First time! Zurich to Milan and then ???

Posted by bkiing on 02/05/18 12:30 AM

My wife and I with two teen daughters will arrive in Zurich July 20 and leave Zurich July 30. Our initial thoughts are a couple days in Zurich, then start driving to Como for a few days, Milan for 2-3, and then make our way back to possibly Zermatt, then back to Zurich. We have no experience in this part of the world. We are active, love to hike, bike, and play. We love great food, nice hotels and shopping. Open for ANY suggestions! Help us plan a great trip for my oldest daughter who will be starting college in the fall !
thanks,

Brian

Posted by Jazz+Travels

Chicago

02/05/18 12:50 AM

8166 posts

If you have not bought the airline ticket yet consider flying into Zurich and out of Milan so you don't have to go all the way back.
Then you may not need to rent a car.
Skip Zurich and from the airport go straight to Luzern 1 hour on the train stay a couple of nights include mountain excursion Mt Pilatus.
From Luzern take the train to Lauterbrunnen or Murren. This route has some of the best scenery in Switzerland.
Stay in Lauterbrunnen or Murren 3 nights. There are lots of hiking and mountain top excursion options in Lauterbrunnen and Murren.

From Lauterbrunnen then go to Interlaken rent the car or take the train to Varenna (Como) maybe just go to Milan on a daytrip. I don't think you have enough time or energy to go to Zermatt after the Como area.

Posted by JS

Bay Area

02/05/18 01:17 AM

3551 posts

Follow Jazz advice well said. I presume also u are thinking summer travel.

Also get a good road map and study the itin u are interested in. Zermatt is not easy to get to from Milan. There are mountains in the way.
Also the weather is very iffy there. It clouds up in no time. Had that experience one summer and made a very quick cancellation. Hotels are very expensive in Zermatt so it matters. Lauterbrunnen in Switz givex u way more options but u do not need a car. U can train to Lugano then bus it to Menaggio then ferry to were ever u want on Lake como , so easy. To get to Milan u n train it from Varenna so easy.
Reserve your lodging for lucerne, lauterbrunnen, lake como, reservations soon. For a summer stay.

Posted by Shoe

Grand Rapids, MI

02/05/18 02:48 AM

768 posts

Previous posters know what they are talking about. I was about to say the same thing.
Skip staying in Zurich.

Zermatt is too iffy for first-timers. Sometimes I've been there for days and never seen the Matterhorn due to clouds. At least if clouds cover the mountains near Lauterbrunnen, there is still some interesting scenery, including Trummelbach Falls, which can be seen even in the rain because it is inside the mountain. Loads of hikes in the Laut. region also--click on my name to see previous posts describing them.