How long in Rome & CT?

Two nights in Rome will probably give your about 1 or 1.5 days in Rome--not 2.5 to 3 days.

I would do the reverse, 3 nights in Rome and 2 nights in CT. Rome is more spread out and has more things to see. I think it would be hard to do it justice with just 2 nights. I like CT for relaxation and some down time between busy cities, After 2 nights, my batteries would be recharged and I would be ready to go again.

I think you are cutting your time in Rome a bit short, there are so many wonderful things to see and do....I understand Cinque Terre is beautiful but I still can't get my head around the idea of spending more time there than in Rome, unless your reason for coming to Italy is to just relax and be near the beach. In which case, you don't have to go to Cinque Terre to do that......JMO.

I know, I love history and I am crazy to think I could only spend 2 nights in Rome! I think I will do either 3 nights in each place or 2 in CT, and 3 in Rome. I am going to have a busy month trip traveling to a bunch of countries and thought it would be nice to spend some a longer time in CT, to recharge! Belive me if all I wanted to do was sit on a beach I would've gone to Hawaii!

Ok, if I did 3 and 3, that leaves me with one night in Venice, which I am ok with, how much time do you think needs to be spent in Venice, if I really only want to experience it, then head to another country?

I agree with Linda, Janice, and Claire. The OP asks whether it's "do-able" but also asks for advice. We face this question here all the time: can an itinerary be technically do-able but not the best way for the person asking the question? In other words, we're trying to avoid substituting our personal preferences about how we would do the trip (faster versus slower), but also trying to give an opinion based on judgment and experience, where the OP asks for one.

Yes, I have spent all morning looking at Trentalia and Deutsche Bahn at the time tables. I was originally doing an overnight train from Paris to Rome, then Rome to CT in May, but CT is pretty booked up, so I am thinking of doing Paris to Milan and Milan to Vernazza. Then Vernazza to Rome, and Rome either stop in Venice or go to Austria or Slovenia. Basically, I have the first week of my month long trip planned (Paris, Normandy), and now I am trying to plan the other 3 weeks in Europe. I have a global rail pass also.

Good! You're actually reading our replies, replying back to us and you're looking at train schedules--three things not everyone does! Knowing the station to station train times, plus the very real time of checking out, getting to the station, waiting for the train, etc--this will help you figure out, for a place like Rome or Venice, how much time you actually will have for seeing and doing the things you're going there to do, instead of just seeing the inside of trains and train stations. I see from one of your replies that you've already increased your time in Rome by one day, I think you'll be glad you did. You ask if one night is enough "to experience" Venice. We don't know exactly what you mean by experience Venice. But you can answer your own question about that, by considering travel time. Allowing for the full travel time (not just station to station times), the question for you is: how many actual hours of quality time does "one night" in Venice give you? and is that sufficient for you. As a benchmark or frame of reference, most travelers give Venice at least two nights. And even the fastest blitz travelers usually give Venice, at a minimum, one long full day. And probably 50% of travelers, here, give Venice at least two full days.

Thanks Kent!

My top 2 places that I must see while in Italy are Rome and CT.
I am still planning on seeing southern Germany, Salzburg and Halstatt, Prague, Vienna, and either the Berner Oberland or Lake Bled, Slovenia. I am flying home from Munich, so after spending a week in France, one week in Italy, I have two weeks to experience the above mentioned.

Has anyone ever been to Slovenia and the Berner Oberland? If so what which one would you recommend visiting if you had to pick just one due to time constraints.

I am also aware that I am planning a blitz trip to Europe, but I am young and prepared for a lack of sleep!

For your consideration, I don't see the issues of blitzing being about age, vitality or need for sleep, but the trade off between 1) how much time you have for sightseeing and experiencing Europe vs. 2) how much touring time you must sacrifice checking in/out, traveling on trains, waiting in stations etc. The more you blitz, the more time you spend on category 2 and the less time you have for fun.

In addition to reducing your sighseeing/vacation time, blitzing makes the trip more stressful (more things can go wrong) and more expensive. At some point you have diminished returns on your money, time, and effort because sure you're dashing off to see another city (that you will love)but you've barely scratched the surface of adventures you could have had in the last location. So, if you blitz too much you may see less, not more.

I agree Linda.
How does blitzing cost more money if you have a global pass? Price of reserving trains and etc?

I have to do it like this, because we are graduating from college, and what jobs let you off for a month at a time to go and travel the world? I got a month off from my job as a nurse, but I carry the insurance so cannot go longer than a month or go onto Kobra insurance (1600 a month). So I am definately planning on going back to Europe many times! Believe me I have already taken out Spain, and am considering taking out Switzerland because my husband wants to do Slovenia, as I read more and more on this helpline I realize I can't do as much as I planned!

Thanks for all of your advice!

Lindsay, regarding the Berner Oberland, since you are on a tight schedule, you can train into Interlaken and spend two nights. During your one full day, take the train into the Alps and up to the Jungfraujoch. It is fantastically beautiful and you'll wish you had more time so you could stay up in the mountains for several days.

Good question about the cost. I don't use railpasses so of course there are always costs to moving that you may not have. That includes bus fare, gas, tolls, cab fare, little miscellaneous costs etc. You have to see what that applies to you.

I understand you have limited time and have so much that you want to see. Of course, you don't want to stay so long in one place that you feel you're not using your time well, but I am suggesting you have too much scheduled. I'm glad to hear you dropped some destinations and are focusing on your must-see list.

My last trip to Italy was 18 days (15 on the ground) and I had fewer destinations scheduled than you do. I'm not saying you need to travel as slow as I do, but one week is not a lot of time to see a country. You could spend days in Rome alone, so you will have to prioritize.

Thanks Linda!

I know I am anticipating planning to stay a week in Italy, loving it and wanting to stay longer. Which is just fine if I want to cut out places like Prague and Austria. I am now using a calendar online to help plan, and looking at the train schedules to plan time, and the days I have left.

So far 2 nights in CT, 3 nights in Rome, and one night in Venice is the plan