Final 7 day Switzerland itenary
 

Will be reaching Switzerland from Salzburg 29th April.

D1 Luzern - visit Old town, chapel bridge, Swiss transport museum

D2 Luzern - Mt Pilatus and Lake Luzern

D3 Luzern - Mt Titlis

D4 Grindelwald - visit Jungfraujoch

D5 Grindelwald - Lake Brienz & Ballenberg Open air museum

D6 Grindelwald - day trip to Zermatt or maybe visit Interlaken town

D7 Zurich - walk around the town and then fly back home

After much research I've came down to this itenary. Kindly comment.

Thanks.

Hi kenlee6,

First of all, you can never tell in advance what day/s you'll be able to ascend the peaks. That will depend on the weather, and if the skies are clouded over or clear (if you ascend under cloudy skies, you'll spend a lot of money to go stand inside a cloud). You need to have plans for all days -- and then when you wake up to a clear day, that's when you ascend the peak.

I think it's too far to go to Zermatt for a day-trip, about 3h of transport in each direction. You may want to visit Thun or Spiez or take a trip around one of the lakes.

Have fun as you plan!

s

I was told to go Murren or Wengen as its more quiet and car free. How are Murren and Wengen end of April/beginning May?? I heard lots of restaurants and hotels are closed.

Yes, that's true. You should probably visit one or both of them (you can easily visit Wengen either enroute to the Jungfraujoch or coming back) just to see them.

s

Murren is more remote than other towns like Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen if day tripping down - but if you have a Swiss Pass it covers travel to Murren in full - even the aerial cable cars to the upper cliff at Grutschalp and then train to Murren - ditto for cable to and from Stechelberg and Gimmelwald to Murren.

since you will be moving about every day an 8-consecutive-day Swiss Pass may be a good deal - covering everything that moves - lake boats, city buses and trams, postal buses, etc except trains or conveyance to mountain tops - again here are some neat sites for Swiss trains, lake boats, passes, etc - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.swisstravelsystem.com.

So u guys suggest day trips to Murren and Wengen?? Or make them my base ?? Or make bigger towns like Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen my base??

Murren is more isolated and thus on day trips down from it takes longer and money each way - even with the Half-Fare Card but many folks love Murren and Wengen because of their isolation- no cars there, etc.

Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are bigger and more folks and cars come into town (but must be parked at edge of towns.

Wengen is a huge favorite with many Fodorites - others like me prefer Grindelwald but you can't go wrong. Wengen can be reached by train in 20 minutes or so from Lauterbrunnen, which is only about 20 minutes from Interlaken.

Wengen/Muerren in early May: not many hiking possibilities, because the attractive trails are either under snow or completely muddy after snowmelt. Therefore many mountain restaurants are closed and most gondolas don't run.
The famous Jungfrau railway and the Schilthorn gondola will run, however.

Visit of Interlaken: there is just nothing to see. Interlaken is a handy base for day trips in all directions, but not much more.

Interlaken is much maligned by folks who probably have never really explored it or gotten off the main tourist schlocked drag - it has Lucerne type covered wooden bridges and the Matten area hotels have sweet views of the Jungfrau Massif in the distance. The part of town by Lake Brienz is really sweet.

I love Interlaken but for first-timers I would stay up in the hills. That said I agree with neckervd that there is really few tourist sights in Interlaken except its ornate casino and the William Tell Playhouse where the Tell story is put on often - plus an adventure theme park for younger folk and kids.

Thanks guys. So I guess Grindelwald is a better choice than Wengen and Murren during this period

One last ques. Many prefer Lauterbrunnen over Grindelwald. As it is less tourisy. What do you guys think??

Once again: nothing will be touristy in May. You will find almost no Swiss or other European tourists, except day trippers from the Swiss lowlands if the weather is fine. Only people from overseas are fond of Interlaken/Grindelwald/Wengen/Lauterbrunnen/Muerren/Gimmelwald in low season.

As to the wooden bridge mentioned by Palen: you will find this type of bridge all over Switzerland, there are 239 covered wooden bridges between Monthey (Mont Blanc area) and Danuder (Engiadina Bassa/Tyrol).

I would not say Lauterbrunnen is much less touristy than Grindelwald - especially in summer but Lauterbrunnen is in a deep gorge and thus does not have the scintillating views of the Jungfrau Massif nearly as much as Grindelwald has.

And about those tour buses clogging Grindelwald - they are only allowed in on some streets - many Grindelwald guest houses and small hotels and hostel and Nature Friend's House are on small paths with no vehicle and well above the fray.

Lauterbrunnen sees a lot of tour buses too like Grindelwald - and Contiki Tours brings hundreds in in the summer in their special camp site and chalet.

In May you may want to stay in Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen - both at lower altitudes than Wengen, where also I believe many hotels may be closed due to lack of custom - Grindelwald and L'brunnen will still be more open. Even Interlaken at even a lower altitude could be a nice base in May.