Thoughts about driving on your trip from one who has lived in Germany and visited it and Italy a number of times. I prefer not to drive as it is just too much hassle. With the possible exception of going to Neuschwanstein, you should be able to go everywhere in Germany via train. Driving to and along the Amalfi Coast is a two edged sword. The scenery is wonderful. But driving the coast might drive you to drink. It's narrow, winding, crowded, and it's hard to appreciate the views while driving. Don't mean to rain on your parade as it sounds like a great trip for you and your daughter. Just offering food for thought.

I would do Rome once. Go from Florence to Amalfi coast if that is your desire. I would not drive though.

You can take the train to Salerno and then ferry or take the bus from there. It looks like you only have 3 nights though. That might not be enough to make it worth the trouble. The Amalfi coast is difficult to get around efficiently and not very close to anything else. You might consider redistributing those days. You could add them to Rome and/or Florence and make a few day trips out of the cities.

Prague and Rome are big cities, they both could use more time.

It is easy to get to Neuschwanstein by train from Munich and bus from Fussen. I would not rent a car. I also would not want to drive on the Amalfi Coast-I would only want to be on that road with someone who had lots of experience driving it.

Hi Heidi, How great you're planning this trip with your daughter. The main issue I have with this itinerary is how little time it gives you in Florence & Rome, since you asked what seasoned travelers think. And agreed with above, you only need a car outside of Munich, the rest of the time a car is a burden in Germany.

Wondering what sort of travelers you are and what things you like to see & do? Museums, walking around, shopping, taking a food walking tour...

Day 18 – take 2 hour train to Florence;

Day 18-20 – Florence; This gives you only one full day to see what is arguably many peoples', (myself included), favorite town in Italy, 2 days involve part of the day traveling.

Day 20 – take 1.5 hour train trip to Rome;

Day 20 -22 - You arrive in Rome mid day, get to hotel, have 1/2 a day in Rome and only ONE full day the next day. This is where you're really short a few more days, though you have some time the day you plan to arrive back from Amalfi Coast. Personally, I would skip the AC & add a day to Florence & 2 days to Rome. And this from someone who's been 2x to AC for almost a week each time, and many many times to Rome. It's just too much travel versus time on the ground.

If you really really must go to the AC, take the train . Have a very close look at the AC, where would you stay? It really is a parking lot traveling along the coastal road during the season, that's why @BethFL suggested going to Salerno by train from Rome, easier to get in & out of the AC via ferry.

Good luck and let us know how the plan develops!

The way you've listed your itinerary, often with the same day attached to two cities, makes it appear--at a glance--that you have more time at those destinations than you really do. I know you understand your plans, but folks skimming the itinerary may not notice the overlap.

The problems with Florence and Rome have already been mentioned. "Day 11-15 - tour Prague" sounds like 5 days in the city, but you really only have 3 full days there, and you have a long list of possible day trips. Similarly, "Day 15-18 - tour Venice" seems like 4 days but is really only 2 full days. I adore Venice, but that may be enough for you on this trip. I'd be more concerned about Florence (if you like art) and Rome.

I've traveled most of your itinerary a number of times. But we never had the luxury of spending 25 days.
Observations from an experienced traveler are:
The first and last day of any trip are wasted going to/from the airport. And every travel day switching cities is another wasted day. It also takes a couple of days in any city to figure out how to get around and what you want to see.
Please be aware that Germany and other countries are larger in size than they appear on maps.
I'm okay on a train for 2-3 hours, but beyond that I'm flying on one of the budget European airlines for cheap.

You have a number of great European cities to visit, however great cities are worthy of 4 days or more.
I like to divide trip into segments, and visit cities that are in relatively close proximity to each other. Like going from Munich to Salzburg to Vienna. Then going from Vienna to Bratislava to Budapest. Or Vienna to Prague to Dresden to Berlin. Or going from Venice to Florence to Tuscany to Rome.
When we visit great cities, we like to spend the first day taking a "Free Walking Tour" where the tour guides work for tips. They also have "Nightlife Tours" or "Pub Crawl Tours" the same night that shows you where good restaurants and nightlife is located. People from all over the world will be with you and it's simply a ball. These outfits can be found online.

