3 Days in Switzerland: October 2016
Sep 12th, 2016, 12:36 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
3 Days in Switzerland: October 2016
Hello there!
My husband and I found a fantastic deal on a flight to Zurich, so we grabbed it for the only time we can get away this fall. It's absurdly brief, but we're feeling really grateful for the chance to explore. We're flying in on the morning of October 13th, with a flight out of Zurich on the morning of the 16th. We know we don't want to stay in Zurich, and we're on a fairly tight budget.
What do you experts recommend for our time in Switzerland? Should we take the train to Lucerne and base there, so we don't spend valuable time on trains? Is it better to rent a car, since we hardly have enough time to make a Swiss pass worth the money? Is there another place in the country that would be an easy trip from Zurich, but would have access to some great sites?
We're both interested in experiencing scenery, food, and culture in the area....not interested in intense hiking in that time, but totally up for some walking!
Thanks for your gracious help and insights,
Amanda
My husband and I found a fantastic deal on a flight to Zurich, so we grabbed it for the only time we can get away this fall. It's absurdly brief, but we're feeling really grateful for the chance to explore. We're flying in on the morning of October 13th, with a flight out of Zurich on the morning of the 16th. We know we don't want to stay in Zurich, and we're on a fairly tight budget.
What do you experts recommend for our time in Switzerland? Should we take the train to Lucerne and base there, so we don't spend valuable time on trains? Is it better to rent a car, since we hardly have enough time to make a Swiss pass worth the money? Is there another place in the country that would be an easy trip from Zurich, but would have access to some great sites?
We're both interested in experiencing scenery, food, and culture in the area....not interested in intense hiking in that time, but totally up for some walking!
Thanks for your gracious help and insights,
Amanda
Sep 12th, 2016, 12:48 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is it better to rent a car, since we hardly have enough time to make a Swiss pass worth the money?>
Well you can buy regular tickets for trains without having a Swiss Pass - in October Lucerne would make a great base - take a boat trip around the lake - ascend Mt Pilatus or Mt Rigi - both overlooking the lake or to taste an Alpine Wonderland take the short train ride to Engleberg and the unique rotating cable car up Mt Titlis.
And Lucerne is about an hour from Zurich Airport - a car in that area would be a drag - trains and boats are so so great - for lots of good stuff on Swiss transports and the Lucerne area check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
Buy train tickets as you go - never a problem getting on trains IME of years of Swiss trains and yes no to the Swiss Pass for that short a sojourn.
The Berner Oberland Regional Pass however may be nice if doing those mountain summits from Lucerne - good on trains, boats, everything that moves practically.
Lucerne is one of the loveliest cities in Europe - and a sweet setting on idyllic sweet Lake Lucerne - to me the nicest of many nice Swiss lakes.
Well you can buy regular tickets for trains without having a Swiss Pass - in October Lucerne would make a great base - take a boat trip around the lake - ascend Mt Pilatus or Mt Rigi - both overlooking the lake or to taste an Alpine Wonderland take the short train ride to Engleberg and the unique rotating cable car up Mt Titlis.
And Lucerne is about an hour from Zurich Airport - a car in that area would be a drag - trains and boats are so so great - for lots of good stuff on Swiss transports and the Lucerne area check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
Buy train tickets as you go - never a problem getting on trains IME of years of Swiss trains and yes no to the Swiss Pass for that short a sojourn.
The Berner Oberland Regional Pass however may be nice if doing those mountain summits from Lucerne - good on trains, boats, everything that moves practically.
Lucerne is one of the loveliest cities in Europe - and a sweet setting on idyllic sweet Lake Lucerne - to me the nicest of many nice Swiss lakes.
Sep 13th, 2016, 12:34 PM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would not waste time in Zurich but head right to Lucerne - zurich is nice but with so little time Lucerne will be a lot nicer the first and last days with easy access to the Zurich Airport by train.
Sep 14th, 2016, 11:13 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
but totally up for some walking!>
In Lucerne take a leisurely ramble along the lakefront east from the town center (start by the lake boat docks) and walk the few miles to the Swiss Transport Museum - a delightful collection of something for all ages - can take the boat one way or round trip if not into walking.
In Lucerne take a leisurely ramble along the lakefront east from the town center (start by the lake boat docks) and walk the few miles to the Swiss Transport Museum - a delightful collection of something for all ages - can take the boat one way or round trip if not into walking.
