Route:
Interlaken à Gimmelwald à Milan à Como à Verona à Venice à Florence >>Pisa>>Siena à Naples/Sorrento >>Pompeii à Rome
Getting there:
Trains from Lucerne
- Cost : Sfr27
- Time: 120 mins
Recommended length of stay: 1 day
Activities:
(No must see/optional; take it easy here)
1) Boats to towns & villages around the lakes (Eurail valid, Inter-Rail 50% off)
i) Lake Thun:
- castles in towns Spiez (Sfr10.60 1-way for steamer, Sfr8.40 by train) and Thun (Sfr15.60 by steamer, Sfr13.20 by train)
- caves with impressive stalagmite formations at St. Beatus Hohlen (Sfr5.80 boat ride); entry costs Sfr14.00; open 9.30 am to 5 pm from Palm Sunday to Late October
ii) Lake Brienz
- town of Brienz (Sfr12.40 by steamer, Sfr6 by train), the center of the Swiss woodcarving industry
- close by is the Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg, an open-air park displaying typical Swiss crafts & houses; entry costs Sfr14/12 and is open daily
2) Hiking & panoramic sightseeing; signposts around providing average walking times; excellent panorama from Harder Kulm, accessible via funicular (Sfr21 return)
Accommodation:
1) SYHA hostel
- 20-min walk from Interlaken Ost round Lake Brienz, or take bus no. 1
- check-in from 4 pm
- beds in large dorms are Sfr26.60; kitchen available
2) Balmer’s Herberge
- 15-minute walk from Interlaken Ost
- check-in at 5 pm
- provides excellent facilities eg. kitchen, restaurant, leisure room etc.
- beds cost Sfr24 in dorms; quads are Sfr120
3) Backpackers Villa Sonnenof
- near Hoheweg
- reception closed from 11 am to 4 pm
- has kitchen
- dorms/doubles for Sfr29/37 per person
Getting there:
Trains from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen
- US$9 (second class)
- Time: 20 mins
à Switch trains from Lauterbrunnen to Murren
- Cost : Sfr9.40
à Walk down from Murren
- Cost: free!
Recommended length of stay: 1 day (arrive
before/after lunch)
Activities:
(no must see/optional; another take-it-easy location)
1) Sightseeing, panoramic view of Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger peaks
Accommodation:
1) Mountain Hostel
- close to cable car station
- Sfr16 for dorms w/o breakfast
- Bring own food (no shop in village); kitchen provided
2) farm house (?)
Getting there:
Return to Interlaken (as aforementioned)
à Take trains from Interlaken
- Cost: US$48 (second class)
- Time: 225 mins
Recommended length of stay: day trip (cheap accommodation limited)
Activities:
1) Sightseeing
i) Duomo by Gian Galaezzo Visconti (1386AD); memorable view from roof; L6000 for stairs, L9000 for lift
ii) La Scala, milan’s famous opera house; entry to theatre’s museum costs L6000
iii) Castello Sforzesco; open 9.30am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Sunday; free
iv) Cenacolo Vinciano; houses Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’; open 9am to 7pm Tues-Sat, 8pm Sun, costs L12,000; make booking
v) 17th century Palazzo di Brera, with gallery containing Mantegna’s ‘Dead Christ’; gallery open 9am to 5.45pm Tues-Sat, 8pm Sun, costs L12,000
2) Shopping
Negatives:
- Thieving in main shopping areas; be extra aware at square in front of Stazione Centrale
- Accommodation expensive; reserve ahead
Getting there:
1) Trains from Milan direct
- Cost: US$12 (second class)
- Time: 40 mins
(to get to Como from Interlaken, we need to change trains at Milan)
Recommended length of stay: 1 day
Activities:
Sightseeing & boat rides:
MUST SEE: Bellagio (‘Pearl of the Lake’); get there by bus/ boat
