Overnight trip from Zurich
Sep 7th, 2004, 11:05 PM
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Overnight trip from Zurich
Looking for advice on a short trip to the Alps from Zurich. I arrive around noon on a Thursday and need to be back in Zurich by Friday evening. Is this too short of time to drive/train to Murren/Wengen/Grindelwald? Even if it's not too far, would I have time to hike on Friday morning before returning to Zurich that afternoon. Or would I be better served staying more local and checking out Luzern? In other words... am I pushing it trying to drive to the Bernese Oberland and back in a little more than one day? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Sep 8th, 2004, 05:48 AM
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Hi gdhyde,
The train trip from Zurich airport to, say, Wengen, takes 3h50 with two to three changes. You're the only one who can determine if you'll enjoy spending 7+ hours on a train over two days!! Are you arriving on an international flight with jet lag, etc? It really may be pushing it to fly overseas, then travel seven hours in two days, then fly overseas again.
I think Luzern would be a great choice in any case! It's only about an hour by direct train from the Zurich airport, and you can easily reach some mountaintops (Rigi, Titlis, Pilatus) from there. You can also enjoy a stroll in the historical spots in the old town, take a ferry ride around the gorgeous lake, stroll through the villages around the lake, or rent a bike and bike around the lake. Lots to do.
Rail schedules at www.rail.ch. Luzern's website is www.luzern.org. Also look at www.pilatus.ch, www.rigi.ch, and www.lakelucerne.ch.
Let me know if I can help further.
s
The train trip from Zurich airport to, say, Wengen, takes 3h50 with two to three changes. You're the only one who can determine if you'll enjoy spending 7+ hours on a train over two days!! Are you arriving on an international flight with jet lag, etc? It really may be pushing it to fly overseas, then travel seven hours in two days, then fly overseas again.
I think Luzern would be a great choice in any case! It's only about an hour by direct train from the Zurich airport, and you can easily reach some mountaintops (Rigi, Titlis, Pilatus) from there. You can also enjoy a stroll in the historical spots in the old town, take a ferry ride around the gorgeous lake, stroll through the villages around the lake, or rent a bike and bike around the lake. Lots to do.
Rail schedules at www.rail.ch. Luzern's website is www.luzern.org. Also look at www.pilatus.ch, www.rigi.ch, and www.lakelucerne.ch.
Let me know if I can help further.
s
Sep 8th, 2004, 07:24 AM
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I live in Switzerland and often drive to the Lauterbrunnern/Murren area for the day. However, I think this is a little ambitious coming off an international flight and having only about 24 hours for the trip; unless you have been to Murren before and won't waste time figuring out trains, finding trails, etc. As noted above, adding jet lag to the mix will make it tougher. I am not saying don't do it, but consider the following:
1. Weather/Time of year. Your post does not say what time of year you are coming. Cold temps and snow or rain will affect hiking conditions or make it impossible. Keep a flexible schedule so that you can cancel the trip if the weather looks bad. Also it would be a shame to go all the way there and find fog (often in late October through November and again in early spring).
2. I usually always advocate the train when travelling in Switzerland, but the drive can be done in about 2.5 hours each way from Zurich airport, as long as you don't have any traffic. You will certainly hit traffic in the Lucerne area and again approaching Zurich as you return on Friday afternoon. Traffic starts to build up between 3 and 4 pm (the Swiss go to work early). Bear this in mind. You also have to add in the time you will need to pick up and drop off the renal car. If you are trying to do this on a public holiday, you may find roads more crowded, plus some car rental locations may be closed. Also if you are coming in November through about March, it may well be dark for part of the drive, and if you are driving with jet lag in the dark over the twisting roads and mountain passes (without guardrails), that would not be a whole lot of fun, IMO.
3. There are some shortish hikes/walks (2 hours or so) in both Murren and Wengen, so I would go to one of these. Grindelwald is at the bottom of the valley and not as interesting for hiking, IMO as the views are not as spectacular. Another option is to go to Lauterbrunnen (where you would park anyway to get the train to Murren or Wengen) and hike along the valley floor to the various waterfalls, there are good views of the Egier and Jungfraujoch from there as well. The tourist offices in each village has maps with hiking/walking suggestions. There is also a great Lonely Planet book called "Walks in Switzerland".
4. The Lucerne suggestion above is fine, as long as you make the effort to go to Rigi, Pilatus, etc. IMO if you aren't going to go the mountains, you might as well skip Lucerne, and stay in Zurich and see and enjoy it. You can rent bikes, take a ferry down the lake, do everything you can in Lucerne, except maybe see the Alps (unless it is a very clear day).
1. Weather/Time of year. Your post does not say what time of year you are coming. Cold temps and snow or rain will affect hiking conditions or make it impossible. Keep a flexible schedule so that you can cancel the trip if the weather looks bad. Also it would be a shame to go all the way there and find fog (often in late October through November and again in early spring).
2. I usually always advocate the train when travelling in Switzerland, but the drive can be done in about 2.5 hours each way from Zurich airport, as long as you don't have any traffic. You will certainly hit traffic in the Lucerne area and again approaching Zurich as you return on Friday afternoon. Traffic starts to build up between 3 and 4 pm (the Swiss go to work early). Bear this in mind. You also have to add in the time you will need to pick up and drop off the renal car. If you are trying to do this on a public holiday, you may find roads more crowded, plus some car rental locations may be closed. Also if you are coming in November through about March, it may well be dark for part of the drive, and if you are driving with jet lag in the dark over the twisting roads and mountain passes (without guardrails), that would not be a whole lot of fun, IMO.
