Route planning basics for a multi-city Europe trip: how many cities per week, train vs. flight decisions, and how to avoid the backtracking trap.
The Core Rule: Minimize Backtracking
The most common planning mistake is booking cities based on what you want to see, then figuring out the route. Do it in reverse: map the cities geographically first, then build the itinerary to follow a logical arc — either a loop back to your starting airport or a point-to-point finishing at a different airport.
A London–Paris–Amsterdam–Berlin route is efficient (rough geographic arc, easy rail connections). London–Amsterdam–Paris–Berlin is the same cities with an extra crossing. Over 10 days, inefficient routing wastes one to two travel days.
Flights into one city and out of another (open-jaw tickets) often cost the same or less than return tickets and remove the need to double back.
How Many Cities Per Week
A common mistake is over-scheduling. Moving every 1–2 nights means spending most of your time in transit or checking into hotels.
Practical targets by trip length: - 7 days: 2–3 cities (2–3 nights each). One travel day built in. - 10 days: 3–4 cities. Two travel days. - 14 days: 4–5 cities. Three travel days, or two if you're using fast trains.
These assume you want meaningful time in each city — not just a night and a morning. If you want to cover more ground, keep at least 2 full nights per city so you get a day with no check-in or check-out logistics.
For a 7-day France trip, Paris + Loire Valley + Bordeaux is a workable three-city arc. Paris + Lyon + Marseille + Nice is four cities and will feel rushed.
Train vs. Flight: When Each Makes Sense
Use high-speed trains when: - The journey is under 4 hours city center to city center (this covers Paris–London via Eurostar 2h20, Paris–Brussels 1h22, Madrid–Barcelona 2h30, Rome–Florence 1h28, Amsterdam–Paris 3h20) - Both cities have large central stations (you skip airport check-in time and out-of-center airports) - The cost difference is under €50/person — trains often win on comfort and convenience even when slightly pricier
Use budget flights when: - The journey is over 5 hours by train (e.g., London–Lisbon, Paris–Athens) - Budget fares are significantly cheaper and airports aren't inconvenient (e.g., Ryanair London Stansted → Porto is often €25–50) - You're crossing to different rail networks or peninsulas
The hidden cost of budget flights: Ryanair fares at €29 don't include a checked bag (€10–25) or seat selection (€5–15). Add airport transit time (1 hour each way for out-of-center airports), the 2-hour check-in buffer, and the total journey is 5–7 hours for a flight that takes 2. For Paris–London, the Eurostar beats every budget carrier when you count total door-to-door time.
Country-Specific Routing Tips
France: Paris is the hub for the TGV network. Trains radiate outward to Lyon (2h), Bordeaux (2h04), Marseille (3h10), and Strasbourg (1h46). A Paris-anchored route starting and ending in Paris is efficient for 7–10 days. For 14 days, a Paris–Lyon–Marseille–Nice arc by rail works cleanly, ending with an easy flight from Nice.
Italy: Italy's rail network runs well on the Rome–Florence–Venice corridor and the Rome–Naples leg. East-west connections (e.g., Bologna to the Adriatic coast) are slower. For a classic 10-day trip, Rome (3 nights) + Florence (3 nights) + Venice (3 nights) with one day in transit is tight but doable. Add Milan if you're flying in or out of MXP.
Portugal: Lisbon and Porto are 3 hours apart by Alfa Pendular train (€25–40, book ahead). Both cities are walkable and compact — 3 nights in each is a good split for a 7-day trip. The Algarve adds a third region but needs a car or a domestic flight; it doesn't fit a pure rail route.
Managing Luggage Across Multiple Cities
Moving cities every 2–3 days with large bags is exhausting. The practical fixes:
- Travel carry-on only for trips up to 14 days if your itinerary includes 4+ cities. Most European airlines include one carry-on (up to 10kg) and most high-speed trains have generous overhead storage.
- Use left-luggage storage at major stations: Rome Termini, Paris Gare du Nord, and Amsterdam Centraal all have staffed luggage storage for €5–8/bag/day. This lets you sightsee on travel days without dragging luggage.
- Book hotels with flexible check-in: Most city hotels will hold your bags after checkout. If you arrive early, drop bags and start your day — you don't need the room until evening.
- Ship ahead if you must pack heavy: Luggage forwarding services (Sendmybag, My Baggage) charge €20–40 per bag for next-day delivery between hotels. Worth considering for ski equipment or a month-long trip.
The Schengen Zone and Passport Logistics
Most Western European countries are in the Schengen Area, which means no border checks between member states — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and 21 others. You enter once (at your first Schengen airport) and move freely.
Non-Schengen countries in Europe you might visit: UK (requires separate entry), Ireland (Common Travel Area with UK, but not Schengen), Croatia (joined Schengen in 2023 — now included), Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia (popular Balkans stops, not Schengen).
From 2025, the ETIAS pre-travel authorization applies to US, Canadian, Australian, and other non-EU visitors. It's not a visa — it's an online registration (€7, valid 3 years), similar to the US ESTA. Apply before you fly; it's approved within minutes in most cases.