This is guest post from my friend Sanil Pillai who is an ardent traveler and has visited more than 35 countries.
Planning a holiday in Europe or any other location during the busy summer season is not for the faint of heart. My daughters 18th birthday fell in August, so I really did not have much flexibility in terms of dates for travel to her dream destinations – Italy and Switzerland.
Follow along with me for trip notes and tips for travel to two of the most scenic and culturally significant destinations in Europe.
What was our itinerary?
Our 15 days trip took us through some of the most scenic and picturesque locations in Italy and Switzerland. I admit we were a bit partial to Italy during this trip so spent ten days in Italy and remaining 5 days in Switzerland. Below was our itinerary.
Fly into Rome.
2 nights in Sorrento – Visit Capri and Ana Capri, visit Pompeii
2 nights in Positano – visit Amalfi coast and Ravello – Positano to Rome (taxi)
2 nights in Rome – Visit Vatican, Colosseum, Roman Forum etc. – Rome to Florence (train)
2 Nights in Florence – visit Pisa (train) – Florence to Venice (train)
2 nights in Venice – Venice to Lucerne via Milan through the Swiss Alps (train)
4 nights in Lucerne – Visit Mt. Titlis, Bern, Lucerne, Interlaken – Lucerne to Zurich (train)
1 night in Zurich (train) – Zurich to Chicago (flight).
Our Italy itinerary took us through Sorrento, Capri and Ana Capri, Positano, Pompeii, Amalfi coast and Ravello, Rome, Florence, Pisa and Venice.
We pre-booked the taxi from Rome which was very convenient as they picked us right from the arrivals terminal and headed directly to Sorrento. The taxi cost us 500 Euros but is well worth it, if your budget allows.
Alternatively you can take the train from Rome airport to Naples which is 90 Euros per person and then take the local train Circumsevenia which is another 5 Euros to Sorrento. You can also take a taxi from Naples to Sorrento for 200 Euros.
Day 1 – Sorrento
We were completely amazed to see the most scenic landscapes in Sorrento. We explored the evening visiting the Marina Grande, Piazzo Tasso Square and the market streets with lots of cafes and shops. Dinner is generally late in Italy and shops are open till 11 pm, in August they will be open till midnight and closed in afternoon for siesta.
Sorrento is commercially more popular, and it is logistically convenient to visit all the tourist spots in south Italy. Sorrento had a nice sunset point where pictures can truly be magnificent. Next day we had plans to do a day trip to Capri and Ana Capri.
Day 2 – Capri and Ana Capri
There are lots of options to get to these beautiful islands – take a group tour or take a private boat tour with blue grotto. We did a small group boat tour which was 100 Euros per person, takes you to the Capri island and one can spend 3-4 hrs. . Then take the funicular to the Ana Capri for some breath-taking views of the Capri Island. One can get some beach time or take a dip in the sea!
After strolling and some window shopping, we were back on the boat which took us to the Green Grotto, Gold grotto and the Blue grotto. The blue grotto is on your way back where we need to get on to a rowing boat from the speed boat but if the waves are rough, they may just call it off and the rowers refuse to take it there.
Sunlight passing through an underwater cavity and shining through the seawater creates a blue reflection that illuminates the cavern.
Day 3- Ruins of Pompeii
The initial plan was to take a private taxi with Barabo taxi company but did some local research and found that the train station close-by had services to Ruins of Pompeii, so we decided to explore the local way and took the local train Circumsevenia.
The train ride was cheap, around 10 Euros round trip and another 8-10 Euros for the Ruins of Pompeii entry fees. In summer it can really get very hot and these local trains do not have air conditioning, but you can enjoy the fresh air if you keep the windows open. Ruins have their history and it totally depends on how much time you want to spend there.
There is a lot to see and learn, it can take up to 3-4 hours. Carry water to stay hydrated. We took the train back and came to the hotel to check out from Sorrento. Next, we were headed to the most awaited destination – Positano!!
Day 4 – Positano
Positano is a beautiful, little beach town in Italy, famous for its colorful buildings, excellent restaurants, and ideal location on the Amalfi Coast. Positano is a popular destination for couples looking for a romantic getaway as well as families and groups stopping through on day tours.
We took a local taxi and headed towards Positano. The view all the way between Sorrento to Positano was so breath taking. We were completely mesmerized but amazing landscapes, the sea and high-rise winding roads. Be prepared to stop multiple time to capture photos of breathtaking scenery.
