I love making itineraries, for me or for others. I have fun with it, but I know many people hate it, just don’t have patience for it or don’t know how to do it. I often get asked for advice on itineraries, information regarding how many days to stay in a certain place, the best transportation, how feasible it is to do London, Paris and Rome in 10 days, and so on.
Being a crazy planner and an addict to itineraries, from now on, you will find more often around here some of my suggestions. To begin, I put together 10 romantic one-week European itineraries, for those having a short time to enjoy the old continent. The good news? None of the itineraries include flying between the places.
1. Paris + Amsterdam
You could never go wrong combining these two amazing and romantic European cities. Both with lots to offer, where unforgettable moments are guaranteed. Enjoy Paris by walking by or taking a cruise on the seine, having a romantic dinner – it can be even baguette and wine sitting on the grass in front of the Eiffel Tower – strolling around the streets of Montmartre. In Amsterdam, get a bike and ride around the city, appreciate the tulips and taste some homemade cheese.
Recommended days in each city
- 4 days in Paris
- 3 days in Amsterdam
Transportation suggestion
Train
Total travel time
The train journey from Paris to Amsterdam and back will be around 06hrs 30min (03hrs 20min one-way)
Best time to go
- May to October (to escape the cold)
- October and November (for Autumn leafs)
- December (for Christmas and New Years Eve)
2. Paris + Vale du Loire
Spend some quality time in France by combining Paris and Tours, the capital of the Vale du Loire, or should I say the capital of castles? After exploring the city of lights, escape to a stunning region filled with fairy tale castles. Absolutely romantic.
Recommended days in each city
- 4 days in Paris
- 3 days in Tours
Transportation suggestion
Train or bus
Total travel time
Approximately 7hrs 40min (3hrs 50min one-way)
Best time to go
May to October
3. Rome + Capri Island
What’s better than combining one of the most amazing cities in the world with an island? Well, in Italy that’s possible. Spend some days exploring Rome, indulging in rich history and Italian food, and then take a break at the charming and unique Capri Island and its blue grotto.
Many tour operators will offer you a day trip to the island, but trust me, it is not enough. This little paradise deserves much more than a day to be fully appreciated. And if romance is what you are looking for, this island can certainly provide the perfect scenario.
Recommended days in each city
- 4 or 5 days in Rome
- 2 or 3 days in Capri
Transportation suggestion
Take a train or drive from Rome to Naples, and then take the ferry to the island. You can even squeeze in Naples on your itinerary, and a famous Pizza Napolitana.
Total travel time
Between 6hrs 30min and 8hrs (3hrs 15min if driving and 4hrs if taking the train – one-way)
Best time to go
Mid June until Mid October (when the water is warmer)
4. Munich + Verona + Venice
These 3 cities combined can only result in romance, and you will be blown away by the landscape on your way travelling between them. Munich is more romantic than what many might expect, in Verona you will find Juliet’s balcony – yes, Juliet from Romeo and Juliet, and Venice, well, Venice is Venice, it is famous for many reasons.
Tip: I recommend starting and finishing your trip in Munich.
Recommended days in each city
- 3 or 4 days in Munich
- 2 days in Verona
- 1 or 2 days in Venice
Transportation suggestion
Train
Total travel time
Between 14hrs and 15hrs
- From Munich to Verona: approximately 5hrs 20min
- From Verona to Venice: approximately 3hrs
- From Venice to Munich: approximately 6hrs to 7hrs
Best time to go
May to October
5. Prague + Vienna
Prague and Vienna are pretty close and very easy to travel between. One week can certainly provide a quality time to explore both and fall in love with them. The medieval Prague with its enchanting old town, great prices, and food, provides a breathtaking scenario for romance. Vienna with its palaces, operas, parks and carriages, what’s not to like? This is an itinerary for the ones with no rush.
Recommended days in each city
- 4 days in Prague
- 3 days in Vienna
Transportation suggestion
Train/Bus
Total travel time
Between 8hrs and 9hrs 20min
- By train: 4hrs 40min (one-way)
- By bus: 4hrs (one-way)
Best time to go
- May to September (to avoid the cold)
- October and November (for Autumn leafs)
- December (for Christmas Markets)
6. Vienna + Salzburg + Munich + Neuschwanstein
The perfect itinerary for those wanting to squeeze in as much romance as possible. Start the trip in Vienna, head to lovely Salzburg where you will learn more about Wolfgang Mozart’s life and maybe try the famous Sacher Torte. Finish you trip in Munich, from where you can take a day trip to see the Fairy Tale castle Neuschwanstein.
