10 days in Switzerland
Sep 1st, 2009 | 12:15 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
10 days in Switzerland
Hello Fodors Forum,
My husband and I will be traveling to Switzerland on October 1st for a 10-12 day trip. We plan on flying into and leaving out of Zürich. Also, we will be renting a car since we've never done it before. The three times we've traveled in Europe we've taken the train, so we thought we'd try something different.
Both of us are interested in a good balance of museum visits, great food, shopping and hiking. Also, we love doing things "off the beaten path" and want to see as many cities and the different regions as we can.
Any itinerary ideas for us? The only thing we HAVE to do is make a stop in Nyon to visit a childhood friend.
Thank you,
Audrey
My husband and I will be traveling to Switzerland on October 1st for a 10-12 day trip. We plan on flying into and leaving out of Zürich. Also, we will be renting a car since we've never done it before. The three times we've traveled in Europe we've taken the train, so we thought we'd try something different.
Both of us are interested in a good balance of museum visits, great food, shopping and hiking. Also, we love doing things "off the beaten path" and want to see as many cities and the different regions as we can.
Any itinerary ideas for us? The only thing we HAVE to do is make a stop in Nyon to visit a childhood friend.
Thank you,
Audrey
Sep 2nd, 2009 | 02:00 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,019
Likes: 0
I suggest you visit the Jungfrau region which takes in quite a bit of scenic territory although in straight line distances none of the attractions are far apart.
In Grindelwald the Grindelwald - First Bahn is available until October 25. This attraction is a gondola line that transports tourists steeply up the mountain side to a station known as First. There is a restaurant co-located with the lift station. In the summer the terrace is delightful. By October the temperatures at 7000 feet plus might be a little nippy. The views from the restaurant, however, are beautiful.
The gondola ride itself is one of the more spectacular ones I have ridden.
From Lauterbrunnen there is a relatively new Luftseilbahn that takes passengers from a valley station near the train station to an interim stop named Grutschalp. From there a small train takes passengers on to Mürren.
In the summer and early fall the trail from Grutschalp to Mürren hopefully will be open to hikers. As mountain trails go, this is a relatively flat one. As you walk along the main range of the Berner Oberland is in front of you with the beautiful Jungfrau dominating the view to the southeast.
I suggest you walk from Grutschalp so that the mountains are in front of you. There will be plenty of opportunities to click the shutter on your camera as you walk along.
On the floor of the Lauterbrunnen Valley there are views of waterfalls with Staubbach Falls being the most prominent one. Trommelbach Falls are also worth a visit. These falls are deeply recessed in the rock. An elevator takes visitors up to a viewing level, but a walk along stairs and passageways is required to see the inner falls.
To the east of Lauterbrunnen the Wegneralpbahn transports visitors upwards to Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg (little pass literally). From Kleine Scheidegg, the Jungfraubahn itself continues to the Jungfraujoch viewing building known as the Sphinx.
Also from Wengen, the Männlichenbahn transports visitors to the crest of the high ridge known as the Männlichen.
From the crest views of the giants of the Berner Oberland range are incredible. The Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau with its beautiful sub peak known as the Silberhorn loom directly to the south. To the east and west other peaks rise majestically above the valley base.
From the crest of the Männlichen a gently descending trail winds its way to the rail hub of Kleine Scheidegg. On the way down the path, the menacing north face of Eiger at first seems to dominate the landscape. Then the Mönch comes into view and, finally, the Jungfrau.
Photo opportunities abound seemingly at every turn in the trail.
Luzern is not without its attractions as well. The mountain peak trips of Pilatus and Titles are within easy reach by car.
Luzern also has a very good transportation museum that I have enjoyed on two occasions. The museum seemingly has everything: water transportation with working models of boats going through locks, mountain transportation of which there are are many variations, all with different names, trains, and airplanes. You can even ride upwards in a tethered balloon so you will not go to far!
Near Brienz to the east of Interlaken is the
Open-Air Museum Ballenberg. The outdoor museum presents Swiss rural life of the 1800s. There are over 100 buildings maintained as they were over 100 years ago and many farm animals. There is also plenty to eat! If you visit. I suggest about 4 hours of time and the willingness to walk because the museum is spread out into several different theme areas.
I could continue with this list, but there is no substitute for a good guide book so you can visit at your own pace to your preferred destinations.
I have a definite predilection for the mountains as you will read if you consult any of my numerous posts. Yes, I have visited the cities, but my heart is in the peaks.
