From French Riviera and around Italy.....HELP
 

Hi there,

CALLING ALL ITALY EXPERTS, ha ha

I am looking from going from Paris to the French Riviera, stopping along the way until we get to Monaco.

From Monaco I am wanting to go to Milan, Venice, Rome and Naples (not necessarily in that order) but am wondering how best to do this part of my trip.

There appear to be no non stop flights from Monaco into Italy, they all go back via Nice so I was wondering if maybe getting a train in would be best....or maybe even driving?? Milan does not appear to be too far away mileage wise but I have no idea what the roads are like. I live in Australia where roads are pretty big so a few hundred km's is nothing really.

Also, would I require a car for my Italian leg, getting between these destinations, or are the trains a better way to go?

After Italy I would love to go to Switzerland and thinking that this journey would be quite picturesque by train or car?

Any advice would be great .......on any of the above.

Thanks

Do not forget you will pay dearly unless you drop the car in the same country. I hope you have at least a month for this.
For cities in Italy you will want rail travel.

>>>There appear to be no non stop flights from Monaco into Italy, they all go back via Nice <<<

Can't see why that would be a problem since they are right next to each other.

Most of the cites you listed in Italy you can't drive in as they are restricted (ZTL) and parking a car overnight in a city is expensive.

Hi, thanks for your replies.

It seems rail is the way to go and I am now thinking I will get a railpass as I would also like to see Switzerland too if I can.

Thanks

Yes, Switzerland is a place where a car is absolutely not advisable. Several of the cutest towns are not accessible by car. Whereas public transportation in Switzerland is wonderful. Trains, boats and buses alll interconnect very efficiently.

So, Pominoz, how long a trip are you planning? And what time of year are you going? Switzerland is best in summer and winter, not so much in spring or fall.

Hi Mimar,

Thanks for the advise on Switzerland.

We have about 6 weeks in all....wish it could be longer but ya gonna do :o(

We are going mid September so I hope it will be a good time of year. I think the weather in France and Italy will be nice but maybe not so for Switzerland then??

Hi,
did you do french and italian riviera ? How long was the drive from Monaco to the italian side . We are going to be in Cinque Tere for three days and planning to drive out to Monaco. Any suggestions ?????

And yes we are just planning a day trip , coming back to Monte Rosso by night fall. Will it work - this will be the beginning of July.

<<How long was the drive from Monaco to the italian side .>>

Maybe 10 minutes.

Nice would be the airport for Monaco.
If you want to go to Switzerland after Italy, best go to Naples first, then travel up to Milan. If you go to lake Como from Milan, you're almost in Switzerland already.

Maybe look at a good map before making any further plans!

Hi everyone
thanks for all these comments- so helpful when you are sitting a continent apart and planning the trip.
Could someone enlighten me more on ZTL as we ARE planning to drive a car from Florence to Cinque Terre and use it to venture into the French side or Monaco . Then return it in Milan before we catch a flight to Prague.

ZTL is a limited traffic zone; cars without the proper identification are not permitted entry. You need to find maps delineating these zones in the cities you plan to visit. Signs mark them but it is often difficult to read these while driving.

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/drivin...s_speeding.htm

Pominoz, you should be okay in Switzerland in September. Cooler but also less rain. Not every tourist activity will be available.

To nishilal, you've kinda high-jacked Pominoz' thread. Maybe start your own?

That said, I wouldn't drive in Florence, to the Cinque Terre or Monaco. The train would be better. You'll just have to park your car in the CT -- at some distance from town.