Free rebooking. Mediterranean cruises usually start at 7 nights but can go up to 3 weeks, which can provide an amazing tour of the entire region without having to pack and repack your bags more than once. Meanwhile, Frances Annecy, Yvoire, and Chamonix are rich with medieval charm, alpine scenery, and world-class ski resorts, with the towering Mont Blanc providing a stunning and awe-inspiring vista. As summer of 2023 approaches, its clear that this is going to be a busy travel season, especially compared to the last few pandemic years. Walk along the canals: Annecy is known as the Venice of the Alps for its many canals and waterways. The Aescher is a mountain restaurant located on Ebenalp Mountain in the Alpstein area. You will have to skip many gorgeous places in Germany. The Swiss Travel Pass also covers most museums and entrances to. Learn at the Museum of the Bavarian Kings, Check out more tips for Schloss Neuschwanstein here, Eibsee or Rothenburg ob der Tauber 1 Day, Swim in Lake Zurich (and do a boat Cruise). 20 helpful votes. Vatican City (Holy See) 1. If youve decided to finally explore Europe for the first time, its quite possible that you havent considered doing it on a cruise. 10 Reasons to Love England and 2 Reasons Why not to, Best Places to Stay in Croatia Best Tips For All Budgets, WHERE TO STAY IN LAKE COMO TOP AREAS AND HOTELS, RENT A CAR IN JORDAN HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, BEST PLACES TO STAY IN ST.MORITZ BEST HOTELS FOR ALL BUDGETS. Brussels isnt a great tourist city, but Bruges really is so its a better option for most people. As you can see, you can combine your Switzerland and Germany trip quite easily. You might have seen my other article about the 5 best cities for a first trip to Europe and that could be worth considering because youve got enough time for those and a couple more as well. -Roger, Wow, thanks for the speedy reply Roger I really appreciate it. Day 4: Eiffel Tower and the Seine Sightseeing Cruise. This is also the peak tourist season, so expect larger crowds and higher prices, especially in popular tourist destinations like Montreux, Lake Geneva, and Chamonix. Day 1: Amsterdam Canal Cruise. After that you can hop on a high-speed train for 1 hour 22 minutes to reach Brussels, or go straight to Amsterdam in a bit over 3 hours total. We do intend on having another holiday in Europe in the next few years so really want to concentrate on one area if you know what I mean and not spend too much time travelling. Since the day you arrive and the day you leave will offer little sightseeing time, you need at least two full sightseeing days in order to even see your choice of the top sights. Our son is studying abroad from May-July. Here are some must-see sights and activities in Lausanne for a day trip: Visit the Olympic Museum: Lausanne is the home of the International Olympic Committee, and the Olympic Museum is a must-see for sports enthusiasts. Barcelona is another great party city by the way. France and Italy are also both quite different as well, so I think it would be great to get a taste of the best of both of them to compare them, and then for your next trip you could even focus on smaller and less famous places in both countries. My husbands grandmother was born in Hull, England so a partial day stop would be of interest to us. Visit the Montreux Jazz Festival: If youre lucky enough to be in Montreux during the summer months, you can experience one of the worlds most famous music festivals. Either way, it surely will be fun! If you buy water bottles in Germany (or soft drinks in bottles or cans), you have to pay a. It sounds like you might not be interested in London, and if thats the case youll have a chance to see it in the future. Munich is wealthier and more relaxed, and different from Berlin in many other ways as well. The amount of time you spend in France and Switzerland really depends on your travel style and what you want to see and do during your trip. 1. Enjoy the rush of adrenaline as you twist and turn down the slopes. With two weeks you could visit places like Bologna and Modena in Italy, but youd be missing Paris. The museum features interactive exhibits and displays about the history and culture of the Olympics. $640 days. Chamonix is a beautiful French Alpine town (also known as the Mont Blanc town), known for its stunning natural scenery and world-class skiing and hiking. I have been running this blog since 2015. Those two cities are the keys to a Germany visit, and after that youve got a wide variety of choices. There are many motorway streets without speed limits, but many do have a speed limit you should stick