First time to Europe for 40th birthday-Help

I would go with Option 2. Reasonable minds differ, but I don't think Bologna deserves a place on your itinerary. Italy is a giant food lover's paradise. You don't need to go to Bologna to eat fantastically in Italy.

Instead, I would spend a night or two in Pompei, to get at least one full day at Pompeii.

As a chef, you do need to spend time in Bologna! It is a good lover’s paradise!
A day trip to Pompeii from Rome is a very long haul down and back. Consider dropping it or adding a day or two to the trip.

I am torn between your two options. Paris and Venice are my favorite cities and February is lovely because there aren't many tourists. Carnival in Venice begins February 22, so being there a week or more before is good if you want to avoid the crowds and high season prices. Alternatively, it's something to see if you work it into your itinerary. I love walking in Paris and in winter when the trees are bare, you can actually see the beautiful architecture through the naked branches. Paris Walks is a good way to see Paris and they have both a chocolate tour and a cafe and food tasting tour that you may be able to take as a private tour (pricey but great).

Instead of a day trip to Bologna, consider 2-4 nights there and visiting other towns as day trips - like Parma, Modena, Ferrara or even Ravenna (stunning 6-7th c. mosaics) and even daytripping to Florence, all by train. Day trips to Siena and San Gimignano from Florence would be by bus and need to be on separate days unless you hire a driver for a day. Bologna may suit you better also because you put museums as your last interest and Florence is mostly about Renaissance painting, sculpture and architecture.

Happy planning!!

If Rome, Pompeii, and Florence are your must-haves, and your time is so limited, then build your trip around them. That means Paris for another time, and maybe Venice too. Stay in a limited geographical area to save travel time. I can't speak to Bologna but it's close enough to include also. But I wouldn't go there as "two day trips from Florence." If you want to spend more than a day there, spend the night instead of traveling back and forth each day.

As for Paris being on the "Europe must see list," of course it is, but so are many other places in Europe. Lyon is another city famous for food, easy to combine with Paris in a future trip. The list is endless, and hopefully this will be only the first of many trips to Europe in the years to come.

February isn't optimal weather, but big cities like Paris and London will be much less crowded, and have plenty of things to see and do indoors. But you should have marginally better weather in Italy, another reason to focus there this time. Enjoy planning and taking this trip, and premature Happy Birthday!

I agree with Dick and Option 2. Start with your must-haves and see them to your satisfaction. Rome, Pompeii, Florence - and it sounds like Bologna (I haven’t been yet). Venice is beautiful, of course, but you can’t see everything (and fear of missing out will kill a trip faster than almost anything).

Nothing wrong with Option 1, but Option 2 seems to fit your top priorities better (based on your self-description) and makes sense after you refine a bit.

Based on what Chani said, skip Venice and spend more time in Bologna.

I think you would enjoy Bologna, more than just a day trip from Florence. It is not just about food, but a really nice city, more laid-back and less “touristy” than Florence, and great for walking due to the porticos. Lots of history there (including the oldest university in Europe), and some quirky museums. It is also a great place to just wander, and has more of a “small town” feel, with friendly people who are not fed up with tourists. You can get suggestions on what to see and do in 2 days there from websites like this:

https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/blog/visiting-bologna-in-48hours-en

You don’t say where you live, but if you take British Airways you can fly right into the Bologna airport, which is the easiest airport we have experienced in Europe. Then work your south to your “must sees” (Florence, Rome, and Pompeii), and fly home from Rome.

And have a happy birthday!

The Emiligia Romagna area is the culinary high point of Italy - including Bologna, Parma, Modena. I would spend more time there.

For Florence and Rome expect crowds and have reservations for museums and Roman attractions else you might get kicked out.

Pompeii is great. I would just spend time in nearby Sorrento which had excellent seafood.

As for France - which is the top country for chefs, I found some medium sized cities like Avignon, Dijon, Strasbourg to have many five restaurants including some Michellin ones.

Paris has a lot so-so good but there are some gems if you research. I would also suggest getting near the Med for boulibase- which I have never had in the US.

Yes someone mentioned Lyon - i forgot about it - that’s where the famous chefs come from. The average restaurant there is far greater than most of what you find in Paris.

I love Paris myself but several people who have gone for the first time did not think highly of it all. And I don’t feel any wish to see Venice, Florence or Rome again. Maddrning crowds, pickpockets, expensive. There are so many more wonderful places

Rome (with Pompeii) and Florence are my must haves.....not super tied to Venice...

Agree with poster who suggested building your trip around your "must haves". The amount of time you have will be enough to throughly enjoy them and not be rushed. As long as you are going to be that close, do consider two or three days in Venice. It is a city unlike any other, and you'll not regret going there. You could fly into Venice (a great place to recover from jet lag), move on to Florence, and fly back from Rome. At you age (oh, to be that young again) you'll have plenty of time for Paris later on. Just my two cents worth.

Thank you everyone for the feedback. I think I will skip Paris this time around and focus on Italy. I had no ideal that it would be Carnival in Venice at that time so I think I should skip Venice this time as well. From what I read it is hard to get a hotel and is much more expensive during Carnival. Plus on my bucket list is going to Carnival in Rio.

I will use the two Venice days to tour more of the area around Bologna based on your suggestions. I have seen that there are guided day trip tours from Rome to Pompeii. Is that not good option since several of you have said I should stay nearby overnight?

Also, I read Italy is very seasonal with their cuisines. Since I am going in the end of winter is that going to negatively affect the dining experience?

I have seen that there are guided day trip tours from Rome to Pompeii. Is that not good option since several of you have said I should stay nearby overnight?

The only downside to a guided day trip from Rome, is that it is a very long day. The downside to staying nearby overnight is the expense of another hotel room. In a way it's a toss up. Personally, I'd do the day trip despite it being a long, tireing day.

TC, thank you! The tours are pretty long days I see. Maybe I can take a day off time and visit Naples which would get me closer.

I will still put in a vote for Venice. First, as I said, if you are there at least a week before Carnival begins, it should be fine - low season in all aspects. Second, carnival in Rio as I understand it is like carnival in New Orleans. Carnival in Venice is about as different as oranges are to bicycles. The only similarities are that people wear masks and there are crowds.

Chani,

Thank you for the recommendation. I still think that I will skip it for this time. If I go back to Italy I want to do the north area (Milan/como) so I can fit it in then. It really is very low on my places to see.

I think you are fine skipping Venice on this trip. It is our favorite place, but it is so different from the rest of Italy—a world apart. The city needs particular attention to appreciate her as she should be ( and I call Venice her because she is La Serenissima).

https://www.italymagazine.com/dual-language/why-venice-nicknamed-la-serenissima

Bologna is much more approachable; you need not do a deep dive into the history to appreciate Bologna. Enjoy your trip and plan to return to Italy to spend more time in the north.