Seeking suggestions for 10 Day Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland Itinerary
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Seeking suggestions for 10 Day Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland Itinerary
Following a group trip that ends in Venice, my husband and I are picking up a rental car in Venice Mestre, leaving it when we depart from Milan, and have planned the following itinerary. We’ve visited Italy, Austria, and Switzerland before and are picking up places that would be new to us, plus a bit of Germany. We're in our mid-70’s and are looking forward to exploring the towns, lakes, and mountains, but not hiking (bad knees). From those who are familiar with these areas, can you suggest specific sights and experiences in or near these stops, or even changes to the itinerary? Recommendations for accommodations and restaurants are welcome, too. Thanks in advance for your input.
Bolzano, Italy (2 nights) - stop in Verona on the way
Innsbruck, Austria (2 nights)
Fussen/Garmisch Partenkirche, Germany area (2 nights)
Konstanz or Lindau (1 night)
Lugano, Switzerland (2 nights)
Milan, Italy (1 night) - Depart from Milan
Bolzano, Italy (2 nights) - stop in Verona on the way
Innsbruck, Austria (2 nights)
Fussen/Garmisch Partenkirche, Germany area (2 nights)
Konstanz or Lindau (1 night)
Lugano, Switzerland (2 nights)
Milan, Italy (1 night) - Depart from Milan
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Also in our mid 70's but, luckily, we're still hiking. We've been to these places, with the exception of Konstanz / Lindau. Since a lot of our activity is walking (mountain or urban) my comments may be limited. But here they are:
Bolzano -- the Otzi (iceman) museum, shopping, cable car ride into the mountains
Innsbruck -- the old town, an evening Tyrolean show at Tiroler Abende mit der Familie Gundolf, the Hofburg palace is only just OK
Fussen -- Neuschwanstein and / or Schwangau castles, some walking involved
Lugano -- boat ride, the town is very hilly
It's a long way from Fussen to Milan because of the mountains. You might consider eliminating Fussen and Innsbruck, and spending more time in the Dolomites around Bolzano, then driving through the Engadine in Switzerland and down to Lugano or Como. Less car time this way. Have fun.
Bolzano -- the Otzi (iceman) museum, shopping, cable car ride into the mountains
Innsbruck -- the old town, an evening Tyrolean show at Tiroler Abende mit der Familie Gundolf, the Hofburg palace is only just OK
Fussen -- Neuschwanstein and / or Schwangau castles, some walking involved
Lugano -- boat ride, the town is very hilly
It's a long way from Fussen to Milan because of the mountains. You might consider eliminating Fussen and Innsbruck, and spending more time in the Dolomites around Bolzano, then driving through the Engadine in Switzerland and down to Lugano or Como. Less car time this way. Have fun.
#3
What time of year?
I appreciate your choices, but this would not be an itinerary I'd enjoy. The pace of back-to-back-to-back one- and two-night stays just doesn't appeal (I'm 72). For me, a short stop in Verona on the way from Mestre to Bolzano would be too quick, esp. as you have to park outside the ZTL. And I wouldn't want to speed past Lake Garda without actually seeing it. (Maybe you've been there before?) FWIW, I think the scenery around Lake Garda is more dramatic than Lake Lugano. Bolzano is a moderately interesting town but IMO skippable if you're not going to visit the Iceman Museum. Without Otzi, I think Verona is more interesting than Bolzano. And I'd rather stay multiple nights (4-5) IN the Dolomites than Bolzano.. Perhaps Ortisei. (You could visit Bolzano from Ortisei... less than an hour's drive, or take the bus.) Then drive to Milan through the huge protected area of national and regional parks... Stelvio, Adamello Brenta, Swiss National. If the departing flight isn't too early, you could spend the last night somewhere on Lake Como.
It's been a lifetime since we went to Innsbruck... 1976 Olympics! We had a great time, but it was obviously not the typical tourist visit.
