Hello Guys,
Me and my wife will be travelling to Europe for the first time and we are planning to visit Switzerland and Italy. Arrival time in Zurich is 8 AM on 24th of March and return is on 31st of March from Milan. So we will exclude 31st March from the Itenarary. Can you please suggest me with best Itineraries to cover major attractions in both countries. My plan is to visit below places.
Lucerne or Interlanken - I am not sure which place I need to visit. I want to do hiking, cable cars, visit to the top of the mountains. (I prefer doing activities)
Bernia or Galcier Express train (one day - Same day travel to Italy)
Amalfi Cost (one day) - Starting from Naples and return to Florence same day
Florence and Tuscany Village
Venice
These are the places I want to visit. Please suggest if I can manage to visit all these places in 8 Days or do I need to skip any of them.
Posted by
Green Bay
21145 posts
I think you will have to pare this down quite a bit. You really only have 6 full days with 7 nights. Amalfi Coast is out of the question I'm afraid. Too far and too long to get to. As I see it, 2 nights in Switzerland, 3 nights in Florence/Tuscany, and 2 nights in Venice might be doable.
If you want to do the Bernina Express, for logistical reasons, I am going to suggest St Moritz as opposed to Luzern or Interlaken. Late March is still ski season in the Swiss Alps. You can get there right from the airport, and it is a bit warmer due to its location. The portion of the train trip from Chur to St Moritz follows the same rail line as the Bernina Express if you specify going via Chur from Zurich airport. There are cable cars up to the mountain tops from St Moritz and perhaps some snow shoeing or just relaxing on a restaurant deck and enjoying the views (weather co-operating).
Monday you can take the actual Bernina Express over the mountains to Tirano, Italy, then change to a train to Milan which travels along the shore of lake Como, then a train to Florence. In Florence you can take a day trip to one of the Tuscan hill towns.
Thursday late morning take a train to Venice.
I am assuming your flight on March 31 is early, so you will have to take a train to Milan Friday evening and spend the night there before flying home.
Alternative skipping the Bernina Express, go to Luzern direct from the airport and spend 2 nights. There are several mountain top railway excursions from the area, Mt Pilatus or Mt Rigi. When you leave on Monday, take a train route and specify via Goeschenen. Then you will take the train into the mountains and through the old Gotthard tunnel. More scenic than the new route that goes almost completely under the mountains with the new 50 km Gotthard Base Tunnel. At Milan you change to a train to Florence as before.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Hi Sam,
Thanks for the reply. I will skip the Bernia Express and stay at Luzern.
How much does it cost for both to travel from Luzern to Florence by train and Do you suggest any rail pass during the stay in Swiss and Italy? Also Please let me know what activities can be done in Luzern for 2 Days.
Posted by
Vancouver, WA
522 posts
There are three easy mountain trips from Luzern-Mt. Pilatus, Mt. Rigi, and Mt. Titlis. You will need to do the math to find the most cost-effective way to pay for transportation. You may want to consider a 2-day Tell Pass for CHF 110 per person; more information at www.tellpass.ch/en. It covers ALL lifts/buses/boats/trains in the Luzern area as well as a discount on your train travel from ZRH to Luzern. The TI (at the train station) has a two hour walking tour that is a good overview of Luzern. If you refer to the Luzern chapter of Rick Steves' Switzerland book you will easily fill your Swiss days!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11776 posts
With only 7 nights, stay in Switzerland and forget thoughts of the Amalfi Coast, Naples, Venice and Florence. You say:
I want to do hiking, cable cars, visit to the top of the mountains.
These things are not in the areas of Italy you list.
Arrive Zurich and proceed immediately to Luzern for 2 or 3 nights, then to Lauterbrunnen for 3 or 4. You will have to spend your last night in Milan before you fly out. The best mountain experiences are in the Lauterbrunnen area. Do NOT stay in Interlaken. Lauterbrunnen or Muerren are much prettier.