to (speed cams are placed throughout the country). The cable car is divided into two stages. Below there are 11 popular itineraries for one week in Europe. From $4,499 USD pp* Save up to $200. Suggest you focus on one OR the other country. Yvoire is a charming medieval village located on the shores of Lake Geneva in France. Getting from Geneva to Annecy is relatively easy and can be done by car or public transportation. . You also mentioned Sweden and Norway, which could be reached by cheap flights out of any large city (including Zurich). The closest major European cities are at least two hours apart by high-speed train, and from the time you check out of one hotel until you are checked into your hotel in the next city, its going to be 5 or more hours in most cases. Switzerland Itinerary: How to Spend 7 to 21 Days in Switzerland Unlike other trains in Europe, the Eurostar (which of course runs through the Channel Tunnel) has airport-style security and you have to be there at least 30 minutes before departure. You can check the schedules and purchase tickets on the Flixbus or Ouibus websites. The train service gets really slow and infrequent as you get within 2 or 3 countries of Greece, and its not worth spending days going through Serbia, Romania, and/or Bulgaria. It is quite a big city, but thanks to good public transportation, you can get around easily and see some of the best places in a short time. We would also like to visit Paris, Switzerland (Interlaken maybe? Arrive early Thurs AM in Geneva. $5,200 days. Comfortable walking shoes for exploring the cities and towns, as well as hiking boots if you plan to go hiking in the mountains. Three nights is a sweet spot as it gives you two full sightseeing days where you wake up and go to sleep in the place you are visiting. Very popular! It can make a wonderful day trip from Geneva. Even though the weather will be a bit chilly in April and early May, you might still consider Amsterdam, Berlin, and Prague, and those are my three favorite party cities in Europe. Germany and Switzerland are both fascinating countries to visit both offer diverse attractions and activities. Here's one option: Days 1-4: Paris A travel day isnt much of a sightseeing day, so if you change cities every day or two, youll have very little time to see the things youve actually gone all that way to see. Though Zurich is not the capital of Switzerland, it is the busiest and biggest city with the most expensive shopping street in the world (Bahnhofsstrasse), a beautiful lake, and an old town that you should not miss during your day there. Day 3: Transfer from Amsterdam to Paris by train. 17 reviews. I lay out the best options along with how long to stay in each place as a general guide. Its hard to do much sightseeing on a travel day. The castle features an art museum that showcases local history and culture, as well as stunning views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Annecy. Austria. We flew into Paris, spent 3 days touring the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, [] Subscribe * indicates required I have been running this blog since 2015. DO I NEED A VISIT FOR FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND, WHAT IS THE BEST TIME FOR A FRANCE + SWITZERLAND TRIP, WHAT TO PACK FOR A TRIP TO SWITZERLAND AND FRANCE, PLACES TO VISIT FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND ITINERARY, FINAL THOUGHTS ON A SWITZERLAND AND FRANCE ITINERARY, FRANCE AND GERMANY ITINERARY IN 7-10 DAYS, BEST PLACES FOR PARAGLIDING IN SWITZERLAND, Best Places to Stay in Croatia Best Tips For All Budgets, WHERE TO STAY IN LAKE COMO TOP AREAS AND HOTELS, RENT A CAR IN JORDAN HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, BEST PLACES TO STAY IN ST.MORITZ BEST HOTELS FOR ALL BUDGETS. For Sweden I would go to Stockholm, and for Norway I would go to Bergen, which is far more beautiful and interesting than Oslo. HOW MANY DAYS FOR SWITZERLAND AND FRANCE TRIP, BEST WAY TO GET AROUND FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND TRIP. As for your itinerary, Im sure itll be great and you are off to a good start. Switzerland, France and Germany Duration: 7 days Highlights: Basel, Black Forest, Freiburg, Strasbourg, Colmar A 7-day off-the-beaten-path itinerary in Switzerland, France and Germany Request a Quote Send to Client Print Itinerary Download PDF Itinerary Day 1 - Arrive Basel, Switzerland -Roger. -Roger, My boyfriend and I are going to do a europe trip for 3 weeks in mid april to early May 2023. With lakes, mountains, delicious food, charming villages and expert . We would like to see London, England, maybe Scotland. -Roger. Its