13 Days Switzerland Itinerary. Pls Help.
May 21st, 2006, 03:42 AM
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13 Days Switzerland Itinerary. Pls Help.
Hi Everyone,
I have been getting tremendous help from this site in planning my 1st trip to switzerland. However, i was wondering if all of you are kind enough to read through my itinerary and give me some pointers/advice. I am trying to tie up some loose ends.
Total Timeframe: Full 13 days (12 nights)
1) 30 Jun - 2 Jul > Arrive in Zurich and immediately tranfer to Luzern. Stay in Luzern for 3 days 2 nights. (Day trip to Bern, day trip to Mt Titlis for some summer skiing and tour part of Luzern if time permits)
2) 2 - 3 Jul > Go up to Mt Pilatus, Tour Mt Pilatus and stay 1 night at Hotel Bellevue Kulm.
3) 3 - 6 Jul > 4 Days 3 nights at Lauterbrunnen(BO). To include Day trips to Interlaken, Junfrau, Hiking to Waterfall at Lauterbrunnen, Maybe Murren and Wengen or other BO areas if time permits.
4) 6 - 8 Jul > 3 Days 2 nights at Zermatt. Day trip to Matterhorn possibiliy some summer skiing.
5) 8 - 10 Jul > 3 days 2 nights at Vevey. To include Day trip to Montrux - Chateau Du Chillon, and Trip to Cailler Chocolate Factory.
6) 10 - 11 Jul > Back to spend 2 days 1 night at Luzern. Tour areas in Luzern(Old town, Lion Monument, Picasso Museum, Transport Museum etc) which we were not able to do earlier.
7) 12 Jul > Transfer back to Zurich for flight home.
I have one more day before flying back from Zurich on the 12 July. I have 2 options. Should I:
A)Put this extra day at Lauterbrunnen and extend my stay there from the original 4 days to 5 days to cover more areas in the BO. or,
B)Put this extra day on my last leg at Luzern. So that I get to spend 3 days 2 nights there before heading back to Zurich.
Which will be a better option. Pls advice.
Thank you so much for your help.
Cindy
I have been getting tremendous help from this site in planning my 1st trip to switzerland. However, i was wondering if all of you are kind enough to read through my itinerary and give me some pointers/advice. I am trying to tie up some loose ends.
Total Timeframe: Full 13 days (12 nights)
1) 30 Jun - 2 Jul > Arrive in Zurich and immediately tranfer to Luzern. Stay in Luzern for 3 days 2 nights. (Day trip to Bern, day trip to Mt Titlis for some summer skiing and tour part of Luzern if time permits)
2) 2 - 3 Jul > Go up to Mt Pilatus, Tour Mt Pilatus and stay 1 night at Hotel Bellevue Kulm.
3) 3 - 6 Jul > 4 Days 3 nights at Lauterbrunnen(BO). To include Day trips to Interlaken, Junfrau, Hiking to Waterfall at Lauterbrunnen, Maybe Murren and Wengen or other BO areas if time permits.
4) 6 - 8 Jul > 3 Days 2 nights at Zermatt. Day trip to Matterhorn possibiliy some summer skiing.
5) 8 - 10 Jul > 3 days 2 nights at Vevey. To include Day trip to Montrux - Chateau Du Chillon, and Trip to Cailler Chocolate Factory.
6) 10 - 11 Jul > Back to spend 2 days 1 night at Luzern. Tour areas in Luzern(Old town, Lion Monument, Picasso Museum, Transport Museum etc) which we were not able to do earlier.
7) 12 Jul > Transfer back to Zurich for flight home.
I have one more day before flying back from Zurich on the 12 July. I have 2 options. Should I:
A)Put this extra day at Lauterbrunnen and extend my stay there from the original 4 days to 5 days to cover more areas in the BO. or,
B)Put this extra day on my last leg at Luzern. So that I get to spend 3 days 2 nights there before heading back to Zurich.
Which will be a better option. Pls advice.
Thank you so much for your help.
Cindy
May 21st, 2006, 04:35 AM
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Have you considered the Ticino area? Locarno, Ascona or Lugano are on beautiful lakes. The mix of Italian warmth (not to mention food), and Swiss efficiency is very cool. Locarno is our favorite. Prices there are good, too. For aroung 150chf, you can get a room one block from the train station and main shopping area with balcony, lake view, refrigerator, breakfast and mult-language cable TV (Hotel Rondinella Garni)
May 21st, 2006, 04:40 AM
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We have decided to give the Ticino area a miss this time round due to time constrain and we also want to spend more time in each of the area that we have selected for this trip. I think we will come back to do the ticino area the next time as i have heard many good things about that area.
