1 Month Europe Itinerary, Need help cutting cities

So figure 28 nights. Cut out the Alps:

Rome = 4
Florence = 3
Venice = 3
Salzburg = 2
Munich = 3
Berlin = 4
London = 4
Amsterdam = 3
Bruges = 2

Thanks Zoe, that is very helpful. So you would do Bruges over Brussels? The Alps was one thing that I really wanted to do, is there something else that I could cut out instead or should it just be left for another trip?

I know the temptation is to try to see every place you've dreamed about, believe me I know how you feel. I don't know your age but if you're graduating college chances are that you are still very young and hopefully will return to Europe again in the future.

If it was me and I really wanted to see the alps, I would elminate Salzburg and maybe Bruges and spend that time in Switzerland. I know that you can see alps around Salzburg and Bavaria but if you're thinking about Murren then go for the Swiss alps. You could do a day trip to Salzburg from Munich if you need that.

Otherwise Zoe's itinerary is a good one.

With side excursions, you can venture into the Austrian and/or German Alps during your Salzburg/Munich time. If the Swiss Alps (Glarus in eastern Switzerland is nice, too) is a priority, you'd have to cut out time from other fabulous places.

Just as the dollar has strengthened recently against the euro, the Swiss franc has strengthened against the dollar, so a trip to Switzerland will be a bit costlier than it would've been last year.

For a short visit to Belgium, Bruges (also known as Brugge) packs more of a tourist punch than Brussel. Consider renting a bicycle and doing, the enjoyable ride from Bruges to Damme and back.

Congratulations on earning your degree, and have a great trip!

Thanks everybody this is very helpful! I actually have 31 nights so am thinking about cutting Salzburg and going to Murren. Does anybody think that this is a mistake and Salzburg is a must? Also am I missing anything that you would do over one of my current cities?

My only observation is that these places are mainly large cities. Smaller towns are typically more charming and less spendy. Plus large cities (while great) don't always give you a true representation of what life is really like in those countries. One should not judge all of England from a few days spent in London.

Angela, I know only visiting large cities is not ideal, but it is my first time going to Europe and I am trying to get done as much as possible. Obviously in the future I would love to return and check out each country for everything that they are.

Your direct route from Venice to Salzburg or Munich takes you through the Ortler, Dolomite, Tirolian and/or Taurern/Bavarian Alps. You don't need to go out of your way to see the Alps at all. Going to Mürren, though, would involve a considerable detour of at least a few days to and from. And unless you budget several days there, you risk losing your brief time to the whims of the Alpine weather gods, who don't care how little time you have to behold the magnificent peaks.

Throw the Berner Oberland out. As noted, you'll see the Alps on your way to Salzburg. Even if the weather is bad on your transit day, Salzburg sits in the shadow of the Hohe Tauern Alps, you can easily visit these or Berchtesgaden as a daytrip. Munich is a little further from the Bavarian Alps (although they're visible on a clear day from an elevated vantage point), but you can also visit Alpine towns such as Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Oberstdorf, Oberammergau and Füssen as a day trip.

The nice thing about independent travel is you get to decide where you want to go that time and budget allow. If Murren is a "must", then this is your opportunity (allowing for time and money, as always).

No matter where you go, you'll be in a fabulous place. For any place you don't make it, hopefully there'll be a next time, and there's still Ireland, Scotland, etc. . . . even Nepal!

Conner, you can skip any of the places, I cut the Alps because of what Tim said, but if you want, you could put Murren back in. You mentioned Brugge or Brussels, Brugge is smaller and easy to navigate.

Do a little more research on these places and see what you want most. No one knows you better than you, trust that you will have a great first trip and go back many times.

I would cut Salzburg for Murren any day.. We ( my friend and I ) did Salzburg when we were 23 .. and frankly I found it pretty forgettable..

I would also cut Brussels... at that age it bored me.

I am not a huge fan of Brugges either.. especially since you are going to the grand daddy of canal cities already.. ( Venice) and the next best one ( Amsterdam) Brugges I visited 4 years ago and I thought it was pretty kitchsy.. lots of chocolate and lace shops for tourists..

At your age we loved London, Paris, Munich, Florence, Rome , Amsterdam, and we visited Zermatt for our Alps fix( would not recommend it for younger folks now.. tres pricey!)

We never made it to Berlin.. but my ex who is German/Canadian.. lived in Germany for a few years totally recommends it..