In Grindelwald the Grindelwald - First Bahn is available until October 25. This attraction is a gondola line that transports tourists steeply up the mountain side to a station known as First. There is a restaurant co-located with the lift station. In the summer the terrace is delightful. By October the temperatures at 7000 feet plus might be a little nippy. The views from the restaurant, however, are beautiful.
The gondola ride itself is one of the more spectacular ones I have ridden.
From Lauterbrunnen there is a relatively new Luftseilbahn that takes passengers from a valley station near the train station to an interim stop named Grutschalp. From there a small train takes passengers on to Mürren.
In the summer and early fall the trail from Grutschalp to Mürren hopefully will be open to hikers. As mountain trails go, this is a relatively flat one. As you walk along the main range of the Berner Oberland is in front of you with the beautiful Jungfrau dominating the view to the southeast.
I suggest you walk from Grutschalp so that the mountains are in front of you. There will be plenty of opportunities to click the shutter on your camera as you walk along.
On the floor of the Lauterbrunnen Valley there are views of waterfalls with Staubbach Falls being the most prominent one. Trommelbach Falls are also worth a visit. These falls are deeply recessed in the rock. An elevator takes visitors up to a viewing level, but a walk along stairs and passageways is required to see the inner falls.
To the east of Lauterbrunnen the Wegneralpbahn transports visitors upwards to Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg (little pass literally). From Kleine Scheidegg, the Jungfraubahn itself continues to the Jungfraujoch viewing building known as the Sphinx.
Also from Wengen, the Männlichenbahn transports visitors to the crest of the high ridge known as the Männlichen.
From the crest views of the giants of the Berner Oberland range are incredible. The Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau with its beautiful sub peak known as the Silberhorn loom directly to the south. To the east and west other peaks rise majestically above the valley base.
From the crest of the Männlichen a gently descending trail winds its way to the rail hub of Kleine Scheidegg. On the way down the path, the menacing north face of Eiger at first seems to dominate the landscape. Then the Mönch comes into view and, finally, the Jungfrau.
Photo opportunities abound seemingly at every turn in the trail.
Luzern is not without its attractions as well. The mountain peak trips of Pilatus and Titles are within easy reach by car.
Luzern also has a very good transportation museum that I have enjoyed on two occasions. The museum seemingly has everything: water transportation with working models of boats going through locks, mountain transportation of which there are are many variations, all with different names, trains, and airplanes. You can even ride upwards in a tethered balloon so you will not go to far!
Near Brienz to the east of Interlaken is the
Open-Air Museum Ballenberg. The outdoor museum presents Swiss rural life of the 1800s. There are over 100 buildings maintained as they were over 100 years ago and many farm animals. There is also plenty to eat! If you visit. I suggest about 4 hours of time and the willingness to walk because the museum is spread out into several different theme areas.
I could continue with this list, but there is no substitute for a good guide book so you can visit at your own pace to your preferred destinations.
I have a definite predilection for the mountains as you will read if you consult any of my numerous posts. Yes, I have visited the cities, but my heart is in the peaks.
Sep 2nd, 2009 | 06:09 AM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 0
By museums, I presume you mean art museums, rather than, for example, the transportation museum in Luzern. If my presumption is correct, I would recommend time in Zurich for the museums and shopping (food is good almost anywhere in Switzerland). Your visit in Nyon is near Geneva, so I would consider flying into Zurich and flying home from Geneva. Some time in the BO, listed above, would be good for seeing mountains, but many of the mountain villages bar cars, and parking in all of Switzerland is expensive, and when you park your rental car while in a mountain village, you are paying double for something you aren't using.
I would reconsider renting a car and use trains for this trip. After visiting the BO, take a train along the lakes to Spiez, then up the Simmenthal valley past Gstad to Montreux, then along the lake to Nyon, then on to the airport at Geneva. That route is very scenic, and you could stop in Montreux and visit Chillon, then stop and enjoy a small town in the French speaking area of Switzerland, such as Vevey or Lausanne.
I would reconsider renting a car and use trains for this trip. After visiting the BO, take a train along the lakes to Spiez, then up the Simmenthal valley past Gstad to Montreux, then along the lake to Nyon, then on to the airport at Geneva. That route is very scenic, and you could stop in Montreux and visit Chillon, then stop and enjoy a small town in the French speaking area of Switzerland, such as Vevey or Lausanne.
