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Critique my itinerary - 7 days in Italy - Florence with a stopover in Zurich

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Hello!

I'm planning a trip for myself (40s) and my mom (70s). We need to spend one day in Zurich to do some genealogical research, but aside from that, we're thinking of going to Italy. Travel days, arrival day, and Zurich day aside, we would have 7 full days and 8 nights to spend in Italy. We can do Zurich first or last, doesn't matter, and we can fly or train there. We'll be going in either the spring or the fall, not summer.

We do want to go to Florence, and we do not want to go to Venice or Rome (been on previous trips). We will not rent a car as neither of us likes driving in foreign cities. We do have the budget to hire a driver if needed.

Things we like: down-to-earth but delicious food and drinks, nature, art, wine, easy hikes, wandering around small towns
Things we don't care about: luxury shopping or lifestyle, beaches, upscale/snooty dining, places designed for tourists (I've never been to San Gimignano, but I've seen a couple videos and it looks like a Disneyland tourist nightmare to me)

At first I was thinking something like this, where we take the Bernina Express train from Italy to Switzerland, but I'm wondering if it's too sleepy of an itinerary with too much travel for this short trip:

Day 1: Arrive Florence and settle in
Days 2-3: Florence, explore city and art
Day 4: Tuscany wine tour, hire driver for the day
Day 5: Train to Varenna (3.5 hours), explore and stay Varenna
Day 6: Explore Lake Como
Day 7: Train to Pontresina Switzerland (3.5 hours), spa in the Alps, stay Pontresina
Day 8: Explore Pontresina and surroundings, easy hikes, gondolas, etc.
Day 9: Train to Zurich in the morning (3.5 hours), Zurich family research in afternoon, stay Zurich airport
Day 10: fly home

I've heard the Bernina Express is beautiful, but I'm wondering if it would be better to fly to Zurich on the morning of Day 9 instead, and lay over for a day instead of taking the train. That way, we'd have days 5-8 to spend a couple days in Siena, or spend a couple days in Cinque Terre. We definitely won't be renting a car, so please don't suggest it.

I suppose we also still could take the Bernina Express but do it in one day, with no stay in Pontresina.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Posted by
4654 posts

I think it's definitely too much travel. 2 countries in that amount of time is 1 country too much. Your trip would be more enjoyable if you flew from Zurich to Florence and spent your entire stay in Florence with a day trip to Siena. I think it's also possible to take a day trip to Bologna from Florence. I've never been to Bologna, but have read that it's a great food place. To make sure you have enough time for your genealogical research in case something goes wrong(opening hours, delayed flight), I would plan 2 nights and 1 full day in Zurich. Also remember that some museums in Florence will be closed on Mondays.

Posted by
7322 posts

Travelling from Varenna to Zürich in a day through the Bernina railway is definitely possible, and that's what I would do in your case. Spend another night in Zürich, another night in Florence too to visit Siena as a day trip. I would not want to add Cinque Terre or a night in Siena.

Posted by
1065 posts

Hi Elizabeth, This sounds like a lovely trip but agree with others that it is a lot in one visit and for me it would be too much packing & unpacking to stay in different hotels. I too would skip Cinque Terre. The cliff-side walks are crowded and although the towns are very picturesque, they are tiny and get jammed.

The Bernina Express is stunning and by the time you transit to the airport & wait for a flight, it takes just a few extra hours & might be a nice break after busy days if you started in Florence? Given your preferences, Pontresina, although it’s beautiful, is fairly elegant given its proximity to St Moritz. Siena also gets crowded during the day, but if you go out early in the morning, it’s delightful. Hope you have an amazing trip!

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