My husband and I are going to Europe for our first time this June (22 days including Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Amsterdam), and because we have never been there, planning our time has been difficult! We have 6 days (7 at the very most, which would take us from 5 days in Switzerland down to 4 days) between landing in Italy and departing Cinque Terre to head to Switzerland. What I was thinking was flying from Athens to Naples, spending a day at Pompeii and then heading up to Rome to spend 3 nights there. From Rome we would take the train to Pisa for half of a day, then head to Cinque Terre for 3 nights (to do some hiking and relaxing).
Would it be best to fly from Athens to Rome and do a day trip from Rome down to Pompeii? How does the Amalfi coast compare to Cinque Terre? Any input/insights/suggestions are welcome.
Also we are still trying to decide whether to purchase individual train tickets or buy some sort of Eurail pass (we will be in Europe for 22 days) and I've looked extensively at the 2 options (reading all of the suggestions from the book and online sources).
Thank you in advance for your help!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15244 posts
You are trying to pack a lot of destinations in a very short time. Are you sure that 'relaxing' is one of your goals?
With 6 nights on the ground I would stick to a couple of locations only.
If I were you I would book 4 nights in Rome and 2 at the Cinque Terre (if the total cannot go over 6 nights).
The 4 nights in Rome will give you at least 3 full days in Rome (which is barely enough) and 1 full day at the Cinque Terre (which is probably enough). If Rome is not your cup of tea and absolutely want to visit Pompeii (or Ostia Antica, or Orvieto, or whatever), you can do a day trip from Rome in one of those 3 days.
The Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre have similarities. Do one or the other though.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Day 1 - Fly Athens to Naples - 1 night
Day 2 - Excursion to Pompeii then train to Rome - 3 nights
Day 3 - Rome sights
Day 4 - Rome sights
Day 5 - Train (via stop in Pisa) to Cinque Terre - 2 nights
Day 6 - Cinque Terre hiking
Day 7- Train to Switzerland
or
Day 1 - Fly Athens to Naples, then train to Sorrento - 3 nights
Day 2 - Excursion to Positano
Day 3 - Excursion to Capri
Day 4 - Train to Pompeii, then via Naples to Rome - 3 nights
Day 5 - Rome sights
Day 6 - Rome sights
Day 7- Fly from Rome to Zurich, Switzerland