Well, as many of you know, I am going to Europe! This is my ‘Travel Europe Itinerary in 2 months’ version 1 and I’d like your thoughts!
I have taken some time to put together my idea of what a Europe trip could look like making my way around the Mediterranean Sea (and possibly taking a quick up-shoot to northern Europe). That being said, this is my first time going to Europe without family and planning a trip by myself! I will be traveling with a friend through Greece and Italy but then I am on my own.
I’ve estimated the amount of time it will take to visit all of the places but have not noted the travel time between each (which are short trips within Greece and Italy but get long especially from Monaco to Amsterdam (possibly 22 hours).
I will post an updated itinerary after I start to narrow down my options but wanted to note my starting point. I will also post an ‘as recorded’ itinerary after Europe to show how it actually went (as well as obviously posting as I go).
If anyone has any suggestions, or attractions to add, or places to avoid, please comment below 🙂 I would greatly appreciate any contributions!
Travel
Fly to Athens
Ferry (9 hours) from Athens (Piraeus) to Santorini
Catamaran (4 hours) Santorini to Athens (Piraeus)
Train from Athens to Patras
Ferry from Patras to Bori (22 hours overnight ferry ride)
Train to Naples (Pompei)
Train to Rome (where we will visit the Vatican)
Train to Florence
Train to Pisa
Train to Venice
Train to Milan (jess likely leaves here)
Train to Cinque Terre
Train to Genoa
Train to Monaco
Train to Geneva
Train to San Sabastian
Train to Madrid
Train to Barcelona
Train to Faro
Train to Lisbon
Train to Paris (where I’ll visit Versailles)
Train to Amsterdam
Train to London to visit my best friend and her boyfriend who will just have moved there!
Fly home
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- Jess: Greece-italy pass for $469. It is only available for 2 months but has 10 days of traveling which we will need for the one month anyway.
- 4 countries, 10 days of traveling is $606 plus paying twice for me and will get me from italy to france and spain as well.
- There is also a Global Pass that is $893 that allows you to go anywhere in Europe with 15 travel days.
- The second Global Pass option is $1290 for a continuous 2 month pass for anywhere in Europe.
HostelsÂ
hostelbookers.com is a good site.
Find 3 hostels before we leave for each destination. Book online for the next hostel from current city.
Bring
- Lock (and only book hostels that have in-room storage)
- Scarf (because the churches won’t let you in in a tank top but will let you wrap a scarf around your shoulders)
- Water bottle (Italy is full of sketchy water fountains but said they will save you money)
- Camera bag (that can hold your camera as well as your water bottle and money
- Separate wallet (that you leave in your locker holding most cash. Only bring what you need for that day.
- Chest strap wallet (for passport and larger bills
- Phrasebook (Spanish, Italian, French)
Things to see:
Athens (2-3 days)
- Acropolis & Parthenon
- Temple of Poseidon at Sounion
- Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Syntagma Square
- New Acropolis Museum
- National Archeological museum
- Ancient Agora Marketplace
- Monastiraki Flea Market
- Plaka (oldest community in Athens)
- Streets of Anafiotika (near entrance to Agora)
- Mount Lycabettus
- National Gardens
Blue Star Ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Santorini = 9 hours
Santorini (2 days)
- Spend the day in Fira
- Hike from Fira to Oia
- Spend the day in Oia
- Sunset at Byzantine Castle in Oia
- Visit Akrotiri (pre-historic city)
- La Ponta – Venetian Tower (1km from Akrotiri)
Catamaran from Santorini to Athens (Piraeus) = 4 hours
Train from Piraeus to Patras =
Blue Star Ferry from Patras to Bori (overnight ferry ride) = 16 hours
Naples/Almalfi coast (2 days)
- Eat pizza!
- Eat Sfogliatelle (flaky pastry desert)
- Day trip to Pompei & Herculaneum
- Ruins under San Lorenzo Maggiore Church
- Trip to Almalfi coast (1.5hr drive)
- Beach party (Arenile – clubby, or Vibes on the Beach – relaxed and older)
PAY Train from Naples to Rome = 1 hour 10 minutes
Rome (3-4 days)
- Vatican City
- Vatican Museums
- St Peter’s Basilica
- Sistine Chapel
- Coliseum
- Palatine Hill
- Capitoline Hill
- Roman Forum
- Spanish Steps
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Baths of Caracalla
- Piazza Navona
- Piazza di Spagna
PAY Train from Rome to Florence = 1 hour 35 minutes ($14)
Florence (1.5 days)
- Santa Maria del Fiore
- Ponte Vecchio
- Uffizi Gallery
- Piazza della Signoria
- Palazzo Vecchio
- Basilica di San Lorenzo
- Boboli Gardens
PAY Train from Florence to Pisa = 1 hour 26 minutes ($14)
Pisa (.5 days)
- Leaning tower of Piza (duh)
- Piazza del Duomo
- Botanical Garden
Train from Pisa to Venice = 6 hours 44 minutes
Venice (2 days)
- Grand Canal
- Rialto Bridge
- Ride a gondola
- Piazza San Marco (St.Mark’s Square)
- Basilica San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica)
- Doge’s palace
- GET LOST!
