My wife and I have a trip set for late April to mid May. Fly in to Rome, train to Florence and 12 nights in an apartment in Florence. 5 nights after we leave the apartment we fly back to the US from Zurich. That's set and can't be changed. Our last night is already booked in a hotel in Zurich.

The original idea was to spend maybe two nights in Zermatt and two in Interlaken and then on to Zurich, all via rail travel. I'm now thinking early to mid-May is a bit too soon (i.e., snowy)to really enjoy these areas of Switzerland, to which neither of us have been. So I'm looking at alternatives to spend four nights between Florence and Zurich and looking for suggestions. Possibly spending the bulk on the time still in Italy and zipping north via train to Zurich and back to the US.

We've already been to Milan, Venice and the Lakes region, so we'd prefer seeing something new. Previous trips have also covered the southern areas of Italy. I'm trying to stay along the general rail route to avoid out of the way travel and no more than two different locations (preferable one) over the four nights.

So if anyone has some suggestions for either Italy or Zurich in that time period, I'd be delighted to hear them. My preference leans toward Switzerland, as it's a new place for us, but may be too early in the season to enjoy, and Italy never fails to disappoint.

Hi:
I spent 10 days near Zurich (Winterhur) May 1-10, 2009. Believe me it was beautiful for most days. Spring was sprung!
I would stay in Zurich for the duration. Day trips worth taking:
Bodensee Area about 1.5 hours away(Konstanz, Germany) or Swiss south shore, Santis Berg about 2.5 hours away (Alps) or some other Alpine peak nearby.
Both are reachable by train direct (bus also required to Santis). Swiss train system is excellent.
Photos showing spring has sprung

I lived in Zurich 5 years and while one can be lucky, beginning of May can also be miserable and rainy. If you want Switzerland, then may be consider Ticino where the weather is generally better than anywhere above the Gotthard. Locarno is quite nice and has a temperate climate. Public transport is good anywhere in Switzerland.

If you decide to stay in Italy about about Emilia Romagna? Ravenna, Parma, Bologna, all wonderful places to see and gorgeous food to have.

Several ST members have been so I am sure there will be plenty blog posts and reviews.

There is a rail connection from Bologna to Florence. Bologna is connected by train to Modena, Ferrara, Parma, and to Ravenna (superb classic Mosaics). If you stay in Bologna, you can day trip using the train to those other cities.

Thanks for the ideas so far.

Madonna del P: We are looking at Ticino. The main train stop along the route is Lugarno. My thinking about it is that its flavor may not be too different than Como and Bellagio, which we've previously been to. Emilia Romagna is another region we are considering, but I was hoping to be a bit farther north. Perhaps we are too early for that.

Dragonpat: We are planning to visit Bologna as a day trip while in Florence. With the new high speed rail it's only 37 minutes away.

I'm thinking at this point to maybe increase the time in Zurich to two nights and maybe three nights at a single locale somewhere between the two.

Ticino has better weather than German Switzerland, but if you don't mind it, Luzern is one of the prettiest towns in Switzerland and it's also on your way.

Hi Machian! I have to stick in my two cents for Stresa, on Lago Maggiore... It's about as close to Ticino as you can get in Italy, just on the other end of the lake from Locarno, Switzerland. In fact, you can take the lake ferry to Locarno to pick up your Swiss trains. The flavor is much different from Como, Bellagio, or Lugano, the weather will be gorgeous in May, and Stresa has unique delights of its own, such as the Borromeo Islands.

Oh... and I should have mentioned... if you are there the right days in May you can catch one of the events in the Stresa Music Festival. May's performances include Goran Bregovic and his Wedding & Funeral Band, and Philip Glass.

http://www.stresafestival.eu/e.../programma_2010.html

Dana

Yes the train is now fast and Bologna is close but the area is worth more than a daytrip! I would do that daytrip instead into chianti and spend the days somewhere in ER. RR

Macchian

Along the lines of Dana K. I having made that trip many times, my favorite stopover is the lakes. However of them all I much prefer Lake Como.

And on lake Como, Varenna area is pretty special.
A couple of Rick Steve guides I know have some aparartments there that look out over Bellagio.

You can get there by train from Milan or Lecco (actually there is a Fiumelatte nearby) Then you can take the public boat to most places on the lake including Bellagio.

Fotos here> http://www.homeaway.com/vacati...26788?uni_id=1028078 and here

You said midway between Florence and Zurich.
In every way, I cant think of anywhere better. Took my parents there recently and they regretted not staying longer. Three days here would be perfect


Have a great trip

quote:

My thinking about it is that its flavor may not be too different than Como and Bellagio

Please... don't say this!

quote:

Originally posted by Giò59:

quote:

My thinking about it is that its flavor may not be too different than Como and Bellagio

Please... don't say this!

I was saying that based upon geographical review of a map. To my foreign eye, untrained in subtlety, much of the lake region seemed similar.

In any case based upon the great feedback I got (thanks all!) we decided to stay in Parma for two nights after leaving Florence and see a little of that area (we'll probably hit Bologna as a day train trip from Florence) and increase our stay in Zurich to 3 nights and use it as a base for short train trips. I think we'd be better off doing more serious Switzerland exploration at a somewhat better time of year.