We’re a couple in our 60s planning our first big Europe trip and keep going back and forth on whether to do Italy and France together or save one for next time. If we did both in around 12 days, is that enough to enjoy each, or would we be rushing? For those who’ve combined them, how did you split it?
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Tricky question! I think that really depends on which sights in each country are highest on your bucket list. Italy has so many wonderful places to see, but so does France! If it were me, I would use the 12 days to see all of one of the countries, and then save the other for another trip.
But if you split, I don’t think it would be easy to pick which one you see more of, so probably a split right down the middle would be best. Happy Travels!
We basically have France and Italy in 12 days, where you’ll mostly be visiting cities.
or…
France or Italy for twelve days.
Taken like that, we can cover a lot of France or Italy as a country in twelve days.
Now you’re going to struggle to decide which one.
Are we looking for an organised tour, or do it ourselves?
Further Questions
To better answer the dilemma, we need to think about our interests, how we intend to travel around, where would we fly to and fly out of; assuming we’re flying.
More important is the time of year and the realistic chance of visiting Europe again.
If we haven’t visited Europe for over sixty years, what’s the chance of ever coming back?
From where; USA, Australia, South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom?
Why just France and/or Italy?
A couple in our 60s
Are we retired with time on our hands?
Are our finances good?
Are we fit and healthy?
Why just 12 days?
Vague questions often result in vague answers.
How I would spend my twelve days may not align with how you would like to spend yours.
I have been lucky enough to travel around Europe regularly for almost sixty years; and I’m not finished yet.
For a ‘first big Europe trip’ in over sixty years, I would certainly need more than twelve days and wouldn’t just be thinking about France or Italy; unless my ancestry was French or Italian.
Time could be running out, so I would want to do more; for longer.
I would do either or not both
12 days can work for both, but keeping the number of places small would make the trip much less rushed. Otherwise, a lot of the time can disappear just getting from one place to another. Are you thinking more about seeing the big cities or taking your time in each place?