7 days North to south?

Looks like you have 6 nights 7 days you are trying to fill?

I would suggest just 2 places; Venice & Rome or Florence & Rome, would be the prime choices on my list.

Rome would be the best choice for a departure point back home ( presumably the US?)

What time of year ?

Yes fill time and see as much as possible but not so much that we can’t relax at all. Yes the US. What about cinque terre in that mix?

When is this trip, how many people, ages, and what are you interested in? Two nights each is one whole day. For me, this would be exhausting for two weeks. You especially need a day in the middle to do nothing. I'd say a Minimum of three nights in each destination. If you could share a bit more info on your priorities,I could. be more helpful. Safe travels.

Sorry for the lack of info. We don’t have exact dates or even places flying into yet. Probably mid April starting in Switzerland the first week. Just two 50 year old kids their honeymoon. That said, we like be relatively on the go and active. Planning about 16 days total for the trip to account for losing a day each way getting to and from the states. Planning to put in a lot of steps, but yes I am concerned that constantly packing and moving hotels might take away from us getting a real feel for the place. I am more into scenery and he is prob more into the history.

Stay away from the week before and after Easter, which is April 20. With the Jubilee, crowds will be even larger in Italy, especially Rome. I would really skip Rome in 2025.
April is not the best time for seeing the Alps, it is between ski and summer season, so lifts may be closed, and hiking trails mushy. Not sure how the Berner Oberland would be in April.
Lucerne is always charming, tho. ( Fly into Zurich .)
You could catch the Bernina Express and go thru Tirano , Italy,
to Varenna, Lake Como, ( peaceful and beautiful for a few days),
and fly out of Milan or even Venice.
Or reverse the above.
Have fun planning. Safe travels.

OK, as I understand your plans (honeymoon, correct?? Congratulations)—-you have a 2-week trip, starting in Switzerland and ending someplace in Italy. You will spend some time in Switzerland, then move into Italy, spending 7 days or so with 2-3 stops on your way to your final destination in Italy, from which you will fly out. Al travel by train.

If that is correct, it sounds like what we have done a number of times, so it is certainly possible. We have done 3 such trips recently (post-pandemic),as we like to fly into Zurich and spend a few days in Switzerland before heading to our main destination in Italy. And our first such trip was our own honeymoon, when we were in our 50’s.

A couple of comments before I make a route suggestion. First, any train travel between Switzerland and Italy will route through Milan (unless you detour via Austria). But you don’t have to spend time there; you just change trains at Milan Centrale and continue on.

Second, with Easter 2005 on April 20, some places in Italy will be busy much of the month with Jubilee pilgrims and spring break travelers. It might be best to start in early April and complete your trip before Easter, or start in late April and continue into May. The latter would give you better weather and hiking possibilities in Switzerland.

Third, the main train routes between Switzerland and MIlan go through one or more long deep tunnels. You can see these tunnels,marked as dashed lines, on this map of the Swiss rail system (you may have to re-open the download). The named “scenic routes” which go over the Alps instead of under them are highlighted on the map. I suggest you take either the one marked #1, the Bernina route, or #2, the Gotthard Panorama route, on your way to Milan. And plan your timing so you do not need to overnight in Milan (in other words, don’t have a long travel day to reach Milan).

The Bernina route is longer and somewhat out of your way, requiring more time in Switzerland. Basically you make your way to Chur, then Pontresina, where most people would overnight (or nearb;y Samedan, where we spent our time). Then you take the named Bernina Express or a regular hourly train on the same track over the pass to Tirano, changing there to an Italian train heading to Milan. Your overnight stop on this route is Varenna on Lago di Como. From Varenna to Milan is only an hour, giving you plenty of time in the day to travel onward.

I will go into more detail on the Gotthard Pass route, as that is the one we prefer, and have used the last 3 trips (including this past September/October). For this, you would fly into Zurich and take the train from the airport to Luzern, just over an hour away (by next April they may have renewed the direct train, but if not you will make a simple change at the Zurich main station).

Luzern is a lovely small town on a river and lake, with honeymoon-worthy hotels overlooking the river, and lots of scenic boat/train/cablecar excursions possible. Spend 3 nights here, with plenty of time to relax and recover from the long flight.

