Trip Planning - 9 nights in Switzerland - Input Please!
Jun 20th, 2014, 04:38 AM
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Trip Planning - 9 nights in Switzerland - Input Please!
My husband and I are planning to spend 9 nights in Switzerland in late September. We are flying overnight from the US into Geneva and arriving early on a Friday afternoon. This is our tentative itinerary (input would be greatly appreciated!):
Day 1: Arrive in Geneva and explore. Night in Geneva.
Day 2: Visit Cern in the morning and continue to explore Geneva. Night in Geneva.
Day 3: Train to Lausanne in the morning. Hike the Lavaux wine region mid-day, train to Montreux in the evening. Night in Montreux.
Day 4: Visit Chateau de Chillon and Lakeside Promenade Fleuri. Consider afternoon trip to Gruyeres. Night in Montreux.
Day 5: Golden Pass train to Interlaken and then on to visit Schillthorn/Murren. Night in Lauterbrunnen.
Day 6: Visit Jungfrauch, Top of Europe, in the morning. Hike in the afternoon. Night in Lauterbrunnen.
Day 7: Train to Grindewald for hiking/Truemmelbach Falls. Night in Lauterbrunnen.
Day 8: Golden Pass train to Lucerne. Explore. Night in Lucerne.
Day 9: William Tell area hike. Night in Lucerne.
Day 1: Arrive in Geneva and explore. Night in Geneva.
Day 2: Visit Cern in the morning and continue to explore Geneva. Night in Geneva.
Day 3: Train to Lausanne in the morning. Hike the Lavaux wine region mid-day, train to Montreux in the evening. Night in Montreux.
Day 4: Visit Chateau de Chillon and Lakeside Promenade Fleuri. Consider afternoon trip to Gruyeres. Night in Montreux.
Day 5: Golden Pass train to Interlaken and then on to visit Schillthorn/Murren. Night in Lauterbrunnen.
Day 6: Visit Jungfrauch, Top of Europe, in the morning. Hike in the afternoon. Night in Lauterbrunnen.
Day 7: Train to Grindewald for hiking/Truemmelbach Falls. Night in Lauterbrunnen.
Day 8: Golden Pass train to Lucerne. Explore. Night in Lucerne.
Day 9: William Tell area hike. Night in Lucerne.
Jun 20th, 2014, 05:13 AM
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Hi PKS813,
Gruyeres is a short detour off the Golden Pass route, so it's quite easy to do it on the day that you are enroute to Lauterbrunnen. It seems a shame to see much of the same scenery on Day 4 and Day 5.
You can ship your luggage using the SBB's Fast Baggage service, then you'll be free all day.
If you'll have some extra time, I would spend it in Vevey, a wonderful and charming town. Just get lost in the tangled streets of its old town, which is right next to the lake -- pop in and out of boutiques and cafes. Check out the statue of Chaplin along the lakefront in Vevey, and also look for the fork in the lake!
Your hosts will give you a Riviera Card, which makes the busses free, and bus #201 runs between Vevey & Montreux every 10 minutes. It's easy to get back and forth.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Gruyeres is a short detour off the Golden Pass route, so it's quite easy to do it on the day that you are enroute to Lauterbrunnen. It seems a shame to see much of the same scenery on Day 4 and Day 5.
You can ship your luggage using the SBB's Fast Baggage service, then you'll be free all day.
If you'll have some extra time, I would spend it in Vevey, a wonderful and charming town. Just get lost in the tangled streets of its old town, which is right next to the lake -- pop in and out of boutiques and cafes. Check out the statue of Chaplin along the lakefront in Vevey, and also look for the fork in the lake!
Your hosts will give you a Riviera Card, which makes the busses free, and bus #201 runs between Vevey & Montreux every 10 minutes. It's easy to get back and forth.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Jun 20th, 2014, 11:30 AM
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since you are traveling a lot on trains in an 8-day period (after leaving Geneva and to Zurich Airport (or Geneva you don't say) then take a strong look at a 8-consecutive-day Swiss Pass, covering not only trains but city buses and trams, lake boats, postal buses and gives free entry to 470+ Swiss museums and sights like I believe Chateau Chillon).
Pass is valid in full to Lauterbrunnen and Murren and Wengen and Grindelwald. For lots of great info on Swiss trains, boats, passes, etc. I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sources: www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.swisstravelsystem.com.
Try for the fantastic VIP seats on the Golden Pass train between Zweisimmen and Montreux!
Pass is valid in full to Lauterbrunnen and Murren and Wengen and Grindelwald. For lots of great info on Swiss trains, boats, passes, etc. I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sources: www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.swisstravelsystem.com.
Try for the fantastic VIP seats on the Golden Pass train between Zweisimmen and Montreux!
Jun 20th, 2014, 12:17 PM
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I suppose you already booked your visit at the CERN.
Lavaux is between Lausanne and Vevey; Vevey is 5 min by train from Montreux. May be you go straight from Geneva to your Montreux hotel and visit Lavaux afterwards.
If you visit Gruyeres etc (cheese diary, medieval city, castle, museums, chocolate factory at nearby Broc) from Montreux, count a full day. If you go on from Gruyeres to Interlaken etc., sleep at Gruyeres (Montreux dp 9.44 - Gruyeres ar 10.58, Gruyeres dp 9.59 - Interlaken ar 12.48 or by any other train; trains every hr).
Lavaux is between Lausanne and Vevey; Vevey is 5 min by train from Montreux. May be you go straight from Geneva to your Montreux hotel and visit Lavaux afterwards.
If you visit Gruyeres etc (cheese diary, medieval city, castle, museums, chocolate factory at nearby Broc) from Montreux, count a full day. If you go on from Gruyeres to Interlaken etc., sleep at Gruyeres (Montreux dp 9.44 - Gruyeres ar 10.58, Gruyeres dp 9.59 - Interlaken ar 12.48 or by any other train; trains every hr).
Jun 22nd, 2014, 07:12 AM
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From Montreux consider takng a lake boat ride - for a short one you can go to Chateau Chillon but I've taken late afternoon cruises to Evian-les-Bains in France - a swank thermal resort known for its famous mineral water - so a bit of France in easily available - boats are covered in full by a Swiss Pass - even if going to France.
Jun 22nd, 2014, 07:41 AM
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CERN is will worth a visit. I took a tour two years ago with professional communicators to see the facility and learn how the CERN researchers communicate "deep science" to the general public. It was fun and fascinating.
FYI, a very short walk from the CERN entrance is a decent restaurant that has good lunch specials (French cuisine). You might want to consider having lunch there after your visit before heading back to Geneva.
FYI, a very short walk from the CERN entrance is a decent restaurant that has good lunch specials (French cuisine). You might want to consider having lunch there after your visit before heading back to Geneva.
Jun 23rd, 2014, 10:34 PM
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"how would one get to the tour entrance from Geneva by public transit?"
By city bus 18. Buses about every 12 min from 5.11am until 23.51
http://www.tpg.ch/de/livre_horaire
http://www.tpg.ch/de/plans-du-reseau
By city bus 18. Buses about every 12 min from 5.11am until 23.51
http://www.tpg.ch/de/livre_horaire
http://www.tpg.ch/de/plans-du-reseau
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