Italy / Germany Itinerary

I would make the decision on Salzburg and Pompeii when you get to Munich and Rome. You may feel like you've had enough. I have planned and booked day excursions that turned out to be over ambitious resulting in something akin to throwing away my money.

I agree with Jazz & Travels. We were going to go to Pompeii from Rome during our week there but decided against it since we were having so much fun. We hadn't pre booked anything so we figured we would save Pompeii for another trip. You will be doing so much moving around, relax and enjoy Rome. A lot to see and experience.

I'll now propose the unthinkable, a night train.
Instead of a day trip to Salzburg, go there in the morning and stash bags at the train station, and see the sights. There is a night train to Venice at 1:30 in the morning, so you can go out and make a night of it. You'll get to Venice at 8:24 in the morning ready to go. Now that is slightly tongue-in-cheek, as everybody here disses night trains. But you are young and ready for something different, so at least consider it. And the night trains are gradually disappearing and who knows how long they will be around. My wife and I did a few years ago, directly from Oktoberfest, and we survived just fine.

That night train makes six stops (including one in Villach at 4:45 AM) before it gets to Venice. I wouldn't be good for much the next day, but some people sleep fairly well through the noise and jerking of stops and restarts.

Hi,

Based on your itinerary you can take the night train option going from Munich to Venice, ie, the EN train, München nach Venedig...very doable and direct. You get in at 08:24 hrs. There are numerous night train routes, Munich Hbf is one the EN night train junction points. Take the night train option you squeeze out an extra day.

Fred, same train.

Yes, exactly, it's the OeBB Nightjet, arriving in Venice at 0824 hrs isn't a bad deal. I'd do the night routes from Munich to Venice, or Verona, and Milano.

Check the cost of night trains and flights before you decide.

We took that night train from Rome to Vienna. If you get a couchette or cabin, you might just get enough sleep to make it work. I slept well enough to make a full day of it in Vienna upon arrival.

Jason

Just a comment. We have visited all those cities you mention but we did it in two different three week long trips. Not one for 16 days, 18 days with return travel.

It seems like you will be very rushed.

Too much travel. Slow down and add a day in Venice. Made the mistake of trying to see everything on previous trips to Europe. You will have a better experience when get it in your mind you will return. Enjoy

4 cities in 15 days days is not really what I call rushed, especially when 3 of those cities are only 2 hours apart by train.

jason, you might want to consider the month of travel - are you going at the height of the season, when hotels and trains are the most crowded?

I suggest you use the Search box top center to look up past posts about daytrips to Pompeii, which deserves its own discussion. It can be done, but is complicated and subject to delays - depending on how much you want to spend once you get to Naples or Salerno/Pompeii.

Unless you are both art junkies, you might consider adding a day to Venice and taking it away from Florence, because Venice is so romantic. You didn't mention if you have Tuscany daytrips planned from Florence, however. For that matter, you didn't mention wine, food, cheesemaking, or other special interests. I haven't been to Neuschwanstein, but some posters here are under-whelmed.

Thanks for all the comments, everyone! We'll be going end of April through early May (my dates in the original post are wrong), and from what I understand, that's a slower tourist time? We're not too into the arts, but we'll want to see the main attractions in each city. We're definitely more into the food, drink, and atmosphere of the different cities.

Thanks again for all the help!

Jason

That's about the same pace I did on my first trip 47 ( yikes ! ) years ago and about the same as I will be doing next year.

I would drop Pompeii, stay an extra night in Venice, overnight in Salzburg, and train to Venice rather than fly.

Day 1 (5/20): Arrive in Munich (4N)
Day 2 (5/21): Munich
Day 3 (5/22): Munich - Dachau
Day 4 (5/23): Munich - Neuschwanstein Castle
Day 5 (5/24): Early morning train to Salzburg (1N)
Day 6 (5/25): Train to Venice (3N)

RJ 662
Dep 10:56 SALZBURG HBF
Arr 12:44 INNSBRUCK HBF
ECB 87
Dep 13:24 INNSBRUCK HBF
Arr 18:10 VENEZIA S. LUCIA

Day 7 (5/26): Venice
Day 8 (5/27): Venice
Day 9 (5/28): Train to Florence (3N)
Day 10 (5/29): Florence
Day 11 (5/30): Florence
Day 12 (5/31): Train to Rome (4N)
Day 13 (6/1): Rome
Day 14 (6/2): Vatican City
Day 15 (6/3): Rome
Day 16 (6/4): Fly home

Pompeii can be a really long day from Rome which is why several people have suggested skipping that stop. Another option for ruins from a similar time period is Ostia Antica which is the ancient port for Rome. Over time the river silted up and the area is now dry land so the town was abandoned. Ostia Antica is much closer to Rome, I think about a 45 minute train ride and an easy day or half day trip from Rome. It is supposed to be less impressive and not as well preserved as Pompeii ( I have not been there yet) but we enjoyed our visit.

Hi, Jason! Perhaps decide if you want to see a lot of different cities or savor a few with much to offer. With your current itinerary, you have shorts stay in exceptional cities, like Salzburg, Venice and Rome. Plus you're checking in/out and traveling a lot of the time. I strongly agree with David in Brisbane. You might cut back your list of destinations and travel by train only. Night trains are great. Just make sure you book tickets that allow privacy and security. Have a great trip!