From Luzern there are two scenic train possibilities over the Alps that will take you most of the way to Milan. One is the Treno Gottardo, a nice new train that goes over the Gotthard route to Locarno, a small Swiss city on Lago Maggiore. The other is the Gotthard Panorama Express, a first-class journey by boat and train that ends in Lugano on a lake by that name. Both Locarno and Lugano are in the Italian -speaking canton of Ticino, so—-as my husband likes to say—-you get the best of both works: Swiss order and efficiency, Italian language and cuisine.

https://www.travelswitzerland.com/en/experiences/scenic-routes/treno-gottardo/

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/gotthard-panorama-express/

You will spend 2 nights in one of these towns. For Locarno, I highly recommend this lakefront hotel:

https://www.hotelgeranio.ch/en/

The last poster had some great tips for Switzerland, I loved Interlakken and Lucern.

For one week in Italy, don't try to take in too much. Pick two cities like Venice and Florence, perhaps with a day in Milan.

I ran out of room but will just add a few more comments.

The hotel Geranio au Lac is right across the street from a lakeside pedestrian path that goes along the lake, through parks and past little picnic spots and boat rental places, for at least 2 km. It is a lovely scenic walk and you should have no trouble getting your steps in here.

On the full day between your overnights, you could take the Postbus #321 from in front of the Locarno train station into Val Verzasca for a very nice walk/hike. Leave the bus at the famed Ponte dei Salti bridge, and follow the well-marked trail along the crystal-clear river up the valley as far as you like. We went to the stone village of Sonogno at the end, but the last few km of trail were not all that scenic. I would suggest walking as far as Brione and catching the #321 back to Locarno from there. The Postbus runs hourly except for a small gap at mid-day. Check the schedule online at

https://www.postauto.ch/en/leisure-offers/excursion-tips/valle-verzasca

From Locarno to Milano Centrale is a journey of 2 hours by direct train. From Lugano to MC is is 1 hour 15 minutes. If your next stop is Cinque Cinque Terre, You will want to get to Milano Centrale in good time for the 12:10 direct EC train to Monterosso, the northernmost of the 5 villages. This is easily done, with the overall travel time from Lugano being 4.5 to 5 hours depending on your departure time from Lugano. From Locarno, if you catch the 9:22 regional train to MC, you will have plenty of time to catch the 12:10 EC to Monterosso, with the overall travel time of 5 h 43 minutes.

Or you may change your mind about Clinique Terre and decide to visit closer places in Italy—-Verona, Ravenna, Lago di Garda, maybe towns like Stresa on Lago Maggiore—-it’s all good.

Thanks, Lola and others. Great advice. We are now thinking about maybe starting in Italy, to not rub up against Easter make our way north over about 9 to 10 days then maybe head to Switzerland for 4 to 5 days and flying out of Zurich. Do you think just reversing what you mentioned will work? I do want the most scenic route to Switzerland.

Yes, going south to north and finishing in Switzerland will work fine. Maybe better, as it puts Switzerland later, with a better chance of pleasant spring weather.

You haven’t said where you would like to go in Italy, besides Cinque Terre. Just remember that wherever you go, you will pass through Milan to reach Switzerland. So don’t start too far south.

For the Bernina scenic route, head to Varenna on Lake Como from Milano Centrale (one hour by train). For the Gotthard Panorama Express (train then boat route, all in First Class), head to Lugano on Lago Lugano, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Milano Centrale. For the Treno Gottardo, head to Locarno on Lago Maggiore, about 2 hours from Milano Centrale.

2 ish nights? One travel there one seeing there then on you way to the train station. 4-5 nights per location is best.

Thanks everyone. I hated to keep posting because I keep changing my mind. It’s a lot to look at. I think we have re routed again to very late April early May. I forgot about my daughter’s 21st bday. Likely Switzerland first now just for about 4 nights, train to Italy then working north to south. I wish I knew exactly what we wanted to see. I’m now leaning towards Florence, Rome, almafi coast area then fly out of Naples. The problem is everytime I look up a new place, I want to go there also. Is the train ride from Switzerland one choice to be the most scenic or are there certain routes to pick for that also. Leaning towards staying in interlaken the entire time but open on that suggestion as well. I’m sorry I’m so all over the place.

Interlaken is a transit center, not a charming Swiss village. I'd suggest Wengen or Murren, or Lauterbrunen. You have lots of time to plan- enjoy the process, especially with the long night now. Have a great trip .

