This 22-day itinerary for September 2026 is an ambitious, high-speed journey covering some of Europe's most iconic landscapes. September is the "sweet spot" for this route, offering mild weather in the Alps and pleasant temperatures for Mediterranean sightseeing.
Part 1: Italy Highlights (10 Days)
Route: Milan – Lake Como – Dolomites – Venice – Pisa – Rome – Amalfi Coast
10 days for these seven locations is a rapid pace. To make this work, use Italy's Frecciarossa (High-Speed) trains for city hops and a rental car or private driver for the Dolomites and Amalfi segments.
- Day 1-2: Milan & Lake Como. Arrive in Milan. Spend Day 1 at the Duomo and Galleria. On Day 2, take a 1-hour train to Varenna or Bellagio (Lake Como) for a day trip.
- Day 3-4: The Dolomites. Drive 3.5 hours north to Bolzano or Cortina d'Ampezzo. Experience the jagged peaks and alpine lakes (Lago di Braies).
- Day 5: Venice. Drive or train to Venice (3 hours). Spend the afternoon on a gondola and the evening in St. Mark’s Square.
- Day 6: Pisa & Florence Stopover. Take an early train toward Rome, stopping in Pisa (2 hours for the Leaning Tower) and quickly passing through Florence.
- Day 7-8: Rome. High-speed train to Rome (1.5 hours from Florence). Spend two full days at the Colosseum, Vatican, and Pantheon.
- Day 9-10: Amalfi Coast. Train from Rome to Salerno (2 hours), then a ferry to Positano or Amalfi. Relax by the coast before heading toward your next country.
Part 2: Switzerland (4 Days)
Route: St. Moritz – Zermatt – Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen
- Day 11: St. Moritz. Transition from Italy (Fly Naples to Zurich or train from Milan via Tirano). Stay in St. Moritz, the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism.
- Day 12: Glacier Express to Zermatt. A 7.5-hour journey on the "World's Slowest Express." It is a destination in itself, crossing 291 bridges.
- Day 13: Zermatt. Visit the Gornergrat for the best views of the Matterhorn.
- Day 14: Jungfrau Region (Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen). A 2.5-hour train to the "Valley of 72 Waterfalls." Explore the base of the Eiger and the village of Lauterbrunnen.
Part 3: France (5 Days)
Route: Paris & Monaco
- Day 15-17: Paris. Fly from Zurich/Basel or take the high-speed TGV from Geneva to Paris (3 hours). Spend three days exploring the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Montmartre.
- Day 18-19: Monaco. Take the TGV from Paris to Nice (5.5 hours), then a 20-minute train to Monaco. Experience the Monte Carlo Casino and the yacht-filled harbor.
Part 4: Spain (3 Days)
Route: Barcelona & Madrid
- Day 20: Barcelona. Fly from Nice to Barcelona (1 hour). Spend the afternoon at Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and the Gothic Quarter.
- Day 21-22: Madrid. Take the AVE High-Speed train to Madrid (2.5 hours). Visit the Royal Palace and Prado Museum before departing from Madrid (MAD) back to Sydney.
Practical Travel Tips
- September 2026 Events: Milan Fashion Week is tentatively scheduled for September 23–29, 2026. If your dates overlap, hotel prices in Milan will triple. Try to visit Milan in early September to avoid the crowds.
- Logistics: For the 10-day Italian leg, consider a multi-city flight ticket (Sydney > Milan and Madrid > Sydney) to avoid wasting a full day backtracking.
- Rail Passes: For this specific route, a Eurail Global Pass is highly recommended. It covers most of the trains in Italy, Switzerland, and France, though you will need to pay for seat reservations on high-speed lines in Italy and Spain.
- Reservations: The Glacier Express and Spanish AVE trains require booking months in advance, especially for September travel.