Driving to Italy from Zurich (13 Days)
Apr 24th, 2009, 07:14 AM
#1
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Driving to Italy from Zurich (13 Days)
We are landing in Zurich July 3 (best airfare deal) and plan to drive around northern Italy. I want to avoid Milan but am having trouble coming up with a good itinerary. We will be leaving from Zurich again on the afternoon of July 15. I would love to visit Parma, Lucca, Cinque Terra and Genoa but don't know if this is a viable schedule.
I would love to hear what other travellers have done!
I would love to hear what other travellers have done!
Apr 24th, 2009, 07:22 AM
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That is very doable, but I would not drive until you get to Lugano for your best rates. I would start in Luzern for 2 nites--train from Zurich airport in 1:20. Then, train to Lugano and stay at one of the lakes for 2 nites or more.
Then, you can drive to to a location on the coast for X nites and then Lucca. On the way back, drop the car in Lugano and train back to Zurich for your last nite. All very doable.
Then, you can drive to to a location on the coast for X nites and then Lucca. On the way back, drop the car in Lugano and train back to Zurich for your last nite. All very doable.
Apr 24th, 2009, 07:41 AM
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The idea of picking the car up in Lugano makes sense unless you want to experience mountain driving by going over the St. Gotthard pass rather than taking the tunnel, but I don't see any reason for staying 2 nights in Luzern. If pond hopping, chances are that you will arrive in the morning hours and you could be in Lugano by that evening if not sooner. A day in Lugano to get over jet lag might be a good idea.
Apr 24th, 2009, 08:05 PM
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Thanks for the info. We actually got a very good car deal so, other than cost, why would we want to wait to drive until Lugano? I was hoping we might visiting the west side of Lake Maggiore (Cannobio?) but perhaps there's a good reason not to do that?
Apr 25th, 2009, 04:49 AM
#6
When I've priced car rentals, they have been much cheaper in Switzerland, than Italy. I'm not sure I see the point of spending exta money to train to Italy to pick up a car if you can get a better rate in Switzerland.
Apr 25th, 2009, 05:59 AM
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Hi luv,
Whatever you do, you will need an International Driver's Permit in Italy.
http://www.aaasouth.com/home.asp
Whatever you do, you will need an International Driver's Permit in Italy.
http://www.aaasouth.com/home.asp
Apr 25th, 2009, 08:00 AM
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Personally, I wouldn't waste energy avoiding Milan. From Lugano, it's close to impossible. There's a backtracking route (Mendrisio-Varese-Gallarate-Novara-Alessandria-Genoa). but it'll take forever and it's mostly dull outer suburbia. You can head for the east shore of Lago Maggiore from Lugano, then down it and head for Novara - but it'll take longer still
From Lucerne, turn off to Locarno just before Bellinzona, then follow the east shore of Lago Maggiore.
But if you'd wanted the lakes you'd have been going that way anyway. The Tangenziale round Milan is no better or worse than any other by-pass anywhere: just accept you've got that hour or so of mild pain.
From Lucerne, turn off to Locarno just before Bellinzona, then follow the east shore of Lago Maggiore.
But if you'd wanted the lakes you'd have been going that way anyway. The Tangenziale round Milan is no better or worse than any other by-pass anywhere: just accept you've got that hour or so of mild pain.
Apr 25th, 2009, 09:14 AM
#12
>>>Lugano is in Switzerland.<<<
Yes, but the OP didn't mention a desire to go to Lugano or to stay two nights (Bob's suggestion). Why schlep onto trains when you can just pick the car up at the airport and go?
Yes, but the OP didn't mention a desire to go to Lugano or to stay two nights (Bob's suggestion). Why schlep onto trains when you can just pick the car up at the airport and go?
Apr 25th, 2009, 12:25 PM
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But as I pointed out, not to be argumentative but because of the jet-lag issue, taking the train to Lugano might be a good solution, perhaps even staying there overnight to recover from jet-lag. That would bring the OP closer to his Italian destinations. My impression is that Zurich is being used only because of a cheap RT flight.
Apr 25th, 2009, 04:47 PM
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If staying in Luzern it means half a day's drive to get on the other side of the Alps; more if you choose to avoid the tunnel and go over the St. Gotthard, which is more interesting for Alpine views (it took me all day to go from Lake Como to Luzern not using the toll roads). I took the original suggestion and thought that taking the train would be a good way to avoid the issue of jet-lag and travel and get the OP closer to his destination.
