Zurich and Italy trip

I wouldn't stay in Zurich as most here will recommend also. I would take the train to Luzern and spend the 2 days there. It is beautiful with lots to do. I can't comment on Italy as I have not been there.

How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it. This will include schedules to Como town and most other locations, but if you want schedules to Varenna on the east side of Lake Como, then see www.sbb.ch or www.trenitalia.com. Your list of destinations sounds doable, not too far apart.

You can buy train tickets online or in the stations as you go. Advance-purchase ticket discounts go on sale about 3 months in advance of the travel dates.

Just sleep in Milan at the end of the trip, not mid-route. Rick's hotel recommendations are all in his Italy and Switzerland guidebooks.

I agree with Steve, skip Zürich. As soon as you land at Zürich airport, catch a train to Luzern (one per hour), or plenty of other places. Switzerland is famous for the Alps, not the cities (which are nice, but they are not the Alps).

For trains in or from Switzerland, you can get times and prices on www.sbb.ch (Swiss Federal Railways).
For trains in Italy, look on www.trenitalia.com (Italian Railways).

I can suggest hotels.

For Zurich:
(1) Swissotel Zurich at Schulstrasse 44 www.swissotel.com/hotels/zurich/
(2) Dolder Waldhaus Hotel at Kurbausstrasse 2c www.dolderwaldhaus.ch/en
(3) Novotel Zurich at Schiffaustrasse 13 www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-2731-novotel-zurich-city-west/index.shtml

For pretty Portofino:
Domina Home Piccolo- Via Duca degli Abruzzi, 31. This is a gorgeous location with incredible views, a private beach, a big varied breakfast buffet (and terrace to eat on in good weather) and a 5 minute walk to town and trains.
www.dominahomepiccolo.com/en

For Milan:
Grand Visconti Palace www.grandviscontipalace.com/default-en.html

You should nail down where you want to go on Como. There many options. The trains from Luzern/Zurich stop at Como San Giovanni station. You still need to get to the ferry dock which is about a kilometer away where you can get boats to more popular destinations. Another option is to go to Menaggio by bus from Lugano, which is also on the rail line. A third is to go all the way into Milan and then come back on a different line on the east shore to Varenna.

here is a thread asking about apartment rentals on lake Como......I replied to her with the specifics on the apt we rented (2 bathrooms, will sleep 5, huge yard) and my favorite restaurants in Varenna.

we also saw pisa as a day trip from florence

Hello,

Thanks for all replies. Which part of Como is advisable for families (teenages)? And which apartment in Varenna doric8?

You can save a lot on the train tickets from Zurich ( or Luzern) to Como San Giovanni or Milan ( for Varenna) by buying three months in advance on the Swiss rail site, SBB.ch. Pick a train and look for a "special offer" price.

When we took our two teens in 2010, we saved almost $500 on round-trip tickets from Zurich to Milan (and back) for the four of us.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/home-rentals-in-lake-como-area

so sorry, thought I linked it last night. what age/gender are your kids? what sort of things do they like? there is serious hike up the mountainside to the ruins of a castle that is pretty amazing, and free..... take a water bottle!!!

Kids are 10 and 13 y.o

I recommend Varenna for your family, the sand beach is close to the apt we rented (which has a washing machine and a clothes line). the restaurant attached to the beach is modest in price and has great fish. when you are ready to think about pisa, know that you have to make reservations well in advance if you want to go up the tower (only 30 people per hour)