Thanks so much. That is super helpful. I was told Interlaken by someone who had only been there. Maybe they felt that was the best home base? I would like the most fun scenic place there because with only 4 nights I’m thinking we shouldn’t hotel hop. Taking notes.

I wish I knew exactly what we wanted to see. I’m now leaning towards Florence, Rome, almafi coast area then fly out of Naples.

I think that's too much. Before going further, check the cost of flying out of Naples compared to flying out of Rome. You only have a week in Italy. I suggest Florence with one day set aside for a day trip to Tuscany and then Rome.

Moving from one area to another is a major time suck, easily burning up most or all of one day for each move.

Understood. That has also been a concern is constantly being on the move.

Changing your mind is fine; this is your first trip and there is so much to see and do. But you can’t have it all.

I agree that Interlaken is not a good choice for your one stop in Switzerland. Perhaps you could be more specific about what you hope to get out of your time in Switzerland, beyond fun and scenery. What is your idea of fun? Hiking, cycling, good food and wine, local festivals, scenic boat trips, charming villages. . . . All are on offer in Switzerland, but not necessarily in one place. And you have to consider the timing——even May is risky, weather-wise, in the higher alpine areas of the Berner Oberland, and you may not get the scenic views you hope for.

And If you truly want to visit Florence, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast, then fly out of Naples, you should consider that 2 weeks are barely enough time to enjoy those places. Just getting to Florence from anywhere in Switzerland will use up most of a day.

Maybe Switzerland doesn’t really fit into this trip. Especially if you want to stay in or around Interlaken, as that location adds considerable travel time to your transfer to Italy, especially if you want a scenic train rather than one going through tunnels. Luzern is a much better choice, with the scenic route over the Gotthard pass, but only if this lakeside town fits your vision of Switzerland.

I posted in Switzerland group also. I’m actually very open to somewhere besides Interlaken. No hiking. We like to walk. Looking for scenery mostly, which could also mean a charming town. I’m honestly open to whatever. Not huge shoppers or drinkers. I really don’t want to cut out Switzerland completely but was willing to cut it to a 4 night stay to get a taste of it.

For the length of your trip, I would recommend eliminating Switzerland or focusing on Switzerland and northern Italy (and eliminating Rome/southern Italy.) For a honeymoon, I would recommend considering Venice, which is probably the most enchanted, magical, romantic city I've ever been to. Murren in Switzerland (and the Northface trail from Murren) are probably the most spectacularly beautiful places I've been, but like Lola stated, your trip dates may not be the best time of year for the Swiss alps. (We were there in July.) If you are set on a coastal location, consider the Ligurian coast (area where the Cinque Terre are), instead of Amalfi coast. It is easy to travel between Florence and the Ligurian coast. You could look at Santa Margherita Ligure or Camogli on the Ligurian coast. From there you can do day trips to Portofino and the Cinque Terre. Lola's recommendation for the Treno Gottardo (between Lucerne and Locarno) is a great one. We did that (at her recommendation) and stayed 2 nights in Locarno with a day trip to Val Verzasca, and it was awesome. (Thank you, Lola) :) I also agree with the recommendation to aim for at least 3 nights in each location. We found 4-5 nights to be a perfect amount of time in each of our locations, but we like to travel a little slower.

Well now i'm getting talked out of switzerland :). Okay lets back track this. 14 nights In Italy but I do really want to do the train ride to switzerland and back. Is that just a waste of time? Would flying in around Rome and making way up north work for this then flying out somewhere North Italy? I'm sorry guys. I'm being a pain. I know this at least.

Hi there, welcome and congrats on the Swiss / or maybe just Italy honeymoon. Don't forget, it's your honeymoon and you may want some R&R with some days of no travel! Just to add another holiday - May 1st is Labor Day & a big day off in Italy & most of Switzerland.

I really don’t want to cut out Switzerland completely but was willing to cut it to a 4 night stay to get a taste of it.

So don't cut it out. I would take a look at flights on Google Flights, use multi-leg to check prices to various destinations. Lola gave some great advice about Swiss trains, why not fly into Milan (arrive probably mid day and go straight to Florence, or Bologna or one of the lakes for a few days) & out of Zurich, so you get a taste of N Italy and spend a some days in Switzerland at the end of your trip? Rome is going to be jammed in late April, beyond your wildest imagination, so consider leaving it for another trip. There are so many gorgeous places to visit in Northern Italy, you could easily spend your entire trip wandering there, as we've done on numerous occasions. Good luck & have a marvelous trip!

