How to get the most out of 3 nights in Switzerland, Como to Zurich??
Apr 14th, 2016, 02:16 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How to get the most out of 3 nights in Switzerland, Como to Zurich??
The people here are the BEST! I am awed at the extent of travel knowledge and your helpfulness and willingness to share it. I've been reading for awhile to get some knowledge of Swiss travel, and could really use your help to help me plan the best way to spend a too-short time (3 nights) in Switzerland.
I will depart Como at Lake Como in northern Italy and three mornings later get on a plane in Zurich to fly home. Between the time I leave Como and get on that plane, I want to see and enjoy as much of my time in Switzerland as I can. I will not have a car.
Some things I am interested in doing:
I'd like to see spectacular scenery -- I saw the post by wantgelato ""My Most Magical Swiss Moments" and things like this are exciting to me:
1. Waking up before sunrise and seeing the Matterhorn in all of its splendid glory (not an exaggeration).
2. Cable car ride in Zermatt with colorful sun flowers blooming down below, and cows closing in on our cable car.
3. The "powder blue" alpine water streams all over the place.
4. The stark contrast between the dark green forest, pristine blue skies, and snow capped mountain.
5. Horse and buggy ride through the lush forest and hearing faint cow bells (music to my ears) off in the distance.
10. Snow tubing in the middle of summer, then drinking Swiss hot chocolate afterwards.
12. Walking through the mountain with the mighty Truemmelbach Waterfalls thundering next to me.
14. Experiencing a mountain train [I'd add -- and seeing spectacular views while doing it]
I've read some of PalenQ's posts describing " the dream Alpine Wonderland of Switzerland that is perhaps etched in your minds" -- Yes! I want that!
I'd also like to visit the Broc Nestle Chocolate Factory if that fits into the plan.
Also, I'd like to see Lake Geneva if that makes sense.
SO-- can anyone suggest a train route/strategy that can accomplish all of this? Is it even possible?
And what cities would you suggest I spend the night in? Obviously, Zurich for the last night and I don't really want to stay in 3 different hotels over 3 nights, so either Zurich for 2 nights or another city along the way for 2 nights, then Zurich for the last night.
I will depart Como at Lake Como in northern Italy and three mornings later get on a plane in Zurich to fly home. Between the time I leave Como and get on that plane, I want to see and enjoy as much of my time in Switzerland as I can. I will not have a car.
Some things I am interested in doing:
I'd like to see spectacular scenery -- I saw the post by wantgelato ""My Most Magical Swiss Moments" and things like this are exciting to me:
1. Waking up before sunrise and seeing the Matterhorn in all of its splendid glory (not an exaggeration).
2. Cable car ride in Zermatt with colorful sun flowers blooming down below, and cows closing in on our cable car.
3. The "powder blue" alpine water streams all over the place.
4. The stark contrast between the dark green forest, pristine blue skies, and snow capped mountain.
5. Horse and buggy ride through the lush forest and hearing faint cow bells (music to my ears) off in the distance.
10. Snow tubing in the middle of summer, then drinking Swiss hot chocolate afterwards.
12. Walking through the mountain with the mighty Truemmelbach Waterfalls thundering next to me.
14. Experiencing a mountain train [I'd add -- and seeing spectacular views while doing it]
I've read some of PalenQ's posts describing " the dream Alpine Wonderland of Switzerland that is perhaps etched in your minds" -- Yes! I want that!
I'd also like to visit the Broc Nestle Chocolate Factory if that fits into the plan.
Also, I'd like to see Lake Geneva if that makes sense.
SO-- can anyone suggest a train route/strategy that can accomplish all of this? Is it even possible?
And what cities would you suggest I spend the night in? Obviously, Zurich for the last night and I don't really want to stay in 3 different hotels over 3 nights, so either Zurich for 2 nights or another city along the way for 2 nights, then Zurich for the last night.
Apr 14th, 2016, 03:24 PM
#2
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Zermatt and the Matterhorn are too far removed for your short trip. Focus on the superb mountains of the Berner Oberland-Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger.
Suggest basing yourself in either Lucerne or Interlaken for jaunts into these mountains. Lucerne is one short hour direct train to Zurich Airport!
Suggest basing yourself in either Lucerne or Interlaken for jaunts into these mountains. Lucerne is one short hour direct train to Zurich Airport!
Apr 14th, 2016, 05:32 PM
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Granted Switz isn;t a very large country - but due to the mountains getting to a lot of places not in the lowlands can take a long time. In the very limited time you have you need to focus on one area - or you will be mostly in transit rather than actually seeing or doing anything.
Agree that the Berner Oberland is the best option - but don't know off hand about transit from Como. The first thing you have to do is figure that out in a way that won't take the whole day to get to anywhere in Swtiz.
Agree that the Berner Oberland is the best option - but don't know off hand about transit from Como. The first thing you have to do is figure that out in a way that won't take the whole day to get to anywhere in Swtiz.
Apr 14th, 2016, 05:36 PM
#5
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the lake at Lucerne (and the city of Lucerne) is prettier than Geneva, so I would base myself in Lucerne for at least a couple of nights. A ride on the lake would give you awesome scenery. Interlaken is close by.
You can easily reach Zurich airport by train from Lucerne for your flight, so it is not necessaryto stay in Zurich your last night, unless you have an early flight.
Regarding the sound of the cowbells, it is awesome...and so Swiss. We stayed one time in Interlaken, near the east train station, along the short canal that connects the lakes. We sat on our small balcony drinking wine and eating great Gruyere cheese, listening to the bells as the cows ate grass, just meters away, on the other side of the water. It was so calming.
For the last 15 years or so, I have been fortunate to visit Lucerne at least twice a year, and often three times. It is one of the most bea3utiful places on earth.
You can easily reach Zurich airport by train from Lucerne for your flight, so it is not necessaryto stay in Zurich your last night, unless you have an early flight.
Regarding the sound of the cowbells, it is awesome...and so Swiss. We stayed one time in Interlaken, near the east train station, along the short canal that connects the lakes. We sat on our small balcony drinking wine and eating great Gruyere cheese, listening to the bells as the cows ate grass, just meters away, on the other side of the water. It was so calming.
For the last 15 years or so, I have been fortunate to visit Lucerne at least twice a year, and often three times. It is one of the most bea3utiful places on earth.
Apr 15th, 2016, 02:35 AM
#6
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8,381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The journey time between Como and Zermatt is about 1 hr shorter than that to Grindelwald.
Como SG dp 7.13 - Zermatt ar 11.50
Como SG dp 7.13 - Grindelwald ar 12.39
Zermatt - Zurich airport: 3 1/2 hrs by train, 1 train change
Grindelwald - Zurich airport: 3 hrs by train, 2 train changes
But for the scenery you mentioned above, it would be much easier to go to the Upper Engadine Valley: tons of glaciers and snow capped mountains just 3 hrs by train from Varenna/Lake Como
Como SG dp 7.13 - Zermatt ar 11.50
Como SG dp 7.13 - Grindelwald ar 12.39
Zermatt - Zurich airport: 3 1/2 hrs by train, 1 train change
Grindelwald - Zurich airport: 3 hrs by train, 2 train changes
But for the scenery you mentioned above, it would be much easier to go to the Upper Engadine Valley: tons of glaciers and snow capped mountains just 3 hrs by train from Varenna/Lake Como
