Paris to Zurich in 7 days
May 21st, 2015, 03:13 AM
#1
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Paris to Zurich in 7 days
I am in Paris until Monday July 27 and Fly out of Zurich on Monday August 8. I would like to travel by train and see as much Swiss scenery as possible. Zermatt appears to be one place worth seeing and I would like to stay there for a couple of nights, but I have no fixed plans. From what I've read online, there may be better options than the Glacier Express. Any interesting accomodation or historic locations would be appreciated also.
I am an Australian travelling with my wife, we are in our late 40s.
Can anyone suggest an itinery?
I am an Australian travelling with my wife, we are in our late 40s.
Can anyone suggest an itinery?
May 21st, 2015, 04:22 AM
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IMHO the Bernese Oberland- esp the trip up the Jungfrau is the most impressive mountain train in Switz. I would stay in a town in the foothills so you have access to lots of hikes as well as short train trips down to a number of lakes and cities. Interlaken is between lakes thun and brienz, the latter is a charming village to visit and Thun is a wonderful with with double decker shopping and a great castle to explore. Also a number of other fascinating places within easy reach: Lucerne, Gruyere, Bern, etc.
IMHO Zermatt is very much a ski resort - not sure the best place for a summer vacation.
IMHO Zermatt is very much a ski resort - not sure the best place for a summer vacation.
May 21st, 2015, 04:30 AM
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To me and many the absolute highlight of Switzerland is the Berner Oberland area - a k a The Jungfrau Region just up in the hills south of Interlaken - glacier-girdled peaks rising thousands of feet over lush meadows - cute mountain villages like Wengen and Grindelwald await - this would be my focus for a first trip - Zermatt has the Matterhorn but the Jungfrau Region has many more varied things - toylike trains and thrilling aerial gondolas going off in all directions.
You could take a train from Paris to the Lake Geneva area - Montreux and Vevey are perpetual favorites here - spend a few days there - then take the Golden Pass scenic train to Interlaken. Montreux day trip include to Gruyeres - a pefectly ramparted medieval town and the Broc Nestle Chocolate factory for a Willie Wonka-esque tour of the plant - you can take the special Chocolate Train to both from Gruyeres.
After 4-5 days there go maybe to Lucerne or Zermatt or other place. Lucerne makes another great base with day trips to place like Mt Pilatus and Mt Rigi - boat rides on Switzerland's loveliest lake (IMO), etc.
Anyway for lots of greata stuff on Swiss trains and Swiss Passes which if traveling around much at all are a good deal check these IMO superb sites: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com; and www.swisstravelsystem.com.
You could take a train from Paris to the Lake Geneva area - Montreux and Vevey are perpetual favorites here - spend a few days there - then take the Golden Pass scenic train to Interlaken. Montreux day trip include to Gruyeres - a pefectly ramparted medieval town and the Broc Nestle Chocolate factory for a Willie Wonka-esque tour of the plant - you can take the special Chocolate Train to both from Gruyeres.
After 4-5 days there go maybe to Lucerne or Zermatt or other place. Lucerne makes another great base with day trips to place like Mt Pilatus and Mt Rigi - boat rides on Switzerland's loveliest lake (IMO), etc.
Anyway for lots of greata stuff on Swiss trains and Swiss Passes which if traveling around much at all are a good deal check these IMO superb sites: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com; and www.swisstravelsystem.com.
May 21st, 2015, 04:47 AM
#4
I've been to Zermatt and done both the Glacier (the old route) and the Bernina Express trains.
IMO with only a couple of days you would be much better off going up above Interlaken in the BO. Why? First of all, the main "sight" attraction in Zermatt is the Matterhorn peak. If you get there and the peak is shrouded in clouds, and it often is, you are sunk.
The views are even MORE spectacular once you get up to the Grindelwald level and beyond and taking the train trip up to the Jungfrau is absolutely unforgettable.
You can easily get a rail connection by TGV to Zurich BUT try going directly to Bern instead from Paris and change there.
IMO with only a couple of days you would be much better off going up above Interlaken in the BO. Why? First of all, the main "sight" attraction in Zermatt is the Matterhorn peak. If you get there and the peak is shrouded in clouds, and it often is, you are sunk.
The views are even MORE spectacular once you get up to the Grindelwald level and beyond and taking the train trip up to the Jungfrau is absolutely unforgettable.
You can easily get a rail connection by TGV to Zurich BUT try going directly to Bern instead from Paris and change there.
May 21st, 2015, 05:37 AM
#5
Definitely buy a Swisspass if you want to cover a lot of territory -- it covers all trains, tramways, buses and ferries in the country, a number of the cable cars, and also serves as a museum pass.
May 21st, 2015, 07:21 AM
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also serves as a museum pass.>
not just museums but attractions - like I believe Trunnelbach Falls at Lauterbrunnen (not sure but I used it for entry several years ago) and the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum of traditional Swiss life - well a museum but at $20 or so entry p.p. makes a pass all the more useful even though many do not go to Switzerland to see museums but there are some nice ones.
Like on those not so infrequent rainy days in the Alps - the Jungfrau towns are all easy daya trips from Bern and its acclaimed museums like the Paul Klee one where the edifice itself is as much the draw as the modern art inside to some.
But museum discounts are only given on days of 100% coverage like on a flexipass no free entry in between days of 100% use.
not just museums but attractions - like I believe Trunnelbach Falls at Lauterbrunnen (not sure but I used it for entry several years ago) and the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum of traditional Swiss life - well a museum but at $20 or so entry p.p. makes a pass all the more useful even though many do not go to Switzerland to see museums but there are some nice ones.
Like on those not so infrequent rainy days in the Alps - the Jungfrau towns are all easy daya trips from Bern and its acclaimed museums like the Paul Klee one where the edifice itself is as much the draw as the modern art inside to some.
But museum discounts are only given on days of 100% coverage like on a flexipass no free entry in between days of 100% use.
May 21st, 2015, 11:05 AM
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From what I've read online, there may be better options than the Glacier Express>
Yes indeedy - like just about any rail line in the Jungfrau Region - like trains from Interlaken to Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen/Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg - much more scenic than the Glacier Express, Europe's most marketed and overhyped train ride - an all-day 8-hour marathon ride with some nice scenery - awesome scenery at either ends and a rather reptitive but yes scenic as practically all trains in Switzerland are - one of the best parts of the Glacier Express is from visp to Zermatt so if you opt to do Zermatt you will experience some of the best of the GE scenery.
Yes indeedy - like just about any rail line in the Jungfrau Region - like trains from Interlaken to Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen/Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg - much more scenic than the Glacier Express, Europe's most marketed and overhyped train ride - an all-day 8-hour marathon ride with some nice scenery - awesome scenery at either ends and a rather reptitive but yes scenic as practically all trains in Switzerland are - one of the best parts of the Glacier Express is from visp to Zermatt so if you opt to do Zermatt you will experience some of the best of the GE scenery.