OPTIONAL: Como (bad press but possesses some interesting historical sites)
SPECIAL: Big market day on last Saturday of every month
Accommodation:
1) Como- B&B; costs L16,000
2) Bellagio- single/double costs L42,000/L66,000
Getting there:
Trains from Milan
- Cost: US$ 19 (second class)
- Time: 90 mins
Recommended length of stay: 1
day
Activities:
Sightseeing:
i) Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s House)
ii) Piazza Bra’s Roman amphitheatre; Verona’s opera house
iii) Piazza delle Erbe; Verona’s city center, lined with pink marble palaces & market stalls
iv) Piazza dei Signori; flanked by medieval town hall, Renaissance Loggia del Consiglio, Governor’s Palace
v) Via Duomo
Accommodation:
1) HI Ostello Villa Francescatti; B&B for L22,000 and dinner for L14,000
Getting there:
Trains from Verona
- Cost: US$17 (second class)
- Time: 90 mins
- Recommended length of stay: 2 days
Activities:
Sightseeing:
MUST SEE:
i) Piazza San Marco, Torre dell’Orologio (clock tower)
ii) Basilica di San Marco, Pala d’Oro (L3000) behind basilica altar, a gold altarpiece decorated with silver, enamel and precious stones
iii) Bell tower (L8000 to get to top)
iv) Palazzo Ducale; open 9am to 7pm daily (last entry at 5.30pm); admission is L18,000
v) Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) connects Palazzo Ducale to Venice’s old prisons
vi) Islands: Murano, home of Venetian glass with Glassworks Museum; Burano, village renowned for its lace; Torcello, for Byzantine mosaics in its cathedral; excursion boats leave for three from San Marco (L30,000 return)
OPTIONAL:
1) Gondola rides; costs L120,000 (L150,000 after 8pm) for 50-min ride; possible to squeeze up to 6 people into 1 gondola for same price
2) Sightseeing:
i) Basilica museum (L3000)
ii) Galleria dell’Accademia (Academy of Fine Arts); open 9am to 7pm Tues-Sat, to 8pm on Sun, to 20pm on Mon (L12,000)
iii) Collezione Peggy Guggenheim, palazzo in sculpture garden; open 10am to 6pm Wed to Mon (L12,000)
iv) Churches of 16th-17th century; entry costs L3000, or buy Chorus Pass (L15,000) for entry to 13 churches
v) The Lido, a thin strip of land formerly a fashionable beach resort, separates Venice from the Adriatic
Accommodation:
1) HI Ostello Venezia; on Giudecca island; B&B for L27,000, meals L14,000; curfew at 11.30pm
2) Foresteria Valdese; dorm beds (L30,000) and doubles (L85,000)
3) Ostello Santa Fosca, <15mins from station; dorm beds for L30,000; check-in is 4 to 7pm
4) Youth Hostel
Getting there:
Trains from Venice
- Cost: US$27 (second class)
- Time: 170 mins
Recommended length of stay: 3
days
Day(s) not to be here: Monday (most locations closed, incl. Uffizi Gallery & David’s museum)
Activities:
Sightseeing:
MUST SEE:
1) Duomo
i) Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi’s dome; ascend to top for great view of Florence (Open 8.30am to 7.30pm Mon-Fri, to 5pm Sat); entry costs L10,000
ii) Bell tower beside cathedral; climb to top from 9am to 7.30pm daily (L10,000)
iii) Romanesque baptistery, oldest bldg in Florence; open noon to 6.30pm Mon-Sat, 8.30pm to 1.30pm Sun; entry costs L5000
2) Palazzo degli Uffizi, the legacy of the Medici family; open 8.30am to 10pm daily except Monday (to 8pm on Sunday); entry costs L12,000
3) Palazzo Vecchio & Piazza della Signoria; Palazzo open 9am to 7pm daily (to 2pm Thurs-Sun); entry is L11,000
4) Basilica di San Lorenzo & Cappelle Medicee; chapels open 8.30pm to 5pm Tues-Sun (L11,000)
5) Galleria dell’Accademia, house of Michelangelo’s David; open 8.30 am to 10pm Tues-Sat, to 8pm Sun; entry costs L12,000
