My partner and I are planning to travel to Switzerland for our Honeymoon at the beginning of September 2023 and I could use some help with our itinerary. We are spending an entire month in Europe for our honeymoon, and Switzerland is the start of our month-long itinerary.
The end date of our time in Switzerland is flexible, we are flying into Zurich at 5pm on September 1, and we need to end up in Milan on September 14 for the next leg of our journey (flying to Croatia). I'm looking for suggestions for how to fill in the gaps of the itinerary from September 9 to 14:
Option 1 - if the itinerary below is too quick, should I add days in Lucerne or Berner Oberland or Zermatt or all three to extend the itinerary?
Option 2 - Should we travel to Lake Como for 2-3 days after Zermatt? Lake Como isn't high on my priority list, but it is somewhat geographically near where we will be and where we will be going.
Option 3 - I was considering traveling all the way to the Dolomites from September 9-14, but it feels too rushed to make it there from Zermatt, and then to end back up in Milan on the 14th.
Option 4 - Should we travel to the Cinque Terre after Zermatt? I have been to the CT once before and loved it and have been dying to go back sometime
Fri September 1
Flight arrives at 5:15pm in Zurich. Debating between staying the night in Zurich or immediately taking the train to Lucerne and staying there. I'd like to spend at least a half day in Zurich, but maybe that means day tripping from Lucerne back to Zurich for the day and staying 2 nights in Lucerne to avoid moving luggage around more.
Sat September 2
If staying in Zurich, explore Zurich in the morning, then take the train to Lucerne for the day, Mt. Pilatus. Night in Lucerne.
Sun September 3
Explore Lucerne in the morning, train to Berner Oberland. Night in Murren.
Mon September 4
Enjoying BO. (Things on my to-do list in BO include: paragliding, light hiking, valley waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen, possible trip to Bern in case of bad weather, Jungfraujoch, mild via ferrata) Night in Murren.
Tues September 5
Enjoying BO. Night in Murren.
Weds September 6
Enjoying BO. Night in Murren.
Thurs September 7
Train to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. Night in Zermatt.
Fri September 8
Zermatt. Night in Zermatt.
Sat Sept 9
???
(Dolomites track: Possibly Zermatt to Visp/Brig to Milan (4 hours via train), Milan to Bolzano (4 hours via train) rent car in Bolzano Dolomites base in Ortesei)
Sun Sept 10
???
(Dolomites track: base in Ortesei. Things I want to see: Seceda, Lago di Braies, Tre Cime di lavaredo, Val di Funes, Alpe di Siusi)
Mon Sept 11
???
Dolomites?
Tues Sept 12
???
Dolomites?
Weds Sept 13
???
Dolomites?
Thurs Sept 14
Train to Milan. Night in Milan. Flight to Croatia leaves 06:00 on Friday Sept 15.
(Dolomites track: Train from Bolzano to Milan)
Some helpful notes about how we like to travel: We like a mix of slow travel and fast paced travel, so I am open to both options. We love the outdoors and all the outdoor activities, mountain vistas, food, and architecture. I have already visited Milan and don't have any desire to spend more time there aside from using it as a travel hub.
I would appreciate any help! Switzerland planning is feeling overwhelming, but it is the one place I want to prioritize seeing the most during these 14 days, but 14 days all in Switzerland feels like too many days. Thanks for any input!