13 days Itinerary help needed for Switzerland with a taste of France
 

I felt thrilled to revisit this forum in helping my son’s trip to Switzerland and France; I still remember and appreciate all the help I received 6 years ago.

For his 13 days (roughly in the first 2 weeks Oct, 2025) trip, he could spend 3 days in Paris, 2 days in Chamonix and 7 days in Switzerland, I proposed the following rout and would like to

know if this is feasible. Any input, comments and suggestions are welcome, thanks very much



Day 1 Leaving US at night for ZRH

Day 2 Arrival at ZRH in AM, taking train to Interlaken, check in the hotel in Interlaken; taking the cable car to Harder Kulm on the day of arrival

Day 3 Interlaken: Jungfraujoch, Beatenberg and Thun Lake cruise

Day 5 Interlaken: Visit village of Wengen, Grindelwald and/or Lauterbrunnen

Day 4 Interlaken: Brienz- Brienzer Rothorn OR Schilthorn and some hiking; afternoon train from Interlaken to Montreux

Day 6 Montreux

Day 7 Monteux to Chamonix

Day 8 Chamonix: Cable car to Aiguille de Midi and Le Brevent for views

Day 9 Taking afternoon train to Paris

Day 10 Paris

Day 11 Paris

Day 12 Paris

Day 13 Flight out for home

Moved from Tech Support to the Europe Forum and added country tags.

How to move it? Should I re-post it ? Thanks

I would not stay in Interlaken. Instead, I'd urge that he stay in the mountains -- Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, or Mürren.

Is it possible to combine a visit to Jungfraujoch with anything else on a single day? I thought not, but could easily be mistaken.

Day 3: I assume you mean take some of the hikes in the area around Lauterbrunnen? The towns themselves aren't really places to visit IMO.

Your thread was already moved -- that is what post #2 says and we're all here on the Europe board :)

Thanks @kja
Wouldn't be easy to get around the area including Brienz - Brienzer Rothon or Thun Lake area by staying in Interlaken?
For Jungfraujoch, is half day enough to spend?
Is there any advantage to stay in Lauterbunner, if it's not worth a visit?

Thank you all janisj

I wouldn't stay in Interlaken either. Much better options.

Day 2 might be a bit much, even for a young person, weather can be an issue in October too. Overnight flights can really take a toll.

Day 3 is ambitious too, as the Jungfrau can fill the better part of a day, especially when days are short. He should not book until he knows what the weather will be like, otherwise a waste of money and time.

I assume you've checked the seasonal operating schedule for Lake Thun, as it shuts down in October (third week I think).

I like Lauterbrunnen and find it a great base from which to see the area, but I guess it depends on his interests.

What Melnq8 said.

Thanks Melnq8, kja
Day 2: Ok, whether going for Harder Kulm or not will depens on weather, time and physical status; if not feasable, can this excursion be moved to Day 3 after Junfrau? How long will it take to go up to the Harder Kulm?

Day 3: yes, need to buy the Jungfrau ticket the day before

Just checked Lake Thun schedule, it seems to be open in the first week of Oct, when he will be in the area around Oct 1st. Any suggestions for things to do at Thun? Any other excursions around this area?

If time limiting, Thun lake or Brienz-Brienzer Rothorn, which one?

Will consider Lauterbunnen as a base- my son has no preference, my thinking is that staying in Interlaken may add some flexibility; when you have to change the itinerary i.e. from mountain to river cruise or city/town nearby, you are right there at the hub of transportation and save some time

Day 4 (Day 4 and 5 the day # should switch) - any suggestions for excursions visiting Wenge ,Grinderlwald or Murren in one day?

Please clarify, could the address of hotel in Lauterbrunnen be something Wengen, Lauterbrunnen? in booking a hotel at Lauterbrunnen

Thanks

Harder is just a view point. Easy to reach from Interlaken but may be not the best idea after a overnight flight.
Jungfraujoch AND Bearenberg AND Lake Thun cruise is theoretically feasible, but doesn't make much sense.
But it's a good idea to do the boat ride in afternoon as October mornings can be rather cold or even foggy on the Lakes.
I would rather forget Lake Thun and combine Brienzer Rothorn with a Lake Brienz cruise, however (with
a stop at Giessbach). That would take a full day.
There is not much to see at Wengen, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen (except American tourists). You may stop there at your way back from Jungfraujoch.
After Aiguille du Midi, Le Bervent (check timetables!) will rather be a disapointment. The Brevent area is good for hikes in front of Mont Blanc.
Jungraujoch, Aiguille du Midi: these expensive journeys make only sense if the weather is fine.