May 21st, 2006, 08:33 AM
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Hello Cindy -
Your time in the BO seems short, especially since you mention "if time permits." There is so much hiking and beauty in this area, so I would add the extra night here. It would free up time to go to Schilthorn or other hiking near Grindelwald to check out all the glaciers.
I'd also totally skip Interlaken. IMO it's mostly tourist shops, which you'll have a lot of in Luzern. Okay, it has the lakes, but you'll also have a beautiful lake in Luzern that you can take a great ferry ride on.
In Zermatt, you might also like to check out the Gornergrat train which, once at the top, has a spectacular 360 degree view of about 25 glaciers! Awesome! The viewing platform was under reconstruction last summer, but I'm hoping this summer it's done as I'm heading that way again. On a clear day, the views up here are unbelievable.
You've picked some mighty fine spots for a Swiss trip. Have a super time!
Don't forget to try the chocolates, raclette and fondue...oh, and the bratwurst, kraut, and rosti. yummmmy!
Auf weidersehen!
Your time in the BO seems short, especially since you mention "if time permits." There is so much hiking and beauty in this area, so I would add the extra night here. It would free up time to go to Schilthorn or other hiking near Grindelwald to check out all the glaciers.
I'd also totally skip Interlaken. IMO it's mostly tourist shops, which you'll have a lot of in Luzern. Okay, it has the lakes, but you'll also have a beautiful lake in Luzern that you can take a great ferry ride on.
In Zermatt, you might also like to check out the Gornergrat train which, once at the top, has a spectacular 360 degree view of about 25 glaciers! Awesome! The viewing platform was under reconstruction last summer, but I'm hoping this summer it's done as I'm heading that way again. On a clear day, the views up here are unbelievable.
You've picked some mighty fine spots for a Swiss trip. Have a super time!
Don't forget to try the chocolates, raclette and fondue...oh, and the bratwurst, kraut, and rosti. yummmmy!
Auf weidersehen!
May 23rd, 2006, 05:46 AM
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Hello Cindy,
I agree with kopp--add your extra day to the BO and consider a visit to breathtaking Lake Brienz/Brienz, a wood-carving village, with old wooden chalets climbing steeply up the hillside from the lake. You can take a steamer from Interlaken, then in Brienz, visit the outdoor museum Ballenberg (reachable by 10 minute bus ride from the train station), have a picnic lunch at Ballenberg, bus back down, consider a quick trip up the steep incline train to the Rothorn (across from the train station), for excellent views of the mountains in the area, while seated outside, enjoying a wheat beer!
I agree with kopp--add your extra day to the BO and consider a visit to breathtaking Lake Brienz/Brienz, a wood-carving village, with old wooden chalets climbing steeply up the hillside from the lake. You can take a steamer from Interlaken, then in Brienz, visit the outdoor museum Ballenberg (reachable by 10 minute bus ride from the train station), have a picnic lunch at Ballenberg, bus back down, consider a quick trip up the steep incline train to the Rothorn (across from the train station), for excellent views of the mountains in the area, while seated outside, enjoying a wheat beer!
May 23rd, 2006, 05:56 AM
#7
Why are you changing hotels to visit Mt Pilatus.
It's 20 minutes by train to Alpnachstadt and then the cog wheel train up the mountain.
I think one less hotel change (and for only one night) will save a lot of hassle time.
Going to Lauterbrunen from Lezern isn't a very long trip.
It's 20 minutes by train to Alpnachstadt and then the cog wheel train up the mountain.
I think one less hotel change (and for only one night) will save a lot of hassle time.
Going to Lauterbrunen from Lezern isn't a very long trip.
May 23rd, 2006, 05:59 AM
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Unless you are going to DO a lot of skiing/or hiking then I think 3 days in Zermatt is too many.
There are two places you can view the Matterhorn peak..one is to take the train up to the Gornergrat as mentioned; the other is to take the aerial tramway system up to Kleine Matterhorn. Please remember, however, that there are no guarantees about the weather and views of the peak and the Monte Rosa Massif can be totally obscured.
Zermatt is nice but you can see the village in a day quite easily.
You might want to add a day to your time along Lac Leman or in the BO.
In Montreux besides the visit to Chillon you might consider the rack railway trip up to Rochers de Naye for spectacular views. However, like the Matterhorn trip, this view can also be totally obscured by clouds but the trip up and down are probably worth the effort alone.
In the BO area you might also consider a visit to the Trommelbach Falls.
