PARIS (ZURICH/COMO) ROME
 

My bf and I have a 10/11 day trip planned this spring from Paris to Rome. We have both been to Italy and France before; neither of us have seen Switzerland, or Lake Como; and one of us has not seen Venice or spent much time in Paris. We would like to spend a couple of days in Paris at the beginning of our trip, as well as a couple of days in Rome at the end of the trip. We are in our late 40's and early 50's and we would like to mainly experience museums, culture, beautiful scenery, and food & wine.

We need assistance deciding on what to do in between Paris and Rome based on travel times, and what each place has to experience, etc.

1 - Paris to Zurich stay over night, then to lake Como for a couple of days, then train from Milan to Rome.
2 - Paris (overnight) to Venice, lake Como (via Milan), then to Rome
3 - Paris-Venice-Rome, skip Como and Switzerland
4 - Paris - to Nice and rent a car and stop at Porto Fino, then Tuscany region, then to Rome.

I know this is pretty wide open but I was hoping that someone with knowledge of the area and experience with traveling could input some useful advice, please.

If it was my trip - and it isn't - I'd opt for Paris-Venice-Rome at most.

I like #3
How about Paris to Switzerland and head to the fabulous Jungfrau Region around Interlaken - the essence of Alpine Switzerland etched in many folks' minds but which you will not experience any of the Alpine wonderland. Stay in a mountain village like Wengen or Grindelwald - each easily accessible by train. Spend three full days in this Valhalla of Alpine dreams - sheer cliffs leading thousands of feet up to glacier-girdled Alpine peaks - toylike trains and thrilling aerial gondolas going off in all directions - easy hikes for anyone; boat rides on the two lakes bookending Interlaken:

https://www.google.com/search?q=jung...w=1745&bih=868

Then take day train to Venice - about 6 hours however. Next two full days or three there

Then train to Rome.

If you have not been to Switzerland take the Swiss route. Book Paris-Interlaken or Zurich tickets at www.voyages-sncf.comor www.capitainetrain.com- same trains and same fares - latter is said to be easier to use for Americans. For lots on trains in general check www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets you can score if you book way in advance online; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. Take a strong look at the Swiss Transfer Ticket plus half-off Half-Fare Card (see above sites for details - could be the best bet for your Swiss trains, including those in the Jungfrau area.

If we are only able to spend one to two nights in Switzerland and want to experience the beauty of it, yet be able to easily reach Lake Como from wherever we stay in Switzerland (keep in mind we will be coming from Paris), which location in Switzerland would be best? Zurich, Berne, Lucrene, Lake Geneva, other?

You cannot visit Paris AND Rome AND Lake Como AND VENICE in 10 days only.
My proposal:
Night train from Paris to Lake Garda, Paris dp 19.11 - Brescia 7.12/7.35 - Desenzano del Garda ar 7.50. Enjoy Lake Garda (as beautiful as Lake Como) and sleep at Desenzano or Sirmione, along the shore of lake Garda. Proceed to VEnice the following day, may be Desenzano dp 9.08 - Venice ar 10.40.

If you prefer to see the Alps, leave Paris at 17.57, arrive at Brig at 21.32, sleep there twice, spend the whole day either around Zermatt, Saas Fee or Aletsch Glacier, leave Brig at 9.44 by direct train to Venice ar 14.40

which location in Switzerland would be best? Zurich, Berne, Lucrene, Lake Geneva, other?>

None of those - Interlaken or as neckervd says Zermatt. Those other areas can compare to Alpine beauty of these areas-not nearly.

I did something close to option 1.
Paris Zurich, 1 day to visit neat and nice city
Zürich Chur. Again a nice old lively city.
Chur Tirano. The highlight of the trip. Connect on the train bound for Milano. Stop en route by Lake Como. Spent few days there, exploring with the boat both sides of the make.
Back on the train to Milano and back to "civilization" (was lucky not to be robbed on the subway)