17 Days in Switzerland and Italy (1) - Beginning with Our Plan

I consider myself a really good trip planner but to be honest, my first trip to Europe cost me a lot of time for planning. Traveling to Europe is totally different from just traveling within the U.S. One big difference: no car! Most likely, you will use the public transportation system, especially the trains to go from city to city. That, thus, requires you to stay on schedule, if you have a list of places you want to visit in limited days.

Long story short. We (my husband and I) spent a total of 17 days, almost two and a half weeks, in Switzerland and Italy. My planning time: about two months.

For your reference, here is our plan:

Switzerland (5 days):

Day 1:  Geneva and Montreux
Day 2:  Lucerne and Interlaken
Day 3:  Zermatt and Sion
Day 4:  Murren, Schilthorn, Lauterbrunnen, and Wengen

Italy: 

Day 5: Milan, Varenna (Lake Como)
Day 6: Lenno (Villa Balbianello), Ballegio, and other areas in lake como
Day 7: Murno, Bruno, Venice
Day 8: Venice
Day 9: Florence (Academy), Pisa
Day 10: Cinque Terre National Park
Day 11: Florence
Day 12: Siena and San Gimignano
Day 13: Rome (Galleria Borghese, Capuchin Church of the Immaculate Conception, Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona)
Day 14: Vatican Museum (including Sistine Chapel), Colosseum, Forum
Day 15: Vatican (St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica) and Tivoli (villa d'Este)
Day 16: Pompeii
Day 17: Fly home