My Italy and Switzerland Interrail Itinerary | Your Ultimate Guide

If you’re an avid reader of this blog, you’ll know that Interrail is my favourite way to travel. Unlike catching a plane, you can actually see the landscape change around you. It enables you to meet new people and see places which you wouldn’t have otherwise. It is also excellent value for money. This Italy and Switzerland Interrail Itinerary is based upon our trip which we did last summer, which potentially is my favourite trip yet.

Italy and Switzerland are easily two of the most beautiful places in Europe. This itinerary is designed to bring you some of the very best places. I’ll cover everything you need to know about each place, as well as some handy top tips from a traveller who has been there.

Without further ado, here is my ultimate 14 day guide to a perfect Italy and Switzerland Interrail Itinerary. I hope that you enjoy it.

My Italy and Switzerland Interrail Itinerary | Your Ultimate 14 Day Guide

Getting Started

Before you read ahead, there are a fair few things to know about Interrail. I’ve written quite extensively about this, so I won’t repeat myself here. However, be sure to check out my How to plan an Interrail Trip | Your Ultimate Guide. It covers everything you need to know from which pass to buy, the rules and some of my personal recommendations.

Route at a Glance

If you’re a busy person and just want to know the route of my Italy and Switzerland Interrail itinerary, then please see below! As you can see, we start in Paris before heading down into Italy and exploring up until Day 10. From here, we move into Switzerland and then into France on the way back into Paris.

I should say that this is quite a busy itinerary and it does seem like there isn’t a lot of time for relaxing. From experience, Interrail is all about exploring and discovering new places. It is about going off the beaten track and finding hidden gems through day trips and wandering. I would also add though that most evenings were spent sitting in the sun, eating and drinking. So whilst it is full-on, there is time to recuperate and take in your surroundings.

The Itinerary

Day 1: Paris to Milan

Your adventure begins with one of Europe’s great train journeys. Leave Gare de Lyon early and head through eastern France into the Alps. This is as cool as it sounds and you’ll get some really great views. Before too long though, you’ll be in northern Italy.

The best part about this journey is the variation in landscapes. You have your classic French countryside scenes, mountainous views, and eventually that unmistakable Italian hue. The total journey is about 7 hours, but it is possibly one of my favourite train journeys.

You’ll arrive in Milan during the afternoon and I would recommend heading to Navigli, Milan’s canal district. Whilst quite touristy, this is where you’ll find some of the best waterside cafés and restaurants. It is also perfect for slowly meandering and exploring.

Of course, no trip to Milan is complete without a trip to Piazza del Duomo. The cathedral here is one of my favourites in the. world. During our honeymoon, we even climbed up to the roof to see some of the best views around. After your climb up, find a bar nearby (maybe not on the Piazza, as you’ll pay double the price!) and grab an Aperol Spritz.

I’ve written lots about Milan. For more inspiration for how to spend your day, check out my 48 Hours in Milan | How to Spend Two Days. It goes through everything you need to know, including where to stay.

Day 2: Milan to Padua

Your next destination is Padua, a highly underrated (but extremely lovely) city just outside of Venice. When I say just outside, it is about a 30 minute train. The reason why I base you here and not in Venice is simply because of the price. In any season, Venice is ludicrously expensive and Padua makes a much better base for exploring the Veneto region. However, if you have your heart set on staying in the city of canals you can easily do this too.

You’ll arrive in Padua at around midday. If you’ve never been before, I’d recommend starting in Prato della Valle, one of Europe’s largest squares. The entire area around here has been pedestrianised and you’ll be hard pressed to find a nicer city to relax in during the mid-afternoon. The historic centre has plenty to see too, including some very impressive churches.

I feel quite strongly about Padua and I’ve written a fair bit about it. For more information on this secret city, check out A Day in Padua | Your Quick Guide.

Day 3: Day Trip to Venice

On your third day of your Italy and Switzerland Interrail, you’ll be heading to Venice. As you probably know, this city gets incredibly busy. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that it is the busiest city I’ve been to. However, it needs to be seen and the best part about Padua is that you’re only half an hour away. This means that you can be in Venice before the crowds arrive.

Whilst the main city is beautiful, I’d actually suggest heading to the islands of Venice. These are lesser-seen by tourists and offer a quieter, but equally enjoyable, destination. Try to arrive in the city before 08:00am. From here, meander through the city and see the classic sights of St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge before anyone arrives. I’d also suggest taking a water taxi down the Grand Canal too in the direction of Fondamente Nove. This is where you can catch a water bus (vaporetto) to the islands.

Top Tip: The vaporettos run every half an hour to the islands. but you probably want to aim to get here by 09:00 at the latest. After this point the boats and islands will start to get busy, which takes away a lot of the magic!

I’d personally suggest to head to Burano first – it is my favourite island and you’ll want this to be the quieter one. I love the colourful houses here and it feels extremely picturesque. Murano is still lovely, but a little bit more commercial. However, you can explore the glass workshops and small galleries here which makes up for it.

