Our 14-Day Family Vacation Dream Itinerary: Greece, Italy, Switzerland
Our recent family trip to Europe was nothing short of amazing. By plane, train, car, cable car, and bus, we spent 14 days exploring three different countries. This blog will only include the day-by-day itinerary: simple and to the point.
In the second post, I will share trip booking information and links. Then, the third and final write-up for this trip will include all of the fun details and my honest take on each destination. Keep following along, this trip was soooo good!
2-Week Layout Summary:
• Days 1-5 Greece (5 nights)
• Days 6-8 Italy (3 nights)
• Days 9-14 Switzerland (5 nights)
After spending several weeks in Europe thus far, I’m confident in adding multiple destinations to our itinerary. I will suggest that first-timers should enjoy the experience by limiting their itinerary. Just soak up being in Europe. You can easily take spontaneous daytrips if desired once you are there.
14-Day Itinerary Details:
Day 1: Crete – Heraklion
- Fly into Heraklion, pickup rental car, check-in to Heraklion hotel, visit Archaeological Museum, explore city, get dinner.
Day 2: Crete – Kalypso Beach
- Heraklion hotel rooftop breakfast, check-out, drive to southern coast, visit Knossos Palace on the way, stop for lunch in village of Spili, check-in to hotel in Kalypso Beach, snorkel & swim, dinner at hotel.
- Alternative: Replace snorkeling time with stop at Kourtaliotiko Gorge on the drive to Kalypso.
Day 3: Crete – Chania
- Hotel breakfast, check-out, hike Kourtaliotiko Gorge, drive to West Crete, stop in Rethymno for lunch and shopping, check-in to hotel in Chania, shopping in Old Towne, dine out for dinner.
- Alternative: Early morning snorkel if Kourtaliotiko Gorge already visited on day 2.
Day 4: Crete – Chania
- Local Chania bakery for breakfast, early morning drive to Elafonissi Beach, visit nearby Chrissoskalitissa Monastery, evening hike near Deliana Gorge, late dinner in Chania.
Day 5: Crete – Chania
- Breakfast at local Chania bakery, drive to Kissamos Port, Balos Beach & Gramvousa Island boat tour, dinner in Kissamos.
Day 6: Italy – Rome
- Early flight from Chania to Rome, taxi to city center, drop off luggage at hotel, visit St. Peter’s Basilica and Dome, lunch nearby, check-in to hotel, walk around Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori, dinner beside the Pantheon, see Trevi Fountain lit up at night.
- Alternative: Visit St. Peter’s Basilica with Vatican on Day 7. Planned this activity during flight day since we were okay potentially skipping it for delays or being too tired.
Day 7: Italy – Rome
- Early hotel breakfast overlooking Trevi Fountain, morning Vatican Tour, lunch nearby, evening Colosseum tour, nearby dinner and gelato, see Colosseum lit up.
- Alternative: St. Peter’s Basilica can be squeezed in after Vatican tour, but it makes for a tight itinerary with evening plans in another area.
Day 8: Italy – Rome
- Hotel breakfast, Pantheon Tour, visit Spanish Steps, option for hotel nap or visit another landmark, explore Trastevere in evening, dinner in Trastevere, option for late night celebrations in Piazza Trilussa.
Day 9: Switzerland – Mürren
- Hotel breakfast, scenic train rides to Mürren, option to stop in Milan for lunch, check-in to hotel, dinner in Mürren.
Day 10: Switzerland – Mürren
- Hotel breakfast overlooking the Alps, hike to Sprutz Waterfall, option to nap or explore the town, professional family photoshoot in the evening, dinner in town.
Day 11: Switzerland – Mürren
- Hotel breakfast, hike to Gimmelwald, lunch and shop in Gimmelwald, cable car back to Mürren, swimming and hot tub at sports complex, dinner in town.
Day 12: Switzerland – Mürren
- Hotel breakfast, train and cable car to Lauterbrunnen, bus to visit Trummelbach Falls, bus to Lauterbrunnen town, walk around, train to Grindelwald, shop and get lunch, train back to Mürren with option to hike from Grütschalp, dinner in Mürren.
Day 13: Switzerland – Zurich
- Hotel Breakfast, early trains to Zurich with option to get lunch in Interlaken, check-in to hotel, walk around and get dinner in city center.
Day 14: Switzerland – Zurich
- Option to get early breakfast and shop in Zurich, then train to airport, fly home.
Itinerary to Print or Screenshot:
| Day 1: Heraklion, Crete | Archaeological Museum, stay in Heraklion for 1 night |
| Day 2: Kalypso Beach, Crete | Knossos Palace, Spili Village, snorkel at Kalypso, stay in Kalypso Beach for 1 night |
| Day 3: Chania, Crete | Kourtaliotiko Gorge, lunch in Rethymno, stay in Chania for 3 nights |
| Day 4: Chania, Crete | Elafonissi Beach, Chrissoskalitissa Monastery, Deliana Gorge |
| Day 5: Chania, Crete | Kissamos Port, Balos Lagoon, Gramvousa Island |
| Day 6: Rome, Italy | Fly to Rome, St. Peter’s Basilica and Dome (recommend to pair with Vatican tour if possible), Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Campo de’ Fiori |
| Day 7: Rome, Italy | Vatican Tour, Colosseum Tour |
| Day 8: Rome, Italy | Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trastevere |
| Day 9: Mürren, Switzerland | Train to Switzerland, stay in Mürren for 4 nights |
| Day 10: Mürren, Switzerland | Sprutz Waterfall hike |
| Day 11: Mürren, Switzerland | Gimmelwald hike |
| Day 12: Mürren, Switzerland | Trummelbach Falls, Lauterbrunnen, train to Grindelwald |
| Day 13: Zurich, Switzerland | Train to Zurich, explore town freestyle, stay in Zurich for 1 night |
| Day 14: Zurich, Switzerland | Breakfast and shop in Zurich, fly home |
I hope you found my itinerary helpful and inspiring for planning your own multi-country trip to Europe! Next, check out my blog on how I booked this trip!
If you have any questions or thoughts, see the comment section below! I love hearing what you found helpful or would like to see on my website for future blogs.
Happy Travels!!
-Amanda Kendler 🩷
Share with a friend if you find this post helpful!
Follow me on Instagram!
Leave a Reply