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Itinerary advice - family trip to Italy

Posted by on

I am in the preliminary stages of planning our first trip to Europe in late June/early July 2015 with my husband and two teenagers (13 and 16). While we are spending the majority of time in Italy, we’d really like to spend a few days in the Swiss Alps (Murren, I think.). I planned on going south to north since it is summer, but I’ve read in this forum that moving north to south is best. Will the two weeks make a big difference in terms of crowds and heat? Here is my tentative itinerary; is the addition of Switzerland too much? Should I reverse the itinerary? I would appreciate any feedback or advice. Thanks!

Day 1 Travel from US to Rome

Day 2-5 Rome (four nights)

Day 6-8 Florence (three nights)

Day 9-11 Venice (three nights)

Day 12 Train(s) to Switzerland (Venice to Milan to Tirano to Murren)

Day 13-14 Switzerland (three nights)

Day 15 Fly home - from where? Zurich, Milan?

Posted by
16243 posts

Usually people are advised to return home from Rome because flights back to North America depart in the morning and Rome airport is close to the city center (30 min by taxi). Both Venice and Milan airport are a distance from the center and that results on having to get up extremely early in the morning or find a hotel at the airport on the last night before the day of departure. If not for that, it doesn't make any difference to go from North to South or viceversa.

Yes, I would reverse the trip, land in Milan or Zurich then head to your Alpine destination even on the day of arrival since your flight to Europe will probably arrive in the morning or early afternoon (don't know where you fly from though). Then you would return from Rome.

If you keep the sequence you have, you can, but the last night must be spent closer to your departure airport (Milan or Zurich) because to fly back home you'll likely need to be at the airport in the early AM.

Weather-wise, 2 weeks make no difference and in July it's hot regardless if it's July 1 or July 15.

Posted by
11852 posts

It is a good plan. Switzerland last and fly home from Zurich, I think.

Posted by
8889 posts

Venice to Milan to Tirano to Mürren is a long route, in a 'Z' shape. I would recommend Venice - Milan then direct train to Switzerland, with changes at Spiez and Interlaken Ost. See sbb.ch for times.

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks for the feedback - if we decide to keep the itinerary as is, we will go to Zurich on Day 15 and then fly out the next day. I'll also look into the more direct train routes.

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