Advice for 5 days in Switzerland
 

My husband and I will be travelling to Switzerland in August for 5 days. Fly in to Zurich arrive early am and take train to Montreux for 3 nights. We plan to visit Vevey, Vineyards in Lavaux, and visit Lausanne area.We were wondering about doing a day trip to Zurmatt, does this make sense ? Or any other suggestions for a day trip ? We do not want to go to Geneva. We take train back to Zurich for 2 days. What suggestions do you have for a day trip from Zurich ? We fly out early in am to Dubrovnik. Thanks for your advice.

Spend 2 days at Zermatt and leave Zermatt in late afternoon/early evening for Zurich airport (change trains at Visp).
For information about Switzerland, have a look at https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/

Hi retiredtraveller,

What part of August will you be in Montreux? Do you know about the huge Fête des Vignerons that will take place in Vevey 18 July-11 August? I think that will be a hugely disruptive event that may impact your visit to Vevey. They are erecting a huge stage surrounded by seating in the central square -- even if your visit occurs after 11 Aug, the dismantling of these structures may be less than beautiful. Also, I would guess that the Lavaux will be more crowded than usual. So, you may want to keep this in the back of your mind and be thinking of things to do that would avoid the overcrowding -- heading inland to Gruyeres and/or Gstaad, for instance.

On the other hand, if you already have a hotel, and you love wine, it may be a wonderful event for you to see.

You can see the structure here


https://www.fetedesvignerons.ch/en/

Have fun as you plan!

s

Some excellent suggestions here. I personally liked visiting Wilderness park in Zurich, where we saw moose, bear, deer, wild horses and more. It's free to enter too!

Thanks for this information, did not know about this event in Vevey. Will check out Gruyeres and Gstaad area.

More than 90 per cent of all visitors of the last 2 Fetes des Vignerons were day trippers from other areas of Switzerland.

for lots on Swiss transports and passes - you may want the Swiss Travel Pass - check www.sbb.ch- www.seat61.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. Passes are valid on boats and city transports too and of course most trains.

This is absolutely true. The Fête des Vignerons is a very Vaudois and "Veveysanne" thing and does not, for the most part, attract foreign tourists. In any case it is a pagent of more than 3 hours in duration which is entirely in French so it is unlikely that people who do not speak French would go. My entire family plan to be part of the "daytrippers" - we already have our tickets...

I was in Vevey last week. The arena is now almost finished and it is indeed large. Seating for 20'000 it has to be. But once you are just one row of houses away from it you do not even know it is there and the vieille ville of Vevey (old town) is as lovely as ever. It is specifically the place du Marché (or Grande place) that is impacted. Certainly there will be crowded streets at the times of the performances and noise from the arena as well - with all the music and singing going on one would expect that. But outside performance times I doubt a stranger to Vevey would feel it was a problem. Once the Fête is over the demolition of the arena will certainly cause a lot of noise. Just depends for her on when she plans to be here -- the FdV is over on 11 August. Before that - fine. After that and until October - not so fine!

Very scenic route via Golden Pass scenic trains to Gstaad and there is a special Chocolate Train that goes from Montreux to Gruyeres - tour of cheese factory there and time in lovely old town and then train goes onto Broc Chocolate factory for Willie Wonkaesque tours. Regular trains run the same routing - the Chocolate Express uses vintage Belle-Epoque Pullman cars. Be sure to take a boat ride on lovely Lake Geneva - Chateau Chillon near Montreux is very popular - Lord Byron stayed there. Montreux would be great base - few minutes from Vevey by train.

Sorry to say, PalenQ but the Chocolate Train is the biggest rip off in the country. It is SO easy to do this route on one's own, spend as much time in Gruyères as one wants to and not be rushed to stick to the group's schedule and then go to the Maison Cailler (train stop for that is Broc Fabrique, not Broc). AND if one has the Swiss Travel Pass the trains, plus the entrance fees to the Cheese Factory, Giger Museum and Ch teau in Gruyères and to the Maison Cailler are included.

Best in fact to start with the Maison Cailler. It opens at 1000. During the summer it gets crowded and the waiting time for the next tour available can be as much as or more than an hour as the day goes on and there is zero to do while waiting aside from buying chocolate in the shop or having a coffee in the tiny snack bar. then Broc Fabrique/Bulle change for Gruyères Ville. Visit the Cheese Factory and walk up to the village (or take a bus up). then back to Montbovon and on to Montreux. Sit on the righthand side of the train facing the engine between Montbovon and Montreux on the return for the best views down to the lake.

....I would say "on the lefthand side in the direction of train" otherwise you will see almost nothing between Les Sciernes and Chamby.

Sorry to say, PalenQ but the Chocolate Train is the biggest rip off in the country.> Yes but some folks want an escorted deluxe tour - so an option but yes easy to do on own.