paris and italy itinerary

Sorrento is also a bit more affordable and there are far more things to see and do there, including visiting nearby Pompeii or Naples or Capri. That gives you 12 to 16 nights worth of suggestions, so you can stay longer in several of those places, or perhaps add another place if you really want to. Greece is a wonderful country to visit, even if it is a bit out of the way when visiting France and Italy. -Roger. I wouldn’t recommend the Cinque Terre that time of year either. Cancun, Also, what route would you recommend traveling from cinque Terra to Venice/Verona? So driving from one city to the next might be cheaper than taking the train for 4 or 5 people, but once you get there you’ll either have to pay a lot for parking or really push yourself to maximize sightseeing, or save money by staying on the edge of town and see fewer things. Venice to Florence by train: About 2 hours. Initially though we thought of skipping Milan and spending 4 nights in Paris. Then planning for a trip to Italy and Switzerland (my daughter and niece are adamant about Switzerland though the weather there is going to be extremely cold). To help you get started, I've listed my top picks for where to go in Italy, and my plan for your best three-week trip. The support, help, assistance I am wanting is for the experience of taking The vacation of a lifetime for my mom who will be 81 this year. Would you think we can get accommodation at a reasonable price – bearing in mind we would want 2 rooms as ONE of us snores. I’ve heard that it can be interesting, although I’d say there are probably 10 to 15 places in Italy that are higher on that list. -Roger. Rome for 2-3 nights Have you got a better idea? Hope you had a great time, I love Paris. Google maps shows about 12 hours, rail Europe shows much less but it doesn’t show a fare to stop at Avignon. There is a new high-speed train connecting Krakow and Warsaw that takes only 2 hours and 20 minutes. Or do you think eurorail or hiring a car. You can do this journey in a single day, or split it over different days. The main floor exhibits classical antiques dating back to 1st and 3rs centuries A.D. Rome – 3 nights. -Roger, Great site and such a wealth of information—-I have spent along evening reading and feel I have already travelled, My husband and I have 10 days travel We are from NZ and this is our first Italy trip so we want to balance getting a taster to return. So the Parisian for a Day tour is actually two half-day tours put together. For my own money, these two countries contain 3 of the 5 great European cities that everyone should see first. Basic Itinerary : From the port of Brighton, now you’ll have to catch the Transmanche Ferry for Dieppe. The same is true of Venice. With that said, I have certainly taken your comments on-board, and it seems we’ll really have to give this some thought. This is our preliminary itinerary: When to go: Shoulder Season (April-May or September-October) This is … 3.) And then he is heading for Spain for 3 weeks, we still need to plan this, then joining me in my city in Bordeaux for Christmas. Thank you so much for letting me know that things went so well. I wish I could help with Sicily but I haven’t made it there myself yet. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger. 2.) Puerto Rico Just a few other questions (if I may), which will give me some more to think about: What to do/ see? For example, the villages along the Amalfi Coast are all fairly similar, and the towns in Tuscany are mostly quite similar. This is perhaps the most challenging question when planning an itinerary. Interestingly, those 5 villages were mostly forgotten by tourism until around 15 years ago when one or two major travel writers started recommending them as quiet and authentic fishing villages. Hi Roger, we are a family of 3, two adults and 15 yr old, and we are looking to travel to Italy, France and England in April this year from Melbourne Australia. The city of Siena is also only about an hour away. After that you can come back to Milan for two nights and then take the train to Cinque Terre with less backtracking. This itinerary is an excellent choice for Italy first-timers as it takes travelers to Rome, Vatican, Florence, and the magical Venice. Thank you thank you!! We bought Paris pass for four days, need to book accommodation and start rest of the planning. Saying goodbye to Venice is never an easy task to do. It seems that Sorrento has more to offer in its immediate surrounding, but I may be ignorant as to what Florence has to offer. You could go either way, depending on which place sounds like it would suit you better. Sorry if this is not the right forum to discuss this. In my opinion, you can experience the main highlights of most cities in 3 nights, or perhaps 4 nights for large cities like Paris or London, or Rome even. Also, this is my full-time job and these questions help me figure out what