35 day trip. Too many destinations?

[muffin]

I'm trying to plan a trip to Europe with one of my best friends from high school.
We went to Europe for 2-3 weeks four years ago, but we've just graduated from university and would like to take another trip! Planning has been somewhat stressful, though...she works everyday and has little time to plan, so most of the responsibility has fallen on my shoulders.

I'm of the opinion that we're trying to squeeze too many places into too little time. She thinks it's okay. So, I come to you!

I'm beginning my trip with 2.5 weeks in Manchester, England visiting my boyfriend. I'll be staying in his flat so I don't have to worry about accommodation. That exchange rate is just so pesky, though! I'll be meeting my friend after that. We're going to buy a Eurail Global pass.

10/4 : Copenhagen to Stockholm (We were originally going to spend time in Cph, but decided to cut it out due to cost. It was too late to change my flight plans though)
3 nights/2.5 days: Stockholm (couch surfing)
night train to Berlin
4 nights: Berlin
3 nights: Prague
2 nights: Vienna (visiting and staying with a friend)
2 nights/3 days : Budapest
night train to Venice
spend a few hours in Venice, then travel to Florence
3 nights: Florence
2 nights: Cinque Terre
4 nights: Lugano, Switzerland (visiting and staying with my travel partner's sister!)
3 nights/4 days: Split between visiting and staying with a friend in Metz, France and Paris
night train to Barcelona
3 nights: Barcelona
back to Manchester, where I'll stay on for 2.5 more weeks with my boyfriend and my travel partner will go home.

That's roughly 35 days for our trip together. It feels hectic to me, but she seems happy with it. Am I just worrying for the sake of worrying? I feel like we could cut one place out, but I don't know what to do....help? I'm also worried about the budget. I have a friend in Zagreb that's offered us a place to stay, but I'm not sure if it's somewhere that I want to go. Thoughts?

P.S. How funny.....I've been a member of the forums since 2006 before I went on my first trip, but never got around to posting 'til now!

[Eagle]

muffin,

My first impression after reading your proposed Itinerary is that it does have too many destinations. If I read it correctly, you're planning to visit 12 cities in 35 days, which allows for just under 3 days in each city. There doesn't seem to be any mention of the travel times between locations, and that's something that will certainly have to be included.

The duration in each city looks reasonable, but I'm not sure that spending "a few hours" in Venice is worth the effort, especially since you'll be hauling all your travel kit around with you at the time? You might be farther ahead to go directly to Florence. Also, have you researched the train travel times between each location?

It was interesting to note that you'll be going to Lugano, as I was just there a few months ago. It's a beautiful city! While there will you be spending most of your time with your travel partner's sister, or will you have time for a bit of touring around the area?

How were you planning to get from Barcelona back to Manchester? Budget airline would be the best method.

Hopefully the others will have a few suggestions as well. If I think of any further things to mention, I'll post another reply.

Happy travels!