oscarandpenelope

Last American Thanksgiving I went to Banff/Lake Louise for 3 days and 4 nights and loved it. For this year's Thanksgiving week, I would like to see Berner Oberland, for 3 days and 3 nights as part of a week-long European trip. I had only been in Switzerland once before, during a 6-hour layover in Zurich, in April 2013.

I understand that a lot of attractions are closed during the shoulder season (just like at Banff), but the following are what sounds interesting to me and I think are open during last week of November:
Jungfraujoch (half day)
Lauterbrunnen (full day)
Golden Pass train between Lucerne and Interlaken (half day)
Cable car between Mt. Titlis and Engelberg (half day)

I plan to get into Zurich by Sunday noon, then go to Swiss National Museum for the afternoon (already seen Fraumunster and Grossmunster last time). At first I thought about spending all 3 nights in Interlaken and use it as base to take day trips from there, but I'm wondering if it would make more sense to stay in Lucerne for the first night (after taking the train from Zurich), so that I can go to Mt. Titlis on Monday morning, then Monday afternoon take the Gold Pass train to Interlaken to spend 2 nights there?

My second question is, is my list too short to fill 3 days? Are there other things/places you would recommend to do/see there in late November? One thing I will miss is a lake cruise, but I could not find one that operates in late November. The plan is to take the 4 PM train from Interlaken to Basel to catch the sleeper train to Copenhagen on Wednesday night, but I can extend the trip by one more day if needed.

Third question is regarding a train pass. I am a bit confused about the various Swiss Card/Pass and which one would be the best deal for me. Please recommend a link that explains it and also where I can purchase the pass in advance from the U.S.

Dukey1

All those things you mentioned to include the cable car up to Mt. Titlis, the Jungfrau rail trip etc., will be operating when you are in Switzerland.

If you take the early train from Luzern to Engleberg and then do the cable car ascent you can easily be back in Luzern by mid-day.

You might consider spending the two nights in the BO in Lauterbrunnen as opposed to Interlaken although the latter would afford an easier possibility of a lake boat trip.

Hambagahle

I question allocating 1 full day to Lauterbrunnen. What do you think you might do there? The village is tiny and you can walk the length of the street in about 15 mins. The Trummelbach falls will be closed in November. And the weather most likely won't be great.

Jungfraujoch will take you more than just a morning... depending on where you start out from. If from Interlaken allow 2hr30m each way, plus a couple of hours at the top.

Lake boats run on a limited schedule on lake Thun in winter. They do not run at all on Brienz.

If you stay in Luzern for the first night you can be in Engelberg in 45mins. Then you take the cable cars up to Titlis and back. That excursion can comfortably be done in a morning, even though it gets light late...

One place I really recommend and which you could fit in on your way to Basel at the end of your stay is Bern. Bern is a lovely city and it may well be that the Christmas markets will have started when you are here. It is well worth 4-6 hours of exploration. Trains from Interlaken to Basel stop in Bern anyway. You can check your bags at the station there and explore the historic centre which is right near the station. Maybe have dinner and then go on to Basel for your train north.

PalenQ

marking for later comment!

oscarandpenelope

Hambagahle, I had previously assumed that it would take 2 hours to get from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, but I just found out that it only takes 20 minutes. You're right that I did not plan to spend a whole day at Lauterbrunne itself, because as of right now this is a solo trip and I don't want to hike by myself, especially in the winter.

Thank you for the note about the Lake Thun cruise. I looked at their winter schedule more closely this time and indeed they still operate in late November. So I will put that on my list.

Regarding Bern, I didn't put it on my list because I was worried I would want to visit for more than a half day there. But I just found out there won't be public tours of the parliament building (one of my intersts) during the last week of November, so now I think it will be a more manageable visit just walking around Old Town and will put it on my list.

Regarding the Christmas markets, unfortunately the one at Bern won't open yet when I'll be there, but I had planned to go to the one in Zurich and/or Basel.

