Need help planning switzerland Italy trip

We have only been to the Berner-Oberland in Switzerland but what a place it is! IF you love mountains, you will love it. Hiking is terrific, incredible transportation from railways to gondola and funiculars. Minimum 3 nights.

Ditto the Dolomites in Italy. We love the Val Gardena as we have access to tons of hiking in the alpi (high meadows). Recommend staying in the cute little village of Ortisei, or for a different adventure, stay IN the Alpe di Siusi at Hotel Saltria or AlpenHotel Panorama. they do half-board, it is very peaceful and a total mountain immersion. Again, I recommend 3 nights minimum.

You do not say what time of year, though, and that is important when visiting the mountains both in Switzerland and Italy as the lifts close between the end of summer season and the start of ski season.

we are arriving in paris on June 25th (leaving the US on 24th) leave florence on July 6

There are a lot of ways to combine Italy with Switzerland, so I thought I would mention a few places that are really worth seeing or combining. One trip we left Paris and drove to Lyon for one night and then based out of Geneva. The most memorable day trip from Geneva was to Zermatt (a German / Swiss town to see the Matterhorn). You can also do the northern part of Italy. Into Milan, go West to Turin. Day trip from Turin, to Aosta, then through the Mont Blanc to Charmonix, France. All towns are quaint worth seeing.

Nothern Italy: we love Verona and the Italian lakes. North of Verona, 20 mins, are some wineries best known for Amarone (a very good, dry red wine). Each lake has great places to see, but some of our favorite towns are Bellagio, Sirmione (very close to Verona), and Malcesine. There are many to see and the lakes are very large. Some have ferry's to cross between the larger towns. Verona is about 1 hour from Venice.

Love Florence and can spend a lot of time there. Close to Florence is Siena (south) another town worth seeing. Also an easy day trip to Pisa.

So you could drive from Paris to Charmonix, then down to Turin, to the lakes and Milan, then to Verona. Florence is about a 4 hour drive from Verona. Milan is very much a large city feel, so you may enjoy staying in a lake town or heading on to Verona to base out of Verona.

Or you could drive from Paris, base out of Geneva to do the one day trip to Zermatt and then drive from Geneva to Charmonix, Aosta, Turin, then on to Milan / Verona.

The time of year you are coming is great for visiting the Berner-Oberland and the Dolomites/Val Gardena. Before high season, rates are lower than later in July and August, crowds are light.

Are you planning to drive? If so, your car rental price quotes will typically be much higher to pick up and drop off a car in different countries.

Regardless of your final destination in Switzerland, booking a train from Paris to Basel is a pretty safe move. Onward connections go everywhere from that border station. You'll get the best prices on Paris-Switzerland TGV (fast train) tickets by booking as soon as possible; you could compare prices at CapitaineTrain and RailEurope. Tickets for summer travel went on sale a couple of months ago, so the deepest discounts are probably gone.

By train, most routes from Switzerland to Italy do at least pass through Milan, unless you make a conscious detour through Austria, via Innsbruck. In summer, bus #211 runs twice per day (early and late) direct from Martigny to Aosta (a route not served by direct train). How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it, or the Swiss SBB.ch site works similarly.

Ok, after doing a little more research we have the following so far
Arrive Paris on June 25 stay there for 2 days, then
Travel Paris to switzerland - thinking someplace near lauterbrunnan
Trying to figure out best way to get there -
we will spend 3-4 days there doing day trips - definately zermatt is one of them
Travel from there to Genoa - travel need to figure out - looking to see of we can do lauterbrunnan to zermatt to genoa by train??
spend 3 days in genoa - >> need to figure out how to get from interlaken area to Genoa
Travel from Genoa to florence - we are thinking of driving this route
we have to go from florence to frankfurt

any suggestions?

I would spend 3 nights in Paris to start with. Something like this ...

