two itineraries

I haven't been to Italy yet. I've been to all the cities in #2, and they are all wonderful. At that time of year you are going to find Prague busy, but just come up with strategies. I'd be to Prague castle 15 minutes before it opens if not earlier.

It depends on how you define "bad." June generally is not too bad. For years that was the only time we could travel so it was always the last week of May through the first two weeks of June. We survived though sometimes it was very hot. Personally I would do 2 since the weather could be a touch better. Italy is always crowded.

You can’t go wrong either way. Glad Murren is on the agenda regardless- it’s amazing. If you go with #2 there are some amazing family river cruises that cover most of that route. See http://m.tauck.com/family-travel/why-tauck-bridges/~/link.aspx?_id=20E0D1A6E16A498EAB58241AFC7D6318&_z=z

Hey Casey,

I would do the first itinerary:

Rome - Florence - Cinque Terre - Bologna (1 day for the car museum) Venice - Milan / Lake Como

I would drop Murren Switzerland because geographically it's far to travel to from the locations on your itinerary. You can substitute it with Milan and Lake Como so the travel distances will not be far out. If you must go to Murren, then flying there is your best bet.

You can Fly into Rome and Fly out of Milan to go back home.

You did not indicate any particular budgetary concern, but the Dolomites in Italy are closer to your other destinations and cheaper than the Swiss Alps.

I agree with Acraven

Yes, the Dolomites are closer, but they are completely different from the Swiss Alps. My only visit was on the RS Alpine tour. The Dolomites (early June) had no snow, the Alpine meadows were superb for hiking, lots of wildflowers and beautiful scenery with the mountains in the background. Murren - the Lauterbrunnen Valley was beautiful and the very few glimpses there were of the Alps (low cloud for the two days we were there) were stunning. You need at least 3 nights in Murren to hope for some great vistas. There's good hiking and other things to do even if the weather isn't always good. BTW it seems my tour was just unlucky with the weather. The late May and late June tours had mostly sunshine for the whole trip. I had sunshine in the Dolomites and the French Alps.

I have been to all these places(except Cinque Terre) and lived in Augsburg, Germany for four years. Both choices are great, but Italy is my favorite European country. It has so much history, art, culture and great dining.

Three weeks is great, you should have time to tour in some depth.

My big three in Italy are Rome, Florence and Venice. Yes, there is a lot more, but those should be the core of an Italian trip.
Bologna didn't impress me, we loved Ravenna, that was nearby. Also, a day trip to Sienna from Florence was nice.

Murren is good, but a bit out of the way, as is Cinque Terre. You should spend at least 5 days in Rome, 4 in Florence and 3 in Venice. More if you do side trips. If you are going to CT, you could stop in Pisa to see the leaning tower, also Lucca is very nice.

If you do Munich, I strongly recommend doing the Romantic Road from Wurzburg to Garmisch/Fussen. It is loaded with Medieval walled cities that were virtually undamaged in WWII, unlike nearly all the large cities in Germany. Rothenburg on the Tauber is amazing, as is Dinkelsbuhel and Donauwurth. Of course, you should do Salzburg, Austria as well as Berchtesgaden, Germany and Fussen/Garmisch. Three days in Prague, 3 in Vienna and 3 or more in Budapest.

I like #1