I appreciate your choices, but this would not be an itinerary I'd enjoy. The pace of back-to-back-to-back one- and two-night stays just doesn't appeal (I'm 72). For me, a short stop in Verona on the way from Mestre to Bolzano would be too quick, esp. as you have to park outside the ZTL. And I wouldn't want to speed past Lake Garda without actually seeing it. (Maybe you've been there before?) FWIW, I think the scenery around Lake Garda is more dramatic than Lake Lugano. Bolzano is a moderately interesting town but IMO skippable if you're not going to visit the Iceman Museum. Without Otzi, I think Verona is more interesting than Bolzano. And I'd rather stay multiple nights (4-5) IN the Dolomites than Bolzano.. Perhaps Ortisei. (You could visit Bolzano from Ortisei... less than an hour's drive, or take the bus.) Then drive to Milan through the huge protected area of national and regional parks... Stelvio, Adamello Brenta, Swiss National. If the departing flight isn't too early, you could spend the last night somewhere on Lake Como.
It's been a lifetime since we went to Innsbruck... 1976 Olympics! We had a great time, but it was obviously not the typical tourist visit.
#4
Way too much moving around for such a short visit. One and two night stays make me cringe as you just have no time to see and do things you've come to see and do. I suggest adding another 10 days or cutting back to two locations.
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It would be nicer to reach Bolzano/Bozen through the Dolomites.
As you prefer to travel via Verona I suggest to drive up to Peschiera and then along Lake Garda to Riva - Rovereto....... (much more scenic itinerary)
Konstanz is not along the Fuessen - Lugano itinerary. Stay at Lindau (or Bregenz!) in order to enjoy Lake Constance.
BTW: there is good public transport along the whole itinerary:
Venice - Verona (train change) - Bolzano/Bozen - Innsbruck (train change) - Garmisch (train change) - Ulrichsbrücke-Fuessen. Fuessen - Buchloe (train change) - Lindau - Bregenz - Zurich (train change) - Lugano (train change) - Milano Malpensa airport Terminal 1.
As you prefer to travel via Verona I suggest to drive up to Peschiera and then along Lake Garda to Riva - Rovereto....... (much more scenic itinerary)
Konstanz is not along the Fuessen - Lugano itinerary. Stay at Lindau (or Bregenz!) in order to enjoy Lake Constance.
BTW: there is good public transport along the whole itinerary:
Venice - Verona (train change) - Bolzano/Bozen - Innsbruck (train change) - Garmisch (train change) - Ulrichsbrücke-Fuessen. Fuessen - Buchloe (train change) - Lindau - Bregenz - Zurich (train change) - Lugano (train change) - Milano Malpensa airport Terminal 1.
Last edited by neckervd; Dec 4th, 2023 at 11:55 PM.
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"It's a long way from Fussen to Milan because of the mountains. You might consider eliminating Fussen and Innsbruck, and spending more time in the Dolomites around Bolzano, then driving through the Engadine in Switzerland and down to Lugano or Como. Less car time this way. Have fun."
Thanks for your thoughtful reply but I'm confused by this part of your comments. We would not be traveling from Fussen to Milan but would be stopping at Konstanz or Lindau and at Lugano on the way to Milan. From the Fussen area to Milan Linate (our departing airport) is only 275 miles miles, which isn't a long distance in our book. And as we don't plan to hike, driving in pretty surroundings is something we enjoy. We've already seen much of Switzerland on another trip but haven't been to Lindau or Konstanz, or to Lugano, places that good friends have highly recommended. The idea of mixing mountains and lakes is more apealing than spending all of our time in the mountains.
Thanks for your thoughtful reply but I'm confused by this part of your comments. We would not be traveling from Fussen to Milan but would be stopping at Konstanz or Lindau and at Lugano on the way to Milan. From the Fussen area to Milan Linate (our departing airport) is only 275 miles miles, which isn't a long distance in our book. And as we don't plan to hike, driving in pretty surroundings is something we enjoy. We've already seen much of Switzerland on another trip but haven't been to Lindau or Konstanz, or to Lugano, places that good friends have highly recommended. The idea of mixing mountains and lakes is more apealing than spending all of our time in the mountains.
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#8
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We prefer to drive this trip!
It would be nicer to reach Bolzano/Bozen through the Dolomites.
