InduShalini

Hi,

I am planning to visit France and Switzerland during the first two weeks of October, along with my husband. It is our first trip to Europe and we are intersted in scenic locations - blue skies, beautiful hills and the much raved about European countryside. As first timers we would like to check out the major local tourist attractions as well.
Would like to get suggestions on which areas would be best during october. We are not into hiking and would be travelling by train.

Thanks,
Indu

PalenQ

Well for some great info on Swiss trains and where to go on them check out hese superb sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.ricksteves.com and http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html (download the latter's free and siuperb IMO European Planning & Rail Guide as its Swiss chapter gives lots of info on places to go like you ask).

To me the absolute highlight of Switzerland is the Jungfrau Region around Interlaken and even in October the weather is still decent - this is the wondrous glacier-strewn rugged ice-bound peaks with lush valleys below them dottec with bell-toting cows - the Switzerland of your dreams.

Lucerne would make a nice base too - Lake Geneva area is different - no dramatic Alps but warmer weather - folks just love towns like Montreux and Vevey.

Check out a Swiss Pass - covers not only trains but lake boats, city trams and buses, postal buses and gives 50% off most gondolas and trains to mountain tops as well as free entry to 400+ Swiss museums. A Saverpass is for two or more folks traveling together - cheaper than a single pass.

mokka4

I heartily recommend Luzern.
Less expensive mountain trips to Pilatus, Titlis or Rigi.
The annual Luzerner Herbstmesse=Fall festival- will be going on from October 5-20----attracts 350,000 people each year.
It is laid out just outside the train station.
Numerous carnival rides and food/goods booths--a real highlight to attend!
I went last year and will make a point of visiting again this fall.

neckervd

You may have a look at
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/
http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en
http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/home.html

October is usually dry and warm in the Alps and foggy and rather cold over the lakes (Lucerne, Thun, etc) and the midlands. But weather is always unpredictable in this part of the world. If you like sun, choose mountain villages exposed to south or south-west (like Crans-Montana, Riederalp-Bettmeralp, St. Luc, Hasliberg) and not places at the bottom of deep valleys like Lauterbrunnen, Elm, etc.).

But Switzerland is more than the Alps:
You can find there Historical museums, art museums, watchmaking museums, transport museum, ethnographic museums, red cross museum, olympic museum, medieval towns (with and without citywall walks), medieval castles, gothic cathedrals, baroque churches and monasteries, roman theatres, celtic lake dwellings, menhirs, modern buildings (Mario Botta, Calatrava, Jean Nouvel, Herzog&Demeuron, Diener&Diener, etc.), lakes with historic steamboats, underground lakes and waterfalls, summer ski areas, the highest wineyard of Europe, the highest village of Europe, the longest glacier of Europe, the steepest (highest gradiant) cog railway and cable car lines of Europe, the highest cableway station of Europe (3883 m), scenic hiking trails, Islands with palm trees and tropical plants (Brissago), scenic mountain railways, concerts, theatres .....

End September/early October is the time of some famous wine festivals at Neuchatel, Lugano and Lutry
https://www.google.ch/search?q=fete+...iw=853&bih=551
http://www.lake-geneva-region.ch/en/...n/winefestival
http://www.ticino.ch/en/commons/deta...?itemId=82790&

PalenQ

But Switzerland is more than the Alps

Hey hey but most foreign tourists thinking of Switzerland think of the lofty Swiss Alps and an atmosphere that only mountain towns like Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen or Murren can provide - Mt Titlis is also a primo Alpine area but the Jungfrau Region offers so so much more to see and do along with the glacier-girdled peaks.

PalenQ

Lucerne could be a great base as well - I agree with that. Not only the city itself but many neat day trips - Mt Rigi, Mt Pilatus and a boat ride around the fjord-like main part of Lake Lucerne that goes to Fluelen and then take the train back.

You could even day trip from Lucerne to Interlaken and Grindelwald - about 2 hours each way and at least glimpse the awesome Jungfrau Region.

PalenQ

ttt for other opinons!

InduShalini

Thanks for all the replies, it was very helpful.

Being first time visitor to Swiss, We would love spending more time around the Alps. After going through earlier posts, Lauterbrunnen looks most appealing. And we plan to stay at Lauterbrunnen with daytrips to Juganfrau, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen or Murren.

The plan is to arrive at Zurich airport on October 6th. Stay for a day at Zurich and then procedd to Lauterbrunnen. Spend 4 to 5 days in that region and then proceed to Dijon, France. The last destination would be paris. If we get time, would try to squeeze in Geneva as well.

Do you think this is a good idea ? Any suggestions are welcome.

neckervd

Go to Geneva if you are interested in museums like the completely remodeled Red Cross Museum or the Swiss National Museum in the Prangins Castle. If you just want to see a medieval Swiss town, Berne would be the better choice (and there is a direct morning TGV from Berne to Dijon).

PalenQ

Do you think this is a good idea ?>

yes sounds great and if you want to also experience Lucerne you could head there for the 1st night - a much more romantic city than huge Zurich (which is also nice) - Lucerne is only about 45 minutes or so from Zurich - then take the Golden Pass scenic rail route up and over the Brunig Pass to Lucerne and the hills.

sounds like a lovely plan.

PalenQ

(and there is a direct morning TGV from Berne to Dijon)>

I can find no direct TGV from Bern to Dijon - where do you see this?

neckervd

TGV 9284, Berne dp 7.29 - Dijon 10.26 - Paris 12.11
goes back as
TGV 9287 Paris dp 17.57 - Dijon 19.37 - Bern 22.30 - Interlaken Ost ar 23.43
This train runs since years. The timetable can be found under http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ (for next October too)

PalenQ

OK Yes I see it now - was searching too late - there are about hourly links besides this only direct service it seems or one of few by going via Basel or Lausanne and changing - 7:29 is way too early for some.

WeisserTee

Well, if October is anything like May is shaping up to be, then the best place to go in Switzerland would be a city because, for some time now, we have not been having weather that gives you amazing vistas (unless you like clouds, fog and rain) or entices you to spend the day outside (even the ducks look miserable). Really, it has been so dreary. We are going to Lugano at the end of the week and may actually see the sun for two days in a row -- amazing!!!

PalenQ

Weisser Tree - where in Switzerland do you live? Just curious.

PalenQ

the bad thing about booking several days in a remote place like Murren or Wengen - if raining what the heck do you do - well the answer could be day trip to lovely cities like Bern or Lucerne, cities which can be enjoyed even in wet weather - especially Bern since many of its streets are arcaded.

WeisserTee

Hi PalQ, I live in Basel, where it has rained steadily all night. I'm curious to see how the Rhine looks when I head over to work this morning.

For anyone in the BO during an uninviting day like today. Thun is also an option. It too has arcaded streets. Or maybe spending a few hours at one of the many beautiful spas.

PalenQ

You can take a boat to Thun from Interlaken and boats have covered portions - stop by Oberhofen to see the castle and neat lakeside town and take a later boat or bus to Thun - agreed a very nice nice town with a gushing river bisecting it.

InduShalini

Hi all,
Thanks for all the replies. I was not able to check the site for a few days.
PalenQ, thanks for the back-up ideas in case of bad weather. Would check out Lucerne, Berne and Thun, and maybe cut down the number of days in Lauterbrunnen..
Will keep you posted guys. A big thank you once again for all the help

Thanks,
Indu

WeisserTee

We made a trip to Lugano and back this week. Once we came out the southern side of the San Gotthard tunnel, the sun was shining and it beautiful spring weather in the Ticino. On the way back, on the northern side of the pass, we could see fresh snow quite far down on the sides of the mountains. Pretty but chilly for late May.