3-4 weeks?  I count 15 days, maybe 17 w/ a day in K-town on each end.

It’s enormously unrealistic to think you can see London or Rome – much less “branch out” to smaller towns to mingle w/ locals – in 2 days, including travel time.

It’s one thing to Eurostar to London – quite another to get to Glasgow and Dublin!  Venice is pretty but also pretty far to go.  You need a more geographically friendly itin if you want to avoid spending all your time in trains.

I’d suggest lopping off those cities.

Try this (w/ min # of days):
Brugge (2)  A’dam (3)  London (4)  Rome (4)  Florence (3)  Interlaken (2)

You’ll get a good smattering of cultures and actually have time to see some stuff.

For smaller towns, maybe squeeze in a side trip friom Amsterdam, or from London, or check out the area near K-town – the wine country there is great, Heidelberg a possibility, the Rhine villages between Bingen and Koblenz not too far.

Thanks for the reply Russ.  I was stuck in a “want to do it all” mode for this trip.  I want to see both Scotland and Ireland, but also want to see lots of Italy as well.  Figured it was a two trip deal but figured I’d post and get opinions from people that have done both and make a choice based on that and what I read on the three countries.  Oh, and the miss count of days was on purpose.  I figured for about 5 days of total travel between the major cities between trains and flights.  But again not doing this before my guesses could be way off.

The tipe on the wine country is spot on too.  Last time I was in Europe with work all I did was tour Germany (Franfurt and to the south and into France a little) when I was not working.  Great time, and Burg Eltz was a great trip.  That’s part of the reason why Germany is not in any of my listed towns but arrive/depart, I want to see more.

I have a question about the A’dam suggestion of 3 days, at it is more from me not knowing the area well, but is there really that much in and around there for 2 days in Brugge and 3 days in A’dam?  If there is then great, but I just didn’t think with these two cities being as close as they are that 5 days would be over kill.

Thank you again for the help Russ.

—JP

I spent 3 days in Brugge and had a good time but that included a bike ride out of town.  Bruges isn’t that large but one day probably isn’t enough. Nice atmosphere there with good pubs.  Everyone’s different but 3 days in A’dam sounds about right – lots to see, big town if you’re walking around.  A daytrip to the village of Zaanse Schans or up to the Ijselmeer towns of Volendam, Marken, Monnickendam is worthwhile too.