A gift from her, for you ♡

Italy &
Switzerland

Three weeks. Two countries. One road trip to remember.

Copenhagen
Hamburg
Munich
Lake Como
Cinque Terre
Tuscany
Rome
Amalfi
Switzerland
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The Plan

21 days. Pure magic.

21
Days on the road
~4,500
km total driven
10
Destinations
2
Countries (+ transit)
1
Unforgettable summer

🗺 The Big Picture

You drive south from Copenhagen through Germany, entering Italy via the Italian Lakes. You then follow the west coast of Italy all the way down through Cinque Terre, Tuscany, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast — before looping back north through Switzerland (Lugano, Interlaken, Lucerne) and returning home through Germany. The route is a perfect loop — no backtracking, incredible variety, and always something new out the window.

Before You Go

The car & how to do this

🚗 Renting the Car

📋 Documents Needed

  • Valid EU driving licence
  • Passport or national ID
  • Car rental agreement (keep in car)
  • Travel insurance documents
  • European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/EHIC)
  • Breakdown number (from rental company)

📱 Apps to Download

  • Google Maps (download offline Italy + Switzerland)
  • Waze (for real-time traffic, especially Amalfi)
  • Booking.com (accommodations)
  • Omio (train backup if needed)
  • Revolut (best exchange rates for CHF in Switzerland)
  • Splitwise (track expenses between you two)

💡 Smart Tips

  • Book accommodations on Booking.com with free cancellation in case plans shift
  • In Italian cities, check ZTL zones — cars forbidden in historic centers, fines are brutal
  • Park outside city centers and walk or take local buses in
  • Swiss tolls are vignette-based, buy before crossing
  • In Amalfi, consider parking in Sorrento and taking the ferry — the coast road is wild
Days 1–7

Week One — Arrival & The Lakes

Day 1–2
1
Copenhagen → Hamburg, Germany
Hitting the Road
Pick up the car at Copenhagen Airport first thing in the morning. Drive south across the Øresund Bridge into Sweden briefly, then down through Denmark. Cross into Germany and stop in Hamburg for the night — it's a fantastic city and a perfect first night. Walk the Speicherstadt warehouse district, eat a classic Fischbrötchen (fish sandwich) by the harbour, and have a beer at a riverside bar. Drive: ~4h.
~380 kmFischbrötchenHamburg overnight
2
Hamburg → Munich, Germany
Across Germany
A longer driving day — put on a great playlist and enjoy the German autobahn. Stop in Nuremberg for lunch (try Bratwurst with sauerkraut). Arrive Munich by evening. Walk Marienplatz, admire the Frauenkirche, and spend the evening in the English Garden or a beer garden. Munich is the perfect gateway to the Alps. Drive: ~6h.
~790 kmBeer GardenMunich overnight
Day 3–4
3
Munich → Lake Como, Italy
Crossing into Italy
Wake up early and drive south through the Bavarian Alps — absolutely stunning. You'll cross the Brenner Pass into Austria, then descend into Italy. Your first Italian town is Bolzano in South Tyrol — stop for espresso, it still feels half-Austrian. Arrive Lake Como in the afternoon. Check into a hotel in Varenna or Bellagio — two of the most romantic villages on the lake. Watch the golden hour from the waterfront. Drive: ~4h.
~380 kmAlpine sceneryVarenna or Bellagio
4
Lake Como
La Dolce Vita Begins
A full rest day on the lake. Take the ferry between villages — Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio. Visit Villa del Balbianello (filming location for Casino Royale and Star Wars). Swim in the lake. Eat fresh pasta by the water. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world — stay slow, stay present. Rent a little rowing boat if you can.
Lake swimmingFresh pastaFerry between villages
Day 5–7
5
Lake Como → Cinque Terre
Five Villages on the Sea
Drive west along the Italian Riviera and arrive at Cinque Terre — five impossibly colourful fishing villages clinging to dramatic cliffs above the Ligurian Sea. Park in La Spezia (cars are NOT allowed in the villages themselves) and take the train or ferry between Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. Stay 2 nights — ideally in Vernazza or Monterosso. Drive: ~3h.
~260 kmSea swimmingNo cars in villages
6
Cinque Terre
Hike the Cliffs, Swim the Sea
Today you hike. The coastal trail between the villages is one of Italy's most iconic walks. The path from Vernazza to Monterosso is the best stretch — dramatic cliffs, turquoise water below, wild herbs underfoot. Swim off the rocks in Manarola at sunset. Eat pesto pasta (it was invented nearby in Genoa), drink Sciacchetrà (local sweet wine), and watch the lights of the village reflect on the water at night.
Cliff swimmingPesto pastaCoastal hike
7
Cinque Terre → Florence
Into Tuscany
Leave the coast and head into the rolling hills of Tuscany. Stop in Lucca on the way — a perfectly preserved medieval walled city with a beautiful tree-lined promenade on top of the walls (rent bikes and cycle around). Arrive Florence in the late afternoon. Check in and take an evening passeggiata along the Arno — the city is magical at dusk. Drive: ~3h.
~250 kmLucca stopFlorence overnight
Days 8–14

