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Need help with Italy, Switzerland, Germany trip

Posted by (Houston, TX) on

Updated information request - We are planning a 21 day trip to Italy, Switzerland and Germany in May 2017. We are in our mid to late 60's. Hubby doesn't want to spend anymore time in Rome - we are really not big city people. We were just in Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Varenna last April. It left me wanting more time and adventure in the area.

We are staying at an agriturismo for one week in Tuscany. Then take the Bernina Express from Tirano to Chur. We will be traveling by train, except for a car rental for Tuscany. I want to see the Alps, beautiful views, castles and have a minimum of walking (achilles tendonitis/arthritis in feet, I am good with 2-3 hours on my feet at a time). I would like any suggestions that you might want to give to the following itinerary, Best train routes? How to make best use of time? Not to be missed? I have the Rick Steves' travel guides, and I am reading, but I need to finalize travel plans soon.

Tuesday, May 9 – Flight out of Houston
Night 1 – Wed. May 10 – Arrive Rome Airport - where to spend night? Amalfi Coast/Orvieto?
Night 2 – Thurs. May 11 – ?
Night 3 – Friday, May 12 - ?
Night 4 – Saturday, May 13 – Travel to Orvieto; Rent Car - where?; drive to Agriturismo in Tuscany
Night 5 – Sunday, May 14 – Agriturismo
Night 6 – Monday, May 15 – Agriturismo
Night 7 – Tuesday, May 16 – Agriturismo
Night 8 – Wednesday, May 17 – Agriturismo
Night 9 – Thursday, May 18 – Agriturismo
Night 10 – Friday, May 19 – Agriturismo
Night 11 – Saturday, May 20 - Travel day to Varenna/Tirano for Bernina Express??
Night 12 – Sunday, May 21 – Bernina Express – Where to stay in Switzerland?
Night 13 – Monday, May 22 – Berner Oberland country, Interlaken/Murren, Switzerland
Night 14 – Tuesday, May 23 – Murren, Switzerland
Night 15 – Wednesday, May 24 – Murren
Night 16 – Thursday, May 25 – ?
Night 17 – Friday, May 26 - ?
Night 18 – Saturday, May 27 - ?
Night 19 – Sunday, May 28 - ?
Night 20 – Monday, May 29 – Munich, Germany
Night 21 – Tuesday, May 30 – Flight from Munich to Houston

Thanks for any suggestions!

Kathy

Posted by
20924 posts

Not sure the meaning of the extra dates Nights 5 to 12. You might want to edit that.
Night 12 to 16, you do realize you can walk from Muerren to Gimmelwald. Just stay in one place, Muerren would be better. Cross Zermatt off the list unless you want to stay there for at least 3 nights. Too far away.

Posted by
116 posts

Sam,

Thanks for your response. I was looking at two different time periods initially. I thought I deleted all of the other dates. I guess I have looked at this too long! I have corrected it.

Posted by
12040 posts

Coming from the Alps, the Black Forest will probably be a bit of a let down. More mountains, but not nearly as high. Plus, if you fly out of Munich, the range lies in the opposite direction of your travel.

Posted by
6922 posts

Night 16 – Thursday, May 25 – Gimmelwald; Zermatt
Night 17 – Friday, May 26 - Black Forest?
Night 18 – Saturday, May 27 - ?
Night 19 – Sunday, May 28 - Germany? Not interested in spending much time in Munich.
Night 20 – Monday, May 29 – Munich, Germany

Right on the route from Zermatt to Munich is the handsome island-town of Lindau, on the German side of Lake Constance. I would book there for 3 nights and do a day trip or two. You'll have LOTS of options - Konstanz, Meersburg and Meersburg Castle, Insel Mainau, the Black Forest towns of Donaueschingen (source of the Danube) and Villingen (each about 2 hours from Lindau through pleasant scenery.)
Ulm is less than 2 hours from Lindau as well.

From Lindau you are just 2.5 hours away from Munich by direct train.

Posted by
27609 posts

Another vote for Mainau Island and its gardens. The area around Lake Constance (the Bodensee) is lovely and missed by most American tourists.

Posted by
17221 posts

I suggest you spend Night 11 in Varenna---a charming village right on the lake. We love Albergo Milano and dinner on their terrace.

Next day travel to Tirano and take the Bernina Express OR a regional train on the same route ( same views, fewer people, no panorama windows but the regular ones are OK) as far as Pontresina, Samedan, or St. Moritz. Then you can spend Night 12 IN the Alps rather than in Chur. Next day it is still easy to get to the Berner Oberland---or spend a night in lovely Luzern and take the Golden Pass route to Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, the following day.

Late May is still early season here so weather a bit iffy, and not everything may be open. But since major hikes are not your goal, you should be fine---the scenery is still great!

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