Depart from the US

Arrive in Zurich

Train from Zurich to Lucerne
Taxi to Hotel
Check In: Hotel des Balances located in the historic center of Lucerne and on the River Recess

Train connections from the airport to the main stations are easy to navigate from the Zurich airport. Check out Rome2Rio to research ground transportation connections.

Train from Lucerne to Milan (4hrs and 15min) with a stopover on the border city of Lugano
Taxi from train station to boat
Take the high speed hydrofoil from Como to Argegno
Check In: Villa Belvedere (of Blame it On the Mussels, High School Graduation Trip, and the Honeymoon in Liguria, Tuscany & Lake Como Villages fame)

Note: Using the water taxi on Lake Como requires that you “wrestle” with luggage in what can be dense crowds. Due to this a taxi may be advisable.

Tour Lake Como – Lake Como dates back nearly 2000 years when it was first discovered by the Greeks. Around the first century AD, the Lake was named Lake Larius by Julius Caesar. The lake has always been considered a favorite resort of many actors and artists.

I remember we had a lovely meal in Bellagio overlooking the surrounding mountains.

Taxi into Como and pick up a rental car.
Drive to the Piedmont wine region in the northwest corner of Italy for a hosted tour and tasting at Fontana Fredda followed by lunch at Villa Contessa Rosa before making the 2-½ hour return trip to Argegno.

I remember seeing nothing but vineyards as we drove through this area – we all said we wanted to come back – check out the 25-Day Itinerary Italian Wine Tasting Through Lombardy, Piedmont. Emilia Romana, and Tuscany for details.

Brother and family arrive Villa Belvedere

We were so ANXIOUS for them to arrive!

Girl’s lunch in Bellagio while the guys play in lake como and A Hearing Aid Goes to the Bottom of Lake Como

Hanging out alongside Lake Como and taking the cable car (one of the steepest in Europe) from Argegno to the top of the mountain at Pigra

Spectacular views of Lake Como

Hanging out alongside Lake Como
Anniversary Dinner at Villa Belvedere alongside Lake Como – A Magical Evening Alongside Lake Como Celebrating 50 Years

We made arrangements for a family-style meal of the chef’s choosing.

We say our goodbyes: my brother and his family depart
We venture up the mountain for the Vespa & Wine Above Lake Como adventure

Hydrofoil from Villa Belvedere to Como
Taxi to the train station

Train from [Milan to Como] Como to Milan? and then to Brig
Train from Brig to Zermatt via the Alpine Train

Check In: Hotel Daniela

While this seems complicated the Swiss train system is exceptional and everything worked perfectly. Utilize Rome2 Rio to help with planning.

Tour the Matterhorn
14,700K Feet straddling Italy and Switzerland. The best views are from Zermatt reached by riding the cogwheel-railway to Gornergrat where we will have a superb panoramic view of the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and other snow capped peaks rising to above 13,000 ft.

Lunch at the Riffelalp Hotel followed by a tour of guest rooms.

The hotel is accessed from a mountain train stop by a small passenger train. The hotel is hidden in the Alps.
We returned to the Riffelalp during a trip in 2013.

Train from Zermatt to Interlaken and then to Wengen
Check In: Hotel Regina

Make sure you reserve a mountain view room

Take the Jungfraujoch railway (highest train station in Europe) to Eiger, Monch Jungfrau, and the Aletsch Glaciers (with Aletsch being the longest glacier in the Alps.

Rail and cable car connects in Lauterbrunnen to a rack rail train to make the climb to Wengen and to Kleine Scheidegg to the north face of the Eiger Glacier.

Dinner that evening in the private dining room of the Hotel Regina owner

Walking through the ice museum inside the Eiger Glacier is an incredible experience.

Travel to Zurich by Train (2.5 hrs)
Hotel: Hotel Kindli
Dinner: Kindli

One of our favorites, we continue to return to the Kindli anytime we are in Zurich

Tour Old Town Zurich
Dinner: Hosted by Sepp Wimmer at the Zunfthaus zur Waag during A Rainy Night in Zurich

Return Flight to the US