6) Palazzo Pitti; gallery open 8.30 am to 10pm Tues-Sat (to 8pm Sun); entry is L12,000
7) Piazzale Michelangelo
OPTIONAL:
1) Ponte Vecchio, bridge lined with gold and silversmith shops
2) Museo del Bargello, palace housing sculpture collection; open 8.30am to 2pm Tues-Sun; entry is L8000
3) Santa Maria Novella church
4) St. Mark’s Monastery (Convento d San Marco); open 8.30am to 2pm Tues-Sun (L8000)
FOOD TO TRY:
1) Fettunta, simple food of thick toasted bread, rubbed with garlic and soaked in olive oil
2) Ribollita, soup of vegetables and white beans, reboiled with chunks of bread and garnished with olive oil
3) Bistecca Fiorentina, a.k.a. beafsteak Florentine
Accommodation:
1) HI ostello Villa Camerata; B&B for L26,000, dinner L14,000, closed 9am to 2pm daily
2) Ostello Archi Rossi, bed in dorm room for L30,000
3) Ostello Santa Monaca, bed in dorm room for L30,000
4) Youth Residence Firenze 2000, shared rooms with en-suite for L55,000 per person
Getting there:
Trains from Florence
- Cost: US$17
- Time 90 mins
Recommended length of stay: daytrip
(1 day if cheap; an alternative from Florence)
Activities:
Sightseeing:
MUST SEE:
Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), one of the most beautiful squares in the world; all or a few of the sights costs between L10,000 to L18,000; cathedral costs L3000
i) Leaning bell tower; previously underoing ground-levelling process, causing site to resemble that of a construction yard
ii) Romanesque cathedral
iii) Marble baptistery
Accommodation:
1) Non-HI ostello per la Gioventu; dorm beds for L24,000; closed from 9am to 6pm
2) Albergo Gronchi, near Campo dei Miracoli; modern singles/doubles for L35,000/58,000
Getting there:
Trains from Florence
- Cost: US$16
- Time: 105 mins
Recommended length of stay: daytrip (like Pisa, may stay
1 day as cheaper alternative)
Activities:
Sightseeing:
MUST SEE:
i) Piazza del Campo (also known as Il Campo), the city’s focus
ii) Palazzo Pubblico, town hall, one of Italy’s most graceful Gothic buildings; open from 10am to 7pm daily; entry is L10,000 (L5000 for students)
iii) Duomo, an enchanting Gothic cathedral; entry is L2000
OPTIONAL:
i) Duomo Museum, housing works of art formerly adorning the cathedral; entry is L6000
ii) Baptistry behind the cathedral; open 9am to 7.30pm daily (L3000)
iii) Pinacoteca Nazionale (National Picture Gallery); open 9am to 7pm Tues-Sat, to 1.30pm Mon, from 8am to 1pm Sunday (L8000)
Accommodation:
Booking ahead recommended
1) Guidoriccio Hostel; B&B is L29,000; evening meal is L16,000
Getting there:
1) Trains from Florence to Rome
- Cost: US$ 34/30 (second class)
- Time: 120 mins or 100 mins
à Take trains from Rome to Naples
- Cost: US$26 (second class)
- Time: 120 mins
OR
2) Trains from Florence to Naples direct
- Cost: US$42 (second class)
- Time:240 mins
Recommended length of stay: stopover or daytrip (safety a concern)
Day(s) not to be here: Monday (most locations closed)
Activities:
MUST DO:
Eat: Naples is the home of pasta & pizza; after this, no other pizza will ever taste the same. Also try calzone, mozzarella in carozza (mozzarella dep-fried in bread), misto di frittura (deep-fried vegetables), and sfogliatelle (light flaky pastry filled with ricotta)
OPTIONAL:
Sightseeing:
1) Spaccanapoli, the historic center of Naples
i) Piazza del Gesu Nuovo, with Gothic-Provencal Chiesas, and Chiostro delle Clarisse (Nun’s Cloisters)
ii) Via Duomo, for Cappella di San Gennaro
iii) Via Tribulani, for Piazza Dante
