This July we will be taking our first trip to Switzerland. We will be spending two weeks in a house in Rolle, a small town on Lake Geneva. I am traveling with my husband, three-year old daughter, my mother and my mother-in Law (both in there mid 60’s – one is not in great shape as far as extensive walking goes). My husband and I will take a couple of days overnight excursion just the two of us and visit Luzern and perhaps Zurich. Other then that we plan to stick to day trips close to the Lake Geneva area.

Once our two weeks are up in Rolle, we are considering renting a car (only because we will have our bags and such a diverse group of travelers) and driving to the Ticino area, on the way stopping one or two nights in Zermatt (going with the car as close as we can get and leaving the majority of our bags in the car), and then spending 2 nights in either Locarno or Lugano and flying home from Milan. My questions are….Is the Ticino lakes area very scenically different from the Lake Geneva area? In Zermatt we would like to do some scenic easier hikes (to include everyone) as well as some more rugged hikes for my husband and I. I think my mother in law, who is less into hiking, will enjoy the village and the shops. If we spend 2 nights in Zermatt, we would need to leave Rolle one day earlier then planned. Is one night/ 2 half days enough in Zermatt or should we spend 2 nights there?

Thank you in advance for any help and advise.

I would suggest you spend two nights in Zermatt. You will spend some effort in getting there. And if you want to hike, you will want more time in case the weather is not conducive the first day.

The Ticino lakes are scenically different - crossing the Alps takes you into a another world. Don't forget to investigate the one (very long) day rail trips from Geneva into the Swiss passes. Truly spectacular. If you start off moderately early, you can easily visit Zurich and Lucerne in day train trips from the Geneva area. http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisen.htm

Yes, the Ticino lakes are very different, and Lake Maggiore is shared with Italy. Lake Lugano is totally in Switzerland but very Italian. From Locarno [on Lake Maggiore] you can take a marvellous train ride - the Centivalli - and end up in Domodossola [or vice versa].

You will be charmed by Zermatt & not regret staying for 2 full days!

have a great time

Thank you to everyone for your information and advise. We have decided on 2 nights in Zermatt and 2 nights in Locarno. I am now debating if we shouldn’t just travel via train instead of rental car. In many ways train travel seems more relaxing and scenic. Traveling from Zermatt to Locarno we could do the Domodossola – Locarno train ride Suelynne mentioned.