Hello, <BR><BR>I'm beginning to plan a last minute (beginning of September) trip to Germany and Italy. I'd like to focus on the Alps, Dolomites and maybe the Lake regions.<BR><BR>I'll be flying into Munich, renting a car and taking off, flying out of Milan 9 days later. <BR><BR>I've spent a week in Munich so I don't need to do it again and have been to Milan so I'm really just interested in everything in between.<BR><BR>What are the must see and number days for each region I'm planning to hit?<BR><BR>Thanks.<BR><BR>

I'm planning a trip too to that region. But I'm going even more last minute than you - mid-July through early August. Switzerland is beautiful - I love Klosters for hiking, and the Bernese Oberland is fabulous too. Lake Como is supposed to be one of the wonders of Italy, so I can't wait to get there. I'll read the other responses to your post with interest...

Hi there,<BR>You are going to get a lot of opinions on this one! Some of the areas I really like are:<BR>Salzburg and area 3-4 days<BR>Verona 2 days<BR>Ascona area -This is near Lugano and N. of Como. Many posters are very enthusiastic about Lugano and Como. I'm not, but after reading so many eleoquent posts...I am thinking I missed something! I really like Ascona, though, more artsy.<BR>Engadine in Switzerland<BR><BR>Just a few suggestions!<BR>Jan<BR>

Oh, how to choose? Don't forget Cortina d'Ampezzo, Lugano (!!!) and Lago Maggiore.

Hi Bob. There are so many gorgeous places between Munich and Milan that my mind boggles. I'll leave the suggesting to the accomplished and experienced drivers at this forum, but I'll be following the thread with great interest! OK, so I cannot help myself -- Salzburg and Lucerne have to make the list of cities (unless you are driving in a straight line). Lindau on Bodensee is also a lovely stop. You'll find smart people here who'll tell you to head for the Swiss Engadine and then west toward the lakes of Como and Lugano (choose one). Please keep us posted as you plan. This one sounds like a dandy! J.

p.s. (sorry, I always do that) Several people have raved about the tiny Lake Orta, and I think it's close to the airport for your return. You might want to check out its website as a last place to stay if your flight is not too early. J.

Thanks for the replies so far - keep them coming.<BR><BR>

Hello Bob[love that name],<BR>Your problem is only 9 days. I have traveled many times in this region and am having a tough time trying to narrow the best choices. First get a good map. Here are 2 itineraires to consider. The first is very compact and the other will involve twice the driving.<BR><BR>Munich to St. Gilgen[Salzburg] 3 nites<BR>Salzburg area to Castelrotto/Dolomiti 2<BR>Dolomites to Riva del Garda--2 nites<BR>Riva to Oberammergau--2 nites/depart<BR><BR>Munich to Salzburg area--2 nites<BR>Salzburg to Dolomites--2 nites<BR>Dolomites to Varenna/Como--2 nites<BR>via Engadine valley to Reutte--2 nites<BR>last nite near airport[Freising]<BR><BR>Hope this helps. You will love it all. <BR> <BR>

Hello Bob,<BR><BR>As everyone says, you're spoilt for choice! I'd split it 50/50 between the Dolomites and Lake Garda (north end) or Lake Como.<BR><BR>Val Badia (Corvara) or Val Gardena (Ortisei) make great bases for touring the Dolomites IMO.<BR><BR>Places not to miss? Oh wow, - I could give you a long list. A few of the bestBR>- Sella Massif<BR>- Lake Braies<BR>- PASSES: Gardena, Sella, Valparola, Falzarego, Giau, delle Erbe, ... <BR>- LIFTS: Lagazuoi, Sass Pordoi, Seceda ...<BR>- Pale di San Martino <BR>- Sesto Dolomites<BR>- Latemar/Rosengarten/Carezza area<BR>- LAKES Braies, Landro, Alleghe, Anterselva, Carezza ...<BR>- Ortisei, Cortina, Castelrotto, Merano, Bolzano (Ice-Man Museum), ... <BR><BR>For a slide-show*** of the Dolomites, have a look at:<BR>www.dolomiti.it/eng/fototour/estate.htm<BR><BR>Let me know if I can be of more help ...<BR><BR>Steve <BR>

Hi, we have kinda done that...we much prefer Switzerland to Austria, so I'm sure if I had to plan that trip, it would be Engadine in CH (Davos, Arosa, St. Moritz) down Maloja Pass (which is stunning), detour to Soglio for an afternoon...then AROSA on Lake Maggiore. Arosa is a gem & often overlooked.<BR> Dolomites are beautiful, but nothing like the alps in CH...your choice, but these are my preferences. Whatever you do, you are sure to see some beautiful & exciting places.<BR> Have fun...Linda

I'm sure the error by a previous poster was just a slip of the tongue (or the keyboard) when he/she said "Arosa on Lake Maggiore." Actually, Arosa is a lovely mountain village in Switzerland. I would suppose the poster really meant to spell Arona, which is a nice spot on the lake.<BR><BR>As for a route, you have just named my favorite drive. Here's what I would do:<BR>-From Munich, drive to Merano for the first 2 nights. <BR>-Then head east and slightly north through Ortisei and up the Val Gardena, via Corvara, over to Cortina d'Ampezzo for one night.<BR>-Then southwest to Vigo di Fassa and Predazzo, and back to the north end of Lake Garda to the village of Torbole for 2 nights. <BR>-Then head south and then west on the autostrada to the Lake Como area. My preference is Varenna, for 2 nights.<BR>-Finally, go over to Arona or Stresa on Lake Maggiore. It will mean a rather early departure on your flight day, but not too early, because Malpensa is well north of Milan, toward the lake.<BR><BR>I've added up nights, and you use days, and I don't know if my totals are right. Maybe you'll have to spend only one night in one of those places. But the scenery around the Dolomites and the lakes is so magnificent, you'll love this itinerary. Enjoy.

Hi,<BR><BR>although I agree that the Dolomites are very beautiful I recommend to skip this area – a) too much out of the way to Milan and b) there are other places which are in my eyes more scenic (my private opinion).<BR><BR>I recommend to go straight south from Munich to Garmisch. Spend two nights there and visit the castles nearby (Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau) or the monastery Ettal or do a cable car trip to the summit of the Zugspitze.<BR><BR>The drive via Fernpass – Landeck – Scuol to the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is MY favourite place in the Alps. The lower Engadine valley around Scuol is less touristy, quieter with picturesque villages and a great place for hiking to remote valleys. The Upper Engadine around St. Moritz is more spectacular with wonderful blue lakes, gorgeous mountains with glaciers and lots of cable cars which take you to fantastic viewing points and starting points for great hiking tours. It is definitely more touristy, but you will find remote places and quaint villages as well (Zuoz, Celerina, Samedan, Sils). It is also a perfect place to explore the region doing day trips (Soglio, Bernina Express to Poschiavo/Tirano). You should stay there at least 4 nights.<BR><BR>After that drive to Lake Como – maybe Varenna, Bellagio or Menaggio. Possibly the most beautiful of the Northern Italian Lakes. Lots of picturesque villages and gardens. Or just enjoy a boat trip. Stay three nights there. By the way, you can drive there via Maloja Pass and do a detour to Soglio – enough time for that.<BR><BR>Still some websites to surf for you:<BR>www.scuol.ch<BR>www.skiengadin.ch (choose summer)<BR>www.stmoritz.ch<BR>www.bregaglia.ch<BR> <BR>Have fun!<BR><BR>Ingo<BR>

Wow - thanks for all the replies - I need the night to digest everything.<BR><BR>The more opinions the better.<BR><BR>Sounds like I can't go too wrong...

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