Feedback on Spain-France-Italy Itinerary

Anytime I see someone trying to do 3 countries in 3 weeks, I would advise against it. Each of these countries is worth at least 2 weeks on its own.

I am not a fan of flying into a country just to see one city, and then leaving. You really don't get a feel for anything. Of course, if you have been there before and you just want to focus, that's another story.

If it were me, I would spend 3 weeks seeing Italy and Sicily. Next time visit Spain, then another trip for France.

But that's just me. I like 'slow travel'.

If you are convinced this is what you want to do, then fly between countries.

Your plan is doable but bear in mind that each change of location is going to eat up anywhere from 1/2 to 3/4 of a day - and for the days you fly (which you'll have to) it could potentially be the whole day. I would recommend this order Barcelona - Paris- Venice-Florence-Rome- ending up in Sorrento. So, fly into Barcelona and then out of Naples so you aren't backtracking. Given the time you have, you'll need to fly from Barcelona to Paris and from Paris to Venice - each of these will eat up a good part of a day. The Venice-Florence-Rome and Sorrento legs can be done via train.
To be honest, although I think you are trying to cover too much territory in too short a time frame. I would drop Barcelona and split those does between Paris and Italy.

You need to get a map of Europe and put some pins in it. The closer you come to a straight line, the easier and more efficient is your travel. Barcelona is by itself and out of the way. I would save it for another trip. Sorrento/Amalfi is south of Rome so you have to back track to get to Florence. I would consider exchanging Cinque Terre for Amalfi. And perhaps even drop Venice and go from CT through Portofino, Genoa, Nice and through southern France to Paris. Or hit Venice and return through Milan, perhaps a part of Switzerland and on to Paris.

I'm in the less-is-more camp on this one. When I first started taking my son to Europe about 10 years ago, we did 2-3 week, pick two tours. London and Paris. Florence and Rome. Prague and Budapest. Vienna and Berlin. That sort of thing. See the capital certainly isn't seeing the whole country, but it does give you a good place to start learning about the country's history, culture, and cuisine. In all of those trips, even with a week or more in each city, we never felt that covered a city thoroughly; we always left wanting more. I'm not seeing how these cities connect, with the exception of the Italian destinations. My advice would be to narrow down your destinations by reviewing your priorities--food, architecture, art, music, culture, history, for example, and go from there. Have a good trip, whatever you decide!

This is fine itinerary for your first trip to Europe if you can get direct flights from LAX for instance flying into Rome and out of Paris.

You should first settle the plane ticket (sometimes the ticket you want is cost prohibitive) on what ports you are flying into and out of and when Then, delete this post and start a new one on how to get where you want to go after stating where you want to go.

To go all the places you desire, in the allocated time you need to do a 'straight line; through Italy.

LA-Paris- Venice-Florence-Rome-Sorrento ( fly from Naples) -Barcelona-LA Or the reverse.

Then there are all the permutations of Paris and Barcelona before or after Italy and which way to go through Italy.

Then there is the alternative to do fewer places

Train travel within Italy and fly in/out of Italy. Paris-Barcelona is pretty much a coin flip of train v. air. If I were doing your list of destinations I would have Paris and Barcelona at the 'ends'

Happy planning and fun travels!

We visit Europe yearly and rarely go to more than one country. Slow down and really get to know that country, it’s customs and way of life. Forget Barcelona -and visit Spain another time. Same for Paris.

Your plan includes too much travel.

Plan on coming back to Europe again. I suggest eliminating Barcelona for sure and probably Paris.

Rome deserves more than 4 nights. I would do 5-6 and 3 in Venice. Also, add a day to Florence and do a day trip to Sienna.

Enjoy Italy, it is wonderful

Also, you need more than four nights to do justice to Paris.

Posted by Dominique (Los Angeles) on 10/24/19 03:45 PM

Hi all! I posted a thread yesterday trying to create an itinerary for Spain, France, and Italy for about 3 weeks. After some feedback I've decided I’ll leave Italy for another trip.