Help in deciding on day trip vs. spending 1-2 nights in Switzerland

There are so many beautiful places to visit on your way to tuscany. Consider the cinque terra area along the coast, lucca, umbria adjacent to tuscany to name a few. Piedemonte and turin are so so in my book having spent 5 days there in past. You could also do a public bustrip from varenna to lugano. 1 hr and you are in bit of switzerland.Leave rest of switzerland for another trip as itself is a blockbuster of beauty. Hope this helps.

Forgot to mention we are going in October, and have been several places in Italy on a Tauck tour. Think we will have plenty of time to cover the Tuscan towns in 2 weeks plus some of Umbria so wanted to see an area we have not been to. The only place we have seen in northern Italy is Venice. Thanks for your suggestions.

Hi. Not sure what time frame in October you are targeting for Varenna; however, it is an interesting time of year in alpine regions with autumn festivals and cattle drives.

Here is a link to Swiss festivals - scroll down to October.

http://www.swissvistas.com/fairs-and-festivals-in-switzerland.html#.VWSPXleVtdM

You can discover similar information for the Südtirol. Maybe you can identify a destination close enough with some fall fun going on.

I must admit, I always gravitate to the mountains if I am within reach. Have fun!

Debbie

Thanks - I love the mountains too, and am considering spending the week in Switzerland instead of Piedmont. Hmmm, lots to consider!

Varenna is pretty quiet in October, with some restaurants closed, for instance, so you might even give a few days from that region to another plan. I see that your earlier questions have not been very date-specific, but answers could change if the plan for October is now firm.

We are planning ahead for October 2016 spending the first week in a rental in Varenna, and the last two weeks of October in a rental in Tuscany. My husband and I are having fun planning, and are trying to research our possibilities for the second week of October. We do plan to make day trips from our place in Varenna (other towns on the lake and Milan for sure). We have seen Rome, Florence, Amalfi, the Cinque Terra, etc., but have not been to the lake region or anywhere in northern Italy except Venice. I have never been to Switzerland or Austria. I read some rave reviews of the Piedmont, and then some that are so-so. I guess it is all personal preference. We love churches, architecture, some art and beautiful scenery. We are also foodies and love to experience the local culture. Does that help with suggestions you may have? Thanks so much!