Hello! My family (wife and I, 20yo son, 16yo daughter) is planning a 10-day trip to visit Switzerland and the Northern Italy region in July (due to school vacation). All things being equal, I'm trying to best determine whether we want to fly in to Milan and proceed north to Zurich, or start in Zurich and work our way south to Milan.
Either way, the plan for Italy would be to spend a night in Milan and two nights in the Lake Como region regardless of whether we start or end there. Either fly in to Milan and spend the first night there before proceeding to Lake Como, or spend the last night there before flying home. My wife wants to do a day trip down to Portofino so I'm trying to figure out how to work that in as well - I know, opposite direction from the Lake!
For Switzerland we plan to use the rail pass to get around regardless if which direction we're traveling. Our focus will be the Lauterbrunnen region and I'd like to see Zermatt. We'd be passing through Lugano either going to/coming from Italy.
What I'm really looking for is advice on direction of travel. Fly into Milan, work our way north, and fly out of Zurich, or vice versa?
Your comments and advice are much appreciated!!!