Traveling from Grindelwald to Zermatt by car
Jun 4th, 2005, 06:34 AM
#1
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Traveling from Grindelwald to Zermatt by car
This July, my 80-year-old parents (their first European trip ever) will accompany DH and me to Grindelwald for a week, then Zermatt for 2 nights before heading to UK for 10 days.
We will have a car.
Question: How feasible is it to take a side trip to perhaps Gruyeres, Montreux or that general area enroute to Tasch (before train to Zermatt)? Looks doable on the maps. Thinking perhaps Castle Chillon (parents have never seen a castle), ferry ride on lake, tour of Gruyeres town (lunch?). All this, of course, is probably too, but what would you recommend as a highlight of this area?
Thanks for any and all input.
We will have a car.
Question: How feasible is it to take a side trip to perhaps Gruyeres, Montreux or that general area enroute to Tasch (before train to Zermatt)? Looks doable on the maps. Thinking perhaps Castle Chillon (parents have never seen a castle), ferry ride on lake, tour of Gruyeres town (lunch?). All this, of course, is probably too, but what would you recommend as a highlight of this area?
Thanks for any and all input.
Jun 4th, 2005, 07:20 AM
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The trip from Grindelwald to Zermatt is quite easy. I have driven it round trip in one day without incident. (Actually it was from Lauterbrunnen, but the road after Zweilütschinen is the same.)
We drove to Kandersteg and took the train ferry through the Lötschenberg Tunnel to Goppenstein. From there, we continued to Visp and turned south to Zermatt.
I have two suggestions for diversions, if that is what you want. First the Grimsel Pass is most spectacular. The road over it leads to Brig and then to Visp.
The other suggetion is to fork left, southeast, in Stalden and go to Saas Fee. That will give you a look at the Dom, all 14,900 feet plus of it, and the other jewels of the Mischabel Range.
The Dom is quite a sight because it towers about 10,000 feet above the valley floor.
Saas Fee itself is up on a shelf of the vally right at the base of the Dom.
Other villages in that area included Saas Grund, Saas Alamagell and Saas Tomaten. If you drive to the end of the lake, you will come to the Mattmark Reservoir. It backs up against an impressive mountain backdrop where there is a historic pass that leads to Italy.
You could of course do Castle Chillon as well.
I am not sure 2 nights in Zermatt will be enough because it sounds like you will get in one full day.
In Zermatt there are at least 2 spectaulcar rides. The train to the Gornergrat leads to views of Montee Rosa, that huge mountain which spawns several alpine glaciers, the Matterhorn, and the other high peaks of the Pennine Alps.
The cable lift to the Klein Matterhorn provides incredible views as well. The cable line goes up in stages, and you can elect to stop before the top.
At the top, the station is set in a notch in the mountain wall and winds can whistle through there as high velocities. As I recall the station itself is sheltered from the wind, but the temperatures can be well below those of the streets of Zermatt.
We drove to Kandersteg and took the train ferry through the Lötschenberg Tunnel to Goppenstein. From there, we continued to Visp and turned south to Zermatt.
I have two suggestions for diversions, if that is what you want. First the Grimsel Pass is most spectacular. The road over it leads to Brig and then to Visp.
The other suggetion is to fork left, southeast, in Stalden and go to Saas Fee. That will give you a look at the Dom, all 14,900 feet plus of it, and the other jewels of the Mischabel Range.
The Dom is quite a sight because it towers about 10,000 feet above the valley floor.
Saas Fee itself is up on a shelf of the vally right at the base of the Dom.
Other villages in that area included Saas Grund, Saas Alamagell and Saas Tomaten. If you drive to the end of the lake, you will come to the Mattmark Reservoir. It backs up against an impressive mountain backdrop where there is a historic pass that leads to Italy.
You could of course do Castle Chillon as well.
I am not sure 2 nights in Zermatt will be enough because it sounds like you will get in one full day.
In Zermatt there are at least 2 spectaulcar rides. The train to the Gornergrat leads to views of Montee Rosa, that huge mountain which spawns several alpine glaciers, the Matterhorn, and the other high peaks of the Pennine Alps.
The cable lift to the Klein Matterhorn provides incredible views as well. The cable line goes up in stages, and you can elect to stop before the top.
At the top, the station is set in a notch in the mountain wall and winds can whistle through there as high velocities. As I recall the station itself is sheltered from the wind, but the temperatures can be well below those of the streets of Zermatt.
Jun 4th, 2005, 07:24 AM
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Hi kopp,
Sorry I've never driven this route as I usually take trains --
But I do wonder about your routing: Grindelwald to Montreux to Gruyeres to Zermatt?? Is that what you intend? I would only suggest you go to Gruyeres first, stroll the lovely village and maybe have lunch there, then go on to Montreux. In Montreux, stroll the beautiful lakeside promenade, take a ferry to Chillon and take a bus back (may be too much for your parents to walk . . . ?), have a snack at a lakeside cafe, then continue on to Zermatt.
Here's what mappy.com says:
Grindelwald-Gruyeres is 100km in 1h45
Gruyeres-Montreux is 43km in 1h36
Montreux-Zermatt is 145km in 2h02
Of course those are the express routes --
s
Sorry I've never driven this route as I usually take trains --
But I do wonder about your routing: Grindelwald to Montreux to Gruyeres to Zermatt?? Is that what you intend? I would only suggest you go to Gruyeres first, stroll the lovely village and maybe have lunch there, then go on to Montreux. In Montreux, stroll the beautiful lakeside promenade, take a ferry to Chillon and take a bus back (may be too much for your parents to walk . . . ?), have a snack at a lakeside cafe, then continue on to Zermatt.
Here's what mappy.com says:
Grindelwald-Gruyeres is 100km in 1h45
Gruyeres-Montreux is 43km in 1h36
Montreux-Zermatt is 145km in 2h02
Of course those are the express routes --
s
Jun 4th, 2005, 07:26 AM
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I live in Zurich and do a lot of weekend trips by car. It is indeed a long drive from Grindelwald to the Gruyere/Montreux area. I would not do this as a day trip. From Grindlewald to Montreux or Gruyere is about 2.5 hours. From either to Zermatt is another 2.5 hours. So you would be looking at a VERY long day, and IMO trying to do the castle, a ferry ride and then Gruyere in one day is too much even starting from Montreux itself. Adding the long drive from Grindlewald and then to Zermatt is not really a good idea, IMO.
If you want to see that area of Switzerland, which is indeed beautiful, please do it as an overnight of 1 or more nights. You could easily take 2 days off your Grindlewald itinerary as that is quite a long time in that area unless you want to hike, which would not appear to be on your parents’ itinerary. If you spend a night in the Montreaux area, you could do all the things you have listed in two days.
Another suggestion would be to drive to Zermatt via the Grimsel Pass. You could also include, with a little more deriving time, a trip up to the top of the Furka Pass next door to the Grimsel Pass. Both passes are above the treeline and offer quite spectacular views and topography. At the top of the Furka Pass there is a place where you can get out and go quite close to the glacier which is the beginning of the Rhone river. Both passes have restaurants at the top. Lots of twists and turns and suspense as the road drops off on either side. The Furka is a bit more challenging of a drive, although the part you would drive up and back from the Grimsel Pass side is not as tricky, IMO, as the approach up the other side of the Furka.
The drive from the Susten/Furka passes down into Zermatt is very beautiul, as you go back down to the treel line and descend to the floor of the valley. There are many little villages along the way, and sevaral good restaurants. Door to door from Grindelwald to Zermatt over the Grinsel will take you just over 3 hours. If you decide to go up to the toop of the Furka, add about another hour.
If you want to see that area of Switzerland, which is indeed beautiful, please do it as an overnight of 1 or more nights. You could easily take 2 days off your Grindlewald itinerary as that is quite a long time in that area unless you want to hike, which would not appear to be on your parents’ itinerary. If you spend a night in the Montreaux area, you could do all the things you have listed in two days.
Another suggestion would be to drive to Zermatt via the Grimsel Pass. You could also include, with a little more deriving time, a trip up to the top of the Furka Pass next door to the Grimsel Pass. Both passes are above the treeline and offer quite spectacular views and topography. At the top of the Furka Pass there is a place where you can get out and go quite close to the glacier which is the beginning of the Rhone river. Both passes have restaurants at the top. Lots of twists and turns and suspense as the road drops off on either side. The Furka is a bit more challenging of a drive, although the part you would drive up and back from the Grimsel Pass side is not as tricky, IMO, as the approach up the other side of the Furka.
The drive from the Susten/Furka passes down into Zermatt is very beautiul, as you go back down to the treel line and descend to the floor of the valley. There are many little villages along the way, and sevaral good restaurants. Door to door from Grindelwald to Zermatt over the Grinsel will take you just over 3 hours. If you decide to go up to the toop of the Furka, add about another hour.
Jun 4th, 2005, 07:31 AM
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Slight correction. In the Saas valley, the lake is at the end of the valley and the good road stops at the dam. Technically, the road does NOT go all the way to the end of the valley.
Montreux is doable. The problem is getting there. I have driven from there to Interlaken, but the route is slow if you go by way of Gstadd. The other option is to go to Bern and take the autobahn south toward Lausanne and turn east. The third way is to go through the Lötschenberg tunnel and turn west through Sion and Sierre. The road improves near Sion.
We spend the better part of 3 days wandering around Val d'Anniviers one year, which is a hanging valley on the south side of the Rhone near Sion.
Montreux is doable. The problem is getting there. I have driven from there to Interlaken, but the route is slow if you go by way of Gstadd. The other option is to go to Bern and take the autobahn south toward Lausanne and turn east. The third way is to go through the Lötschenberg tunnel and turn west through Sion and Sierre. The road improves near Sion.
We spend the better part of 3 days wandering around Val d'Anniviers one year, which is a hanging valley on the south side of the Rhone near Sion.
Jun 4th, 2005, 07:59 AM
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I am overwhelmed by your wonderful responses. Thank you so much for helping!
