Switzerland, Germany and South Tyrol

We usually skip Switzerland as Austria is less expensive and easier to travel through. We stay in or outside of Innsbruck and take day trips up on the mountains going from village to village.

Salzburg is close, and Venice is a good weekend trip. The Grossglockner High Alpine Highway starts south of Zell-am-See (ending close to the Italian border) and it's the most beautiful place we've ever seen. It's a good day trip from Innsbruck. You can also make a day trip going thru the Brenner Pass and down to the Italian Dolomites.

I lived in Innsbruck going to college in 1970. It's about time I returned as I very much miss the place and those incredible mountain vistas.

silvia, welcome to the forum.

You're asking a bunch of anonymous strangers to spend your money and your time for you. If you've never been there before there are a lot of things to ask yourself. Like what are your interests: food, wine, nightlife, hiking riding trains, mountain views, history, museums, etc. And just as important, what is your budget. The best way to start is to read up on the areas you're considering, and get an idea of what captures your interest. Then understand transportation (i.e., trains) and the time it gets to go from one place to another., and costs of lodging at the price range you are comfortable with. Then consider flights to and from, which may narrow down what's a convenient beginning and endpoint.

I can’t imagine going to Switzerland for the first time without visiting Zermatt and seeing the Matterhorn

If you have time to plant yourself for 4-5 days and have a car in Südtirol, consider the Pustertal. It is beautiful in early-mid June. Spent a week in Sexten/Sesto one year and will go back one day. You are not far from Bruneck and Lienz. Naturpark Drei Zinnen.
https://www.pustertal.org/de/pustertal/hochpustertal/sexten/
https://www.dreizinnen.com/de/das-erlebnis/im-sommer/familienparks.html

I concur with Zermatt. Just have time if you want a clear day. Sas Fee is one valley over. Grindelwald and the Eiger is impressive.

Hmmmm... will respectfully submit that I have been to Switzerland once. Zermatt/Matterhorn not on my itinerary. And I'm okay with that 🙂.

We stayed in Hafling above Meran Südtirol and there in Viertlerhof.

Meran(Merano)
https://www.merano-suedtirol.it/en/merano.html

Hafling(Avelengo)
https://www.visitmerano.com/avelengo/

Viertlerhof
https://www.hotel-viertler.com/en/

Dont forget to see the Knottnkino
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiF516zV7j8

Silvia. You don’t say how many nights/days you are in Bavaria and how many you have for both Switzerland AND Sud Tirol. You don’t say where you’ll fly into and out of.

Even if you spit it kind of evenly, 7 Bavaria, 7 Switzerland and 6 Sud Tirol, there’s a lot of traveling that will eat up time from your 20 days.

I agree with Zermatt and the Matterhorn (must sees on our only Swiss trip), but with limited time, I’d say 4 nights in Berner Oberland (Wengen or Murren) along with 2 nights in Luzern.

Sud Tirol could either mean the Dolomites between Ortisei and Cortina d’Ampezzo OR the area around Meran/Merano and west of Meran/Merano.

Since you would have seen the Alps in Bavaria and Switzerland, for the Sud Tirol, I’d head to the Val Gardena, Dolomites, as they are vastly different than the alpine scenery in both Switzerland and Bavaria. With 6 nights you can see a lot, plus take day trips to Bolzano and/or Bressanone.

One of the easiest things to do: use Google Maps to get a feel for the geography. Then, create an itinerary that makes sense. Then, we can help you better.
Alternatively, hire a good travel agent. I still see value in using them as they can help you save time and money.

The Rick Steves guidebooks cover the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland and Süd Tyrol in Italy well. Sit down with them and educate yourself for what you want to see and do. It should be a fantastic trip, especially when you are doing exactly what you want to do.