3. There are some shortish hikes/walks (2 hours or so) in both Murren and Wengen, so I would go to one of these. Grindelwald is at the bottom of the valley and not as interesting for hiking, IMO as the views are not as spectacular. Another option is to go to Lauterbrunnen (where you would park anyway to get the train to Murren or Wengen) and hike along the valley floor to the various waterfalls, there are good views of the Egier and Jungfraujoch from there as well. The tourist offices in each village has maps with hiking/walking suggestions. There is also a great Lonely Planet book called "Walks in Switzerland".
4. The Lucerne suggestion above is fine, as long as you make the effort to go to Rigi, Pilatus, etc. IMO if you aren't going to go the mountains, you might as well skip Lucerne, and stay in Zurich and see and enjoy it. You can rent bikes, take a ferry down the lake, do everything you can in Lucerne, except maybe see the Alps (unless it is a very clear day).
Sep 8th, 2004, 10:35 AM
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Thanks for the responses thus far. A little more info on my intinerary...
I am flying from San Francisco to London and then on to Zurich, arriving in Switzerland on the 16th of September. Jet lag may be a factor, depending on how much sleep I can get on that first leg.
I will be in Europe for 11 days so I'm not flying back right awawy, but I need to be back in Zurich by 7:00 or 8:00 for a dinner meeting. On Saturday I leave for Oktoberfest in Munich via train or car.
So taking that info into account, is a side trip to the Oberland too ambitious?
If I end up deciding to stay in Zurich, what is there to do there? I'm total mountain freak so the Alps are definitely more appealing to me, but I'm willing leave my options open.
Thanks again for the info.
I am flying from San Francisco to London and then on to Zurich, arriving in Switzerland on the 16th of September. Jet lag may be a factor, depending on how much sleep I can get on that first leg.
I will be in Europe for 11 days so I'm not flying back right awawy, but I need to be back in Zurich by 7:00 or 8:00 for a dinner meeting. On Saturday I leave for Oktoberfest in Munich via train or car.
So taking that info into account, is a side trip to the Oberland too ambitious?
If I end up deciding to stay in Zurich, what is there to do there? I'm total mountain freak so the Alps are definitely more appealing to me, but I'm willing leave my options open.
Thanks again for the info.
Sep 8th, 2004, 11:15 AM
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I live just south of Luzern in Stans and think that Engelberg would be a good bet for you if the weather is cooperative-it's a really beautiful place this time of year. If you post the hiking standard you have in mind I would be happy to make some suggestions for this area.
Sep 9th, 2004, 03:41 AM
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I think it is pretty ambitious to try to do this for about 24 and having to get back to Zurich for a Friday dinner. There is plenty to do and see in Zurich in that time period.
Can you move the dinner meeting to Thursday the 16Th? That would give you the whole day Friday to do other things. If you could do that, you could go up early Friday morning to the mountains, spend the day and night, and then train from there on to Munich. (If you go to the Grindelwald or Lucerne area, you can get to Munich is 6 hours from Lucerne. Some trains go back via Zurich, some go via Basel)
Another area to consider is Arosa, which is a little village in the mountains outside Chur. Chur is about 1.5 hours by train from Zurich. You then take a little train for about an hour up through the mountains to get to Arosa, a great ride. Door to door the trip is 2.5 hours and only one change, so would be a shorter trip than going to Grindelwald. There is some good walking in the area. You can get to Munich from Chur in 4.5 to 6 hours by train. Take a look at rail.ch for timetables.
The drive to Munich would take about 4-5 hours from Chur or Zurich, 5-6 from Lucerne and 6-7 from the Grindelwald area. I don't think I would do it if I were the only driver and if I was still getting over jet lag. Gas is US$4.50 a gallon here as well, and if you aren't returning to Zurich you may have a big drop off charge for the car.
Note that Monday September 19 is a half-day public holiday in the canton of Zurich (Rifle Day, no kidding). People do tend to take the whole Monday off, so you may have more traffic and crowds going up or returning on Friday and over the weekend. If the people you are meeting for dinner are live in Zurich or Zurich canton, they might also appreciate your moving the date so they could be free for the long weekend.
Can you move the dinner meeting to Thursday the 16Th? That would give you the whole day Friday to do other things. If you could do that, you could go up early Friday morning to the mountains, spend the day and night, and then train from there on to Munich. (If you go to the Grindelwald or Lucerne area, you can get to Munich is 6 hours from Lucerne. Some trains go back via Zurich, some go via Basel)
Another area to consider is Arosa, which is a little village in the mountains outside Chur. Chur is about 1.5 hours by train from Zurich. You then take a little train for about an hour up through the mountains to get to Arosa, a great ride. Door to door the trip is 2.5 hours and only one change, so would be a shorter trip than going to Grindelwald. There is some good walking in the area. You can get to Munich from Chur in 4.5 to 6 hours by train. Take a look at rail.ch for timetables.
The drive to Munich would take about 4-5 hours from Chur or Zurich, 5-6 from Lucerne and 6-7 from the Grindelwald area. I don't think I would do it if I were the only driver and if I was still getting over jet lag. Gas is US$4.50 a gallon here as well, and if you aren't returning to Zurich you may have a big drop off charge for the car.
Note that Monday September 19 is a half-day public holiday in the canton of Zurich (Rifle Day, no kidding). People do tend to take the whole Monday off, so you may have more traffic and crowds going up or returning on Friday and over the weekend. If the people you are meeting for dinner are live in Zurich or Zurich canton, they might also appreciate your moving the date so they could be free for the long weekend.