Week Two — Tuscany & Rome

Day 8–10
8
Florence, Italy
The Cradle of the Renaissance
Florence deserves at least two days. Today: The Uffizi Gallery (book tickets online — days in advance), Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, the Duomo with its stunning dome by Brunelleschi. Cross the Ponte Vecchio. Eat a lampredotto sandwich (Florence's famous tripe street food) or a proper Fiorentina steak. Gelato from Gelateria dei Neri.
Bistecca FiorentinaUffizi GalleryPre-book tickets!
9
Florence → Chianti → Siena
The Chianti Wine Road
Drive the legendary Via Chiantigiana — a slow, winding road through vineyards, cypress alleys, and medieval hilltop towns. Stop at a winery for a tasting (Badia a Coltibuono or Castello di Ama are beautiful). Arrive Siena in the afternoon — its medieval campo (the main square) is one of the most beautiful in all of Europe. Climb the Torre del Mangia for views. Eat ribollita (Tuscan bread soup) for dinner. Drive: ~1.5h (slowly!).
~80 kmWine tastingRibollita
10
Siena → Val d'Orcia → Orvieto
The Most Beautiful Road in Italy
Drive through the Val d'Orcia — the rolling hills you've seen on every Italian postcard. Stop at the iconic cypress road at Poggio Covili, visit Pienza (a perfect Renaissance town with the best pecorino cheese in Italy), and San Quirico d'Orcia. Then descend into Orvieto — a dramatic hilltop town in Umbria perched on volcanic rock. See the extraordinary Gothic Duomo (the façade is jaw-dropping). Overnight here. Drive: ~2h.
~160 kmPecorino cheeseVal d'Orcia
Day 11–14
11
Orvieto → Rome
The Eternal City
Arrive Rome. Important: Park your car at a P+R outside the historic centre (Parking Villa Borghese or Parcheggio Via Borghese) — you will NOT need it for 3 days. Rome is a walking city. Check in and go straight to the Pantheon at golden hour — it's free, ancient, and mind-blowing. Eat carbonara at a restaurant in Testaccio (the neighbourhood where the dish was invented). Drive: ~1.5h.
~120 kmCarbonara in TestaccioPark the car!
12
Rome
Ancient Rome & The Vatican
The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill — buy a combined ticket online. The scale of ancient Rome is staggering. Then cross the Tiber to the Vatican: St Peter's Basilica (free entry, climb the dome for views), the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel (book in advance). Walk back via the Castel Sant'Angelo. Eat supplì (Roman fried rice balls) as a snack. End the evening with a Negroni at Campo de' Fiori.
SupplìPre-book Vatican!Evening at Campo de' Fiori
13
Rome
Baroque Rome & Hidden Gems
The Trevi Fountain (go early morning — 7am — to beat the crowds and toss your coin). The Spanish Steps. Piazza Navona. Wander Trastevere in the afternoon — the most atmospheric neighbourhood in Rome, full of ivy-covered churches and trattorias. Take a sunset walk up the Gianicolo hill for a panoramic view over all of Rome. End with a long dinner in Trastevere.
Trastevere dinnerTrevi at 7amGianicolo sunset
14
Rome → Sorrento
Heading South
Pick up the car from the car park and drive south to Sorrento — the cliffside town above the Bay of Naples that's the perfect base for the Amalfi Coast. Stop in Naples on the way for the best pizza of your life (Pizzeria Sorbillo or Da Michele — the originals). Arrive Sorrento in the evening and walk the clifftop promenade as the sun sets over Vesuvius. Drive: ~3h.
~260 kmNaples pizzaSorrento overnight
Days 15–21

