11 Day Italy & Switzerland Trip

Old Mar 14th, 2012, 01:21 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
11 Day Italy & Switzerland Trip

We are planning our first trip to Europe in Aug. We are very excited and confused !

We have decided on
Italy ( 7 Days) + Switzerland (4 Days)
We are looking to explore Culture, Food, Countryside and little bit of History/Art. Not yet decided on itinerary, but will be flying into a major airport in Italy (Rome) and flying out of Switzerland (Zurich).

In Italy : We are planning for Rome (2-3 Days) + Florence and 1 Tuscany Small town (2 Days) + Venice (2 Days)


From Venice we will be heading to Switzerland.

In Switzerland: Planning to explore Interlaken, lucerne. Planning to visit Mt jungfrau. From many fodors thread i understand a train journey is a must to explore the picturesque Swiss Alps.

I need help in planning a 4 day trip in Switzerland starting from Venice ending in Zurich.
Please Suggest :

1) How should we travel from Venice to Switzerland?

2) Train Routes that we can take to couple small swiss towns and picturesque valleys and suggestions on cities to stay in.

3) Any small town recommendations in Tuscany Region? I was thinking of Lucca or San Gimignano?

We love exploring Nature, Local Culture and Food/Wine. We are open to go to non touristy back streets and walk around.

Thanks for your time and help.
Hitashi is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2012, 05:31 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hitashi, it's great that you're excited about your trip, but I'm concerned that you've underestimated the time it takes to travel between destinations and you won't have time to enjoy the food/wine, local culture, etc that you're looking for on your trip. Don't forget, 7 days = 8 nights, so make sure that's actually what you have, and not the other way around.


It's your first trip to Europe so it's always tempting to cram as much in as possible, but you haven't allowed much time in places, particularly Rome and the Florence/Tuscany sections. It's good that you're flying in to one place and out of another as that will save time, but if you haven't already booked your flights, then you could perhaps consider:

1. spending the time in Italy only, fly into Rome and out of Venice, adding extra time to Rome and Florence (day trip to San Gim would work).
2. removing the Florence/Tuscany section and adding the time to Rome, keeping Switzerland.
3. removing Venice, keeping Switzerland

If you choose to keep Switzerland, you should look at staying just in the Berner Oberland region - Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken, Murren. It's picturesque, 3 days (4 nights) would be good, you'll be able to go up Jungfrau one day and perhaps visit another of the towns (other than the one you choose to stay in) on the other day, and it's only 2hr45mins by train to Zurich airport. Luzern is lovely, but you don't have time to travel around and see all you want to see.

Train travel in Italy will be short: 1.5hrs Rome-Florence on Eurostar Italia, 2.5hrs Florence to Venice. The Venice to Switzerland route is going to be much longer, but scenic in some parts, around 7-8 hours. So consider either an overnight train (there will be changes so won't be a direct train with lots of sleep) or fly (check prices as they may not be budget airline prices).
madamtrashheap is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2012, 05:50 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,960
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
After staying in the BO area, you can stop in Lucerne for a few hours, then go on to Zurich. The train station is right on the lake and close to the center of town. We took a boat ride, which is included in the Swiss Pass.

That's what we did--easy. I would have liked more time in Lucerne but this was a great way to see it in a small amount of time.
Connie is offline  
Old Mar 16th, 2012, 01:24 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I want to enthusiastically recommend staying in Murren when you're in the Berner Oberland region. It is beautiful, and the views from your hotel are going to be breathtaking. We stayed in Chalet Fontana for two nights, which was wonderful.

We stayed in Interlaken for two nights, which I wouldn't do again. I wanted to spend all six nights up in Murren, but there weren't any rooms available. Interlaken was too touristy, and the views weren't nearly as good.
Haven17 is offline  
Old Mar 29th, 2012, 04:17 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
@madamtrashheap - Thanks for your inputs. We do understand we had less time in our itinerary, so we are now making it a 2 week (13 Nights -14 days)trip.

We are now planning

Fly in to Rome
3-4 Days Rome
2 Days - Tuscany (Florence + San Gimignano)
3 Days Venice
Travel to Switzerland (Train/Flight)
Staying in the Berner Oberland region 3-4 days
Heading Back to US from Zurich

@Haven17 & @Connie - Thanks for the info.

I still need to do more research on Switzerland area.
Hitashi is offline  
Old Mar 29th, 2012, 05:23 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You paid attention---nice trip.
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old Mar 29th, 2012, 06:14 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 629
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Please see my trip report about my 3 days in Venice and two days in Tuscany.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...italy-trip.cfm
In particular, a meal on the Giudecca canal is a very fine experience that still brings back good memories. Also, if you stay in San Giamignano, consider doing some sort of wine tour while there. One quirky thing about the Italian wine industry is that they don't seem to communicate it well on English websites. You may have to be flexible when you get there. Your hotel will be able to help with this. But seriously, one doesn't go to Tuscany without visiting a few vineyards.
docdan is offline  
Old Mar 29th, 2012, 09:05 PM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
@bobthenavigator - Thanks!

