Ducks

Hi all,

I'm planning on traveling through Switzerland with my girlfriend for a brief 3 days (December 26th-29th) and then we are flying/train (which ever is the cheapest option) to Amsterdam (on the 29th) and want to know what you guys recommend. To give you some background info, Im planning on flying in from Nuremburg but I can't decide which airport (either Geneva/Zurich) Flights are drastically cheaper to Zurich so that's my top option and immediately after We want to travel to the Zermatt to see the Matterhorn and maybe make a stop in Interlaken. But considering we only have 3 days and then we have to leave for Amsterdam on the 29th do you think this can be done? If so, what do you guys recommend? Best/Cheapest way to travel? Thank you all so much in advance for you time!

PalenQ

The trouble with seeing the Matterhorn is that clouds often obscure its view from Zermatt - so it's a gamble - the Interlaken area offers just about as awesome glacier-bound peaks and IMO a whole lot more varied things to do.

You want to go up in the hills above Interlaken to see the dramatic scenery of the Jungfrau Massif abruptly rising thousands of feet up. Go to a Grindelwald or Murren or Lauterbrunnen - an Alpine town to really appreciate this wondrous area.

Trains will take you to all of them as well as Zermatt -I would eliminte Zermatt and spend your time in the Jungfrau Region - and maybe hit Lucerne, one of the most gorgeous cities in Switzerland en route to Zurich Airport - the closest one by far from the Interlaken area (Zermatt is about equal distance or so from either Geneva or Zurich airports I think.

Anyway trains are the best way to go - for lots of great info on Swiss trains check out: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. In three days you cannot realize the benefit of any train pass except the Swiss Transfer Ticket which gives you a train trip from any airport/border station to anyplace in Switzerland and then a train trip from any place in Switzerland to any airport or border station.

Ducks

Thank you so much for your insight!

PalenQ

Thanks for the thanks - another thing about Zermatt at that time of year - peak season for winter sports enthusiasts and it takes a long time to get there by train from Brig or Visp, where you change trains to reach Zermatt - expensive trains - so for only a one day look that you may find is a wash out could mean a lot of time and money and see nothing.

Better IMO to base the whole three days in one or the other - in 3 days you will probably be able to see the Matterhorn at some time.

The Interlaken area is also a winter sports mecca but is a much broader area and there are more things to do if not into winter sports - like taking the Jungfraujoch train to Europe's highest train station and the chance to walk to a glacier - ice grottoes, etc.

Ideally neither one would be a great place for a short stay at that time of year but to fulfill the dreamy picture of Alpine Switzerland you can only see that in a few places like this so go for it.

I recommend a stay in Grindelwald for the whole period - you could day trip to Bern or Lucerne easily by train too from there and you ar e close to Zurich Airport.

Cheers!