Alps? Switzerland, Italian, or Austrian?

The Dolomites are wunderbar for pictures as are many of the viliages in the area. Kastleruth has great views as does Santa Magdelena.
Lech am Arlberg in the Austrian Alps cannot be beat for beauty and photo ops.
Just returned from visiting both...spectacular!

Hi Theresa,

All are good choices, but nothing else in the alps looks the Dolomites. Dramatic and spectacular. They are also closest. Stay in the Val Gardena or Alta Badia. The Mont Seuc/Seiser Alm cable car, from Ortisei to the Seiser Alm/Alpe Di Siusi, opens mid May.

www.val-gardena.com
www.altabadia.it

www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/sets

Paul

The Dolomites are beautiful and only require a short detour from the main Milan-Venice train line, so I'd save Switzerland for another trip. If you take a train to Bolzano, you can visit the Ice Man Museum and the public market there, then take the local bus up into the hills, such as to Castelrotto for the Alpe Di Siusi (2 buses/hour Mon-Fri and less on weekends); these destinations are covered in Rick's Italy 2015 guidebook.

Theresa,

The previous posters are correct; the Dolomites are beautiful. We were there in September, 2013, and saw the beauty. BUT, I'd still recommend the Lauterbrunen valley in Switzerland. We have been there in July and in May, and both times the weather was great. In May we had good weather and views all the way up to the Jungfraujoch. Anyway, the beauty of the Alps on both sides of that valley are a wonderful memory. Have a great trip!

I have to jump in here and echo the recommendation to try the Dolomites. If you want photography opportunities it is really unsurpassed. You never know what they weather will give you in May in the Alps but if you can spend a few days you'll increase you chance of clear days.

I recommend seeing the Alps in Switzerland, when much of the high mountains are covered with white snow. Much white snow should be on the Alps in Switzerland in the month May. Good places : go to both Murren (in the Berner Oberland), and the Stanzerhorn mountain (train from Lucern). Many people who are residents in Switzerland choose to go to the Stanzerhorn because they like being on that mountain top, and they like being at the old village that is at the base of the Stanzerhorn.
At the Jungfraujoch the view is not a panoramic view of Alps mountains.

As a photographer you will love Italy!

I would do this: Milan - Lake Garda - Canazei - Venice.
From Canazei you can go ride the gondola to the top of Passo Pordoi and/or Marmolada.
That could take more than 11 nights but the drive from Milan along Lake Garda alone will give you a taste of the Alps.

We like to drive and I would get a car in Milan and return it in Venice. With a car you can stop for photos when you want which is great but can also eat up an enormous amount of time so be sure to pace yourself.

Or Milan - Lake Maggiorie - Cinque Terre. Choosing is hard but the research is fun!

The Jungfrau region may still have a lot of snow in May and is very far from Venice.

Enjoy the trip!

Theresa,

Both the Berner Oberland and Dolomites have incredible scenery (IMO), but there are subtle differences. I'm sure you'd enjoy either one and both would provide great photo op's. Which one to visit will probably depend on the other destination you choose. A few thoughts.....

• If you decide on the Cinque Terre, Switzerland would be good fit as transportation will be easier than to the Dolomites.
• If you decide on Venice, the Dolomites would be a better fit. As Laura mentioned, that's on the main Milan - Venice train routes. You'd need to change trains at Verona P.N. and travel to Bolzano. If you want to stay in Castelrotto, a short (~1 hour) bus ride will be necessary. There are buses from there to Alpi di Siusi (or you can take the chairlift up the hill to Marinzen from Castelrotto and hike, returning by bus.

One quick note... the Alps are far more extensive in Italy than just the Dolomite subrange, and Switzerland's Alpine system is also much larger than just the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Anyway, weather in Switzerland in May is not dependable enough to rely on, particularly if your interest is photography. Italy is probabaly a safer bet. But you could also consider Ticino canton in Switzerland as a calculated risk. It generally has the sunniest weather of all Switzerland's Alpine cantons.

Theresa,

Keep in mind cable cars will NOT be running in May in most of the Dolomites and many other area's. There are two cable car trips I know of that open mid May in the Dolomites. That's enough for a few days. If you're heading there in early May, no cable cars will be running. Just an FYI.