Switzerland to Milan

Where are your airport connections?

Thanks Happy Traveler...we plan to land Zurich then straight to Lucerne. Fly out of Milan.

Sounds like you need to read a good guidebook, like Rick Steves’ Switzerland and his Italy book as well. I don’t mean this as a commercial plug, but I found them invaluable on our first trips t0 each country and continue to use the newest versions when we return, which is annually for about 16 years now/

What do you want to do?

We will be spending 5 nights in Wengen and four in Zermatt before heading to Stesa and Milan. We like hiking and mountains so would not have any problems spending more time than most would need in those destinations.

Might I suggest Chat GPT? It actually tailors a sample itinerary based on your interests and would be more on point than the opinions of people who dont know what you like.

If you do choose to use Chat GTP or any other AI tool, be certain to double check details with backup sources.I have read that it is not dependable for transportation, among other things. My personal experience with what it thought constituted reasonable day trips was laughable.

The thing about a guidebook is that you don’t know what you don’t know. Logistics in Switzerland can be challenging. For example travel times can be deceiving AND sometimes a route seems ridiculous with 5 modes of transport between point A and point B, when in reality it is often easier than a driving itinerary. An AI tool has not “been there done that” so lacks the judgement required.

Thank you guys. I did try google/AI and gave me the similar itinerary we have in mind except that from Zermatt it's suggesting to take Bernina express to st Moritz then to Varrena but we just want to leave Zermatt and go directly to Milan and take day trips from there after exploring the city.
We plan to buy the Swiss pass and do not mind paying what is not covered by it. Also we're thinking of doing same with oberland to stay in interlaken and take the trains to lauterbrunnen and wengen, jungfraojoch. What do you think?
Lastly we just want to site see, try the food...no hiking. Thanks!

I don't think Chat GBT would lead to nothing but oddball itineraries. Try www.sbb.ch/en to see train schedules Zermatt to Stresa. Frequent trains taking 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

Is there a particular reason you want to stay in the transportation hub but not in the mountains you have come to see rather than up in the mountains at Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Mürren where you wake up to vistas and views, and can watch the sunset behind the mountains?

Over many years I stayed down in Interlaken and up in the mountains. I don't stay in Interlaken any more.

If you are concerned about the various changes in transport up the hill, let me reassure you. It runs like clockwork and is very easy.

Lucerne is a beautiful city! Back in 2017 we did a day trip there and I wish it would have been for a couple of nights. If your next stop is Lauterbrunnen, you should consider staying in either Wengen or Murren as they are up in the mountains rather than in the valley. On our 2017 trip, we stayed in Wengen 4 nights and felt it was the right choice for lodging as it has more of a commercial district than Murren. This past October we spent 4 nights in Zermatt. It is larger and much more commercialized than the Berner Oberland towns. The scenery is great in both areas - especially if you take the take advantage of the cable cars and do some hiking. The train from Zermatt to Milan has a stop at the famous old resort town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore. Unless you specifically want to visit Lake Como, perhaps you should consider a few nights in Stresa instead. Isola Bella and the other Borromean Islands are right off the lakefront and fun to visit. Milan itself has a lot to experience and is also a convenient place to base for day trips. If you stay there 4-5 nights you will have time to enjoy the city as well as take a day trip or 2 - including to Lake Como (Varenna is about an hour by train). Other places worth visiting and easily accessible by train from Milan are Bergamo and Turin (I've done this). Another cool day trip via train is Porto Ceresio on Lake Lugano - and just a short ferry ride across the lake is Morcote, Switzerland. The Milan Metro and Trenord (regional rail) are great and easy to use for exploring the entire area - enjoy your vacation!

Thank you so much, Happy Traveller for a very helpful insight of our plan.
We do like to see Lake Como from Milan.
You did not mention Bologna or Genoa. But from what you know is it because they're farther from Milan as day trips or Turin and Bergamo are a better option?

They are further away but I didn't address them because my only experience visiting is passing through Bolonga on the train (you're underground and don't see anything) and driving around/above Genoa on my way to Camogli. I would like to experience both! My wife's company has an office in suburban Milan (Legnano - nice town!) where she has staff - so she goes there 1-2 times a year. Sometimes I tag along and during the week when she's working I'll do day trips.