15-Day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary

When my mom and sister revealed their zealous plans for their 15-day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary, I was curious how they planned their European trip (and, to be honest, I was skeptical that they would be able to pull it off). Creating a 15 Days in Europe Itinerary to these top three cities is no easy feat. 

Although we have visited all three destinations over multiple trips, we have never been to all three in a short two weeks. Intrigued by their ambitiously planned London, Paris, Rome tour, I wanted to know exactly how they devised their route and the details of their day-by-day itinerary. 

 

Why Plan a London, Paris Rome Trip? 

A London, Paris, Rome vacation is a bucket list trip. These cities rank as top worldwide destinations – alongside places like New York City, San Francisco and Bangkok. The difference is that London, Paris and Rome are relatively close together, which allows travelers to see all three in a short amount of time…but only with a solid trip plan. 

Unlike me, who wants to travel to eternity, my family approached their trip as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit these cities. It would be Tracy’s (my sister) first trip to Europe and Dianne’s (my mom) second trip (although, it would be her first time to London and Rome). They packed their 15-Day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary to the brim…and then heaped on a bit more for good measure.

 

How To Plan a Trip from London to Paris to Rome

I was fascinated, not only by the sightseeing they were able to accomplish with their 15-day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary, but also by how efficiently they were able to do so. For the first-time traveler to Europe or for the traveler who only anticipates ever going once, it’s an ideal itinerary that succinctly hits all the major sights and then some.

Breaking from our typical style of travel tips, we are presenting a Q&A regarding their diligent planning and execution of their trip abroad. Because they had detailed documentation, they are sharing their pre-trip preparation, experiences abroad, post-trip thoughts and a detailed account of their 15-Day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary Day-by-Day (including links!).

Fellow travelers planning self guided tours of London, Paris, Rome can use the tips from their experience to help plan their own perfect European trip. We also recommend using Travel Planning Printables to help you stay organized and reading our guide to plan your European Vacation!

 

Are There London, Paris, Rome Tours?

Absolutely! While it is possible to plan your own 2-Week London, Paris, Rome vacation (and my family is proof!), it does take an enormous amount of time and effort to create a seamless trip plan. 

Travelers can opt to tour London, Paris, Rome with a professional sightseeing tour group. The London, Paris, Italy vacation packages are planned by professionals – so all you need to do is show up and enjoy the sights! 

Young travelers – aged 18-35 – can start by searching Contiki. The company specializes in travel for young adults and offers fun and affordable London, Paris, Rome tour packages. 

Travelers of any age can find a Rome, London Paris vacation package with a reliable company – like Trafalgar Tours. 

Before scoffing at a tour for being too expensive, we recommend pricing out the London, Paris, Rome vacation packages versus the cost of planning your own 15 Days Europe Tour Itinerary to see the cost difference. 

If you do decide to plan your Rome, Paris, London trip on your own, read on for detailed trip planning tips! 

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London, Paris, Rome Itinerary: Pre-Trip Preparation

Pre-trip preparation is key to planning a trip to London, Paris and Italy – and they shared some of the steps they took to ensure their trip went off without a hitch.

 

How did you decide where to go and how much time to spend in each place?

Our European vacation was nearly three years in the making. A year and a half prior to the trip, we started checking out travel books from the library. Tracy read them cover-to-cover. Eight months out, we began researching flights. Five months prior to departure, we were booking accommodations.

We discussed our itinerary at length. We were constrained by Tracy’s limited time off work, but were determined to fit as much as we possibly could into our trip. We focused on the must-see cities and their best-known sights.

We originally created a London, Paris Italy Itinerary that included Florence and Venice. However, in the planning stages, we felt the time we would have to spend actually traveling between the cities was too much. We settled on Europe’s Big Three: London, Paris and Rome – with five nights in each city.

 

What luggage did you carry? Were you happy with what you packed?

We debated whether a backpack or suitcase would be better to tour London, Paris, Rome. Although I have traveled through Europe with a backpack before, we decided to use roller suitcases for this trip. We each had one large checked roller bag and a carry-on backpack. Our carry-on backpacks served as a daypack as we explored the cities.

