Is it possible to do a 4-country trip in just 10 days without going crazy?

My partner and I are planning our first trip to Europe and we only have 10 days off work this fall. We really want to see London, Paris, Amsterdam, and maybe Rome if we can squeeze it in. Is this itinerary way too rushed, and what's the best way to travel between these cities without spending the whole time at train stations or airports?

Honestly, yes, that is way too rushed for just 10 days, especially for your first time in Europe! Cutting Rome is a must if you want to enjoy yourselves.

You will spend half your vacation checking into hotels and waiting in security lines. Stick to London, Paris, and Amsterdam instead.

If you try to do all four, you'll be completely exhausted. For inspiration on better pacing, check out this guide on the Best 4-week backpacking route for a first-timer in summer?, though you'll obviously need to scale it down for 10 days.

Take Rome off the list immediately. London to Paris to Amsterdam is already pushing it for 10 days, but it's doable via the Eurostar.

The Eurostar between London and Paris is super fast and easy. From Paris to Amsterdam, the Thalys (now Eurostar Continental) train is also great.

Skip Rome! Italy deserves its own trip. If you focus on the UK, France, and the Netherlands, you actually get two full days in each city plus travel days.

Are you guys big foodies? If so, you might want to read up on the Best European countries for food lovers before finalizing your route, since Paris and Amsterdam have amazing culinary scenes.

I tried doing four cities in 10 days on my first trip and I literally came back needing a vacation from my vacation. Don't do it!

Drop Rome for sure. Even with London, Paris, and Amsterdam, you'll only have about 2 days in each place once you factor in travel time.

Trains are definitely the way to go between London, Paris, and Amsterdam. Airports take way too much time with security and getting to/from the city centers.

Listen to the advice here and drop Rome. Trying to fly down to Italy and back up in a 10-day window is a logistical nightmare.

If you only have 10 days, pick two cities max—maybe just London and Paris. You'll actually get to relax and experience the cities instead of just seeing them through a train window.

Fall is a gorgeous time to visit Western Europe, but the days get shorter. Make every day count by not wasting them on transit!