Again, I’ve written a fair bit about Venice. For the most relevant post for your day, check out Exploring Burano and Murano, Venice | Your Quick Guide.

Day 4: Day Trip to Ferrara

Ferrara is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. Before this trip I’d never even heard about it, but I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves Italian culture.

This elegant Renaissance city is famous for its gigantic castle and all-round classically Italian feel. Walking around the streets here is exactly what you want from a holiday in Italy. The buildings are coloured with tones of yellows and oranges with terracotta roofs. It is perfect for slowly meandering and taking your time; compared to Venice you can really relax here.

The train to Ferrara takes only 30 minutes, making it one of the best days out from Padua. As you’d expect, I’ve written about a Day Trip to Ferrara. Be sure to check it out to help you plan your day here.

Top Tip: I’d say to allow around 4-6 hours in Ferrara – there is less of a rush to get here as it is unlikely to be busy.

Day 5: Padua to Florence

Today’s train takes you into the heart of Tuscany; Florence. Perhaps one of the most famous cities in Italy, Florence is filled with history and culture. Two days here doesn’t quite do it justice, but it is enough to leave a flavour of what this city can offer.

Arrive in Florence early morning. The train here takes just under two hours and is actually not too scenic; Tuscany has a lot of hills and therefore train tunnels! Once you’ve checked in, head straight into the Old Town. Must-see sights include the beautiful Boboli Gardens, Ponte Vecchio and the magnificent Duomo. There is plenty to keep you busy here. Fortunately, I’d also argue Florence has an excellent distribution of gelato shops. You can find them pretty much everywhere!

I’ve written a more comprehensive guide to Florence in 48 Hours in Florence | Your Ultimate Guide. However, if I can give you just one top tip it would be to spend your first sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo. You get the best view of Florence from up here.

Day 6: Day Trip to Siena

Your second day trip is different to your first. Whilst Ferrara is one of the best-kept secrets in Italy, contrastingly Siena is a bit of a magnet for tourists. It is famed for its medieval streets, striped cathedral, and the beautiful Piazza del Campo which sees the legendary Palio di Sienna (a famous horse race) return twice each year.

Similarly to Venice, I’d recommend getting here as early as possible. The train from Florence to Siena takes around 90 minutes, so you’ll need to leave Florence before 07:30 to make the most of it. Once you’re here though, spend the day exploring the city. The main tourist part of Siena is quite compact, but there are a fair few hills (especially up to the cathedral).

I’ve written a quick guide about a Day Trip to Siena from Florence. Check it out to help you plan your day in detail.

Top Tip: When you arrive at the train station you’ll actually be relatively far away from the Old Town. We also found that the buses weren’t exactly regular or straight forward. Instead, we decided to walk. Head left (as you leave the station) and you will end up in a small shopping mall (by ‘PAM Siena). Simply take the many escalators up and you’ll end up at Passaggio di Doccino. This road then takes you into the Old Town, but be prepared for a 10-15 minute walk.

Day 7: Florence to Bologna

At the midpoint of your Italy and Switzerland Interrail Itinerary you’ll be heading to Bologna, arguably the foodie capital of Italy. The train here is one of the shortest in the itinerary. In fact, from Florence it only takes half an hour.

Bologna is one of your calmest days. Whilst it is reasonably touristy, the city is so large that it doesn’t feel it. I would personally recommend spending the day meandering and exploring, trying as much street food as you can (Mercato di Mezzo is probably the best for this).

Top Tip: If you fancy leaving the city, I’d recommend heading to the Sanctuary of San Luca. This is a large church atop a hill with breathtaking views of Tuscany. You can either walk here through the San Luca Walkway (the longest covered walkway in the world) or catch the San Luca Express from Piazza Maggiore.

Bologna has plenty to see and discover. I’ve written more about it in 48 Hours in Bologna | Your Quick Guide.

Day 8: Bologna to Milan / Lake Como

On Day 8 we’re leaving the city of Bologna and heading back to Milan. However, from here we’re going to catch the train to Como.

From Bologna, it takes around one hour to get back to Milan. From here you can dump your bags at the hotel and then catch another train (40 minutes) to Como San Giovanni. As with all these things, I’d recommend doing this as early as possible.

Once you arrive at the beautiful lakefront, you have a choice of what you can do. Either stay in the town, soak up the sun and enjoy delicious food and drink, or head on out on a boat to nearby villages and towns such as Bellagio or Varenna. The choice is yours.

To help you decide, I’ve written about this day in more detail. Check out my post on a Day Trip to Lake Como from Milan.

Day 9: Milan to Bern

Today’s journey is one of the most scenic of the itinerary. From Milan, you’ll take the train through the Alps of Switzerland. This journey lasts almost 5 hours, but you’ll be surrounded by snow-topped mountains and crystal clear lakes. The Alpine water is also just the most incredible turquoise.