14 nights In Italy
7 days North to south?
Planning about 16 days total
planning 2 week trip starting in Switzerland,

The problem is everytime I look up a new place, I want to go there also.

I suggest you decide how many nights you can be 'there'.

Once that is fixed then 'what fits' is much easier to determine.

Given your geographically wide range of interests ( Amalfi coast to Switzerland) looking at multi-city ( aka open jaw) airfare would be advisable.

Sandisco, Yes. I've completely changed dates due to that crowd. Fiance just told me he now wants to start trip around the 2nd to 6th of april. So back to the drawing board of likely doing Italy first to leave before it gets too crowded than Swizterland if that makes sense. I have zero patience for crowds so big that I can't enjoy. Now we just have to decide between North or south Italy and I'm realizing if I do south Italy, we will be pressed for time to add in Switzerland. I'm either going to have to pick south and give up Switzerland or north and keep a few days or even a day train ride just to check it out.

Do you have a guide book? I think spending some time with some photos might be more helpful at this early stage--a visual cue to help you select what places you most want to see. Forget about avoiding crowds--not gonna happen unless you skip the main places, which is not out of the question but I don't think it is your priority (and almost always require car rental). Crowds can be managed with careful planning--booking private tours, booking advance tickets, etc.--but not avoided. Maybe skip one of the "big three" and replace with a smaller village so you can see another side of Italy.
Switzerland is gorgeous, but Italy has pretty mountains too, so I'd lean toward making the most of your time and not necessarily forcing both.
congrats and good luck!

My head is spinning.

Begin with what interests you!

I think you are interested in scenery and mountains, since you have referred to Switzerland and the Amalfi Coast as you keep changing gears.

You mention cities. Why? What do you want to see or experience?

• Art? In museums?
• What about art in churches, like the amazing frescoes as well as sculptures that you would see in Rome, Florence and so many other places, such as Venice, Assisi, Orvieto, and many more.
• History? Roman? Renaissance? Etruscan?
• Church history and the Catholic Church? The Jewish Ghettos in Venice and Rome or the Synagogue in Florence?
• Food? Just restaurants? Or cooking classes, maybe?
• Do you want to spend any time relaxing in cafes? Or parks?

Have you spent a few hours with some quality guidebooks? Any with pictures, as well as text? Multiple ones and not just Rick Steves. Lonely Planet, Moon Guides, DK Eyewitness and Michelin Guides are all quite good. There are country guidebooks as well as regional guidebooks … for Tuscany, or Rome or ‘Naples and the Amalfi Coast.’ Watch some RS videos of Italy.

Once you consider some of this you can plan your travels better.

You can then say, I really want to spend time looking at ancient histor,y including the Roman Forum, Rome’s Capitoline Museum, or Ostia Antica. The Archaeological Museum in Naples and Pompeii are musts. Hadrian’s Villa interests me. Or not.

You can then say, I want to understand the Renaissance. You decide that you really have to spend quality time in Florence, its birthplace, as well as Rome and Venice, or Padua or Assisi. … because you want to learn about Giotto, Brunelleschi, Fra Angelico, Masaccio and Masolino, Ghirlandaio, Michelangelo, Donatello, Botticelli, Leonardo, Titian, Raphael, and/or Bernini. Or not. Or only a little. The late medieval architecture and sculpture in Pisa and the nearby small city of Lucca are essential for a couple of days. Or not. Same for Giotto’s art in Padua’s Scroveigni Chapel as a potential day trip from Venice, on the way somewhere else, or on the way to Venice.

Do you want to take time to hike in the Dolomites or along the coast of Cinque Terre? Or bicycle somewhere in Tuscany for the beauty of the countryside and smaller towns?

Do you want to explore food and cheese making and vinegar production in Emilia Romagna? Wineries in Montepulciano or Chianti?

What about seeing glass blowing on Murano, a short (and cheap) boat ride away from Venice?

Then you can design an itinerary.

Guidebooks may show you that 4 nights, just 3 full days in Florence is barely enough if Renaissance art is of great interest to you. Maybe a little more if you want to consider Florentine history as well. Or even longer yet, if you want to add a day trip from Florence to go to Chianti. Or a second day trip to Pisa. A third one to Siena? Volterra? Fiesole?

