samins

Hello!

My fiancé and I are planning a trip to Switerland this June. Ive researched a lot of what we want to see and do and made tentative reservations at hotels. I would love any feedback you guys have on how doable this itinerary is. We want to see as much as possible without it being too rushed. Also, I would love some ideas on what to see the first few days. We were thinking Appenzell, but maybe just staying in the Zurich Lucerne areas would be better? The rest of the dates are predicated on getting the hotel we wanted in Wengen

June
sat 03 Fly out of Austin
sun 04 Check into Hilton Zurich
mon 05
tue 06
wed07 Lucerne
thu 08 check into Hotel Schonegg, Wengen
fri09 Wengen - Hotel Schonegg
sat10 Wengen - Hotel Schonegg
sun 11 Wengen - Hotel Schonegg
mon 12 Check into Locarno _Hotel Rmorino
tue 13 Check into Sils - Maria - Hotel Waldhaus
wed 14 Sils - Maria - Hotel Waldhaus
thu15 Check into Varenna - Hotel du Lac
fri 16 Varenna - Hotel du Lac
sat 17 Varenna - Hotel du Lac
sun18 check into Hilton Milan
mon 19 Hilton Milan
tue 20 check out of Hilton…head to airport

Thanks so much in advance!

Shilpa

PalenQ

the most awesomely scenic way to go between Switzerland and Italy is via the Bernina Pass Railway or road (are you taking trains - if not seriously consider it - Wengen of course is car-free)

From Sils-Maria take bus to Pontresina or St Moritz and take this the most awesomely scenic of all European railways IME and IMO dto Tirano, where you change to Italian trains to Varenna-Esino.

It was not clear that you were going that route but I certainly would:

https://www.google.com/search?q=bern...HfKwBNwQsAQIHA

Anyway your itinerary looks really sweet (especially if days 5 and 6 are in Lucerne and not Zurich)- for Switzerland some kind of Swiss Pass -if going by train -would be a good deal I think -for lots on Swiss trains and passes check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.ricksteves.com; and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

There are official Bernina Express tourist-oriented trains over the pass with spiffy panoramic, observation cars, etc that you should reserve really early or regular locals you can just hop on anytime.

PalenQ

sun 11 Wengen - Hotel Schonegg
mon 12 Check into Locarno _Hotel Rmorino>

another really scenic railway - the Centovalli between Domodossola and Locarno- '100 valleys" - not awesomely Top of the World scenic like the Bernina Pass one but sweet - narrow-gauge train- even though goes mainly thru Italy fully covered by a Swiss Pass.

From Wengen - Lauterbrunnen-Interlaken-Ost-Spiez-Brig-Domodossola-Locarno- probably the quickest route by rail too from the Interlaken area.

kja

Congratulations and best wishes!

Only 1 night in Locarno?
Only 2 nights in Sils-Maria?
It depends on what you want to see and experience, but these stops seem very short to me.

samins

Thanks so much for the responses! We are definitely looking into train schedules now that we have a tentative itinerary. We are planning on the Bernina Express. At this time of the year, are advance reservations a must?

Our time is Southern Switzerland is sadly abbreviated because we are trying to sandwich as much in between Wegnen and Varenna. The plan was to spend time in the two valleys rather than on the lake, as we will be in Varenna right after. We could travel to Wegnen a few days earlier and skip Zurich/Lucerne. Would this make better use of our time on the Swiss side?

Thanks again! We are very excited about this trip!

neckervd

Wengen - Locarno - Sils Maria can get a bit tricky. My proposal:
June 12th:
Wengen dp 8.33 - I'laken - Spiez - Brig - Domodossola - Panoramic train Vigezzo (Centovalli Express) - Locarno ar 13.19. Enjoy Locarno and the lake. May be you go by boat to the botanical gardens of Brissago Island.
June 13th:
Take a morning train to Bellinzona, put your luggage into the lockers, visit the 3 medieval castles and the tiny medieval city center, leave Bellinzona by train 11.21 to Lugano ar 11.48, change there to the Swiss Postbus dp 12.05 along Lake Lugano to Porlezza - Menaggio (in front of Varenna) and then along Lake Como to Colico and through the Chiavenna and Bregaglia Valleys to Sils Maria ar 15.21.
If you want to do the Bernina Express thing, you can leave the Postbus at Menaggio ar 12.55, board the 14.10 ferry to Varenna ar 14.25, change there to the 15.24 train to Tirano ar 16.52 and finally to the Bernina train dp 17.00 to St. Moritz ar 19.11 and reach Sils Maria by connecting bus at 19.34.

PalenQ

We are planning on the Bernina Express. At this time of the year, are advance reservations a must?>

Yes - mandatory but obviously if there are empty seats you could board and pay the supplement - but the regular trains go over the exact same scenery - are slower only because they stop a lot more.

neckervd

Palen:
are you sure that BEX trains are faster than standard trains?
A look at the timetable shows:

Morning:
standard train: St. Moritz dp 8.48 - Tirano ar 11.00
BEX 973: St. Moritz dp 9.30 - Tirano ar 12.00
BEX 951: Pontresina dp 10.21 - Tirano ar 12.45
standard train: Pontresina dp 11.04 - Tirano ar 13.00

Afternoon:
standard train: St. Moritz dp 14.48 - Tirano ar 17.00
BEX 975: St. Moritz dp 15.12 - Tirano ar 17.32

PalenQ

are you sure that BEX trains are faster than standard trains?>

not now - BEX are called the world's slowest express trains.

PalenQ

change there to the Swiss Postbus dp 12.05 along Lake Lugano to Porlezza - Menaggio (in front of Varenna) and then along Lake Como to Colico and through the Chiavenna and Bregaglia Valleys to Sils Maria ar 15.21>

Yes the awesome Maloja Pass bus (a k a Palm Express) - I took from Lugano and it is yes awesome:

https://www.google.com/search?q=malo...HRECC48QsAQIMQ

Swiss passes fully valid - may be a seat reservation fee? (neckervd?)

marg

I'd suggest one night in Zurich and add the extra nights to Lucerne. Lots to see there in the city and in the surrounding areas - we've used our time there to visit Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus.

kja

How to allocate your time really depends on your interests!

I really enjoyed Zurich, but I enjoy museums. If they aren't something that calls to you, then consider giving it just a day (or better part of one) to see the stunning stained glass windows of the Fraumunster (and Grossmunster, though they are less well known) and to roam a few of its most scenic streets and squares.

If your only reason to travel to Locarno and Sils Maria is to ride the Bernina Express, then I like that you at least gave yourself an extra day for Sils Maria.

Lucerne is stunning, but can be a bit overrun by tourists in high season. You might want more than just one night there so you have time for a boat ride along the lakes.

I haven't been to Appenzell.

Hope that helps!

rncheryl

My only comment, besides congratulations, is a big thumbs up for Hotel Schonegg in Wengen. Staff is fantastic. We had a room with amazing views. You won't be disappointed