yankeefan2

Ok folks, I'll be traveling to Milan on Nov. 3, 2024 arriving on the 4th. My thoughts are to spend the 4th and 5th in Milan. Take a train on the 6th to Lugano, Stay for three nights and head to Zurich on the 9th, stay in Zurich until 13th, head back to Milan on the 13th for our last 2 nights with a side trip to Turin. Thoughts and opinions.

Jean

Why Zurich? Serious question. For a short stay/fairly limited time, I'd rather go to Luzern.

Unless you'll be dead on your feet on arrival, head to Lugano immediately. There are direct trains from Malpensa to Lugano that take under 2 hours. Put all of your Milan nights at the end (eliminates one hotel change). If you want to see the Last Supper, pursue tickets as soon as they are released for your dates.

The "side trip" to Turin from Milan... The fastest Milan-Turin train in the morning takes 60 minutes, but it departs at 7:53 a.m. Later morning trains take at least 90 minutes and as much as 2 hours. There is a return train at 7:00 p.m. that takes 60 minutes. Later trains take nearly 2 hours. FWIW, you could have a longer day of sightseeing in Bergamo, Parma or even Bologna.

PJ94

Hi,
I would follow Jean's suggestion : visit Lugano and focus on Italy : Milan, Turin and all the cities around.
Tell us more about your interests : Museums ? Shopping ? Good food ? Landscapes ?

neckervd

Fast trains Milan - Turin (1 hr journey):
Milan dp daily at 6.53, 7.30, 7.53, 8.50, 9.15, 9.30, 9.58, 10.02, 10.30, 10.50, 11.10, 11.15, 11.30, 12.02, 12.30................

kleeblatt

Hopefully by November, the Gotthard Basis tunnel is open again, cutting travel time by almost an hour between Lugano and Zürich. Personally, I'd stay two nights in Lucerne and two nights in Lugano. Central Switzerland is beautiful and a stark contrast to the Italian cities.