With Paris, Venice and Berlin count on using 2 full days out of your 10 for travel. Paris, Amsterdam and somewhere in Belgium would cut back on travel time. Antwerp to Amsterdam is only about 2 hours for example. Amsterdam to Berlin is closer to 7 on the train that is.

Thanks for the input. I will definatley take that in consideration. Although I think Venice is a must, What about Switzerland or Austria…Are they good spots for first timers? Does anyone know of a website where you plug in two desired countries and it gives you distance or average train travel time. That would really help me out. I want to spend as little time on train as possible and get the best out of this trip.

I loved Austria when we were there in September, the people were very friendly. We only stayed in Salzburg but I imagine that this time of year it would be beautiful anywhere in Austria. I have got the Eurail timetable in front of me and I don’t know if they have on-line skeds or not but try:
www.railpass.com
or
www.eurail.com
Paris to Venice for example is a 12 hour overnight leaving at 8pm and arriving at 8am. Try your best but you won’t get much sleep.

If you’re interested at all in art you should head to Florence. Can’t remember offhand, maybe a 3 hour train ride from Venice. It’s a great city with lots to see and do.

You wont need to stay in Venice longer than 2 days. Its a novelty city. Stay there 1 night and 2 days..take a night train out after the 2nd day to save time.

If you’re looking for something beautiful and remote, try Gimmelwald in Switzerland. Its in the Jungrau near Interlaken..a short train and bus ride away..then a cable car up to Gimmelwald.

Oh wait, I forgot its snowing up there..so you may want to cross that off your list..although its extremely popular in the winters as well…the skiing is tremendous.

Is Venice just boring and uninteresting? I have always thought it was a must see in Europe and was kind of excited to see it. Maybe I should revise the plan. Paris France is where my flight lands and leaves so that has to be the center of the trip. ohhh I don’t know so much to see and so little time.

Thanks guys.

If you only have 10 days, I’d spend it all in France if I were you. You can easily fill 5 days in Paris alone, and spend the other 5 travelling around different parts of France depending on your interests. If you try to do much more than that, it will just be a whirlwind of trains.

Besides, France has so much to offer… you can head to Normandy if you’re interested in World War I history at all, or head south to Lyon or to the various wine regions, or you can take a few days to go all the way to the south of France to Cannes and Nice and the Riviera, or head to Arles to check out the Roman ruins, or take a trip to the unique island of Corsica…

I think once you start looking into the possibilities, you’ll wonder how you can possibly see everything you want to see in France in only 10 days. And you’ll wonder how you even contemplated trying to squeeze in another country.

quote:
Is Venice just boring and uninteresting? I have always thought it was a must see in Europe and was kind of excited to see it. Maybe I should revise the plan. Paris France is where my flight lands and leaves so that has to be the center of the trip. ohhh I don’t know so much to see and so little time.

Thanks guys.

Truthfully it is fairly boring. Like I said, its a novelty city..w/ the canals and all. Although Brugges and Amsterdam also have their fair shar of canals(cleaner ones). If you’ve always wanted to see it I dont want to stop you from doing it. I mean its worth a visit for sure..it has its unique charm…but after walking around the city and seeing San Marcis Basilica theres not much going on. Its a maze too.

I did have a great dinner and dessert there that ranks on my list…but you’ll find great food all over Italy.

You really can’t take any one person’s opinion about venice (no offense u. name). Some people absolutely love it, and some are bit disenchanted by all the hype. Either way it’s still one of europes great must see cities.

Rhino,
Since you’re already gonna be in Paris and were planning on getting to Italy I suggest you stop in Barcelona. It’s somewhat on the way so you won’t be wasting too much time traveling, and it probably has everything you’re looking for including the nightlife.

I’d say stay just in France— you have only 10 days for your trip (does that include the transatlantic flights?). You’ll need 3-5 days for Paris, and could spend a few days seeing towns such as Dijon, Beaune, Lyon, Arles, Nimes, Orange, Aix-en-Provence, and perhaps somewhere along the Riviera or, going the other way, Carcassonne or Montpellier.
If you really have your heart set on seeing Venice, you could do that from Avignon, but it’d be a day of travel each way. I’m in the camp that thinks one day in Venice is enough; it’s certainly spectacular when you first see it from the station.
Barcelona is not exactly on the way to Italy. If you wanted to go there, you’d have to choose between Barcelona or Venice.
I hope that you’ll linger a while in France—-just those few places I’ve mentioned earlier should keep you pretty interested and busy!

quote:You really can’t take any one person’s opinion about venice (no offense u. name). Some people absolutely love it, and some are bit disenchanted by all the hype. Either way it’s still one of europes great must see cities.

Ehehehe…That’s true! But like others told before… 1 night is more than enough – I’ll suggest on searching a bed in Mestre or Marghera (they’re only 10 minutes from Venice by BUS and you can save 20% or even more of your hotel fee!!!). Ah, do NOT forget that Venice is NOT only the S. Marco square, it’s a lot more! It depends on when U go, but it’s fascinating always, even whan U got stuck in a "body traffic jam" …. Concerning Venice if U want I may give U more data as I live like 30mins from Venice!

quote:Truthfully it is fairly boring. Like I said, its a novelty city..w/ the canals and all

That’s true….. but U can buy a nice giude and in 2 days you wont get bored! Trust me! There’s a LOT to see!!!….One more time…Venice is NOT just piazza San Marco!!! )

As other destinations, I agree on France….

Thanks to everyone for there input. I really appreciate your comments and they will and have helped me a great deal.Actual time in Europe will only be 8 and 1/2 day with flights.

I think France will be the primary location and if we get a wild hair up our but we will check out one of the closer contries.