August , Switzerland Mts & Italian Lakes
 

In the beginning stages of planning an 8 day trip to Switzerland and Lake Como area. Flying from USA to Zurich with 18 & 23 yr old daughters. We would like to travel by train.

We are interested in light hiking, beautiful scenery in Swiss Alps, unique villages, and they love fondue! The areas we are most interested in are Murren, Wengen, Jungfrau. We would also like to visit the Lake region of northern Italy. Perhaps 4 days in each area

Could you recommend an itinerary with approximate travel times and must see or do things in each area?

I always get the best suggestions from Fodorites...thanks, in advance.

I would pick Wengen and Stresa. But you might get better feedback if you first put together a draft itinerary based on your own research--including all of the posts on Switzerland on Fodors, for example. Then, some of the very helpful and knowledgeable Switzerland posters would have something to go on.

Sounds like fun !
Here is a rough itinerary:

Land Zurich--train to Wengen via Interlaken--3 nites
Train to Stresa via Brig---3 nites
Boat or bus to Locarno---get train to Luzern--2 nites with direct early train to Zurich airport from Luzern

Oh yes, meant to say that Como is more complex but would involve a train to Lugano and then a bus to Menaggio on the west shore of Como. Much more travel time---I would do Stesa and Maggiore.

Bob's plan sounds like a good one to me.

You can get excellent fondue in Luzern at the Hotel Des Alpes restaurant or the Hotel Schiff restaurant. Terrific raclette (sort of like fondue, but melted cheese with pickle, onion and potato on a heated plate) can be found at the Cafe Hug riverside restaurant in Luzern.

8 days is not a lot. I did 7 days last August just for Milan and Lake Como. "Must see" for me would be Varenna in Lake Como and I would recommend staying at the Villa Cipressi there. You can probably check out their website. I did the bus ride between Menaggio and Lugano; it didn't seem terribly long, I think less than 2 hours. Are you flying back out of Zurich because we'd have to factor in getting back there time if you went to Como. Definitely, my favorite place on Lake Como is Varenna.