people want to know, so I write content to reach even more people. It’s a long list and there are some I won’t be much help with, but I’ll try to answer your questions in order…. In Germany, Berlin is probably the most fascinating place, and it’s relatively cheap as well, but it’s quite a long way from the other places on your list. Walk thru the architectural masterpiece that is St Peters Basilica, making sure not to miss spending time admiring Michelangelo’s. Do you have any advice on a country not too far from these (I mean accessible with train or cheap flights), for 1 or 2 weeks, without a car, and expecting almost no rain or very cold weather? We would be there from Feb 20 – March 6. But I’m not sure if there is some technical reason why you can’t and maybe they will ask you for your itinerary upon entry. want to end it in a relaxed beach ideally. I am travelling with my parents so comfort would be my first preference… Please suggest how we should travel and plan .. Any suggestion would be really helpful. You might still have time for a day or two in Seville, and it’s small enough that one full day could be worthwhile. 2.) Should I cut a day or two off Athens and Thessaloniki? Siena does look a lot like Florence except it has far fewer visitors so it’s not so overwhelming. So the Parisian for a Day tour is actually two half-day tours put together. So I am thinking 4-5 days in Paris, around 10 days in Italy, and maybe 3-4 days in Greece. There are many reasons why fast travel might be your best option, but only up to a point. Rent a Fiat, and have courage, you CAN drive in Italy. They sell them 6 months in advance, and if you buy shortly after they go on sale they will be fairly cheap. As for a hostel, if you do the dorm bed thing then they usually come with a locker where you use your own lock for smaller things (computers etc), and there is a secure luggage room for larger items. I don’t think Genoa would be a great choice that time of year. I will def. As all the other comments have indicated-thank you! So if you do order that way it will cost you close to US$30 for each meal, not even including wine (house wine is usually around €3 per glass). Another major highlight is the Edouard Manet’s Olympia, which is a painting of a naked prostitute. Have a great trip. We would really love to see Provence, Nice, Monaco, Cinque Terre, Florence, etc… Also, what do you suggest is best/most practical means to travel between these cities (train vs. car rental). On the other hand, London and Paris are among the largest and most interesting and four nights in each is better than three nights in each. I’m not certain if I want to go to Nice/Monaco and am not too interested in Milan. Where to Stay. to Nice. 3. The Cinque Terre are overcrowded and a bit overrated, but at least they are much closer and easier to reach compared to Amalfi. -Roger, Hi Roger, As for Sorrento, the main part of the town is on top of sort of a tall cliff, although I do remember seeing a few small beaches in that area as well. But those on tighter budgets don't actually have to spend a fortune to enjoy it thoroughly. Looking at cheap-mid range hostels and the occasional evening out, not dirt cheap but certainly still on a budget? No one regrets their first visit to Rome, but many swear that it'll also be their last. Paris 4 nights Sorry I have loaded with too many questions. 🙂, 2. Let me know if you have any questions. Your site is simply awesome! I’ve been all over the world and spent over 5 of the last 10 years on the road, including visiting just about every place in Europe. :D). I think if you are willing to push yourself a bit and avoid sleeping more than 30 minutes once you check into your hotel, you’ll probably be fine and still able to do a bit of sightseeing on the day you land. On Jan1st morning, we are planning to take train fromBergamo to Milan to Switzerlan. I’d love to see Troy’s old site, but other than that I’m open. I need to sit down and have a good think about whether we stick with the car for the Italy leg, but if we do I think I can really see us skipping Florence and doing Siena, plus finding some smaller towns as you suggest. Guanacaste, If you move around more quickly then you’ll be spending half your time on trains and in train stations, and if you move around more slowly you won’t see as much. Thanks Roger! -Roger. Please advice us and resolve the conflict:). Florence 2 nights I also want to add places where we can do day trips and return to base. But they can be an unforgettable experience so it may be worth a try. – 2 nights in Rome Really helps you plan ahead, plus great photos! This sounds like a wonderful trip you are planning, and unfortunately I won’t be of much help. Hi Roger, would it be possible to complete the visit of Pompeii on our way to Sorrento than going back to Pompeii on another day? I eagerly look forward to your guidance. I’ve decided that Paris, Italy, and Greece are my top 3 places to go in Europe and I want to spend as much time in each as possible, particularly Italy. What would you suggest in terms of time to spend in each city? 7. Thanks in advance. – 2 nights The main thing you want to see in Scotland is the wonderful city of Edinburgh, which really does live up to the hype. Fly back home from Milan. My personal favorite region in Italy is Sicily. Also, I’m not terribly fond of one-night stops such as in Genoa, because you don’t get to see much in one evening and you maximize your time checking into and out of hotels. Will take your advice on the French wines also because i will be going to a market in Tuscany that already has chianti wines and all to explore. 