Glacier Express
May 25th, 2005, 02:54 PM
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Glacier Express
We are arriving in Zurich on September 25th and will spend a few hours there. Would like to travel south to one of the Swiss villages to pick up the Glacier Express the next morning and to spend some time exploring there. Any recommendations? Hotel recommendations would be appreciated as well.
Thanks!
Thanks!
May 25th, 2005, 03:52 PM
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We would like to spend about $100 to $200 per night, unless it is a special place we would be willing to spend more. Any suggestions for Zermatt hotels would be appreciated too, preferrable with a view of the Matterhorn.
Thanks much!
Thanks much!
May 25th, 2005, 04:02 PM
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The trip to Zermatt from Zürich is about 5 hours long, slightly less. Your best bet for sightseeing is Zernatt itself.
Two excursions standout in my mind:
the Gornergrat and the Klein Matternorn.
Neither one is cheap, but both are almost overwhelming on a clear day.
The Klein Matterhorn station can be cold and very windy. Zermatt may be warm, hot even, while that notch in the mountain wall is enduring icy blasts of wind.
Two excursions standout in my mind:
the Gornergrat and the Klein Matternorn.
Neither one is cheap, but both are almost overwhelming on a clear day.
The Klein Matterhorn station can be cold and very windy. Zermatt may be warm, hot even, while that notch in the mountain wall is enduring icy blasts of wind.
May 25th, 2005, 04:34 PM
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Go here for a listing of hotels and activities in Zermatt:
http://www.zermatt.ch/index.e.html
Some of the hotels have a Matterhorn view and some do not.
Bob gives excellent advice about going up on the Gornergrat railway or taking the cable car(s) up to Kleine Matterhorn for the best views of the peak itself. Be aware, however, that the views from the upper areas can be totally obscured by weather conditions even though it is clearer in the village itself.
The Gornergrat rail station has a live cam in the waiting room which shows you what the view is like up above.
If you traveling by rail from Zurich you will have to change trains at Brig for the trip up to Zermatt. Sitting on the right side of the train (facing forward) nwill give you a spectacular view of the Rhone valley as you descend into Brig. The trip from Brig up to Zermatt also affords some spectacular scenery and views.
The Glacier Express is one of the best scenic trains of all IMO even if you don't go all the way to St. Moritz.
http://www.zermatt.ch/index.e.html
Some of the hotels have a Matterhorn view and some do not.
Bob gives excellent advice about going up on the Gornergrat railway or taking the cable car(s) up to Kleine Matterhorn for the best views of the peak itself. Be aware, however, that the views from the upper areas can be totally obscured by weather conditions even though it is clearer in the village itself.
The Gornergrat rail station has a live cam in the waiting room which shows you what the view is like up above.
If you traveling by rail from Zurich you will have to change trains at Brig for the trip up to Zermatt. Sitting on the right side of the train (facing forward) nwill give you a spectacular view of the Rhone valley as you descend into Brig. The trip from Brig up to Zermatt also affords some spectacular scenery and views.
The Glacier Express is one of the best scenic trains of all IMO even if you don't go all the way to St. Moritz.
May 26th, 2005, 04:35 AM
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Hi kisaroo,
Do I understand you to say that you would like to go from Zurich to a town on the GE line, then take the GE to Zermatt the next morning? While I haven't done this, I just checked my map and Andermatt looks like the town you want -- directly south of Zurich and on the GE line. You can get to Andermatt in 2h16 from the Zurich airport with 2 or 3 changes; obviously less time and fewer changes if you go from downtown Zurich.
Rail schedules at www.rail.ch
s
Do I understand you to say that you would like to go from Zurich to a town on the GE line, then take the GE to Zermatt the next morning? While I haven't done this, I just checked my map and Andermatt looks like the town you want -- directly south of Zurich and on the GE line. You can get to Andermatt in 2h16 from the Zurich airport with 2 or 3 changes; obviously less time and fewer changes if you go from downtown Zurich.
