Any suggestions for our 18 days trip to Europe?

You're only going for just over 2 weeks. If you attempt to visit all of those places, you'll be stressed and wrecked. My advice would be to drop three of them, at least that way there is the chance that you'll see something and enjoy yourselves. And go to your local library and peruse some travel guides.

I would cut it down to 1 to 2 countries for this time (I did part of Italy in just under 2 weeks and that was a moderate pace). France and Poland are large countries as well (I spent 3 weeks in part of France (Paris and an area in central France). Even though it is REALLY hard to do, PLEASE consider cutting it down and see less places more and enjoy those places really well and don't miss things. I didn't get to Austria, Poland or Switzerland, so I can't tell you about them. It depends on what you like to do as well. Do you like sightseeing, sitting in cafes and people watching, cites, countryside, touristy things or getting to places where a lot of tourists don't get to, mountains, lakes, beaches, coastline etc etc etc Are you going to hire a car or use trains etc. Trains are a good way to get around, but if you are going to a more country area then a car is better. I would advise 3-5 days in larger cities like Paris, Rome and 2-3 days in smaller cities like Florence, Verona, Saltzburg etc. You can spend 1 night in places that are quite small (unless you want a couple of days to chill). I would also try and stay in one area eg Austria/Switzerland and Italy. Or France/Switzerland This means you spend less time getting from A to B (Often via C and D with waits in stations for connecting trains/buses etc....I literally spent a day in Italy travelling from Venice to Florence (4hrs) waited in Florence train station for an hour to go to Siena (1hr train ride), had about 2hrs in Siena (then missed the last bus to my destination so had to get a roundabout train ride to Chuisi and then a bus ride for an hour to Montepulciano arriving at about 9pm at night), so there could be days like that if you chose to travel to so many places and literally have 2hrs sightseeing (and I had to take all my bags with me as there was no lockers available)). I can recommend Verona (really lovely city with a wonderful location, nice Colosseum (where you can go to the opera in summer), Venice is not far by train (about an hour or so) and was a lot smaller than I thought. I had 2 nights (leaving early one morning) and I felt that was ample time. Florence is lovely (but busy!!!) and is close to places like Pisa (about an hour by train west), Lucca (lovely town north/west of Florence and was a breath of fresh air away from Florence) and Siena (about an hour to the east of Florence) so if you went to Florence and do that kind of thing you would need at least 3 full days there to see all those places. Rome was good as it has a lot to see. I did a full day tour to Pompeii from there which was neat (Naples looked quite dirty) and you can add on Sorrento/Capri as well. Bologna was a nice medieval city as well. I did not see much as I arrived about 3pm and left early the next morning! In France Paris had heaps to do. I had 5 days and still have places to see!! PLEASE cut your itinary. See it better and really research the places so you get the most out of it. Good luck

6 countries n 18 days?! Good plan!!

One of my favorite places in Austria was Salzburg. The city is gorgeous and the people are so nice. It's where the Sound of Music was filmed. Mirabel gardens is a must. The giant castle (festung hohensalzburg) is worth the hike. Also if you're looking to stay for cheap the hostel is quite nice.

You really need to cut down the number of countries. To travel long-distance between countries, whether by train or plane, you need to allow one full day, as you need to allow time to check-out of your hotel; get to the train station or airport; find the train/plane; travel the distance; find your way to the next hotel; check-in; relax and maybe have a meal. And, does that 18 days include your travel days for entering and departing Europe? Suggest you narrow this down to three, but no more than four, countries - perhaps fly into Paris, stay there a few days, then visit Austria (Salzburg or Vienna), train to Switzerland (Lucerne or Lugano), train to Italy (Venice or Rome). Get a guidebook to Western Europe, Lonely Planet have a good one, and work out just what you interested in seeing and work out a travel itinerary from that. There is so much to see and do in each country that it's difficult to say where you should go.

Here is a good website that gives some travel tips, http://travelofeurope.com/ I agree that you should try to cut down on the number of countries! Oh - and I love the south of France, it's breathtakingly beautiful... Definitely stay for a day or two on Cote d'Azur!