestre. It's always a thrill to walk out the front doors of Venezia S.L. and see the Grand Canal!!! Be sure to check some Guidebooks on
which Vaporetto line you'll need to use to get to your Hotel. One important hint - if you're wearing Backpacks, you'll want to take them off and put them beside your feet before the boat driver tells you to (if you don't speak Italian, the words you'll be listening for are
"Il Zaino sul terra").
> Florence - There's LOTS to see here as well.
MTH would be the best one to advise on specific sites. However, if you're planning to visit the Uffizi or Accademia, reservations would be a REALLY good idea! I'd probably ask the Hotel to set these up when you make your reservations. I believe there's a website or phone number to make reservations, but I'd have to check on the details. You could see both of them in one day, although if you have adequate time you could visit one of the sites one day and the other on the following day. Again, there will probably be a queue even for those with reservations, especially at that time of year. The reservations my specify entry at a particular time, so you'll have to keep your schedule flexible.
> Rome - Depending on what you want to see, you might also drop one day from here (although there's lots to see - plan your touring carefully). If you're planning to visit the Colosseum, you might buy a combo ticket on Palatine Hill rather than wait in a huge queue for tickets at the Colosseum. The combo is good for the Forum, Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. You may be approached by scammers outside asking if you want an "english tour". My suggestion would be to ignore them and take the "official" tour inside as it's very reasonable cost (about €7 from what I recall). You'll be provided with an earphone and receiver so that even those at the back of the group will be able to hear the Guide. After you get through security, look for the booth with all the blinking lights (AudioGuides charging). Going with a "live" Guide is much better IMHO, as at least one can ask questions. Don't bother trying to get a photo taken with the "Gladiators" as it's a bit of a tourist scam and very expensive.
You didn't indicate if you'll be travelling with a Railpass? If so, there are some important points to keep in mind. For example, on those trains that require a reservation, that isn't included with a Railpass so you'll have to pay for these separately.
Are you using any Guidebooks to plan your trip, which sights to see in each city and places to stay?
Good luck with your planning!
