Comment/Advice on final Swiss itinerary
 

Day1 (March 27, 2012):
Leave Milan at 734am and arrive at Berne 10:37am.
Go to hotel, try to check in, if not, leave luggage at concierge.

Visit these attractions :
- Clock Tower (Be there by 11:55am to hear the clock chime at noon)
- Einstein Museum (49 Kramgasse)
- Bear Pits
- River Aare
- Cathedral
- Bundesplatz
- Baroque Fountains

Do I still have time for museums like
- Zentrum Paul Klee?
- Museum of Communications?

Overnight stay at Berne (Hotel Alpenblick or Waldhorn) for 4 nights

Day2:
Leave Bern 8:07am arrive at Zermatt 10:13am.
(Bern-Thun-Visp-Zermatt)
From here, take the cog train to the Gornergrat (34.5 CHF each for Swiss pass holders?). Have lunch at the top. Then come down and spend the afternoon in the village.
What time best to go back to Berne?

Day3:
Leave Berne 8:04am for Interlaken OST. then to Jungfroujuch arrival 11:22am
(Ticket cost 129 CHF each for Swiss pass?)
On the top you can visit the attractions like Ice Palace, Ice Gateway, Sphinx-Terrace, (all included in the ticket-price?). Stay there for 2 hours (Have food at the top).
On way down, get off Wengen for short walk.
What time best to go back to Berne?

Day4:
Depart Berne at 10 or 11 am and arrive at Lucerne in an hour.
Any lunch suggestion/s?
Visit these attraction sites
- Chapel bridge
- Lion monument
- Lake Lucerne boat ride
- Traffic Museum (Half-price?)
- Glacier Garden? - Free?
- Window shopping?

Depart 7pm for Berne

Day5 (March 31)
Leave Berne either 6:34 or 7:04 to Lausanne, then change to TGV Lyria for train 8:20 am going to Paris (arrival 12:18pm)

My first thought is that you are overly optimistic regarding the weather. You plan two mountain excursions in three days which both require sunny weather, or at least mountaintops not in clouds.

My second thought is one in general: You try seeing the so called highlights of Switzerland which results in spending almost all your time inside trains.

Anyway, if that's what you want to do, then yes, it is doable and I'd say you probably got the best possible itinerary here.

Re: Jungfraujoch: There's not really much to do up there. The highlight is the scenery. The Sphinx terrace is just an ugly viewing platform. The Ice Palace is interesting to some degree but more so in summer IMO. 2 hours up there? Go figure. One hour is plenty. The food is overpriced and mediocre. Bring your own picnic and buy a hot chocolate maybe. Go back to Bern anytime you want. Trains run until late at night. Depends on you and your plans for the night in Bern.

Btw, have stayed at the Waldhorn some years ago for 4 nights and thought it was quite good. Nice neighbourhood, rooms ok. Breakfast in the basement, no daylight, though.

I am sure you have time for either ZPK or the Historic Museum the first day. Museum of Communication? Don't think it's *that* exciting.

Hi Chuastan,

Your itinerary sound really great! Let me answer your remaining questions:

Day 1:
You will have time to at least go to one museum in addition to your other plans that day. You get free admission to both museums with your Swiss Pass. The Zentrum Paul Klee is really nice, not only the museum itself but also the architecture if the building.

Day 2:
The price for the return ticket from Zermatt to Gornergrat with the 50% discount for Swiss Pass holders is CHF 40.-
Zermatt is a great place to also have dinner, so I suggest you to return to Berne after an early dinner in Zermatt. Keep in mind that the latest trin connection to Bern is taking the 09.13 pm train from Zermatt.

Day 3:
I have no information about the costs of the activities on top of the Jungfrau. I know however that there are several options for visitors to eat on top of the mountain. I do not agree with the above statement that the food is 'overpriced and mediocre'. The prices in mountain restaurants are higher than in cities, but this is due to the location and special logistics that are needed to run such a place 3,500 meters over sea level.

Day 4:
My favorite place for lunch in Lucerne is the self-service restaurant 'Manora' in the old town. It is located on the top level of the department store 'Manor'. On a warm day their terrace is open and you have a stunning view on the lake, the old town and the mountains.
The museum of traffic (50% discount with Swiss Pass) can be accessed by boat from Lucerne. This is only a short boat trip but as you are planning a lot of things in Lucerne that is probably all you can do in one day.
The Glacier Garden is free with the Swiss Pass.
For window shopping I recommend the old town.

Regarding Ingo's comment about the time spent inside trains: I personally think that it is not wasted time at all! The scenery and landscape that you pass when traveling by train is beautiful and full of surprises! I am sure you will also enjoy the time spent in the Swiss trains in your trip.

I wish you all the best for your time in Switzerland!

Sory, but I have to disagree strongly that food in mountain restaurants is higher - quite the opposite. I am always amazed at the prices in mountain restaurants, considerably lower than in the valleys. And it is totally not true that they need special logistics. Talk to someone who is chef/host at a mountain restaurant!

I.

Thanks for the detailed reply love_ch,

Normally we will know early in the morning, if we should make the train ride to Gornergrat, Jungfroujuch right? If its too cloudy, then we have to look for alternative activity for that day/s.

So if we get unlucky, and its not a good weather day on Day 2 and/or Day 3, hence we're unable to make the mountain excursions. What do you suggest we interchange those days with? Probably day trip to Geneva? Zurich? or Basel?