11 days in Switzerland, Munich & Venice Itinerary

Often described as the city of laptops and lederhosen, Munich is an international center of business, engineering, research, and medicine that still maintains a rich cultural heritage and age-old traditions.

Museum-lovers will get to explore Munich Residenz and Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum. Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Lenbachhaus and St. Michael's Church. There's much more to do: admire the striking features of BMW Headquarters, take in the exciting artwork at Kunsthalle Munich, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Heiliggeistkirche, and steep yourself in history at Nymphenburg Palace.

To find maps, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the Munich route maker website.

Houston, USA to Munich is an approximately 15-hour flight. The time zone changes from Central Standard Time to Central European Standard Time, which is usually a 7 hour difference. Prepare for colder weather when traveling from Houston in June: high temperatures in Munich hover around 72°F and lows are around 52°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Mon) to allow enough time to fly to Lucerne.

In north-central Switzerland, Lucerne represents a small city boasting a well-preserved old town.

Kick off your visit on the 4th (Tue): stop by Aeschbach Chocolatier, get to know the fascinating history of Uferpromenade Weggis, appreciate the history behind Lion Monument, then explore the galleries of Glacier Garden Lucerne (Gletschergarten), and finally admire the masterpieces at Museum Rosengart Collection.

For ratings, traveler tips, photos, and other tourist information, go to the Lucerne attractions planner.

You can fly from Munich to Lucerne in 3 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 77°F in July, and nighttime lows around 59°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Wed) to allow time to drive to Interlaken.

Nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in the heart of the Jungfrau region, Interlaken became popular for its proximity to the mountains and lakes of the Bernese Oberland region.

Start off your visit on the 5th (Wed): take in nature's colorful creations at Schynige Platte, then identify plant and animal life at Heimwehfluh, then take a tour by water with Boat Tours & Water Sports, and finally look for all kinds of wild species at Alpenwildpark. On your second day here, make a trip to Vieille Ville de Thoune, then explore the activities along Aare River, then get engrossed in the history at Bernisches Historisches Museum - Einstein Museum, and finally take a stroll through UNESCO-Altstadt von Bern.

For maps, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, read our Interlaken trip maker app.

Traveling by car from Lucerne to Interlaken takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. In July, daytime highs in Interlaken are 75°F, while nighttime lows are 56°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Thu) to allow enough time to fly to Venice.

Virtually unchanged for the last six centuries, Venice is actually a group of islands made famous by a series of canals, bridges, monuments, piazzas, and narrow pedestrian lanes.

Get a sense of the local culture at Piazza San Marco and Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. Museum-lovers will appreciate Doge's Palace and Museo Leonardo da Vinci. There's still lots to do: contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Scuola Grande di San Rocco, take in panoramic vistas at Torre dell'Orologio, wander the streets of Cannaregio, and contemplate the waterfront views at Canal Grande.

To find maps, more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, read Venice trip planner.

You can fly from Interlaken to Venice in 4.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a train. Prepare for somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Interlaken in July: high temperatures in Venice hover around 87°F and lows are around 67°F. You'll have a few hours on the 10th (Mon) to wrap things up before traveling home.