Help Wanted: Re 10-14 trip from Torino to Paris, Prage, Finland

10 days would be too few. Your destinations are far apart so you will have to fly.

Hi. Yes, I figured I would have to fly. Hmmm...I don't want to rush. Curious - any suggestion for how much time to spend in Paris and Finland? A friend suggested only 2 or 3 days in Prague. I could push for two weeks.

By "Finland" did you mean Helsinki, or other parts of the country? If these are bucket list items, you certainly can see all three, flying in between, and having about 3 days per city once you subtract the flights. I'm not sure there are nonstop flights between some of these city pairs, so even flying could take the better part of a day. This will be expensive and a bit dizzying ("If it's Tuesday, this must be Prague"). Personally, I found two days in Helsinki quite sufficient; I didn't get to other parts of Finland. I loved Prague, but 3 days would allow you to hit the highlights well. Paris (probably my favorite place anywhere) can take as much or as little time as you want to spend, but 3 days would allow a good starter taste. If this is not a bucket list trip, slow down, see one or two of these places and their surrounding areas, and enjoy them, instead of hopscotching all over Europe. Sorry for the harshness, but if someone in Miami said they wanted to see New York, Chicago, and New Orleans in 10 days, what would you say?

Thanks Harold. Yes, I did mean Helsinki, but I get your point. Not harsh at all. I think I am so hungry to see the world (and things here in Europe are so close together) that it is tempting to try to fit in as much as possible. So, I am re-evaluating and thinking I may just do a week in Paris, and fit in another week traveling to someplace outside of Italy at the end of my trip. (I return to NY the end of August.) Thanks your taking the time to share your thoughts.

hi teri - i've done many trips where i squeeze in as much as possible in a short amount of time (frankfurt, paris, amsterdam over 7 days in 2003 and dublin, edinburgh, london in for 5 days in 2005). i just returned from a trip that was 12 days. just to give you an idea... 5/24 11 am, 3 hr flight san diego to seattle 4pm, 7 hr flight seattle to reykjavik 5/25 - 5/27 reykjavik, including a 6 hour bus tour and 45 min bus rides to/from airport and hotel. reykjavik is a very walkable city. 5/28 7 am 3 hour flight to helsinki 5/29 - 6/1 10 am 3 hr train to st. petersburg. spb is a walkable city as well but we did do a tour to catherine palace and peterhof thru a reputable tour guide/ w driver. 6/2 - 6/3 train to helsinki. we did drive/ferry to nagu island. 6/4
flights home why are you stopping in finland? i had a friend there but wasn't interested in seeing much else, even if it was the world design center for 2012. i think you can do finland in a day. i would recommend more time in paris and prague.

Hi Andrea. Wow. Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like you really fit a lot in. I've decided to slow things down a bit. I am now considering a week in Paris (currently looking for reasonably priced lodging) or may still like to do Paris and Prague or Paris and another country that's within close enough proximity that I don't feel too rushed. Today will be a planning today, so will let you know how things unfold.

Hi, Are you willing to consider a train/ferry combination from Paris to Finland? If so, my suggestions are these: 1. Paris Est to Frankfurt by ICE, then Frankfurt to Hamburg on ICE, stay the night. 2. Hamburg Hbf to Travemünde (you transfer in Lübeck) 3. From Travemünde the ferry to Helsinki. Another option: 1. Paris to Berlin direct on CNL night train 2. Berlin to Helsinki on one of the discount arlines, I don't know whether they fly out of Paris or Frankfurt to Helsinki but know of the Berlin-Helsinki connections. Option 3: a. Paris Est to Berlin CNL
b. Take the RB/RE from Berlin Hbf to Rostock Hbf..2+ hrs c. Take the ferry from Rostock to Helsinki For the return you can fly Helsinki to Berlin

Thanks so much for all the detailed info. I am feeling a little burned out from planning at the moment and am taking a little breather to let things settle. I appreciate all of your support!

Teri, To get more detailed information on the Germany-Finland ferry connections to Helsinki, look at the "Finnlines" website. If you're sticking with the Prague part of the itinerary, I would suggest this: fly with a discount airline from Helsinki to Berlin Tegel. From Tegel take the TXL bus, which goes directly to Berlin Hbf on Invalidenstrasse. Then from Berlin Hbf take the EC train to Prague, ca. 4+ hrs. Some of the connections don't require transfering.

Two countries is definitely doable in your time frame, but what about Paris and another region of France? I did Paris and the Loire Valley in nine days last year, and it was wonderful for my first trip to France! Or, if you gave yourself the full 14 days, you could probably do Paris, another region in France, and one other country. Just a thought. Have a great trip!

Thanks Linnae!

Hi All, Thanks again for your help! Just wanted to report back that I decided to spend a week in Paris. It seemed the easiest thing to do from Torino, where I caught a train directly to the city center. Favorite activities were climbing the 700 steps up the Eiffel Tower (and back down again!), The Louvre, the opera at the Bastille Opera House, and a day trip to Giverny. I stayed in two different neighborhoods. I don't remember the name of the first - but it was about 20 minutes outside of the town center - an easy train ride. The other was in Monmartre - which I really enjoyed. Such a fun neighborhood! Take good care and happy travels!

Thanks for the update. I'm glad you slowed down and really got to enjoy Paris.

Thank you! Me too!

You can always plan on Finland on the next trip. Good that you had an enjoyable time in Paris.

Thanks Fred!