We have one week in April (first week)to spend.
Here are the possible scenarios so far ..

1. Fly to Frankfurt on 30th Mar
2. Take a train from Fra to chur on 31st
3. 1st morning, take a train from Chur to Tirano and then train to Lake como
4. Explore bellagio and varrena on 2nd
5. drive/Train to Cinque Terre on 3rd
6. Fly back to London on 6th from Pisa or Toulon (if Toulon, take the train from Genoa to Toulon)

Second plan :

# Fly to Milan,rent a car, leave from Milan to Tirano and catch the 954 train reaching Chur at 7 PM on 31st
# Spend 31st night in Chur and take the train back to Tirano, reaching Tirano at 1
# Leave Tirano to Lake Como and check into hotel on 1st
# Tour Bellagio, varrenna on 2nd
# Drive to Cinque Terre on 3rd morning, return the car in Genoa
# CT on 3rd evening, 4th and 5th
# 6th train back to Toulon, or flight from Pisa


I feel both plans are not perfect, because of Bernina express. I am losing a day there.
How is Bernina in April ? How is Lake Como Area in April?

we will be traveling with little kids.

Please give me some ideas!

thanks

Frankly, with 3 kids under the age of 3 (I assume that is what you mean by your screen name) or even if they are just 3 young kids, you are doing WAY to much travelling in a week. For a week I would limit myself to 2 locations max.

If you want more responses you should re-post under a better heading, i.e., Italy with Kids, Help!

When you factor in jet lag, then jet lag with 3 kids, your plan is...not recommendable.

What's the point of going to these places if you're not going to visit? Cinque Terre is 2 days alone. Milan in worth a visit. I recommend you rethink this.

So, I should eliminate Train ride to swiss ?

We will be in Stockholm the week before, so jetlag is not a problemo

How is Lake Como area in April ?

I don't mean to be rude, but this itinerary would leave most of us, esp.little kids (!) cranky and exhausted.

Is there some reason that you need to go to Switzerland? If not, I'd nix it entirely.

With only one week, and little kids in tow, I'd skip the lakes, too. I don't think it's the right time of year for a visit there. I also don't think it's a particularly good time of year for a visit to Cinque Terre. Too cold, possibly, rainy.

So what I'd recommend is:

Fly into Venice spend 3 or 4 days

Train to Florence

Spend 3 days in Florence, with side trip to Lucca, where you can ride bicycles in nice weather on top of the medieval walls, and another side trip to Pisa, where you can visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which seems to enchant kids and adults despite the tackiness.

Fly home from Pisa- London