Swiss to Florence Advice

Going to Luzern for a two nights stay is perfect. Plenty of things to see and do, and a good introduction to Switzerland. And onwards train travel to Florence should not be an issue.

It is going to be a LONG schlep down to Florence, and you almost assuredly will transfer through Milan. Does it make sense to position yourself further south, to at least shave some time off of the travel day? And also align with someplace that has direct service to Milan, so it is easier to go onwards? If so, then Brig might fit the bill. There are direct trains to Brig from Zurich airport. And then after your two nights, your travel time to Florence is just over four hours through Milan using the EuroCity lines. Certainly Brig is not as picture-postcard charming as Lucerene (although it is hardy chopped liver!!), but if it were me, I'd want to take the logistics into account too.

Trenitalia is planning works on the Simplon line, so it is at the moment not certain that there will be in fact direct trains from Brig to Milano on the day the OP intends to travel. I would go to Luzern. The logistics are not a big issue.
And you get the scenic Gotthard railway as part of the bargain.

I have done once Florence to Lausanne and twice Florence to Zurich and return (this one when the new Gotthard tunnel was not still open, but at this time is closed for repairs). Both were pleasant train trips but somewhat long, in spite of Florence to Milan being only two hours. Have a look to flights Zurich-Florence, it could be a little more expensive but saving half a day.

Flying will not save you half a day. Especially since the train gives you a departure about every hour, whereas there is normally only one direct flight from Zurich to Florence. So flying means you organise your day around the flight...

Swiss flies frequent shuttles between ZHR and FLR, the real business being selling then a transatlantic leg. I have looked for flights on a random day later this month and I have found four direct flights from ZHR to FLR in that single day. You can be in Florence as early as 8:45am.

If you want to spend 2 nights in Luzern, then take the train to Florence. 6 1/2 hours with 2 train changes.

Why not make use of the opportunity to have a nice Swiss travel experience?

Spend one night in Luzern, then the next day take the Treno Gottardo from Luzern to Locarno in Ticino, in the Italian-speaking area of Switzerland, for an overnight by the lake. You can spend the morning enjoying the town and the lake, and take an afternoon train for the 4-hour journey to Florence (with a single train change at MilanO.

https://www.mystsnet.com/en/download/image-treno-gottardo-with-the-church-of-wassen/?wpdmdl=30206&refresh=65e85d8bbb3d61709727115

Or there is the Gotthard Panorama Express, a journey by boat and train from Luzern to Lugano.

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/gotthard-panorama-express/

This one is only once a day, and all in First Class, but you could duplicate it on the Treno Gottardo by taking a boat down the lake from Luzern to Flüelen and boarding the Treno Gottardo there. The boat and train are timed to facilitate that. We did this with our family in September and everyone loved the experience.

If you choose the route to Locarno, there are lakefront hotels just 2-3 blocks from the train station, such as this one:

https://www.hotelgeranio.ch/en/

I have noticed that hotels near the train station are harder to find in Lugano, which is one reason (of several) that I prefer the Treno Gottardo and Locarno over the Gotthard Panorama Express ending in Lugano. The boat ride and the train tracks are the same, and you have more flexibility in the schedule.

Look at these maps of the Swiss rail system and you will see that this is the most direct route between Luzern and MIlan, your gateway to the rest of Italy.

https://www.mystsnet.com/en/download/swiss-travel-system-map-en-2023/?wpdmdl=14294&masterkey=63a023c8da36c

It also has the benefit of being very scenic, especially if you use the boat option.

@lachera: Say you plan on taking the 12:30 flight to Florence.

From Luzern that means setting out around 9. And you can expect to be in downtown Florence by about 15:00 or so.

By train you set out at 8:39 in Luzern and you are in Florence at 15:04. And that is via the slow route. SBB is trying to get more train through the base tunnel as repairs progress, so it is possible that soon that will be like before, an hour faster.

@WengenK: By train you set out at 8:39 in Luzern and you are in Florence at 15:04.

I have done a couple times Florence-Zurich on the old railway route, and a couple time flying, on business trips. I am a railfan and being paid to do the Gotthard route with the Biaschina tunnels and the Wassen church does not feel as doing real work, but I have to confess that I found the train run tiring if compared with the airplane. But I understand that leaving from Luzern means adding some time to flying and taking a little time from the railway run.

Hi Curious if you've made decisions on this trip yet.
Are you planning to do any cable rides, and which trains are you taking across the Alps?

My wife and I are planning a similar leg in Sept.
We fly into ZRH 9/18 and want to train over to either Milan or Venice, stay in that area a few days then train to Florence for a week in the Tuscan/Umbria region.
We will head across France to Amsterdam over the next month.