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This suggested route takes in ancient Rome, Tuscany's cathedral towns, Milan and Lake Como, two very different corners of the Swiss Alps, then Paris. Everything after Rome is by train, and you fly into Rome and home from Paris, so there is no backtracking.
Photos are my own, taken on an earlier visit, and are for illustration. Check current opening hours, transport and prices before you go.
The route
| Days | Base | Nights | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Rome | 3 | Fly from Singapore |
| 4 to 6 | Florence (day trips to Siena and Pisa) | 3 | High-speed train, about 1.5 hours |
| 7 to 8 | Milan (day trip to Lake Como) | 2 | High-speed train, about 2 hours |
| 9 to 10 | Interlaken | 2 | Train, about 3 to 4 hours, changing at Brig or Spiez |
| 11 | Engelberg (Mount Titlis) | 1 | Train via Lucerne, about 3 hours |
| 12 to 14 | Paris | 3 | Train via Basel or Zurich, about 6 hours |
| 15 | Home | Fly from Paris |
Rome (3 nights)
Day 1. Arrive and settle in. Stay near Termini station for easy trains north, or around Piazza Navona for evening walks.
Day 2, the Vatican. The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, then St Peter's Basilica. Book a timed museum ticket online; the walk-up queue can take hours.
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Day 3, ancient Rome. The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on one combined ticket, then walk past the Vittoriano on Piazza Venezia to the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain.
Florence, Siena and Pisa (3 nights)
Day 4. Morning train to Florence. Climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset over the Duomo and the Arno.
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Day 5, Siena. A day trip by bus or train to Siena's striped cathedral and the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo.
Day 6, Pisa and Florence. A morning in Pisa (about an hour by regional train) for the Leaning Tower and the cathedral on the Field of Miracles, then back for the Uffizi or the Duomo. Uffizi and Duomo climbs need booking ahead.
Milan and Lake Como (2 nights)
Day 7. Train to Milan. The Duomo and its rooftop terraces, the Galleria, and the Sforza Castle.
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Day 8, Lake Como. About an hour by train to Como. Ride the funicular up to Brunate for the view, or take a boat along the lake to Bellagio.
Interlaken (2 nights)
Day 9. Train into Switzerland. Interlaken sits between two lakes with the Jungfrau peaks behind it.
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Day 10, the Jungfrau region. Go up to Jungfraujoch if the forecast is clear, or spend a cheaper day in Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. Check the mountain webcams before you buy tickets.
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Engelberg and Mount Titlis (1 night)
Day 11. Take the Luzern–Interlaken Express to Lucerne (about 1 hour 50 minutes), then the train to Engelberg (about 45 minutes). In the afternoon, ride up to Trübsee and walk around the lake.
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Day 12, Titlis, then Paris. Ride to the top of Titlis in the morning for the glacier and the Cliff Walk, then take the train to Paris in the afternoon.
Paris (3 nights)
Days 12 to 14. The Eiffel Tower (book a timed lift ticket), a walk along the Seine, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées, Pont Alexandre III, and the Louvre.
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Day 15. Fly home from Paris.
Have an extra day? Add Venice
Venice is about 2 hours from Florence and 2.5 hours from Milan by high-speed train, so it fits neatly between the two. Arrive early, ride a vaporetto down the Grand Canal, then get lost in the back canals away from St Mark's Square.
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Before you go
- Entry: Singapore passport holders can visit the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. The EU's new entry system now registers your fingerprints and photo at the first border, so allow extra time on arrival. ETIAS, a €20 online authorisation, is planned to start in late 2026; check the official EU site before you fly.
- Trains: Book Italian high-speed trains and the Paris TGV early for the best fares. In Switzerland, compare single tickets against a Swiss Travel Pass for your actual rides.
- Money: Cards work almost everywhere. Switzerland uses Swiss francs, not euros.
Questions people ask
Do Singaporeans need a visa for Italy, Switzerland and France?
No. All three are in the Schengen Area, where Singapore passport holders can stay up to 90 days in any 180 days without a visa. The EU plans to start ETIAS, a €20 online travel authorisation, in late 2026; check before you fly.
Is a Swiss Travel Pass worth it on this route?
Only if you use Swiss trains, boats and mountain lifts a lot over consecutive days. For two or three train rides in Switzerland, single tickets are often cheaper. Price both for your exact days.
Should I fly into Rome and out of Paris?
Yes. Book one multi-city ticket, Singapore to Rome and Paris to Singapore, so you never backtrack. There are direct flights between Paris and Singapore.
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