First Time in Europe Itinerary - Realistic? Changes?

After seeing many here, I can say this one is a good realistic itinerary. If it happens (probably not) that you would become bored with any of your cities, you can always do day trips around.

Why just large cities?

Just a couple of thoughts for what it's worth. People on here usually think in terms of full days in a location, not the partial days arriving and departing from a location. For instance it would 5n/4d, etc (not 5n/6d). Secondly, don't make the mistake of thinking short flights between locations mean short travel times - for flights you need to include time getting to and from airports, they are not usually right in the city, and you still need to be at the airport a couple of hours ahead of boarding time for security. So, a 3 hr flight could possible take you 7 hrs or more. Take this into account when deciding on flights vs trains. Sometimes a 5-6 hr train ride can be faster than a 2 hr flight, because it's city center to city center and there's no long lead time before boarding the train. Just some things to think about. On the whole your itinerary is very reasonable and would be a wonderful trip.

To add on to the previous comment about churn time for flights, don't overlook the train as a restful bit of downtime between these longer stints in cities. You might find yourself happy to have a day to reflect and relax (and maybe catch up on sleep) on a train going through beautiful scenery--this is a long trip. So don't discount trains entirely!

You list "26n" and "32d" ?????

If you can, do add a day to Venice, just do not deduct it from Rome!

As Nancy said, check your train vs. plane choices,looking at 'total' travel time. Beware of the baggage restrictions on the econo airlines.

You should get some tour books and see what each city has to offer, and decide what interests you.

I've traveled by train, by car and by airplanes within Europe. Some cities are not easy to get to from others.
Paris and Barcelona are linked by a fast train, but it's still a 6 1/2 hour trip. It's do-able.
Rome and Venice are easily linked by a fast train--with reservations. I'd tell you to save time for Florence--another important city in between..
Vienna is not easily reached from Venice as it takes a train to a bus to another train. I think the flights are not inexpensive either.
Vienna to Berlin can be done by train, but Prague is another great stop in between.

So I'm saying that your trip is doable, however it'll take some flights and all flights within Europe are not with o the inexpensive budget airlines. There are some other great cities that are in between some of your planned cities.

I'd suggest flying into Barcelona and taking the fast train to Paris. Then fly to Rome on a budget carrier and hit Florence on the way to Venice. You can take a full day to go by train/bus/train to Vienna. Then hit Prague on the way to Berlin. Fly home from Berlin.

David wrote

Vienna is not easily reached from Venice as it takes a train to a bus to another train. I think the flights are not inexpensive either.

We did the reverse, Venice to Vienna, on a night train. It's not bad and probably the only night train left in Europe we would take. A consideration.

As others have said, it is 1 day less in each town than the number of nights you are planning, i.e., 5 nights is 4 full days. Even if you fly, arrival takes 3/4 of a day. (We flew Rome to London once, a 2.5-hour flight, and it took us 8 hours door-to-door since the airports are remote from the city centers and there are the usual issues with security and delays.) Do not plan activities for days you transition to a new city. By the time you get checked in, all you will have time for is an orientation walk and a meal.

The best thing to do is just cost compare between flights and train prices booked as far in advance as possible.

I flew to Venice from Germany for 34 euros return in March. I mean, sometimes you just luck out with a budget carrier going between two desirable routes.

I honestly think that 5 days in Barcelona is a bit much but I guess there is some daytripping you can do or maybe by that time you'll just want to chill on the beach a bit. I liked Barcelona well enough when I first visited, but having been to Palma de Mallorca and Madrid, I'd prefer 5 days in either of those places than Barcelona. I had this picture of Mallorca as a British-and-German tourist hellscape but the city of Palma has a much bigger and more atmospheric old city than Barcelona, and the Island is stunning. I guess there are resort towns but obviously they're easily enough avoided.

Otherwise I think this itinerary looks good.

As to how much time spent in each city, you'll find varied opinions.

I will make a suggestion. Since you're taking the train from Venice to Rome, it goes through Florence. Why not spend a couple of days and see the main sights?

Count nights, not days. Any time available on arrival/departure day is a bonus.

I flew from Milano to Palermo, six hours door to door, but the train would have been much longer. So check rome2rio for transportation comparisons by type, for time if not cost.

Other than the 5/4 or 5/4.5 instead of 5/6 it sounds like a great trip.

Hi,

Basically, a good itinerary and allotment of days for each place. I would use nights as opposed to days to determine the length of stay, as suggested above. Use all means of transport, night trains, discount carriers sparingly,. There are night trains (EN) connections between Berlin/Vienna, and Vienna/Venice, which you can tailor your route.

if you shave a day here and there and spend 3 or 4 days in Budapest there are nonstop flights to Venice from Budapest for under $100

Looks fairly reasonable. Regarding the allocation of days. This is something you need to determine for yourself. Since we don't know what your interests are and what you want to see and do in each city it's difficult for us to say. I would suggest that you do some research on each city. Come up with a list of what you want to see and do for each. Then compare to what you've allotted time wise and adjust accordingly.

Oh, sure, James. 3 or 4 days in Budapest? Then the OP will be hooked, and have to keep going back . . .oh, wait, that IS a good thang. Great suggestion!

Well, James and Tim already added Budapest which is a great city and I consider it as the second eye candy of Europe and certainly of central Europe. But it is a little outlier; true, just 3 hours from Vienna. But then as David also suggests - there is Prague. On the way from Berlin to Vienna train goes through and stops there. That would be almost sin not to get off. And IMHO it is number one eye candy. I am afraid that more people start adding their favorite cities and your itinerary will become unrealistic.

For train advice anywhere: www.seat61.com

For one-way budget airlines: www.skyscanner.net

for the oneway budget i like Google Flights. I plan trips around it. I want to see Montenegro so where can i go next and end up in Budapest at the end of the trip? Enter Podgorica to Europe, One Way, Non-stop and i get a half dozen choices for a first stop. No google Budapest to Europe, One Way, Non-Stop and look for airports in common with the previous search; and then pick an interesting place for the next stop that connects to Budapest. That example yields Belgrade and Istanbul. Two great cities worth the visit. I never force a trip. I follow the flow of efficient transportation.