We will be with our teenage daughters in Switzerland this April. We leave Fribourg on Monday and need to get back to Zurich on Thursday. We are first time visitors. If you could select 1 region to view, what would it be? (kids love art and history) We need manageable and memorable! (we hope to get back there for a much longer visit soon!)
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16369 posts
So you have 3 nights to spend. You will have to go through Milan to get into anywhere else in Italy. Fribourg to Milan is 5 to 5.5 hours by train. From Milan, you can get to Venice in 2h 35 min, Verona in 1h 20 min, or Florence in 1h 45 min. These are arranged in a sort of "Y" shape, with Verona at the center, so you could go there first for one night, and then to either Venice or Florence for the other two. Or go one place for all three nights. Our daughters loved both Verona and Florence; they did not get to see Venice on that trip but we certainly love it there. That would be my first choice for "memorable." As long as you don't have to be back in Zürich too early, you can do the return from any of these in one day. Milan to Zürich is 3h 41 min.
Posted by
Long Beach, CA, USA
359 posts
if the kids love art and history than I would suggest Florence. I'd spend your 3 nights in Florence, lots to see.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8163 posts
I would suggest taking the train to Florence, and doing the town right. If you try to take in any other places, you'll be spreading yourself too thin. Italians you'll meet will make the Swiss look dull. Switzerland is a pretty quiet place. Italians are fun, boisterous people by nature.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16369 posts
Anyone who thinks the Swiss are "dull" hasn't seen the Street Parade in Zürich, or a Dorffest in a mountain village.
Posted by
OP
Oshkosh
2 posts
We have decided on Florence and booked our hotel! Thank you all. Now trying to decipher the train schedule to get there.... For those that have been on walking tours of Florence- do you suggest ArtViva or Paola Barubiani? Both sound wonderful.