Switzerland
Jul 28th, 2013, 09:13 AM
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Switzerland
We are coming to Switzerland the first week of September and have an extra night to spare before heading out of Geneva to Paris. We are wondering if we should stay an extra night in Lucerne or in Montreux. Any thoughts? Thank you ahead of time!
Jul 28th, 2013, 09:42 AM
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Hi mmcgriff,
Our suggestions will be more helpful if you could give us some more information, such as --
Your complete itinerary, including how many days currently in Luzern and Montreux. Will you be visiting any other mountain destinations?
Who is travelling -- ages?
What are your interests -- walking, hiking, sight-seeing, wine tasting, gourmet dining?
Hope to hear more!
s
Our suggestions will be more helpful if you could give us some more information, such as --
Your complete itinerary, including how many days currently in Luzern and Montreux. Will you be visiting any other mountain destinations?
Who is travelling -- ages?
What are your interests -- walking, hiking, sight-seeing, wine tasting, gourmet dining?
Hope to hear more!
s
Jul 28th, 2013, 12:20 PM
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swandav2000/. We're are staying in Wengen for 3 days, currently Lucerne 2 days and Monteux 2 days. 2 adults. We love walking/hiking/ wine. However we wil also be staying in Beaune France so if we don't get much wine in the Montreux area we'll be okay!
Jul 28th, 2013, 08:52 PM
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Hi again,
Well, I'd add that day to Montreux -- with 3 days for Wengen and 2 days for Luzern, that's 5 mountain days.
And if you like wine, having an extra day to wander the vineyards of the Lavaux (between Montreux and Lausanne) is a great idea. The Lavaux is at its best in the fall, too. You can take the train to Lutry and go on the signposted walk of its medieval buildings. After that, walk through the vineyards to Cully or Rivaz (2 or 3 hours), and go to the Vinorama in Rivaz, where you can taste wine from all over the region. End the day in Vevey, exploring the wonderful streets and nooks and crannies of its old town right next to the lake.
Then you still have two full days to explore Montreux and its promenade, Villeneuve, Chillon, Montreux's old town, and take the Chocolate Train if you want.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Well, I'd add that day to Montreux -- with 3 days for Wengen and 2 days for Luzern, that's 5 mountain days.
And if you like wine, having an extra day to wander the vineyards of the Lavaux (between Montreux and Lausanne) is a great idea. The Lavaux is at its best in the fall, too. You can take the train to Lutry and go on the signposted walk of its medieval buildings. After that, walk through the vineyards to Cully or Rivaz (2 or 3 hours), and go to the Vinorama in Rivaz, where you can taste wine from all over the region. End the day in Vevey, exploring the wonderful streets and nooks and crannies of its old town right next to the lake.
Then you still have two full days to explore Montreux and its promenade, Villeneuve, Chillon, Montreux's old town, and take the Chocolate Train if you want.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Jul 29th, 2013, 11:37 AM
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with 3 days for Wengen and 2 days for Luzern, that's 5 mountain days.>
No that is 3 mountain days - Lucerne being anything but in the mountains.
I'd add the extra day to Wengen as they are so so many varied things to do from that base - like do a lake boat ride on either lake bookending Interlaken or do the fantastic Schilthorn/Murren/Gimmelwald excursion, or go to the famous Ballenberg Open-Air museum or Brienz to take the vintage steam train up the mountain and perhaps do a gentle stroll back down as I did.
For lots of great info on Swiss trains and lake boats check out these fine sights - http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html; www.swisstravelsystem.com and www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com. You are traveling around enough to warrant a Swiss Pass - an 8-consecutive-day pass would be great - covering all your travels indicated - including in full to remote Wengen and Murren, boats on either lakes and also on Lake Lucerne and in full up Mt Rigi from the lake and also free entry to 400+ Swiss museums - about a $25 value in the case of Ballenberg.
No that is 3 mountain days - Lucerne being anything but in the mountains.
I'd add the extra day to Wengen as they are so so many varied things to do from that base - like do a lake boat ride on either lake bookending Interlaken or do the fantastic Schilthorn/Murren/Gimmelwald excursion, or go to the famous Ballenberg Open-Air museum or Brienz to take the vintage steam train up the mountain and perhaps do a gentle stroll back down as I did.
For lots of great info on Swiss trains and lake boats check out these fine sights - http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html; www.swisstravelsystem.com and www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com. You are traveling around enough to warrant a Swiss Pass - an 8-consecutive-day pass would be great - covering all your travels indicated - including in full to remote Wengen and Murren, boats on either lakes and also on Lake Lucerne and in full up Mt Rigi from the lake and also free entry to 400+ Swiss museums - about a $25 value in the case of Ballenberg.
Jul 30th, 2013, 04:47 AM
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For Alpine wonderland scenery by all means in the Jungfrau Region - and there are other bases in the hills that are no so remote as Murren or Wengen - many like Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen - especially folks looking for a more lively atmosphere than somnolent Murren or Wengen though for folks who like solitude those can be great.
