7 Week Europe Trip

[landerson135]

Hi! My boyfriend and I are traveling to Europe in May and June and I was just wondering if our itinerary was realistic. We want to see a lot but at the same time want to get a sense of each city. I also really want to add in the Cinque Terre, but not sure if we are planning on too many cities! Anything we should adjust? And any suggestions on things we can do in the cities that I may not have read in a guide book! Thanks!

Fly to London, stay 3 days.
Fly to Prague, stay 3 nights
Rail to Berlin, stay 3 nights
Rail to Amsterdam, stay 4 nights
Rail to Brussels, stay 2 nights
Rail to Bruges, stay 1 night
Rail to Paris, stay 5 nights
Rail to Lyon, stay 3 nights
Rail to Nice, stay 3 nights, 4 days with day trip to Monaco
Overnight rail to Venice, stay 4 nights
Rail to Florence, stay 3 nights
Rail to Rome, stay 5 nights
Fly to Athens, stay 2 nights
Ferry to Santorini, stay 5 nights
Fly from Santorini to Athens, Athens to London
Stay London 3 Days

[herrbert]

I would say this looks pretty good. I would only shorten the stay in/on Santorini. 5 nights, is a bit much. Make it 3, and you already have 2 nights for CT. I would take another one from Venice and you have 2 days/3 nights for CT.

I would swap the nights for Berlin and Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a compact city, and 3 nights will do. Sights in Berlin are streched out a bit, plus it is a much larger city. 4 nights would be better i.m.o. If you like live music, check out the Kulturbrauerei (a.k.a. Kesselhaus) in Berlin.

I don't know a lot about France, but I never seen Lyon pop up as a favourted destination, but I leave it to the others to make the call if you should replace that with another one.

One remark about the way you are going is that you are in London, which is a pretty short trainride away from Paris (Eurostar), but you choose to go to Prague first, and than almost come back to London. It could be cheaper, but timewise, it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.

[madamtrashheap]

landerson135, to add to herrbert's advice, Lyon is a great city if you're into food and want to see another city other than Paris. Tour guides like to note that there are more restaurants per square metre in Lyon than any other city, and it is probably true, but I like to remember that some of the best samples of French food can be found in Lyon, square metres or not! Vieux Lyon (the Old Town) is the best place to find different restaurants if you just feel like wandering around and choosing one, but if you're really into food, then plan ahead and book yourselves into Paul Bocuse Restaurant (5kms outside Lyon, expensive treat), Brasserie de l'Est (in the centre, one of the more spectacular Bocuse institutions of food in the city, there are also another 4 in the city, affordable and good food) or even Le Splendid (chef George Blanc does beautiful regional food). Even the Bistros on either side of the pedestrian street as you cross over the street walking from the main train station (Perrache), across Place Carnot, towards the Old Town are great value and delicious.

I do think, however, that 2 nights would be enough time in Lyon, unless you are planning day trips in the Burgundy region. There are things to see in the city, and you can take the funicular up the hill to Notre-Dame de Fourviere Basilica on the hill above the city, as well as shop and stroll. The food market of Halles de Lyon is worth a visit too. I'd also like to suggest a lunch stop in Avignon on the way from Lyon to Nice. Another pretty and interesting town and worth fitting in to your itinerary.

I agree that you should swap the number of days in Amsterdam and Berlin, ditto for CT/Venice. I would also consider 1 night in Brussels and 2 in Brugge/Bruges, unless you plan to visit the art museums.