Bern is Switzerland’s lesser-known capital and has a very rustic feel. It feels less like a capital city and more like a small, European medieval town. Whilst the town itself is beautiful, the main attractions here are the views of the Alps from the city and the turquoise river which flows through the Old Town (which during the summer you can swim in!).

There is lots to see in Bern and I’ve written about Things to See and Do in Bern | Your Quick Guide. Check it out to help you plan.

Day 10: Day Trip to Thun & Interlaken

One of the biggest advantages of staying in Bern is how easy it is to explore the Bernese Oberland, one of Switzerland’s most beautiful areas. Today you’ll be heading out to Thun and Interlaken, two of the most popular destinations in this area. As a bit of a precursor, I would argue that the views of this day are the best of the entire trip – by quite some margin!

You’ll begin your day in Thun, a truly picturesque town centred around its fairytale castle which towers over the town. The feel here is especially Alpine; you have wooden chalet-style houses and are completely surrounded by mountains. I feel that the people also go with the good-living vibe here; we even saw people surfing in the turquoise river. The town sits right on Lake Thun, which opens up the nearby town of Interlaken.

Spend the morning exploring Thun before catching the ferry across the lake towards Interlaken. The ferry is the highlight of the day and takes around 1 hour to get to the town of Spiez. From here, it is a short train into the centre of Interlaken.

Interlaken is larger than Thun and far more touristy. It is filled with shops, cafés and restaurants, and has gorgeous views across the mountains and nearby lake. It is ideal for kicking back and relaxing with a coffee.

This day can be quite fiddly as there are a few moving parts. To help you in more detail, check out my post on a Day Trip to Thun | Your Quick Guide.

Day 11: Bern to Strasbourg

On Day 11 you’ll start slowly moving back towards Paris. The reason for taking you out of Switzerland early is because of the distance between Thun and Paris. Also, Switzerland is much more expensive than France!

The train from Bern to the Alsace takes around 3 hours. You’ll then be in Strasbourg, one of the most unique cities in France. My suggestion is to slowly walk around and enjoy the classic timber-framed houses and the flower-filled canals. I think that it looks something straight out of a story book written by the Brothers Grim.

Whilst you’re in Strasbourg, make sure that you check out La Petite France and the immense cathedral. I’ve also included some more tip tips in my 48 Hours in Strasbourg | Your Quick Guide.

Day 12: Day Trip to Colmar

On your final day in the Alsace region, you’ll be off to Colmar. This town is easily one of the most beautiful in France and allegedly was the inspiration behind the town in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. No surprises then that it features those quintessential timber-framed houses and cobblestone streets.

Getting to Colmar from Strasbourg is really easy. It takes just 30 minutes by train and the station is near to the main town. Aside from the architecture and going down the canals, there isn’t that much to see here. I’d suggest soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying some delicious Alsatian food – it is fantastic.

If you have been to Colmar, I’ve also written about alternative Day Trips from Strasbourg. Have a read through and see whether any of these take your fancy more. However, if you want to go with the original plan, check out my post on a Day Trip to Colmar.

Day 13: Strasbourg to Paris

On your final full day, you’ll catch the train from Strasbourg and back into Paris. The French capital needs no introduction and there is so much to see and do. You could explore the 7th Arrondissement, search for The Best Views in Paris, or simply look for Unique Things to Do in Paris.

Alternatively (and if you still have energy!), why not look at my recommendations for Day Trips from Paris: Exploring Paris’ Outskirts.

Day 14: Paris to Home: End of the Italy and Switzerland Interrail Adventure

Your final day is spent going home however way you choose to. We always travel back by Eurostar and aim to go as early as possible. The last thing you want is to be caught by Off Peak travel time rules!

Frequently Asked Questions for an Italy and Switzerland Interrail

Is two weeks enough for Italy and Switzerland?

Yes. Fourteen days allows you to experience some of the highlights of northern and central Italy, enjoy Switzerland’s incredible scenery and finish with a taste of eastern France without feeling overly rushed.

Do I need a car?

No. Every destination on this itinerary is easily accessible by train, and the day trips can all be completed using regional rail services or local buses.

What’s the most scenic train journey?

The journey from Milan to Bern is undoubtedly one of the highlights. Crossing the Alps by train is also an unforgettable experience and one of Europe’s most beautiful rail routes.

When is the best time to do this itinerary?

Late spring (May and June) or early autumn (September) offers warm weather, long days and fewer crowds than the peak summer months. However, we did this during July and found that it worked really well.

Final Thoughts | My Italy and Switzerland Interrail Itinerary

My Italy and Switzerland Interrail adventure was one of my favourite itineraries I’ve done for a while. It ticked off so many different boxes for an epic summer holiday, including fantastic food and mind-blowing views. 14 days means that you have to squeeze in quite a lot, however you could easily extend it to three weeks if you wanted to, spending more time on the shores of Como or in the Swiss Alps.

An interrail around Italy and Switzerland has to be one of the best holidays in Europe. I hope that it inspired you and that you have just as an amazing trip as I had.