Sep 4th, 2009 | 02:05 PM
#5
Original Poster
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Thank you for everyone's input. We are still deciding whether or not we want to rent a car. Here is what I have planned so far (too ambitious?):
DAY 1
(1) Arrive in Zürich – pick up rental car (maybe)
To do:
• St. Peter's Church: Zürich's oldest church
• Fraumünster (church): Chagall windows
• Grossmünster (church): Augusto Giacommetti
• Bahnhoffstrasse: shopping district
(2) Drive to Appenzell
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 2
(1) Morning in Appenzell
To do:
• Mondern Art Museum
(2) Drive to Jakobsbad
To do:
• Barfussweg (Barefoot Walk)
• Bobbahn (Kronberg Luge Ride)
(3) Drive to Wasserauen
(4) Take lift up to Ebenalp
To do:
• Hike through prehistoric cave
• Pass by the cave church
• Visit the Berggasthaus Aescher (170-year old hut house)
• Hike to Seealpsee ("Lake-Alp Lake")
(5) Drive to Luzern
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 3
(1) Day in Luzern
To do:
• Self-Guided walk around city
• Picasso Museum
• Sleep
DAY 4
(1) Day outside of Luzern
To do:
• Mount Pilatus
(2) Drive to Interlaken
To do:
• Walk around
(3) Drive to Gimmelwald, Mürren or Lauterbrunnen
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 5
(1) Gimmelwald, Mürren or Lauterbrunnen
To do:
• Explore cities
• Hiking
• Trümmelbach Falls
• Sleep
DAY 6
(1) Drive to Montreux
To do:
• Cailler Chocolate Factory
• Gruyéres Cheese Factory
• Chateau de Chillon
(2) Drive to Lausanne
To do:
• Check-in to hotel
(3) Drive to Nyon
To do:
• Dinner with friend
(4) Drive to Lausanne
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 7
(1) Day in Lausanne
To do:
• Explore city
• Lake Geneva cruise
(2) Drive to Murten
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 8
(1) Day in Murten and Avenches
To do:
• Explore
• Rent bikes
(2) Drive to Bern
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 9
(1) Day in Bern
To do:
• Museum of Fine Arts
• Paul Klee Center
• Shopping
(2) Drive to Zürich
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 10
(1) Fly home
DAY 1
(1) Arrive in Zürich – pick up rental car (maybe)
To do:
• St. Peter's Church: Zürich's oldest church
• Fraumünster (church): Chagall windows
• Grossmünster (church): Augusto Giacommetti
• Bahnhoffstrasse: shopping district
(2) Drive to Appenzell
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 2
(1) Morning in Appenzell
To do:
• Mondern Art Museum
(2) Drive to Jakobsbad
To do:
• Barfussweg (Barefoot Walk)
• Bobbahn (Kronberg Luge Ride)
(3) Drive to Wasserauen
(4) Take lift up to Ebenalp
To do:
• Hike through prehistoric cave
• Pass by the cave church
• Visit the Berggasthaus Aescher (170-year old hut house)
• Hike to Seealpsee ("Lake-Alp Lake")
(5) Drive to Luzern
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 3
(1) Day in Luzern
To do:
• Self-Guided walk around city
• Picasso Museum
• Sleep
DAY 4
(1) Day outside of Luzern
To do:
• Mount Pilatus
(2) Drive to Interlaken
To do:
• Walk around
(3) Drive to Gimmelwald, Mürren or Lauterbrunnen
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 5
(1) Gimmelwald, Mürren or Lauterbrunnen
To do:
• Explore cities
• Hiking
• Trümmelbach Falls
• Sleep
DAY 6
(1) Drive to Montreux
To do:
• Cailler Chocolate Factory
• Gruyéres Cheese Factory
• Chateau de Chillon
(2) Drive to Lausanne
To do:
• Check-in to hotel
(3) Drive to Nyon
To do:
• Dinner with friend
(4) Drive to Lausanne
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 7
(1) Day in Lausanne
To do:
• Explore city
• Lake Geneva cruise
(2) Drive to Murten
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 8
(1) Day in Murten and Avenches
To do:
• Explore
• Rent bikes
(2) Drive to Bern
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 9
(1) Day in Bern
To do:
• Museum of Fine Arts
• Paul Klee Center
• Shopping
(2) Drive to Zürich
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 10
(1) Fly home
Trending Topics
Sep 7th, 2009 | 10:33 AM
#8
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
the picasso museum in Luzern in wonderful. I did love the Bernese Oberland area. We took a gondola from Grund( near Grindelwald) to Manlichhen then down to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen, then up to the foot of Jungfrau. Gimmelwald is a sleepy little village. What you are missing is driving south to Lugano. That is an incredible city. We rented a boat and had a wonderful 3 days. one day we drove up to Meggiano in Italy and a 10 minute freey ride over to Bellagio. We rented a car and drove 2 weeks thru Switz and Austria. I loved driving ...gives you more flexibility...leave when youwant. when we were in Grindelwald we took a road that took up 15 mintues up into the mountains annd not having acar would have eliminated that. we did that also the entire 2 weeks. in addition, when i checked out the prices oftrain travel it wasnt that different. enjoy !
