Italy/Switzerland Trip Advice

Flip the itinerary- it's much easier flying into Venice than out of it.
Three nights at least for Lucerne.
Three nights Lake Como, which will be very crowded.
Is there a reason you're skipping the incredible Alps ( Murren or Wengen)?
You're really late to be booking any accommodations, so availability may influence your itinerary. Good luck!

Two days is definitely not too much for Lucerne, one for town, one for a day trip. If we see your plans, we can better evaluate your day allotment.

Skipping the Alps because we really want to do Venice and feel like four spots is too much

Can I ask why it's easier to fly into Venice than out of?

Since the kids are older, rather than a quad, you could just get two doubles.

Most flights out of VCE are very early in the morning
Not impossible to get there, just costly and often complicated so you need to figure that out ahead of time

If flight is around 11 am or later you will be fine

I would still start in Venice if you can
Great place to get over jet lag

If you can’t find lodging in Varenna or on Lake Como consider Lake Garda or Lake Maggiore
Varenna will be jam packed in July

If you do start in Lucerne give it 4 nights
That is only 3 full days plus a jet lag arrival day
I would give whichever lake you end up just 3 nights and Venice 4

Double check flight times before you make a decision. I believe the advice to fly into Venice not out of Venice is because many flights leave early from Venice, like 6am, early. Plus, it can take a while to get to the airport from Venice. For us, definitely. But the last time we traveled, we had a few different options out of Venice midday, and we did fly out midday with no issues.

I love Luzern/Lucerne. Three nights is definitely not too much, especially if you fly into Zurich. You will likely be tired your first day or so.

Jules, I dont think anyone would suggest flying out of Rome. If they flip the itinerary and fly into Venice, they would fly home from Zurich.

Thank you for all the feedback. We will be traveling in July 2027, not 2026 so plenty of time to book lodging. Any recommendations for lodging in Varenna, Lucerne or Venice? Not looking for luxury accommodations- just good location, clean and AC.

hey hey riceholly1
welcome aboard the forum.
have you reserved anything yet? does 11-12 days included arrival & departure days, if so that is less two days 9-10. where are you flying from: USA, Canada, plus the jetlag (it"s REAL) the next day, feeling loopy/groggy. know your check-in times are 3-4pm and check-out times 10-11am. know/research your transportation issues for your family (europeforvisitors.com)
you are traveling during HIGH HIGH season and HOT HOT with the many other "millions" going and many to the same cities/towns you have chosen. it will be crowded everywhere, long lines, packed restaurants, reserve attractions/activities early (many may be booked up already), prices have skyrocketed couple years with slim to none hotels/apts this late in the game.
my own opinion is like ChristineH look at lake garda or lake maggiore. we stayed in bardolino on lake garda, it was gorgeous mountain & lake views, ferry rides, trails/promanades for walking, beaches & amusements parks for the kids, restaurant/shops to enjoy and relax, washer/dryers. pack light, all should carry own bags, bring bathing suits, water shoes (not all sandy beaches)
lakegardatravel.net click headers top of page to see all available getting around: boats/buses/ferry
laroccacamp.com campingsanfrancesco.com
camping villages on lake to rent a mobile home on the beaches with many activities, restaurants/bars/grocery store.
theitalyedit.com (a local's guide to lake maggiore: 7 places you can't miss)
thecrowdedplanet.com (things to do on lake maggiore)
train to venice, we usually pack a picnic/bottle of wine & corkscrew unless screw on bottle/drink (trenitalia or italotreno train)
look at transportation from venice train station (venezia santa lucia)
venice-guide.info all about beach on lido island. took vaporetto across lagoon to end of road and beach is there. again crowds go enjoy, bring a towel/dry clothes, read what's available, bring small euros, there is food and some may be expensive.
keep address/map of hotel, if walking stairs/steps/bridges to cross over, uneven pavement/cobblestones. look at your flight times out of venice (VCE) many are 6am and finding ways to airport which can be tough leaving hotel at 4am. we reserved private water taxi $$$. hoping it all works out for you & your tribe, ask more questions if need more help.
aloha

Thank you for all of your input. Again, we are not traveling until 2027. Our heart is really set on Lake Como. We have been to Europe before, so we know what to expect when it comes to jet lag. We are coming from NYC. I am a teacher and my kids are in school, of course, so summer is the only time we can travel for this length of time.

Lodging-
We love Hotel Ai More d'Oriente in Venice . It's on the quiet Canneregio back canals, so lots of charm, nice energy, but no crowds. Perhaps do Row Venice with the family , instead of a gondola ride. This hotel is an easy walk from the train station, and a few minutes from a vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal.

Lucerne- Hotel des Alpes, often recommended by RS, get a view/balcony room facing the Chapel Bridge.

Varenna, Lake Como - Hotel Albergo Milano, also a RS recommendation. The rooms are not luxury, but the view is! Perhaps put the kids in a room without a balcony/view. To avoid the Lake Como crowds, just escape to your balcony with a glass of wine-there are no crowds on your balcony. This is a small hotel, so if interested, reserve as soon as they take reservations. I highly encourage a view room in Varenna.

If you can add a few days, go to Wengen/Murren. You will not regret it, no one is ever ready to leave.

Have a memorable family vacation.

@Yes, CJean, I got that. It was an example. I was thinking of an example that Roberto used this morning where he was talking about how Rome and Venice are well connected. My point was, Venice can and does have midday flights, and before I'd start planning an itinerary I would look at flying into/out of both airports, Zurich AND Venice. Since you did find it confusing, I'll change my 1st post.

I've flown into Zurich a few times and it does have its advantages. It is much easier and quicker to get to Luzern, city center, for one. So, at the start of a trip when the travelers are jet lagged, it is easy to hop on a train from the airport, then switch trains at Zurich HB and soon be in Luzern city center. But again, it would depend on whether OP can get a desirable flight out of Venice.

In Venice, many on the forum, including myself, like https://www.cortecampana.com

I stayed in Luzern with my two daughters. We stayed at Hotel Drei Konige. I appreciated the large family sized room, huge bathroom. We loved all the breakfast choices. Staff was friendly and helpful, hotel was quite clean. Some would call it "dated". But, the price was good. https://www.drei-koenige.ch

I found my Varenna accommodation on booking.com. It was fine, but I wouldn't stay there again. I would start looking for Varenna accommodation well before you think you need to.

I think the locations you've chosen are great for your aged kids. I think they will be wowed!

https://divinavita.it/apartmentss/

Perhaps the above could sleep your family. It has a fantastic view, but is above Bar Il Molo, which can be noisy on a weekend night. We stayed there twice. Once, during the week, it was very quiet, but the second time, it was a noisy weekend. (Don't think there's any other night life in Varenna.) Good luck!

I'll just add that we ate at Bar Il Molo, and the food was good and well priced and the view AMAZING!