Hello everyone! I will be backpacking through Europe in June-July of 2018 and could use some help planning my Switzerland and Italy itinerary. I have set aside 11-12 days to spend in both countries in early July.

I will be starting my trip in Zurich, Switzerland (I have set aside about 5 days to spend in Switzerland) and am planning to take the train to Lucerne. Once there, I am hoping to be able to hike and see the some of the highlights of the Jungfrau region. I was thinking maybe a day trip to Grindelwald as well? I am an experienced hiker and would love to be able to do a hike to an overnight lodge or something similar, but will be on a tight budget. Any suggestions regarding the best way to see and hike the Jungfrau region in 3-4 days based from Lucerne would be greatly appreciated!

As for Italy, I will be starting from Milan and would love to be able to see the Cinque Terre, Lake Como, Verona and Venice. However, I only have about 6 days to spend in country and I know seeing all these place might be a bit of a stretch. Suggestions on how to maximize my time in Northern Italy would be greatly appreciated. I plan to travel primarily by train to each destination and, again, will be on a tight budget.

I would really appreciate any transportation or hotel/hostel suggestions as well! Thank you!

There is hiking in the Lake Luzern area, but if your focus in Switzerland is the Jungfrau region, why aren't you staying there? Luzern to anywhere in the Berner Oberland is 2+ hours each way which is time spent not hiking or exploring. I know there are a couple of good hostels in Grindelwald, and I'm sure there are others in the area.

I think you're trying to see too much in Italy for the time you have. Reaching Milan or Lake Como from Luzern will take more than half a day, and from the Berner Oberland area, a few hours longer. Como to the CT, 4-6 hours. CT to Verona, at least 4.5 hours. Four destinations in 6 days means at least one single night which translates, after arrival, to less than a day to explore. Worth the effort to get there? And at the expense of time elsewhere? Your call.

You do not have the time.
Limit your Italy venues to Lake Como and Venice and you might be able to do it.

You have some wonderful options, but IMO, you would do well to do some more research -- as Jean and bobthenavigator suggest, you are trying to cover too much territory. My advice would be to spend some time with some good guidebooks to narrow down your options.

Good luck!

Why will you start your Switzerland trip at Zurich and your Italy trip at Milan?
Do you want to go from Switzerland (most probably) via Lake Como to Milan and then back to Lake Como?
Lucerne - Como is just 2 1/2 hrs by train
Why do you want to go to the Jungfrau area if you are on a tight budget? There are tons of other glacier areas with much cheaper mountain railways (even in Switzerland!)

There are tons of good hut to hut hikes and if you don't go to the most congested/crowded trails (Jungfrau area), you will certainly enjoy them (if the weather is fine). In June, the snow line will be much higher in the Swiss Cantons of Valais and Ticino and in the Italian Alps than in Bernese Oberland end Central Switzerland.

I would really appreciate any transportation or hotel/hostel suggestions as well!>

I'd spend most of your time in the Jungfrau Region and Grindelwald is a great base - hostels and the Nature Friends House provide inexpensive accommodations. For transportation check www.sbb.ch; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. You may want to look into the Berner Obeerland Pass, Half-Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass.

I enjoyed my times at Nature Friends House in Grindelwald - can use communal kitchen to keep food costs down -all ages clientele mainly hikers in summer:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...n_of_Bern.html