I would like to plan a trip to include Italy, Switzerland, and France, but am having trouble narrowing down which cities to visit within each that will provide the best experience and make the most sense logistically. I know it's a lot, but I'd like to try and hit 2 cities per country for a 14-16 day trip. I have already been to Rome, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Paris, and Lauterbrunnen Valley.
For Italy, I only spent a couple of days in Florence, and it was over 10 years ago, so I'm considering going back there since it seems to be very popular. I'd also like to visit Amalfi, maybe Positano, but I wonder if that's too similar to Cinque Terre and somewhere else would be better? And, since I have been to Italy more than once, I could limit this country to one stop.
For France, since I've only been to Paris, I would like to visit more of the countryside. I'm thinking Provence - maybe Aix-en-Provence or Avignon. Colmar, Strasbourg, and Annecy were also on my list as potentials (mainly because they look so picturesque), but they might not make sense logistically when also visiting Italy and Switzerland. My husband has some interest in Nice but it seems to get pretty mixed reviews?
For Switzerland, I remember loving Lauterbrunnen Valley, so I'd like to squeeze in a visit there (or at least somewhere similar). Other than that, I cannot decide between Interlaken, Bern, Zurich, Lucerne, Zermatt. I don't have any interest in visiting Geneva.
For the best experience (beautiful scenery, architecture, museums, great food, culturally/historically significant sites to visit, tours, - enough to do so we don't get bored, etc.) and considering logistics for a 2-week-ish trip, which 2 cities would you visit or recommend within each country?