My husband and I are taking a 20 day trip to Italy next June (his first trip to Europe, my second) and I need some advice on our itinerary:

Fly into Milan, train to Bellagio (2 days)
Train to Cinque Terre (3 days)
Drive to Pienza (3 days)
Drive to Chianti (2 days)
Drive to Florence (4 days)
Train to Rome (4 days)

I am thinking about dropping a couple of days off of Rome and/or Florence, so that we could spend some time in Switzerland. Is this a good idea, and if so, where should we go in Switzerland? My husband and I are from the West, and love the mountains/outdoors, and we love good food and great wine.

Thanks in advance for your help and advice!

Hmmm! That is a challenge. You have 18 days in Europe--I see six destinations. If you did CH I would make it your first destination--can you fly into Zurich instead? If not, you can train via Milan and Lugano to Luzern for 3 days, then back to Como.

You have 9 nites in Tuscany--that needs to change if you do CH. I see this itinerary:
Luzern-3
Lago Como--3
CT--2
Florence--2
Tuscany--4
Rome---4
Flying into Zurich would help.

I tend to agree with Bob as to #days in Cinque Terre and Lake Como. We traveled in northern Italy in late April & May and had 3 nights in Tremezzo on Lake Como, and 3 nights in a town close to Portofino, visiting CT by train one day. Two days in CT will allow seeing all the villages and hiking, if desired. I'd rearrange the Tuscan days and spend less time in Florence and more time in the countryside (Lucca, San Giminagno, Siena, Orvieto). We spent a week in Tuscany in Oct. 2002 and I'd go back in a heartbeat!

Hi MrsB,

>Switzerland. Is this a good idea?<

I recommend against it. You already have 6 destinations.

I think you have one too many days in the CT. I would add it to Tuscany or Rome. (You could visit Orvieto for a day.)

Thank you for the suggestions.

Our flights are set up, so we will be flying into Milan. How far by train is it to Lucerne, and what is fun to do there? I have only been to Wengen.

Thanks for the advice on CT. My husband is dying to go there, but I have heard mixed reviews. Will it be horribly crowded in June?

I have never been to Rome, do you think we need 4 days? It is my understanding that the Vatican takes one day, but the only other things we are DYING to see are the Pantheon and the Colusseum.

Suggest a tighter focus. Don't go to Switzerland this trip, drop one CT day and keep Rome at 4 days. Rome has plenty of wonderful things to do and see.

I highly recommend that you skip Switzerland for this trip and focus on Italy; you are already moving around lots and adding a destination will just add to that. I would not recommend that you spend fewer than 4 days in Rome. If you absolutely must travel to Switzerland, cut Cinque Terre to 2 days, spend only 4 days in Pienza and Chianti combined and cut a day from Florence. That will leave you 3 days for another destination. If I had 3 days, I would spend them in Venice, not Lucerne. Happy planning!

Hi MrsB,

>I have never been to Rome, do you think we need 4 days?<

There are many who think a week is the minimum.

Hi Mrs. B,

As others have said, I'd drop a day from CT and spend it in Tuscany, or perhaps in Assisi (which is a really amazing place, I think). CT is beautiful and relaxing, and the hiking is fun, but unless you really just want to spend time reading, sunbathing, and eating, three days is a LONG time to spend there. I'd investigate Tuscany (Siena, San Gimignano, etc.)--I don't think Florence itself is worth four days. But you can easily fill four days in Rome!

I would recommend adding Venice for 2 nights if you want to add another destination. Fly into milan, train to Bellagio 2 nights, train to venice 2 nights, train to Florence 3 nights, ct 2 nights, Tuscany 5 nights and four nights in Rome. Rome has alot to see and it is fun to just wander around. I would try to stay near the panthenon. We had an apartment further up...by piazza popolo which was nice. I wouldn't stay near the train station (termini area). It is much more enjoyable staying in the older areas...piazza Navona/panthenon ...where you can explore the windy cobbled streets. I think 3 nights would be very rushed for rome...you would have only 2 full days.