14 days in Switzerland & Lake Maggiore (Italy & Switzerland) Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Europe route planner
Start: Chicago, United States
Fly
1
Lucerne, Switzerland
— 5 nights
Fly
2
Stresa, Italy
— 2 nights
Drive
3
Zermatt, Switzerland
— 4 nights
Drive
4
Geneva, Switzerland
— 2 nights
Fly
End: Chicago, United States
Wed, Sep 22 - Tue, Oct 5
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Lucerne, Switzerland — 5 nights
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In north-central Switzerland, Lucerne represents a small city boasting a well-preserved old town.Take a break from the city and head to Mt Pilatus and Lake Zurich. Get out of town with these interesting Lucerne side-trips: Parasailing & Paragliding (in Interlaken), Zurich (Old Town, Bahnhofstrasse, &more) and Trümmelbachfälle (in Lauterbrunnen). There's still lots to do: explore the activities along Lake Lucerne, take in the views from Chapel Bridge, shop like a local with Altstadt Luzern, and tour the pleasant surroundings at The Eiger.
To see more things to do, photos, traveler tips, and tourist information, read our Lucerne tour itinerary app.
Chicago, USA to Lucerne is an approximately 13-hour flight. The time zone changes from Central Standard Time (CST) to Central European Standard Time (CET), which is usually a 7 hour difference. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from Chicago in September: high temperatures in Lucerne hover around 67°F and lows are around 51°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Mon) to allow enough time to fly to Stresa.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 22 — 27:
Highlights from your trip
Stresa, Italy — 2 nights
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Stresa is a town and comune of about 5,000 residents on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, about 90km northwest of Milan. Start off your visit on the 28th (Tue): head off the coast to Isole Borromee, take in nature's colorful creations at Botanical Gardens Of Villa Taranto, and then steep yourself in history at Parco della Rocca Borromea. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 29th (Wed): step off the mainland to explore Isola Madre, head off the coast to Isola Bella, and then view the masterpieces at Palazzo Borromeo.
To see reviews, photos, traveler tips, and more tourist information, you can read our Stresa trip app.
Traveling by flight from Lucerne to Stresa takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. When traveling from Lucerne in September, plan for a bit warmer days in Stresa, with highs around 75°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 55°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Zermatt.
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To see reviews, photos, traveler tips, and more tourist information, you can read our Stresa trip app.
Traveling by flight from Lucerne to Stresa takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. When traveling from Lucerne in September, plan for a bit warmer days in Stresa, with highs around 75°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 55°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Zermatt.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 27 — 29:
Highlights from your trip
Zermatt, Switzerland — 4 nights
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Best known as home the Matterhorn mountain, Zermatt serves as a chic ski resort town of the Swiss Alps.Get outdoors at Gornergrat and Stellisee. The adventure continues: take in the awesome beauty at The Matterhorn, make a trip to Mountaineers' Cemetery, look for gifts at Laderach, and take a memorable tour with Tours.
To see ratings, photos, other places to visit, and tourist information, read Zermatt trip planner.
Drive from Stresa to Zermatt in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train. Cap off your sightseeing on the 3rd (Sun) early enough to go by car to Geneva.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Sep 29 — Oct 3:
Highlights from your trip
Geneva, Switzerland — 2 nights
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Capital of Peace
Geneva brings the world to one small city with a huge expat population and the highest number of international organizations in any one city.Kick off your visit on the 4th (Mon): get a sense of history and politics at Palais des Nations, Genève and then contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Geneva. On the next day, admire the striking features of Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre, ponder the design of The Geneva Water Fountain, and then admire the natural beauty at Jardin Anglais.
To see other places to visit, maps, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Geneva tour itinerary planning tool.
You can drive from Zermatt to Geneva in 3.5 hours. Another option is to take a train. October in Geneva sees daily highs of 61°F and lows of 46°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 5th (Tue) to allow enough time to fly back home.
Find places to stay Oct 3 — 5:
Highlights from your trip
Switzerland travel guide
Immerse yourself in a snow-capped mountain wonderland in Switzerland's serene Alpine setting. See the world-renowned Matterhorn, Switzerland's second-highest mountain at 4,478 m (14,962 ft) tall, or zoom down the mountains on toboggan, ski, or snowboard. In the warmer seasons hike around the rolling green hillsides covered with pine trees and picturesque aqua blue lakes. Luxurious cities dotted with cozy wooden chalets and colorful flowerbeds balance quaintness with first-class cultural offerings. Indulge in the country's opulence of milk chocolate, cheese fondue, and keg-carrying St. Bernard dogs.
Swiss Alps travel guide
The stunning Swiss Alps cover 65 percent of the Switzerland's surface area with dramatic mountain scenery. Its spectacular peaks and valleys are the result of tectonic thrusts, among them the Jungfrau-Aletsch region, the first World Heritage Site in the Alps. Connected by a network of trains and cable cars, this majestic vacation spot is accessible for all. The Swiss Alps are home to some of the highest mountains in the Alps, including the Monte Rosa, which stands at 4,634 m (15,203 ft). Pristine white snow and perfect blue skies await you, and ski sports and hiking trails aplenty top the list of things to do.
