swiss itinerary suggestions

Old May 5th, 2006, 05:43 AM
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swiss itinerary suggestions

We are planning to go to Switzerland in June for 8 days with the following plan
Montreux - 2 nights
Interlaken - 3 nights
Lucerne - 3 nights

Any tips from fellow travelers on what sights will be worth the while?
Some of the things we have decided after reading this board
For Interlaken - trip to Jungfrau
For Lucerne - Trip to Pilatus
Pls give us suggestions !!

Thanks,
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Old May 5th, 2006, 06:04 AM
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Hi cchheda,

Interlaken -
Do not stay in the town of Interlaken, you should stay in Grindelwald, Wengen, or Murren (best choice). Murren is a tiny town 1/3 of the way up the mountain to the Schilthorn. Don't bother going up the Jungfrau, it's not worth it. Do Schilthorn and Schynige Platte (one of the most underrated sites). Look at sites like www.myswissalps.com and www.wengen-murren.ch

Luzern -
You won't need 3 days unless you have a car. Do Pilatus then rent a car and drive into Ticino. Drive up the valleys which are still dotted with the tiny settlements which have houses made entirly of slate and purch precariously on the hillside.

Montreux -
Just chill by the lake. You can take a boat ferry to Lausanne and back if you like.
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Old May 5th, 2006, 06:16 AM
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I, for one, happen to like staying in Interlaken. I like looking up at the gorgeous Alps and I like that I can walk to a good choice of eateries and shops. I once stayed in a higher elevation location and the result was morning nosebleeds. Not a problem in Interlaken.

Lucerne has a very interesting transportation museum that might be worth a couple of hours or more. I've always been there in the early spring and have often looked at the lake steamers and thought of a nice boat trip, but have not done this. I think it would be a wonderful option though. The lake is one of the most beautiful I've seen.
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Old May 5th, 2006, 08:04 AM
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Hi cchheda,

Here are links to my "reviews" (w/photos) of my favorite activities around Lake Geneva:

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

Site for ferry information is: www.cgn.ch

Let me know if you have further questions!

s
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Old May 5th, 2006, 10:22 AM
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Town farmer's street markets:
Vevey, Tues & Sat AM
Montreux, Fri AM

Chateau de Chillon

the lakeside promonade (quai) in either Vevey or Montreux

Montreux's Old Town
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Old May 5th, 2006, 11:33 AM
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swandav2000 has given you great information.
I personally would take one night from Interlaken and spend it in Montreux.
The area around Lake Geneva is gorgeous, and the drives to places like Gruyere,Evian, and even Berne ( which is only about an hour from Montreux) are spectacular. There is a great train ride up the mountain from Montreux, and Vevey, Chaplin's home base is a really cute little town about 10 minutes from Montreux.
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Old May 5th, 2006, 11:52 AM
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There is really not a lot to do in Lucerne.
The Transportation museum is good for about an hour,you walk across the old bridge, you take a boat ride on the lake, you do a little shopping, and that's about it.

As I recall there is an outdoor museum not to too far from Lucerne featuring replicas ( or maybe they were original...I don't really remember) of old houses from different areas of Switzerland.

We've stayed in Grindlewald a couple of times. The reason tourists go there is that there is "stuff" to do,and plenty of hotels and restaurants of all types and price ranges.You can go into the ice cave, take a cable car up the mountain (easily accessed from the main drag), take a train ride up another mountain,
and it's only about a 20 minute drive to interlaken.


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Old May 5th, 2006, 12:53 PM
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the train ride up the mountain LynFrance mentioned is named Rocher de Naye (or is there an 's' in there somewhere?)

it's a scenic tram that leaves from the Montreux train station (but you buy tickets at a different office than the regular train). And definitely worth doing (but sometimes it is fogged in at the top, so possibly no spectacular view).

Another thing I'll add for the area is a boat ride on the lake of some kind.

Oh yes... and have 'filet de perche' somewhere (little lake fish done up fish & chips like).
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Old May 5th, 2006, 02:57 PM
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Old May 6th, 2006, 05:32 AM
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Reading someone's mention that there is nothing to do in Lucerne made me think of Ursula, who some time ago recommended a couple of museums there -- the Picasso and the Reinhart (spelling?). Has anyone visited Lucerne's art museums recently to recommend their favorites? I'm compiling a wishlist. Thanks. J.
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Old May 6th, 2006, 05:36 AM
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Sorry, cch, I didn't even ask your pardon for barging in. To redeem myself, I'll add that I would also consider taking a night from Lucerne and adding it to Montreux. The Vaud and Lac Leman are so rich with places to visit. Did anyone mention Chateau d'Oex with its mountain views and its wonderful museum of folk art? J.
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Old May 11th, 2006, 05:14 AM
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HI, We selected the places to be a base while we visited the places close by. Montreux was added as a last minute, we were only planning to go to Lucerne and Interlaken. So anything we see over there is really a bonus..

I continue to do research whenever I get the time(work has ramped up ) so really appreciate the help that all of you are offering. We last went to the bahamas with the advice that was offered here and were extremely happy with the recommendations. So I hold all of you in very high esteem.

- There are 2 of us and will be travelling by train between the cities. Is there a pass or a discounted fare that we can avail?

- Got a lot of advice on Montreux with links, can we also get something for Interlaken and Lucerne?

Thank you all again!
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Old May 11th, 2006, 05:30 AM
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Hi ccheda,

Well, those Montreux links I provided are my personal reviews, which I supplied at the tripadvisor.com site. So you'll have to go to tripadvisor & search among their "Attractions" to find other travelers' reviews.

Here is the page for Luzern attractions:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...s-Lucerne.html

Also check out www.luzern.org and after getting to the English pages, click on "Leisure," then on "Sightseeing" or "City Walks." That should give you a good idea of what to see there.

Here is the tripadvisor page for Interlaken attractions:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...wiss_Alps.html

Also take a look at www.interlakentourism.ch/

then click on "Summer Experiences" to see what's available there.

Good luck!

s
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Old May 12th, 2006, 06:34 AM
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I went to Lucerne on a two day layover with the idea of going up Pilatus. In the end it rained the entire 2 days (cats and dogs) and we decided to do the town in stead. I did not think the town had more than about a day's sightseeing, but I found one amasing thing. We visited the glacier museum. Although the museum is only so-so, it had a labyrinth made of mirrors. It was facinating. The mirror reflections created virtual corridors and you would think you are walking down a corridor only to bump into a mirror. We laughed so much. Although I would not visit Lucerne just for this, I would go again to this labirinth if I ever were in Lucern. It is sometimes great to break a cultural, scenery tour with something plain fun!
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Old May 12th, 2006, 01:34 PM
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It's a matter of personal taste, but I love Luzern and enjoyed it much more than Montreux. It wasn't even close, in my opinion.

Things to do include:
1. Bourbaki Panorama--think of it as a low-tech Imax -- showing scenes from the Franco-Prussian war.
2 Day trip to Mt. Pilatus: cable car up, cogwheel train down and either boat or train back to Luzern
3. Loewendenkmal (Lion Monument) carved into wall to commemorate Swiss mercenary soldiers who died defending Louis the XIV (I think) of France
4. City Walk--seeing the murals in the Kappelbrucke and Spreuerbrucke covered bridges over the Reuss, going up and around the medieval ramparts above the Altstadt
5. Seeing the Jesuitenkirche and the Hofkirche cathedrals
6. Rosengart museum is relatively new and worth a look. Picasso museum I found to be relatively less interesting.
7. Transport museum mentioned above
8. Boat ride on Vierwaldstattersee (Lake Luzern)--they have one that goes out at night, has swiss "folklore costume dancing, singing and Alphorn playing) along with a dinner. It's fun, though years since we did that.

If you want ideas for restaurants in Luzern, click on my screen name and scroll down to find suggestions.
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Old May 20th, 2006, 08:13 AM
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cch - I just came back from a one week trip to Switzerland. Can you say MY GOD! the country is absolutely beautiful.

I did a similar itin compared to yours. I landed in Zurich and headed out to the BO area immediately. That was a long trip, but well worth it. The trip from Zurich to the BO area is approx 3 hours by train. We stayed at Lauterbraunnen and loved it. The little town is gorgeous and the people there are absolutely nice. We stayed at the Hotel Staubbach. The staff is sooo nice. The owner Craig is American, so he speaks perfect English. The rooms were no frills, but absolutely comfortable. When I was there, Murren and Wengen are both pretty much closed due to off season. They are both very nice little towns to stay at if things were open. My preference is Wengen and the reason is b/c it is much easier to get to. Murren, you need to take a godola to get to. Wengen, you just need to pick up the tram from Lauterbraunnen train station. In my opinion, Interlaken is worth a 1/2 day trip. It is just another bigger city, doesn't have as much charm as the other little towns. If you ask me, DEFINTELY stay somewhere else.

Lucerne, we were there for 2 nights and thought it was enough. Not a lot to do there, but very beautiful and definitely worth a stay. We stayed there and took the train to Zurich airport the last day. Only 1 hr ride!!

We spent 2 nights at Montreux (Lake Geneva area) and liked it. The town of Montreux is very touristy. In my opinion, it is a very fabricated town. I like Lausanne and Vevey better. I stayed at the Hotel Helvetie and it was a great old charm hotel. It was cheap for me to stay there b/c it was low season and they had a special running for 150CHF per night, which included one dinner!! We wouldn't have stayed there if it was not the special. Loved the hotel.

In general, food is VERY expensive. Be smart about where you eat. We ate at Migros, Co-ops restaurants and Minoras. These are self-service restaurants which is linked to either a grocery store or a shopping center. They close early, so plan accordingly!

Enjoy, it is a GREAT country
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Old May 20th, 2006, 08:15 AM
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Oh! I will be posting my trip report shortly. I just got back 2 nights ago and I am still jet-lagging. Once I get myself together, I will post my report.
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Old May 20th, 2006, 05:36 PM
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Augiechang,
Glad you had a great time - can't wait to read your report.
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Old May 21st, 2006, 12:40 PM
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Maudie - yes, looking forward to posting my trip report. I even took pictures for you to see the rooms! (what a "friend" huh?!)

Augie
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Old May 21st, 2006, 12:40 PM
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Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and Wengen are fine if you want to walk or go up the mountains, Jungfraujoch if have nover been is not to be missed, but the weather needs to be good, the Schilthorn is good, a trip on either or both lakes well worth going. Lucerne, I agree three nights might be too long, but try the transport museum, you need longer than an hour, for mountains Pilatus, Rigi and if you want to go further afield Engleberg and Titlis, Montreux, the lake a trip to Geneva, but look on the mySwitzerland.com web site and the Swissrailways site www.sbb.ch by have Enlish pages and plenty of links.
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