As you prefer to travel via Verona I suggest to drive up to Peschiera and then along Lake Garda to Riva - Rovereto....... (much more scenic itinerary)
Konstanz is not along the Fuessen - Lugano itinerary. Stay at Lindau (or Bregenz!) in order to enjoy Lake Constance.
BTW: there is good public transport along the whole itinerary:
Venice - Verona (train change) - Bolzano/Bozen - Innsbruck (train change) - Garmisch (train change) - Ulrichsbrücke-Fuessen. Fuessen - Buchloe (train change) - Lindau - Bregenz - Zurich (train change) - Lugano (train change) - Milano Malpensa airport Terminal 1.
As you prefer to travel via Verona I suggest to drive up to Peschiera and then along Lake Garda to Riva - Rovereto....... (much more scenic itinerary)
Konstanz is not along the Fuessen - Lugano itinerary. Stay at Lindau (or Bregenz!) in order to enjoy Lake Constance.
BTW: there is good public transport along the whole itinerary:
Venice - Verona (train change) - Bolzano/Bozen - Innsbruck (train change) - Garmisch (train change) - Ulrichsbrücke-Fuessen. Fuessen - Buchloe (train change) - Lindau - Bregenz - Zurich (train change) - Lugano (train change) - Milano Malpensa airport Terminal 1.
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Different strokes for different folks
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And sometimes more is more
I recall your posts when we were planning a trip to Switzerland many years ago and appreciated them. We've done a lot more travel since then and have learned that approaches to travel need to be varied depending on the goal of the trip, circumstances, age, mobility, and other issues. This trip fills in some places we missed in Italy and in Switzerland on previous travels and that friends have highly recommended, gives me a taste of Germany in case we aren't able to return, and allows us to pick up and drop off a rental car in the same country to avoid the expense of dropping it off in another country. We've driven 2500 miles in France and made longer trips through parts of the US, so this feels like a very compact trip to us (only 650 miles from start to finish).
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Thanks for your suggestions
What time of year?
I appreciate your choices, but this would not be an itinerary I'd enjoy. The pace of back-to-back-to-back one- and two-night stays just doesn't appeal (I'm 72). For me, a short stop in Verona on the way from Mestre to Bolzano would be too quick, esp. as you have to park outside the ZTL. And I wouldn't want to speed past Lake Garda without actually seeing it. (Maybe you've been there before?) FWIW, I think the scenery around Lake Garda is more dramatic than Lake Lugano. Bolzano is a moderately interesting town but IMO skippable if you're not going to visit the Iceman Museum. Without Otzi, I think Verona is more interesting than Bolzano. And I'd rather stay multiple nights (4-5) IN the Dolomites than Bolzano.. Perhaps Ortisei. (You could visit Bolzano from Ortisei... less than an hour's drive, or take the bus.) Then drive to Milan through the huge protected area of national and regional parks... Stelvio, Adamello Brenta, Swiss National. If the departing flight isn't too early, you could spend the last night somewhere on Lake Como.
It's been a lifetime since we went to Innsbruck... 1976 Olympics! We had a great time, but it was obviously not the typical tourist visit.
I appreciate your choices, but this would not be an itinerary I'd enjoy. The pace of back-to-back-to-back one- and two-night stays just doesn't appeal (I'm 72). For me, a short stop in Verona on the way from Mestre to Bolzano would be too quick, esp. as you have to park outside the ZTL. And I wouldn't want to speed past Lake Garda without actually seeing it. (Maybe you've been there before?) FWIW, I think the scenery around Lake Garda is more dramatic than Lake Lugano. Bolzano is a moderately interesting town but IMO skippable if you're not going to visit the Iceman Museum. Without Otzi, I think Verona is more interesting than Bolzano. And I'd rather stay multiple nights (4-5) IN the Dolomites than Bolzano.. Perhaps Ortisei. (You could visit Bolzano from Ortisei... less than an hour's drive, or take the bus.) Then drive to Milan through the huge protected area of national and regional parks... Stelvio, Adamello Brenta, Swiss National. If the departing flight isn't too early, you could spend the last night somewhere on Lake Como.
It's been a lifetime since we went to Innsbruck... 1976 Olympics! We had a great time, but it was obviously not the typical tourist visit.
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