On Day 5, I would suggest you tour Cologne and then drive up the Rhine River and stay the night at Bacharach. On Day 6, deadhead it into Munich which gives you an extra day to tour that great city.
On Day 9, have you considered skipping Fuessen and Neuschwanstein and driving thru Garmisch and down to Innsbruck? (We were disappointed with Neuschwanstein.) The Austrian Alps and Tirol are just breathtaking in beauty and we love the area.
On Day 15, beware that the only flight from Prague to Venice is on WizzAir. But you could also fly into Treviso which is just a few miles to the north of Venice. Both are budget air carriers, and often they don't fly to all locations every day. You'll have to check their flight schedules to see if either flies to Venice on that day.
Rather than going to Rome on Day 20, have you considered spend a day or two touring the Tuscan hilltowns--like Siena, San Gimignano and Volterra?
We were in the Amalfi region 6/2023, and it's about 200 miles south of Rome--a long way. Rome is such an important place, and there are as many travel sites in the suburbs as there are within the city. I would skip the Amalfi Coast this trip.

It’s a pretty aggressive schedule. I’m sure your 22 year old can keep up with it, if you’re up for that much movement and changing hotels, go for it. Pack lightly. I agree with the suggestion to only do Rome once. Go straight from Florence to Amalfi Coast and then wrap up in Rome. You won’t need a car in AC - RS has some tour recommendations that are small and great. All the scenery, none of the stress.

Not enough time in Florence and Rome. I have been to Rome twice for a total of 13 days and not seen it all.

take high-speed train 5.5 hours to Prague

There are no high-speed trains to Prague, just regular ole trains.
Don't really see the need for a car between Cologne and Munich as everything is well served by trains. A car will be a headache in Munich.

I'd suggest some vacation days from the vacation. You haven't built in time to slow down, perhaps nurse a cold, do laundry, etc. So after awhile, getting up early and hopping on a train gets old. Leave time to change pace a bit.
I agree drop the Amalfi Coast. The lack of infrastructure in the AC makes getting around tedious- there is no quick and efficient mode to get anywhere, whether using public or private transportation. The AC is a victim of its Instagram success- crowds three seasons a year. It's a lot to deal with at the end of a busy trip.
Other thoughts- another day in the Middle Rhine area , and skip the very commercialized Fussen and N' stein Palace.
I'd add a few days exploring the Netherlands/ Belgium beyond Amsterdam.
If possible, start mid- April, right after the Easter crowds go back to school/ work.
Have a great time planning this very special trip. Safe travels!

Great amendments to your initial travel plans! The only suggestion I have to add is to take the train /bus from Florence to Siena & rent a car & return it in Siena just on the days you want to take day trips. You can catch a 2.5 hour train from there to Rome, much less hassle. No need to drive to Rome. Enjoy!

It's an interesting itinerary. Not how I would travel. Entire itinerary nearly all 1 and 2 night stays. I've spent close to two years of my life now tourist-ing in Europe (over 15+ trips). A friend just getting started recently finish his second family trip, all 1-2 night stays, and said "we need to go fewer places and stay longer, or move around a lot but visit regions, not an entire continent." Most tourists are positively burned out by all 1 and 2 night stays, particularly if flying. Trains go right to the center, but air transit is out of town and much more involved than walking to the station and stepping aboard.

I'm not necessarily saying slow down. Just recognize that trying to cram in many iconic big cities seems like the right choice from distance, but that numerous "second" cities and "lesser" places are just as rewarding.

1 things definitely not to cut: for sure staying with a local friend in Amsterdam. This is already almost certainly the highlight of your trip.

1 thing to change: do not fly from Munich to Venice. Literally door to door the train will likely be just as fast. Munich and Venice are closer than you imagine by rail, and the rail corridor between them - Alps/Dolomites, Alto Adige, Trento, Verona etc - is a wonderful part of Europe. I don't at all mind one night stays when short-hopping an interesting region by train, seeing some smaller places that don't need as much time ....

I would skip Prague. It's a good city, but you'll see many others on par in their own way, and it sucks up time in an unacceptable exchange of opportunity cost. Those three days can make some of the rest of your trip go from hustle to magic.

But anyway, it's all good, as the frat boys used to say. Even your current itinerary is a trip to Europe, far better than not a trip to Europe :)

WOW! my post above went format crazy!

no idea how it happened but kind of fun ...