Tour of Switzerland and Italy

[Bertie Bus]

Hi All
We are fairly experienced motorhomers having had our van since 2017 and done quite a bit of driving in France and Northern Spain. We are looking to take around 6 weeks (flexible) to drive through France, stop at Reims and Colmar, and enter Switzerland at Basel. We have a Bailey 75-2 rated at 3500 kg so i think i am correct in saying i need a vignette for Switzerland. We are looking for a day or two in Basel before heading down to the Interlaken/Thun area for a few days before going south towards Italy and the lakes. Do you have any suggestions for an additional stop in Switzerland before going on to Italy?
We are looking at going down the west coast of Italy to the bottom before crossing and returning up the east side to Venice and then back to Switzerland. We have done Rome before so will avoid there but we will want to visit Pisa and Naples (Pompei) plus others. Can you recommend and particular places to visit in Italy as apart from Rome, this will be our first trip there. Is the eastern side of Italy worth visiting?
We will then return to Switzerland to tour a bit through the eastern side before returning to France. We are looking to do Belgium, Germany and Holland on another trip so will return through Basel again.
We are looking to go in mid May through June so hopefully the roads should be clear of snow and ice and before the summer rush. Any advice and campsites/places to visit will be greatly appreciated.

Bob and Karen

 

[SVMC15]

I can highly recommend Lausanne and the other towns along the northern edge of Lac Leman. Can catch the train or boat between them and to Geneva too.

Eastern side of Italy was a bit disappointing, quite commercial.

San Marino was well worth a visit if you are over that side of Italy, Venice too. There is a good Aire just outside Venice where you can catch the tram, think you can get a boat too. A lady on the bus in Parma told me that southern Italy is the place to go, she was from Naples.

 

[Bertie Bus]

I can highly recommend Lausanne and the other towns along the northern edge of Lac Leman. Can catch the train or boat between them and to Geneva too.

Eastern side of Italy was a bit disappointing, quite commercial.

San Marino was well worth a visit if you are over that side of Italy, Venice too. There is a good Aire just outside Venice where you can catch the tram, think you can get a boat too. A lady on the bus in Parma told me that southern Italy is the place to go, she was from Naples.

Many thanks for the info. Lausanne does look great so will have a longer look. I did think that the eastern side of Italy was perhaps not the best but as we are looking to go so far south, we thought it may be the route to take back.

Bob and Karen

 

[Bailey58]

Different to your plans, but we stopped in Interlaken for a month in a caravan many years ago and more recently for three weeks in the motorhome (also a Bailey). We bought the vignette in advance from the Swiss Tourist Office in London. We stayed at Camping Alpenblick using our ACSI membership and bought one of the travel passes which got us around all the cable cars and chailifts in the area, at a price! Wonderful country.

 

[Bertie Bus]

Different to your plans, but we stopped in Interlaken for a month in a caravan many years ago and more recently for three weeks in the motorhome (also a Bailey). We bought the vignette in advance from the Swiss Tourist Office in London. We stayed at Camping Alpenblick using our ACSI membership and bought one of the travel passes which got us around all the cable cars and chailifts in the area, at a price! Wonderful country.

Thanks for the info. Did you have any issues driving around in a Bailey? Would you recommend Alpenblick?

Bob and Karen

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[berni109]

Have a read from post 8 in 'our grand tour' by berni109.
Take plenty of money!

 

[stevewagner]

For me Lucerne is a must in Switzerland. There is a lovely site on the lake. Take the steepest cog railway in the world, up Mount Pilatus.

 

[Bertie Bus]

Have a read from post 8 in 'our grand tour' by berni109.
Take plenty of money!

Will do thanks

 

[Bertie Bus]

For me Lucerne is a must in Switzerland. There is a lovely site on the lake. Take the steepest cog railway in the world, up Mount Pilatus.

Thanks I will have a look

 

[LesW]

Is the vignette just for M-ways?

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[Bertie Bus]

Is the vignette just for M-ways?

I believe it is but I need to check

 

[Ridgeway]

Is the vignette just for M-ways?

Yes correct, all other roads are toll free except some of the tunnels.

 

[Ridgeway]

A great day or two out is Grindelwald. You can take the cable car up to Mannlichen, then walk over to Kleine Schiedegg where you get an amazing view across the three peaks (Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger) and you can of course take the train up to the top of the Jungfrau although it ain’t cheap…. But well worth it. Lovely area and you can also go down via train to Wengen.

Here in Lausanne there’s more or less only one decent campsite on Lac Leman although some quieter ones over on Lac Neuchatel

 

[Bertie Bus]

A great day or two out is Grindelwald. You can take the cable car up to Mannlichen, then walk over to Kleine Schiedegg where you get an amazing view across the three peaks (Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger) and you can of course take the train up to the top of the Jungfrau although it ain’t cheap…. But well worth it. Lovely area and you can also go down via train to Wengen.

