My trip to Switzerland and Italy this June is pretty much all planned but I need a few suggestions on some of my final plans? We are arriving in Zurich on June 14 and getting on a train for Lucerne immediately, I’m not pre-buying my train tickets for this trip because I think it should be easy just to get a walk up ticket?
Then after 2 days in Lucerne we leave by train for Como Italy which I am planning on also just walking into the train station and buying the tickets on the spot. I’m just not sure if I’m buying a Swiss rail ticket or Italian rail ticket since we are crossing from one to the other?
We are renting a car for the next 10 days in which we will stay 5 days in lake como then drive to bologna for 5 more days.During those 10 days we are taking a few day trips by train but those should be fairly easy even for me to not screw up ( como-Milan, bologna-Florence)?
Then after returning the rental car we take the train to Venice for the last two days of our trip.
I have various tours and things setup all during our stay in each place but I would love any more suggestions from everyone on all of our plans? Thanks Charles
Posted by
Chicago
8230 posts
I’m not pre-buying my train tickets for this trip because I think it should be easy just to get a walk up ticket?
Yes this is very easy. It is always risky to buy in advance if you are depending on a flight arriving on time. However I gambled last summer and bought my ticket form Zurich Airport to Luzerne and saved 50%.
I’m just not sure if I’m buying a Swiss rail ticket or Italian rail ticket since we are crossing from one to the other?
You could buy this or reserve this in advance and then you will know which service depending on the time you plan to leave.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17580 posts
The ticket from Luzern to Como is an international ticket and you will save money by buying it in advance from either SBB.ch or Trenitalia. There is a direct train (no changes) from Luzern to Como San Giovanni at 12:18, and others with a change on the way.
I checked prices for the direct train on a date in mid-June on SBB.ch and it showed a regular price of 75 CHF and a Special Offer price (only for advance purchases) of 34 CHF. Savings should be similar on Trenitalia; look for a Smart Fare.
Posted by
Washington DC
28450 posts
There are advance-purchase savings possible on Italian trains as well, unless you have a trip that is 100% regional trains, in which case there's no price advantage to buying ahead of time.
Posted by
west Chester, PA
372 posts
Why are you renting a car while you are in Como? It would be much easier for bus or train travel. Does your place in Como have parking available?
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3303 posts
Unless you want to visit places that are not accessible by train, there is no reason to rent a car. You certainly don’t want one in Como city or Bologna. Parking, tolls and gas are all expensive. Access to cities and towns is highly restricted by the dreaded - and expensive if you accidentally drive in - ZTL’s. The Zona Traffico Limitado can be found in the central areas of almost all cities and towns, large and small. and are strictly enforced. Make a wrong turn and you can get a €50 ticket in the mail a few months after your trip as well as a€25-35 fee charged by the car rental company to supply the authorities with your info.
Touring the areas aroun the lake are accessible by the many ferries plying Lake Como and the cities near Bologna that most tourists visit are easily reached by frequent, fast and cheap train service.
Rent a car for only the days you will NEED one. Make sure to get $0 deductible insurance and every driver needs an International Driver Permit which you can get from AAA.