Zurich-Lake Como-Venice in 7 days - need feedback!
 

Hi everyone,

I am planning a trip for me and my wife to go to Zurich-Lake Como-Venice for 7 days. The plan is as follows:
Wed - fly
Thur, Fri - enjoy Zurich @ BestWestern Inn Rex
Sat - Travel to Como by train and enjoy Como @ Bestwestern Continental
Sun - Travel to Venice by train and stay in Venice @ BestWestern Bisanzio
Mon, Tue - enjoy Venice
Tue night - travel by train from Venice to Zurich
Wed - return to US from Zurich

My questions are as follows:
1. Is the hotel in Zurich a good option - I heard Luzern (an hour from Zurich) is a better option. Opinion, suggestions are greatly appreciated.

2. Train from Venice to Zurich by night to catch a flight from Zurich the next day @ 10am, how feasible is it. Is it better to fly (don't want to spend $500/pp just to fly Venice-Zurich)

Appreciate your feedback!!

This is one of those questions that we would like to take you aside and whisper in your ear before posting an answer publicly:

Why did you pick Zurich?

Not only does it fail to impress me, it makes for such a BIG triangle with your other two lovely destinations. And so, you are giving up MORE than a full days' worth of waking hours on trains and in the process cutting the Lake Como seriously short. And not getting to the "sweet center"!

I actually do not know how to fix this. And not knowing what season you have in mind, I don't know whether to recommend really getting to see Bellagio, etc or some other destination between Venice and Zurich.

Tell us why Zurich - - is there NO possibility of an open jaw air travel plan? Have you already bought these tickets?

I would like to post something more constructive.

Best wishes,

Rex

As Rex has said, this is kind of an ambitious itinerary for three days. I would first suggest you pick two destinations, either Zurich and Como, or Como and Venice. You will get a chance to spend more quality time in each place and really see it. Como for 2 days is not sufficient, esp as you are staying in the town of Como which is at the bottom of the lake, and you will want to take day trips by ferry up the lake to Varenna and Bellagio, among others. Also, the train from Zurich will take about 4 hours, which really means you have less than 24 hours in Como before you depart for Venice. Trying to see Venice in 2 days will barely give you enough time to scratch the surface. Don't forget about jet lag the first day or so which will tire you out.

Zurich is a lovely little city (although I live here and am prejudiced). Many people prefer Lucerne as the Alps are more visible and accessible, and you can use it as a point to get up easily into higher Alp regions. You won't see the Alps from Zurich unless it is a very clear day, and we have about 10 of those a year.

What time of year are planning this trip for? Como is not really at its best until mid-April, as it is quite cool in the spring and I think you would find many restaurants and even hotels are not open.

If you still want to do the three together, then an open jaw ticket into Zurich and out of Venice would be best. If you decide on Como and Venice, then fly into Milan and out of Venice. If you decide on Como and Zurich, then into Zurich and out of Milan makes most sense, assuming you want to do Zurich first; if not, reverse the airports.

If you are using frequent flyer miles or something that means you have to use Zurich for arrival and departure, there are a couple of problems with your Venice itinerary. There is only one overnight train from Venice to Zurich and it does not arrive at Zurich airport until 9:15 am, too late for a 10 am flight departure. There is a couple of trains which depart from Venice between 2 pm and 5 pm and get into Zurich between 11 and 1:30 am; however, this would mean you have to find a hotel for 8 hours or so, which kind of makes this an unattractive option, IMO.

Take a look at the website for Swiss National Railways at rail.ch for timetables to the three places and this may help you work on your itinerary.

With regard to the hotel in Zurich, the location of the Rex is fine, but from looking at their website, I would say that the Engimatt and Glockenhof are in better locations in terms of the train station and access to the old town on the left bank, and the Engimatt looks to be in a quiet courtyard area which is a plus in Zurich in summer months when people are out late.

Hi everyone,

Wow. Thanks for the feedback! I am going in the last week of March. Found a good deal for Zurich, so picked it!

I am really concerned about getting back from Venice to Zurich.

Also, I am now thinking of staying at Sorell Hotel Zürichberg instead of the Rex in Zurich. Frommers suggests the following for 2-days in Zurich:
Day 1: board a streamer for a 1 1/2-hour ride on the lake. Return to shore and visit either the Kunsthaus Museum or the Landesmuseum. In late afternoon, take "Walking Tour 2: Alstadt," along the famous quays of Zurich and through Old Town
Day 2: In the morning, visit Fraumünster or Grossmünster, the two most famous churches of Zurich. Enjoy lunch in a typical Zurich cafe. In the afternoon, leave Zurich for Uetliberg for a panoramic view of the Alps and the city.

