Two Week Trip To Switzerland and Italy
 

Hi,
My Husband and I are planning a two week trip to Switzerland and Italy-We plan to spend a week covering Switzerland and The nxt week Italy.We have a moderate budjet flying from hk to geneva/zurich and back.We can base ourselves either in geneva or zurich since we have aqquaintences there.What is more convenient as a base?.We are intrested in the more scenic and quiet parts rather than the touristy things -i think a train ride over the alps is one -what else do u suggest for switzerland in terms of places worthwhile to see.Dont want to do it very rushed but enjoy and remember.We are open to renting a car and driving too.In Terms of Travelling to Italy do you suggest Rail travel or driving?Which is more economical?Also want to cover Tuscany,Florence and Venice in Italy-Where do you suggest a base ?And do you sugest covering Rome without it getting too hectic? Sorry -Lots of questions!Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

That is a lot of questions in one post. You might try posting specific questions separately to get more response.

If you are only in Italy for a week you will be very rushed trying to cover Tuscany, Florence, Venice and Rome in one trip. Rome deserves, at the VERY least, 3 full days but I wouldn't do it in less than 4, Florence and Tuscany are good for at least 2 days and Venice needs at least one full day but I would recommend 2-3, especially if you plan on visiting one of the other islands. I have not driven in Italy but the rail system is very inexpensive and easy to get around.

In Switzerland i think that Geneva would be a better base than Zurich. IMHO, the reason to go to Switzerland is to spend time IN the alps. it is breathtakingly beautiful in the mountains and I would not visit Switzerland without at least two nights in the alps. We were happy to have a car in Switzerland because it gave us the flexibility to visit places we would not have seen via train. Without knowing your interests it is difficult to give recommendations for places to stay.

Enjoy!

Hi, Shabnam. If you're saying that you can stay with friends in Geneve and Zurich, then I'd split the Swiss week in half to stay in both cities. The number of wonderful daytrips from each is staggering.
On Lac Leman, you can visit castles, walk in vineyards, ride the lakeboats, explore villages (Gruyeres, St. Saphorin, Lutry, Chateau d'Oex). From Zurich you can daytrip to Lucerne, Rapperswil, Schaffhausen, and Stein am Rhein, etc. It will be difficult to choose.

I second the above poster's comment that trying to fit Venice, Firenze, Rome, and Tuscany into a single week will not be restful.

Hi, Shabnam. If you're saying that you can stay with friends in Geneve and Zurich, then I'd split the Swiss week in half to stay in both cities. The number of wonderful daytrips from each is staggering.
On Lac Leman, you can visit castles, walk in vineyards, ride the lakeboats, explore villages (Gruyeres, St. Saphorin, Lutry, Chateau d'Oex). From Zurich you can daytrip to Lucerne, Rapperswil, Schaffhausen, and Stein am Rhein, etc. It will be difficult to choose.

I second the above poster's comment that trying to fit Venice, Firenze, Rome, and Tuscany into a single week will not be restful. Good luck with your planning. It does sound like a wonderful trip. J.

On our first trip to Europe, we went to Florence, Switzerland, and Venice. While we had three weeks, I think this could easily be done in two weeks as well, as all these destinations are relatively close, especially with the high speed trains. The train rides from northern Italy to Switzerland are attractions in themselves with beautiful scenery.

If possible, I might suggest you get an open jaw flight. You could fly into Venice, for example, spend a few days there, then take the train into Switzerland (possibly the Bernina express, considered by many the most scenic of passages), spend a week in Switzerland, then take a train to Florence, and fly home from there, or Pisa (which I think has more international flights).

Enjoy your trip.

Would just remark on the Italy portion of your trip as day trips from Geneva and Luzern are very practical. Take two of your IT cities and use them, would suggest Firenze and Venice. From
firenze you have Pisa, Siena, Tuscany
and even Assisi which yoou can drive very easily or by rail. Then take Venice for Venice itself and also the
islands of Torcello and Murano or possibly if time permits Burano. Whether you are driving or by rail you are going to use up time going from one point to the other and some could take up to 5 hrs. eg. rail from Rome to Venice and possibly longer by car..
Would suggest rail. Rail from Zurich to Venice is about five hours...'
Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..

Shabnam,

Many good suggestions. Selecting the best of them, I would say: Fly IN to Geneva. Take the trains so you can relax. Work your way west to east.

Two nights in Montreux/Vevey

Two nights in Murren/Lauterbrunnen (Golden Pass route)

Two nights in Zurich (daytrip to Luzern/Pilatus)

Two nights in Arosa/Pontresina/Poschiavo (Bernina route)

Two nights in Morcote, Lake Lugano(Bernina/Palm route - circles Como)

Three nights in Venice, fly OUT of Venice.

Though technically only three days in Italy, Morcote and Poschiavo are de facto Italy.

Thank you for all the great suggestions-based on all your suggestions i have come up with the following iteniry.Let me know if it makes sense..or its way too crazy??we can do a total of 15 nights!!
Buy a open Jaw Tkt-HK-Geneva-Venice-Hk
Two nights in Montreux/Vevey
Two nights in Murren/Lauterbrunnen (Golden Pass route)
Two nights in Zurich (daytrip to Luzern/Pilatus

5 nights
Take the Train to firange from zurich(is that a good option?)
Keep that as a base and
Cover Pisa and Seine and Florence

Take the train to venice .Spend three nights there and Fly out to hk

A couple of questions-
Would you suggest renting a car in switzerland and then use the rail in Italy or do u recommend rail in both places given our iteniry?
Would love some restaurent and recommendations for places to stay (except in geveva).We would not really spend a lot on accomodation -just decent places.We are big foodies so ....the focus is elsewhere!!