A few countries in ten days
 

My husband and I are looking to fly to Zurich, early October..we would like to stay approx. 4 days in Switzerland, then am open for ideas....Italy, Paris, Croatia??? We like walking, countryside, cafes, waterfalls, any water views, we plan to do our own itinerary and take the trains..any info on travel, places to eat ot stay would be helpful...

Just for some general info on trains and where to go: www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com (online European Planning & Rail Guide has lots of rail itineraries).

In Switzerland I would highly recommend the Jungfrau area around Interlaken- then maybe take train either to Venice and the to Rome or to Paris - if Paris maybe hitting the Lake Geneva area for a few days - Montreux being a favorite small town lakeside base for many - fly into Zurich and out of Paris.

You'd have to fly to Croatia. If never been to Europe before I'd chose Italy or Paris.

Lots of nice walks in Switzerland - especially in Interlaken (Jungfrau) region and Montreux.

You have tagged your post as a trip report, but the trip has not yet taken place.

Yes either re-post or hit the triangle and have moderators remove the trip report label as many who may comment may not if it is labeled trip report.

You can find all of your "likes" in Switzerland. And in every other European country.

The other destinations you mention feel random (two countries, one city), so it doesn't sound as if you have anything specific you want to see or do. Or do you?

What are your airport options for the return flight, or would you need to go back to Zurich?

(I will say that most of the popular tourist destinations in Italy can be very crowded in early October.)

And the idea of visiting "a few countries in ten days" isn't recommended.

Your "plan" is totally unformed. You can't "do" a few countries in 10 days. Hit the internet and the guidebooks, decide what appeals to you, come up with what you think is a realistic plan and come back for some guidance and tweaking.