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Authentic Europe · Self-guided tour

Discover Switzerland & Italy

Self-guided 12-day rail trip from Zurich through the Alps to Rome

Illustration of Discover Switzerland & Italy

Authentic Europe's Discover Switzerland & Italy is a 12-day, 11-night self-guided rail trip that starts in Zurich and ends in Rome, moving through Lucerne, Interlaken, Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome. The Swiss leg opens with two nights in Lucerne, then a panoramic train ride on the Interlaken Express on day 3 and a full-day excursion to Jungfraujoch on the Jungfrau Railway on day 4, which the itinerary calls 'the Top of Europe.' The trip then travels by train into Italy, spending a single night in Milan before two nights each in Venice, Florence, and Rome. Guided walking tours are included in Florence and Venice, while the rest of the days are unguided, described in the itinerary as 'at leisure' or 'own time.' This suits independent travelers who want a structured route and confirmed rail connections but prefer to explore most cities on their own, with Swiss alpine scenery early on and Italian art, culture, and architecture through the second half.

What to know before you look closer

  • Tourist taxes are not included and must be paid locally.
  • Milan is a one-night stop while every other city on the route gets two nights, so it allows less time for sightseeing there.
  • The evidence names only two hotels, Hotel Bernerhof and Hotel Hermitage, for a trip spanning six cities and eleven nights; confirm which city each one serves with Authentic Europe before booking.
  • This is a self-guided trip overall: guided walking tours are included only in Florence and Venice, while the Swiss cities, Milan, and Rome are unguided.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Lucerne

    Arrival at Zurich airport and transfer to Lucerne

  2. Day 2overnight: Lucerne

    Day at leisure in Lucerne

  3. Day 3railovernight: Interlaken

    Panoramic train ride on the Interlaken Express

  4. Day 4railovernight: Interlaken

    Day trip to Jungfraujoch on the Jungfrau Railway

  5. Day 5overnight: Milan

    Travel from Interlaken to Milan in Italy

  6. Day 6railovernight: Venice

    Travel by train to Venice

  7. Day 7overnight: Venice

    Guided city tour of Venice, own time in the afternoon

  8. Day 8railovernight: Florence

    Train to Florence & time to explore

  9. Day 9overnight: Florence

    Day at leisure in Florence & guided city walk

  10. Day 10overnight: Rome

    Arrival in Rome, the capital in Italy

  11. Day 11overnight: Rome

    Day at leisure in Rome

  12. Day 12

    Departure from Rome

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3A panoramic train ride on the Interlaken Express runs from Lucerne to Interlaken.
  • Day 4A full-day excursion on the Jungfrau Railway reaches Jungfraujoch, described in the itinerary as 'the Top of Europe.'
  • Day 6Travel to Venice is by train.
  • Day 7A guided city tour of Venice is followed by free time in the afternoon to explore independently.
  • Day 9A guided city walk in Florence (3 hours) runs on a day otherwise at leisure.

Included

  • 11 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower/WC, including breakfast
  • Rail journeys as per day-to-day itinerary
  • Excursion to Jungfraujoch - the Top of Europe
  • 24 hour hop on hop off sightseeing ticket in Rome
  • Guided walking tour of Florence (3h)
  • Guided walking tour in Venice (3h)
  • Private transfer in Venice from the station to the hotel by water taxi
  • Private transfer in Rome from the hotel to Fiumicino airport
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
  • 24/7 emergency phone service while travelling

Not included

  • Tourist taxes (not included, must be paid locally)

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Authentic Europe includes rail journeys for the day-to-day itinerary, including named trains such as the Interlaken Express from Lucerne to Interlaken and the Jungfrau Railway from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is self-guided overall, with guided walking tours included only in Florence (3 hours) and Venice (3 hours).
What is the Jungfraujoch excursion?
A full-day excursion on the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, which the itinerary calls 'the Top of Europe.'
What hotels are used?
The evidence names Hotel Bernerhof and Hotel Hermitage, without stating which of the six cities on the route each one serves.
What is not included?
Tourist taxes, which must be paid locally.
Can I add extra nights?
Yes. Authentic Europe offers optional extra nights in Lucerne, Interlaken, Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome, each priced separately per person per night.

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