Jul 30th, 2013, 12:54 PM
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Luzern is a base from which one can very easily ascend the mountains>
a few mountains like at Engelberg and Mt Pilatus - but for the real Alpine wonderland where you can spend several days only places like Zermatt and the Jungfrua Region will fulfill that picture of Switzerland perhaps etched in your minds eyes - plus staying in the mountains is a key and Lucerne is in no way in the mountains even though some low Alps can be seen from it perhaps.
Two very different bases - Lucerne is great but for the Alpine aspect of Switzerland you have to IMO stay right up in the mountains not merely day trip in for a few hours.
a few mountains like at Engelberg and Mt Pilatus - but for the real Alpine wonderland where you can spend several days only places like Zermatt and the Jungfrua Region will fulfill that picture of Switzerland perhaps etched in your minds eyes - plus staying in the mountains is a key and Lucerne is in no way in the mountains even though some low Alps can be seen from it perhaps.
Two very different bases - Lucerne is great but for the Alpine aspect of Switzerland you have to IMO stay right up in the mountains not merely day trip in for a few hours.
Jul 30th, 2013, 01:05 PM
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Pal, the OP is doing both, not either/or. This was a question about where to stay in addition to Wengen & Luzern. So, I think the extra day should be spent in Montreux, which provides a greater contrast.
s
s
Jul 30th, 2013, 07:54 PM
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2 nights based in luzern covering Zurich/bern/luzern
3 nights based in either murren/wengen or grindelwald/Lautenbrunnen, covering the oberland area and the alpines.
2 nights based in Zermatt.
Im a singaporean planning for my honeymoon and theres practically nothing to see in my concrete jungle country. I'll like a mix of quiet swiss life blending with lively atmosphere on the other, similar to what PalenQ mentioned.
My mind was fixed on murren until I saw your reply. Personally I do not know where to stay. Seems like a theres many good options to choose from.
Am currently doing some research on Montreux like what swandav2000 mentioned too.
3 nights based in either murren/wengen or grindelwald/Lautenbrunnen, covering the oberland area and the alpines.
2 nights based in Zermatt.
Im a singaporean planning for my honeymoon and theres practically nothing to see in my concrete jungle country. I'll like a mix of quiet swiss life blending with lively atmosphere on the other, similar to what PalenQ mentioned.
My mind was fixed on murren until I saw your reply. Personally I do not know where to stay. Seems like a theres many good options to choose from.
Am currently doing some research on Montreux like what swandav2000 mentioned too.
Jul 31st, 2013, 12:37 PM
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Pal, the OP is doing both, not either/or. This was a question about where to stay in addition to Wengen & Luzern. So, I think the extra day should be spent in Montreux, which provides a greater contrast.>
OK thanks for putting me straight but in that case with only 3 days in Wengen and already 2 in Lucerne and Montreux then I would definitely say Wengen as there is so so much more varied things to do in the Jungfrau Region than in either of the other two where for the average traveler two days is enough (though each is a pleasant base from which to hop to nearby places, just places not as awesome IMO as in the Jungfrau Region - say doing the fantastic Schilthorn excursion that also incorporates Murren and Gimmelwald in it.
OK thanks for putting me straight but in that case with only 3 days in Wengen and already 2 in Lucerne and Montreux then I would definitely say Wengen as there is so so much more varied things to do in the Jungfrau Region than in either of the other two where for the average traveler two days is enough (though each is a pleasant base from which to hop to nearby places, just places not as awesome IMO as in the Jungfrau Region - say doing the fantastic Schilthorn excursion that also incorporates Murren and Gimmelwald in it.
Jul 31st, 2013, 01:01 PM
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I would not downplay wines from Switzerland. They are not as known as the wines from France because hardly none of the Swiss wines are exported. If you find one you like, it is unlikely to be available once you are outside Switzerland.
Aug 1st, 2013, 08:09 AM
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Agree with greg on Swiss wines - they are a good value and taste good to me - they have not marketed them much probably because of the daunting advantage German, French and Italian wines already have in the area. But yes do not downplay Swiss wines especially those from the Rhone valley like around Sion and Visp.
Aug 1st, 2013, 11:16 AM
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If adding extra day to Montreux then consider taking the Chocolate Train or regular trains up to Gruyeres - the walled medieval looking city of your dreams where you can also tour a cheese factory and then onto Broc-Factory train station where you can do a Willy Wonkaesque visit to the Nestle Chocolate factory - Chocolate Train departs from Montreux.
Aug 1st, 2013, 11:32 AM
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In September, Chocolate train only runs Mon/Thurs/Fri; but we have decided it is not good use of full day in Montreux -- 8am-6pm. Plus, the reservation for same will cost you PLENTY (50chf) even though it is 'covered' with the Swiss Pass. Suppose you could try & get on without resv. We'd rather explore areas mentioned above, plus have a full day in Lausanne. And, you're going to love Beaune and the Hospice and all the Burgundian cuisine and wines!
We are set w/nights as follows: 2-Lucerne, 3-Interlaken, 2-Zermatt, 2-Montreux, 1-Geneva for early departure.
We are set w/nights as follows: 2-Lucerne, 3-Interlaken, 2-Zermatt, 2-Montreux, 1-Geneva for early departure.