Thanks neckervd, nice to hear from you.

what do u think of the overall itinerary? With ZRH in and Paris out feasible ? He needs to book airline tickets now.

Adding Chamonix, it will be easier to take train from there to Paris and give him an extra chance to see the Alp's

What is the likelihood of having rain / bad weather in the first week of October? He will be in Bernese Oberland in that time frame

Where do you think he can use as a base? I started to book rooms for him in Wengen/Lauderbrunnen

Thanks

Weather in the Alps is always unpredictable. October is usually on the drier side.
In automn, there is often fog in the midlands (Interlaken included) and bright sun above 1000 metres.

Zurich (ZRH) is the best airport for the Bernese Oberland whereas Geneva (GVA) would be the best one for Chamonix.

Train connections from Chamonix to Paris every 2 hrs from 9.55 until 15.55 .5 3/4 hrs journey Change at St-Gervais and Bellegarde.
Interlaken - Basel - Paris takes 5 3/4 hrs too.
Montreux - Lausanne - Paris takes 4 1/2 hrs

The first half of October is high season in the Bernese Oberland (school holidays) and low season at Chamonix (with only 2 cableways running: Aiguille du Midi and Flegere)

Based on the suggestions and discussion with son, came out the following rough itinerary, does this one make more sense?

Day 1 Leaving US at night for ZRH

Day 2 Arrival at ZRH in AM, train to Lucerne; half day Lucerne

Day 3 Lucerne- Mt Pilatus cogwheel train or cable cars with lake cruise

Day 4 Lucerne- Interlaken-Wengen

Day 5 Wengen

Day 6 Wengen

Day 7 Wengen

Day 8 Wengen- Montreux –Chamonix

Day 9 Chamonix Aiguille de Midi

Day 10 Chamonix to Paris

Day 11 Paris

Day 12 Paris

Day 13 Paris

Day 14 flight back

IMO, that's much better. I trust the experts will weigh in.

Wengen - Chamonix is long train ride, either via Visp (4 1/2 hrs) or via Montreux (7hrs)

Thank you neckervd and kja,

if skipping Chamonix , is Wengen to Paris better route? Any alternative for the two days before Paris, i.g., stay in Geneva area for 2-3 days, visiting small towns in France.

IMO, Montreux is worth visiting. And Paris easily deserves more than 3 days.

There is no reason to skip Chamonix. If you want to stay along Lake Geneva, Montreux is the nicest place in this area.

Thank you for your reply neckerd, and kja

Ok, how to take the train to Chamonix via Visp? how many changes?
The last fast train to Paris from Chamonix is like below, correct (5h 51m)?

2;55pm Chamonix - 3:40 Le Fayet
3:49pm St-Gervais- less -Bains -Le Fayet- 4:58 Annemasse
5:11pm Annemasse- Gare de Lyon (arrival at 8:48 pm)

It would be nice to visit Montreux, but he does not have enough time... even if cancels Chamonix, he would only have one and half day

Thanks

IMO, one and a half days is enough for Montreux -- time for the castle, a boat ride, a visit to / walk through the vineyards,, etc.

Swiss timetables:
https://www.sbb.ch/en
Interlaken - Chamonix via Visp: change at Spiez, Visp (same platform), Martigny (same platform), Vallorcine (same platform). About every hr
Interlaken - Chamonix via Gstaad - Montreux: change at Montreux, Martigny, Vallorcine (same platform). 3 times daily, other connections with more changes
Interlaken - Chamonix via Fribourg - Montreux: change at Bern, Palezieux, Vevey, Martigny, Vallorcine (same platform). about every hr

The French timetables for October are not yet published.
Actual timetable as in my post 14 (no train change at Annemasse)

Thank you for the suggestions neckervd and kja.

"Day 4 Lucerne- Interlaken-Wengen

Day 5 Wengen

Day 6 Wengen

Day 7 Wengen

Day 8 Wengen- Montreux –Chamonix"

Wengen less than half day on Day 4
Wengen full day on Day 5
Wengen full day on Day 6

he could leave one day earlier from Wengen (on Day 7), in the morning or mid afternoon (depending on the weather of Day 5 and 6 and if he reached the view points of the Jungfrau etc)? as an alternative, in that case, he may have 1or 2 half day in montreux; then leave mid afternoon on Day 8 from Montreux to Chamonix. Thoughts?

Train from Montreux - Martigny - Valloccine - Chamonix (Total 2.5 hours)

If one thing you should do in Montreux, which activity would you recommend?