Here in Lausanne there’s more or less only one decent campsite on Lac Leman although some quieter ones over on Lac Neuchatel

That’s great advice thank you. Just what we were after.

 

[suavecarve]

If youre looking for something a bit different near Venice then take a look at this Sundial Village. Thoroughly fascinating

Sundial village near Venice Aiello del Friuli

Found this place whilst researching and had to go there. 100+ sundials of all sorts of designs including sundials that work in the shade and they use a mirror to cast the sun onto a painted mural in the shade. Go to the TO and ask for a map of...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[Bertie Bus]

If youre looking for something a bit different near Venice then take a look at this Sundial Village. Thoroughly fascinating

Sundial village near Venice Aiello del Friuli

Found this place whilst researching and had to go there. 100+ sundials of all sorts of designs including sundials that work in the shade and they use a mirror to cast the sun onto a painted mural in the shade. Go to the TO and ask for a map of...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Thanks will take a look

 

[Nonna]

The Ligurian coast is beautiful but not the best for motorhomes.

If you can find somewhere to pitch up for a night or two I'd head for Santa Margherita Ligure (from where it's a fairly short walk or bus ride to Portofino) & then take the boat to the Abbazia di San Fruttuoso.
From Santa Margherita it is also possible to catch the train down the coast into the wonderful Cinque Terre.
Then it's not too far to take the MH to Pisa

 

[HarryML7]

Is the vignette just for M-ways?

You can get an "e" version online now, so no dilema on where to apply it to the windscreen!

 

[Bertie Bus]

The Ligurian coast is beautiful but not the best for motorhomes.

If you can find somewhere to pitch up for a night or two I'd head for Santa Margherita Ligure (from where it's a fairly short walk or bus ride to Portofino) & then take the boat to the Abbazia di San Fruttuoso.
From Santa Margherita it is also possible to catch the train down the coast into the wonderful Cinque Terre.
Then it's not too far to take the MH to Pisa

Thank you I will take a look

 

[PlacidoD]

You can get an "e" version online now, so no dilema on where to apply it to the windscreen!

And it is effective from the moment of purchase. Your email receipt is all the proof you need as it is tied to your reg number. 40 Swiss Francs and it last for 13 months from beginning of January to the end of January the next year.
Beware scam sites that will try to make you pay more!

Regarding places to stay I have family in Switzerland and so have no direct experience but I know the Tuerlersee site from family days out when there:

Camping Lake Türlen | Natural Campsite near Zurich

Experience camping in nature at Lake Türler between Zurich and Zug, near Lucerne. Daily and seasonal pitches for tents and caravans right by the crystal-clear lake. Book your stay now!

www.camping-tuerlersee.ch

And over many years of motorcycling and now motorhoming I have experience of the Alps and the Italian Lakes.

There is a decent if expensive Sosta in Colico right alongside Lake Como:

Servizi

Disponiamo, a fianco del ristorante, di un'area sosta camper con 25 piazzole completamente attrezzate con colonnine per la corrente elettrica, acqua potabile, docce calde, acqua di carico/scarico e molti altri servizi. Adatta sia per i camper che per i caravan. L'area si trova a due passi dalla...

ontano.net

I stayed there last September. Being a Sosta you cannot book but at the time you are going you should have no problems. It was never full while I was there (1st week in September). Colico is the northernmost ferry stop on Lake Como so you can access all the usual tourist haunts from there by ferry or take the train down to somewhere like Varenna if you prefer.

Hope that gives you some food for thought!

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[PlacidoD]

For some reason that has come up in Italian but was in English when I checked out the page:

"We have, next to the restaurant, a camper parking area with 25 fully equipped pitches with columns for electricity, drinking water, hot showers, loading/unloading water and many other services. The area is located a stone's throw from the beautiful and wide beach of Colico (LC) and from the cycle/pedestrian path that goes into the suggestive wildlife area of Pian di Spagna until it connects to the to the Sentiero Valtellina"

 

[PlacidoD]

For me Lucerne is a must in Switzerland. There is a lovely site on the lake. Take the steepest cog railway in the world, up Mount Pilatus.

You can take the ferry there from Lucerne if you wish.

Another mountain and railway well worth a visit is Mount Rigi to the south of the Zugersee and from the top you look down on Lucerne and the lake t'other side. You can take the funicular up from Vitznau and then walk down.

 

[Bertie Bus]

And it is effective from the moment of purchase. Your email receipt is all the proof you need as it is tied to your reg number. 40 Swiss Francs and it last for 13 months from beginning of January to the end of January the next year.
Beware scam sites that will try to make you pay more!

Regarding places to stay I have family in Switzerland and so have no direct experience but I know the Tuerlersee site from family days out when there:

Camping Lake Türlen | Natural Campsite near Zurich

Experience camping in nature at Lake Türler between Zurich and Zug, near Lucerne. Daily and seasonal pitches for tents and caravans right by the crystal-clear lake. Book your stay now!

www.camping-tuerlersee.ch

And over many years of motorcycling and now motorhoming I have experience of the Alps and the Italian Lakes.

