ChatGPT Prompt for Travel Itinerary

This prompt helps you plan detailed travel itineraries that balance must-see attractions with realistic timing and your personal interests. Perfect for vacation planners, travel enthusiasts, and anyone overwhelmed by trip planning options. ChatGPT will create day-by-day plans optimized for your travel style and preferences.

Works Best With: ChatGPT | Also works with: Claude, Gemini, Perplexity

The Prompt

Create a detailed travel itinerary for my trip to [DESTINATION].

Trip details:
– Destination: [CITY/REGION/COUNTRY]
– Travel dates: [START DATE to END DATE]
– Number of days: [TOTAL DAYS]
– Travelers: [SOLO, COUPLE, FAMILY WITH KIDS, GROUP]
– Ages if relevant: [FOR ACTIVITY APPROPRIATENESS]

Travel preferences:
– Pace: [RELAXED, MODERATE, PACKED]
– Interests: [HISTORY, FOOD, NATURE, ADVENTURE, CULTURE, SHOPPING, NIGHTLIFE, etc.]
– Budget level: [BUDGET, MID-RANGE, LUXURY]
– Accommodation location: [NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE STAYING]
– Must-see attractions: [NON-NEGOTIABLES]
– Things to avoid: [WHAT I DON’T WANT TO DO]

Practical constraints:
– Mobility considerations: [ANY LIMITATIONS]
– Dietary restrictions: [IF RELEVANT FOR RESTAURANT SUGGESTIONS]
– Transportation preference: [PUBLIC TRANSIT, RENTAL CAR, WALKING, MIX]
– Wake-up time: [EARLY BIRD vs SLEEP IN]

Create a day-by-day itinerary with:

**For each day:**
1. **Morning** (with timing)
   – Activity/attraction
   – Why it’s scheduled then (crowds, hours, etc.)
   – Estimated time needed
   – Breakfast/coffee recommendation nearby

2. **Afternoon**
   – 1-2 activities
   – Lunch suggestion
   – Travel time between locations

3. **Evening**
   – Dinner recommendation
   – Evening activity or rest
   – Nightlife options if relevant

**Additional details:**
– Realistic travel times between locations
– Ticket booking requirements (buy in advance?)
– Weather considerations
– Rest time built in (don’t over-schedule)
– Alternative options if something is closed/full
– Estimated daily budget
– Local tips and insider knowledge

**Also include:**
– Pre-trip preparation checklist
– What to pack
– Local customs/etiquette
– Emergency contacts
– Useful apps or resources

Make it realistic—I want to enjoy the trip, not sprint through it.

When to Use This Prompt

• You’re planning a trip and overwhelmed by options and logistics
• You want to maximize your time without over-scheduling
• You need realistic timing and routing between attractions
• You want personalized suggestions based on your interests and travel style

What You’ll Get

ChatGPT will generate a complete day-by-day itinerary with specific activities, restaurants, and attractions matched to your interests, realistic timing including travel between locations preventing rushed schedules, strategic scheduling considering crowds, hours, and optimal visit times, built-in flexibility with alternative options if plans change, breakfast, lunch, and dinner recommendations for each day, rest time preventing exhaustion and burnout, practical details like ticket booking requirements and transportation logistics, estimated daily budget helping you track spending, local tips and insider knowledge you won’t find in guidebooks, and pre-trip preparation checklist covering packing, customs, and useful apps. The itinerary is actually followable, not aspirational tourism board fantasy.

Why This Prompt Works

• Pace specification: Defining relaxed vs packed prevents over-scheduling or under-planning

• Interest alignment: Activities match what you actually enjoy, not generic “top 10” lists

• Realistic timing: Including travel time and rest prevents impossible itineraries

• Strategic scheduling: Timing activities around crowds, hours, and weather optimizes experience

How to Customize This Prompt

1. [DESTINATION] — Where you’re going: “Tokyo,” “Tuscany,” “Iceland”
2. [DATES/DAYS] — Timeline: determines depth of planning
3. [TRAVELERS] — Who’s going: affects activity suggestions
4. [PACE] — Speed: relaxed vs jam-packed changes everything
5. [INTERESTS] — Priorities: “food-focused,” “outdoor adventure,” “museum hopping”
6. [BUDGET] — Spending level: budget backpacker vs luxury traveler
7. [ACCOMMODATION] — Where staying: affects daily routing
8. [MUST-SEES] — Non-negotiables: ensures priorities are covered
9. [AVOID] — Exclusions: “no museums,” “skip touristy areas”
10. [MOBILITY] — Physical considerations: affects activity selection
11. [TRANSPORTATION] — How moving around: car vs transit changes routing

Pro Tips

• Local events: Add “check for festivals or events during my dates” for special experiences

• Hidden gems: Request “include off-the-beaten-path spots locals love” for authentic experiences

• Bad weather backup: Ask “create rainy day alternatives” for unpredictable weather destinations

• Day trip options: Include “suggest nearby day trips” if you have extra time or flexibility