Train from Venice to Milan = 2 hours 23 minutes
Milan (2 days) – Jess likely leaves
- Duomo – Milan Cathedral
- Piazza del Duomo
- The last Supper – Santa Maria Delle Grazie
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
- Fashion District
- Sforzesco Castle
- Central Station
Train from Milan to Manarola (Cinque Terre) = 3 hours 8 minutes
Cinque Terre (3-4 days)
- “via dell’Amore” – Way of Love tourist path from Riomaggiore to Monterosso.
- Look around Riomaggiore
- Look around Manarola
- Look around Corniglia
- Look around Vernazza
- Look around Monterosso
PAY Train from Cinque Terre to Genoa= 53 minutes ($14)
Genoa (2 days)
- Piazza de Ferrari Fountain
- Aquarium
- Old City
- Old Port
- Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno (cemetery)
- Palazzo Raele (castle)
- Galata Museo del Mare (museum of the sea)
Train from Genoa to Monaco = 2 hours 48 minutes
Monaco (2 days)
- Monte-Carlo Casino and Opera House
- Oceanographic Museum
- Monaco Cathedral
- Palace du Palais
- Fort Antoine
- Flower Garden of Princess Grace
Train from Monaco to Geneva = 9 hours
Geneva (2 days)
- Jet d’Eau @ the lake
- Old Town
- Saint Pierre Cathedral
- International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum
- Palais des Nations – United Nations
- CERN
- Place du Molard
- Reformation Wall
- English Garden
Train from Geneva to San Sebastian = 19 hours
San Sebastian (2 days)
- Playa de la Concha
- Monte Urgel
- Mount Igueldo cable car
- La Parte Vieja (the old city)
Train from San Sebastian to Barcelona = 6 hours
Barcelona (3 days)
- Sagrada Familia
- Poble Espanyol (spanish village)
- La Rambla (famous street)
- Barrio Gotica (gothic quarter)
- Barceloneta (beach)
- Parc Guell
- Picasso Museum
- Magic Fountain of Montjuic
- Casa Batllo
Train from Barcelona to Madrid = 2 hours 45 minutes
Madrid (3 days)
- Palacio Real (royal palace)
- Plaza Mayor
- Prado Museum
- Retiro Park
- Gran Via
- Puerto del Sol
- Plaza de Cibeles
- Temple of Debod
- Mercado de San Miguel
Fast AVA train t0 Seville (2.5 hours). Bus from Seville to Faro (Algarve) (3.5 hours) = 6+ hrs
Algarve/Faro (2 days)
- Explore
Train from Faro to Lisbon = 3 hours
Lisbon (4 days)
- Tram 28 (Alfama neighbourhood)
- Jeronimos Monastry (Belem Neighbourhood)
- Belem Tower
- St. Georges Castle
- Parques des Nacoes
- Madre de Deus Convent
- Design and Fashion Museum
- Elevador de Santa Justa (Santa Justa Elevator)
- Fiera de Ladra (flea Market – watch for pickpockets)
- Praca Do Comercia in Baixa
- Day trip to Sintra
Train from Lisbon to Amsterdam = 24 hours 15 minutes
Amsterdam (2 days)
- Canals of Amsterdam
- Rijksmuseum
- Van Gogh Museum
- Anne Frank House
- Bloemenmarkt
- De Wallen (red light district)
Train from Paris to Amsterdam = 4 hours 10 minutes
Paris (5 days)
- Versailles (day trip)
- Place de la Concorde
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Centre Pompidou
- Lock Bridge
- Jardin du Luxembourg
- Sacre-Coeur
- Notre Dame de Paris
- Arc de Triomphe
- Louvre
- Musee d’Orsay
- Eiffle Tower
- Montmarte, and the Sacre Coeur
- Les Champs Elysees
June 17, 2014
Great itinerary! On your great adventure. …Remember to follow your heart and always listen to your gut.