Hi,
My husband and I are trying to plan a trip from Paris to Venice in September. So far, we have decided on Paris to Colmar, then we will take train thru Switzerland to Lake Como. Then we will end in Venice. I would love some advice on this itinery (anything to addor not to miss!) and specifically where should we stop in Switzerland for a few days. TIA
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Sonia, I will post the link I always post, the official tourist site for the Jungfrau Region (Mürren, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Grindelwald). Info and hotels on this website: https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/summer/
Option 2, Luzern
If you say "Lake Como", the response is always "It's a big lake, you need to choose where on the lake".
If you choose anywhere on the east side of the lake (e.g. Varenna), you are then on one of the train lines from Switzerland to Italy, the best one, the "Bernina Line" which goes over the top of the Alps (the other two routes go through tunnels). You can then include this spectacular, UNESCO World Heritage route in your plans.
Search YouTube for "Bernina Express", and read this webpage: https://www.seat61.com/BerninaExpress.htm
I trust you are OK looking up trains for this trip, if not please ask, or start here: https://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-travel.htm
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11877 posts
How long is your total trip time and how much has already been allocated to each stop? How many days are "a few" that you are trying to fill?
Posted by
OP
12 posts
We have not booked the flight home yet, I’m still trying to figure out what we will need and where we would like to go. So far I have
Paris 4 nights, Colmar 3 nights, somewhere in Switzerland, 3 nights? I think Varenna on lake Como for three nights and Venice for four. I appreciate the help as I have not made a trip like this before!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17427 posts
A nice and pretty direct route from Colmar to Varenna would be via Luzern ( stay 2 nights) and Pontresina on the Bernina Pass route. Stay there another two nights. You can follow this route on the Swiss Rail map, starting in Basel ( where you enter Switzerland from Colmar) to Tirano ( where you change to an Italian train for the 1.5-hour ride to Varenna).
We took this route between Zurich and Venice over 4 days in September a few years ago and it was beautiful.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thank you so much!
Posted by
Lausanne, Switzerland
30 posts
I agree with the stop in the Jungfrau region or in Zermatt. Even if you don't hike, there are cable cars and cog railways that take you up into the mountains for the most incredible views. That's what's so great about Switzerland (more than the cities).
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Diana is exactly correct - you don’t have to be an avid outdoor enthusiast to be stunned by the gorgeous Swiss landscape.