Recommended days in each city
- 3 days in Vienna
- 1 day in Salzburg
- 3 days in Munich
Transportation suggestion
Train/Car/Bus
Total travel time
Between 11hrs and 13hrs
- From Vienna to Salzburg take a train: 2hrs 30min approximately
- From Salzburg to Munich take a train: 1h 30min approximately
- From Munich to Neuschwanstein: there are 3 options:
1.Take a day tour with the city bus (around 4hrs both ways)
2.Rent a car (3hrs driving both ways)
3.Or take the train (around 5hrs both ways) - From Munich to Vienna take the train (4hrs approximately)
Note: if you have the option to arrive in Vienna and leave from Munich, even better.
Best time to go
- May to mid November
- December (for the Christmas Markets)
- January to March (for a better chance to see the Neuschwanstein with snow)
7. Vienna + Ljubljana + Lake Bled
Romantic Vienna has a great location, just like Munich, and from there you can make some great itineraries. This one includes the lovely and underestimated capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. This small town is considered one of the most romantics in Europe, and I can tell you, it really is. From there you can visit the stunning turquoise Lake Bled, one of the most unbelievable places you will ever see.
Recommended days in each city
- 3 days in Vienna
- 3 days Ljubljana
- 1 day at the Lake Bled
Transportation suggestion
Train/Car/Bus
Note: I highly recommend renting a car in Vienna. The road is easy to drive and you will save a lot of time.
Total travel time
Between 10hrs and 16hrs 40min
- From Vienna to Ljubljana: by car (4hrs approximately) or by train (6hrs 30min approximately)
- From Ljubljana to Lake Bled: by car (around 40min) or by train/bus (approximately 1h 50min)
Best time to go
May to September (to avoid the cold)
8. Prague + Budapest
Ahhh these two cities, how not to fall in love with them? One more romantic and stunning than the other, not to mention how cheap they are for travellers. You can start the trip in any of them, whichever works best for your flights. Both are great for foodies – don’t forget to try Goulash Soup. In Budapest hike up the Citadel for a stunning view over town, and have a romantic dinner by the Danube.
Recommended days in each city
- 3 days in Prague
- 4 days in Budapest
Transportation suggestion
Car or train
Total travel time
Between 11hrs 20min and 14hrs
- By car: 5hrs 40min (one-way)
- By train: 7hrs (one-way)
Best time to go
- May to mid-October (to avoid the cold winds)
- July (for the Formula 1 Gran prix)
9. Copenhagen + Stockholm
For me, it’s impossible to leave Scandinavia out of romantic places. It seems like Copenhagen and Stockholm came out of storybooks, with their colourful buildings, boats, architecture, and water canals. Stockholm has a very special place in my heart; it’s one of the most amazing places I have ever visited.
Tip: start the trip in Copenhagen – trust me, you are going to thank me later – and if possible, try to arrive there and depart from Stockholm.
Recommended days in each city
- 3 days in Copenhagen
- 4 days in Stockholm
Transportation suggestion
Train is the best option to travel between them, not to mention, stunning.
Total travel time
Between 5hrs 30min to 11hrs (if you have to return to Copenhagen)
The train journey from Copenhagen to Stockholm takes around 5hrs 30min
Best time to go
May to September (otherwise colder and less daylight hours)
10. Florence + San Gimignano + Siena
What’s not to love about this itinerary? Wine, amazing landscape, olive oil, Italian food, medieval towns, narrow streets, history, Vespas and bikes. If you had to pick only 3 cities to visit in Tuscany, these would be my recommendation to you. The combination of relaxation, delicious tastes, breathtaking views, and romance in one itinerary.
My advice is: arrive in Florence, rent a car and go explore all the way down to Siena and on the way back stop in San Gimignano.
Recommended days in each city
- 2 or 3 days in Florence
- 2 days in Siena
- 1 or 2 days in San Gimignano
Transportation suggestion
Definitely rent a car, it will give you more freedom to explore other cities and villages in the Tuscan region. Nothing compared with taking day tours.
Total travel time
Around 3 hours all together + the extra time exploring the region (a must).
- From Florence to Siena: 1h 10min
- From Siena to San Gimignano: 40min max
- From San Gimignano to Florence: around 55min
Best time to go
May to October
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