June 11: My husband and I will end a Med cruise in Genova, IT and want to take a train to Zurich, unfortually we will only have three days to spend in the Zurich area.(flight back home to Atlanta, GA from Zurich) I'm thinking train to Zurich airport pu rental car (my husband loves to drive in Europe, last year drove Amalif Coast 3 times in one trip to Italy).
First city Lucern then I need help please in planning a itinerary that isn't to full, but at least would enable us to see a few highlights or should we station ourselves in Zurich and plan day trips to Lucern, Stein am Rhein and Reinfall Schaffhausen.
Also need info on train from Genoa to Zurich and hotels 3-4 *.
Thank you in advance for any info or suggestions you may have.
Donna T

Is there a particular reason you want to go all the way to Zurich? You can rent a car from Lugano and drive from there? Or is Luzern a must see for you?

Sansman Thanks for the reply, Sinse this is a last minute trip Zurich is the closest city that I could secure direct 1st class air with my points.

Okey, train from Genoa probably goes to Milan then Milan to Zurich. I would check Sbb.ch for Swiss portion.

I wouldn't necessarily basic in Zurich, I used to live there and frankly there isn't alot to do there and isn't the greatest place to get in and out of by car. I would probably base in Luzern and do some trips from there.

Sansman: Do you mean train to Lugano rent car and drive to Zurich? I have not had a chance to check out the map yet.
Thanks

No, I didn't realize u had to fly out of Zurich. And wondered why you picked Zurich as a base as it is long way from Genoa and wouldn't be my first choice of a home base based on the distance. I would train to Zurich and base maybe at Luzern (only 45 minutes away). Luzern is much more beautiful as you can alwys see the lakes and mountains.

Thanks, more questions please: Is there a train that goes to Lucern from Milan? Do you know best online site for train schedules? (EuroRail site is not working for me). Can we rent a car in IT and drop off in Zurich and is it doable to drive to Zurich and see sites and cities along the way?
Thanks a bunch,
Donna

Our messages are crossing, Thanks for that info.

Unless you are really keen to drive, I would forgo the car and take trains everywhere in Switzerland as they have a great train system.

DonnaT

You should realize that you can pick up a car at any Swiss city and return it to Zurich and there should be no extra charges.

Undoubtedly, your train in Italy from Genoa would connect in Milan. My schedule shows hourly trains from Genoa to Milano Centrale between 08:19 and 20:19 arriving 1 1/2 hours later.

From Milano Centrale to Luzern direct every two hours beginning at 9:25 through 15:25 and then one more at 18:25. Trip to Luzern takes just over 4 hours.

Milano Centrale to Zurich, direct trains run at 8:25, 12:25, 14:25, 16:25 and 19:20 arriving about 4 1/2 hours later. There are also CIS (Cisalpino-extra cost) trains at 7:10, 11:10, 17:38 and 18:43- quicker at just under 4 hours.

Please consider taking trains rather than renting a car. If you really enjoy the driving, then I would advise traveling by train into a Swiss town with an easy connection to the rental car agency and switch to rental car in Switzerland. You should then be able to drop the car in Zurich when you depart with no extra charges for the one way. Check with Auto Europe.

Donna T,

We will be traveling into Switzerland on June 11th, too. We're coming in from Germany and will be visiting Berner Oberland and Luzern, before continuing on to Germany, then home.

I definitely agree with the other poster who suggested Luzern over Zurich. Hope it works out well. You may have some trouble finding hotel reservations with such short notice.

Hi, Donna. Try sbb.ch for great info re Swiss train schedules. I'd go straight to Zurich and daytrip from there. J.