I am leaving June 6th for a last minute 12 day trip to Italy but will be flying into and out of Geneva, Switzerland. I don't have much time to plan so I am going to follow Rick's itinerary in his Best of Italy tourbook. How best to get to Italy from Geneva? Would it be best to go to Venice or Cinque Terre region first? Unfortunately I don't think I can change my airline reservations to fly into Italy. Any recommendations would be appreciated. I am freaking out about going at the last minute. Thank you in advance for your reply.
Posted by
Chicago
7911 posts
In your situation I would book a separate flight to a city in the Rick itinerary (I am not familiar with it) that is the furthest point from Geneva and work my way North back to Geneva. For example if Rick's Itinerary starts in Rome and continues North to Florence I would fly to Rome from Geneva on a separate ticket. Or if Rick's itinerary includes Milan you could take a train from Geneva to Milan the closest major city to the Swiss border and continue south and then fly back to Geneva from Rome for example.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3179 posts
There is a train from Geneva that leaves at 1:39 PM and arrives in Milan at 5:37 and would cost €85. Since you’ll be at the airport, what about just flying from Geneva to Milan? The problem is direct flights are few and expensive on such short notice.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32222 posts
It would help to know exactly where in Italy you plan on visiting. Without that information, it's difficult to make transportation suggestions.
Posted by
Green Bay
20254 posts
I have no idea what Rick's Italy book says. You can get trains from Geneva airport to Milan, but maybe you should stop short at Stresa and recover from jetlag on the shore of beautiful Lago Maggiore for a couple of days. You can get there in 4 1/2 to 5 hours. Then take a train through Milan to Venice for 3 to 4 days. From there to Florence for 3 days, then to Cinque Terre for 2 days. Now it is getting time to make your way back to Geneva with 1 night there before the flight home.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for the replies. My son (22 yrs) has never been to Italy. I thought he would enjoy Venice, Rome, Cinque Terre and maybe a small dose of Florence. Rick Steves guidebook suggests Venice to cinque Terre to Florence to Siena, Assisi, orvieto, Rome for a two weektrip. I Will have to cut out some cuz i will be there for a shorter time. I would to get him of the beaten track a bit if possible.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11363 posts
Sounds like you have 11 nights. Do you arrive early in the day at Geneva? Like before 2 pm? On arrival buy a ticket to fly to Rome.
Stay in Rome 3 nights, take a train to LaSpezia then in to the Cinque Terre town of your choice and stay 2 nights. Next train to Florence for 3 nights, finally train to Venice for 2 nights. Save one night for Geneva as you’ll need to fly there the afternoon before your return flight.
You can pre-book most of these trains and the Venice to GVA flight, but I would not pre-book the flight to Rome as you will lose out if you are late arriving in GVA. I do not usually recommend such short stays but you don’t have much time. If you want a better Italian experience, IMO, drop the Cinque Terre and add nights to Venice and Rome. With the extra time you can make a day trip to the Lagunes Islands while in Venice and while in Rome go up to Villa d’Este in Tivoli or perhaps to Frascati to get out of the city., but only if you add some time there.