Pat said "I would cut Salzburg for Murren any day" and I absolutely agree. It is gorgeous in Murren. If your heart is set on doing it, then go for it!! You can not do / see it all in one trip, so just plan to return every year or so and do what you can.

Have you looked at what it takes to get in to Wimbledon? (It is not easy) Are you thinking of early rounds or later? Are you prepared to pay primo prices for lodging there?

If you are dropping Salzburg and keeping Mürren, you could save a long train journey by flying from Venice to London for Wimbledon, then fly back to Zurich (or Geneva if it is cheaper) to head to Mürren, then continue by train from there into Germany.

Lola, I am planning on going to an early round and standing in the queue in the ver early morning. From what I have read, I think getting a ticket will be pretty doable. I also have a friend in the city that I can stay with.

Thanks everybody this has been very helpful. After doing more research I am thinking if changing my stop in Munich to Prague. I think that this itinerary works best with travel times but am open to suggestions on how I can shuffle it around.

Seattle>Prague>Berlin>Amsterdam>Bruges>London>Rome>Florence>Venice>Murren>Paris

Prague - 3 nights
Berlin - 4 nights
Amsterdam - 3 nights
Bruges - 2 nights
London - 4 nights
Rome - 4 nights
Florence - 3 nights
Venice - 3 nights
Murren - 4 nights
Paris - 1 night (right before my family arrives)

I am also open to possibly dropping Bruges if people think it is worth skipping but would like ideas on what to replace it with (maybe Nice??, I would love Budapest but I don't think 2 nights is enough). Thanks so much for all your help!

Your Wimbledon plan sounds good. I just wanted to make sure you knew about the queue--some people have not done the research and think you can just show up.

We prefer early rounds ourselves. We went to the Australian Open in January--that was lots of fun. For that we could buy grounds passes online in advance.

Your plans may change 27 more times before you get everything set, but then be prepared for something unexpected to happen when you get to Europe, and you may need to adjust on the fly ;-)

Be aware that just as Bruges is a great "backdoor" destination not far from the capitol, Brussels, the town of Czesky Krumlov is a worthwhile destination south of Prague (if you have the time and inclination to visit both).

Also, Nice is at the far southern end of France, quite some distance from Paris but reachable by train or plane. Where in France will you be visiting when your family meets you?

I think your new plan has you spending enough time for a good taste of each of the places you are visiting. I didn't check transit times, but if you're fine with those, go for it!

I'm with Pam on Bruges as being too dedicated to tourists. I liked Ghent much better - it's a college town, no lace or chocolate shops, some interesting sights, including a castle, and after dark, the Gothic buildings and bridges are illuminated and it's another world. Ghent is cheaper. Stay there for 2 nights and day-trip to Bruges.

I haven't been to Murren, so can't comment. I do like your substitution of Prague for Munich. Between Prague and Berlin, Dresden is a good stop-over, either for a day's visit or an overnight. It is quite lovely after dark see my photos here

I grew up in Switzerland and have travelled back to Europe several times in the past couple of years - My new, ABSOLUTE favorite place to go is Sicily! This was the one place I was going to cut from my last visit but didn't and I am so glad. I've been to every place on you itinerary and I think you need to add a little Mediterranean - I'd cut 2 days off Rome and add them in Sicily!

I'd eliminate the outliers, in the sense of the most out of your way travel. In your case, I'd leave Berlin and London for another time.

Each of us has our own preferences. My first trip to Germany, I spent a month. Normally, I don't cross borders to see other countries. For example, I stopped at Trier rather than continue into Luxembourg. One of my friends had biked around Europe on his honeymoon and specifically mentioned Salzburg as a beautiful city, so I crossed the border to visit. Even though I'm more of a medieval than renaissance fan, I wasn't disappointed. I now visit Salzburg whenever I'm in the area. It's one of my favorites. The architecture is reminiscent of Venice.

Suggestion re last itinerary. Drop one night in Murren and add it to Venice. As beautiful as Murren is, and as much as I love it, that's a change I'd consider because Venice is unlike anywhere else. Just a thought.

Hello connermcqueen. I think your revised itinerary, in your reply dated 3/27/15, looks good. What kind of transportation will you have for travelling from Berlin to Amsterdam ? If you are willing to not go to Bruges, I suggest : add two nights to London. (be at London 6 nights).

Thanks hunt, I will consider adding Sicily.
Ron, I am planning to travel by train or night train. Obviously my itinerary will change many times before I actually leave but I will consider cutting Bruges and adding to London.