There are two places you can view the Matterhorn peak..one is to take the train up to the Gornergrat as mentioned; the other is to take the aerial tramway system up to Kleine Matterhorn. Please remember, however, that there are no guarantees about the weather and views of the peak and the Monte Rosa Massif can be totally obscured.
Zermatt is nice but you can see the village in a day quite easily.
You might want to add a day to your time along Lac Leman or in the BO.
In Montreux besides the visit to Chillon you might consider the rack railway trip up to Rochers de Naye for spectacular views. However, like the Matterhorn trip, this view can also be totally obscured by clouds but the trip up and down are probably worth the effort alone.
In the BO area you might also consider a visit to the Trommelbach Falls.
May 23rd, 2006, 08:58 AM
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I think you are over estimating Luzern and under estimating the Berner Oberland.
I have spent weeks in Lauterbrunnen and there are still a few places I have not walked to.
You have not mentioned at all some of the excursions possible from Grindelwald.
I have been to Luzern a couple of times, and I am not sure what I would do with 5 days there.
I might also add that the Berner Oberland is not just Lauterbrunnen!
The Grimsel Pass is one of the routes that leads to some beautiful scenery and it is a few dozen k from Lauterbrunnen.
Also, I have never seen much to hold my attention in Interlaken. It has fancy hotels, shops, and restaurants. I guess if you want to take a lake ride you have two choices. But you have that option as well in Luzern. You could spend all day cruising the lake and leave some for the next trip.
What is the attraction of Bern? I have been there and thought once was enough.
I have spent weeks in Lauterbrunnen and there are still a few places I have not walked to.
You have not mentioned at all some of the excursions possible from Grindelwald.
I have been to Luzern a couple of times, and I am not sure what I would do with 5 days there.
I might also add that the Berner Oberland is not just Lauterbrunnen!
The Grimsel Pass is one of the routes that leads to some beautiful scenery and it is a few dozen k from Lauterbrunnen.
Also, I have never seen much to hold my attention in Interlaken. It has fancy hotels, shops, and restaurants. I guess if you want to take a lake ride you have two choices. But you have that option as well in Luzern. You could spend all day cruising the lake and leave some for the next trip.
What is the attraction of Bern? I have been there and thought once was enough.
May 23rd, 2006, 01:02 PM
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HI everyone,
Thank you all for your suggestions.
I am going with kopp, rachw, and bob_brown's recommendation and put this extra day in Lauterbrunnen. Lauterbrunnen will be our base while we explore the BO Region. We will definitley try and include some hiking trails, excursions from Grindelwalk and the Trommelbach Falls and all the great suggestions given so far!
Myer: The reason for the one night stay at Mt Pilatus is because we are very impressive with the structure of Hotel Belleuve Klum and wants to take this opportunity to stay one night up on the mountain.
BTW: Is a half day excursion to Interlaken sufficient? Is there any attractions that we should not miss in Interlaken?
Thank you all for your suggestions.
I am going with kopp, rachw, and bob_brown's recommendation and put this extra day in Lauterbrunnen. Lauterbrunnen will be our base while we explore the BO Region. We will definitley try and include some hiking trails, excursions from Grindelwalk and the Trommelbach Falls and all the great suggestions given so far!
Myer: The reason for the one night stay at Mt Pilatus is because we are very impressive with the structure of Hotel Belleuve Klum and wants to take this opportunity to stay one night up on the mountain.
BTW: Is a half day excursion to Interlaken sufficient? Is there any attractions that we should not miss in Interlaken?
May 24th, 2006, 03:51 AM
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Cindy,
In Interlaken proper there are tons of souvenir shops and cafes primarily.
Don't miss the view of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau from the main drag's meadow (between East and West Interlaken)--the Hoehematt. Have a cheese fondue lunch on one of the outdoor terraces opposite!
Also worth a visit is the Harder Kulm, a short incline ride up for wonderful views....
So...shopping, lunch and Harder Kulm would take about 2/3 of a day...
(I still would highly recommend a relaxing boat ride over to Brienz + Ballenberg for another 1/2-2/3 day excursion!!!!)
In Interlaken proper there are tons of souvenir shops and cafes primarily.
Don't miss the view of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau from the main drag's meadow (between East and West Interlaken)--the Hoehematt. Have a cheese fondue lunch on one of the outdoor terraces opposite!
Also worth a visit is the Harder Kulm, a short incline ride up for wonderful views....
So...shopping, lunch and Harder Kulm would take about 2/3 of a day...
(I still would highly recommend a relaxing boat ride over to Brienz + Ballenberg for another 1/2-2/3 day excursion!!!!)