We knew our 15-Day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary was ambitious and wanted to make sure we were as prepared as possible, so we ended up bringing things that we didn’t use. In our packing list, we packed too many shirts and warmer clothes (as we traveled in the autumn) and a lot of just-in-case medications. However, we are still glad we had them with us and wouldn’t have left anything behind.

 

Did you buy or use any specific travel gadgets or guides?

We purchased adapters and a converter. The adapters were essential, but the converter did not work properly and it turned out we didn’t really need one.

We always used our money belts and bra stashes and were glad we purchased them for our trip. Since we are not seasoned travelers, it made us feel more safe to have our money and important documents with us at all times and concealed beneath our clothing.

The guide book we used was Rick Steves’ Best of Europe. We tore out and carried only the information we needed for the cities we were visiting.

 

Of the entire trip, what were you most looking forward to?

We were really intent on checking off all the sights on our list. It might end up being my (Dianne’s) last trip and Tracy’s only trip to Europe. We didn’t want to miss a single sight that appealed to us.

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London, Paris, Rome: Experiences By City

Travelers who plan a 2-Week London, Paris, Rome Itinerary will want to consider what they want to experience in each city. 

 

London, UK

What London sights did you see?

The British Museum, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London, The Monument, Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, Thames River Cruise, Greenwich (Royal Observatory and Maritime Museum), Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, Soho, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Houses of Parliament (and viewed sessions), 10 Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, Covent Garden, Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park (including the Princess Diana Memorial), Wellington Arch, Westminster Cathedral and the National Library.

We did not see the Natural History Museum or walk Abbey Road. We could not Visit The Sky Garden because, while it is free to enter, prior reservations are required and we hadn’t made them.

 

What was the food like in London?

We ate a variety of food in London, from high tea to street food. We most enjoyed the food in Chinatown. Our high tea experience (which included sandwiches, sweets and a prosecco finish) was one of our most memorable dining experiences.

 

Where did you stay in London?

We stayed at the European Hotel for its close proximity to King’s Cross Station (which provided access to the entire city and even the Chunnel to Paris). The hotel offered a complimentary traditional English breakfast that included a lot of protein, which was a nice way to start the day. The rooms were much smaller than we had anticipated…and the bathroom was shockingly small, but sufficient. Also, the electricity and wifi were sometimes unreliable.

 

Any other recommendations for London?

The best way to see a lot of the city in an economical way is to purchase a weekly National Train paper pass. It allows visitors to use 2-for-1 vouchers for all the major sights – as well as transportation on the Tube and buses.

 

What were your highlights of London?

The Tower of London (with the Beefeater’s Tour), Kensington Palace and high tea.

 

Find more tips for sightseeing in our complete London Itinerary!

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Paris, France

What sights did you see in Paris?

Musee du Louvre, Tuileries Garden, Musee d’Orsay, Musee de l’Orangerie, Place de la Concorde, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles Chateau and Gardens (including the Grand and Petit Trianons of Marie-Antoinette’s Estate), Moulin Rouge (including a show), Notre Dame Cathedral and Tower, Sainte Chapelle, Conciergerie, The Latin Quarter, The Pantheon, Luxembourg Gardens, St. Sulpice Church, Seine River Tour, Trocadero Gardens, Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Parc du Champs de Mars, Hotel des Invalides (Tomb of Napoleon), Musee Rodin, Montmartre, Sacre-Coeur, Pigalle (red light district) and Saint-Martin Canal.

 

What was the food like in Paris?

We ate quick food on-the-go a lot in Paris. Our favorite place to grab breakfast and lunch was at Paul, a bakery which has multiple locations. We had street crepes a few times and especially liked the Nutella crepes at Montmartre.

The Saint-Martin Canal neighborhood offered a wide variety of quaint cafes and restaurants. Our two favorite meals in the area were a savory buckwheat crepe at Lulu’s Creperies and a wild boar and chestnut stew at La Patache.

 

Where did you stay in Paris?

We stayed in a charming flat in an old building on the Saint-Martin Canal, which we found through Airbnb. It was nice to have the extra space and a washer/dryer (as we needed to do laundry by then!). It was well-situated in a residential neighborhood, but close to Gare de l’Est where we could access the Metro.

 

Any other recommendations for Paris?

We highly recommend the Paris Museum Pass (not to be confused with the Paris Pass). It offers entry into all the major sights in and around Paris at a reasonable cost. With the pass, we could enter certain sights to see just the highlights and not feel like we had to stay to get our money’s worth.

The best value for transportation around Paris is the weekly (calendar week only Monday through Sunday) Navigo Pass, which was good for the Metro, buses and trains (even the train to Versailles and the airport!).

 

What were your highlights of Paris?

Sainte Chappelle, Conciergerie, Musee Rodin, and the Tower of Notre Dame.

 

Read about our tips for sightseeing in this Paris Itinerary!

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Rome, Italy

What sights did you see in Rome?

Piazza del Popolo, Villa Borghese Gardens, Villa Medici, Circus Maximus, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, Victor Emmanuel and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, St. Peter’s Basilica and Square, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. John Lateran, Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs), Capitoline Museum, Bocca della Verita, Trastevere neighborhood, Piazza Santa Maria, Basilica di Santa Maria, Tiber Island, the Old Jewish neighborhood, Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Navona.

We did not make it to Ostia Antica nor Ostia di Lido (the beach on the Mediterranean).

 

What was the food like in Rome?

Hello Gelato! We ate gelato every day, because when in Rome… We also ate a lot of pizza, both at sidewalk cafes and where they scissor-cut the slices and sell them by weight.

Our best meal was at a little family-run restaurant in the Trastevere neighborhood. The chef used family recipes that had been handed-down through several generations.

 

Where did you stay in Rome?

We stayed in a small B&B in a very safe neighborhood, Salario, on the north side of the city. It was recently renovated and spacious. However, due to our delayed flight and unclear directions to the B&B, our late arrival (after midnight) resulted in a deplorable welcome from the host. Unfortunately, encounters like that are carried throughout the rest of the stay and sadly gave us a negative impression of Romans in general.

 

Any other recommendations for Rome?

What we would NOT recommend is the OMNIA Pass. We thought it would speed up our sightseeing by eliminating standing in long lines, but it never worked out that way. It was expensive ($109), included things we didn’t use and although it promised front-of-line entry, required longer waiting times than those with regular entry tickets.

Alternatively, we could have purchased the combo pass to the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill (Cost: $13.50) from the shortest ticket lines at the Palatine Hill entrance on Via di San Gregorio and then we could skip the ticket line at the Colosseum.

In addition, we could have bought our ticket to the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, online (Cost: $22) and skipped the lines there, too. (The OMNIA Pass could possibly be to an advantage in the high season, though).

 

What were your highlights of Rome?

St. Peter’s Basilica and the many ruins throughout the city, although the most impressive were those at the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. We really enjoyed the time we spent walking through the Rome neighborhoods and piazzas.

 

Find more tips for sightseeing in our Rome Itinerary!

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European Trip Thoughts

Before planning your London, Paris, Rome tour, these are a few things you might want to consider. 

 

How much did you spend on your European Trip? Did you have a budget? Did you stick to it?

The total cost of our trip was $2550 each, just $50 more than we had budgeted. That amount includes everything we spent during our vacation – the flight and all transportation abroad, accommodations, food, drink, tours, passes, entertainment, souvenirs…everything!

We researched and carefully determined how to do our trip on a budget without missing any of the sights we wanted to see. For hardcore sightseers, like us, we found the city passes to the sights and public transportation passes to be quite beneficial financially.

We also were able to find entertainment deals on major websites (like Viator and Get Your Guide). We weren’t on a mission to spend as little as possible, but we were budget conscious and feel that the price we paid was well-worth the trip.

It should be noted that we found majorly discounted airline tickets from Toronto rather than from our home city in the United States. Therefore, we tacked on a mini-vacation to Canada on each end of our European trip, which is also included in the total cost of the trip (which, all-inclusive, was still less than if we had paid the more expensive airfare from our home city).

 

What about your European Trip exceeded your expectations?

We were pleasantly surprised that everything went pretty much according to plan, but perhaps that is because we were so diligent in our planning. The specific sights that exceeded our expectations (although, not necessarily top-of-the-list things to do) are:

London – The British Library, the National Gallery, House of Commons session, afternoon tea

Paris – Sainte Chapelle, Musee Rodin, Conciergerie

Rome – Palatine Hill, Capitoline Museum

 

What were your biggest disappointments on your European Trip?

London – Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. We spent too much time there and even though we arrived an hour and half before the event, we were unable to get close enough to really see. While standing in the sea of people, we felt like prime targets for pickpockets!

Paris – The interior of Versailles Chateau. It was over-crowded with a lot of people elbowing their way through. The rooms everyone was pushing to see were pretty, but not all that impressive to us for the hassle involved in seeing them. However, the Mesdames section, the gardens and the Trianons were worth seeing.

Rome – The Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. After spending several hours in the Vatican Museum, we were underwhelmed by the time we got to the Sistine Chapel. The small area was packed and a booming voice coming from speakers reminded guests that pictures were not allowed (although many blatantly disregarded the message and took photos anyway, which we thought was quite rude). We were expecting to be wowed, but instead felt like cattle being corralled. It wasn’t the experience we were anticipating.

 

What did you find difficult about traveling in Europe?

The language barrier in Paris and Rome made communication in those cities trying, especially as we were there for such a short time and had a full itinerary planned.

Rome was also an extremely difficult city to get around in using public transportation. The buses were always crowded and the Metro stations were few and far between. It would have been better if we had stayed closer to the sights or near a Metro station.

 

What was easier than you thought it would be?

The lines to get into the sights were not as long as we had anticipated. Of course, it helped that we were traveling in the shoulder season (mid-October).

 

What would you have done differently on your Trip To Europe?

We would have planned our travel between cities for early morning as it would have made getting acquainted with the new city much easier. More specifically, we would not again plan to arrive to a city after dark.

Also, it would have been extremely beneficial to have been able to use our mobile phones. We should have purchased an international data plan or purchased a WiFi pocket device for our time abroad so that we could have used them when we really needed to.

Additionally, we wish we had planned more time to simply walk the neighborhoods, relax in the parks and piazzas and enjoy people-watching from the cafes.

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15-Day London, Paris, Rome Itinerary Day-by-Day

Prices indicated are in U.S. dollars and were accurate at time of trip; entry fees and tickets indicate the cost per person, accommodations indicate the total cost of the lodging. If cost is not listed, it is a public, outdoor space or a sight viewed only from the outside.

 

Day 1 – Arrive in London

Arrive in London mid-morning.

• Purchase public transportation passes (National Rail Paper Tickets, weekly pass, $46, passport picture required – 2-for-1 vouchers printed prior to travel) and check in to the European Hotel ($620 for 5 nights)
• Late Lunch on the go
• The British Museum (Free)– Highlights: Rosetta Stone, mummies, pill display

 

Day 2

• St. Paul’s Cathedral (Entry Fee: $26, used 2-for-1 pass| Time: 3-4 hours) – Highlights: whispering wall on balcony, tower, Princess Diana’s wedding, Florence Nightingale
• Lunch on the go
• Tower of London (Entry Fee: $35.25, used 2-for-1 pass | Time: 3 hours) – Highlights: crown jewels, torture chamber
• The Monument to the Great Fire of London 1666 (did not enter)
• Self Guided London Pub Crawl and Dinner 
• Shakespeare Globe (did not enter, Entry Fee: $19.50). 

 

Day 3 

• Changing of the Guard (Free) – Tip: Arrive by 10 a.m., expect crowds
• Thames River Walk (especially lively during summer and over Christmastime in London!)
• Cruise with City Cruises from Westminster to Greenwich (Ticket: $23 roundtrip, used 2-for-1 pass)
• Lunch: Street vendors on Greenwich Dock
• Royal Observatory and Astronomy Center (only entered the free portion)
• National Maritime Museum (Free)
• Return cruise to Westminster
• Big Ben and walking tour of Westminster sights
• Walk Westminster Bridge
• London Eye (Entry Fee: $31, used 2-for-1 pass)
• Piccadilly Circus
• Soho
• Dinner: Lido Chinese Restaurant in Chinatown (crispy seaweed and crispy duck)

 

