Three cities for our honeymoon...

Holly,

If I were (fortunate enough) to be planning this honeymoon I think I would select Venus, Rome, and Paris and do them in that order. Probably 3 days, 4 days, and 5 for Paris, plus 2 for travel.

Barcelona and Prague are also good choices but, for me, do not have the romance of those above. Zurich wouldn't make my list for a honeymoon. Vienna, Florence, and Madrid also have much to offer but I'm sticking with my first idea.

Very best wishes.

"I would select Venus, Rome, and Paris and do them in that order."

Allow sufficient travel time to get to Venus.

In place of Zurich consider Lucerne. But with only 10-15 days, I think you should try to cover less ground; perhaps Paris, London and Amsterdam. Barcelona to Prague is over 800 miles - roughly the same as Boston to Chicago.

Personally, I think both Barcelona and Prague are very romantic, but that being said, they're also very far out from Paris, so that could be difficult. You may want to stick a little closer to that region if you're set on Paris. Of course, if you're dead set on these three, you could always look into flying from one location to another...

I agree with Peter, you're essentially looking at the equivelant travel to 3 corners of the United States. That is with your desired plan. Pick your #1 town and plan around that. If you choose Paris, then consider Amsterdam, or some great places along the Rhone in Germany. Brugge in Belgium is a very nice city as well. Overall travelling can take about 3 days of your total vacation by train or plane. So keep that in mind. Flying from Northern Europe (Copenhagen) to Barcelona can take 4 hours not including airport time.

I'd definitely skip Zurich. It's an okay city, but compared to some of those others, it doesn't measure up; the old town area is pretty nice IMO. If you really want to go to Switzerland, and want to stay in a city-ish area, I would hands down do the Montreux-Vevey area. Very pretty, right on Lake Geneva, great lakeside walk, a castle to tour, boat rides on the lake, winery tours...if I go back to Switzerland, I plan to spend some time there. Plus, right on the French border at least. And, easy to do a day trip to some place like Murten or Gruyeres or Fribourg.

Well, since you haven't told us your budget range,, it is not easy to help.. Also, you need to be exact on your time,, 10 days is not 3 cities to me,, but with 14 days,, maybe.

I would fly into Paris, spend 5 days there, then I would fly to Venice,, spend 3 days there, then train to Rome for last 4-5 days.. This assumes you purchase an open jaw ticket to Europe( into one city out of another). For cheap flights between Paris and Venice you can look at Vueling Air. I used them 2 yrs ago and they were fine. They fly into the main airports,, be careful, some cheapo airlines use airports that are as much as 100 kms from the city they say they serve.

"By the way, it will be both of our first time in Europe."

Duh, I never would have known.

I grew up on the west coast, hearing how people spend their romantic honeymoons at Niagra Falls. In 1970, I moved to the East and went to Niagra Falls to see what was so romanic about it. There is nothing there. I learned the eternal truth, honeymooners make their own romance; what they need is somewhere boring, with no other distractions. Peoria, Ill., is just as romantic, maybe even Cleveland (well, OK, maybe not Cleveland).

OK, go to Paris if you must. Take the Eurostar to London. See Amsterdam or Belgium, or the South of France. You don't have to go far to make your own romance.

And, Greg, the Rhone is in France. Do you mean the Rhein?

"I would select Venus, Rome, and Paris and do them in that order."

"Allow sufficient travel time to get to Venus."

Not only should you allow plenty of time to get to Venus, also, keep in mind it's going to be hellishly hot in May (actually, all year)...

Paris terrific of course. Unless you have a specific reason for Zurich it is a cosmopolitan/business/education oriented swiss city that doesn't have a lot of swiss charm and beauty as other areas of Switz.There are nearby areas of greater worth if Zurich is your arrival city.Ie Appenzell or Lake Constance(Lindau) Germany. Have not visited Prague but would subst another city for Barcelona as Sevilla or Madrid(incl Toledo).

I also agree with Peter. Paris, London & Amsterdam would make a great two week trip and give a wonderful and easy first taste of Europe with plenty of options for day trips outside the city. Transportation between all three are plentiful and cheap cheap cheap.

How about Barcelona and then to the south of France and then up to Paris?

I liked Prague but I loved Krakow. I found it wonderfully romantic - but it's a little far.

I think Paris, London and Edinburgh would be nice. Travel by train would be easy and wouldn't take too long. Paris and London have endless things to do. Edinburgh is very romantic with the fog in the evening and the castle on top of the volcano; it's my favorite city.

I agree with London and Edinburgh (or Aviemore- what's more romantic than staying in a miniture castle hotel?). I'd add Inverness rather than Paris. Or maybe somewhere in Ireland.

It's not the 1950's anymore, folks.

Hopefully they know each other well enough that they don't have to spend most of their time in the room.

We brought my parents with us on our Honeymoon. This was pre-internet and it seemed wise to bring along tour guides that had been to Europe several times before.

It was a great time--Paris, Florence, Salzburg, Amsterdam--and we never would have paid for a private sleeper without their help.

I'm not recommending to go with a group, but in hindsight, it's one of the best things we ever did, as a brain tumor like Ted Kennedy had, has made it impossible to ever again see Europe with my mother.