Traveling Europe in a Month Itinerary?

Without a lot of detail you have 9 cities representing about 9 days of travel leaving about 2 days in each town Some really great places you want to go. Me, personally, i would get a bunch of guide books and see how far you get if you spend the time it takes to see what interests you in each town or city. Do it right. Its easier to justify a future trip to a new place than a future trip to finish what you missed on the first trip.

It's great to have 26 days to travel, but your itinerary is taking you to many great European cities. Every one of these towns is worthy or 4-5 days minimum, and you'll have to take another vacation to get over such a demanding trip.
I like to fly into my farthest destination and fly home from a city closer to home--open jaw. It's more efficient and cheaper not to back track to your original city.
And remember that your first and last days of your trip are wasted. And every time you move to another city, that day is toast. I would suggest you pick 5-6 cities to visit to keep your trip from being a blur.
On Mapquest, you can plot the distances from place to place. You're probably greatly underestimating the size of Western Europe.
Another issue is buying such a long Eurail pass. Most experienced travelers are buying point to point tickets--seldom going the Eurail route. I can tell you that after our 4/2015 train ride from Budapest to Bratislava and from Vienna to Prague, I prefer to stay away from trains. I'd hate to think i had to spend days and days on a train.
With the advent of budget European air carriers, you can fly between larger cities for $100-150 if you purchase tickets early.

I prefer to visit a couple or three cities in close proximity, and then take a budget air carrier to the other end of Europe.

How about visiting Amsterdam and taking a train down to Paris? From Paris, take the new fast train 6 1/2 hrs. to Barcelona. Pickup Vueling AIrlines into Venice, then take a train to Florence and down to Rome. If you have any time left, you can catch a budget airline to just about any other city in Western Europe--or back to Amsterdam.

For the young, popular cities are Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Budapest and Amsterdam--for the bohemians.
I've been traveling to Europe since 1970, and I've not even visited some of the cities on your itinerary.
You might just want to simplify your trip to visit cities that are easier to get to and a much shorter list of cities.

Hello Lexie. You said you put a high priority on being at ITALY and GREECE. I recommend : be in ITALY a minimum of 10 days. And be in GREECE a minimum of 8 days, for you to have time for going to an island of Greece (at the Aegean Sea). And you would have time for going to a third country in Europe. Many travelers combine Switzerland and Italy in one trip. Do you have your airline ticket for flying to the airport of Amsterdam ?

lexie,

why amsterdam 2x?

you dont leave a lot of time for any place unless you decide to do only 1 day in some places.

just my opinion, its your $$ and time.

But you may want to think about cutting 2 or 3 places. However if you understand that you will only be able to see a place for 1 or 2 days, then youre good to go.

happy trails.

I'm going to assume you already have flights to/from Amsterdam and if so the circular route you have listed works, if not you should absolutely look at open-jaw tickets.

I hope you realize that you have some long train rides between some of these places that will eat up some of your 'days'. I'm not sure you're looking at your transfer times realistically.

You definitely should pick only one between Vienna and Budapest. For young people I would suggest Budapest, it's a great city with a definite youthful vibe, lots of nightlife. I'm an oldster myself but I was there for 6 days this past summer and it was one of my favorite cities. That being said, with your amount of time, I would suggest you drop both of them and fly from Athens directly to Krakow.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

I've actually already bought my tickets to/from Amsterdam, so that's why it's gotta be a circular route. I think I'll definitely look into a flight from Athens to Budapest. And possibly from Rome to Athens as well. Has anyone done the ferry from Italy to Greece, or have any thoughts on it? I would like to, but I think flying is more efficient. Then maybe it would be cheaper to buy the train tickets separately instead of the Eurail pass.

I'm going to add the amount of days for each place to my original post. I know a lot of people are very disapproving of 2 days in any city, but it's so hard to cut places out completely, you know?!

Also, one other question: I'm just wondering if it really is a whole lot cheaper to stay in hostels rather than a cheap hotel? I've heard hotels can end up being cheaper, but I wasn't sure if that was true.

Thanks again.

Lexie, I used to take the Brindisi-Patras ferry a lot. It's okay but I am past the point of sharing a room with one or more strangers (private room was out of my budget range). I would fly, now that fares within Europe are reasonable.

Fly from Rome to Athens. Or fly from Athens to Rome.

Lexie,

"I'm going to add the amount of days for each place to my original post. I know a lot of people are very disapproving of 2 days in any city, but it's so hard to cut places out completely, you know?!"

My parents tried to worn me on many things. When i didnt listen, my mom would say "you will learn".

What it comes down to, is that there is no right or wrong way. It comes down to YOUR way. If this is your first trip, you have no idea on what you like so "you will learn", good or bad. You are the preverbal kid in the candy store and "wants everything".

i just try to give "my experience" as my parents did me and go from there. If you dont want to make changes, dont. Again, "you will learn", i did and still am. I see it as if you are aware of what you are doing and that goes for just having 2 days or so in each place, then i say go for it. Again, "you will learn" by the end of your trip how well you liked it or not and what you would do on your next trip. Unlike life, travel IS and can be a do over.

