Visiting Zurich and Italy for 12 days for the first time - Itinerary help
 

We, family of four with two teenage daughters, are planning a trip to Zurich and Italy for 12 days in July. We will be flying into and out of Zurich.
Based on my reading in this forum, here is what I have come up with:
Day 1: Land in Zurich at noon; rent a car; Do sightseeing in Zurich (Sleep in Zurich)
Day 2: Drive to Lauterbrunnen (Sleep in Lauterbrunnen)
Day 3: Stay at Lauterbrunnen
Day 4: Drive to Cinque Terra, Italy via Milan and Geneva (Sleep in Cinque Terra)
Day 5: Drive to Florence (Sleep in Florence)
Day 6: Stay at Florece
Day 7: Stay at Florence
Day 8: Drive to Venice (Sleep in Venice)
Day 9: Stay at Venice
Day 10: Drive to Lake Como (Sleep in Verranza)
Day 11: Stay at Lake Como
Day 12: Drive to Zurich (Sleep in Zurich)
Day 13: Take flight back home to US

Please let me know if this looks reasonable. I have been debating between Car and Train for some time now and right now I am leaning towards a rental car.
Thanks for all your help.

You can't drive in many of these places (CT, Florence, Venice, etc.). This article tells about the restricted zones (ZTL).
http://www.bella-toscana.com/traffic...ions_italy.htm

Hi Walia,

A car is also more of a handicap for your destinations in Switzerland --

Zürich is a medieval city that wasn't designed for modern traffic; you'll be navigating narrow, winding roads while dodging pedestrians, trams, busses, and other cars. In addition, parking is difficult to find and expensive.

Most of the areas you'll want to see while based in Lauterbrunnen don't even allow cars -- Wengen, Mürren, Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, etc. Your rental will likely just sit while you take the trains to see the mountains.

Using the train system in Switzerland is super-easy, and there is a train station in the basement of the airport. You just pile your bags onto a cart, wheel the cart down to the basement, and hop on a train. Then you can travel from city center to city center, or from town to mountaintop, easily and quickly.

Plus, of course, using the trains is more **green** !! You'll be happy to leave Switzerland as pristine as it was when you arrived.

If you'd like to try the trains, you can see all the schedules and fares at the Swiss rail site

www.rail.ch

Have fun!

s

A car is worthless for this trip---ride the rails.

Definitely do it by train.