Have 3 weeks to travel from Paris to IRome

Paris to Bruges (2)
to Amsterdam (3)
to Berlin (4)
to Prague (3)
to Vienna (3)
to Venice (3)
to Florence (3)
to Rome

I like David's itinerary with some slight modifications. What I don't like are train rides over 3 hours, and many of the routes here are "slow trains." Distances in Europe are pretty deceiving, as it's almost 900 miles from Paris to Rome. And getting from Vienna over the Alps to Venice is over 350 miles requiring 2 trains and a bus ride.

Paris to Bruges (2)
to Amsterdam (3)
Fly on EasyJet (cheap) to Berlin (4)
to Prague (3)
to Vienna (3)
Fly on Austrian Airlines to Venice (3)
to Florence (3)
to Rome

You can also get from Vienna to Rome cheap on Easyjet.

I too ideally like my train rides to be max 3-4 hours. It just means you get to relax for a morning/afternoon.
Any longer and you may as well lose the whole day (7-8 hours) travelling.
Just switch off and read, write, or listen to music. Bliss!!

Thank you everyone gives me something to work on please keep your great ideas coming

Hi is it better to book trains on line or when we are in the countries, also I am looking at accomodation and great places to eat thanks Annette

Hello anne.may. At Rome, I suggest being at a hotel located between the Spanish steps and the Trevi fountain. Going in the Villa Borghese art galleries in Rome requires reserving the admission tickets, 2 weeks before you will be there. When you will be at Rome, ask a person working in the hotel for a recommended place for eating food in Rome.

In my opinion Dave's itinerary is way too much travel between places for 3 weeks, especially when you'll probably spend several days in both Paris and Rome leaving more like 10-14 days between the two. Visiting 4-6 places in between is doable, but not when they are spread out all over the Europe map.

I think you need to nail down an itinerary based on your interests and travel style (fast and furious, slow and thorough, etc) and then post questions about specific travel routes, trains, accommodations, restaurants, sights, etc

For now, work on planning your sightseeing priorities and just being aware of the travel time between destinations as you rough out your calendar. I would also like to have a couple of more small towns in the mix; Bruge was the only one mentioned so far. If you've actually been dreaming of a route through Switzerland or the south of France, then that's yours to decide, since "all roads lead to Rome."

The relative costs and advance-discount options for train tickets will depend on the route that you eventually choose, but you would look seriously at that issue next January, since the best ticket prices usually go on sale three months ahead for specific dates and times. See more at http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains.

Thanks for this yes we need to get serious and not sit here and dream yes I don't want to be rushing and we need to pick 2 countries we really want to see love to see Rome we will spend a week in Paris before starting off. Will we better to visit lots of little places or spend more time one of the bigger countries.

I guess it really depends if time available is ...
"3 weeks to travel from Paris to Rome" or "3 weeks to travel including Paris and Rome"
You would want 4/5 nights in Paris first, and 3/4 nights in Rome.

I've only been to two of the cities you mentioned, but I loved the hotels in each one so I will happily recommend them.

In Paris we stayed at Hotel de Varenne (www.varenne-hotel-paris.com) It's in the 8th arr. right down the street from the Rodin Museum and a block or two over from Rue Cler. Everyone's different so not such which neighbourhood you'd prefer but if you like the location, it's very quaint and small.

In Venice we stayed in a hotel called Hotel Flora. It was a great location, central but like everything in Venice, sort of hard to find. They do their best to explain how to get there and we did find it! Great continental breakfast, really pretty courtyard, and rooms with large bathrooms and dark wood beams on the ceilings, very nice. Only drawback was the wifi didn't work in our room for some reason, so I would type and email and then come sit in the lobby to send it, but that kind of thing doesn't bug me.

If you did 4-5 nights in Paris, then pick places heading south in the general direction of Rome, toward the Mediterranean coast of France, then around to Cinque Terre or vicinity depending on your likes, then on to Rome for the last however many nights you'd like in Rome. You'd have 10 or so days to play with between the 2 cities. There would be plenty to fill 10 days. Lyon, Arles, Avignon, coastal towns from there to Italy, then through Tuscany down to Rome.
We did an 11 day trip, landed in Milan then drove to Santa Marguerita, where we stayed 3 days, going to Portofino and Cinque Terre. Then drove to Florence for 1 night, then a 3 night stay in an agrotourismo outside of Sienna, from there we went into Sienna and went to 2 hill towns on day trips, then onto Rome for 3 or 4 nights.

Your trip sounds great however did you drive all the way we're you used to driving in Europe my husband has driven in the UK but is a bit hesitant to drive in Paris and other places.

My first trip to Europe was also between Paris and Rome. If it is your first trip to this area I suggest the classic visit. IMO that means base stays in Paris, Nice, Florence, Venice and Rome. That way you have several days in each city for a relaxed and fairly thorough visit. These cities are all easily accessible by train in the right direction to Rome (versus Amsterdam, Berlin, etc.) I suspect they no longer have the overnight train from Paris to Nice but if they do, try it…I find these to be fun. Check the times, if it is a long train ride consider a flight, but weigh this as I enjoy the scenery from the train. The train ride along the Mediterranean to Italy is lovely, too. A long, pretty train ride can be a nice relaxing day with scenery and people watching. I would skip the coastal resort town of Cinque Terre, at least for this trip, as you get the Mediterranean in the Nice area with much more of interest to see in the area. Sounds like a great time. Wray

I suppose we are looking for a "classic " holiday restful we are having 4-5 days in Paris first and want to spend at least 5-6 days in Rome we thought could do your trip and maybe go a different way back to Paris

It might help if you clarify ...
Do you have 3 weeks all up for this trip (including time in Paris and Rome)?
Is it absolutely necessary for you return to Paris (if, for example, that's where you fly out from)?

Yes we have 3 weeks and yes we will fly out of Paris already booked flights. I would like to have train rides of up to 5 hours only unless it's a night train. I must thank everyone for the input this is our first trip into Europe and now I am starting to think help there's so much I want to see but I also want time to relax. I have been to Paris before so that's no concern. We actually have another 2 weeks but we have relations in the UK so heading there after our trip.

Arrive in Paris (3)
Train to Bruges (2)
Train to Amsterdam (3)
Train to Berlin (3)
Fly to Rome (4)
Train to Florence (3)
Train to Venice (3)
Fly to Paris

or

Arrive in Paris (3)
Train to Provence (3)
Train to Barcelona (3)
Fly to Zurich for Luzern (2)
Train to Venice (3)
Train to Florence (3)
Train to Rome (4)
Fly to Paris