Week Three — Amalfi & Switzerland

Day 15–17
15
Amalfi Coast, Italy
The Most Beautiful Drive in the World
Leave the car in Sorrento and take the ferry along the Amalfi Coast — this is the most spectacular coastal scenery in Europe. Visit Positano (colourful houses tumbling to the sea), Amalfi town (with its Arab-Norman cathedral), and Ravello (gardens and epic views above the clouds). Swim at Fiordo di Furore — a hidden beach in a tiny fjord accessible only by stone steps. Eat fresh swordfish and drink limoncello.
Hidden beachSwordfish & LimoncelloTake the ferry!
16
Amalfi Coast / Capri
The Island of Capri
Take the hydrofoil from Sorrento to Capri — 25 minutes. The island is small, beautiful, and very glamorous. Take the chairlift up to Monte Solaro for panoramic views. Swim in the crystal-clear water at the Faraglioni rocks. Visit the Blue Grotto if the sea is calm (boat tour). Walk the Gardens of Augustus. Drink a limoncello spritz on a terrace above the sea. Return to Sorrento for the night.
Blue GrottoCapri day tripLimoncello spritz
17
Sorrento / Pompeii
Walk Through Ancient History
A morning visit to Pompeii — the ancient Roman city frozen in time by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. It's one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world. Walk the streets, see the preserved houses, gardens, and plaster casts of the victims. Book tickets online in advance. Afternoon back in Sorrento: wander the old town, have a long lunch, pack your bags, rest. Tomorrow the road turns north toward Switzerland.
PompeiiPre-book tickets!Rest afternoon
Day 18–21
18
Sorrento → Lugano, Switzerland
Crossing into Switzerland
A long but beautiful driving day. Head north past Rome and Milan, cross the Swiss border at Chiasso, and arrive in Lugano — a stunning Swiss city on a lake that still feels completely Italian. Walk the lakeside promenade, take the funicular up Monte San Salvatore for views over three lakes, and eat fondue for the first time in Switzerland. Don't forget to buy your Swiss vignette at the border! Drive: ~7h.
~700 kmFondueBuy vignette!
19
Lugano → Interlaken, Switzerland
Into the Alps
Drive north through central Switzerland — one of the most beautiful drives of the whole trip. Cross the Gotthard Pass (or tunnel) and descend into the Bernese Oberland. Arrive Interlaken — the adventure capital of Switzerland, sitting between two Alpine lakes with the Jungfrau glacier towering above. Take the Jungfraujoch train up to the "Top of Europe" (at 3,454m — book in advance, it's pricey but extraordinary). Watch the sunset over the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Drive: ~3h.
~250 kmJungfraujochAlpine views
20
Interlaken → Lucerne, Switzerland
The Most Beautiful City in Switzerland
Drive to Lucerne — set on a lake with snow-capped mountains behind it and a perfectly preserved medieval old town. Walk the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) — Europe's oldest wooden covered bridge. Take the cogwheel train up Mt Pilatus or Mt Rigi for views over 10+ lakes. Have raclette for dinner in the old town. Lucerne is one of those cities you'll never want to leave. Drive: ~1.5h.
~80 kmRacletteMt. Pilatus
21
Lucerne → Copenhagen (via Munich)
The Last Drive Home
The final day. Drive north through Switzerland and Germany — stop in Munich for one last German lunch if you have the energy. Then the long haul back to Copenhagen, crossing back into Denmark. Return the car at CPH Airport. You'll be tired, a little sad it's over, and completely full of memories. 21 days. Done. Drive: ~12–14h total (split over two days if preferred — overnight in Munich on night 20.5).
~1,200 kmCar return at CPHThe end ♡
Eat This

What to eat (and where)

Liguria

Pesto Genovese

The original. Made from Genovese basil, pine nuts, Parmigiano, and olive oil. Only in this region does it taste like this.

Tuscany

Bistecca alla Fiorentina

A massive T-bone steak from Chianina cattle, grilled rare over wood. Order by weight (per kg). A ritual, not just a meal.

Rome

Cacio e Pepe & Carbonara

Two Roman pasta masterpieces. Cacio e Pepe is just pecorino and black pepper. Carbonara is eggs, guanciale, and pecorino — no cream, ever.

Rome

Supplì al Telefono

Fried rice balls filled with melted mozzarella. Pull them apart and watch the cheese stretch — hence "al telefono." Street food perfection.

Naples

Pizza Margherita

Invented here. San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte mozzarella, fresh basil. Go to Sorbillo or L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele. Life-changing.

Amalfi

Spaghetti alle Vongole

Spaghetti with fresh clams, olive oil, white wine, garlic, and parsley. Eaten by the sea in the afternoon sun. Perfect.

Amalfi

Limoncello

Made from the enormous lemons grown on these cliffs. Serve ice cold after dinner. Buy a bottle from a small producer in Amalfi to bring home.