Jun 25 Paris (3nts)
Jun 28 Trains via Geneva and Visp to Zermatt (2nts)
http://www.gornergratbahn.ch/en/Pages/default.aspx
Jun 30 Trains via Visp and Bern to Lucerne (2nts)
Jul 2 Trains via Arth Goldau to Milan (1nt)
Jul 3 Direct train to Florence (3nts)

Mountains from Lucerne ...
http://www.pilatus.ch/
http://www.rigi.ch/Home-en
http://www.titlis.ch/en/glacier/rotair

Travel by train. Do not even think of renting a car.

hiya,

I'm late to this discussion, so pardon me if I ask a couple of questions....

Firstly, why oh why Genova? Is there something specific to draw you there? I mean, 3 days in one of the armpits of a most beautiful country and yet only 2 in Paris? And Paris while jetlagged....

I really hope you are on a scooter factory tour or something because little there seems to be compatible with your goals. And a word to the wise, the station at Genova Piazza Principe leaves a lot, a whole lot, to be desired.

Both sides of the Lauterbrunnen Valley are beautiful, although we strongly prefer Muerren to anywhere else, and there is lots and lots to do up there that keeps us going for 4 or 5 days, and you say you love the mountains. So why take all that lovely mountain goodness and leave it each day - based on your saying day trips each day? Pick one area and stay there, and explore and get to know it rather than spending all day moving elsewhere. If you don't like the idea of the three big mountains there along with the hundreds of others you also see, stay somewhere else. Although it is iconic I was underwhelmed by the view of the Matterhorn and for years I have returned to Muerren. I never returned to Zermatt.

Now Rigi - if you get decent weather it is pretty good. Be prepared for different weather at Rigi Kulm than at the base. For gorgeous scenery a ride on a ship on Lake Lucerne - Vierwaldstattersee - is something else, if you want to see mountains from below on the lake.

If you really are staying in the Berner Oberland to just take day trips elsewhere you may as well stay in Interlaken which at least has the main line railways going both ways. Sort of like staying in Colorado Springs and saying you are in the mountains.

I think there was some confusion - I was not saying Geneva - I said Genoa
Our trip is from June 24-July7, we must be in florence by july 5th
so here is what I have - with questions

Arrive Paris stay for 2-3 days,
Travel Paris to switzerland - thinking someplace near lauterbrunnan or muerren
what is the best way to get there and where shoule we go into?
spend 3-4 days exploring this area - interested in some light hiking, cable cars, zip lining, para sailing - something along those lines
Travel from there to Genoa -
what is the best route to Genoa we were looking to see of we can do lauterbrunnan or muerren to zermatt to genoa by train??
spend 3 days in genoa
Travel from Genoa to florence - we are thinking of driving this route
lastly we have to go from florence to frankfurt
any suggestions?

w

You will find Paris to Switzerland will likely involve a TGV train thru GENEVA, especially if you are heading to Zermatt. GENOVA/GENOA of course is in Italy.

Jun 25 Paris (3nts)
Jun 28 Trains via Geneva and Visp to Zermatt (2nts)
Jun 30 Trains via Visp and Bern to Lucerne (2nts)
Jul 2 Trains via Arth Goldau and Milan to Genoa (1nt)
Jul 3 Direct train to Florence (3nts)

what can you tell me about Genoa - I have heard the italian riveria is beautiful yet I don't see much about it and I see you only have 1 night in genoa??

Too funny. You mentioned Genoa so I thought you must have an interest or link there. It's a big port city on the Med, not really the Riviera which you really don't have time for. Personally I would stay in Milan.
Or, you could perhaps drop Lucerne in favour of the Italian Riviera (Santa Margherita Ligure).

Genoa is technically the Italian Riviera, but it is not the beautiful part. If you are going here, go south to Santa Margherita Ligure or the Cinque Terre. Be aware, it is VERY crowded in summer and perhaps you will find it a bit "touristy" which you say you do not like.

You have 11 days/10 night after Paris and before you have to be in Firenze and you love mountains: Why are you not going to the Dolomites after Switzerland?