Also there are others on this board that like fast trips and will stay in a place 1 or 2 days. Maybe they will chime in a give you their impressions/experience/wisdom.

happy trails.

Lexie,

A few initial thoughts.....

• Since you'll be returning to Amsterdam at the end of the trip, you might consider going directly to Paris when you arrive, as that will provide extra time for touring and travel between locations. If you can connect with one of the direct Thalys trains, the trip will be about three hours. I'd suggest adding at least one day to Paris, as there's a LOT to see there, and you'll also need time to get over jet lag.
• Is there a particular reason you chose Bern? You might also consider Lucerne, which is one of my favourites.
• How are you planning to get from Switzerland to Rome?
• How are you planning to get from Rome to Athens?
• Your trip is covering a fairly wide geographic area, so you'll need to allow adequate time for travel between locations, which in some cases will be a full day.
• One important point to mention regarding travel with Railpasses - these DO NOT cover the compulsory seat reservations on the "faster" trains such as the TGV in France or the Freccia trains in Italy. You'll have to pay "out of pocket" for these and DON'T be caught without a valid reservation in Italy or you'll face hefty fines which will be collected on the spot! Passholder reservations are on a quota on France, and once they're sold out for a particular train you won't be able to use your Railpass (you can either buy a regular ticket or take a different train).
• Given some of the distances you'll be travelling and the time frame of your trip, I'd suggest not bothering with the Ferry to Greece. Use budget airlines as it will be a more efficient use of your travel time.

Wow, what a whirlwind!! Awfully ambitious...
First off - I would vote for Budapest over Vienna any day... Vienna is a big, bustling city, lots of traffic, etc. Feels more like a city and less like an old world Empire capitol, although it still is. Budapest, however, fills that bill. It's a big city, too, but is a lovely city, and the river flowing through between the Parliament Buildings and the Castle on the other bank gives it more of an old world, even middle ages, feel. The Chain Bridge tops off the perfect picture. It has the old Europe ambience. It's a friendly place, walking around is easy, buy some of the beautiful embroidered Hungarian lace, (and it packs easy) and just prowl.

And I would only go here and Krakow if you're doing both. Sort of in the same area. I would leave out Athens and Hamburg. Unless you have family in Hamburg...? Not a stunning city. Athens and Greece are the destination for a whole trip in itself. Don't just see Athens and think you've seen Greece!! You have to allow time there to go to a few islands, and wander some of the countryside. Athens has a few good tourist sights, but the city itself is really not a gem. Most of the best tourist spots in Greece are far from Athens - Delphi, Temple of Poseidon, Corinth, Crete, etc., etc., etc., etc.... Athens is too far off the path of the other stops to make it worth the travel time and rush/rush it will cause you.

And do take into account that European unions have POWER and can choose to go on strike at the most inconvenient times. Meaning trains no longer run in some region, planes no longer fly, services like buses and subways may be out of commission. They don't care that you have a plane/train to catch... Allow some wiggle room because nothing, nothing, goes exactly according to plan. And that's one of the charms and joys of travel in Europe. Relax and wander, stay longer where you like it, leave quicker where you don't. You're too tightly scheduled here and you don't want to spend your trip just seeing train stations. Logistics - getting to and from transportation and hotels, is MUCH slower and more time consuming than it is in the states. Traffic, taxis, distances, having to walk to your destinations, etc. can make transfers take way more time. They don't have the same urgency in Europe that we do. And that's to be enjoyed, not fretted over because it's making you late, yet again...

Dial it back, have a relaxing but still fabulous trip, and start planning another to see the farther sights... ENJOY!!!!

Oh, and TAKE SOME BLISTER PACKS (buy them where you buy band-aids) and a small roll of athletic tape (roll some around a pencil stub or something) and maybe some moleskin. They'll save your life! With a schedule like this, you are going to walk your feet off! Prepare for that so that layers of blisters, which you'll get even from well broken-in shoes with this much walking, don't also slow you down. You'll have a great adventure!!

Laying the plan down on a calendar, with travel times blocked out, will help you see the full picture. I also would cut at least a couple of these big cities. Krakow does not have very convenient transportation to anywhere. Hamburg doesn't make Rick's list of favorite cities (although Berlin would, if you had time for it). Rick also traditionally advises that most people cut Athens, since it's one of the furthest points, although made much closer nowadays by flying.

You don't have any small towns in the mix, and don't have time to add them without cutting something else. Small towns can be cheaper, friendlier, cuter, more walkable, and easier to comprehend in one full day of visiting. The more that you read about each region, the more you will want to see, but that can help you to identify places that are closer together.

Before you get down to detailed train schedules , Rick’s Train Travel Time & cost Map gives you an overview of faster train travel times in hours. Overnight trains are dwindling and there are none that I'd particularly recommend for this trip, although they do run between Krakow and Budapest, Prague, or Vienna. For budget flight options, see www.skyscanner.com.

