Swiss: 9 day trip

Old Jul 20th, 2016, 10:05 PM
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Swiss: 9 day trip

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and need your help to see if the travel itinerary that i have in mind is good enough.

We are two (husband and wife) of us travelling to switzerland and paris.

I would like to know if it is worth including glacier express and bernina express and if yes, then how should i add it in my itinerary?
Is there anything else that i should cover?

Day 1: Arrive zurich in morning. Visit rhine falls. Move to lucerne. Stay at lucerne

Day 2: Mt. Titlis

Day 3: Mt. Pilatus

Day 4: Move to interlaken, go to lake brienz, stay at murren

Day 5: Grindelwald, stay at murren

Day 6: Jungfurau, stay at murren

Day 7: Schilthorn, stay at murren

Day 8: Interlaken to zermatt. Then visit matterhorn

Day 9: Zermatt to geneva. On the way. Visit montreux. Visit lake geneva, if time permits

Day 10: Geneva to Paris

Please let me know your thoughts.
jai88 is offline  
Old Jul 20th, 2016, 10:18 PM
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Hi jai88,

I personally don't think that scenic trains are very worthwhile -- you're sitting passively while the train runs through nice scenery. I think it's far better to get yourself onto a mountain trail and to experience the scenery (sun, wind, air) against your skin.

I did the Glacier Express once because it worked into my plans -- I had a stay in Scuol and a stay in Brig, and the GE connected them conveniently. But I don't think the scenery was superior in any way to just being on a mountainside yourself.

The Bernina Express is a great train ride, and it's the exception imo, as the scenery is really terrific. However, your vacation isn't near it at all, so I don't see how to fit it in. If you could extend your trip by 3 nights, you could do it, or you could skip either Luzern or Zermatt and spend those days in a town or village around St Moritz. If you decide to do that, you should do it at the beginning of the trip, not the end, because you'd have to cross the whole country to get to Paris.

I wonder if you're taking the time to do the Golden Pass route on day 8 when you move to Zermatt? That's a nice ride, and I love the scenery. I personally would spend days 8 & 9 in Montreux, as that would give you more contrast with all the mountains you'll be seeing.

Have fun as you plan!

s
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Old Jul 21st, 2016, 07:31 AM
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My concern with an itinerary that has one inflexible day scheduled for mountain scenery (like your one day trip to Zermatt) is that if the weather does not cooperate on that day, you've essentially wasted it. If you go to Zermatt and have bad weather, such that you never even see the Matterhorn, would you regret including that in your itinerary? I think I would take that day and spend it somewhere on Lake Geneva (my choice would be somewhere between Montreux and Lausanne, but Geneva would be fine, too).
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Old Jul 21st, 2016, 07:55 AM
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Why are you bothering to go to Paris?
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Old Jul 21st, 2016, 08:09 AM
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One more thing.
If i have to skip a mointain, should it not be mt. Pilatus?
I can move my itinerary up by one day and keep tht one day for montreux.
Please tell your views about this as well.
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Old Jul 21st, 2016, 08:10 AM
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Hi all,

Thanks for the replies.
To twk, my argument is what if weather is good in zermatt, i can see the beauty of matterhorn.
I can even keep that day flexible and decide based on weather forecast.
Please tell me about hotel availability in sep, if i plan to take that risk?

StCirq
After marriage, there is a wife who wants to see Eiffel tower and disneyland

swandav2000
I like the idea aboit golden pass, but i have heard zermatt is much better.
If this is the last time i am in switzerland, what should i do?
Zermatt or golden pass?
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Old Jul 21st, 2016, 11:38 AM
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For your travel plans a Swiss Pass is probably a no-brainer as you are traveling to several different areas and then within them- for lots of great info on Swiss Passes and trains, etc check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

day 1 is just not possible to do all that especially after a presumably long flight.

Maybe go to Lucerne, just a short train ride from Zurich Airport.
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Old Jul 21st, 2016, 01:08 PM
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www.sbb.ch - the site of Swiss Railways - check regular fares vs the pass.
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Old Jul 21st, 2016, 09:08 PM
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Hi again,

I'm afraid that I am unable to make this decision for you. I can only make travel decisions for myself -- !

I personally wasn't that excited by Zermatt; I thought it was overcrowded with people and with buildings (chalets) jammed all together. I also was underwhelmed with seeing the Matterhorn; it looked just like the posters and pictures I've seen of it. But of course lots of folks love it there and love the Matterhorn.

I already told you above what I would do if it were me . . .

The good news is that you can't make a wrong decision -- you'll have a great visit and will see stunning scenery.

Have fun!

s
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Old Jul 22nd, 2016, 08:48 AM
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Day 9: Zermatt to geneva. On the way. Visit montreux. Visit lake geneva, if time permits>

You could do the GP between Zermatt and Geneva by taking the train from Zermatt to Visp/Brig then to Spiez and catch the GP there to Montreux - would take a couple of hours longer however than more direct route.

That said I do not think the GP scenery is nearly as awesome as that you would have seen in Zermatt and Interlaken areas. the Glacier Express goes between Zermatt and Brig if you want one of those official scenic trains.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2016, 09:38 AM
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No, Pal, op can take the GP when travelling on day 8 from Interlaken to Zermatt (as I said above) -- it would just be a detour via Montreux. Makes far more sense than going from Zermatt to Geneva via Spiez.

s
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Old Jul 22nd, 2016, 10:45 AM
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Yes swandav - failed to note you recommended that and makes much more sense.
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Old Jul 29th, 2016, 08:59 PM
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Thanks all for response.
Will share my experience one i am back
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Old Jul 29th, 2016, 10:37 PM
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Day 1: At the ZRH airport, follow signs “To Trains = Zu den Zügen”. Trains depart from tracks underneath the terminal building adjacent to arrivals and customs/passport check, there are ticket vending machines on the floor before you descend to the tracks, and since you may need human assistance, look for the large SBB-CFF signs (the Swiss train system logo) in the corner with manned counters.

State your case - first going to Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall (“Castle Laufen at the Rhinefalls”, the station nearest to the falls), then in the afternoon from Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall to Luzern. The beauty of the Swiss trains is that you don’t have to book on a specific train at a specific time - get your ticket and then hop on a train that suits you. No need to spring for first class, second is plenty nice.

Trains for Schloss Laufen leave frequently, none of them go direct - most require one quick and painless switch at either Neuhausen or Winterthur, taking about 45 mintes in all. A few departure times require two switches.
Go to www.sbb.ch/en and learn your way around the system, it’s easy and will pay off once you’re there. Enter dates as DD-MM-YYYY and times in 24-hour style (what Americans call “military”).

From Schloss Laufen to Lucerne trains will take less than two hours, it will require two switches, but no long layovers. So your plan is totally feasible as long as you manage to sleep on the flight, as much as the lack of comfort allows, so that you will be somewhat functional at least. The stroll to the falls will do you good, the rest is lazy train riding. You might even have time for a ride on the lake Lucerne in the evening (what time of year is this happening?), there are public boats!

Now if all this sounds fine except you have more luggage than you want to carry, then do this: From the airport, first take the train into Zürich to the main station Zürich HB (Hauptbahnhof = principal station). Put your bags in to a locker or look for the manned Gepäckaufbewahrung counter. Then go to Schloss Laufen from Zürich HB, no problem. When you come back from the Rhinefalls, on your way to Lucerne, come get the bags. It will add some time to your day’s schedule, so figure it out.

Day 2: Do Titlis, or instead do Pilatus today - plus a boat ride or a swim or whatever, and a stroll around Lucerne, including the famous re-built wooden bridge.

Day 3: Skip it - you need extra time in Zermatt that may well be worth it. Read on, you’re not issing out!

So this is now DAY 3: Move to Mürren, via Lake Brienz and Interlaken. To make up for the skipped mountain near Luzern, interrupt the train journey in Brienz and take the mountain-goat of a train up to the Rothorn - see www.brienz-rothorn-bahn.ch/en/welcome.html. Then come back down, take the next train to Interlaken and on to Mürren.

The thing about Interlaken is this: It is not itself that nice a destination, it’s the location between the two lakes and with great views up above that makes it useful, as a springboard to targets in the region, like Mürren.

What is now DAY 7: The trip from Mürren to Zermatt is quite involved, you need to switch trains five times! Mountains can be so darn inconvenient... But still, the total trip takes only a bit over three hours!

You want to get to Zermatt as soon as you can. It’s a car-free town. Settle in, walk around, check out the views and the weather - you need to have some time up your sleeve in case it’s low visibility or worse. Don’t plan on rushing in and rushing out, that can be heartbreakingly wasteful.

If the weather is brilliant and it’s still only early afternoon, immediately consider taking the cog railway up to the Gornergrat - see www.zermatt.ch/en/Media/Attractions/Gornergrat, this just might be your chance. If not, now you’ll have all of tomorrow, and there are other things to see and do.

What is now still DAY 9: The train from Zermatt happens to go via Montreux and then along the Lake Geneva. Here is a fabulous suggestion if the weather up high is good and clear:

Get off in Montreux (if you left Zermatt after breakfast, say on the 09:13 train, you’ll get to Montreux at 11:47 and if you take the next little train up the mountain, leaving at 12:17, you’ll be in the wildflower paradise of Les Rochers de Naye at 13:11, with incredible views over the Lake Geneva and across to the French Alps, Mont Blanc etc.! See http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/...-montreux.html

Plenty of time to come back down to Montreux, go stroll by the lakeside, have a snack, and take a train to Geneva, you’ll still be there by dinner time or before.
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 02:42 AM
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Very nice of michelhuebeli to provide so many details! Note, however, that PalenQ already directed you to a website that will give you information about all the trains, buses, boats, etc. -- and about lockers and luggage forwarding -- that are part of the extensive swiss rail system, and that website would provide information about options other than those michelhuebeli chooses to recommend
http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html

Enjoy!
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 03:07 AM
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IMO, I would do Titlis or Pilatus and not both. The Titlis trip involves a nice ride from Luzern to Engleberg and then a short walk from the station over to the three-stage cableway. The final stage which gets you to the peak employs an Italian-manufactured "Rotair" which means the passenger car rotates 360 degrees on its way to the top. The cableway is discounted if you use a SwissPass.

In terms of your time above Interlaken on days 4, 5, 6, and 7 unless you are really REALLY slow movers you might easily combine a couple of those sights into ONE day.

In terms of Zermatt; the rail trip up from Visp can at least seem interesting and for me, and I've been at least four times, the village itself which you can walk the entire length of in an hour, was basically a shopping opportunity for VERY expensive watches along with the usual souvenirs (the same ones you'll see in Grindelwald, etc. There is that more or less memorial to all those brave souls who lost their lives to the climb, and a few more retail outlets.

As to the peak itself; the village can be under clearer skies as the peak is shrouded; there is a live cam in Gornergrat railway waiting room so you can view the top BEFORE you buy the tickets to go up (SwissPass discounted) or you can take the cableway from another part of the village.

You are going in the WRONG DIRECTIONS for either the Glacier Express (which runs to the northeast from Zermatt/Visp/Brig as well as the Bernina Express which starts out further east in Graubunden (Chur) and runs south toward Ticino and Italy.

The Rochers de Naye trip is spectacular since the toonerville trolley of a railcar clings to the sides of the mountain as are the views out at the top over LacLeman.
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 08:23 AM
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Great advice from Dukey!
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 02:07 PM
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The cableway is discounted if you use a SwissPass.>

no doubt 50% as is usual with everything not fully covered (except Jungfraujoch from Wengen or Grindelwald is just 25%) -things are free if they connect two actual towns or hamlets - places where people live but if going to mountain tops it is usually 50%-always IME except the Jungfraujoch trains.

Most gondolas only go to mountain tops - but a few are covered in full - like Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp and on by train to Murren - the gondolas from Lauterbrunnen and train up top are fully covered because they take you to a real town not just a mountain top. Ditto for Murren-Gimmelwald-Stechelberg via gondola - fully covered but the Schilthorn gondola is 50% from Murren because it just goes to a mountain top.
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