Visiting Zurich and Italy for 12 days for the first time - Itinerary help
May 10th, 2011 | 07:40 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1
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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.
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.
May 10th, 2011 | 08:18 PM
#2
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 37,528
Likes: 14
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
http://www.bella-toscana.com/traffic...ions_italy.htm
May 10th, 2011 | 08:45 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,510
Likes: 0
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 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
