Anyway, enjoy.
EUROTRIP of Awesomeness!!!!!!!
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Sat 23 June
Arrive in Rome. Catch a train to Naples ( need to book that train).
Sun 24 June
Do whatever you want to do in Naples. Maybe buy food supplies (breakfast perhaps) at a supermarket
Mon 25 June
Peruse around Naples. Go out for pizza and talk about the fact that we are in Italy!
Tues 26 June to Wed 27 June
Day trips from Naples!
- Pompeii / Herculaneum
- Capri
- Amalfi Coast
Pompeii
€11. Open every day from 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. (last admission 6 p.m.)
By allowing 3-4 hours you will not feel rushed and will have an opportunity to steal some quiet moments. All the excavated stuff is in a museum in Naples… so we could check that out too, to get the full experience.
Alternatively, you could go to Herculaneum (or do both?). Pompeii is much more famous than nearby Herculaneum. Still, some people prefer Herculaneum as it’s smaller, less crowded, and has a bit more of what’s been excavated still on site (as opposed to in a museum somewhere else). For Herculanuem allow 2-3 hours to tour the site.
Capri
From Naples you can take a ferry (80 minutes, €11).
The most popular activities on the island involve the natural beauty of the place – hiking, boating, and swimming are all common ways to spend a day on Capri.
The most famous natural landmark on the island, however, is the Blue Grotto (The Grotta Azzurra). You have to wait in line to go on row boats… and pay around €15.
Amalfi Coast
The number one item on most agendas of people who arrive on the Amalfi Coast is simple – to relax.
If you get bored, however, there are other things to do in the area.
One of the best hikes in Italy is on the Amalfi Coast – it’s called the Path of the Gods and it’s easy enough that you don’t need to bring any specialty gear (other than good walking shoes). 2.5-hour hike. Best in morning or late in the day.
Perhaps catch the train to Pompeii/Herculaneum in the morning… have lunch and then catch the train to Amalfi Coast for afternoon hike/relax?
Side note: Cinque Terre and Amalfi are similar in many ways. Both amazing scenery, but different in ways too.
The Cinque Terre is more "rustic and informal". The cuisine tends to be unique and of course emphasizes Pesto as this is where it was invented. There are no large Museums or Galleries, and the typical activities are hiking the trails between the villages, swimming and just relaxing and enjoying "Il Dolce Far Niente" (and of course the great food).
Thurs 28 June
Wake up and catch a train to Rome (1h20 trip). Eurail - need to book reservations. Fee = R100.
- Say “When in Rome” a million times.
- Hang Out in the Pantheon – Do what the Romans do.
- Roman Forum + Colosseum + Palatine Hill (€12 for all of it)
- Trevi Fountain people watching.
Catch train back to Naples (1h20 trip). Reservation fee = R100.
Fri 29 June
Vatican City - Eurail (1h20 trip) - need to book reservations. Fee = R100.
Need to dress conservatively for this one. No shorts or showing shoulders etc. Like if you were going to NG Kerk!
- St. Peter’s Basilica
- The Vatican Museums
- Sistine Chapel
“For most travelers, touring the Vatican is one day out of a trip to Rome, and that’s exactly what I suggest when people ask me how much time they should spend in Vatican City. A guided tour is recommended. So you don’t miss the most important pieces (not to mention being told why they’re important) and avoid the potentially long lines at the museum entrance. “
Catch train back to Naples (1h20 trip). Reservation fee = R100.
Sat 30 July
Florence! - Eurail (3 hour trip) - need to book reservations. Fee = R100.
Florence is best explored on foot.
Booking in advance to see Florence’s museums is highly, highly recommended.
Get a feel of the place. Check out some churches. Get some Gelato. Leave the art museums for the next day.
Will be best to stay in a hostel here. We found a R124 per night for 7 bed private (we must book ASAP). It’s 5 minutes away from everything and lots of free stuff. Instead of catching 2 hour trains back and forth to Milan (and R100 reservations for each trip)… and wastes precious time!
Sun 1 July
Florence Day 2 – Art Day (wake up and walk 5mins to art museums).
- Two main art museums (Uffizi and Accademia). MUST book in advanced!
- Chill after museum madness, get some more Gelato and wander a bit.
- Hike up the hill to the Piazzale Michelangelo… a lovely place to watch the sun set over the city.
Sleep the night (R124)
Mon 2 July
Tuscany Tour
Depart from Florence. 80 euros.
