Itinerary help- Switzerland/Germany- May 28-June 11
May 13th, 2015, 06:53 AM
#1
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Itinerary help- Switzerland/Germany- May 28-June 11
My husband and I are traveling to Europe May 28th-June 11th. We are flying in and out of Zurich. We are also bringing our 1 year old daughter. We would like to spend some time around Switzerland before heading up to Ulm, Germany for my brother in law's wedding from June 4th-June 6th.
We love wine tasting, historical towns, mountain views. We will have a rental car with a car seat for the entire 14 days of our trip so are flexible on travel. Do you have any recommendations on must see towns to visit around Switzerland. We are also open to venturing down to Northern Italy and/or Eastern France for a portion of our visit. Even a day/night in Liechtenstein perhaps?
Any help would be much appreciated!!!
We love wine tasting, historical towns, mountain views. We will have a rental car with a car seat for the entire 14 days of our trip so are flexible on travel. Do you have any recommendations on must see towns to visit around Switzerland. We are also open to venturing down to Northern Italy and/or Eastern France for a portion of our visit. Even a day/night in Liechtenstein perhaps?
Any help would be much appreciated!!!
May 13th, 2015, 08:30 AM
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Mountains? The highpoint of Switzerland for me and many is the awesome Jungfrau Region around Interlaken - ensconce yourselves in a cute mountain village like Grindelwald or Wengen, two perpetual fvorites with Fodorites and be practically eyeball to eyeball with glacier-girdled peaks rising thousands of feet above lush meadows - a myriad of toy-like trains and aerial gondolas going off in all directions.
Hiking trails for all degrees of energies and experiences - boat rides on the two lakes bookending Interlaken - just a wonderful place that I would put at the top of your Switzerland wish list.
cars are not allowed many places in this area so go by train - Swiss trains are fantastic - for more info on Swiss trains check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.rickstves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
Ulm is a short train ride from Zurich.
Hiking trails for all degrees of energies and experiences - boat rides on the two lakes bookending Interlaken - just a wonderful place that I would put at the top of your Switzerland wish list.
cars are not allowed many places in this area so go by train - Swiss trains are fantastic - for more info on Swiss trains check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.rickstves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
Ulm is a short train ride from Zurich.
May 13th, 2015, 09:06 AM
#3
Hi,
My husband and I travelled with our 8 months old daughter for 20 days during the summer of 2013. We flew in Paris and left from Zurich.
The highlight of Switzerland for me was Murren, in the Bernese Oberland area. It was my second time there. We are going back this summer but staying in Wengen this time around. Staying in the mountains is for me a magical experience. I dressed my baby warmly and she was very comfortable in our ergo carrier. I was able to breastfeed her as we were hiking.
Our overall itinerary was:
Paris
Les châteaux de la Loire
Flew from Tours to Marseille. Rented a car drove to the Luberon (Roussillon) to join up with my sister. I liked the Luberon so much that next time (summer 2016) we will stay in Gordes. I think that the Luberon is the heart of Provence.
Drove to Nice to catch a flight the following morning to Geneva.
Took the train from Geneva to Montreux where we picked up my mom, and after having lunch with her, continued all the way up to Murren (part of it on the Golden Pass train with the panoramic windows in the first wagon).
After Murren we took the train the Lucerne for one night to catch our plane from Zurich the following day.
We had an amazing time and so did our baby!
My husband and I travelled with our 8 months old daughter for 20 days during the summer of 2013. We flew in Paris and left from Zurich.
The highlight of Switzerland for me was Murren, in the Bernese Oberland area. It was my second time there. We are going back this summer but staying in Wengen this time around. Staying in the mountains is for me a magical experience. I dressed my baby warmly and she was very comfortable in our ergo carrier. I was able to breastfeed her as we were hiking.
Our overall itinerary was:
Paris
Les châteaux de la Loire
Flew from Tours to Marseille. Rented a car drove to the Luberon (Roussillon) to join up with my sister. I liked the Luberon so much that next time (summer 2016) we will stay in Gordes. I think that the Luberon is the heart of Provence.
Drove to Nice to catch a flight the following morning to Geneva.
Took the train from Geneva to Montreux where we picked up my mom, and after having lunch with her, continued all the way up to Murren (part of it on the Golden Pass train with the panoramic windows in the first wagon).
After Murren we took the train the Lucerne for one night to catch our plane from Zurich the following day.
We had an amazing time and so did our baby!
May 13th, 2015, 09:22 AM
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Yes, Ulm is a short train ride from Zurich:
First take a train to Romanshorn (about 1 hr journey)
then cross lake Constance by car ferry to Friedrichshafen (another hr)
then take a local train from the ferry to the main railway station of Friedrichshafen (takes a few minutes)
then board a Ulm bound train (journey time 1 1/2 hrs)
If you don't want to change so many times, you may also go to Schaffhausen and board there a Ulm bound train (only every 2 hrs)
Total journey time about 3 1/2 hrs in both cases.
First take a train to Romanshorn (about 1 hr journey)
then cross lake Constance by car ferry to Friedrichshafen (another hr)
then take a local train from the ferry to the main railway station of Friedrichshafen (takes a few minutes)
then board a Ulm bound train (journey time 1 1/2 hrs)
If you don't want to change so many times, you may also go to Schaffhausen and board there a Ulm bound train (only every 2 hrs)
Total journey time about 3 1/2 hrs in both cases.
May 13th, 2015, 11:37 AM
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taking the boat across Lake Constance was so so sweet - great route to Ulm - not on trains that much - Friedrichshafen is also a nice town to poke around - maybe see a Graf Zeppelin flying and there is a museum to the home of the Zeppelin's I believe if I recall correctly.
Sweet route outlined by neckervd!
Sweet route outlined by neckervd!
May 13th, 2015, 12:26 PM
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With a car Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald are the only two mountain towns that allow cars to reach if not circulate freely in them - so if you want to drive up to a hotel chose one of those. Wengen and Murren which many like because they are more remote cannot even be reached by private vehicles.
But again once there you will not be able to use a car much so maybe do your driving part of your trip and end up in the Jungfraujoch Region - drop the car at Interlaken and take the short train ride to say Grindelwald and then head by train to Zurich - saving days of car rental where they are not useful or even allowed?
But again once there you will not be able to use a car much so maybe do your driving part of your trip and end up in the Jungfraujoch Region - drop the car at Interlaken and take the short train ride to say Grindelwald and then head by train to Zurich - saving days of car rental where they are not useful or even allowed?
May 14th, 2015, 05:05 AM
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....or drive by car to the glaciers around Susten Pass, Grimsel Pass, Furka Pass, Nufenen Pass, etc.
But Interlaken wouldn't be the best base for that; all these Pass roads start at Meiringen/Innertkirchen.
But Interlaken wouldn't be the best base for that; all these Pass roads start at Meiringen/Innertkirchen.
May 14th, 2015, 07:41 AM
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But Interlaken wouldn't be the best base for that; all these Pass roads start at Meiringen/Innertkirchen.>
but it is a short drive from Interlaken to Meiringen sos I think I'd rather base in Interlaken than Meiringen - many many more hotels to chose from.
but it is a short drive from Interlaken to Meiringen sos I think I'd rather base in Interlaken than Meiringen - many many more hotels to chose from.
May 14th, 2015, 11:18 AM
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People sans autos can take the popular Three Pass Postal Bus excursion from Meiringen that goes over three famous passes in a loop back to Meiringen - see glaciers and some pretty sinuously twisting roads where the iconic postal buses honk they unique loud horns constantly to warn oncoming drivers that a large bus is navigating a blind curve so watch out!
From Interlaken easily take the train to Meiringen to join the Three Pass tour.
From Interlaken easily take the train to Meiringen to join the Three Pass tour.