Hi,

First, I would drop Bern, either that or cut the days for Amsterdam. The trip is doable if you plan out the train routes carefully and including a night train route, such as Budapest to Krakow, or add more time. Otherwise, you need to drop something. I much rather drop Bern rather than Krakow. Seeing Krakow in 2 days superficially will do. Stay in the train area (a great hostel is located there), walk over to the rynek, a famous and big city square. I use a rail Pass but would not in Poland unless it includes a transfer of the ICE train in Berlin Hbf to Hamburg Hbf. on the same day. If not, it's not worth it.

You choose between Budapest or Vienna. Going from Krakow to Hamburg involves going through Berlin, which means count on spending a day on the train Krakow to Berlin ca 10hrs (I've done that leg), then change to Hamburg Hbf. Conceivably, you can be in Hamburg Hbf by 2100. The HI hostel is one stop from the Hamburg main train station at Landungsbrücken on the subway.

If you drop Krakow, you can fly Budapest-Berlin (don't know if it can be done going to Hamburg), or you can do Budapest to Hamburg by night train via Berlin, which gives an extra day. You take the Budapest-Berlin Hbf night train, arrives by 0900 or so, change to the ICE for Hamburg. You'll be there at noon.

I suggest staying near the train station. In Paris, Vienna, Krakow, I know of hostels both HI and private/independent ones within walking distance so that if you have to catch a train at 0700, you don't need to rely on public transportation or taxi to get there. I walk the 2-5 mins to reach the station. Keep that in mind when deciding on a place to stay.

Thanks for the replies friends! I think I need a vacation from planning this vacation, ha.

If we were to cut Switzerland, would you recommend taking a train straight from Paris to Rome, or stopping in a city like Milan, or Florence?

Otherwise, here is just our schedule for the time being.

June: 20- Arrive in Amsterdam
21- Train to Paris
22- Paris
23- Paris
24- Train to Bern
25- Bern
26- Train to Rome
27- Rome
28- Rome
29- Rome
30- Flight to Athens
July: 1- Athens
2- Athens
3- Athens
4- Athens
5- Flight to Budapest
6- Budapest
7- Budapest
8- Train to Krakow
9- Krakow
10- Train to Hamburg
11- Hamburg
12- Hamburg
13- Train to Amsterdam
14- Flight out of Amsterdam

So we cut time out of Amsterdam because we will be there twice.. I've also been there a few years back. The reason Hamburg is on the list is because a close friend of ours lives in the city; therefore we can't skip it. The reason for Krakow is mainly to visit Auschwitz. I've seen that it's an all day trip so it would take up the whole day of July 9th, but I figured that may still be enough time in Krakow since that's our only plan? If Switzerland stays in the plan, we are clueless as to what city we should actually stay in. Not sure if Bern is where we will go.

Lastly, I'm not sure if anyone has any experience with Airbnb, or if this deserves a whole other forum, but it is a good idea to book through them?

Thank you.

Are you set on seeing Auschwitz? There are multiple other camps throught Europe that are also moving and might fit better into your itinerary. I think that Krakow is an awesome place to visit, but overnight isn't going to give you the full picture. If you are set on Auschwitz consider doing a long day trip (train in, visit, train 'home'). It's a long day, but it will save you the hassle of switching hotels (which takes time to get packed, find the hotel, unpack, figure out the neighborhood etc.). Even packing light these day trips are easier than doing the hotel switch. You could add that day into almost any of your other destinations. My other suggestion is to PACK LIGHT! You will be doing a lot of hotel changes and city changes, you will want to be comfortable wearing your backpack or dragging your suitcase for at least an hour up stairs, down stairs, up hills, on cobblestones. Have a wonderful trip

Hi,

If you're bent on seeing Auschwitz, the number one extermination center, I would do it this way: Take the night train Budapest to Krakow, arriving shortly before 07:00, stay at the hostel near Krakow Glowny (main train station), spend that day resting and seeing Krakow, the next day take a day trip by bus to Auschwitz leaving in the morning, come back to Krakow for the second night's stay. Then next morning take the early train from Krakow to Berlin Hbf, change to Hamburg Hbf on ICE train, takes ca 1:47 hrs.

Near Hamburg is another concentration camp (if you want to view that one) the Nazi authorities set up, accessible by public transportation too.

The trip is very doable depending on how you tweak it, here and there, and what you're willing to put up with. Admittedly, the Krakow-Hamburg via Berlin is a long haul if you want to it all in one day but can be done. Arriving at 2000 or later in a new city, I would stay near Hamburg Hbf, numerous small hotels (and large ones too) across from Hamburg Hbf using the Kirchenallee exit.

Lexie,

Are you aware you can fly from Krakow to Hamburg using Easyjet, a budget airline.

Time 1H30m. This would cut down your travel time immensely. and probably be less than

Train ticket.

Lexie,

Have you plotted all your destinations on google map to see how much territory you will be covering?

Your revised itinerary is still very ambitious, in my opinion, and you are not giving yourself enough time to explore each of your
destinations.

I agree with some of the other posters; your trip will be a blur and you will be spending so much time on trains & planes.

If you have to start & end in Amsterdam, I would delete Rome & Athens and just concentrate on traveling in Central Europe.

Save Italy & Greece for another trip.

Edit: I think you are underestimating how much time you will lose each time you travel from one destination to the next...