Day 4 

• Westminster Abbey (Entry Fee: $29 regular, senior discount $24.50 | Time: 1-2 hours)
• Tower Bridge (Entry Fee: $13, used 2-for-1 pass)
• Potters Fields Park
• Lunch on the go
• Houses of Parliament (in-session, Free) – Highlights: House of Lords ornate room, quite entertaining session in House of Commons
• Number 10 Downing Street
• Trafalgar Square
• National Gallery (Free, accepts donations) – Highlights: Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh
• Covent Garden
• Dinner: Nags Head Pub (beef pie and chicken pie)
• Royal Opera House (did not enter)

 

Day 5

• Kensington Palace (Entry Fee: $25.25, used 2-for-1 pass | Time: 1-1.5 hours) – Highlights: Stories of royal family – especially Queen Victoria, king’s and queen’s apartments, fashions of Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and Princess Diana
• Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens – Highlight: Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
• High Tea with prosecco finish (Cost: $120 | Time: 3 hours)
• Wellington Arch (did not enter, but walked under arch – which, at one time, only royalty could do!)
• Westminster Cathedral (Free)
• The British Library (also known as National Library) (Free) – Highlights: Magna Carta, bibles, Beatles, sheet music of Bach, Beethoven, Handel
• Dinner on the go

 

Day 6 – Travel from London to Paris

Mid-morning Chunnel to Paris ($60); arrive mid-afternoon, purchase public transportation pass (Navigo Decouverte weekly pass: $29, includes activation fee, 3cm x 2.5cm passport-type photo required), purchase Paris Museum Pass (4-day pass, $90) and check into Airbnb apartment ($462 for 5 nights) in the Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood.

• Walk the Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood
• Dinner: Lulu la nantaise – Creperie (buckwheat crepes)

 

Day 7

• Musee du Louvre (Entry to the Louvre Museum included with Paris Museum Pass) – Highlights: Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Napoleon’s Apartments
• Tuileries Garden
• Lunch on the go
• Walk Pont des Arts Bridge (also known as Love Locks Bridge)
• Musee d’Orsay (Entry included with Paris Museum Pass) – Highlights: Impressionists
• Musee de l’Orangerie (Entry included with Paris Museum Pass) – Highlights: Monet murals
• Place de la Concorde
• Grand Palais (did not enter)
• Walk the length of Champs-Elysees (eat crepes along the way!)
• Arc de Triomphe (Entry included with Paris Museum Pass)
• Dinner: La Patache in the Canal Saint-Martin area (bison stew and wild boar stew)

 

Day 8

• Palace of Versailles (Entry included with Paris Museum Pass) and Gardens (Free) – Highlights: chapel, hall of mirrors, Mesdames quarters
• Lunch in the gardens (baguettes from a vendor)
• Marie-Antoinette Estate and Grand Trianon (Entry included with Paris Museum Pass)
• Dinner on the go: Paul Bakery at Gare de l’Est
• Moulin Rouge Show with Champagne (Ticket: $127) – Highlights: comedy skits, stunts, dancing

 

Day 9

• Notre Dame Cathedral (Free)
• Sainte Chapelle and Conciergerie (Entry included with Paris Museum Pass)
• Walk The Latin Quarter (on a guided tour or self guided walk)
• Lunch on the go
• The Pantheon (Entry included with Paris Museum Pass)
• Luxembourg Gardens
• St. Sulpice Church (Free)
• Boat trip on River Seine with Vedettes du Pont Neuf (Ticket: $16) Tip: food in waiting area for the boat not recommended, poor tour guide, but lovely night cruise

 

Day 10

• Tower of Notre Dame Cathedral (Entry included with Paris Museum Pass | Time: 1.5 hours) – Highlights: gargoyles, bell tower
• Trocadero Gardens
• Food on the go
• Eiffel Tower (did not climb)
• Parc du Champs de Mars
• Musee de l’Armee (also known as Hotel des Invalides) (Entry included with Paris Museum Pass) – Highlights: Tomb of Napoleon and Napoleon’s horse
• Musee Rodin (Entry included with Paris Museum Pass) – Highlights: The Thinker, Gates of Hell
• Walk Montmartre neighborhood
• Lunch on the go
• Sacre-Coeur (Free) – Highlights: St. Peter’s side chapel
• Pigalle (also known as the Red Light District)
• Dinner: La Patache

 

Day 11 – Travel from Paris to Rome

• Say au revoir to Paris with a walk along the Canal Saint-Martin – Highlights: boats traveling through the locks
• Train to airport; flight to Rome ($79); check in to B&B Espresso ($343 for 5 nights) in the Salario neighborhood.

