3.5 days Itinerary in Switzerland
 

Me and my wife will have about 3 and a half days to tour Switzerland, in and out Geneva from June 3 (1300) till June 7 (1300).

Given the short duration, we wish to take the Glacier Express and enjoy some typical swiss village landscape in Bernese Oberland.

Our planned itinerary as follow:
June 3 : Half day tour of Montreux (sleep Montreux)
June 4 : Montreau - Brig (GEX) - Chur - Bern (sleep Bern)
June 5 - Bern (half day tour) - Lauterbrunnen (sleep Lauterbrunnen)
June 6 - tour Murren & Schilthorn (sleep Lauterbrunnen)
June 7 - Lauterbrunnen - Geneva Airport (flight 1500)

We are in the dilemma whether to do GEX as it is Summer (may not be the best time) and we will miss the Zermatt-Brig and Chur-St Moritz sections. We also wonder whether part of the panoramic train of Golden Pass and RegioExpress are good enough so that we do not spend a full long day in GEX. We can then use Bern as our base for day trips.

We really appreciate help and suggestions to refine our itinerary.

Many thanks.

Andy KL

Hi kfloh,

Your June 4 will entail all day inside a train -- the trip from Montreux to Brig is 1h30, Brig to Chur is 3h30, and Chur to Bern is 2h30. That's a long time to spend passively sitting inside a train.

I would never consider a train trip as a destination -- it's fine to take a scenic route if you're going in that direction anyway, but it's no substitute for being outside in the countryside. In this case, I really wouldn't spend all that day inside a train when I could be outside!

I also don't like all the jumping around you're doing. Remember that every time you move bases, you lose about half a day of "outside" time due to the chores of packing up and checking out of one hotel then checking in and unpacking at another hotel. With 4 nights, I wouldn't have more than 2 destinations.

If I were you, I would head immediately from Geneva airport to Lauterbrunnen and stay there 3 nights. Then take the Golden Pass to Montreux and stay there one night. Then depart Geneva.

I'll also add that of the 3 "scenic" trains I've taken, the Glacier Express was my least favorite -- it's just too long, and the scenery is too repetitive. My favorite is the Bernina Express followed by the Golden Pass because both of those have some dramatic variation.

Have fun as you plan!

s

I would spend more time in the Berner Oberland - heading up into the mountains - rather than just staying in cities and riding around in trains. Also - you moving too often - settle and day trip from there.

Glacier Express most overhyped scenic train in europe - heck it made Fodor's recent list of top 15 world scenic train rides - ony because of the hype and advertising - trains in the Jungfraujoch region are just as scenic - well no muchmore scenic than most of the Glacier Express.

Take the Golden Pass Montreux to Interlaken - only takes a bit longer than the mainline routes and is a lot prettier - and those doozie of panormaic observation cars are neat.

Anyway you could probably if doing all those trains benefit from a 4-consecutive-day Swiss Pass and or the Half-Fare Card - for lots of goodies on Swiss trains: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Yes spend more time in th Jungfrau Region - the Brig to chur portion of the GEX is the least scenic - ho-hum for Switzerland - put that time into the Jungfrau Region - perhaps taking the train up to the Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest train station - and all in all from Interlaken a much much more scenic ride than Brig-Chur.

Dear all, many thanks for the advice.

In actual fact, my wife will have business meeting in Geneva on June 2 and 3 and will be able to leave Geneva in the afternoon of June 3.

I have decided to take out GEX. But was told that Bern is not to be missed. Hence, my revise itinerary as follow:
June 3 : Geneva (depart 1333)- Montreux - (Golden Pass)- Interlaken (arrive 1828) - Lauterbrunnen (sleep Lauterbrunnen).
June 4 : Tour around Berner Oberland (sleep Lauterbrunnen)
June 5 : Tour around Berner Oberland (sleep Lauterbrunnen)
June 6 : Half day Berner Oberland - Bern (Half day tour) (sleep Bern)
June 7 : Bern - Geneva airport

Any comments on the above?

Also, I plan to do a day trip to Montreux from Geneva on June 2 when my wife is having her business meeting. Does my wife miss anything important sights in Montreux if I do this?

Again, appreciate suggestions and input from all.

Many thanks in advance.

Andy, Kuala Lumpur

Decide where to go once you will be at Geneva. it wouldn't make sense to go into the mountains if the weather there is cold, rainy and foggy (may be with snowfall above 200 metres).

BTW: in the case you should plan to go ino the high mountains: there are direct buses from Geneva to Chamonix where you can take the Aiguille du Midi gondola up to 3800 metres.

There is also a gondola going up to the glacier area close to Gstaad resp Aigle: Col du Pillon - Glacier 3000.

Let the weather dictate your itinerary after you wife's business in Geneva is concluded. If it is cloudy and rainy, go see Bern. If it's wonderfully sunny, spend all the time you can in the mountains. For me nothing can compete with a sunny day in the alps.

Yes and if in say a Wengen and a wet cool dank day pops up Bern is just about over an hour by train via Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken-ost - Bern uniquely has covered walkways in a lot of the old town center- old porticos along the main streets.

Hi Andy

My husband and I were in Switzerland for the 1st time in Sept last year and loved it!
We based ourselves in Lausanne for 5 nights as it's only about 45mins from the Geneva airport direct (so not much more than you) and thought it was an ideal base. This is what we did but of course in depends on your interests (we don't ski so going up into the mountains wasn't high on our list):
- day trip to Geneva
- day trip Chillon Castle/Montreux/Lutry (you take a little train through the UNESCO vineyards with some amazing views over Lake Geneva)
- day trip Gruyere/Broc(choc factory)
- day trip to Zermatt/Matterhorn (sunny day with no snow but a gorgeous town)
- day trip Lucerne. You can go up to Mt Pilitus from here but since we did the Matterhorn at Zermatt we decided to just wanted the town.
All of the above had gorgeous scenery on the train and I think some of the above train trips are on the Golden Pass line as we were on the Panoramic for some it (Gruyere and Lucerne I think).
I don't think it matters where you go as Switzerland is just amazing.

Once again, thank you so much for all the advice.

We plan to go up to Schilthorn in BO. Hence, I just wonder, should I spend my time and money to do Chamonix/Aiguille Du Midi day trip from Geneva. Just wish to know how different the view from these two summits. Appreciate sharing of experience on this.

Alternatively, shall I do a day trip to Montreux and Vevey, take the UNESCO train to view the vineyard terraces.

Bearing in mind that my trip is early June, I wish to know which sights in my itinerary will be most scenic. Also, will I see glacier or snow capped mountains in Chamonix or Schilthorn?

We are from Malaysia. We really wish to enjoy the Alps mountainscapes.

Thanks.

The mountain peaks are snow-capped year-round in the alps. In early June some higher elevation hiking trails may still be closed.

The live webcam in the alps is fun to check. It shows the view from the Schilthorn, Jungfraujoch, and other famous peaks from the region.

http://www.swisspanorama.com/

Aiguille du Midi (Chamonix) is in the middle of glaciers (like Matterhorn Paradise, BTW). You will see the French Alps (from Mont Blanc up to Southern France), the Italian Alps (Gran Paradiso, Monte Rosa, Ortles/Cevedale) and the Swiss Alps (Grand Combin, Matterhorn, Bernese Alps with Jungfrau etc., Adula, Bernina).

From Schilthorn, you see only the Bernese Alps (and some minor peaks in Central Switzerland like Titlis). There is no glacier at Schilthorn itself.

The cable car ride from the Aiguille de Midi in Chamonix to Pte Heilbrenner (sp?) in Italy is so so awesome - a very long cable you often stop and dangle in mid-air over a sea of ice far below - this is while folks are boarding or de-boarding at either end - an eeerie feeling in these tiny 4-person hardly aerial cable cars but to me so so awesome - beats anything I've seen at the Jungfruajoch or Gornergrat at Zermatt.

France is also much cheaper than Switzerland in general (though this cable car is rather pricey - a large gondola goes up to it from Chamonix.)

https://www.google.com/search?q=aigu...g&ved=0CB0QsAQ

The most awesome cable car ride I have ever taken - NOT for Nervous Nellies however!

OMG it is totally awesome! Here's a video of it (skip to 3:00)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cs16w0tvDg

Well, it's not exactly true that <<The mountain peaks are snow-capped year-round in the alps.>>

It really depends on where you are and how high the mountains are. Since this post is about Switzerland, that might be true for the Swiss Alps. But it is not true about the German Alps.

The Zugspitze at 3,000m hasn't had snow cover in the summertime for about a decade now. The glacier is still there (though it's melting fast), and it appears to be white in the distance. Maybe some folks think it has snow on it because of the white color --

s

Swan is right. It should be:
<<The mountain peaks HIGHER THAN 3300 METRES IN THE NORTHERN ALPS AND HIGHER THAN 3700 METRES IN THE SOUTHERN ALPS are snow-capped year-round in the alps.>>

In Switzerland, there are many peaks higher than 3000 metres that you can reach (in August) on hiking trails without passing through any snow like:
Barrhorn 3610m
Tete Blanche de By 3418m
Oberrothorn 3414m
Hockenhorn 3293m
Hohtaellihorn 3275m
Punta della Vedretta 3270m (despite the name)
Jazzihorn 3227m
Pizzo Uccello 3218m
Munt Pers 3207m

Wow! It seems that Aiguille Du Midi is a must do.

The webiste of ADM mentions that "From September 15th 2014, the access to the summit terrace and to the “Step into the Void” will be closed for further renovation & refurbishment work. The opening is planned for June 26th 2015".

Just wonder how does this affects the visit. Can I still enjoy 360 degrees panorama?

Two more questions:

1) Does the visit to ADM and Schilthorn involves walking on the glaciers? We actually do not plan to gear up to walk on the glacier or snow. We will just wear winter clothing.

2) What time the sun will set in early June?

Million thanks again everyone. This is the first time I post in Fodors, the response has been very impressive. Really helpful!

1) No (for both peaks). There isn'even a glacier at or around Schilthorn
2) after 9pm. But at this time, there would be no gondola down into the vlley.

If iin Grindelwald you can walk, easily, to the tip of a glacier and from Chamonix itself there are some easily available to reach glaciers if you can't do ADM and the gondolas right over a sea of ice.

Dear all, we have in principal firmed up our travelling route as follow:
3 June: Geneva - Montreux (Golden Pass) Zweismmen - Interlaken- Murren/Grindelwald
4 June : (a) Schilthorn trip (b)Hike Gutshalp - Murren
5 June : (a) Trummelbach Fall (b) Hike Mannlichen - Kleine Scheidegg
6 June : (a) Lake Brienz Cruise (b) Tour Bern from 6pm [sleep Bern]
7 June : (a) Visit Bern (9am - 12pm) (b) Depart to Geneva Airport at 1pm

We really need helps on the follow:

(1) Is Murren or Grindelwald a better base. We rule out Lauterbrunnen because understand it is a valley and not as scenic as Murren/Grindelwald. I consider Grindelwald because more accommodation options and cheaper.

(2) On 3 June, we will arrive Interlaken at 7pm with 2 big luggages. Is it advisable to go up Murren. Also we are budget travellers and may not buy Swiss Pass.

(3) On 5 June, what will be a good replacement if we don't hike Manlichen-K. Scheidegg as we may have hike Gut-Murren on 4 June? We appreciate itinerary suggestions to enjoy the mountains with minimum transportation costs without Swiss Pass.

(3) Is Swiss Half Fare Pass (CHF120 valid 30 days) provide 50% discount to all our rail/cable car rides above, include Murren-Schilthorn; Grindelwald-K.Scheidegg; Wengen-Mannlichen; Lauterbrunnen-K. Scheidegg??? I am confuse with Swiss Pass.

(4) Without Swiss Pass, do we need to buy point-to-point ticket for every route? For instance, our 3 June journey, we just buy an open ticket from Geneva-Murren/Grindelwald or we need to buy time specific ticket at each and every station?

(5) Any stop along Lake Brienz cruise are recommended?

(6) We have 5 hours (in 2 sessions) to tour Bern, what will be the best routes? On 6 June when we arrive around 5pm, will Bern still be lively and bright after 6pm. We understand the sun will set after 9pm.

Look forward to receiving earliest replies from all.

Million thanks.

Regarding your question 1: Lauterbrunnen is in a valley but is still very beautiful. However, if you plan to do a fair amount of hiking, I would definitely stay in Murren, Gimmelwald, Wengen, or Grindelwald because they are higher in elevation and will get you better acclimated for your hikes. I never try any serious mountain hikes until after having slept in the mountains for at least one night.

2 - You can easily get to Murren with your big luggage via cable car. Not a problem.

3 - A fun afternoon without hiking is to rent a bicycle in Murren and do a loop ride -- all down hill or flat -- from Murren to Gimmelwald, cable car down to valley floor at Stechelburg, then cycle to Lauterbrunnen and take the cable car back up to Grutschalp and finally back to Murren. Of course, this involves cable cars and buying tickets to ride them.

4- Yes, without a Swiss Pass you will have to buy a ticket for each cable car ride. There are seldom lines even in peak season, but it can be annoying.

5 - Stop at Brienz and take a short bus to the Swiss Open Air Folk museum at Ballenberg.

By the way, all the cable cars, the cruise on Lake Brienz, and the visit to the Ballenberg museum would be covered by the Swiss Pass.

Thanks Edward2005 for the speedy response.
On June 3, our Geneva-Interlaken journey will involve few transit as follows:
Geneva (13:42) - Montreux (14:35)
Montreux (14:44) - Zweisimmen (16:55)
Zweisimmen (17:03) - Spiez (17:47)
Spiez (18:05) - Interlaken (18:28)

Question is can we buy all the tickets from Geneva? If yes, what happen if there are train delays and we miss the transit? Can we ask for a change of tickets for subsequent trains? The transit times are so short. We will be carrying 2 large luggages and not able to move around fast.

If not than does it means that we have to buy point-to-point ticket at every stop?

The above routes are planned as we wish to take the Golden Pass Panorama.

Thank you.

When buying a single ticket ask for a ticket to your destination, not to the intermediate stops. It's good for the whole day, I believe, so if you miss a connection you can take the next one.

However, Geneva-Interlaken is a common route and you may not have to switch trains at all. The other cities are probably just stops. Check with http://www.sbb.ch/home.html to be sure.

Edward2005 -- the op is going from Geneva to Interlaken on the Golden Pass route, not the fastest route. That route dictates those train changes -- especially the one at Zweisimmen because the rail changes width.

kfloh -- yes, you can just buy one ticket for this journey, and yes the ticket is good all day long. Just make sure that your ticket is for this specific route, which can be more expensive than the fastest route.

I took a quick look at all of the above messages and didn't see one where you stated if you have a Swiss Pass or Half Fare Card -- So, again, be careful when you buy your tickets. Many of the ticket machines will default to the Half Fare, but you can only use that if you have a Half Fare Card. If you don't have a HFC, make sure you are buying a full-fare ticket.

Have fun!

s

You can buy your Geneva airport - Montreux - Gstaad - Interlaken - Muerren ticket at Geneva airport. It costs 96 CHF (standard fare)
Muerren - Truemmelbach - Kleine Scheidegg and back cost about 70 CHF (stanard fare)
A Lake Brienz cruise from Muerren cost about 55 CHF (standard fare)
Muerren - Berne - Geneva airport costs 90 CHF (standard fare)
Muerren - Schilthorn and back costs 80 CHF (standard fare)

All you are doing plus that day trip on the GPass you should be looking carefully at a 4-consecutive-day Swiss Pass - covering in full travel to Murren and back - lake boats in Lake Brienz - the cost of the GP to Montreux and back could be really expensive - anyway compared the cost of ordinary tickets to a pass and if at all close go for the pass - never wait in a line for anything 100% covered - including the aerial cable ways Lauterbrunnen-Grutschalp and Stechelberg to Gimmelwald (don't miss Gimmelwald!) and Murren - just flash the pass when the conductor comes by - on boats too.

If you do not want to backtrack on the GP you can take a few-minute train ride from Montreux to nearby Lausanne and take the mainline route back to Interlaken via Bern - I think about an hour quicker but don't hold me to that - not totally sure but think significantly quicker.

Actually with the opening of the Lotschberg Base Tunnel a few years back the quickest routing now between Montreux and Interlaken-Ost is via Visp and Spiez - changing at each - so you can see the lovely Rhone Valley going back rather than the same scenery you just saw on the GP - and it is nearly one hour faster than the GP route all told.

Dear all, thanks for all the advice. We will buy Half Fare Card.
It seems that I should only decide to go up to mountain if the weather if it is not cloudy or foggy. That means I shall only book my hotel in Murren/Grindalwald. Also, Interlaken will be a better base than. Am I right?

We will be in BO from June 3 to 6, could this be a low season that good and affordable accommodations will be available at the very last minute?

Also, during June (early Summer), will the sky be cloudy/foggy for the whole day if it happens?

We have never been to high altitude like Murren or Grindelwald, is it less risky if we stay at Grindelwald to avoid mountain sickness? We love the scenery of Murren from the online info. Hope Grindelwald is equally scenic.

Thanks.

Murren is what 5,400 or so - Denver I think is as high and millions live there - don't think it high enough to make a major difference except for being cooler than down low.

check out Wengen for views too and not quite so isolated.

Murren is beautiful but so is Lauterbrunnen. Spectacular, as a matter of fact and easier to get to other cable cars, etc. than Murren is. We have stayed in Interlaken because of the easy accessibility to all that the BO has to offer. I think it's something to think about especially since you are only there for 4 days.

Early June is not yet peak season for the BO area. You should be able to find lodging at the last minute in Murren, Wengen, Gimmelwald, etc. Select a few places in each town from your guidebook and call a day or two in advance and you should be able to find something.

Here is a map of hikes in the area:

http://www.gimmelwald.com/pics/gimmelwald/hikemap.jpg

Not so sure about finding lodging in Gimmelwald - just one hotel there - do you mean Grindelwald - the one proper hotel may well have vacancies but this is a hamlet with few amenities.

There's always room at Walters!

Walters? Is it in Gimmelwald - I love the Walter's B&B in Interlaken - is it the same - please clue me in.

Cheers,

Pal

There is an unofficial "Walter's" in Gimmelwald, but it's official name is Hotel Mittaghorn. It's owner is Walter Mittler who has to be pushing 90 by now. Cheap and fun but old, creaky, and rustic - both the hotel and Walter.

Yes I have been abused by Walter at dinner there - well not abused by you know what - I stayed in the hostel next door - my traveling companions in the hotel - a nice old chalet-style hotel that would make an interesting place to sleep for one night - I saw more stars than even in my life but one night in a desolate place like that were enough for me - great experience but not my type of base - plus rather remote - its calling card.

"The transit times are so short"

Really?

Swiss people would find them long.
At Montreux and Zweisimmen the connecting train will wait on the SAME PLATFORM.
The change at Spiez could be avoided if you would leave Geneva and Montreux 1 hr later and arrive at Interlaken 20 min later.