16 Day Itinerary - Prague to Rome

You need at least one more day in Rome.

Thank you!

Could Cesky Krumlov be a day trip from Prague? Same with Halstatt? Better to stay in Salzburg and do a day trip?

I think this is a really nice itinerary. I've not been to Cesky Krumlov but I have investigated doing it as a day trip from Prague and it seemed like a very long day. I think it makes sense to stop there on your way to Austria. I would pick Hallstat or Salzburg as with your current plans I don't think you have time for both. Salzburg has a bit more to do but if there's a specific reason you want to visit Hallstat (e.g. to see the salt mine) then I would select based on that. I might consider subtracting a day from Venice to add to Rome but that's really just personal preference and it's about what interests you most. Good luck with your planning!

I wouldn't shorten the time in Venice. Folks who rush through that city often don't like it much--I think because they have to spend so much of their time around the key sights everyone wants to see (Piazza San Marco and Rialto Bridge and Market) that they are surrounded by a mob practically the entire day. Venice's charm is in the back canals; allow time to see them.

I agree that you could use a lot more time in Rome unless you plan to spend all two days simply wandering around and absorbing the atmosphere, rather than going inside places like the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, St. Peter's, Borghese Gallery, etc. Even if it is not to be a sight-intensive visit, Rome is large and more than two full days would be very helpful.

I wonder whether places the size of Cesky Krumov and especially Hallstat really require two-night stays, but I have no personal experience to draw on here.

Thank you so much for your responses. I really appreciate the help! I have always found pictures of Hallstat charming and its always been on my list but I might seriously consider doing Salzburg instead based on what I have been reading. I'll add a day to Rome as well! Thanks again!

Cesky Krumlov can be one night but I like 2 better and Hallstatt 2 nights is pretty okay. You loose too much time with day trips back and forth. You can do it all with CK Shuttle.

You have clearly put a lot of thought into this itinerary. I think it's wise to spend two nights each in Cesky Krumlov and Hallstat. Both can be very busy with tour groups during the day, but you will get a completely different feel for the towns by having quieter evenings for exploring. If you can somehow add a night to your trip, add it to Rome. Hopefully this first taste of Europe will get you going back for more.

I think your itinerary looks great, Enjoy! :)

HI All!
I so appreciate all your responses! Thank you so much!
I was able to book the flight but now we are doing it backwards. We land in Rome (05/25) and fly out from Prague (06/09).

I have some questions though! Might be silly ones but I would appreciate some help!
1) Will baggage be an issue for train travel? Is there a specific type of train/fare I should be looking at when travelling from:
Rome to Venice? Venice to Salzburg?
2) I am looking at Airbnbs' with washers so we don't really have to travel with clothes for 15 days. Are there areas in Rome and Venice where Uber or a cab wont take us right up to the apartment? I had a friend mention zones in Italy where one cannot drive during specific hours.

Thank you!

The configuration of train carriages varies, and I don't know what your specific trains will be like. You will be responsible for getting your suitcases onto the train, which may involve ascending 2 or 3 narrow steps. That will be easier if your bags are not too large or too heavy. I'm short, old, and not athletic, and I do not enjoy wrestling my 24" bag on and off trains, but I can manage it. Sometimes a kind, younger/stronger person offers to help, which is appreciated.

There will be a long, open rack above the seats on the train. Normally it will accommodate at least carry-on size bags. Somewhat larger bags may fit, if you can lift them up there (I cannot). I think all your train carriages will also have a lower rack somewhere; it could be near one or both doors, or it might be in the middle of the car. Space on that rack is sometimes not quite sufficient--depending on how full the car is--so passengers look for other spots they can use. Sometimes there are some seats positioned back-to-back, which creates a little A-shaped alcove that is large enough for some suitcases. Life will be a great deal more pleasant if you all travel with small bags.

Many rail fares are variable, with really low prices available if you buy your ticket well in advance. Those tickets usually restrict you to a specific train (date and time of departure) but may not be changeable or refundable. On some trains (Including the fast trains between Venice and Rome) a seat reservation is required and will be included with the ticket purchase. One some trains a seat reservation is optional; I don't know whether that applies to any of the trains you'll be on, but I'd suggest paying in that situation since this is your first experience with European trains.

There aren't likely to be significant differences in train comfort. I just consider the cost, travel time and how many transfers (if any) are needed for the departure times fitting my schedule. The schedule will show how much time is being allowed for each transfer; that time will be sufficient if the inbound train is on time and you don't dally while changing trains. Some travelers pay more attention than I do to those transfer times, preferring not to feel rushed. If you miss your second train because the inbound train is late and you've bought the day's trip as a single itinerary, you'll be able to take a later train, even if you've purchased a low-cost fare tying you to a specific departure time.

I can't imagine traveling with 15 days' worth of clothes; that would require far too large a suitcase for me to manage. I do may laundry by hand, but others opt for lodging with laundry machines; note that European residential washers are notorious for being both small and slow, and some travelers find the dryers so slow as to be almost useless. Many folks opt to use a laundromat with commercial-size equipment or a drop-off laundry service so they don't have to use the frustrating household-size machines in their rental units.

There are some individual streets in Rome that are too narrow for taxis, but I imagine in most cases a taxi will be able to get you quite close. When you've narrowed your options down, come back here and ask about the specific places you're considering.

Venice is different: Venice proper has no road vehicles at all other than out on the Lido island (not a convenient place to stay). Transportation is by foot or by water. The Venice equivalent of a bus is a vaporetto (even this is not cheap); the Venice equivalent of a taxi is a water taxi (over $100). Many travelers like to choose lodgings convenient to a vaporetto stop. "Convenient to" is a matter of both distance and number of bridges to be crossed. Venice has little bridges everywhere. A few have ramps but most have at least 8 steps up and 8 steps down. They aren't an issue for folks with normal mobility and light luggage.