There is a decent if expensive Sosta in Colico right alongside Lake Como:

Servizi

Disponiamo, a fianco del ristorante, di un'area sosta camper con 25 piazzole completamente attrezzate con colonnine per la corrente elettrica, acqua potabile, docce calde, acqua di carico/scarico e molti altri servizi. Adatta sia per i camper che per i caravan. L'area si trova a due passi dalla...

ontano.net

I stayed there last September. Being a Sosta you cannot book but at the time you are going you should have no problems. It was never full while I was there (1st week in September). Colico is the northernmost ferry stop on Lake Como so you can access all the usual tourist haunts from there by ferry or take the train down to somewhere like Varenna if you prefer.

Hope that gives you some food for thought!

Thank you for the great advice

 

[PlacidoD]

Thank you for the great advice

My pleasure!

P.S. I have refreshed my memory on the cost of the Sosta at L'Ontana at Colico. It was 30 Euros per night last September.
The site is just over a quarter mile from main waterfront with all its restaurants including my favourite - Il Faro.

Photo of the view through my windscreen attached.

 

[Brize]

Hello Bob and Karen,

I always find these 'what do you recommend' questions difficult to answer, because you need to say what you are interested in. We have been to Italy many times, but our interest is history - and there is a lot on the eastern side - but it may not be for you.

You need to ask yourselves some questions: do you want to see Roman or Etruscan history; WW2 history; do you want to go hill walking or are you beach worshipers; do you want to visit wineries; is it interesting archaeology you like?

Having some idea of your interests and what you want to do makes it so much easier to make recommendations, bearing in mind that it is a big country and you are only intending to spend part of your 6 weeks there.

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[Bertie Bus]

Well we love beaches and pretty towns with old architecture. I love history especially Ww2 stuff and have toured France in particular Normandy. I want to go to Naples as I have photos of my uncles there during the war and of course for Pompeii etc.
We have been to Rome and would probably avoid it this time. The big sites like Pisa, Venice and the Amalfi Coast are on our bucket list although we will train or bus into Sorento etc.

 

[Brize]

If you are intending to go to the south of Italy you may want to take in the Gulf of Taranto, where there was a major naval battle (I think the last major battle involving the Fairy Swordfish) in WW2. If you are going to Sorento them you will take in Salerno and the landings, then there is Monte Cassino, north of Naples, with a major WW2 CWGC cemetery worth visiting.

One of the last major battles in Italy was around Rimini as the Gustav line was broken, and there is a cluster of CWGC locations around there. This is also close to San Marino, which is well worth a visit - in fact, a couple of days.

Beaches - sorry, can't help you!

 

[Bertie Bus]

If you are intending to go to the south of Italy you may want to take in the Gulf of Taranto, where there was a major naval battle (I think the last major battle involving the Fairy Swordfish) in WW2. If you are going to Sorento them you will take in Salerno and the landings, then there is Monte Cassino, north of Naples, with a major WW2 CWGC cemetery worth visiting.

One of the last major battles in Italy was around Rimini as the Gustav line was broken, and there is a cluster of CWGC locations around there. This is also close to San Marino, which is well worth a visit - in fact, a couple of days.

Beaches - sorry, can't help you!

Thanks for the info Brize

 

[Two on Tour]

Amalfi Coast are on our bucket

Be aware that it is illegal to drive a motorhome along the Amalfi coast road between 6.30am to 10pm, plus you would not want to as it is mayhem.
We saw this hire motorhome being ticketed in Amalfi for driving the road during the day.

We took the bus along the coast road thinking it would be a good way to see the views and villages, but it was awful on the bus from Salerno to Amalfi, so we went back on the ferry as we could not face another hour and a half on the coach to get to Sorrento.

 

[nicholsong]

This year we wanted to see more than our usual dash down from Poland to Ancona for our ferry to Greece, so we booked the return to Bari, with plenty of time to wander slowly.

We went a bit further South in Puglia before turning north, sticking to the East and Central side of the country.

Until we got to Umbria, Tuscany and Marche we found it quite boring, except for food, but that applies for most of Italy whether buying to cook at home or eating out.

Umbria, R. of Tuscany and Marche we enjoyed.

Then continuing north, one has left the hills it becomew boring from the Bologna-Ancona northwards all the way till N. of Udine.

Previously we had been to Venice. Worth one visit but the crowds are awful and I doubt whether we will r-visit. S, of Venice the coast is AWFUL - cars parked everywhere and it is a continuous strip of sunbeds and umbrellas and goes on for most of the coast. We have friends with a caravan who go to a campsite there for 2 weeks every year, but not for us, we prefer parking at quiet Greek beaches.

Would we go back for a holiday, rather than transit to Ancona? Doubtful, except for Tuscany/Umbria because we have friends there, but they were away on business this year.

Anyway France beckons as we have missed 2 years. France and Greece remain our two favourite touring countries, but we have not been as far as Spain except to land at Santander for the Pyrenees.

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