Mr. Brown, yes, our 2 full days in Zermatt will be short-cutting this beautiful area (have been there many times--could sit at the terrace at Gornergrat for hours looking at the glaciers). But such is life. We've only got 2 days this year. But the Saas Fee trip sounds intriguing. Time to get out the research materials again.
swan, thanks for the correction. I'm sure we'd do Gruyeres first. Slight slip there. And bus sounds good. And we prefer trains as well, but this time with parents we thought the convenience of a car would be best.
cicerone, we've got a chalet apartment reserved in Grindelwald for the entire week, so we'll take some day trips in addition to the hiking, etc. And the price was so right that we haven't ruled out the option of skipping the last night there and heading to Montreux for a night.
For the past 10 years, we've spent the summers in Europe and have invited my parents to come with us each time, but they've always said no. This year they've decided is their time, so we're excited to show them around. I just want to make sure we don't overdo it or miss anything unmissable.
Thanks again to all of you for your very valuable advice. You can be sure I will spend the majority of today reseraching everything you've offered.
Mr. Brown, yes, our 2 full days in Zermatt will be short-cutting this beautiful area (have been there many times--could sit at the terrace at Gornergrat for hours looking at the glaciers). But such is life. We've only got 2 days this year. But the Saas Fee trip sounds intriguing. Time to get out the research materials again.
swan, thanks for the correction. I'm sure we'd do Gruyeres first. Slight slip there. And bus sounds good. And we prefer trains as well, but this time with parents we thought the convenience of a car would be best.
cicerone, we've got a chalet apartment reserved in Grindelwald for the entire week, so we'll take some day trips in addition to the hiking, etc. And the price was so right that we haven't ruled out the option of skipping the last night there and heading to Montreux for a night.
For the past 10 years, we've spent the summers in Europe and have invited my parents to come with us each time, but they've always said no. This year they've decided is their time, so we're excited to show them around. I just want to make sure we don't overdo it or miss anything unmissable.
Thanks again to all of you for your very valuable advice. You can be sure I will spend the majority of today reseraching everything you've offered.
Jun 4th, 2005, 08:03 AM
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If I read your question correctly all you ask for is advice for the best route from Grindelwald to Zermatt including a stop like Gruyeres and/or Montreux plus castle Chillon - right?
I have driven quite some motorways and smaller roads in Switzerland and also the area you mentioned. I would do one stop - Montreux/Chillon, like suggested by swandav.
Go as quick as possible (drive the motorway Thun - Bern - Fribourg - Vevey). Leave the motorway in Montreux and park your car somewhere in the town centre (if I recall correctly there is a covered parking in a shopping centre right by the lake) and walk along the flowered lake promenade to the port. Look if you can take a ferry to castle chillon, otherwise take the bus to the castle (direction Villeneuve) - it runs every 10 minutes, takes about 15 minutes). Back by bus or ferry.
The head straight to Zermatt. Driving the narrow mountain valleys and changing to the train in Täsch takes time.
Ingo
I have driven quite some motorways and smaller roads in Switzerland and also the area you mentioned. I would do one stop - Montreux/Chillon, like suggested by swandav.
Go as quick as possible (drive the motorway Thun - Bern - Fribourg - Vevey). Leave the motorway in Montreux and park your car somewhere in the town centre (if I recall correctly there is a covered parking in a shopping centre right by the lake) and walk along the flowered lake promenade to the port. Look if you can take a ferry to castle chillon, otherwise take the bus to the castle (direction Villeneuve) - it runs every 10 minutes, takes about 15 minutes). Back by bus or ferry.
The head straight to Zermatt. Driving the narrow mountain valleys and changing to the train in Täsch takes time.
Ingo
Jun 4th, 2005, 08:19 AM
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Hi Again,
Just fyi, here's a link to the summer ferry schedules at Lake Geneva in the direction Lausanne to Villeneuve (towards Chillon): http://www.cgn.ch/pdf/Ete-Aller_Def.pdf
Here's a link for the schedules going the other direction: http://www.cgn.ch/pdf/Ete-Retour_Def.pdf
The bus runs on the main street parallel to the lake, and I think the fare from Chillon will be about 2.80 chf each. There is a stop right at Chillon. However, if you don't feel like fooling with the bus or the driver wants to squeeze in a nice walk along the lake, it's an easy & beautiful walk back to Montreux to pick up the car.
s
Just fyi, here's a link to the summer ferry schedules at Lake Geneva in the direction Lausanne to Villeneuve (towards Chillon): http://www.cgn.ch/pdf/Ete-Aller_Def.pdf
Here's a link for the schedules going the other direction: http://www.cgn.ch/pdf/Ete-Retour_Def.pdf
The bus runs on the main street parallel to the lake, and I think the fare from Chillon will be about 2.80 chf each. There is a stop right at Chillon. However, if you don't feel like fooling with the bus or the driver wants to squeeze in a nice walk along the lake, it's an easy & beautiful walk back to Montreux to pick up the car.
s