@docdan - Yes, Tuscany trip is incomplete without a visit to vineyards. I love Tuscan food and if time permits i would love to take a cooking class as well! Look forward to read and benefit from your trip report!
Hitashi is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2012, 12:42 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hitashi,

Unless you really have a burning desire to see San Gimignano, you might get more of what you want from Tuscany by staying in a small town in the Chianti, which would also make it easier to then move on to Venice.

There are buses that go from Florence to Panzano in Chianti or Greve in Chianti in an hour. You can also get a driver to take you, which might be easier but of course more expensive.

It will take you 2 hours and a change of bus to get to San Gimignano, and although they do grow wine there, the vinyards of Chianti are really very famous for the red wine, and the views there are more typical of why Tuscany is so famous.

You can also probably find a cooking class in Panzano or Greve or somewhere very near there.
zeppole is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2012, 12:51 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
PS: Sometimes you can find a cooking class that will pick you up in Florence and take you an estate in the Chianti for the class. From there, it would be cheaper to find a driver to take you the rest of the way to Panzano or Greve. Then after, you could take the bus to Florence and then get the train to Venice.
zeppole is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2012, 01:34 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hitashi,

I have never stayed here but I have seen this place recommended by many people who love a true experience of the wine country of Tuscany. You would probably need to arrange for a driver to take you there from Florence, but the prices of the rooms and the cooking class are very affordable. So you could have a really lovely stay in a winery in the Chianti, take a cooking class and have a organic dinner.

http://www.poggerino.com/en/default.asp
zeppole is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2012, 12:27 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
@ zeppole - Makes sense.
We just one do a small town in Tuscany, where we can get a local feel and get some downtime to explore - People, Wine and food.
Only reason i was not considering Chianti reason in particular, is to not repeat what we usually do in Napa Valley. Since we stay 1 hour away from Napa region, and do winery visits a lot. I dont want my day to be absorbed by just winery's and vineyards. Inputs?
I will consider Chianti ( Panzano)in detail.
What are your thoughts on Lucca or Pienza?
Hitashi is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2012, 01:31 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
@Hitashi,

Wanting to go beyond Napa is certainly an understandable reason to hesitate about the Chianti.

I may be the wrong person to ask about Lucca, since while others love it, I've always found it rather too preciously preserved for tourism. (Insert howls of protest from Lucca lovers.) Making matters worse, I don't care for Lucchese cuisine, which is quite distinctive. So you might want to consult Lucca fans, which are legion. It is not a hilltown, if that matters to you.

If you are going from Rome to Florence, you'll waste time doubling back to get to Pienza. You could take a train to Chiusi and get a taxi there for Pienza (about 50e?) But Pienza is super-tourist town, as is San Gimignano. In August, these places are swamped with foreigners, and "local feel" is really chased right out of town.

This is obviously a problem with every well-known Tuscan town, especially on train lines -- except?

Pistoia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistoia

I often hear the same about Certaldo Alta (never been)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certaldo

I *think* it is possible to get to San Miniato by public transportion, but I'm not sure

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Miniato

Ditto Pescia (noted for its good food)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescia

I think in a place like Pescia you won't feel for a second you are in Napa. Other places, like San Gimignano, certainly don't look like Napa, but it is better than even odds you'll be in a mob of tourists, all saying "awesome."
zeppole is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2012, 02:03 PM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
@ zeppole

Will definitely prefer a hilltown! Pescia sounds good.

Since our next destination after Florence is Venice. I feel we should do something in middle, so we can effectively use our 1 day in enjoying instead of getting there.

Perhaps, stay both nights in Florence and do a day trip ?

Thanks !
Hitashi is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2012, 02:07 PM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also, would you recommend doing a car rental in florence for 2 days, so we have the ease of transportation in tuscany region.

Would it help ? Cost ? Or Driving is a hassle and too much to figure out ?

Also, we are now considering to travel in July.
Hitashi is offline  
Old Mar 30th, 2012, 03:35 PM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you were going to rent a car, it might make more sense to pick it up in Chiusi, an hour outside of Rome by train, and drive it north on a scenic route into Tuscany, stay in a hilltop town, and maybe even keep it until you got to Venice, and drop it off there.

However, in August, a 2-day rental might be quite pricey, especially if you are not stick-shift drivers (and then, you may need to go someplace bigger than Chiusi to rent the car).