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Hi,
Will keep the original plan of staying in Wengen for 4 nights, the plan on the my last post won't work well, it doesn't give enought time to see Montreux, but cut short of time in Wengen.
Will take the train: Wengen- Interlaken - Spiez - Visp (same platform) - Martigny (same platform) - Vallorcine (same platform) - Chamonix- Mont -Blanc

On this route any part is scenic?
What's the difference between the two station Chamonix Mont Blanc and Chamonix aiguile du midi?

Thanks

What's the difference between the two station Chamonix Mont Blanc and Chamonix aiguile du midi?
These are just 2 stops of he same train. Chose the station that suits better to you.

"On this route any part is scenic?"
The crossing of the 20 miles long Loetschberg tunnel is not particularly scenic.

Is there a way to break the train ride between Chamonix and Paris, any possibilitis? Like going to Annecy and taking the train to paris from there? Is it worth doing that?

You can stop over wherever you like.
The train ride from Annecy to Paris ix only 2 hrs shorter than that from Chamonix.

1, Question from previous post " Will take the train: Wengen- Interlaken - Spiez - Visp (same platform) - Martigny (same platform) - Vallorcine (same platform) - Chamonix- Mont -Blanc. On this route any part is scenic ?"

When you said "The crossing of the 20 miles long Loetschberg tunnel is not particularly scenic, you mean that the rest of route is scenic? Which part is the most scenic? If it is, which side of the seat is more preferable?

2, From Chamonix to Paris every 2 hrs from 9.55 until 15.55 .5 3/4 hrs journey Change at St-Gervais and Bellegarde, are these paths scenic?

Thanks a lot

1. what do you call scenic?
The itinerary Spiez - Kandersteg - Goppenstein - Brig - Visp - Martigny - Chamonix is much more scenic, but 1 hr longer.
Best views (along this itinerary):
up to Brig: right side for sure,
Brig - Martigny rather left side
Martigny - Chamonix: left side for sure.
But once again: the best things cannot be seen from a train window.
Visp is less than 30 miles away from more than 50 at least 13000 ft high peaks and tons of glaciers, among them
Aletsch Glacier, the longest of Europe. But from a train window, you see almost nothing of all that.

Chamonix - Bellegarde - Paris:
the first hr is very scenic (best views left side), then ist may still be nice to look out of the train window during another 3 hrs.

Thank you neckervd for your detailed info. "Scenic" - I meaning something you see through the window quite nice.

Could you and any swiss travel enthusiast give some advice for three days itinerary in bernese oberland ( 3 days and less than half day) on early October?

Will base in Wengen, from Lucerne. Would use one day for Junfaufoch, one day for Schilthorn. After each site, what activities should fill into the rest of the two days such as hike, boat cruise, etc?

What are the best hiking routes, in combination with cable cars? any restrictions in October for the hiking paths? How does the shorter daylight affect your activity time? In reality, how many hours would you have for the excursion in a day?

For the third day in Wengen/Bernese Oberland, what would you suggest? Is this day a little excessive?

Thank you

I, for one, would not go to Jungfraujoch. Schilthorn would give me what I would want for that type of experience.

Do I understand correctly that it is your son who will be taking this trip? I wonder why he isn't making the plans. JMO, but it would seem that if he's old enough to have the experiences, he's old enough to make his own plans. Again, JMO.

Guidebooks should prove quite useful for figuring out how to spend time in the Bernese Oberland. LOTS of options.

Good luck!

You need 1 1/2 hrs for the train ride from Wengen to Jungraujoch and another 1 1/2 hrs to go back. Count another 3 hrs for the visit of the Sphinx Obvservatory, the Ice Palace and a meal in the panoramic restaurant. You may also hike over he Jungfrau Glacier to the Moenchsjoch Hut (more or less prepared trail; you need only good hiking boots and may be small crampons). All that would last 7-8 hrs.

Schilthorn: you may walk down (with good hiking boots). There are 4 different itineraries:
1. via Roter Herd - Rotstock Hut
2. via Lake Grausee - Schiltalp
3. via Schilthorn Hut - Allmendhubel
4. via Obernberg - Souslaeger to Gruetschalp or Isenfluh
If you don't like to hike, you may go down by gondola to Stechelberg and visit the Truemmelbach Falls.

cog wheel railways, gondolas, alpine post buses and hiking trails:
There are 6 cog wheel railways, 7 rope railways, 20 gondolas, 4 alpine bus lines und hundreds of miles of hiking trails in Eastern Bernese Oberland.
The number of "best hiking routes, in combination with cable cars" is endless.