From your and Dukey1's recommendations, right now my itinerary is:
Sunday afternoon: Swiss National Museum, Zurich Christmas Market, overnight in Luzern
Monday: Mt. Titlis-Engelberg cable car, Golden Pass train to Interlaken
Tuesday: Jungfraujoch, Lake Thun cruise (2 or 3 PM)
Wednesday: Lauterbrunne, Bern, Basel Christmas market (sleeper train leaves at around 6PM)

macanimals

Make plans "A & B" for all your mountain visits as weather can dictate, especially in late November. And I agree, as much as we enjoy Lauterbrunnen, a full day with your limited time is not warranted--its mostly a junction with reasonable lodging.

kja

Is it actually possible to visit Jungfraujoch and take a cruise on Lake Thun on the same day, in late November? I honestly don't know the answer.

nytraveler

You might want to include Thun - a charming old town with a wonderful - and very vertical castle - as well as spend some time exploring Lucern - which has quite a bit to see/do.

oscarandpenelope

Kja, if I take the first train (6:30) up and the 11:30 train down, I think I can make it to one of the lake cruises. I'm only planning to cruise one way and take the train back to Interlaken.

Nytraveler, it looks like neither castle at Thun is open in November...?

Thank you all those who responded so far.

PalenQ

Spiez' castle is the finest on the lake - hovers high above the boat dock - be sure to stop also, on Lake Thun, at Oberhofen whose lakeside castle is just a harbinger of how sweet the whole lakeside town is - great place for lunch!

https://www.google.com/search?q=spie...=1600&bih=1075

PalenQ

Third question is regarding a train pass. I am a bit confused about the various Swiss Card/Pass and which one would be the best deal for me. Please recommend a link that explains it and also where I can purchase the pass in advance from the U.S.>

The only Swiss Pass you would consider IMO would be a 4-day consecutive pass - even though you will be there only three days or a 3-day Swiss Flexipass I suppose but you really are not traveling that much - you may want to look into the Berner Oberland Pass, a regional pass bought locally that would cover all in all more than a Swiss Pass and extend I think to Lucerne or near it - or loot at a Jungfraubahn Pass.

But you may find just buying regular tickets the best bet as you go along - I think in just 3 days your plate is perhaps too full.

For lots of great info on Swiss trains, passes and the fantastic Jungfrau Region I always spotlight these sites: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; wwwricksteves.com.

oscarandpenelope

PalenQ, thank you for the additional rail information.

My mother has decided to join me on the trip. We want to get the 4-day consecutive pass. My understanding is that the Swiss Saver Pass is the same as the Swiss Pass but just buying two (or more) passes together?

Also, since we are taking the sleeper train from Basel to Copenhagen, are there any rail extension deals we can use with the Swiss Pass to get to Copenhagen on the sleeper train?

PalenQ

Swiss Saver Pass is the same as a Swiss Pass only it has 2 names on it in your case and is cheaper p.p. than a solo pass. You have one actual pass with two names on it - one person can use the pass without the other if you want - need not be both people present on the train, boat, etc for pass to be valid.

No no discount with Swiss Pass for Basel to Copenhagen sleeper train - go to www.bahn.de/en - the German Railways official site and see if you can book a discounted ticket or go to the official City Night Liner CNL site

http://www.citynightline.de/citynigh...en/index.shtml

PalenQ

Discounted fares as low as 29 euros Basel, Switzerland to Copenhagen if you can get them - I check only a few days from now and the 29 euro fare was available - full fare 132 euros.

PalenQ

the 29 euro fare could be a reclining chair however or at most a berth in a 6-person compartment.

oscarandpenelope

PalenQ, thank you for the clarification about the Saver Pass.

For the sleeper train, we will get a 2-berth compartment, when they become available (122 days prior to departure).

PalenQ

Yes a private compartment is worth the extra moolah to me - though as a single traveler a single is so so expensive usually I just go the 4-person couchette route and that's kind of a crap shoot - usually really nice folks but once in a while - well on one train one French guy stank so much the conductor later escorted him to a private compartment (I guess)!

And the ubiquitous loud snorers!

oscarandpenelope

I am ready to make the rail reservations today for the overnight train from Basel to Copenhagen, but was unable to due to this service disruption:
http://www.citynightline.de/citynigh...ungen_en.shtml
Should I wait until September 8 to try again? Or start looking into flying?

PalenQ

Well from Sept 7th for the next month there are no CNL trains from Basel or anywhere in Germany to Copenhagen it says and all the night trains will start from Flensberg - near the Danish border I think. No trains running no booking possible. Trains will start serving Basel again in October after the period given.

This is how I interpret it anyway - there may be CNL trains Basel to Hamburg or Bremen? Not sure but if so you could hop those and then go onto Copenhagen by day train.

oscarandpenelope

Hmmm, am I reading European-format dates wrong?

"...will start and end in Flensburg during the following period:
- 13.07. - 11.08.
- 07.09. - 08.09."

That means no service on July 13 to August 11, and then September 7 to September 8?

I'll look into day train as backup. Thanks.