2 days in Milan (or 1) I will be traveling with my husband and would like to visit Italy too via domestic flight from Paris and vise versa. I’m always glad to hear that this stuff helps. Just curious – you list Cinque Terre between Florence and Rome, but does it make sense to do it in that order? Explore the Paris Catacombs. If you had 20 days in Italy as a first timer and was not set on seeing every tourist attraction what would your itinerary look like ? To be honest, six days in Paris is longer than most first-time visitors spend, so you could add an extra day or two somewhere else on the route, and still see everything in Paris in 4 or 5 nights. As for getting around, you’ll want to do most of it by train for sure. Driving is a great way to see what different areas are like, though we’d mostly be on motorways in Italy. You’ll want to take trains between all of these cities. Western Europe 2 Weeks Itinerary • London, Paris, and Amsterdam These three cities have more than enough to keep you engaged for 2 weeks. If you have time to pop over to Nice for at least a couple days, I think it would be worth it. I really love it there. We wanted to do a few days in Paris, then fly to Nice and charter a yacht for a day. -Roger, Ah.. thank you Roger for your prompt and detailed response. -Roger, Thank you so much for getting back to me on my queries!You have no idea what a great help you are doing to people fumbling with their travel plans 🙂 Thanks again. The first thing you should do is visit the tourist office on the Champs-Élysées; from where you can fetch information about the various landmarks, leaflets for on-going events. As you’ll notice, our objective is to see some of the big sites and cities, but spend the bulk of our time out of the busy cities, enjoying the Tuscan countryside, but close enough we can use them as a “hub” as we would if we were staying in Florence. Yes, I’d definitely recommend Sorrento as a base to explore everywhere from Naples to the Amalfi Coast. Spending a Weekend in Calgary, Alberta, Back to Basics: A Calgary Farmer’s Market Food Tour, From Water to Wine: An Okanagan Vacation at Walnut Beach Resort in Osoyoos, British Columbia, Exploring the Historic Charms of St. Andrews by the Sea, New Brunswick, Beach Sand in my Hourglass: This is Cavendish, PEI, Dominican Republic: Discovering your Idyllic Corner of this Caribbean Island, Luxury, Location and Long Bars: A Stay at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston, Patriot Place, Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots: Kicking our NFL Bucket List Through the Uprights, Finish Lines, Fenway and the Freedom Trail: A Family Guide to Exploring Boston, Massachusetts, Sunsets, Surfers and Swells – A Week on Oahu’s North Shore, From Sea Glass to Sea Views, This is Positano, Unexpected Bliss: A day in Portofino, Italy, Pillars, Power and Performance: Visiting Rome’s Colosseum & Forum, Our 34 Hour Love Affair With Paris…..Part 1, Mexico’s Mayan Riviera: An All Inclusive Week at the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort, Kids Saving The Rainforest: Family Friendly Volunteering in Costa Rica, Casa Mia: A House in the Clouds of Monteverde, Costa Rica, Pasión Costa Rica: An Exceptional Education in Monteverde, Kelly’s Surf Shop: A Day on the Waves of Tamarindo, Costa Rica, Sirena Serena: A Boutique Oasis in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, Tree Houses Hotel: Sleeping in the Canopy of Costa Rica, My Top 25 Travel Tips: Packing, Planning and Enhancing Your Experience, A Journey of Roots: Planning a Multi Generation Vacation, It’s Not Just Water: My ‘Waterlust’ Affliction, Stories for my Suitcase: 20 of My Favorite Books, https://alliesfashionalley.com/2016/11/oojra-review-and-giveaway/, Day 1: 1 Day/1Park – Focus on the main Theme Park, Disneyland, Day 2: 1 Day/2Park – Spend time between both parks. This historical piece of architecture was established in 72 A.D.by the Flavian emperors This stadium can seat up to 55,000 spectators. I am traveling to Europe in August. In Italy we’ve stayed in agritourismos and we may do that in Italy again. St. Croix, How would the climate be in both these countries? Found inside – Page 38FOURTH ITINERARY - TO ROME , NAPLES , & c . ( Italian Series , No. 6 ) .