Italy and Switzerland in 2 weeks
 

Hi everyone,

I am planning a trip to Italy and Switzerland in Oct beginning for 2 weeks this year. I am going with my husband. We both are in late 20s.

In Italy, we would like to cover Rome, Florence and Venice. I understand 2 weeks for covering both the countries might seem a bit less but given the diversity between the places, we would like to cover both places together plus it would be economical

In Italy, we would like to visit the important places in the 3 cities mentioned above including Vatican city.

Could you please help us in planning how many days we should spend in each city? I am assuming around 8 days for Italy and another 4 for Switzerland. I am excluding the 2 days for travel. For travel between Italy and Switzerland, we are planning to travel during night to save a day

Also, during our 4 day stay at Switzerland we would like to visit only the most beautiful places there given the time constraints. What are the places we can consider for our 4 day stay in Switzerland?

Does the plan of doing both countries sound feasible given we are aiming to cover only the important places in Italy and a few in Switzerland?

"Does the plan of doing both countries sound feasible given we are aiming to cover only the important places in Italy and a few in Switzerland?"

IMO, no.

You can see MOST of the important places in Rome, Florence, and Venice. Or you can see SOME of Switzerland's most beautiful places.

Here's my recommendation: Get a few good guidebooks (or go to your local library to see them), decide on your highest priorities, check their opening hours, and plot them on a calendar. than figure out your transportation options, adding 2 or 3 hours on either side (to get to/from your hotel, check in/out, pack/unpack, get oriented, etc.) and mark that on your calendars as well.

Good luck!

You are going to be giving everyplace short shrift and if you get to Switz at the end of Oct you may run into 1)snow,esp at higher elevations 2) hotels and transit closed for a vacation or update. Also Switz is expensive, sometimes shockingly so - so this will NOT save money - but in fact cost more than staying in Italy.

I can understand wanting to visit two different culture, but I would do Switz first to get better weather and consider dropping one place in Italy.

<< For travel between Italy and Switzerland, we are planning to travel during night to save a day >>

Have you looked at the possibilities? You won't be able to take night trains to Lucerne, Lausanne, Bern, Basel, or Zurich. Well, you could if you don't mind sitting in Bologna for a couple of hours in the middle of the night (2:00AM). You certainly won't get a night's sleep.

<< Does the plan of doing both countries sound feasible given we are aiming to cover only the important places in Italy and a few in Switzerland? >>

You don't have time to cover the important places in Rome, Florence, and Italy. You have enough time to see a few places in each city.

Where do you live? If arriving from an overseas flight your first day will be half a day after you get to your hotel and check in, unpack, freshen up, etc.

Plot your itinerary like this:

Day 1 - arrive Rome (1/2 day)
Day 2 - Rome
Day 3 - Rome
Day 4 - Florence (3/4 day)
Day 5 - Florence
Day 6 - Venice (1/2 day)
Day 7 - Venice
Day 8 - travel to some place in Switzerlad
Days 9-12 - Switzerland

Get some guide books and decide what you want to see. The other things you can visit on a subsequent trip.

Thanks so much guys, very insightful!

If you just want to get the tiniest taste of Switzerland, you could visit Lake Lugano, just over the Italian border. That would fit nicely into a two week trip with Rome, Florence and Venice (you could fly into Rome and out of Milan after visiting the lake). Otherwise, if you wanted to see more of Switzerland, you'd need to cut out at least one of the Italian cities to make it work.

Also, during our 4 day stay at Switzerland we would like to visit only the most beautiful places there given the time constraints>

to me and many the absolute highlight of Switzedrland for tourists asking this question would be the fantastic Jungfrau Region around Interlaken - glacier-girdled peaks rising thousands of feet in the air, hovering above lush xow-dotted meadows - toy-like trains imporbably climbing mountains and thrilling aerial cable ways going everywhere...

the picture of Switzerland perhaps etched in your minds' eyes.

And 4 days right there would be perfect - so so much to do - lake boat rides on the lakes book-ending Interlaken - taking trains to western Europe's highest train station - the Jungfraujoch one in a Top of the World type scenery - walk to a glacier!

Trains and cable ways are not only the best way to get around but besides foot the only way as cars are banned from most of the area. You may look into a 4-consecutive-day Swiss Pass that would cover many trains, some cables in full and 50% off most other ones. For lots of great info on Swiss trains, the Jungfrau Region, etc I always spotlight these IMO superb sites: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

The Switzerland of your dreams:

https://www.google.com/search?q=jung...w=1396&bih=952