In Como, I am now thinking of staying at Hotel Suisse (right on the lake).

Considering the fact that I am going in the last weekend of March 2004 and would like to do Zurich-Como-Venice, what would be a reasonably 'touristy' schedule. Want to see a bit of the alps, buy some swiss chocolate, see the lake, and experience Venice.

Will look forward to your thoughts! Thanks!

You'll see a certain amount of alpine scenery on your rail trip from Zurich to Como. Be aware that InterCity #383 leaves Zurich daily at 11:09 AM and arrives in Como (S. Gaivonni) at 2:53 PM...that's direct (no changes required) service which probably runs daily. Unfortunately, you'll pass under the highest points when you go through the St. Gotthard Tunnel but it is still a scenic trip.

Assume you decided to stay in Como itself for a reason (vs. somewhere like Varenna/Menaggio/Bellagio in the mid-lake section which SOME folks find more scenic but a lot of the hotels there are closed until mid or even late March)
More coming in a subsequent post.

My initial thoughts as I am running out of my office as it is the end of the day here is that you should not go to Como in late March! It will be cold (upper 40s) and rainy, and many of the better restaurants will not be open. The ferry rides will be unpleasant in those temps, IMO. Como is so special you should save it for better weather.

Think about staying in Switzerland and going from Zurich to Lucerne, the Bernese Oberland, Zermatt or other Alp destinations. There are many choices, run a search here or get the Fodors book.

With regard to the ferries in Zurich, I think they are on very limited schedule until May 1 of so. It is winter here. Not sure you would enjoy the ferry ride unless it is a sunny day.

You could also do Venice and Florence or Rome and skip Switzerland entirely.

As to rail connections BACK from Venice to Zurich. The only through (no changes) night service would be on Euronight #358 which leaves Venice (Santa Lucia) at 10:51 PM and arrives the next morning in Zurich at 8:51 AM. Be aware that this service normally only carries couchette cars...no 1st Class doubles are available...as a rule.
An alternative daylight route would be on IC#606 which departs Vencie at 7:51 AM and arrives Milan at 10:55 AM..changing to Cisalpino#154 which departs Milan at 11:10 AM and arrives Zurich at 2:51 PM....that seven-hour trip is probably the FASTEST you'll be able to make it back by train.
Enjoy your trip.

Thanks once more for the replies. I managed to change my return to now fly back from Venice instead of taking a train from Venice to Zurich. That gives me an extra night in Venice. Also, I am beginning to think that maybe I should spend an extra night in Lucerne instead of going to Como (based on Cicerone's posting). Any additional thoughts would be very helpful! Appreciate your time!

This is certainly a turn for a much better trip!

Hi r2r, Hope your planning is going well. Several years ago my husband and I flew into Zurich around March 23, took the train to Lugano for two nights, then took a long train ride to the Alps, spent a week in Grindelwald, then spent one day/night in Zurich before flying home. As to the weather, we had some lovely spring days, including one in Lugano and one on Lake Como/Bellagio (highs near 80, lows in the 50s) and another one in Zurich on April 1. We did the boat tour in Zurich on April 1 and it was special because that was the opening day for the boats. So while we had some cold days (actually had a lovely snowstorm in Grindelwald and skied on two days), there were also some good touring days. So be prepared for both spring and winter weather and activities. Also, I do not recommend that you spend anytime in Zurich on this trip. It is a very nice airport, easy to navigate, but your other choices are much more interesting cities, IMO. Good luck.

Since Ursula's not here, let me defend Zurich. Each time I stay there (usually the night before a flight), I find it's old town more appealing. Lovely winding streets, cafes, and yes, good museums and pretty churches.

Your most recent post with the flight out of Venice sounds perfect. J.

Thanks for all the wonderful feedback from everyone. As said earlier, I am flying into Zurich on Mar 26, staying in Lake Como on Mar 28, staying in Venice 29-1 and flying back from Venice on Apr.1.

I was planning on staying in Zurich at Hotel Suisse and going to Lucerne for one day by train on 27 and come back to Zurich the same night. Is this feasible or should I stay in Lucerne for 2 nights. I am hoping to do a combination of city+alps. Appreciate your thoughts!

Although I live in Zurich, I would say skip it and go to Lucerne as you only have two days. You can get a bit of city feel from Lucerne in a day, and you will also have a day to get up into the Alps.