- The same as the above from Paris , by Mont Cenis to Turin , Genoa , Alessandria ... From your other comment, yes, I think a 2-day Paris Pass is a great tool for first-time visitors who are planning on seeing the main sights in a short time. I read from one vacationer review that she got off the train in Naples form her previous destination, and instead of taking the train to Sorrento, she took a quick cab to the ferry in Naples to Sorrento. With the cloud-piercing Eiffel Tower as a backdrop, you'll soak up the French capital's many charms --sample the inventive cuisine, stroll the monument-lined boulevards, and … In other words, you’ll find dozens of hotels clustered around the main train station and the main city squares and some of the tourist attractions, but an apartment rental might be half a mile from any of those things. I’m hoping you can help me plan a very last minute trip to France and Italy. These are the two historic cities nearest to the Normandy beaches. Thanks. Ah yes, being able to avoid a big charge on a rental car by returning it in Switzerland does sound compelling. Personally, if the train was €80 and a flight was €40, I’d still take the train on these routes. The other major factor to consider is overnight parking within cities. Beijing, June 15,16 nice Hubby and I are planning a month trip in June/July 2018: London, France, Italy (first time) want to do as much as possible. There are dozens of islands to choose from, including a few that are only a short ferry ride away from the port just south of Athens. I only wish my parents had done the same! Well planned and executed. Sometimes the one-way flights are exactly half the round-trip fare, sometimes a bit more than half, and other times they are double. When I wake up on my first real morning there, I tend to be nearly adjusted already. If you want to slow down a bit you could spend 4 nights in Paris and then fly to Venice (or nearby Treviso), and then to Florence and Rome. I will be traveling with my 73yr old mom this dec 12-30. I even spent much of last November in Italy and it was still warm enough with only a few days of rain. We’ve considered Milan but as you’ve said on your website, it’s not much of a tourist spot. Or the reverse? I am originally from Germany but live in Boston now. I think I am getting to the end of ironing out the schedule so that we can start booking some hotels, but I am stuck with one little quandary. do you any suggestion how to arrange the trip..?? You might even do Cinque Terre as a day trip from Florence instead of staying there. Six places in three weeks sounds ideal. But for basing yourself in a spread-out area like Provence, I think it’s ideal. My friends and I are planning a first time 3 week trip that may look like this: Day 5: Travel to Venice (or somewhere nearby on the mainland), arriving in the evening and stay the night (Night 5). I don’t believe there are any intercity express trains, partly because there are so many cities of about the same size. -Roger, Hi Roger, Athens 16-20 The tickets will be quite cheap if you buy early, or somewhat expensive if you buy as you go. Fortunately I do research things well before booking, so I usually find the options if cars aren’t easy in particular places – but it’s all a matter of having the time to look into it properly. I was definitely considering Avignon before. Thanks for any help you can give us ! 13 Days Itinerary to Italy, Switzerland and France for a Good Mix of Europe. Just not sure how that would fit in though. We fly back to the U.S. on Saturday. First off, Paris to Milan takes about 7 hours by train, so by the time you got to Milan you’d be pretty tired (weirdly enough) and you’d only have a couple hours to look around before dinner. If you only have 6 days to give to Paris, here’s a sample itinerary. Dear Roger – I stumbled across you on this website and very interesting it has proved to be. If you do decide to book your own trip I’ll be happy to help you sort out some details. 3 days in Paris, 2 days in Nice and 5 in Rome. Or Nice Florence? Still trying to see what is there in Nice to do, so far i found some nice food spots and walk up to Castle Hill for a beautiful view of the city, the Bay of Angels and of course, the bright blue water that gave the Cote d’Azur its name. This is our Comprehensive 11-Day European Itinerary — 14 days in all, including transit — for the ultimate European trip to Paris, Venice, and Rome. I would also like to see Venice, Florence Nice and Paris. See the article mentioned above to choose a few stops in Germany, with Munich being your launching point. Venice – 1 night In other words, you might save Sorrento for a future trip and stay 3 nights in Rome. Will refer it to someday. The Palace of Versailles. From Rome you will take the train down to Naples and then change to the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento.