TaraT

Greetings,

My husband has a business trip (fortunately a lot more relaxation than business) coming up in Switzerland. I have never been out of the country before so I don't really know how to start planning the trip. I feel very overwhelmed - but very fortunate that I found this website and have really enjoyed reading all of the helpful tips.

Here is what I know so far: We will be flying into Geneva and will be staying four nights in Montreux (August 20-24). I was then thinking we would stay 2 nights in Wengen (August 24-26) and return to either Geneva or Zurich on the 26th and fly home on the 27th. Our travel dates are still flexible because we haven't yet purchased plane tickets.

I would greatly appreciate any input that you might have. I am specifically, trying to find things to do around Montreux, if Wengen is a good choice or if there is someplace else that would be better, and if it would be better to fly home out of Geneva or Zurich.

Thank you so much in advance for any suggestions you can give me!!

Sincerely,
Tara

swandav2000

Hi TaraT,

I'm a frequent visitor to Montreux, having visited about 10 times! I've also skied Wengen two times and spent vacations at nearby Grindelwald two times. Hope I can help.

Your plan is excellent, I think. You'll see some of the very best of Switzerland -- though you might want to spend more than just two nights in Wengen. It's a spectacular area with a lot to do.

First, let me advise you to use the trains for your trip. You don't need them in Montreux or around Lake Geneva; I've only used a car once in all my visits (and regretted it). Between the train, the bus, and the lake ferry, you'll be better off without the car. And, because Wengen is car-free, obviously you don't need a car for your stay there. So, you can research all your train travel at the Swiss rail site

www.rail.ch

I advise you to use the route of the Golden Pass for the trip to Wengen -- it is about an hour longer, but it's very scenic as it passes the villages of Gstaad, Saanen, & Zweisimmen. It's well worth it.

Here are my favorite activities around Lake Geneva and nearby:

Montreux old town
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Lavaux
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Promenade Fleuri
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Morges
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...rges_Vaud.html

Gruyeres
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Fribourg.html

Saanen
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html

Gstaad
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html

You can research the ferry rides at

www.cgn.ch

And for your time in Wengen, I suggest you take a look around these sites:

www.wengen.com
www.wengen.ch
www.wengen-muerren.ch

And I also think you'd enjoy looking at some topo maps of the area. I love using google earth or google maps to get an idea of where I'm going.

Hope this helps -- have fun!!

s

swandav2000

ps, Montreux's sites are:

www.montreux.ch
www.montreux-vevey.com

Have fun!

s

PalenQ

The 8 consecutive day Swiss Saverpass IMO would be the best train option if going by rail

If going by rail i'd explain why it is

car or rail?

remember no cars in Wengen allowed. From Montreux the fabled Golden Pass train, with observation cars will take you to Interlaken, jumping off point for trains to Wengen, via Lauterbrunnen

Dukey

One of my own favorite activities around Montreux is a visit to the nearby Chillon "castle" and the other is the rack (cog) railway trip up to Rochers de Naye.

The trip up and down is spectacular in and of itself and the views from the top (assuming a non-cloudy/socked in day) over Lac Leman are truly memorable.

suze

I have a friend who lives in Montreux (used to live in Vevey the next town over) and have visited her 5 times over the past 10 years.

I fly in an out of Geneva. It is very easy to take the train from the airport out to Vevey or Montreux.

My favorites things to do are:
1) Saturday morning open air farmers market in Vevey
2) Friday morning open air farmers market in Montreux
3) Walking along the quai (lakeside promonade, both towns)
4) Chateau de Chillon (castle)
5) Rochers de Naye (mountain tram)
6) day trip to Gruyeres (castle)

BarbAnn

Have stayed in the Wengen area sevaral times (going back this fall). You could easily fly out of Zurich on the return home. You might even overnight in Luzern as it is an EASY one hour train ride to the Zurich Airport. Cute town and easy to navigate on foot. That way, you can see more of Switzerland.

I've visited Montreux several times also. Favorite day trip is Gruyere with a stop in Broc (chocolate factory). Also fun is a trip to Lausanne and the Olymic Museum.

The Swiss Saver Pass includes entrance to many museums and the local cit buses in Montreux, Lausanne and Luzern. It always you to hop on and off the trains, buses and lake steamers at any time.

PalenQ

For three excellent sites on Swiss train travel and Swiss Passes i always refer you to: www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com as these two sites have lots on Swiss trains, boats, etc. and well as passes - more than the usual site's simple listing of pass prices and a add to cart button - on the latter site you can ask for their free European Planning & Rail Guide that has a chapter on Switzerland and is a fine primer on European trains for novices. www.swisstravelsystem.com links you to web sites for lake boats, scenic swiss specialty trains like the Golden Pass one from Montreux to Interlaken.

jenblase

Hi TaraT.

I spent 3 nights in Switzerland last summer as part of my honeymoon and only got a small sampling. I'd love to have a whole week there; it was an amazing country!!

I stayed in Grindelwald and Montreux. While I liked Montreux very much, I would say you should take a night off of Montreux (if you can) and spend another night in Wengen. But maybe that is part of the business trip and is unavoidable.

travelri

We stayed in Wengen 3 years ago and loved it! Stayed at the Alpenrude Hotel with an amazing view from our bed. Went to Junfraujoch and Schilthorn, both very wonderful trips going on cog trains, cable cars, funiculars, etc. We walked from the last town down back to Wengen, a very memorable pretty easy hike to the lovely sound of the cow bells along the path.

bob_brown

If you are arriving in Interlaken by train, you will need to change trains at Interlaken Ost. Noting the correct station is vital because there is both an Ost and a West.

The Berner Oberlandbahn (BOB) trains leave from Interlaken Ost, usually Gleis 1 or 2.

You also want to board the part of the train bound for Lauterbrunnen. The train divides at Zweilütschinen with the front half going to Lauterbrunnen and the back half turning east to Grindelwald.

In Lauterbrunnen you change trains again to the Wegener Alpbahn. In the past these cars have been yellow and green.

The Swiss Pass should be valid as far as Wengen.

Farther up the line from Wengen is Kleine Scheidegg which is the jumping off point for the Jungfraubahn which goes up to the Jungfraujoch.

While in Wengen I suggest that if the day is clear that you ride the Luftseilbahn up to the crest of the ridge to the east called the Männlichen. From there you can return in any one of 3 basic ways.
One way is to go back the way you came up. Another way is to take the gondola on the other slope to Grindelwald Grund from which you can ride up to Grindelwald itself or return via Kleine Scheidegg, which is a scenic but expensive ride.

The third way, and one that is beautiful on a clear day, is walk the gentle trail from the restaurant down to Kleine Scheidegg and either walk back to Wengen or take the train back.
I hope to standing in that very spot in about 6 weeks!

nytraveler

Unlike most of the other posters we always have a car in Switzerland. We generally base in one of the larger town - Luzern or Interlaken - and use the car to do a variety of day trips depending on our mood and the weather.

It really depends on what you like to do. We're not into any hiking or trekking around on mountains - although we do a lot of walking. We prefer exploring cute small towns, out of the way castles, small museums etc - and find car is the easiest way to have the freedom to do whatever we want as the idea hits us.

MomDDTravel

I echo the recommendations of the Chateau de Chillon. We walked along from our hotel, (which we loved)and took a ferry back to the hotel on the lake. Very nice.

We had dinner at an Italian resturant which we also thought was so good we ate their twice: La Rouvenaz. Excellent.

Our hotel if you are interested was

Hotel Suisse Majestic - it got mixed reviews on trip advisor. We had a lovely room with a view of the lake. Priceless.
Here is a photo:http://tinyurl.com/6k3vln

JoyC

My family and I have stayed in Wengen on a self-catering apartment for a week. We loved it there!! It's a cute car-free alpine village with fantastic views and a good transportation hub especially if you are going to the Jungfraujoch,and Kleine Scheidegg. From Wengen, its easy to go to Murren, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and even to Lake Brienz.I highly recommend this place!!

I would suggest staying in Wengen for at least 3 nights, then train to Lucerne, stay for a couple of nights and then to Zurich for a day before your flight home.

PalenQ

With a Swiss Pass you would be 100% covered to Wengen and from there to lauterbrunnen, Murren, Gimmelwald, Grindelwald via Zweilutchen (sp?) and Interlaken and then also on boats on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and then the scneic Brunig Pass train from Interlaken to Lucerne (part of Golden Pass route) - lots of nice excursions in this area. Pass would give you 50% off most gondolas like Wengen-Mannlichen.

PalenQ

fantastic day out from Wengen is to take the Mannlichen cable way from Wengen to Mannlichen, right up the cliff to this most fabled viewpoint place, with rave views of both the Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald valleys and all over Interlaken and the lakes that wedge it in - and from here take the very gentle few mile stroll on a fairly flat wide 'ridge' trail to Kleine Scheidegg where you can either take the train down to Wengen or keep on trekking via a wide track that even mountain bikers were using when i took it so it's gentle enough - that slopes back down to Wengen

all in all a great day of hiking in the Swiss Alps with very manageable degrees of difficulty. And to hike in this area redefines breath-taking - not in terms of fatigue but an out of this world feeling.

PalenQ

my favorite excursion from Wengen goes first down to Lauterbrunnen then up via the new thrilling aerial cableway to Grutschalp where you board a tiny train that parallels the cliff edge (but not on it) to Murren - scintillating views of the Jungfrau Massif the whole way

Murren, a well-knowing formerly British dominated watering hole is the jumping off point for Europe's longest gondola ride - to the famous Schilthorn revolving restaurant and icy outpost with fabs 360 degree views of the Alps for miles around

a real eery top of the earth type place - James Bond associations of course

then back to Murren and take the cable car to Gimmelwald,a traditional farming village out in the middle of nowhere but glaciers in sight all around, etc.

then even more thrilling aerial large cabelcar that plunges down to the Lauterbrunnen Valley at Stechelberg where a post bus takes you the few miles back to Lauterbrunnen and train up to Wengen

Whole excursion is covered 100 by a Swiss Pass except the Schilthorn cable - 50% off that

to me the finest excursion in the Berner Oberland

sferguso

I would second the trip to Gruyere, I also loved a day trip to Aosta, Italy and Chamonix, France (albeit a very long day!)

jjmcg

bookmking

TaraT

Thanks for all of the travel tips and recommendations. Everyone has been very helpful! Although we still have a lot of details to work out (stay tuned for more questions), rather than feeling overwhelmed - I feel incredibly excited!!

Thanks again,
Tara