Hi all,

I am travelling to Florence from Interlaken in a couple of weeks but have a night in between the two for a one-night stay in a city in Italy. Any advice on a good city to stay in (other than Milan) that is in between Interlaken and Florence? I am a 22 year old backpacker.

Thanks!

It would help to know your interests. I myself love Milan, and you would have to change trains there anyway, but not everyone has my affection for the city.

Lake Como is more or less en route, but I don't know if there's much there to interest the average person your age.

You could spend a night in Bellinzona or Lugano, in the Swiss canton of Ticino, en route to Italy. Although you said you wanted an Italian city, perhaps an Italian-speaking Swiss city would suit.

Most of the trains from Switzerland to Milan stop in Monza, which has a lot of historical interest. First it was a Roman city, then a Lombard city. The Austrians built a royal palace there when they ruled Milan, and the Villa Reale, with its adjacent large park are supposed to be very beautiful; I've never been to Monza, so I'm just relating what I've heard.

If you are on a train, then Bologna jumps to mind (very studenty type town with lots of shade due to the miles of covered shops), Modena and Parma might be good, I love Bergamo (old town) but I think its a bit off the main route.

If you don't want to switch trains to another line to take a dogleg, then Bologna is the most convenient. If you are willing to take a dogleg, the possibilities are many -- Modena, Ferrara, possibly even Mantova -- so volunteering additional information about your interests and what kind of city attractions you enjoy would help others make relevant suggestions.

Another vote for Bologna! Fabulous, lively city and not as overrun with tourists as Florence.

Bologna is a great city, but getting there from Interlaken will take up a good deal of the day, so you wouldn't have much time to see it that day.

Stresa on Lake Stresa is smack on the main rail line from Interlaken (actually Spiez) to Milan - and Stresa is a lovely lakeside resort town - with the three famous Borromean Islands lying just offshort and the lake is certainly comarable to Lake Como in whatever you want to judge it by and is on the main rail line to Milan whereas to get to Lake Como you have a few hours more riding and changing trains.

For a city Bologna but yes Bologna is just an hour from Florence.

Pal, I think Stresa is on Lake Maggiore!