Switzerland

Fondue & Raclette

Melted Gruyère cheese with bread (fondue) or melted cheese scraped over potatoes and pickles (raclette). Order both. Compare them. Love them both.

Italy (everywhere)

Gelato

Real gelato is dense and creamy, stored in covered metal containers. If it's piled high in mountains of fluorescent colour, walk away. Find a gelateria artigianale.

The Money

What it costs

Estimated costs for two people, 21 days. These are midrange estimates — you can go lower with more planning (Airbnb, cooking), or higher if you want to treat yourselves. All figures in EUR.

Category Estimate Notes
Car Rental
21 days, Copenhagen → Copenhagen		 €800–1,200 Book early. Full insurance included. Europcar CPH Airport is reliable.
Fuel
~4,500 km, mid-size car		 €450–600 Assume ~7–8L/100km. Fuel cheaper in Germany, expensive in Switzerland (+CHF).
Road Tolls
Italy + Swiss vignette		 €80–120 Italian motorways charged by km. Swiss vignette = ~€44 flat rate.
Accommodation
21 nights, 2 people		 €1,400–2,400 €70–120/night average. Cheaper in Germany/Italy inland, expensive on Amalfi/Swiss Alps.
Food & Drink
Breakfast + lunch + dinner		 €1,200–1,800 ~€60–90/day for two. Mix of trattorias, markets, and one nice dinner every few days.
Attractions
Museums, trains, ferries		 €400–600 Includes Jungfraujoch (€150-200pp!), Vatican, Colosseum, Capri ferry, Uffizi etc.
Miscellaneous
Parking, unexpected, gifts		 €200–300 Always set some aside. Italian city parking can add up.
TOTAL (for 2) €4,500–7,000 ~€2,250–3,500 per person for 3 weeks. Worth every cent.
Need to Know

Practical tips

⚠️ Italy: Don't Get Fined

  • ZTL zones (Zona Traffico Limitato) in Italian cities are enforced by cameras. Driving in = automatic €100–250 fine sent months later. Always park outside and walk.
  • In Amalfi, only enter the coast road by car if you're actually staying there — traffic jams are legendary in summer
  • Keep coins for car park machines
  • Never leave valuables in the car — especially in Naples and Rome areas

🇨🇭 Switzerland Tips

  • Swiss francs (CHF) are the currency — get some before arriving or use Revolut
  • Everything is more expensive than Italy. Budget roughly 1.5× Italy prices.
  • Buy the Swiss vignette (highway sticker) at the border — you need it for motorways. It's valid for the full year.
  • Trains in Switzerland are world-class — consider leaving the car and doing Jungfraujoch by train from Interlaken
  • Mountain pass roads (like Gotthard) close in winter/spring but are open in summer

📅 Book in Advance

  • Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel — book weeks ahead, will sell out
  • Colosseum + Forum tickets — book online
  • Uffizi Gallery in Florence — book days ahead in summer
  • Jungfraujoch train — book 1–2 weeks ahead
  • Pompeii — book tickets online to skip queues
  • Accommodations in Cinque Terre + Amalfi + Interlaken — book months ahead in summer

☀️ Summer on the Road

  • July–August in Southern Italy is very hot (35–40°C) — carry water, wear light clothing
  • Start driving early to beat traffic and heat — aim to arrive by 2pm
  • Siesta time is real — many shops/restaurants close 1–4pm
  • Beaches and swimming spots are busiest Saturday–Sunday — go weekday mornings if possible
  • Swiss Alps will be cooler — bring a light jacket even in July

💕 The Romantic Moments

  • Sunrise at the Trevi Fountain — arrive at 6:30am, it's just the two of you
  • Sunset from the Gianicolo hill in Rome with a Negroni
  • A boat ride at golden hour on Lake Como
  • Watching the stars from a hillside in Tuscany
  • The ferry into Positano on the Amalfi Coast — from the sea, it's breathtaking
  • A cheese fondue in a wooden Swiss chalet with the Alps outside the window

🛏️ Where to Stay

  • Lake Como: Varenna or Bellagio (not Como town — too big)
  • Cinque Terre: Vernazza or Monterosso al Mare
  • Tuscany: Agriturismo (farmstay) in the Chianti hills
  • Rome: Trastevere or Prati neighbourhoods
  • Amalfi Coast: Base in Sorrento — cheaper, and ferry access to everywhere
  • Switzerland: Interlaken for Alps, Lucerne for city charm

Now all you have to do
is show up

The route is planned. The map is ready. Every plate of pasta, every mountain pass, every sunset by the sea — it's all waiting for you. Just drive.