Five days in Switzerland
 

We would like to spend 5 days in Switzerland in June 2008, travelling by train from Italy and then onto France. I have been to Italy twice and France once before but this will be my first time to Switzerland.
Is the train system as easy to use as Italy?
Should we stay in just one location?
We are late 40's.

I'm heading to Switzerland this evening myself!

The train system in Switzerland is just about the easiest one I've traveled! Trains are right on time, so don't be a minute late... haha

I would base myself in perhaps two places. My two choices would be somewhere in Ticino (Locarno is my own fave) and somewhere in the mountains (I love Lucerne). Others have their own favorite places.

Switzerland is beautiful! Very civilized! Do enjoy your visit.

Carol

Easy as pie.

Use sbb.ch to map out timetables, platforms/tracks (Peron/Gleis) and train changes. Our trains are clean, non-smoking and on-time.

Enjoy Switzerland!

Thankyou for your advise, this gives me somewhere to start!

Swiss Rail is so beautifully easy...and everything is on-time. If the schedule says the train departs at 10:30 am, the train is pulling out of the station at 10:30 am. Every time.

If I had just 5 days in Switzerland, I would spend it in the Alps. Wengen is my first choice as a base. Lots of hiking, unbelievably beautiful scenery, very peaceful and so Swiss. We stayed at the Alpenrose and loved it.

From Wengen, you can also do the trip up to Jungfraujoch, see Murren and Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. Trummelbachfalle is interesting.

Have fun!

Hi,
I agree with Wengen as (one) base. It's our favorite. We stayed 4 nights at the Hotel Eiger in Wengen and just didn't want to leave. Stunning scenery and as mentioned above, plenty to see. If you're looking for 2 places, I'd suggest 2 nights in Luzern, but I'd stay 5 in Wengen (that's just me though).

Paul

I was thinking of 3 nights in Locarno and then 3 nights in Lucerne. But if you suggest Wengen, could we go there before Lucerne. I have already booked the Hotel des Alpes in Lucerne and then we are going to Bordeaux. I may be able to change my dates however.
I was wanting to do a scenic train ride, would just getting from place to place suffice.
What is the weather like in June, I gather it is still as picturesque.
I am sorry if I sound like such a novice, normally I have time to do my own research, but it seems to be running out!
Thankyou everyone for your input so far.

Hi again,
You could certainly go to Wengen before Lucerne. Scenic train ride... on our trip from St. Moritz to Zermatt we took the Glacier Express. 9 hours! We couldn't wait to get to Zermatt after a while. We thought there was great scenery from all our train rides (Zermatt to Wengen, Wengen to Lucerne and Lucerne to Zurich), but why view the scenery from a train window when you can be out and about in the Alps? We went in October but I can't even imagine the Berner Oberland (or anywhere) not being "picturesque" in June. We also liked taking a lake steamer on Lake Lucerne. Made for a nice afternoon.

Paul

I find the Swiss train system to be easy to use. If you are headed for the Berner Oberland as several people have suggested, the train system is privately owned and goes under several names. From Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, it is called the BOB, Berner Oberlandbahn.
Other lines that go higher have other names such as WAG, Wegener Alpbahn or Jungfraubahn.

Jungfraubahn Holding Ag is the overall parent company.

A further commentary on places with a view: Both Wengen and Mürren satisfy that requirement. Both are perched on the valley sides with Wengen on the east side and Mürren on the west. Both locations are car free and you must take the train to Wengen (or walk) and take a combination of transport to Mürren.

That said, Mürren can be reached from Lauterbrunnen in two ways:
1. Cable car from Lauterbrunnen to a high station called Grutschalp. From there a little train goes to Mürren.

2. Post bus to Stechelberg for the valley station of the Schilthornbahn and ride the cable car to Mürren.

Which way is best? Probably the route via Grutschalp. The new cable lift is high capacity and moves up quickly. The train is timed to meet the cable car. You will have a short walk to your hotel, however, because the train arrives at the north end of the village.

The Schilthornbahn station is perhaps a little closer to most of the hotels, but it depends on which particular one you want.

Another vote for Lucerne and then the Berner Oberland. I agree with the other posters that Wengen and Murren are both stunning. Travel to them and beyond up to the Schilthorn is spectacular. You could also base yourself in Interlaken and do day trips. I did that. But being in one of those mountainside villages and seeing the view of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau at different times of the day would be great, I imagine.

Thankyou everyone for your input.
I have booked at the Alpenrose in Wengen. However my partner is favouring the Eiger in Muerren. (of course we dont agree!!)
I have spent hours researching Locarno/Lugano and only wish we could fit that in as well. Next time I hope. My partner made the final call on that, it seemed more swiss to go to the mountains.
We are then spending 3 nights in Lucerne at the des Alpes.
It sounds as if there are so many gorgeous places to go in Switzerland, I am overwhelmed!!
Cheers

Way to go! The Alpenrose is lovely, the people so friendly. If I could go back to just one place in Switzerland - that would be it.

Although we loved Murren, we preferred Wengen because you are in-between Murren and Grindelwald, so you can enjoy the hikes/scenery/tourist stuff of both those places. It requires more time to get into the Grindelwald valley from Murren, and with your short stay, that would be a consideration (for me) as there is a lot to see and do there.

Also, if you are considering doing the Jungfraujoch, Wengen is one of the stops on the way. Murren is not.

Have a great time!

Hi,
Your plan sounds good. Although we love Wengen, anywhere in the Berner Oberland will be spectacular! As far as being overwhelmed by the choices for "gorgeous places" in Switzerland, don't be... I think you picked the best. You'll see.

Paul

You will love Switzerland. Last summer my husband had a conference in Grindelwald for 10 days. The conference wives traveled everywhere by the train and cable car. Grindelwald is a larger town than Wengen, so there are more choices of hotels and places to eat. It makes a wonderful hub for travel. Have a great time.

Flip coin. Its a win - win situation. One offers something the other does not and both have good views.

Stay and one village and visit the other. I once met a couple in Lauterbrunnen who stayed two nights in Wengen and two nights in Muerren.

I think it would be neat to spend the night at the hotel at Kleine Scheidegg!!

The views near there are "closer ups" than anything in Wengen or Muerren.

Hotel Bellevue des Alpes is the name of the place.