From Nice to Zurich
 

We have to travel from Nice to Zurich or Berne in April next year? How long would it take by train or car? Is there any cheap flight? So far I haven't found one but am inexperienced. Can anyone help?

Hi Jim

We drove from Rapperswil (near Zurich) through Lucerne (where I work) to Nice this Easter. It is around 600 km and took us about 9 hours (average each way), excluding stops. If you are doing this drive on a weekend or particularly at Easter, the Gotthard Tunnel can be an issue. We went through it around 10.30 pm the Thursday before EAster and it took us around 1.5 hours to get through, people who went through earlier took up to around 4 hours. Coming back we hit the Gotthard at 1.30am on Tuesday morning and went straight through. We drove along the coast from Genova to Nice and there were some hold ups along the way as well. We stopped for the night on the way at the Cannero Riviera on Lake Maggiore Italy which was heaven on earth. It looks to take between 10 and 11 hours by train (www.sbb.ch), don't know about flights, sorry.

We loved it, I would have taken the train or flown but my husband loves to drive so that is what we did.

Forgive me, Jim, but may I ask LynnP to elaborate on her impressions of Cannero Riviera? I admired it from a lakeboat last June--even drew a 30-second sketch--and would dearly love to return when next I stay on Lago Maggiore. J.

p.s. Let me try to redeem myself, Jim. I'm a train rider, but, it seems to me there might be a driving route from Nice to Geneve and then to Berne? I can't visualize any tunnels going that way. And there are so many pretty places to stop for the night if you'd like. J.

Hi Jim,
Unfortunately the cheapest flight between Nice and Zurich is about $400. Zurich is not a hub for any cheap flights.

The fastest and cheapest way would be to fly Nice - Geneva (1 hour) on Easy Jet. Off peak can probably fly for $50 or so.
Then take the train (3 hours) from Geneva airport to Zurich or Bern.

SWISS is suppost to start a cheapo airline "Swiss Express" this Fall, but who knows where they will fly, or if the company will even be solvent then.
Good luck!