Bolzano Travel Forum

I am leaving for next weekend, and still could not determine my itinerary. PLEASE HELP. Here are the variables. I can fly in any larger city in Italy via either Munich or Frankfurt, I think it would be Florence ( I have been to Milan and Venice recently). I would like to spend a day or two there, and head north. I am traveling with two kids, 5 and 7 yrs. There is only that much of Uffizi they are going to let me enjoy. BUT they are good walkers, thus I am thinking ...Dolomites or Alps…castles.

Here is a problem. I do not drive, so would have to take a train (or plain again). I never traveled by train in Italy, so my be I am romanticizing the experience. Advice? I would like to spend a couple more days in Northern Italy ( at this point not sure north east or north west), best case scenario is to be able to hike, walk and take trips from there to Switzerland, then maybe head to Innsbruck or Zurich.

I could not find a nice destination with good train connection in the north-west, that would allow me to take some scenic trains to Switzerland and do some moderate hiking. The only town that has a fare train connection in the Dolomites is Bozen, but it seems that it is far from nicer hiking destinations, and has no connection to Switzerland. I would have to go to Innsbruck and then come back to Switzerland. I have 10 days, but with the kids I cannot be on the move every night. I am looking for towns in Italy, Austria, Switzerland (preferably not St. Moritz type of towns) with train or very good bus connection where I can stay for 2-4 days.

Any advice is appreciated, also re: train pass vs. point -to -point tickets.

thanks

Take a look at this site for some ideas. Also click on the "Lake Garda" on the box on the left.

http://www.greatrail.com/holiday.asp?holiday=151

Or this, especially the Centovalli section:

http://www.greatrail.com/holiday.asp?holiday=126

The Dolomites are beautiful but as you've seen they are not well connected by rail. Bolzano as a place itself is not really a holiday destination. With what you want to do the Italian part of the plan is the one that needs some thought especially if you only want a couple of days there. it's not easy to get to other countries time-wise and you'll have the return journey to consider. Have a look at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria for the mountains and hiking. Fly into Munich and there are good train connections. There's a small ruined castle on the edge of town and bus tours can be taken to the castles at Neuwanschstein and Linderhof. The train ride is scenic as you get into the mountains and it's a scenic ride to Innsbruck. Munich and Innsbruck give you some city touring options. There is a good range of accomodation and renting an appartment (ferienwohnung)might be an option. if you want the main focus to be walking in the mountains Garmisch has a wide range of walks whether you are lazy or energetic. Munich is probably easier to get to if you haven't booked flights too.