iv) Via Rome to Piazza del Plebiscito and Palazzo Reale, now a museum; open 9am to 1.30pm Tues-Sun and from 4-7.30pm on weekends; admission is L8000
v) Teatro San Carlo, a famous opera house
vi) Castel Nuovo, overlooking Naples’ ferry port
vii) Museo Archaeologico Nazionale, containing Graeco-Roman artifacts & art treasures of Pompeii and Herculaneum; opens 9am to 10pm Tues-Sat, to 8pm Sunday (L12,000)
viii) Vomero suburb via funicular, to the Certosa di San Martino (a monastery), affording spectacular views of Naples & the bay; open 9am to 2pm Tues-Sun (L8000)
Negatives:
- (Background) Home of the Camorra, a secret society of criminals, active in contraband, even finance and tourist developments
- petty crime rate extremely high; carry money and documents in a money belt and never carry a bag, purse or wear jewellery if it can be helped; stay alert for bag-snatching thieves on motorcycles
- be wary at night near station & funicular
Getting there:
1) Take Circumvesuviana train from Naples heading towards Sorrento; get off at Pompeii/Scavi
- Cost: US$1.50 round trip
OR
2) Take Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento up to Pompeii
- Cost: US$1.25 one way
Recommended length of stay: daytrip
Activities:
Sightseeing:
MUST SEE:
Pompeii ruins; open daily from 9am to one hour before sunset (between 4pm-7pm); entry is L12,000
OPTIONAL
Mt. Vesuvius; take Trasporti Vesuviani Bus from either Pompeii or Herculaneum; return tickets are L12,000 and L7000 respectively
Negatives:
- security of Pompeii accommodations lacking; most visitors visit in daytime and retire to nearby towns
Getting there:
Take Circumvesuviana train from Naples
- Time: 60 mins
Recommended length of stay: 1-2 nights (take Sorrento as a nice, cheaper (safer?) town to spend the night)
Sorrento is a major resort town in a particularly beautiful area, also the gateway to Capri
Accommodation:
1) HI Ostello La Caffeteria, near train station; B&B for L26,000
Getting there:
Return to Naples; take trains from Naples
- Cost: US$26 (second class)
- Time: 120 mins
Recommended length of stay: 4 or more days
Activities:
Sightseeing:
MUST SEE:
1) Piazza del Campidoglio
- on Capitoline Hill
- 2 palaces flanking the piazza make up the Musei Capitolini; open 10am to 9pm Tues-Sun; entry is L12,000
2) Colosseum
- Opening hours from 9am to 1 hour before sunset (6pm?); entry is L10,000
3) St. Peter’s Basilica & Square
i) St. Pietro church
- Michelangelo’s dome; climb by foot for L7000, or L8000 and take elevator for part of the way (recommended)
- Open 7am to 7pm daily (6pm in winter
- Dress rules: no shorts, miniskirts or sleeveless tops
ii) Piazza San Pietro
4) Piazza di Spagna & Spanish Steps
5) Pantheon
- in Piazza della Rotonda
- open 9am to 6.30pm Mon-Sat, to 1pm Sum; entry is free
6) Trevi Fountain
- throw a coin into the fountain while facing away over your shoulder to ensure your return to the eternal city; a second coin will grant you one wish
7) Piazza navona
- lined with Baroque palaces, featuring 3 fountains, including Bernini’s masterpiece, the Fontana dei Fiumi (Fountain of the Rivers)
8) Churches
- Santa Maria Maggiore
- San Giovanni in Laterano
- San Pietro in Vincoli
9) Catacombs of San Callisto & San Sebastiano
- outside the city along the Via Appia Antica
- San Callisto open 8.30am to noon and 2.30 to 5.30pm (closed Wed)
- San Sebastiano open 8.30am to noon and 2.30 to 5pm (closed Sun and all of November)
- Entry to each costs L8000, with guide only
10) Baths of Caracalla
