hannafuni

Hey all,

I am looking for some advice on an itinerary we are trying to put together for the first part of our trip to Europe. There are four of us and we arrive in rome on the 11th june and are already set in stone to stay there until the 16th, advice on a day trip from Rome would be great but otherwise we are pretty set for what we want to see there.
The plan is that we will travel north as far as Milan before getting our train to Switzerland. The places we are hoping to go to are Florence, Tuscany (maybe San Gimignano), Cinque Terre, maybe Lucca, Venice and Milan. I am just struggling with how long in each, even though its going to be quite busy we are keen to stay in Cinque Terre for a night if it works out, With Milan we would be glad to look around but our main aim there is to get onto the next stage in our trip. All up at the moment we are thinking of spending 14-17 days doing this. We will be travelling by train so our length of travel is flexible due to travel times.

Thank ye all for any advice ye can put our way.

PalenQ

The places we are hoping to go to are Florence, Tuscany (maybe San Gimignano), Cinque Terre, maybe Lucca, Venice and Milan.>

Well start in Florence - say 4 days - you can do day trips from Florence by train or bus to San Gimi and Sienna - buses are quicker as they do direct or go and stay in a Siena - a big but awesome hill town with buses or trains to lots of nearby gem iconic hill towns, including nearby San Giminano.

3 days in Tuscany

Move to base yourself in Lucca, a gem of a walled town but flat not a hill town but still one of the sweetest old towns I have been to in Europe - base here and take easy day trips by train to nearby Pisa and or Montecatni Terme - one of Europe's most suave thermal resorts and in a lush park-like setting - Colodi perched high above Lucca is known as Pinocchio's town - his creator lived here and the small village treads on Pinocchio themes.

Montcatini is lots of fun - taste the foul-tasting curative waters and wander between the fancy thermal houses - no one talks much about it here but I loved a day there:

https://www.google.com/search?q=mont...HYMzACAQsAQIGw

so 3 days in Lucca

then move on by train to the Cinque Terre for 2 nights - more than enough for the average traveler who just wants to hike between all 5 Lands. Vernazza is a favorite with many - again trains go to all 5 villages.

2 days Milan

2 days Lake Stresa basing in Stresa (on the main rail line Milan to Switzerland -tour the lake by boat - the highlight are the three Borromean Islands lying just offshore of Stresa.
Each island has a different surprise on it:

https://www.google.com/search?q=borr...Hf9HAqUQsAQIHg

Then take the train north to Switzerland - either Zermatt or the Jungfrau Region would make logical first stops if coming from Stresa.

Nearly all your Italian trains are regional or IC trains with cheap normal fares - you could in fact take regional trains the whole way and for these there is no reason to buy any tickets in advance - regional trains have a flat fare that is dirt cheap - just buy tickets at station that can be used on any regional trains during the time validity period.

IC trains can be booked in advance for relatively small discounts but then you have to book way early to get them and then they are train-specific and can't be changed nor refunded I believe.

If traveling much in Switzerland look into either the Swiss Pass or Swiss Transfer Ticket that covers you from the border station - Domodossola to anywhere in Switzerland.

For lots of Italian and Swiss trains check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com. www.trenitalia.com is the national rail system of Italy for schedules and to see if there are any wortwhile discounts to get on non-regional trains that are worth going after (booking on trenitalia.com seems to baffle many first-time users!)

From Stresa Zermatt should be about 5 hours or so and Interlaken, railhead for the awesome Jungfrau Region about 4 hours or so (just guesses from a decaying memory!) but easy train rides - change at Brig for Zermatt and at Spiez for Interlaken (and from Interlaken trains go to Grindelwald, Wengen and Lauterbrunnen - all covered fully by a Swiss Pass or Swiss Transfer Ticket, which can be better for some than a Swiss Pass or Half-Fare Card. Check www.swisstravelsystem.com for lots of goodies on Swiss trains.

There is another way between Milan and SwitZerland via Torino and the stupendous Bernina Pass Railway - to me the most astoundingly scenic rail line in Europe! But it takes you to St Moritz in far eastern Switzerland and then it would be another day to the Interlaken or Zermatt areas (but scenic routes can be done on these).

sandralist

As PalenQ has been told many times -- but I guess refuses to believe -- the Pinocchio town near Lucca has deteriorated and most would be incredibly disappointed to take time from a trip and find themselves there.

PalenQ

Here are some images of that 'deteriorating' town Collodi:

https://www.google.com/search?q=coll...HSeWCMwQsAQIGw

I have not been there but have researched in when once writing an article on the Lucca area and friends who went there loved the kitschy Pinocchio stuff and said the town was nice too (well novice travelers may think it neat - those jaded by traveling all over Italy for years may think not but it is an easy short bus ride from Lucca but yes only for Pinocchio buffs. The pictures show a rather inviting town to me- I'll have to do.

There are many deteriorating hill towns in Italy and that is often what makes them so old and dreamy looking.

Whathello

You have not been there. Me neither so will not comment.

I'd rather believe Sandra has been there.

neckervd

Trains from Stresa to Switzerland:

Stresa dp 9.21 - Riederalp/Aletsch Glacier ar 10.49, change at Brig and Moerel
Stresa dp 9.21 - Saas Fee ar 11.34, change at Brig and Visp
Stresa dp 9.21 - Zermatt ar 11.50, change at Brig
Stresa dp 9.21 - Wengen ar 12.51, change at Brig, Spiez, Interlaken Ost and Lauterbrunnen
Stresa dp 9.21 - Gstaad ar 13.03, change at Montreux

isabel

If you have 14-17 after Rome, before Switzerland, then I would go first to

Florence for 5-6 days (and do day trip to Lucca/Pisa (by train) and to Siena (by bus) and another smaller 'hill town' (by bus or day tour). If you really want to stay IN a hilltown then I'd break it up 3-4 days Florence and 1-2 nights smaller town.

Then train to Venice for 3-4 nights (perhaps a day trip to Verona or Padua).

Then train to the CT region for 2-3 nights. There are lots of other great places to see in that region besides the CT towns (Rapallo, Santa Marguerita, Camogli, Portovenere, etc.)

Then train to Milan. Either one night there or in Stresa depending on if you'd rather a city or a small town on a lake. (If you have time do one in each). From either it's an easy trip up into Switzerland.

PalenQ

You have not been there. Me neither so will not comment.

I'd rather believe Sandra has been there.>

I mention Collodi ONLY because of Pinocchio not because it is a dreamy hill town- got it - and it is hard to believe that the town is a slum as sandra implies. I'll need more than her take on that and the pictures show a fairly OK hill town. But that it irrelevant - I mention Collodi only because of Pinocchio link. Period for those so inclined like my friends who pointed to seeing Collodi above all else in Italy - weird I know but to the few that may feel the same I mention it - don't care if it is Detroit in Europe or not on that reason. Got it?

hannafuni

Thank ye all so much for all the information it's greAt. I have not been able to get onto this website in the last week.
We have since been looking and have booked Rome 11-16th June then thinking of staying two nights in La spezia as a way to see cinque terre and then coming back down to Florence for 3-4nights and seeing Lucca or Pisa and Siena, we may not make it to collodi but thanks for the heads up from both sides. Then we will head to Venice two nights and then to Milan.
And sure as we are going to do the bernina express in switzerland. Just looking at getting our accommodation booked now so we can relax a bit and enjoy researching all the amazing things to do
Thanks for all the input it's much appreciated