How to plan a multi-city trip in Europe

My partner and I are finally planning a three-week vacation to Europe this coming fall, but we are completely overwhelmed by the logistics of visiting multiple countries. We want to see London, Paris, and Rome, but we aren't sure whether to book multi-city flights or take high-speed trains between all of them. How do experienced travelers usually map out the best routes, and what is a realistic amount of time to spend in each city without feeling exhausted?

Three weeks for London, Paris, and Rome is actually a fantastic amount of time! Most experienced travelers suggest splitting it roughly into 5 to 7 days per city so you don't burn out. Definitely book an 'open-jaw' or multi-city flight (fly into London, out of Rome) to save backtracking.

When mapping this out, do not try to take a train from London to Rome—it takes way too long and you'll lose a whole day. Fly between London and Paris (the Eurostar is great for this!), and then take a budget airline or high-speed train down to Rome. You can also check out these European travel hacks everyone should know for more packing and transit tips.

I completely agree with the multi-city flight advice. Booking round-trips to the same hub sounds cheaper sometimes, but the cost of getting back to your starting point usually outweighs the savings. Give yourself at least a full week in each place.

For a three-city trip over 21 days, I recommend 6 days in London, 6 in Paris, and 7 in Rome, leaving you 2 days total for travel transitions. It sounds like a lot of time, but city-hopping is exhausting once you factor in check-out times, security lines, and getting to train stations.

The Eurostar between London and Paris is an absolute dream compared to flying—city center to city center in just over two hours. But for Paris to Rome, definitely fly. Trying to train through the Alps will take a massive chunk of your vacation.

Don't overpack your itinerary! The biggest mistake first-timers make is trying to see every museum and monument in three days. Pace yourselves, leave some afternoons completely open for wandering, and remember that travel days take more energy than you think.

If you want to save a bit of money on food and drinks during your downtime in the cities, you might want to look into nightlife districts away from the major tourist traps. Speaking of nightlife, if you ever plan a winter trip later on, reading about the best European cities for budget-friendly beer and vibrant nightlife? is a fun read.

My golden rule for multi-city trips is to book hotels near major transit hubs (like St. Pancras in London or Gare du Nord in Paris). It makes dragging your luggage around infinitely less stressful.

Rome in the fall is incredible because the summer heat finally breaks, but it's still warm enough to walk everywhere. Just make sure to pre-book your tickets for the Colosseum and Vatican weeks in advance, otherwise you'll waste precious hours standing in lines.