We checked into the hotel and headed to the base of Positano which a good 5-mile walk is, you can choose to take a bus or taxi, but we chose to walk as we could enjoy the place as we walk along. All the way till the base there are tons of souvenir shops, restaurants, other regular shops. This place is so lively even late at night because of peak tourist season, so we had a late dinner at a nice sea food restaurant.
Day 5 – Amalfi Coast and Ravello
Amalfi coast is synonymous with the picturous images of the south of Italy. We took a local bus from Positano to Amalfi Coast, it takes around 45 mins to get there. The Amalfi Coast is a 50-kilometer stretch of coastline along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, in the Campania region.
It’s a popular holiday destination, with sheer cliffs and a rugged shoreline dotted with small beaches and pastel-colored fishing villages. The coastal road between the port city of Salerno and clifftop Sorrento winds past grand villas, terraced vineyards and cliffside lemon groves. After a quick lunch and took another local bus to Ravello.
Ravello, is a resort town set 365 meters above the Tyrrhenian Sea by Italy’s Amalfi Coast, is home to iconic cliffside gardens. The 13th-century, Moorish-style Villa Rufolo offers far-reaching views from its terraced gardens and hosts indoor and outdoor concerts during the popular summertime Ravello Festival. Villa Cimbrone, a medieval-style estate perched on a steep outcrop, is surrounded by another celebrated garden.
The view from Cliff top is spectacular. We did a tour of Rufolo the Moorish style villa and spent time till evening before taking the bus back to Positano. While you are in south Italy one should try the Limoncello which is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, especially in the region around the Gulf of Naples, the Sorrentine Peninsula and the coast of Amalfi, and islands of Procida, Ischia, and Capri.
Day 6 and 7 – Rome
We spent the morning in Positano, looking to an excuse to hang around in Positano for some more time. Took a pre-booked taxi with Barabo taxi company which took us to Rome, it takes around 4 hours to get there. We checked into Times Roman hotel which is a new property right in the heart of downtown. After the tiring ride, we relaxed and went to explore some spots close by.
That evening we went to visit the Trevi Fountain in the Trevi district in Rome, Italy, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini and several others. Standing 26.3 meters high and 49.15 meters wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world. It gets crowded and one should always be careful of getting pick pocketed very easily. Evening time is the best time to visit the Trevi fountain.
The main attractions in Rome are the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel all in Vatican City, Pantheon and Roman forum. It would be tough to manage all of these by yourself, so I pre-booked a full day tour with a tour company called Head out. The first half day covered the Vatican City, the advantage with the tour is that we can skip the lines otherwise you would be waiting for hours in the scorching sun to get inside.
The entry tickets were covered in the tour and hence the entire activity which was planned for the day becomes seamless. We started the day with Vatican City tour which was really very informative, and it is worth the visit, there are lot of facts uncovered. All of these takes half day and the second half day tour was to the Colosseum and Roman forum. Great history and good insights on the Roman empire.
Ended the day with local shopping, walking in the busy streets of Rome and dinner. Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, you must not miss the gelatos in Italy, I think we had gelatos after every meal. It kept us moving and cools down in the summer heat.
Day 8 – Florence
We took an early morning Italia Rail to get to Florence which takes couple of hours. We kept our bags at the hotel and visited the local spots in Florence. It is the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region and is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto.
The Galleria dell’Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.” I think Florence can really boast about their architecture and it is truly incredible. We took a train to Pisa which is an hour’s ride.
A classy marvel which started leaning by accident during the construction but still stands straight (pun intended). This place is over crowded with tourists since they don’t want to miss the opportunity to take pictures with the leaning tower which is sometimes very dramatic. After spending couple of hours there we took the train back to Florence. In the evening we visited Piazza del Duomo which is in the heart of the historic center of Florence.
It is one of the most visited places in Europe and the world and in Florence, the most visited area of the city. If you have more time and love for colossal architecture then factor is some more time to visit Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazze Michelangelo, David and lots more.
Day 9 and 10 – Venice
Next day we spent more time in Florence to get some more glimpse of this fantastic city. One should visit Café Gilli a popular pastry and coffee shop. We took a noon train to Venice which is a 2-hour ride. Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea.
It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs. There are 2 options of staying in Venice, the choice would be to stay in hotels in the Canals or away from that in Mestre.
We wanted to experience staying the canal area so that we can comfortably walk around even late night without the stress of taking a train back to Mestre. We made that choice but the hotels in Summer can be very pricey. If one is comfortable with staying at Mestre, then that is a great option as there are regular trains which ply till late night.
After reaching the station we had to take a boat ride to get to our hotel. The place is loaded with cafés, restaurants, souvenir stores, ice cream shops and tourists! Very interestingly designed buildings and one needs to be sure where they are headed to the lanes can be very tricky. Night time has a different charm with all the lights, especially the sunset time the reflection on the water makes it a great photographic moment.
