My husband and I are planning a trip to Europe for September of 2016. I am trying to figure out where to start. Our plan is to start in either Switzerland or Austria, and take a train to Italy. Once in Italy we will make our way to the Cinque Terre. We have already hit the big cities in Italy, so we want to go to smaller more quaint places.
Can anyone give us some ideas for an itinerary? We will probably plan a trip for about 14 days.
Thank you!
Cynthia
We prefer Austria, as the mountains run east and west--easier to travel in.
The Austrian Alps are essentially the same mountains as Switzerland, and Innsbruck/Western Tirol area has an incredible number of first class accommodations. Rooms are often priced less than Switzerland.
And it's very easy to get to the Austrian Alps from Munich by car or train. Munich also has a great airport.
The Brenner Pass is just a few miles south of Innsbruck, and you're in Northern Italy. We also love traveling the Dolomites on the way down to Venice.
Are you wanting to travel by train or car?
Speaking very generally, Switzerland will be more expensive than Austria. Both offer outstanding experiences. But Italy has Alps, too, and the Aosta region, just across the Mont Blanc tunnel from Chamonix, France, is fabulous. The mountains west of Torino hosted events of the 2006 Winter Olympics. From there, the Cinque Terre are basically due south.
The Dolomites south of Austria look interesting, although I haven't been.
David,
We will want to travel by train. Thank you for your response!
Cynthia
Seems like Zurich would be convenient entry point, to get right into it.. Maybe Engadin area, Innsbruck, Kitzbuhel, then into Italy and out from Milan.
I think the mountains are more spectacular in Switzerland than most anywhere else in Europe, but then again so are the prices.
We have spent considerable time in the Italian Alps, the Dolomites, and have also taken two trips to the Berner-Oberland area of Switzerland. We love them both, but the food is simply better in Italy and Italy costs less. That said, we are going back to the Lauterbrunnen Valley in late September anyway as we love the variety of hiking options there and we will have an apartment so we can cook.
It is very easy to stay in the Lauterbrunnen area then take a train to Italy whether you want to go to the Dolomites or simply on to the Cinque Terre. For example:
- Lauterbrunnen Valley 4-5 nights
- Val Gardena, Italy, 4-5 nights
- Cinque Terre, 4 nights
Will you be hiking? If that is what you like to do, I can offer some real specifics. We are big Cinque Terre fans, too, and have hiked and toured in Liguria a lot.
Laurel,
We plan to do the hike in Cinque Terre , from what I read it seems to be easy to moderate . Unless there are some easy hikes in one of the areas that have alps, we most likely be doing mostly gazing. I have asthma, and steady up hill climbs are extremely challenging . Add to that the altitude, and I would be very short of breath. If there is an easy hike someplace, ( I doubt it!) let me know!
Thanks so much!
Cynthia
Hello Cynthia. If your interest in Austria is only to see Alps mountains, and if you will not go to Venice, I recommend going to Switzerland, not Austria. You could fly to the airport of Zurich, and have overnight accommodation at Lauterbrunnen in the Berner Oberland. After Lauterbrunnen, I would ride in trains to Lucerne, be at Lucerne at least one night, and then travel in trains from Lucern to the Cinque Terre in Italy (or a place in northwest Italy) via Milan train station. Traveling in trains from the Zurich airport to Lauterbrunnen is easy.
Zurich (1)
St Moritz (2)
(Glacier Express)
Zermatt (2)
Geneva (1)
(Golden Line)
Interlaken via Montreux (2)
Luzern (2)
Como (2)
Tirano via Milano (1)
(Bernina Express)
Zurich (1)
*We plan to do the hike in Cinque Terre , from what I read it seems to be easy to moderate . Unless there are some easy hikes in one of the areas that have alps, we most likely be doing mostly gazing. I have asthma, and steady up hill climbs are extremely challenging . Add to that the altitude, and I would be very short of breath. If there is an easy hike someplace, ( I doubt it!) let me know! *
I would not call the #2 trail, the Sentiero Azzuro in the Cinque Terre easy-to-moderate. In fact we like other trails there far more for solitude and ease of navigation. You can take a little shuttle bus out of either Vrnazza or Manarola to get to a higher trail. The one at Volastra is more easily navigated in my opinion, and ends in Corniglia, a great lunch spot. After lunch you can take the shuttle down in Corniglia to catch the train. Ask locally. We found the Explora Store in Manarola most helpful. Also, PortoVenere is nice for a city exploration. Take the boat over and explore for a day. Lerici,on the Golf of Poets, offers a flat walk. See the blog A Path to Lunch for a nice day idea.
In the Val Gardena we have taken some hikes that are quite easy. Especially at Rasciesa, where a funicular drops you off and you can walk what is mostly level and suitable for small children to a rifugio for lunch. Roundtrip hike is about an hour plus stop for lunch. Extend the walk by going to the little mountain church a bit further on. There is also a flat path, a promenade, between Ortisei and Santa Cristina that is easy. Again, ask locally for walks that suit you in duration and difficulty.
In the Lauterbrunnen Valley you can ride lifts and trains all over the mountains and not have to walk to gaze upon incredible scenery! There are some easier hikes, too, like from Grutschalp to Murren, far easier than the Sentiero Azzuro in the Cinque Terre IMHO. Just walking thru Murren is a delight, and although I have not done it yet, I think the valley waterfall hike is pretty accessible.
