Guidance for trip to Switzerland & Italy - Independent

Swihars504 - it's much better to do the trip in reverse since you wouldn't need a visa from Italy to enter Switzerland. It will save you the headache.

You can do this yourselves ! There's a wealth of info here, just start reading under the Swiss and Italian sections. Travel is Especially easy in Switzerland, which has user-friendly and efficient mass transit.

Perhaps let the airfares direct which order you fly, but it looks like a great trip. I'd suggest Italy first, then move north to Switzerland for somewhat cooler temperatures. Switzerland is also my favorite country of all time, so finish your trip in paradise!

I haven't been to Tuscany, so don't know the optimal airport- Florence or Milan? Seems like you are looking at open jaw tickets? Maybe set up some price alerts now on Google Flights to research price fluctuations.

I love Lake Como, so beautiful and serene. Varenna is the best Middle Lakes town to stay in for easy rail access.

For the Berner Oberland, I'd recommend staying in Murren or Wengen. Interlaken is a transit center. Because of construction in Murren, research the best side to stay in. Also, you need more nights here. Folks are never ready to leave.

No one is sure yet if the "visa" requirements will go into effect next year- the deadline has been changed so many times.

Have fun planning and I'll attach my Trip Report- perhaps you will find some useful info, ( just ignore the COVID references.)

Safe travels!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/lucerne-62eb4d28-60ab-4837-b4b4-91a2486eb732

Where are you coming from that you need a visa?
Where are you planning on staying at Lake Como?

Great plan, and super easy to travel in both independently. The most challenging part is figuring out the train connections from Switzerland to Italy.
I would scale back a bit, as I think three days is too brief to enjoy Tuscany--I would look for more options in the north of Italy, and fly out of Milan (or Venice maybe).
Also, when it is asked (often), almost everyone will say stay in the mountains over in Interlaken, so you might want to specify what you want to see there. Murren and Wengen are gorgeous and in the mountain tops.

You can certainly do this on your own, if you’re willing to do the research and put in the work to make it happen. There is a ton of info on this forum to help get you started.

It looks like you have 11 nights on the ground. I would eliminate Tuscany. Start by flying into Milan and going straight to Varenna on Lake Como. Even easier would be Stresa on Lake Maggiore, since it’s closer to the Lauterbrunnen valley. Stay 3 nights. Then on to Wengen for 5 nights. This gives you flexibility in case of bad weather. End in Lucerne.

I’m doing almost the same itinerary next May. You can definitely do this yourself and by train. Agree 100% with your first leg in Luzern. I would base in Lauterbrunnen, Wengen or Murren instead of Interlaken. It’s a little longer, but Bellagio is worth the trek. Lake Como and Tuscany can also be done by train. Look for train tickets to Milan from Lauterbrunnen. Then private car to Bellagio. Then back to Milan to Florence for the Tuscany leg.

Google everything. Look here, trip advisor, https://www.sbb.ch/de, https://www.trenitalia.com/, etc.

Europe is so user friendly. Enjoy the planning and the trip!

You can absolutely plan all of your trip without an agent! For me, it’s part of the joy of the journey.
We are leaving in less than 2 weeks for our 3 week trip. Flying from US to Zurich, arriving very early morning. We plan to train to Interlaken for lunch and walk around a bit. Then on to Wengen for a week. Will take the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano (staying one night in each town for convenience), then on to Stresa on Lake Maggiore for 4 nights. From there we will train to Bologna for 4 nights and take day trips in the area. We will finally end up in Venice for 5 nights and fly home from there.
We did all of our planning independently. Used Rick Steves and the forum members’ many recommendations.
Now for my big question…do we need a Visa to go from Switzerland to Italy?? Yikes.

Now for my big question…do we need a Visa to go from Switzerland to Italy??

No. Even when the Etias comes in, if it ever does, it is not a visa, you will not need it to go between Schengen countries, and both Switzerland and Italy are Schengen. You will only need it to enter Europe - if it ever happens. If it does it will be all over the Forums.

Thank you Nigel!
One less thing…haha

We had an awesome trip to Switzerland and Italy as follows:
Fly into Zurich and train to Lucerne. (stay 3 nights)
Train to Samedan and stay at Romantic Hotel Mouttas Muragl (stay 4 nights)
Bernina Express to Tirano then local train to Varenna (stay 4 nights)
Car service to Milan to get train to Florence and stay 5-7 nights at Villa Cafaggiolo outside Florence, in Tuscany. Can't rave enough about Villa Cafaggiolo. The owner will take you on day trips. Or drop you off at a train station.

You can plan this on your own, if you have a lot of spare time. I think hiring a travel agent or a consultant may not be a bad thing and may actually save you money and headaches.

As mentioned, why do you think you need a visa? Are you concerned about the ETIAS?

In addition, where you start and end depends on air fares and availability. Good that you are planning ahead.