Rail schedules at www.rail.ch
s
May 26th, 2005, 07:08 AM
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Thanks for the suggestions. And yes Swandav, I was thinking of catching the GE in a town south of Zurich and spending the night there. We are willing to catch the train anywhere along the line. Just wanted to know the best town to stay in to explore for the time we are there.
May 26th, 2005, 09:45 AM
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Hi Again,
Well I think you won't go wrong with any of the towns along the route -- in fact, I think there are few places in Switzerland that won't be pleasant and lovely!
Have you looked at a map or the GE website to see which towns you can choose from? You could also consider Chur or Disentis I guess. To get an impression of each town, look for the town's website, like www.andermatt.ch or www.chur.ch. There is usually a picture gallery or something so you can get an impression. Or you might want to go to www.webshots.com and do a search for photos of the town.
Anyway, best of luck!
s
Well I think you won't go wrong with any of the towns along the route -- in fact, I think there are few places in Switzerland that won't be pleasant and lovely!
Have you looked at a map or the GE website to see which towns you can choose from? You could also consider Chur or Disentis I guess. To get an impression of each town, look for the town's website, like www.andermatt.ch or www.chur.ch. There is usually a picture gallery or something so you can get an impression. Or you might want to go to www.webshots.com and do a search for photos of the town.
Anyway, best of luck!
s
May 26th, 2005, 12:48 PM
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The Glacier Express is in my opinion highly overrated - not nearly the most scenic Swiss rail line - the Bernina Express from St Moritz to Tirano Italy takes that title for actual rail lines that go somewhere (unlike the dramatidc Jungfrau train which is strictly a tourist thing) - go to St. Mortiz do the Bernina Express, then hop the Bernina Express postal bus from Tirano to Lugano, on its lovely lake, then from nearby Locarno hop the Centovalli (Hundred Valleys) narrow-gauge train to Domodossola, Italy, then train to Brig and from there take the most impressive part of the Glacier Express route to Zermatt. The Glacier Express was named for the glaciers to once went by on the Furka Pass but since a tunnel was made to burrow under the pass decades ago to allow year-round running of the train, you only glimpse glaciers near on the Brig-Zermatt route. Taking this route is much more varied and just as scenic, actually more scenic than the marathon 8-hour long Glacier Express St. Moritz-Zermatt which goes thur nice but not spectacular river valleys most of the way. the whole route i've outlined in covered by a Swiss Pass and you would save money by having one either route you took. Swiss passes are significantly cheaper now when bought in the US thru RailEurope than at the station in Switzerland. For a great look at these scenic Swiss trains call BETS and ask for their free European Planning & Rail Guide which has a section on Switzerland outline these and many other scenic trains (800-441-9413); i've bought Swiss passes from them and they're experts on Swiss trains. If taking the Glacier Express book early as these, due to the incredible hype they get, are often full - many groups book them up. I'm not saying the Glacier Express is not nice - every train in Switzerland is scenic, but just that's it doesn't hold a Swiss candle to the Bernina Express.
May 26th, 2005, 04:45 PM
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Glacier Express: the world's self-biled slowest express train, taking hours to cover a few hundred miles. Times i've been on it passengers, mainly tour-bus grouped older folks, seemed quite BORED - a tedious journey. The wine glasses famously tilt as the train curves through Alpine valleys - ooh-lah lah!
Jun 9th, 2005, 11:01 AM
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In Zermatt I stayed at Schlosshotel, had a room with a private balcony and a wonderful view of the Matterhorn. Great hotel, free internet in the lobby, very good breakfast, room small but comfortable, 2 sinks in the bathroom, robes provided.
Location - across the main train square and on the other train station to Gornergratt, perfect! A restaurant, forgot the name, next door.
Don't know how much it costs as I was on a tour. Felt mighty expensive to me!
Location - across the main train square and on the other train station to Gornergratt, perfect! A restaurant, forgot the name, next door.
Don't know how much it costs as I was on a tour. Felt mighty expensive to me!
