bonniebee2013

Hey everyone! Since I last posted here I've definitely done more homework! I have planned a 30 day stay in Switzerland this June, and would love any input to fine-tune my itinerary.

I love the outdoors, am reasonably fit, don't have a big budget, and am not into partying, restaurants or expensive shopping. I like history, art and science but am not fussed about going out of my way for it on this trip, unless it's really worth it.

What I've listed below isn't necessarily set in stone - (the accommodation is, but not the activities), so if you suggest something that sounds awesome, I'll probably add it to the list!
Thanks in advance!

Day 1, fly into Zurich.
Go up the Uetilberg
Look through Kunsthaus Zurich, Grossmunster and Zwingli's house.
Stay the night in Winterthur.

Day 2. Walk through the Martkgasse and Old Town in Winterthur, then catch the train to Rapperswil and walk around the town, to the bridge etc.
Stay the night in Amden.

Day 3. Walk to Walendstat via Quinten.
Catch the train to Chur and stay in Chur 2 nights.
While here, see the Haldenstein Castle and the Episcopal Courtyard and Cathedral.
And hike the Senda Ruinaulta, and the Dreibuendenstein Panorama Path.

Day 5. Hike route 43 from Chur to Reichenau-Tamins, then catch the train to Disentis and stay up in the mountains above Disentis-Munster for 7 nights.
While there, do the Jakobsweg Graubunden leg of Route 43, plus other local hikes, and just relax in the mountains.

Take the train from Disentis-Munster to Andermatt and stay in that area for 5 nights.

Also I'm going to stay in Grindelwald for 6 nights, and do the Fualhornweg hike, plus hang-gliding, and other hikes.

Then I'm staying in Spiez 1 night, 2 in Bern, 2 in Solothurn and then finally 3 in Zurich (Regensdorf area), before I fly home.

So far I've planned the first half of the trip, but I'm still working on the second half, from Andermatt to Zurich. I'd love any suggestions on hikes, things to see, especially in and around Solothurn, Bern and Zurich.

Look forward to reading your responses.

kja

Should be a great trip!

I don't know much about most of the areas you mention and trust that the experts will jump in, but I do have one suggestion: Given that you have an interest in art, and since you plan to stay in Winterthur, do consider visiting some of its wonderful collection of small art museums. As I recall, there are at least 5, each of which has at least a few stellar pieces.

four_maccas

We stayed in Winterthur for a couple of nights last October, using it mainly as a base to explore Schaffhausen, the Rheinfalls and Stein am Rhein. If you're into photography the Fotomuseum is excellent.

mokka4

Daytripped to Solothurn last October, and planning to return there for a week this September. Of course, St. Ursen cathedral is on your list to see-interior and climb the tower for views of the several old baroque city towers. Solothurn has a SMALL art museum with a few religious gems. A great town for just meandering the cobblestone alleyways. Weissenstein is about the only local "peak"/pass the area. A bus (?go one way) transports to the Passhoehe on just Wednesday, Sat/Sunday. There are several local hikes associated with IT and the local section of the Jura Crest. Haven't done yet, but planning section this fall.
Murten and Fribourg are very worthy of visits, with lake hikes all noted at wanderungen.ch

PalenQ

You are traveling a lot by train - check out the various Swiss Passes - great sites for learning all about Swiss train travel - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.swisstravelsystem.com and www.ricksteves.com. check pass prices both for sale in Switzerland and in your home country - U.S. prices for the exact same pass have often been the past several years cheaper - sometimes significantly so than in Europe - not always the case so compare and keep in mind any foreign transactions fees your c c company may impose.

PalenQ

So far I've planned the first half of the trip, but I'm still working on the second half, from Andermatt to Zurich. I'd love any suggestions on hikes, things to see, especially in and around Solothurn>

Check out the Kandersteg Valley just south of Fruitigen. One walk I have taken here that was fabulous was along the BLS railway - a lovely path from Kandersteg station to the Lotschberg Tunnel.

PalenQ

http://bls.ch/e/reisen-ausfluege/aus...rn-bahnweg.php

Here is the railway's web site about the neat hike from Kandersteg along the railway - with lots of instructional signs about this very unique railway that has some of the world's most powerful locomotives operating on it to move standard-gauge freight trains up prodigious inclines to the Lotschberg (old) Tunnel.

