I am pleased to happen across this site of happy travelers. Please advise.....I am scheduling my first land trip to Europe. In 2009 I took holiday aboard the cruise ship Celebrity to the Mediterranean. 8 hours Venice, 8 hours Rome, 5 hours Florence was not enough. My heart has fallen in love with the small portions I experienced. The desire to return has been ever present within my heart. Now I attempt to arrange a schedule that is sensible. Fall season my time permits 3 weeks travel to Europe. My attempt is to join together Rome, Florence, Venice and Paris. The large cities this holiday and perhaps the smaller cities next time. I have done much research with maps, websites and the like. I will provide as much detail as possible. 4 days Rome, 3 days Florence, 3 days Venice, 7 days Paris. This is 17 days total not to include the arrival and departure days. Better to travel south to north or vice versa? I am a lover of the arts, new cultures, leisure, talking with residents albeit at a café or park bench. My time allotted is simply; Rome - Colosseum, Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Forum Florence - Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello, Baptistery Cathedral & Tower, San Lorenzo Market Venice - St. Mark's Basilica & Square, Evening Gondola Ride off the main canal, walking and loose my way in this beautiful city.
Paris - Nuit Blanche or White Night, Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Cruise River Seine, Black Paris Tour, Notre-Dame, Paris Flea Market, Arc de Triomphe, Champse Elysees Yes, very tourist like. Is my attempt too much? I need time to leisurely breathe and embrace the moment, sit at the café for coffee and talk with residents (as you call locals) or simply walk losing myself within the city. My appreciation of your time and expertise.
Posted by
Ballwin
833 posts
First, I would go from north to south so that you are getting warmer as your trip goes on! But that's mainly personal preference. It seems like you will have enough time, but if you really want to take time to sit and enjoy the city, you may want to afford yourself another day in Rome or Florence. But you seem to know what you want to see and have allotted a good amount of time. Note on Florence: take some time to cross the Arno and visit Piazzale Michelangelo. Beautiful views of the city, and if you hike up higher you can visit the church at the top. Definitely worth it!
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
This sounds great. I would do it north to south. You may need to cut a day from Paris to account for your travel time to Italy.
Posted by
OP
Fairfield, CA, USA
37 posts
Thank you Devon and Doug. I take your suggestions to heart especially cross the Arno and visit Piazzale Michelangelo. I will research this. Perhaps one more question, has some traveler here enjoyed either Black Paris Tour or Walking The Spirit Tour? Both are in Paris. Very similar, but one better than other???
Again my appreciation of your time and expertise.
Posted by
Trenton, NJ, United States
33 posts
Jewels, You might want to post your question aboutParis in the 'To the West' section of 'Travel Helpline' or check the 'Archives.'
Posted by
Texan in CA
4407 posts
"...very tourist like." Nothing wrong with that ;-) Is Nuit Blanche terribly important to you? I know it's the First of Oct; I, too, suggest starting in the north in order to have warmer weather there, but I don't know if you're willing to travel in Oct, or would rather go a bit earlier...thus giving up Nuit Blanche...Decisions, decisions,... Also, have you given thought to your Paris-Venice leg? A night train, or maybe make it a two-day trip with a stop halfway? And it looks like you're planning an open-jaw/multi-city airplane ticket flying into Paris and out of Rome? If you worry about too much once you're there (and it looks good to me, also), just be sure to rank your tourism priorities before you get started, and see the things you REALLY want to see. If you poop out, then you can let the lesser things go and just sit on a park bench and soak it all in. A great place for soaking it in is Bois de Vincennes in Paris. It's on Google Street View now! (but not the beautiful wooded trails - yet). You'll forget you're in a very busy city, guaranteed. Take a picnic. Consider 2 visits to the Louvre...maybe a night visit. Otherwise, you'll kill yourself...(not that I know anything about that...).
Posted by
San Francisco, CA
166 posts
Florence: that's a lot for 3 days. Do-able, but a bit rushed. Maybe fewer museums and more time wandering and sitting in cafes? In Paris, one day is nowhere near enough for the Louvre. Otherwise sounds great!