- Summer opening hours 9am to 7pm Mon-Sat, 9am to 2pm Sun (until 3pm in winter); entry is L8000
11) Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
- entrance to Forum is free
- L12,000 to head up to Palatine
- Both open 9am to 7pm Mon-Sat in summer (to 4pm in winter), to 1pm on Sunday year--round
OPTIONAL:
1) Baths of Diocletian
- parts of ruins incorporated into the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli by Michelangelo
- church open 7.30am to 12.30pm and 4 to 6.30pm
2) Villa Borghese
- beautiful park; villa houses the Museo e Galleria Borghese
- open 9am to 10pm Tues-Sat, to 8pm on Sunday
- entry is L10,000, plus a L2000 booking fee (possible to visit only with a reservation)
- outside the park is Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna; open 9am to 10pm Tues-Sat, to 8pm on Sunday; entry is L8000
- important Etruscan museum, Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia, opens 9am to 7pm Tues-Sat, to 11am on Sundays; entry is L10,000 (large number of visitors, therefore admittance is every 2 hours)
3) Trastevere
- narrow medieval streets, especially beautiful at night
- Basilica di Santa Maria located here
4) Museo Nazionale Romano
- containing important collection of ancient art
- entry is L10,000
- another part of the same museum is located in the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, containing collection from Prima Porta; entry is L12,000
- both open 9am to 6.45pm Tues-Sat (to 7.45pm Sun)
5) Campo de’Fiori
- flower and vegetable market
- held every morning except Sunday
- Palazzo Farnese, currently the French Embassy, is here
6) Vatican Museums
- open 8.45am to 3.45pm Mon-Fri (to 12.45pm Sat); closed on Sundays, but open on last Sunday of every month from 9am to 1pm (admission free); usually admission is L15,000
- guided visits to Vatican gardens cost L18,000
7) Churches
- San Clemente
- Santa Maria in Cosmedin, with the Mouth of Truth
8) Piazza Venezia
- Palazzo Venezia, formerly Mussolini’s official residence, is here
AROUND ROME:
1) Tivoli
Getting there: take COTRAL bus that leaves from Stazione Termini every 20 mins
Activities:
Sightseeing:
- see Villa Adriana by the Roman emperor Hadrian (requires about 4 hours to walk around)
- Villa is open 9am to 1 hour before sunset daily (around 7.30pm; last entry is 6.30pm) between April and September; closed on Mondays
- Villa d’Este has beautiful gardens and fountains, which are its main attraction
- Opening hour same for Villa Adriana; entry is L8000
2) Ostia Antica
Getting there: take the Metropolitana Linea B to Magliana, and then the Ostia Lido train
Activities:
Sightseeing:
- see the Baths of Neptune (Terme di Nettuno)
- a Roman theatre built by ugustus
- forum and temple dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva
- Piazzale delle Corporazioni
- Site open 9am to 7pm (last admission is 6pm); Tues-Sun; entry is L8000
Accommodation in Rome:
1) HI Ostello del For Italico; L25,000 a night, breakfast & showers included
2) B&B Italia; central singles/doubles with shared bathroom cost L50,000/95,000
3) Rome Sweet Home; good B&B, although prices higher (L70,000/100,000)
Enjoy Rome is a privately run tourist office offering free hotel-reservation service, and have extensive up-to-date info about Rome & accommodation in other cities.
Negatives:
- thieves active in and around Stazione Termini, at major sights eg. Colosseum & Roman Forum; pickpockets work on crowded buses, esp. from St. Peter’s to Stazione Termini
