Stop on the way to Italy

I'm no expert on Switzerland. But a couple years ago we took a day detour on our way from Milan to Paris by taking the Bernina Express from Tirano Italy to Chur and then other Swiss trains on to Zurich. We stayed overnight in Zurich. Zurich and Tirano aren't much, but the ride was spectacular and worth a day. And looking out the windows we wished we'd scheduled a hiking day on the way.

Obviously you could do this in reverse and stop for a hiking/gondaling day or two on the way to Milan.

Great idea---We like to fly into Zurich to get to Italy. I can't stand to go to the Continent without spending a few days in Switzerland.

Interlaken itself is not a great destination; it is the jumping-off point for the scenic mountains and valleys of the Berner Oberland, places like Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Schilthorn, and Jungfrau. While you "can" do a daytrip to one of these from Luzern, it will be time-consuming and expensive. For example, the Schilthorn trip,is around 94 CHF RT; the Jungfrau is closer to 160 CHF. Those are on top of the fare from Luzern to Lauterbrunnen (about 40 CHF).

I suggest that instead you consider taking the very scenic Bernina Express (also recommended by the person above) and head to Lake Como! specifically Varenna, before going to Florence. Something like this:

Fly into Zurich, train to Luzern, spend two nights. Take a boat ride or visit Rigi on your full day there.

Then train to Chur and then south into the Engadine area, following the Bernina express route ( not necessarily on the named train itself, the regional train is fine). The route follows the Glacier Express as far as St. Moritz, but you will split off at Samedan ( unless you want to see a fancy mountain resort). Spend a night in one of the towns---Sameden, Pontresina.

Next day continue on the Bernina route to Tirano and transfer there to an Italian train. Varenna is only an hour and a half away.

This plan gives you three nights in Switzerland and a lot of great scenery, without deviating much from your path to Italy.

Both previous posters raise excellent good points. Interlaken is not really a city that you go to for the city itself but because you can do a ton of stuff from there. Lucerne on the other hand has some cool things to see right there. Also for getting to Italy from Switzerland the Bernina Express is a beautiful journey, though perhaps a bit off your route. But Lola's suggestion seems like a good way to incorporate it into your trip.

As for things not to miss in and around Lucerne and Interlaken...

Lucerne:

• Chapel bridge, Spreuer bridge, water tower
• Lion monument and glacier garden
• Swiss transport museum
• old town with the painted facades
• culture center at the lake
• old citiy walls
• mountains Pilatus or Rigi
• Rütli meadows
• town of Altdorf

Interlaken:

• Saint Beatus caves
• Jungfraujoch
• Giessbach falls and grand hotel
• Ballenberg open air museum
• Aare gorge
• Lauterbrunnen valley
• Trümmelbach falls

That's what comes to mind right now.

We did Paris--->Lucerne--->Milan--->Florence by train in March and it was wonderful. We didn't opt for the Bernina Express but the normal route--including an unexpected-but-not-important change of trains at Chiasso at the Swiss/Italo border--contained absolutely spectacular views of the Alps & valleys. We went in and out of snow squalls & it was magical. Just under 4 hours Lucerne to Milan and less than 2 hours Milan to Florence.

Two days in Lucerne is perfect. Hotel Walstaetterhof is across the street from the train station and suits just fine. Actually a good value in Switzerland at 200 CHF/night.

Zurich is a convenient entry point, but I would skip it and go directly to your first destination. Easy with the train station right there at airport.