Sep 12th, 2009 | 10:35 AM
#9
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,019
Likes: 0
What happened to Day 4?
(3) Drive to Gimmelwald, Mürren or Lauterbrunnen
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 5
(1) Gimmelwald, Mürren or Lauterbrunnen
To do:
• Explore cities
• Hiking
• Trümmelbach Falls
• Sleep
You don't drive to either Gimmelwald or Mürren. Both are car-free village reached by cable lifts. There are actually two ways to reach both.
I cannot help but be amused at the idea of exploring Gimmelwald. That should take about 30 minutes at most if you walk slow and find something to eat.
Mürren is best "explored" by finding a restaurant with a terrace that provides a commanding view of the mountains and focus on a long lunch.
Lauterbrunnen might take a little more time if you visit the valley museum, which is small, but very well done. There are some interesting shops along the main street, which is just about the only one of any consequence. I think the most interesting shop is Trudy's Bazaar, but that is one man's opinion.
Other than that, the dairy store has some excellent cheeses and yogurts. The bakery has a few goodies that I have trouble ignoring.
You can walk from the train station to Staubbach Falls along the main street in about 10 minutes if you don't linger and walk at a normal 2 to 3 mph.
The cemetary has many beautiful flower beds in it. I suggest stopping there on your way to Staubbach and admire the horticulture.
To answer the question about the dairy on the east side of the valley - we booked it through the Lauterbrunnen Tourist Office a day in advance. We met the guide and the other visitors the following morning and hiked up the side of the valley to a dairy farm. The farmer - dairyman demonstrated how cheese was made. Our guide spoke English and translated the farmer's comments. Then we ate samples of cheese and those who wanted to could buy larger portions.
Speaking of Wengen, it is another car-free village. In the summer of 2007 the area joke was about some American driving a big Mercedes who was bound for Wengen. He set his GPS accordingly and followed the directions. He soon found himself on a narrow dirt road that soon became too narrow for anything except a very small truck. Somehow the Mercedes driver got his car hopelessly stuck in the ditch because his front wheel was off the road. The farmer was aggravated because his cows could not walk past the car to get to the barn.
When the police came with a tow truck, the driver of the car turned belligerent because the police gave the driver a ticket for blocking a public thoroughfare. He almost got himself put in jail.
(3) Drive to Gimmelwald, Mürren or Lauterbrunnen
To do:
• Sleep
DAY 5
(1) Gimmelwald, Mürren or Lauterbrunnen
To do:
• Explore cities
• Hiking
• Trümmelbach Falls
• Sleep
You don't drive to either Gimmelwald or Mürren. Both are car-free village reached by cable lifts. There are actually two ways to reach both.
I cannot help but be amused at the idea of exploring Gimmelwald. That should take about 30 minutes at most if you walk slow and find something to eat.
Mürren is best "explored" by finding a restaurant with a terrace that provides a commanding view of the mountains and focus on a long lunch.
Lauterbrunnen might take a little more time if you visit the valley museum, which is small, but very well done. There are some interesting shops along the main street, which is just about the only one of any consequence. I think the most interesting shop is Trudy's Bazaar, but that is one man's opinion.
Other than that, the dairy store has some excellent cheeses and yogurts. The bakery has a few goodies that I have trouble ignoring.
You can walk from the train station to Staubbach Falls along the main street in about 10 minutes if you don't linger and walk at a normal 2 to 3 mph.
The cemetary has many beautiful flower beds in it. I suggest stopping there on your way to Staubbach and admire the horticulture.
To answer the question about the dairy on the east side of the valley - we booked it through the Lauterbrunnen Tourist Office a day in advance. We met the guide and the other visitors the following morning and hiked up the side of the valley to a dairy farm. The farmer - dairyman demonstrated how cheese was made. Our guide spoke English and translated the farmer's comments. Then we ate samples of cheese and those who wanted to could buy larger portions.