And you would still need to carefully pick your spot if your true heart's desire was something of Tuscany away from the biggest tourist impact, plus a visit to Florence. Maybe Certaldo could give you both -- a scenic drive en route, a small untouristy hill town, but a public transportation connection to Florence for a day trip so you don't have to drive there (NOT recommended). You can probably find a cooking class in Certaldo. Contact the woman who runs Divina Cucina out of Florence. She lives in Certaldo.


But if you didn't want to rent a car, staying in Florence and taking a day trip to Pescia for lunch might show you a sweet Tuscan town that is filled 90 percent with Tuscans. You might find a cooking class there too. Or in Pistoia. You just take the train to either town. (Pescia is higher up the slope of the hills.)

There is a highly regarded restaurant in Pescia called "Cecco" at via Forti 96. It is closed Mondays and I am not certain if it is open for lunch. I believe it is open in August.

Here is more about Pescia -- honestly, I'm not pushing you to go there. It's just one of the few small towns I can think of within train reach of Florence that has a truly local Tuscan feel. Perhaps others know more.

http://www.tuscany-villas.com/blog/a...dinievole.html


But don't overthink Tuscany. Too many people do!
zeppole is offline  
Old Apr 7th, 2012, 10:50 PM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I need inputs on my travel via trains from Venice to Zurich. Our stay in Switzerland is 3-4 Nights (Before i head to Paris)

I understand there are no direct trains, we will have to change. I was hoping to make my train journey from Venice to Zurich to be a trip in itself (staying 2 Nights in between).

Can i possibly take Bernina or Glacier express as the part of the trip? Any other trains i could take?

I am interested to see the Mt. Jungfrau , Interalaken & Lucerne region. But that being said i am open to recommendations.

I am looking for a Beautiful train journey with spectacular views, scenic valleys, cliff side journeys and postcard swiss towns!

Hoping to do an interesting train journey from Venice to Zurich instead of a flight and then taking trains to cover these regions.

Thanks in advance.
Hitashi is offline  
Old Apr 7th, 2012, 11:34 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Hitashi,

With only two nights, you don't have time to do the Bernina Express and Glacier Express plus Jungfrau and Interlaken region. I'm afraid you'll have to force the difficult choice.

If you want to do the Bernina and Glacier Express, you could go from Venice to Milan, then Milan to Tirano to catch the BE. It will deposit you in St. Moritz. I would stay two nights in St. Moritz and then go on to Zürich from there.

But if you really want to do part of the Glacier Express too, you could go from St. Moritz to Andermatt on the GE, then move onward to Zürich. That trip will take about seven hours and will cover the best part (imo), the highest part of the GE, between Disentis and Andermatt.

If you wanted to do the Jungfraujoch and Interlaken region, you would just take the train from Venice to Interlaken Ost (about seven or eight hours) and stay there for two nights. Then move on to Zürich.

I would caution you against moving around too much; ironically, the more you move, the less you get to see. You wouldn't have time to get beyond the main street in your destination -- you'll be able to set foot in these places but won't be able to do much more.

You can research all your train trips at

www.rail.ch

Have fun as you plan!

s
swandav2000 is online now  
Old Apr 9th, 2012, 08:02 AM
  #19  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
swandav2000

Thanks for your inputs. I agree more we move, less we see.

We have 3 nights & 4 Days. I think i will take the train from Venice to Interlaken Ost and then spend 3 days there before i head to Zurich for my onward journey.

What are my options in and around Interlaken area ? Any recommendations on train journeys or boat rides?

Thanks
Hitashi
Hitashi is offline  
Old Apr 9th, 2012, 09:23 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi again,

Yes, that's a good idea.

Unfortunately, I normally ski when I'm in the Jungfrau area, so I don't know a lot about sights or walks.

Because you're travelling in August, I strongly recommend that you avoid Interlaken. It is a tourist hub, and in the summertime, it is lined with tour busses and crowded with the offloaded day-tripers -- really not at all pleasant.

In addition, Interlaken isn't in the mountains at all but in the flats between the two lakes. It'll take you two hours to get up to the top of the mountains or about 40 minutes to get to one of the sweet mountain villages. You'll spend your time craning your neck and looking up to see the mountains.

You can avoid that August tourist bustle if you stay in one of the car-free villages that are above Interlaken, and you'll be right in the mountains. Your views will be over to the other mountains and down into the valley. The villages are Wengen or Mürren or Lauterbrunnen (Lauterbrunnen is the lowest of the three and sits at the base of some cliffs). You can research them at

www.myjungfrau.ch

Have fun as you plan!

s
swandav2000 is online now  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -