14 days in Switzerland by rail
May 5th, 2013, 07:56 AM
#1
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14 days in Switzerland by rail
My husband and I are planning a trip to Switzerland in Sep.We want to see as much as possible and want to travel on as many scenic rail routes as possible. We will fly in and out of Zurich. Have come up with an itinerary but not sure if this will work or if we will spend the correct amount of time in each place.
From Zurich airport by train to Lucerne for 4 nights, to Interlaken area for 2 nights taking in Jungfraujoch. Train to Montreux 2nights, train to Zernatt 2 nights. Glacier Express to St Moritz for 3 nights taking Bernina express to Tirano and back to St Moritz. Train to Chur for 1 night on way back to Zurich airport for mid day flight.
Any suggestions and comments would be welcome.
Does this cover the best of Switzerland?
Are we trying to do too much and will be get bored of trains?
Is there anything we should add or miss out?
Thanks
From Zurich airport by train to Lucerne for 4 nights, to Interlaken area for 2 nights taking in Jungfraujoch. Train to Montreux 2nights, train to Zernatt 2 nights. Glacier Express to St Moritz for 3 nights taking Bernina express to Tirano and back to St Moritz. Train to Chur for 1 night on way back to Zurich airport for mid day flight.
Any suggestions and comments would be welcome.
Does this cover the best of Switzerland?
Are we trying to do too much and will be get bored of trains?
Is there anything we should add or miss out?
Thanks
May 6th, 2013, 12:05 PM
#4
Well you aren't actually seeing Zürich. Which I find a lovely city.
Also, my husband would definitely be bored on that many trains.
I love trains. But you can only say "wow" so many times.
It is nice to spend time out in nature or strolling in a cute village.
Also, my husband would definitely be bored on that many trains.
I love trains. But you can only say "wow" so many times.
It is nice to spend time out in nature or strolling in a cute village.
May 6th, 2013, 12:21 PM
#5
Six different hotels, and parts of 7 days sitting on trains. Too much of both for me, but this is your trip. I would cut the number of destinations by half.
You've allowed yourself one shot at good enough weather to make the trip to the top of the Jungfrau worth the effort. Good luck!
You've allowed yourself one shot at good enough weather to make the trip to the top of the Jungfrau worth the effort. Good luck!
May 6th, 2013, 01:49 PM
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Check out the 15-consecutive-day Swiss Pass if doing half of what you previewed - covers not only trains but postal buses, lake boats and city trams and buses - just hop on and also gives free entry to 400+ Swiss museums. Great informative sites IMO about Swiss trains, passes, half-fare cards, swiss cards, etc. - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.swisstravelsystem.com and www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.
May 6th, 2013, 02:13 PM
#7
While you are in Luzern consider spending a half day taking the train up to Engleberg and from there the three-stage lift to the top of Mt. Titlis. Some passes will give you significant discounts on the lift portion.
I would take at least one night from Luzern and add it to the Jungfrau/Berner Oberland area.
Zermatt...you can do the village in an hour...you can take the railway or the cableway up for a view of the Matterhorn peak in no more than a half day.
You'll see some of the Lac Leman shoreline if you travel from Montreux to Visp and change there for Zermatt; you can get the Glacier from either Zermatt itself or from Visp.
St. Moritz itself is about as sterile a village/town as it gets IMO.
You have left out all of the area around Lake Constance/St. Gallen (the famous library as well as the abbey church the interior of which has been described as the most beautiful in the entire country)but I realize you cannot do it all.
Be aware that Switzerland is about the same size as the state of West Virginia and you can literally get from one end to the other in ab out four hours or so by rail.
You might want to consider doing a trip along Lac Leman on one of the lake boats.
the problem with your plan for the Bernina is that you will be repeating the scenery pretty much entirely on the way back.
I agree that Zurich is certainly worth a day if you'd like to see some interesting churches/art museum(s).
I would take at least one night from Luzern and add it to the Jungfrau/Berner Oberland area.
Zermatt...you can do the village in an hour...you can take the railway or the cableway up for a view of the Matterhorn peak in no more than a half day.
You'll see some of the Lac Leman shoreline if you travel from Montreux to Visp and change there for Zermatt; you can get the Glacier from either Zermatt itself or from Visp.
St. Moritz itself is about as sterile a village/town as it gets IMO.
You have left out all of the area around Lake Constance/St. Gallen (the famous library as well as the abbey church the interior of which has been described as the most beautiful in the entire country)but I realize you cannot do it all.
Be aware that Switzerland is about the same size as the state of West Virginia and you can literally get from one end to the other in ab out four hours or so by rail.
You might want to consider doing a trip along Lac Leman on one of the lake boats.
the problem with your plan for the Bernina is that you will be repeating the scenery pretty much entirely on the way back.
I agree that Zurich is certainly worth a day if you'd like to see some interesting churches/art museum(s).
May 7th, 2013, 08:24 AM
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"Be aware that Switzerland is about the same size as the state of West Virginia and you can literally get from one end to the other in ab out four hours or so by rail."
Not exactly: a train ride from the westernmost train station (La Plaine) to the southeastermost one (Campcologno) takes about 9 hrs. That's due to the topography, of course: you cross 3 watersheds, from the Mediterranean basin via North Sea basin - Black Sea basin to the Adriatic basin.
I don't think that the Zurich churches are among the 50 Swiss churches most worth to see, but some museums there are really fine.
And I fully agree with Dukey concerning the 4 1/2 hrs backtracking from Tirano to Chur. Therefore I proposed (yesterday) to continue from Tirano via Lake Como - Lake Lugano to Zurich (6 1/4 hrs, same journey time than via Chur)
As to the train rides, Lassie doesn't plan more than most people in this forum:
Day 1: 1 hr
Day 2-4: none
Day 5: 2 hrs (very scenic itinerary)
Day 6: none
Day 7: 3 hrs (very scenic itinerary)
Day 8: none
Day 9: 2 1/2 hrs (very scenic itinerary)
Day 10: none
Day 11: 8 hrs (Glacier Express)
Day 12-13: none
Day 14: 7 hrs (Bernina Express)
Day 15: 1 1/2 hrs
daily average: 1 2/3 hrs in trains
Not exactly: a train ride from the westernmost train station (La Plaine) to the southeastermost one (Campcologno) takes about 9 hrs. That's due to the topography, of course: you cross 3 watersheds, from the Mediterranean basin via North Sea basin - Black Sea basin to the Adriatic basin.
I don't think that the Zurich churches are among the 50 Swiss churches most worth to see, but some museums there are really fine.
And I fully agree with Dukey concerning the 4 1/2 hrs backtracking from Tirano to Chur. Therefore I proposed (yesterday) to continue from Tirano via Lake Como - Lake Lugano to Zurich (6 1/4 hrs, same journey time than via Chur)
As to the train rides, Lassie doesn't plan more than most people in this forum:
Day 1: 1 hr
Day 2-4: none
Day 5: 2 hrs (very scenic itinerary)
Day 6: none
Day 7: 3 hrs (very scenic itinerary)
Day 8: none
Day 9: 2 1/2 hrs (very scenic itinerary)
Day 10: none
Day 11: 8 hrs (Glacier Express)
Day 12-13: none
Day 14: 7 hrs (Bernina Express)
Day 15: 1 1/2 hrs
daily average: 1 2/3 hrs in trains
May 7th, 2013, 09:11 AM
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From Zurich airport by train to Lucerne for 4 nights, to Interlaken area for 2 nights taking in Jungfraujoch.>
I would reverse this - 4 nights in Jungfrau Region and 2 in Lucerne - there is so so much more to see and do in Jungfrau region than in Luzern - where two full days is great - be sure to do a lake boat trip on the fjord-like part of Lake Lucerne - up to Fluelen and take the train back.
I would reverse this - 4 nights in Jungfrau Region and 2 in Lucerne - there is so so much more to see and do in Jungfrau region than in Luzern - where two full days is great - be sure to do a lake boat trip on the fjord-like part of Lake Lucerne - up to Fluelen and take the train back.
May 8th, 2013, 11:18 AM
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Does this cover the best of Switzerland?>
almost if you include Lucerne, to me one of the world's most gorgeous cities lovingly set on a gorgeous fjord-like lake - Lake Lucerne.
I would suggest taking one day out of St Moritz - a city that seems to fascinate few here though there are some tasty day trips besides doing what I consider to be Europe's most amazingly scenic train trip - and instead of going to nice but not excpetional Chur - going to Lucerne from St Moritz and staying for 2 days - doing one of many great day trips from Lucerne - like Mt Rigi or Mt Pilatus or a boat ride on the lake that could involve one of the former. You could also day trip to Engleberg and Mt Titlis but by then you will have seen two other spectcular Alpine areas.
almost if you include Lucerne, to me one of the world's most gorgeous cities lovingly set on a gorgeous fjord-like lake - Lake Lucerne.
I would suggest taking one day out of St Moritz - a city that seems to fascinate few here though there are some tasty day trips besides doing what I consider to be Europe's most amazingly scenic train trip - and instead of going to nice but not excpetional Chur - going to Lucerne from St Moritz and staying for 2 days - doing one of many great day trips from Lucerne - like Mt Rigi or Mt Pilatus or a boat ride on the lake that could involve one of the former. You could also day trip to Engleberg and Mt Titlis but by then you will have seen two other spectcular Alpine areas.
May 8th, 2013, 01:09 PM
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taking Bernina express to Tirano and back to St Moritz.>
Unless you want to experience a bit of Italy the absolute highlights of this trip are at the summit - around the stations of Ospizio Bernina and Alp Grum - I'd rather spend my time walking around the placid Alpine lake and to the glacier that feeds the lake - many folks walk the short distance between those two stations - there are other stops in Switzerland that are neat - other glaciers to walk to - the ride down into Italy does go thru a rather lush valley but it is not the awesome Alpine scenery that you get at the summit area.
Unless you want to experience a bit of Italy the absolute highlights of this trip are at the summit - around the stations of Ospizio Bernina and Alp Grum - I'd rather spend my time walking around the placid Alpine lake and to the glacier that feeds the lake - many folks walk the short distance between those two stations - there are other stops in Switzerland that are neat - other glaciers to walk to - the ride down into Italy does go thru a rather lush valley but it is not the awesome Alpine scenery that you get at the summit area.
May 9th, 2013, 02:55 AM
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The best would be to leave any Bernina railway train at Bernina Diavolezza, to take the cableway to Diavolezza and bsck and to continue with a later train, if there wouldn't be the luggage problem .....
Therefore it would be a better idea to stay a few days in the Engadine Valley (people who decided to hate St. Moritz can just go to one of the many charming neighbour villages) and to visit the stunning area from there. They can then continue by Bernina railway to Valtelllina - Lake Como - Lake Lugano (unless they find Lake Como extemely ugly; even then rail fans would enjoy to travel back to Zurich via Lugano via the famous Gotthard railway, however)
Therefore it would be a better idea to stay a few days in the Engadine Valley (people who decided to hate St. Moritz can just go to one of the many charming neighbour villages) and to visit the stunning area from there. They can then continue by Bernina railway to Valtelllina - Lake Como - Lake Lugano (unless they find Lake Como extemely ugly; even then rail fans would enjoy to travel back to Zurich via Lugano via the famous Gotthard railway, however)
May 9th, 2013, 07:23 AM
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https://www.google.com/search?q=bern...=1600&bih=1075
this has some maps of the train route showing Alp Grum and Bernina Ospizio stations that are popular places to get off to see the glacier and walk around the lake or between stations.
I'm not sure why neckervd says to get off a Bernina Diavolezza though that is near the lake as well perhaps walk between that station and Bernina Ospizio?
this has some maps of the train route showing Alp Grum and Bernina Ospizio stations that are popular places to get off to see the glacier and walk around the lake or between stations.
I'm not sure why neckervd says to get off a Bernina Diavolezza though that is near the lake as well perhaps walk between that station and Bernina Ospizio?
May 9th, 2013, 10:43 AM
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"The best would be to leave any Bernina railway train at Bernina Diavolezza, TO TAKE THE CABLEWAY TO DIAVOLEZZA ....."
http://www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/somme...a-morteratsch/
http://www.pontresina.ch/sommer/urla...iavolezza.html
http://www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/somme...a-morteratsch/
http://www.pontresina.ch/sommer/urla...iavolezza.html
May 10th, 2013, 06:51 AM
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In summer on regular trains that go over the exact same route -they have some open-air cars that were a thrill to sit in - just on a wooden bench with no walls or top - floating thru the awesome scenery. Not all trains have these but I believe those that do are noted in Rhaetische Bahn - line operator - schedules.
May 10th, 2013, 11:31 AM
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Also, my husband would definitely be bored on that many trains.
I love trains. But you can only say "wow" so many times>
that's exactly why the Glacier Express to many becomes a tedious all-day marathon - only so much wow!
I love trains. But you can only say "wow" so many times>
that's exactly why the Glacier Express to many becomes a tedious all-day marathon - only so much wow!
May 11th, 2013, 09:10 AM
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If taking trains to either Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald from Interlaken-Ost beware that it starts as a single train and splits with one part trundling up to Grindelwald and the other part tracking over to Luaterbrunne - splitting at where the Girndelwald and Lauterbrunnen valleys comes together.
May 13th, 2013, 01:37 PM
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About those trains Interlaken to Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen trains splitting at zweilütschinen - I take these trains often and there are always at the station where he train stops and splits into two halves - there are always flummoxed folk being told buy conductors to get off one train and get on the other part, which typically can be quite full so finding seats can be problematic.
In Interlaken look on the outside of each train car to see the label of where that train car is going - it will either say Lauterbrunnen (for Wengen and Murren connections) or Grindelwald. So don't get caught with your pants down!
In Interlaken look on the outside of each train car to see the label of where that train car is going - it will either say Lauterbrunnen (for Wengen and Murren connections) or Grindelwald. So don't get caught with your pants down!
May 15th, 2013, 12:34 PM
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And I fully agree with Dukey concerning the 4 1/2 hrs backtracking from Tirano to Chur. Therefore I proposed (yesterday) to continue from Tirano via Lake Como - Lake Lugano to Zurich (6 1/4 hrs, same journey time than via Chur)>
You could stay overnight in this scenario at fabled Bellagio - on a peninsula sticking out into the lake - get off the train from Tirano at Varenna-Esino station and walk down to the lake and hop a boat to Bellagio - from Bellagio take a boat to Como and from there to Zurich - negating any need to go via Milan and its hectic Milano Centrale train station.
You could stay overnight in this scenario at fabled Bellagio - on a peninsula sticking out into the lake - get off the train from Tirano at Varenna-Esino station and walk down to the lake and hop a boat to Bellagio - from Bellagio take a boat to Como and from there to Zurich - negating any need to go via Milan and its hectic Milano Centrale train station.