Two weeks in Italy is really not very much. Smaller towns are real gems and worthy of day trips, better yet two day trips, from bigger cities.

Explore. Find your own path.

I don’t think they need to make such a chore out of it. This is a honeymoon, supposed to be fun and relaxing. They have expressed interests in beautiful scenery and history; Switzerland (just a peek, maybe a scenic train ride) and Italy (Rome, Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre).

So they have a rough outline, but are having trouble aligning it with what they have been advised here regarding April weather in Switzerland, and April crowds in Italy (particularly Rome).

So now we have this:

Well now i'm getting talked out of switzerland :). Okay lets back track this. 14 nights In Italy but I do really want to do the train ride to switzerland and back. Is that just a waste of time? Would flying in around Rome and making way up north work for this then flying out somewhere North Italy? I'm sorry guys. I'm being a pain. I know this at least.

And then this:

Yes. I've completely changed dates due to that crowd. Fiance just told me he now wants to start trip around the 2nd to 6th of april. So back to the drawing board of likely doing Italy first to leave before it gets too crowded than Swizterland if that makes sense. I have zero patience for crowds so big that I can't enjoy. Now we just have to decide between North or south Italy and I'm realizing if I do south Italy, we will be pressed for time to add in Switzerland. I'm either going to have to pick south and give up Switzerland or north and keep a few days or even a day train ride just to check it out.

They don’t need to study up on archeological sites near Naples, and they aren’t going to be hiking in the Dolomites in April (not possible). They do want to see Rome, but not Milan. And a peek at Switzerland is still on the list (although I will advise that a “day train ride” into Switzerland and back out is not the best way to do that).

They can certainly meet these goals by flying into Rome and out from Zurich. It will mean adjusting expectations from 4 nights everywhere, and adding at least one single overnight stop. But it can all work out.

Here is one possible itinerary:

Starting in early April: fly into Rome, spend 4 nights. Travel to Cinque Terre, spend 3 nights. Next to Florence for 3 nights. Then take the train to Lugano, 3.5 hours away, with a single change in Milan. Spend one night there. Next morning take the scenic Gotthard Panorama Express train plus boat to Luzern and spend 2 nights there. As long as their flight from Zurich departs late morning or after, they can easily travel right into the Zurich airport terminal by train that morning, in just over an hour from Luzern.

This is 13 nights total so they may have an additional one to add somewhere. That somewhere could be Zurich if they have an early flight out.

Also, if they would prefer to take the Treno Gottardo instead of the pricy Gotthard Panorama Express, they could either overnight in Locarno instead of Lugano (our usual choice), or start in Lugano and change trains at Bellinzona to ride the Treno Gottardo.

Editing to add: I asked a Swiss woman I know from my exercise class where she would recommend visitors to go in mid-April for scenery, a nice charming town, and pleasant weather. Her answer was “ a town on a lake, at lower elevation”. When I asked for specifics, she named Luzern, Montreux, Locarno and Lugano.

Thanks, everyone. I probably started asking questions too early before I had dates and ideas firmed up. Thank god you guys mentioned Easter. Due to a lot of advice about Rome in 2025, we have done a much better job of deciding what we really want and we are skipping that. We decided we are much more into scenery and food on this trip vs history. I also didn’t know my fiancé would change dates on me. We are planning from April 2nd to Italy and flying out of Switzerland April 18th. No flights booked yet. Haven’t figured out order yet but Florence, Venice for sure. The maybes are cinque terre, and anything in between on the way to Tirano such as Verona, etc. last night in Tirano before we get on Bernina. I’m also open to Lake Como area. At this point I’m just looking at map trying to figure it out. Not as interested in Milan. I do really appreciate all the help and apologize for being so all over the place previously. And yes I have still considered missing Switzerland on this trip and enjoying all Northern Italy has to offer instead. I will be hopping on the Switzerland forum to figure out if it is worth it for us.

We don’t like flying into Venice. Maybe fly ito Milan and go straight to Varenna for 2 nights. Then Venice 3 nights, Florence 3 nights, Cinque Terre 3 nights. That’s 11 nights in Italy, a good mix of city and lake or seaside. Plenty of history in Venice too.

That leave 3 nights for Switzerland. Shortest path to Zurich airport if you want a scenic route is the train over the Gotthard Pass to Lucerne or Zurich.