Route Help Italy end in Switzerland

What month, and are you thinking of this year or 2024? I am assuming you are talking of a summer trip since you want to hike in Switzerland, but it would help to confirm.

Sorry Lola! Fall 2024. Probably September.

We’ve been to Switzerland 5 times so that part of the trip is easy to figure out, we are well-seasoned train travelers, just trying to come up with a good route for the Italy portion and then getting to Wengen where we always stay at end of trip. Thanks.

While waiting for your answer I will just quickly explain the options I prefer for going from Italy into Switzerland. These are scenic routes,avoiding the fast trains that use deep tunnels under the Alps. In each case you need to pass through Milan, but you need not overnight there if you don’t want.

Bernina Pass route, including the named Bernina Express. This would be Milan tomVarenna on Lake Como (overnight here if you like). Then by train to Tirano on the Swiss border. Change to a Swiss train to Pontresina or St. Moritz in the Engadine, then on to Chur and make your way to the Berner Oberland by way of Luzern or Zurich. This is the longer than the other two options.

Gotthard Panorama Express: this is a train plus boat combination that connects Lugano (a short ride from Milan) and Luzern. It runs once a day, departing Lugano T 9:18, so you would want to stay in Lugano the night before. Runs April 15 to October.

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/gotthard-panorama-express/

Treno Gottardo: this one connects Locarno with Luzern, using the same route as the Gotthard Panorama Express, but it omits the boat ride across the lake and continues by train. It runs every two hours year-round. You can also take it to Zurich if you prefer. We rode this train southbound last September and it was very enjoyable and scenic.

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/treno-gottardo/

1. Fly into Rome, ??? Days there? 5 nights to give 4 full days there
2. Train to Florence. ??? Days there? Day trips??? 4 nights to give 3 full days. Day trip to Siena
3. Train to Venice? Is it worth it? 4 nights to give 3 full days
4. Or, train to Milan? Really just see the Cathedral and use as launching pad back to Switzerland. Train to Milan, Quick Cathedral visit
5. Train to wherever—should we go through the Lake District? We have not been to the Italian/Swiss side yet. Train to Stresa on Lake Maggiore. 3 nights there to give 2 full days
6. Finish in Lauterbrunnen area, fly back from Zurich probably or Geneva. Train to Wengen via Brig. 4 nights in Wengen. Train to Luzern with 1 night there. Train to Zurich Airport for flight home.

I was writing while you posted. September should be great—-that is when we are going this year (Switzerland and the Dolomites).

As much as we love Venice, we don’t like to visit between May through September due to the crowds. We will be there for one night at the end of September, because we are taking our family (/kids and grandkids) and they want to fly out of Venice so they can see it before it sinks into the sea ( so they say). I was fairly appalled when I saw the September hotel prices. We just spend 4 nights there earlier this month (March 7-11) and our apartment was €250 a night. I could not find anything close to that for our September visit. We will be paying over €1000 for the two rooms we need for our family (a quad and a double).

If you would like another destination in Italy that fits well into your route from Rome to Switzerland, consider Bologna or Ferrara. We just spent time in both and enjoyed them equally.

Both are known for their good food and wine, as well as historical sites ( castles, basilicas, palazzi, museums). Both are nice cities for walking—-Ferrara in the large pedestrian zone at the center, or you can do a 9 km lap on the old city wall; Bologna is famous for the porticos (covered walkways) which extend all over the city and are fun to explore.

A daytrip to Ravenna to see the stunning mosaics is easy from either city. This blog has photos of the mosaics that don’t really do them justice but might give you an idea

https://notaboutthemiles.com/ravenna-mosaics-how-to-see-in-one-day/

Here is Rick’s take on it:

https://classroom.ricksteves.com/videos/ravenna-italy-exquisite-byzantine-mosaics

I knew I came to the right place. THANKS TO ALL for the replies, great foundation to start the planning!

Sam this is like a perfect itinerary. Thanks all!

Switzerland + Italy is my favourite combination too. You can't beat the Italian Lakes. They are all fabulous (including the Swiss parts) and you can't go wrong with spending time there