There are quite a bit of ups and downs and a few kind of scrambles but easy overall.

bonniebee2013

Wow, fantastic suggestions, thank you so much everyone!! Definitely adding all those to my list!!

PalenQ, I thought I would buy a Swiss half pass, it seemed cheaper than spending $500AUD on a youth rail pass...? But I'll look into it again, thanks for the reminder.

Ingo

I think five nights in Andermatt are a bit too long, especially since you're staying for 6 nights in Disentis prior to that - which is pretty close to Andermatt. I'd rather stay in the Upper Valais (Goms? Brig area?) area for a couple of nights.

redhiker

Day 1. Zwingli's house isn't wort a visit. Use the luggage lockers at the Hauptbahnhof (railway station) and explore the old town on foot, because it's the real attraction of Zurich. Go up the Uetliberg by train will take min 2 hours.

Day 2. Visit Kyburg castle south of Winterthur: http://www.schlosskyburg.ch

Day 3. The old town of Chur is very nice. There are two unknown attractions: The circular crypt of St. Luzi/Luzius church (8th century) and the ruins of St. Stephan church (5th century).

Bernese Oberland. Grindelwald is very touristic but the scenery around is breathtaking. Honestly, 6 days are too long in my eyes.

I'm Swiss, ask me as much you want. I know a lot of nice villages, trails, castles, etc.

PalenQ

Yes though Disentis and Andermatt are nice places, especially for easy hikes, I'll take 2-3 days away from each and put them in other places - like Zermatt, a hiker's paradise with scintillating hikes for all degrees of difficulties -= can take a bus from the Brig-Zermatt train half way to Saas-Fee as well, another primo hiking, stunning Alpine place - the bus ride there is terrific!

PalenQ

and explore the old town on foot, because it's the real attraction of Zurich>

On a nice day and especially on weekends the walking paths on the eastern side of Lake Zurich are packed with a multi-ethnic multi-nationality parade of strollers with street entertainers, etc.

Really sweet people watching in a neat setting.

PalenQ

PalenQ, I thought I would buy a Swiss half pass, it seemed cheaper than spending $500AUD on a youth rail pass...?>

With the Half-Fare Pass, which costs about $135-40 to get to start then you get half-off everything that moves - good if you know exactly what you will be doing and not much more.

A month-pass gives you ultimate flexibility to go anywhere - rain sets in in the Alps you want out - a longer ride to some dry place or a day trip out of a soggy Interlaken area to say Lucerne or Bern, cities more enjoyable in wet weather, etc.

Plus the little things can add up - 100% coverage of trams and buses in cities - all boats - and free entry to 470 Swiss museums and sights - many costing $20-25 to enter!

PalenQ

PalenQ, I thought I would buy a Swiss half pass, it seemed cheaper than spending $500AUD on a youth rail pass...?>

And check prices for the same pass for sale in Switzerland, at any train station - in CHF - Swiss francs - it may be cheaper may be more expensive but is the same exact pass - tack on any 1-3% charge your credit card company may impose on foreign transactions however and never use the official bank rate in say WS Journal, etc as money changers make money on buying at a lower rate than they sell (or is it v.v.? never can quite remember!)

bonniebee2013

Wow, a lot to consider! Thanks for the further suggestions! I thought I was being safe in staying a longer time in some places, but I don't want to miss out on something awesome that is achievable, so I'll keep planning.

I have some more questions but don't have time to ask them right now. I'll be back!

PalenQ

If you are on a budget keep in mind that Switzerland is very VERY expensive - but some areas offer much cheaper hotels for younger folk than other areas - the Jungraujoch REgion for example has Interlaken which has several neat popular youth hotels and Grindelwald has hostels and a Nagture Friends House - these places will be full with folks your age from all over the world.

Yet cities like Zurich, Lucerne, Montreux, etc may have one official youth hostel but not the several options in Interlaken or Grindelwald.

Check out the fabled Baumer's Auberge in Interlaken - one of Europe's top meccas for traveling folks you age!