Touring Italy and then Zurich

Your planned tour is not worth moving around getting on and off trains and changing hotels so often . It is more suited to a younger first time traveler not a senior citizen. I would drop Venice or Florence or drop Rome and just do Florence and Venice.

Are you going to Zurich on business or to visit family or as a tourist?
Most here would not advise you to go there for tourism and whine about how expensive it is for what you get out of it.
Furthermore that is long way to go from Florence or Venice assuming you start your trip in Rome.

But my advice is first decide firmly where you are going. Then look at the airfare and what city you are flying into and out of and book it sooner than later. Once you get that in order then ask and look at hotels costs; and then ask and look at guided tours in the places you are going to.

You have to break down.

How many total days do you have for this trip from arrival day to departure? Is your plan to fly home from Zurich?

Would recommend Luzern rather than Zurich. It is just over a 1-hour direct train from Luzern to Zurich airport.

Thanks Jazz+Travels for your advice. But, going to Italy and skipping Rome does not match my thought. The reason for it's long history. Moreover, we do not want to miss the Vatican Museum also. Our entire trip is for tourism purpose. Any local tour operators might be of some help. Could you suggest any site? Our next visit from Switzerland would be to UK ( Heathrow)

Thanks Sam for your reply. Our plan is that we land at Rome and tour Rome and Vatican for 2 days, Florence and Pisa 2 days and Venice 2 days and then proceed to Switzerland for 2-3 days. Zurich is not a compulsion. Luzern may be an option if travelling their is not a problem. On completion we would travel to London.

If you only have 5 or 6 days for Italy, you do not have time for all of the places you mention (Rome and Vatican, Florence, Pisa, Venice). You would have to sleep in three different cities just to accomplish this part of the trip, Rome, Florence, and Venice.

First, think in terms of number of nights in each place. The number of days for sightseeing are defined by the number of nights you sleep in each place. So 3 nights in Rome equals only two full days to see the sights.

If you have 7 nights for Italy, you have time for Rome and one other city. Personally, I would skip Zurich as it is not the most beautiful part of Switzerland and stay only in Italy so you can see what you wish to see there. 4 nights Rome and 3 nights each in Florence and Venice, then fly to the UK from Venice.

Book trains within Italy at www.trenitalia.com. You can research lodging at www.booking.com and I think you would benefit from Rick Steves guidebook for Italy. Maybe a Rick Steves tour would be good for you. They do Venice, Florence and Rome in about 10 days, I believe.

Here is one tour operator that I would recommend for Rome Florence and Venice

https://www.walksofitaly.com/

My husband and I are senior citizens as well. (72 years old). We have traveled in Italy and Switzerland, and the advice you are receiving is correct. 5 to 6 days in Italy going to 3 places is too much. Days of traveling between cities wear us old folks out!! As was stated before, Zurich can be skipped easily. We were there for 4 days and wished we had stayed in Lucerne which is more beautiful. That being said, you might skip Switzerland all together and soak up all that Italy offers. If you are flying into Rome, you can take a train to Florence, then a train to Venice (try booking a Frecca train as that is the fastest way to get to cities in Italy). Then fly out of Venice. The key to enjoying the journey is to take it slow and easy. Don't try to do too much. Find a reason to travel again to places you missed.