I need help routing my trip by train without backtracking

You'll have to backtrack a bit, no matter what to see Brussels and Amsterdam from Paris. After that though, if you're happy with Southern Germany - Bavaria(which is well worth it). NOrthern Germany/Cologne, etc is a quick 1/2 day trip from Amsterdam.

You could go Paris - Brussles - Amsterdam, then maybe catch a flight to Barcelona (or train), then train Barcelona - Southern France - Southern Germany - Switzerland - Italy - Athens.

You wouldn't be disappointed by that route. :)

If you could change your starting point to Barcelona...even if that means taking a flight from Paris to Barcelona upon your arrival...you could then go....Barcelona, South of France, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Greece.

I'm technically starting in Ireland, working my way through the UK, taking the channel tunnel from London to Paris. So I wind up/start off in Paris as my first destination on continental Europe. I think it would be a shame to land in Paris and immediately take off to another country.

I did notice that flights to Barcelona were quite reasonable, though. What if I spent a week in Paris, then headed down to Barcelona and did south of France. Lets say I end up in Nice or some nearby city easy to transport from. What if I kind of do an S...Paris to Barcelona to south of France to Switzerland to Belgium to Amsterdam to Germany to Italy. Would that make any sense at all or would it be even more complicated?

Renee,

In order to figure out the most logical route, it would help to have a list of all the countries & cities you'll be visiting.

Also, have you booked flights yet and where are you flying from? What is the duration of your trip?

Renee, do you want to see Northern Germany, or Southern?

The route I described would keep you from doing a lot of backtracking.

The S route you described is a lot of backtracking. North-South backtracking. Time and money that could be saved for tours, and sightseeing.

Suggestion - Google Maps will allow you to enter multliple cities, and at least give you an idea of the time and mileage (driving anyway) between each.

Rick also has a great train planning map at: http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/timecostmap.htm

I'd try to make the shortest bit, the one you backtrack on! :) Let su know if you need more help! :)

With your Itinerary, if you insist on starting in Paris and ending in Greece, you'll have no choice but to backtrack. A very inefficient way to travel.

Do you already have your Eurostar tickets? If not, how about flying from London to Barcelona and starting there.

Do you have to end in Greece? If not you could do this:

Paris, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Venice, fly to Athens, ferry to southern Italy to see the rest of Italy, south of France, Barcelona, go home from Barcelona.

BTW--how long is this entire trip?

I'm starting in Paris because I've always wanted to ride the Channel Tunnel ever since I heard it was being built a long, long time ago. I'd like to book my Eurostar for June 7. My flight out of Athens is on July 27th. I already booked the ferry to Greece, so the only part of my routing I need help with is the timeframe between Paris and southern Italy.

I plan to see the following: Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Germany (Berlin, Munich, and maybe Frankfurt), Switzerland (Luzern and hope to ride the scenic Goldenpass train), Spain (Barcelona), Italy (major cities and work my way down to Bari, where my ferry heads to Greece).

Renee,

You want to go to more then 9 cities in 20 days. I think it's a bit rough, unless you just want to spedn little bit of time in each city.
If you want to start your trip in paris, I don't see a way not to backtracking.
I would go as follows: Paris, Brussele, Amsterdam, Spain, Italy (the furthest city from Bari), the Greece.

Thanks, Bea, I thought the same thing until I re-read it:..it's actually 50 days...she's leaving JULY 27th. (I blame my old eyes.)

If you insist on your itinerary, then you have no choice but to backtrack...or.....do this....Paris to Barcelona (train), train to south of France, fly from Nice to Brussels, and then train the rest of the way