Speaking of Wengen, it is another car-free village. In the summer of 2007 the area joke was about some American driving a big Mercedes who was bound for Wengen. He set his GPS accordingly and followed the directions. He soon found himself on a narrow dirt road that soon became too narrow for anything except a very small truck. Somehow the Mercedes driver got his car hopelessly stuck in the ditch because his front wheel was off the road. The farmer was aggravated because his cows could not walk past the car to get to the barn.
When the police came with a tow truck, the driver of the car turned belligerent because the police gave the driver a ticket for blocking a public thoroughfare. He almost got himself put in jail.
Sep 12th, 2009 | 09:05 PM
#11
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,508
Likes: 0
Hi audrey_travel,
I'm a huge fan of the trains in Switzerland. They run very often, go practically everywhere, and are a lot of FUN. Don't know where you live (or have lived), but for many folks, particularly Americans, using the trains is a new and interesting experience. I mean, you can take a road trip almost anywhere, but using a world-class train system is still a bit rare! I always considered it one of the aspects of "going European" while travelling in Europe.
Using the trains is also a nice way to get closer to more residents (instead of moving around in a sealed bubble) --
Also, using the trains is a more green way to go. I never thought I'd see it, but smog is starting to invade Switzerland. There can be a gray pall of smog over Lake Geneva, one of my favorite spots (I've viited Montreux about 10 times and can tell you that a car can be a real handicap there).
You can check all your train connections at this site
www.rail.ch
and you can find passes and discount cards at this site
www.swisstravelsystem.com
Have fun!
s
I'm a huge fan of the trains in Switzerland. They run very often, go practically everywhere, and are a lot of FUN. Don't know where you live (or have lived), but for many folks, particularly Americans, using the trains is a new and interesting experience. I mean, you can take a road trip almost anywhere, but using a world-class train system is still a bit rare! I always considered it one of the aspects of "going European" while travelling in Europe.
Using the trains is also a nice way to get closer to more residents (instead of moving around in a sealed bubble) --
Also, using the trains is a more green way to go. I never thought I'd see it, but smog is starting to invade Switzerland. There can be a gray pall of smog over Lake Geneva, one of my favorite spots (I've viited Montreux about 10 times and can tell you that a car can be a real handicap there).
You can check all your train connections at this site
www.rail.ch
and you can find passes and discount cards at this site
www.swisstravelsystem.com
Have fun!
s
Sep 13th, 2009 | 08:19 AM
#12
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,198
Likes: 12
Another vote for using the trains to get around. The are excellent in Switzerland and unless one or both of you really enjoy driving and navigating in a foreign country, much more relaxing because both people can sit back and enjoy the scenery.
Sep 14th, 2009 | 04:01 AM
#13
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
We took the Murren dairy tour - booked through the tourist office in Murren by noon the day prior. We had to get up to Murren by 7:00 am (so we needed to be on the 6:30 cable car up) and walked briskly uphill to the dairy for around 45 minutes. Great way to get your blood pumping! The guide was from the Murren tourist office and the woman that was actually making the cheese spoke English and gave us step to step info on what she was doing. It appears that the alpine cheese tour might have ended for the season, but I found the information on it here: http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/even...&rkey=756&pn=1
We took a tour of Lauterbrunnen that we found here: http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/even...ent_id=2800833 - it was quite informative. The guide was a local and spoke in clear English. That tour is run on Mondays.
If you go to MySwitzerland.com and select the cities you are interested in, then click on the "events" section on the right hand side, you can see what is being offered in the near future. Here is a link to the Jungfrau area.
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/...al-109885.html
Good luck. We absolutely loved it there! I second the comments on the train system. It is a very efficient and easy way to get around.
We took a tour of Lauterbrunnen that we found here: http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/even...ent_id=2800833 - it was quite informative. The guide was a local and spoke in clear English. That tour is run on Mondays.
If you go to MySwitzerland.com and select the cities you are interested in, then click on the "events" section on the right hand side, you can see what is being offered in the near future. Here is a link to the Jungfrau area.
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/...al-109885.html
Good luck. We absolutely loved it there! I second the comments on the train system. It is a very efficient and easy way to get around.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
DipendraNepal
Asia
0
Dec 13th, 2017 06:38 AM
hlphillips2
United States
5
May 30th, 2014 05:39 AM