 

Day 12

• Walk the Salario neighborhood
• Metro to Vatican to obtain OMNIA Vatican and Rome Card ($109)
• Piazza del Popolo
• Villa Borghese Gardens ($50)– Highlights: view from Villa Medici
• Dinner at a sidewalk cafe for pizza

 

Day 13

• Circus Maximus
• Palatine Hill (Entry included with the OMNIA Pass) – Highlights: many interesting ruins and history
• Roman Forum (Entry included with the OMNIA Pass) – Highlights: Rome’s oldest road, the place where Caesar was killed, Temple of Vesta
• Colosseum (Entry included with the OMNIA Pass) – Highlight: standing inside the Colosseum
• Arch of Constantine
• Hop-on Hop-off Bus from Colosseum to Piazza Venezia (Included with the OMNIA Pass)
• Victor Emmanuel Monument (also known as Altare della Patria) and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (did not enter)
• Lunch (and gelato!) on the go
• Ruins at Largo Argentina
• Pantheon (Free)
• Trevi Fountain
• Spanish Steps
• Dinner on the go

 

Day 14

• St. Peter’s Basilica (Free, audio guide included with the OMNIA Pass, did not climb the cupola) – Highlights: high altar, hidden relics, La Pieta
• St. Peter’s Square – Highlights: 140 statues of saints that line the square
• Vatican Museums (Entry included with the OMNIA Pass) – Highlights: Egyptian artifacts, art by the masters
• Sistine Chapel – (Entry included with the OMNIA Pass)
• Lunch at a sidewalk café
• St. John Lateran Church (San Giovanni in Laterano) (Free, cloister admission included with OMNIA Pass) – Highlights: Bishop Seat of Rome presided over by the Pope, cloister garden
• Holy Stairs (also known as Scala Sancta) (Free) – Highlights: climbing the same stairs (relocated from Jerusalem) that Jesus climbed (on our knees)
• Dinner on the go

 

Day 15

• Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli (Free) – Highlights: Ornate interior
• Capitoline Museums (Entry included with the OMNIA Pass) – Highlights: She-Wolf with Romulus and Remus, Marcus Aurelius, The Fortune Teller, Capitoline Venus, The Dying Gaul, Bust of Medusa, view of the Forum
• Capitoline Hill – Highlights: mayor’s office, drinking fountain, Michelangelo’s steps
• Bocca della Verita (Free, but long line)
• Walk the Trastevere neighborhood
• Lunch: Polpetta (traditional Italian dishes)
• Fontana dell’Acqua Paola
• Fountain in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere
• Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere (Free)
• Tiber Island
• Gelato on the go
• Walk the Jewish neighborhood
• Campo dei Fiori
• Piazza Navona
• Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
• Dinner on the go: Pizza by weight!

 

Day 16 

Bus to Airport, Flight to back to the USA!

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Top Tips For Your London, Paris, Rome Trip

Planning a 15 Day Europe Itinerary to London, Paris and Rome is not an easy task. Although we have outlined a detailed trip plan, we have a few more tips that will help make planning your trip to Europe just a little bit easier. 

 

City Sightseeing Passes

City sightseeing passes can offer substantial savings for travelers who want to visit the top ticketed attractions. London, Paris and Rome all offer a variety of sightseeing pass options (and some are better than others).

 

London Sightseeing Passes

The National Rail 2-for-1 vouchers are a fabulous way to see London sights on a budget…unless you are traveling solo (or with an odd number of people) and not using public transportation. The London Pass is another city pass that might save you money.

In lieu of using public transportation, consider getting around London using Big Bus Tours, which makes stops at all the top London attractions. 

 

Paris Museum Pass

We highly recommend buying the Paris Museum Pass while sightseeing in Paris, as we think it is well worth the money and added bonus of skipping the line. 

Alternatively, look at the Paris Pass, which includes the Paris Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and free public transportation, and might provide savings for your Paris trip. 

