I am planing a trip with my husband in May. Right now we plan to fly into Munich. Take the train to Salzburg. Spend 3 nights in Salzburg. Take train to Munich. Spend 2 nights. Take a day trip to Kings Castle. Take train to Interlaken. Spend 1 night. Take train to Murren. Spend 1 night. Take train to Lake Como. Spend 3 nights in Bellagio. Train to Cinque Terre. Stay 3 nights. Train to Florence where our daughter will be finishing a "study abroad semester". we plan to stay in Florence 3 nights Maybe take a couple of wine country day trips from Florence. My husband and I like beautiful scenery, food, wine, hiking. Don't want too many museums. My questions:
I really want to see Murren, Wengen area but I'm not sure if this is the trio for it. Is it going to be warm enough and is it worth the travel time?
Am I giving myself enough time at other places?
Is Bellagio easy to get to? Or should we consider staying somewhere else on Lake Como?
Do we want to spend 3 nights in Florence or stay in wine country a night or two?
Right now my thought is to leave Chicago May 4 and return May21.
I'm planning on our daughter joining us in Lake Como and Florence/wine country.
She won't have class Thursday through Sunday
Thank you for any info you can give to make our tr the best that it can be!
Debbie
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
Even if the weather weren't ideal, I would want to spend both nights in Muerren, not one in Interlaken. That way, you'll be well positioned for the best views whenever the sun breaks out. Some hotels are closed in May, but not all, and our May tour departures follow the same plan as later dates. Of course you're also getting some opinions on your other threads.
Varenna is on the train line that runs along the east side of Lake Como (schedules through Trenitalia or SBB Swiss web sites); Bellagio is a short ferry ride from Varenna. I have always stayed at Varenna and then day tripped by ferry. On the western side of the lake, you can take a train to Lugano then a local bus to Menaggio, but again it's a ferry ride from Menaggio to Bellagio.
If you stay 3 nights in Florence, then you have two full days there. It sounds like you plan to fill both of those with day trips, leaving just the afternoon of arrival and the evenings for Florence itself.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Maybe try for 3 nights in Murren to increase your chances of good spring alpine weather.
May 5 Salzburg
May 7 Munich
May 9 Murren
May 12 Lake Como
May 15 Cinque Terre
May 18 Florence
May 21 Depart