Visit Siena. Free time for shopping or relaxing in an open air cafe. A Tuscan lunch at a Chianti vineyard. Visit the enchanting hilltop town of San Gimignano. Scenic country drive & Pisa.
Go straight from Pisa to Cinque Terre and stay the night in a Hostel there (R250). Because it takes 3.5 hours to get there from Florence, and that’s wasting precious time – you really don’t want to rush things. The tour allows you to bring your bags for that purpose, so rock it! Also, Cinque Terre has lots to offer and you’ll want a whole day. So go straight to Cinque Terre, have dinner and sleep over.
Tues 3 July
Cinque Terre!
Wake up. Hike between the villages, swim, eat the famous Pesto Pasta, relax, wander around, get lost… amazing.
Sleep the night (R250). You’ll be buggered.
Wed 4 July
Train to Milan - Eurail (3 hour trip) - need to book reservations. Fee = R100.
I think we going to have to just drop bags and leave and rush off to Bergamo… google it.
A fantastic day trip from Milan is Bergamo. Takes 1 hour to get there. You use a slower regional train that runs between the two cities, so no reservations are required. If you’ve got a Eurail, all you need to do is hop on board!
The city is divided into two parts – the old high city (alta città) and the newer low city (bassa città). The newer parts of the city aren’t horrible by any stretch, but the historic and more pretty areas are in the alta città.
The main thing to do in the Bergamo alta città is just wander, so do yourself a favor and try to get lost. It’s virtually impossible to do, because the old city is encircled by the old city walls – so if you stray too far in any one direction you’ll just bump into a wall at some point and have to turn back. The streets themselves aren’t often flat, but if you’re letting the bus or funicular get you up and down the hill then a few little climbs on the streets of the alta città shouldn’t be too much trouble.
Thurs 5 July
Day trip to Venice. Eurail (2h30 trip) - need to book reservations. Fee = R100.
Eurail back to Milan (Reservations – R100)
Overnight sleeping train to Paris (R739). Leaves Milan at 23:38 and arrives in Paris 09:29.
Fri 6 July
Paris! Read this http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/paris/travel-tips-and-articles/69987 (Advise for one day in Paris - rad).
Sleep over in Paris Hostel. (R250)
Alternatively: Spend 2.5 days in Paris or spend 2.5 days in French Riviera. Instead of spending over 5 hours on a train between spots… and rather giving time to fully appreciate, go at own pace and not rush. Just a thought.
Sat 7 July
Train to Nice from Paris. Plus/minus R250. 5 hour trip. Nice seems to be the preferred option compared to Marseille, but Marseille is a closer 3 hours trip from Paris.
Will get there at about lunch time.
OPTION 1: Train to Nice. And stay there for the night. (R250)
OPTION 2: Train to Marseille, stay in a hostel there and day trip along the French Riviera.
Sun 8 July
French Riviera vibes.
Afternoon it’s time to make your way to Pamplona. This is the tricky part!
It used to be the case that you could take an overnight train to Pamplona that would get you to the city in the small hours of the morning just in time for the bull run. But alas, this is no longer possible.
So, taking a bus to Pamplona from Barcelona might be the best option.
The bus will take like 6 or 7 hours. So if we leave Barca at 11pm, you’ll get there at a good time to get ready for the bull run at 8am. Plus you’ll have some sleep on the bus on the way there. Optimistic, I know.
OPTION 1: Catch a train to Barcelona. Then catch a bus to Pamplona through the night.
OPTION 2: Stay the night in Barcelona. Then the next day catch a train to Pamplona after lunchish. Join the party. Sleep somewhere close to Pamplona. Arrive in the morning for the Bull Run on Tues 10 July.
Pamplona hostels are over R600 a night. So you will need to find something outside…
Mon 9 July
8am Bull Run in Pamplona
Vibe the streets afterwards
Party and fireworks start at 11pm.
Or OPTION 2…
Tues 10 July
8am Bull Run in Pamplona
Vibe the streets afterwards
Head to Barcelona for the evening.
Wed 11 July to Fri 13 July
Barcelona for 3 days (perhaps a day trip somewhere).
http://www.spaintravelguide.com/3-days-in-barcelona-itinerary-ideas.html
Sat 14 July
Train to Madrid Airport and fly home!
Watch this space for more wonderful posts about how great Europe is once we are actually there!
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