Family Vacation to Switzerland and Italy

Lucerne, Switzerland

What to expect on this itinerary

Embrace the epic scale of the Alps during your customizable family tour of Italy and Switzerland. Snowcapped peaks and lush high-altitude plains will embody the compelling beauty of the alpine landscape as you wander through medieval villages with colorful facades and elegant covered bridges leading to endless adventure. Your family vacation in Switzerland and Italy surrounds you with majestic glaciers, fascinating woodlands, shimmering waters, and exceptional mountain charm.

Countries Visited

Italy, Switzerland

Places Visited

Stresa, Lucerne, Zermatt

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Stresa - Arrive in Inspiring Stresa

The charm of Stresa derives from its position on the shores of Lake Maggiore where the cobbled lanes wind alongside elegant historical mansions and beneath the soaring peaks of the Italian Alps. Your private transfer will meet your family at Milan’s Malpensa Airport and escort you to the beauty of Stresa’s Belle Époque streets overlooking the tranquil waters of the alpine lake. The scent of nutmeg and cream may drift out of a gelateria as locals sip espresso in Piazza Cadorna as you settle into the comforts of your family-friendly hotel in the town’s historic center.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Stresa - Enjoy a Cooking Class and Lake Cruise

Day 3

Stresa - Explore Stresa, Lake Maggiore, and Wine

Day 4

Zermatt - Travel Scenic Simplon Pass to Switzerland

Day 5

Zermatt - Revel in Zip Lining and a Scenic Train

Day 6

Lucerne - Explore Andermatt and a Chocolate Tour

Day 7

Lucerne - Embrace Mount Titlis and Local Cheese

Day 8

Lucerne - Depart for Home

Trip Highlights

  • Indulge in exciting and new flavors of typical regional cuisine during a private Italian cooking class the entire family will enjoy
  • Embrace the spectacular 360-degree panorama of the Pennine Alps for a view of the fabled Matterhorn peak
  • Discover the fascinating history of Lucerne during a guided walking tour that introduces the family to gorgeous architecture and stunning covered bridges
  • Revel in sampling the different flavors of fondue during an interactive dining experience as the family dips skewers into savory melted cheese
  • Indulge in the exotic fisher legends in a charming village on Isola dei Pescatori during a cruise of Lake Maggiore’s glassy alpine waters
  • Relax with alone time focused on sampling celebrated Piedmont wines with the guidance of a local sommelier in a family-owned shop
  • Explore the depths of a 5,000-year-old glacial cave on an adventurous tour at the top of Mount Titlis 9,977 feet above sea level
  • Delight in your favorite combinations of flavorful confections with a tasting and tour of distinguished Swiss chocolates

Starting Price

$9,800 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 422 reviews

Switzerland, Italy Travel Review: Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen Valley, Zermatt, Lucerne, Lake Como, Milan, Private Tours, Art, Scenery, 10 Days

Wow! I cannot recommend this company enough for your international trips. We were blown away by the quick response times when planning, the detailed itineraries, and their ability to make our dream trip become a reality. We started planning late, and they were still able to create and book our dream trip in less than two months! 

We knew we wanted to go to Switzerland and northern Italy, but honestly weren't sure what areas to visit or what activities to do. Our travel agent, through Zicasso, created a dream 10-day itinerary for us, starting in Zurich, then traveling to Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen Valley, Zermatt, Lucerne, Lake Como, and ending in Milan. 

They gave us options of activities to do in those cities, with detailed descriptions and recommendations. We chose a lot of mountain expeditions, which we were well pleased with. They provided other suggestions for things to do in the areas we visited and even provided restaurant recommendations. We were so impressed by how quickly they adjusted the itinerary if we requested a change, and they were so accommodating. 

They were able to book us a private guided tour of The Last Supper painting in Milan, which was a highlight of the trip! We loved every activity planned and had our tickets sent to us ahead of time to print out or download, which made everything so easy. The detailed itinerary had maps, photos of buildings, walking routes, etc, and was so easy to navigate. We had the smoothest trip because of that detailed itinerary. The trip planner reached out to us several times while we were abroad just to check in and make sure everything was going smoothly. 

The hotels were also amazing! Every single one had an amazing breakfast and a beautiful view. We were upgraded twice! They only use four- or five-star hotels, and I think that is a huge bonus. We were so happy with our hotels and hotel rooms. We were also incredibly happy with the price of the trip and the ease of booking and payment. 

Overall, I have been telling everyone to use this company for their trips and we will definitely be using Zicasso again! Thank you, Zicasso, for the trip of a lifetime!

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Italy Trip Review: 12 Nights

We had a fantastic time! This was a family vacation meant to celebrate some wonderful milestones and it was the perfect way to do just that. Every detail of the trip, as planned, was spot on. The hotels, their locations, tours, restaurant and beach recommendations all suited us and our style well. Our only disappointment was having to leave. 'Til next time. We'll absolutely be in touch with Zicasso's travel specialist again.

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Switzerland, Austria Tour Review: Lucerne, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Lakes, 2-Week Vacation

The trip was operationally well planned and the coordination with Zicasso's travel agency was generally very good. Their proposal was significantly more expensive than the competing proposal, so I guess I expected a bit more. I would give it 4.25 or 4.5 stars if the rating system was bit more nuanced.

A few things were sub-optimal. On our first morning, the guide contacted the agent to tell them that they would pick us up at 10am (or at least that is what the guide told us), but our itinerary indicated 9am. At 9.15am, we called the agency and they called us back about five or 10 minutes later to tell us about the new 10am time. Not a great start.

That guide and the one in Munich were what I would describe as average guides – knowledgeable, but without much personality. The guide in Salzburg was outstanding.

From an organization perspective, we went to Salzburg from Lucerne, Switzerland, passing Innsbruck on day four, then trained it back to Innsbruck the very next day, basically adding four hours of driving/training for no real reason. We could have just stayed in Innsbruck on day four and then gone to Salzburg on day five and not backtracked.

Lastly, the hotel in Munich was very dated and the whole feel of the place was drab, including the decor and the lobby.

All that said, the operational people were very responsive and just about every leg happened right on time and the guides were organized. I never heard from the lady who organized it after I booked it, which I told her was odd, especially since I thought a trip to Italy, their specialty, was on the cards for my larger group that I had been with in Ireland the week before this trip.

So, all in all, a good trip, but not a great trip. I am not sure I would use our travel company again, but I have not landed firmly on that just yet.

Thanks, Greg S.

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Switzerland Vacation Review: Hiking, Wine, Matterhorn, Lake Leman, 1 Week
"Zicasso’s agents did a wonderful job setting up the hotels and guides. They checked on us and adjusted our schedule as needed. It was a great trip!!"

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Switzerland Tour Review: Nature, Scenery, 8-Night Trip

The Zicasso tour operator's team did a fantastic job planning our trip to Switzerland. They covered every detail and provided vouchers for every activity, hotel, gondola ride, etc. Not only that, but they even selected specific rooms in hotels. These were corner rooms with the best views, something that would have been very hard for me to do on my own. I can't recommend this team enough for your next trip to this beautiful country.

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Switzerland Luxury Tour Review: Hiking, Kayaking, Museums, Chocolate-Making Class, 8 Nights
"My family had an amazing time in Switzerland. Our schedule was well coordinated by Zicasso’s tour operator, maximizing our time."

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

30,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews