I was in Switzerland for a week earlier this month and loved traveling using the trains and trams. In 7 days I was able to visit Zurich, Luzern, Konstanz, Bern, Interlaken/Jungfraujoch, and Basel. I think I'd waste a lot of time and money if I rented a car and drove to my destinations.

I especially liked how the swiss trains and trams are so clean and quiet. :-)

Cowboy, Thanks for the recommendation about walking up Pendling. I see that Thiersee is only at 616M so maybe I could cycle down from Brannenburg and then take the walk. I'm not a huge fan of cycling up hills, but in the past I've riden to the Walchsee without any problem and it looks like the elevation change is about the same.

I try to ignore the impact of my flying (the plane flies whether I'm on it or not, completely bogus I know).

Swandav, I actually agree with your points...

I don't mind train travel at all... I used train/buses in Japan, Great Britain, Greece, Germany, etc...

I've chosen to drive this time, because I think it is more convinent for my specific needs. Like I said, I would probably take trains if I planned to stay in Switzerland for the entire trip.
Anyway, thank you for good wishes! At least, I would not feel too guilty for renting a car...

Why should you feel guilty? The train thing for the average first-time visitor to Switzerland, who ends up for several days in say the Berner Oberland and thus has no use possibly for a car in those environs want to go there by car?

But for most of the country, which is not mountainouse, the car, like in any country, opportunes that folks can set their own schedules and simply put their bags in the car parked near their hotel room and go on - 95% of Switzerland or so i would say is more like Burgundy or Bavaria then the Berner Oberland area. But most folks just, logically IMO, go only to areas where cars are useless. so it depends on where in Suisse you go i guess. But renting a car - no reason to feel guilty IMO

Roger1x, thank you for your kind comments! Please come back and let us know how it went!

Cowboy1968, good point! Still, I think every little bit helps!!

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Swandav, I love your message about trains. No offence taken at all. It's the message most Swiss try to live by too but theory and reality aren't always the same.

I do agree that if you just go to the main sights, a train is very handy, part of the fun and allows you to relax.

However, if you enjoy driving over passes, being 100% spontaneous, or have lots and lots of luggage to tote around, then a car makes sense too.

It's a vacation and people should have the opportunity to choose whichever way of transport is most suitable for them.

However, if you enjoy driving over passes>

ah yeh - driving over passes like the Gotthard, Simplon or Grand Bernard (sp?) passes - on those hairpin like turns - spiraling up to the summit, where sits the ubiquitous hotel/cafe with sun terraces. Or the Sustenen or Grimsel passes out of the Interlaken area - it was really a special thrill driving these 0 i saw lots of folk on bikes as well - a whole different thrill. A whole different landscape - a top of the world one lies above the main road and rail tunnels that burrow far under them.

Wow! So many 'pro' for having a car now!!! Finally, I feel better...

With that, how would you recommend to drive from Luzern to Lugano. Tunnel? No tunnel?

If driving, I would choose a pass over a tunnel any day. Just watch out for the motorcycles!

Thank you, Enzian!!!

We had this conversation about car insurance in Italy, so I am posting for those who has interest in this:

I called my credit card again. They confirmed that they normally do not provide CDW coverage for Italy. However, if car reted in other country and then driven to Italy, and CDW insurance is declined, then they will cover CDW. I requested this in writing.

I also called Autoerope, and they confirmed that I can decline CDW if renting in Switzerland, even if car is driven to Italy.

done both trips and find the train is just easy the town of wengen is small and you will hav eto constantly travel, but the train is easy stayed in wnegen 2 nights and we moved to grindelwald which had allot more going on we love switzerland have beenthere with and without kids,

actually the trip i mentioned we drove to lauderbrunnen with our car from the airport without your own car you will be limited to the train schedule interlaken is a town where you do not need the car and it is one change in lucerne from zurich main station

schuler - I don't think it is the message that Swiss people try to live by, I think it is the message that they think they should try to live by. And, by extension, they try to make others think they try to live by it.

Indeed, most of the Swiss people I know have cars. Most drive to work. Parking lots are abundant and not overly expensive. Heck, I have never seen so many Porsches and Mercedes in one place. I mean, I had never actually seen a Maserati dealership until I came to Switzerland!

The best way to reduce reliance on cars is to make it prohibitively expensive. To date, only a couple of countries (Denmark and Singapore, come to mind) actually put their money where their mouth is. And Denmark, at least, has enough loopholes that I question if it doesn't undermine the intent.

At the end of the day, I don't think people, whether in Switzerland or France or the US are as interested in reducing car traffic as they might claim. I think that, like most difficult choices, what people really want is to change the behavior of others, not their own.

I disagree, travelgourmet. Remember, you live in a very rich area where you'll see lots of expensive cars and an international way of life. Not all of Switzerland is like that. Although cars offer convenience and useful transportation, lots of Swiss also try to use public transportation for its efficiency, convenience and cost effectiveness.

Switzerland is very proud of its public transport. If the SBB is 5 minutes late, it can cause a public outcry. The dreaded Cisalpino is a thorn in Switzerland's otherwise very efficient transport system.

This is slightly off topic...

I think that visiting most major cities as a tourist in Switzerland is easier and more efficient without a car.

However, if one wants to drive a car, let them deal with traffic and parking fees.
I wouldn't try to guilt them into thinking that the Swiss discourage cars and look at them as a burden to traffic & the environment. The best solution will be to have smaller cars that do not pollute the environment (and perhaps even contribute to the well-being of our environment like plants?) and can be parked in a more efficient manner (stacked easily on top of each other?). When that time comes, trains vs. cars wouldn't be an issue. Those of us who like trains will take trains, and those of us who prefer cars can still drive cars.

I hope that will be possible soon. ;-)

Helen----nice work! Thank you for checking on that and posting the results.

<i>Although cars offer convenience and useful transportation, lots of Swiss also try to use public transportation for its efficiency, convenience and cost effectiveness.</i>

Schuler - I don't disagree with this at all. Indeed, I use the train because it is more efficient for my commute than driving. My point is that I don't believe Swiss people do it out of some altruistic desire to save their environment. If they did, then why do the Swiss seem so ready to buy an expensive car and drive it when they get the money? Accordingly, I see no reason to feel bad about driving in Switzerland, if you want the flexibility.

"If they did, then why do the Swiss seem so ready to buy an expensive car and drive it when they get the money? "

I live in a small town out in the countryside. We see more Fords, Suburus and tractors than BMWs and Porsches. Today we were in Baar at the Athletikum. My children were so surprised at all the English speaking customers. Then we drove to McDonald's near Zug. My kids started counting all the corvettes and porsches. It was unusual for them to see those kind of cars.

Most Swiss don't buy expensive cars. However, the area around Zug and Zürich, as well as around Geneva lake, have an abundant amount of residents who can afford such cars.

By the way, I wonder how many of those drivers who own expensive cars are actually Swiss.

schuler - Whether a Ford or Maserati, the point is that the Swiss seem very happy to drive when it suits them and few seem very guilty about it.