Laursub

My family is flying into Zurich, Switzerland at the end of June 2015 and we are looking for suggestions in places we should visit. Our trip is 2 weeks. Both kids are in college. We have been to Switzerland and Germany previously about 5 years ago and visited Lauterbrunnen and the Berner-Oberland area. We are thinking about going back since the area is so beautiful, but we're also looking to explore other parts of Switzerland as well as Italy and maybe France. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Kathie

With two weeks, I'd suggest not more than two countries or not more than three cities. Trying to see more places means you'll spend more time in transit and not have the time to see/do/experience the things that are important to you.

So pause and consider what are the most important things you want to see/do/experience and plan your itinerary around these.

Do you really have two full weeks on the ground in Europe? Don't forget to factor in travel time. Each time you change locations you'll use up a half a day to a full day (count from checking out of one accommodation to getting settled in the next.

PalenQ

How are you going to get around - car - train - bike - thumb? Makes a difference on how much and what you can see. If it's trains I'd direct you to these fine sites for planning a European rail trip: www.budgeteuropetravel.com (download their free online European Rail & Planning Guide for a rail-oriented chapter on each of those countries); www.seat61.com - good info on discounted tickets you can nab if you book way in advance and don't need to change from a specific train - way cheaper than full fare and fully flexible hop on any train tickets- and www.ricksteves.com - again rail-oriented info on each country.

Fussgaenger

From Zürich you are a stone's throw from the Black Forest. And just across the French/German border in the Alsace are Strasbourg and touristy but precious Colmar. Freiburg, across the border from Colmar, is a fine university town. Basel CH is a good pick if you like museums. Lucerne CH would offer alpine splendor and still be a bit different from the Berner Oberland. Zurich is nice for a day or two as well. Hm. I think I just outlined a do-able loop-itinerary across 3 countries with some good variety for a 2-week visit.

What you do in these places depends on your interests. The Natzweiler-Struthof Concentration camp isn't far from Strasbourg, if you're into WW II history. The Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum in Gutach (Black Forest) is terrific. Lots of good walking and hiking in the Black Forest too. Lots of choices.

Spend more time in France and Germany than in Switzerland, if budget is important.

nytraveler

Agree on limiting yourself to 4 stops (4 hotels) at most - and Switz will be much more expensive than any of the other countries.

It would help to know your interests to help advise on which places you may enjoy. But doing 4 countries is not an option if you really want to see anything. So have you decided on any specific must sees?

If you want to include much of Italy - you will probably need to drop France and Germany.

Also I would do open jaw flights - into Zurich and out of the last city - to avoid wasting a day getting back to Zurich.

neckervd

You may have a look at
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/
http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en

PalenQ

The Italian Lake District is just south of the Swiss border - easy to take a train to Lake Stresa from the Interlaken or Montreux - Stresa being a cool lakeside resort - just off shore are the famous three Borromean Islands, each with a different delight on it. Boats from Stresa all the time. So for a taste of Italy head south a tad from Switzerland.

neckervd

I fully agree with Palen. For me, the 3 big lakes North of Milan (there are 12 smaller one's too of which only Lake Orta and Lake Iseo are of some interest for tourists) form a whole, like for local people (who all speak the same Lombard dialect, play the same folkloric music and eat the same food).
Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano and Lake Como are linked by numerous railway and bus lines and by tons of scenic hiking trails. And all 3 lakes can be discovered by scheduled boats:
Arona - Santa Caterina Monastery - Stresa - Borromean Islands - Villa Taranto Gardens - Verbania - Luino - Cannobio - Brissago Islands - Ascona - Locarno;
Ponte Tresa (Switzerland) - Porto Ceresio (Italy) - Morcote (Switzerland) - Campione (Italy) - Lugano (Switzerland) - Porlezza (Italy);
Como - Cernobbio Villa Omo Gardens - Arcegno - Villa Carlotta Gardens - Bellagio - Menaggio - Varenna - Bellano - Gravedona - Piona Abbey - Colico.
Americans prefer Lake Como, Dutch, Belgian and French people Lake Maggiore whereas Swiss, Germans and Italians go to all 3 of them.