PS: I agree with Suze that Chateau Chillon has lots to see, but then I really like castles and castle architecture. The audio tour takes a bit more than an hour, but its quite good. ANd if you don't feel like walking there (which is a lovely suggestion, but if you have bad feet like me, may not be practical), arriving by ferry boat is quite nice and only takes 20 minutes from Montreux.

1. I don't know. I've been to Switzerland 5 times and only to Geneva, Lausanne, Gruyeres, Vevey, La Tour-de-Peilz, Montreux, Villeneuve. I don't know what I'm missing (lol).

2. I have never seen a tourist with a Rick Steves guidebook where I've been in Switzerland. Lac Leman isn't tourist central like some of the other places often recommended.

3. Again, there simply are not "so many tourists all over the place". And believe me it is very REAL. I've been at parades where they bring the cows thru town all dressed up in their cowbells and flower wreaths.

Raclette and fondue (you've mentioned several times) are really a winter thing. But there are some restaurants that serve it year-round, or that you can find (raclette) being made at a street fair or festival.

Three days in/around Wengen.

Three days in Zermatt. Take the gondola up to the Klein Matterhorn, then down one stop to Trockener Steg and hike back to Zermatt.

One day resting feet.

but do you personally feel the scenery in Jungfrau area is just as spectacular? How is it different?>

Zermatt is spectacular because of the Matterhorn and accompanying rugged high Alpine peaks.

Teh Jungfrau Massif is just as awesome IMO though doe snot have a single peak so famous as the Matterhorn (which can be fogged or clouded in at times for days as can the Jungfrau Massif) - but IME of visiting both many times the Jungfrau Region has much more and varied things to do for 3-4 days than Zermatt:

hiking trails for all degrees of difficulty

boat rides on the lake book-ending Interlaken

Day trips in foul weather like to Bern and Lucerne - Zermatt is so so isolated that in foul weather it is 2 hours or so to the nearest real city and none so awesome as Bern or Lucerne

Several mountain towns like Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen - Zermatt has one town - Zermatt, a busy busy place whereas some of the Jungfrau towns cannot even be reached by car.

Jungfrau has the Schilthorn too - redolent of James Bond On Her Majesty's Service film which was in part shot in that then under construction revolving restaurant on a rocky spit of turf miles from anywhere.

And even Interlaken and the William Tell Theatre and famous casino and all around pleasant town once you get off its kitschy touristed main drag.

Zermatt is a smaller area and basically all mountains and hiking.

Both are awesome but the Jungfrau wins hands down to me if you much choose and you can happily spend more days here than at Zermatt for the common bloke traveler anyway.

This is a fun read. Especially go on to page 2. This is the sort of trip to Switzerland that appeals to me, combined with walks in not-famous valleys and meadows

http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20...ists-dont-take

See Wengen and die!

You will never see a more beautiful place in your lifetime.

Thin

Yes, itspat, you will be making some compromises by seeing two destinations instead of four, but it's the right decision. It's not any better to stop in four places in 6 nights and see only the main streets and little else (you'll spend too much time inside hotels/hotel rooms/trains/train stations as you make each change).

I didn't see Luzern until about my 8th trip or so to Switzerland -- and there are still many, many places on my list that I *need* to visit, lol (Sils, Fribourg, Rolle, Romont, Lac de la Gruyere, Palezieux), and I am getting to them slowly.

As for off-the-beaten-track places, one is the old town of Montreux. Just walk UPhill from practically anywhere in town and enjoy the small lanes and alleys. There are many small restaurants in the old town, and the food and prices are better than down by the lake imo. That's where the locals eat. You may be able to find fondue & Raclette there. You will definitely find them in Gruyeres or in Chateau d'Oex year round.

Oh, and it's just one change of train to get to Gruyeres -- change at Montbovon.

s

I live in Switzerland and bought a Rick Steves' book after meeting Americans on their way to Gimmelwald and having to explain to my Swiss friends where that is.

Rick Steves has some good ideas in his book and the Swiss tourism industry is (perhaps unconsciously) grateful for bringing tourist to Switzerland.

Although the Swiss do not flock to Berner Oberland, it's not because it isn't beautiful. It's due to the outdoor possibilities in in their own backyard and in many other regions as well. There are beautiful alpine meadows all over but the Berner Oberland is the most accessible for tourists who don't have a lot of time.

See Wengen and die!>

Proof that Wengen is a geriatrics stronghold!

Wonderful! Our trip is materializing before my eyes. Thanks again to all of you.

Sandralist - we have seen that article! It's really good advice.

Now I'm a bit worried about raclette/fondue... I really hope we can find some in September! They are my favorites... Mouth is watering...

Don't be "worried" (lol). There are restaurants that specialize in fondue so serve it year-round.

You have about as much chance of NOT finding fondue or raclette as in not finding chocolate there or cows!

I really looked forward to having fondue and other melted cheese dishes in Switzerland, and when I finally got there and went to the recommended restaurants that had them, I almost passed out from the smell, which instantly reminded me of unwashed gym socks.

My Swiss dish has switched to being röschti.

That is the smell of excellent cheeses.

We will try to keep the smell of the cheese in perspective.

Last questions regarding the trip into Switzerland, which I know has been asked a lot but despite trying to do my homework I just am having a hard time wrapping my head around this. Here is the journey (per SBB website) that we would like to take:

Outward journey
Salzburg Hbf - Interlaken Ost
Via Zürich HB - Bern
Tue, 02.09.14, 07:56 - 15:28 Hour
Duration: 07:32, 2x Change(s)

It is listed as 167.00 CHF per person. How do we apply a Swiss Pass? Am I looking at this the right way? Is this the route we want to take (for scenery and traveling convenience)? I feel like I have seen people do this journey for much cheaper. Is it a "big deal" to change trains quickly with a roller carry-on each person?

Also, is it difficult to navigate this same carry-on luggage if we choose not to stay in Interlaken, but rather go to Lauterbrunnen, Gimmelwald, Murren, Wengen, or some other small town (and have to take a cable car, etc.)? What is the latest you would arrive in Interlaken to connect to one of these smaller towns? Once there, are you truly secluded and have to come back into town to eat, etc.?

Planning to take the Golden Pass tourist train from Interlaken to Montreaux.

Thanks!

It is listed as 167.00 CHF per person. How do we apply a Swiss Pass?>

Swiss Pass will kick in from Buchs SG border station so in Austria buy a ticket to Buchs SG (on the fastest more direct route Salzburg to Zurich)- but buy an Austrian ticket to the Swiss border station then your Swiss Pass kicks in - you do not have to get off the train to validate your pass because if coming on a train from another country you can then (and only then) have the conductor validate the pass on board.

In all other cases you must go up to a ticket window and have your pass validated before your first ride using it.

Yes checking schedules the most direct route from Salzburg to Zurich does use the border station as Buchs SG - so buy a ticket from Salzburg to Buch SG then use your pass.

Thank you all so much. Very excited. We decided, based on reading several threads/opinions on Fodors, to stay in Interlaken for our Bernese Oberland portion of the trip. We know it will be a bit of a trip to everywhere else, but that is part of what we are looking forward to - the trips within the trip. Now, on to plan the French part of things... so much fun!

PalenQ - thanks, you are a world of information. Just to be clear as mud... we are taking the Railjet 364 which goes from Salzburg to Buchs and arrives at 1206. Then at 1212, Buchs to Interlaken commences on Railjet 364 (according to OBB and SBB websites, with stops in Zurich and Bern). We only buy the ticket from Salzburg to Buchs, stay ON the train, and then show the conductor our Swiss Pass on the train in Buchs and will be able to continue on the same train toward Interlaken. Is that how it works?

If you can, go up to Murren and walk the Panoramaweg. Spectacular views and you'll also have the option to ride or walk up to Schilthorn if that appeals.

Have a wonderful trip. September is absolutely my favorite time for walking/hiking in Switzerland.

In case no one mentioned it, the other great walk is from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. Take the cable up to Mannlichen from Wengen.

Bring a camera.