Hello - my husband and I are traveling to Prague and want to travel to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, then on to Italy. In Italy, considering Venice, Florence, Tuscany and Milan. Would love to include Rome but may be too much. After Milan to Switzerland, beginning with hiking around the Matterhorn area, then to Bern and Zurich. then on to Germany, Munich and Berlin before heading back to Prague. Is this crazy or can it be done? If not, what should we drop? We love the mountains, food and history. Thank you in advance for your opinions and advice. First time to these areas.
Posted by
2230 posts
As you said yourself, this is crazy. If you want to go to all these places, you will have to be at a different town every single day. So you will spend your whole time travelling.
Pick four items which are most important to you and stick to it.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Good advice! Thank you! As I was writing the above, I thought this is crazy and insane! Trying to whittle it down. Thanks again!
Posted by
Cleveland
350 posts
Look at the sample itineraries on this website for the various cities and also the key things to see. Consider what pacing you like and how much time it takes to get from place to place and how much you need to balance relaxing vs. sightseeing. Many are comfortable with one night stops and others find anything less than three days per hotel too rushed. For example, I recall reading Rick Steves writing about how to see Florence-- all the key spots-- in one long, exhausting day. Wow! To some that is nuts. How can you enjoy three museums, a garden, a duomo and fine meals in such a compact time? To others, it's seizing the day!
Rick Steves tours and other tour companies typically try to spend at least a couple nights in the same place to reduce repositioning effort. Many on this site feel even that is bonkers and insist three days is a minimum. If one is intent on maximizing sightseeing and many destinations, quick and nimble is required. If that sounds like an anti-vacation, please realize that lingering in just about in any the places that you list can be quite rewarding.
No matter what you choose, I am sure you'll have a great time and have memories to last a lifetime.
Good luck!
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
676 posts
Easy to do. All you need is a priviate jet with a bedroom onboard.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8966 posts
consider multi-city ticketing, where you fly into one city (Prague) and out of another. Pricing can be close to a round trip far, but saves you from the time backtracking.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4602 posts
Can anyone on the forum share their experience using jkh's plan? Such information would be of great help to many of us on this forum.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks for the advice...I did check some of the tours and it gave great info to help with planning. I also found tour itineraries with some with nearby hotel suggestions. Still a lot to go through but learning about these fabulous places is part of the fun! We are getting excited to see this part of the world and to engage with the people.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
@jkh - wouldn't that be wonderful! We can dream!
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
1475 posts
For two weeks I recommend Nuremberg or Munich and Salzburg or Vienna from Prague. I have done this multiple times and it's one of the itineraries I put out to anyone in my family looking for a way to spend two weeks in Europe for the first time. Choose 3 cities, and then pick three things in each you HAVE to see/do. Then build around that. The advantage is minimal time lost traveling, and time to actually walk around and get to know the area. This hold true pretty much any place in Europe, but if you're going to start/finish in Prague these are my recommendations.
FYI I have spent much time in all of the cities you mention in your OP, with the exception of Florence, and I've been in both Nuremberg and Munich multiple times this year, as recently as two weeks ago.
Posted by
2230 posts
If you choose three cities, then choose Prague, Vienna and Salzburg.