packed with famous sights and its a major world capital. Walk on a glacier: Even in the summer months, you can walk on a glacier an amazing experience you cannot experience at many places. On your way up or down make sure to also see Seealpsee (a beautiful mountain lake) and rest before continuing your journey. The key is to stay in the main part of the main island so you can enjoy Venice before the cruise passengers and day-trippers arrive, and also after they leave for the day. About This 10 Day Switzerland Itinerary Our 10 day itinerary focuses on the German and Italian parts of Switzerland. Take a walk along the canals and enjoy the picturesque views of the town. Buses are also available, especially for shorter trips or for travel to smaller towns not serviced by trains. Only . I saw two other comments on other articles, but Ill delete those because this one seems to summarize it best. Day 6: Panoramic views from Jungfrau. Seriously, its worth a visit. Normandy is an interesting choice and easy to reach in only about two hours by train from Paris. DAY 4: Jungfraujoch & Interlaken. 9 Day Western Europe Road Trip Itinerary: France to Switzerland For example - Luzern and one of the . Maybe want to add just one party night in the club or something but we dont know which city will be best. It seriously is just jaw-dropping beautiful! My husband and I have not travelled to Europe before and want to have two weeks or so before the cruise kicks off to explore a bit more of Europe. Take a scenic train ride: Lausanne is a hub for scenic train routes, including the Golden Pass Line, which takes you through stunning mountain scenery and past charming towns. Its a small town that is considered the gateway to the Scottish Highlands, but its an interesting and charming place on its own. The earlier you buy tickets, the cheaper they will be. And the window views are out of this world. Day 4: Montreux. Honestly, unless you have a specific reason why not, this is probably the best one-week itinerary for most first-time visitors to Europe. However, in smaller shops and villages, that might not be the case. Destination Expert for Switzerland Level Contributor 63,232 posts 252 reviews 380 helpful votes 2. Whether you visit for 7, 10, or 14 days this itinerary for Switzerland and Germany will help you plan your trip. So, today I share my favorite tips with you, so that you can have a fantastic trip to Germany and Switzerland. If you like my recommendations and tips, you can support me on my newly created account on BuyMeACoffee - Link here! Per day. Take a boat tour of Lake Annecy: Lake Annecy is one of the cleanest and most beautiful lakes in Europe. Paris to Brussels: 1 hour 22 minutes The BEST France and Switzerland road trip itinerary through the Alps An 8-day itinerary through France & Switzerland Updated On 28th September, 2022 France and Switzerland are, in my opinion, two of the best countries for a Europe road trip. Thanks to good public transportation in both countries you can just lay back and enjoy window views while getting around or you can rent a car and explore both countries by car. If you are a mid-budget traveler and travel with someone, you should expect to pay 120-250 per person per day. Barcelona, Spain Its an easy port to reach. When packing for the above-mentioned itinerary to France and Switzerland, its important to pack for varying weather conditions and activities. The Aiguille du Midi cable car in Chamonix offers spectacular views of Mont Blanc, as well as the surrounding peaks it stands at3.842 meters (or 12,605 feet) and is the closest you can get to the summit of Mont Blanc without climbing yourself. Then, early in the morning, continue your journey. Prague to Budapest: 6 hours 41 minutes Additionally, you could consider adding other nearby destinations, such as Zermatt or Interlaken in Switzerland, if you have more time available. I recommend that youfocus on these 5 great citiesbefore you start branching out into cheaper or more obscure places. Yvoire is a medieval village located on the shores of Lake Geneva in France, about 25 kilometers southwest of Geneva. Since Paris gets so many tourists from non-French speaking countries, its easy to get by on just English, and the Metro system makes it fast and easy to get around. A day trip to Lausanne from Geneva or Montreux is a great way to experience more of the beautiful scenery and culture of Switzerland. The bustling city of Geneva, with its famous Jet dEau fountain and diverse cultural offerings, is a must-visit destination. >>>Best one-week London and Paris itinerary in detail. Germany, France, Switzerland - Itinerary (Romantic Trip)