My daughter turned 18 today ! We started with a midnight wish and planned the day for some celebrations. The most popular on the things to do is Murano glass factory visit, I did lot of research and decided to pass that and spent some quality time in the Grand Canal itself.
St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, Rialto bridge, Grand Canal, Bridge of sighs are great spots to visit. Venice, the canal area is divided in 4 main areas – San Marco (most popular on the list), Cannaregio, Santa Croce and Dorsoduro.
We planned the Gondola ride in the evening at the sunset time, a must to-do unlike the one you do in Las Vegas! Evening birthday dinner was a nice Italian Restaurant in San Marco square which is filled with café’s and live music. The day was more relaxed, and we enjoyed every bit of Grand canal. Among all the places we visited in Italy, this place has a repeat value but Positano still tops our list.
Day 11- Lucerne
We are now wrapping up Italy and heading towards Switzerland. One cannot see the swiss in 5 days so we decided to be selective on what we wanted to do: Lucerne – Mt. Titlis – Bern – Mt. Pilatus – Interlaken – Zurich.
We took a train from Venice which is the longest train ride of this trip, it took around 6.5 hrs. to get to Lucerne via Milan. There is a change of train in Milan, but the entire train ride was so picturesque through the Swiss Alps.
We reached Lucerne and checked into the Hotel. Since most of the day was lost in travel, we decided to see Lucerne which a compact city in Switzerland known for its preserved medieval architecture, sits amid snowcapped mountains on Lake Lucerne.
Logistically, it is a perfect mid-point to connect to Engelberg for Mt. Titlis, Bern, Mt. Pilatus, Interlaken and Zurich. Instead of moving with your bags, we decided to make Lucerne our base location and covered all of that in the list. The most popular spots are Chapel Bridge, Spreuer bridge, Museggmauer and Wasserturm.
We picked the 4-day swiss rail pass which had unlimited travel to any destinations in Swiss, it worked cheaper that getting individual point to point tickets.
Day 12 – Mt. Titlis
The Swiss rail pass included tickets to Mt. Titlis, the journey from Lucerne takes around 45 minutes. The route from Engelberg train station to the TITLIS valley station takes just ten minutes on foot or you can hop on the free shuttle bus.
The 8-seater TITLIS Xpress cable car will transport you all the way up from Engelberg to Stand station. Titlis is a mountain of the Uri Alps, located on the border between the cantons of Obwalden and Bern. It was a perfect time to visit these snow-capped mountain peaks, one could get on to the snow with light jacket.
Post lunch we did Mt. Pilatus tour which took all our appetite for getting up the mountain peaks. I think these peaks have their own charm and one does not tired to seeing all of them – Jungfrau, Zermatt, Titlis, Pilatus are the popular ones to name a few.
Day 13 – Bern and Interlaken
Next day we decided to cover Bern, the capital city of Switzerland, is built around a crook in the Aare River. It traces its origins back to the 12th century, with medieval architecture preserved in the Altstadt (Old Town). Since it is summer there are lot of cafés with outdoor seating which makes it a perfect place to have a nice lunch or dinner.
We spent half day in Bern, and they went to Interlaken which is a traditional resort town in the mountainous Bernese Oberland region of central Switzerland. Its surrounding mountains, with dense forests, alpine meadows and glaciers, has numerous hiking and skiing trails.
Interlaken gets lots of tourists compared to other cities. They showcase lot of shopping points for expensive watches, perfumes and all that fancy items which people can fall for. Interlaken has one of the best Indian restaurants, so if you fancy Indian cuisine then it is a definite must try. It was a relaxed day in Interlaken, so we decided to take it easy and see the spots close to the main town. After a nice dinner we wrapped our day.
Day 14 – Zurich
This was our last destination and we took a train to Zurich and stayed in Downtown Zurich. The city of Zurich, lies at the north end of Lake Zurich in northern Switzerland. The picturesque lanes of the central Altstadt (Old Town), on either side of the Limmat River, reflect its pre-medieval history.
Waterfront promenades like the Limmatquai follow the river toward the 17th-century Rathaus (town hall). We did not have much sight seeing planned for Zurich, but FIFA museum was in our list.
My son is avid Soccer player and had only one agenda in this entire Europe trip and that was the day when we can reach Zurich to visit the FIFA museum.
Our trip had come to an end and now it was time to pack our bags for the return flight to Chicago.
For more travel stories visit How to plan a Road trip through Canada.