 

Rome Sightseeing Tips

We have yet to find a Rome sightseeing pass that we can recommend, as they don’t seem to offer the convenience and savings promised. Instead of spending money on a pass like OMNIA, organize your Rome sightseeing on your own.

Use the money you saved from buying a city pass and join a guided tour of the sights that are of most interest to you, like St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museum, or the Colosseum. To get around the city, use the Rome Big Bus, public transportation or walk. 

As stated before, save time and money by purchasing the combo pass to the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill (Cost: $13.50) from the shortest ticket lines at the Palatine Hill entrance on Via di San Gregorio and then use your combo ticket to skip the ticket line at the Colosseum. Additionally, buy your ticket to the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, online and skip the lines there, too.

 

Where To Stay in Europe

Choosing the type of accommodations and where to stay for a 2-week, multicity European trip can feel overwhelming. With 5 days in each city, travelers can opt to stay in a hotel, but a short-term apartment might be a better option. 

The main factors to consider when making your decision are location, cost, ease of check in, cleanliness and comfort. For any short stay in a city, location is key. It is optimal to be either in the city center or close to a public transit line. 

 

Airbnb in Europe

In general, we have found that staying in apartments is often less expensive than hotel rooms – but that is not always true with short stays where fees can add up in a hurry. However, it may be worth it for the added benefit of a kitchen and, usually, more space. Airbnb is our go-to site for finding the best Europe holiday apartments.

 

Europe Hotels

That said, we would not discount staying in hotels. At most hotels in Europe, the front desk staff speaks English and – with long days of sightseeing – a kitchen may not be necessary. When looking for hotels in London, Paris and Rome, we always start our search on Booking.com. Budget travelers can search for Hostels in London, Paris and Rome.

Pro Tip: Before you get started, read our top tips for Booking the Best Hotels.

 

Getting To Europe

All three cities – London, Paris, Rome – are easily accessible via plane, train, bus or car. 

Our preferred method of getting anywhere is by flying (we are JetSetting Fools, after all!) and when we do need to purchase plane tickets, we start our search for the best deals on airline tickets on Skyscanner.

Pro Tip: Read all our Tips for Cheaper Airfare.

 

Getting Around Europe

To get from city to city when flights are not possible, we usually rely on public transportation and take trains or buses. In Europe, we use Rail Europe to find train tickets and our preferred bus company is FlixBus – as it is economical, clean and comfortable (sometimes with on-board wifi, seat-back entertainment, refreshments and a toilet).

 

Renting a Car in Europe

For this Rome, Paris, London Itinerary, it is not necessary to rent a car. In fact, when bouncing between any big cities in Europe, it is best to use public transit. However, for travelers interested in seeing sights outside the city center, renting a car can often save time and money (especially when traveling with more than two people).

Top Tip: We share tips for getting the Best Car Rental here. 

 

Before You Go To Europe: What You Will Need

We have a few final tips on what you will need for your London, Paris and Rome trip! You can find our Packing Hacks and other advice on our dedicated Travel Packing blog page. 

 

Comfortable Walking Shoes

Anyone planning a 2-Week Trip to London, Paris and Rome will need a good pair of walking shoes to most comfortably see the sights. The best travel shoes are lightweight and comfortable. I like wearing versatile sneakers, while Kris prefers Merrell trail shoes. 

 

Travel Camera

We’re certain you’ll be snapping tons of photos during your trip. Rather than relying on your mobile phone to capture the sights, upgrade to an actual travel camera for higher quality photos. We travel with a Canon Rebel (which takes amazing photos and is a great budget camera for beginners!) – and use an everyday 18-135mm lens.  

 

Maps and Guidebooks

It’s easy to get turned around in any foreign city! Make sure to have a good city map for London, Paris and Rome. Additionally, some travelers (like my mom and sister) like to use a trusted guidebook – like Rick Steves’ Europe.

 

European Trip Insurance

Travel insurance may cover lost luggage and trip delays, as well as illness or injured abroad. If you haven’t already obtained travel insurance for your trip to Europe, consider traveling protected with World Nomads.

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Looking for more travel planning tips? Check out our detailed Guide to Planning a European Vacation and then head over to our Travel Planning page for our complete packing tips and other travel resources!

 

 

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