Tamia_Tiara

Hi,

I am planning to visit Switzerland on last week of March 2015 for 6 days. I am traveling with my husband and kid(6yrs old). (will take swiz family pass for 5 days).

Day 1 - We will reach at 12pm in zurich by train after our trip from paris. On that day we will do some siteseeing (near train station) in zurich and then take a train to lucerne at 3pm, after checkin hotel, planning see Dying Lion and Chapel Bridge is it possible?(both the places are within one km from our hotel) [stay in lucerne]

Day 2 - Morning we will do a trip to mt.titlis. afternoon comback to lucerne and take a boat ride in the lake, also see other sideseeing in lucerne, transport museum and ?? if any other please suggest. Evening take a train to interlaken or lauterbrunnen and checkin hotel. [stay in interlaken/lauterbrunnen]

Day 3 - morning visit bern, bernese oberland, trummelbach falls and Rhinefalls (possible?) [stay in interlaken/lauterbrunnen]

Day 4 - Jungfraujoch , and lake thun. evening take a train to Montreux (checkin hotel) [stay in Montreux]

Day 5 - morning visit Chateau de Chillon and chocolate factory any other suggestion here? [stay in Montreux]

Day 6 - morning train to geneva, visit few attraction like lake geneva and things near to train station and at night leave to venice,italy

Kindly suggest on my itinerary if its okay or am I rushing too much. Please tell me if I can add something to this or should i cut down something?

Thanks in advance.

swandav2000

Hi Tamia_Tiara,

The chocolate factory (Cailler, at the train stop Broc-Fabrique) is not in Montreux; it is actually just a short detour off the Golden Pass route between the Jungfrau region and Montreux. It would entail about a 2-hour trip back over the same ground you took on Day 4. You may want to leave your Jungfrau base earlier and see it while enroute.

For your trip to Chillon, I recommend you walk along the flowered lakeside promenade to get there -- about 45 minutes. One of the best things about Montreux imo. Then take bus #201 back to town (your hosts will give you a Riviera Card that makes the busses free).

The trip from Montreux to Venice is quicker and more direct than that from Geneva to Venice, so I wouldn't go to Geneva that day.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Dukey1

You need to look at a map. There is no way you are going to see the Rhinefalls and all that other stuff IN the Berner Oberland in one day.

isabel

You are not going to be able to do all that. At the very least I would drop Geneva from the itinerary entirely.

Day 1 - you have less than 3 hours to see Zurich. You could take a short walk through the center in that amount of time, it's not that big. By the time you get to Lucerne and check in you will most likely only have an hour or so of daylight left, but both the things you want to see (and the historic center) are well lit so you can still 'see' them.

Day 2 seems fine

Day 3-5 - definitely need to re work this. Bern (well worth it) will take most of a day. I would spend three nights, and I would spend it in Interlaken. That would give you about 2 and a half days. The best day weather wise go up to the Jungfraujoch. The other day do whatever else you want in the BO region. Maybe you could do Bern on the way to Montreux. The train trip from either Bern or Interlaken to Montreux is gorgeous. Do you really want to do it in the dark?

Day 6 - visit the Chateau and perhaps a chocolate factory, then go on to Venice from there.

But even with this you are going to be doing some of the greatest train rides in the dark. If your trip were in June and you had a few more hours of day light it might work but you will be missing a lot and rushing quite a bit even without Geneva. I would probably skip Montreux as well and concentrate on Lucerne and the Bernese Oberland for this trip.

nytraveler

Sorry - but you are underestimating how log it takes to do things, how long it takes to get from one place to another, and I believe have not checked out what hours things operate.

For instance - Days 3 and 4 are probably not possible unless you are starting out at about 6 am, rush through everything and arrive at the next spot late at night. Even so I believe Day 3 is not doable.

Also, you need to understand that visits to the mountaintops will not work on many days. They are high enough that the tops are in the clouds - if there are any - and you won;t be able to see your hand in front of your face - never mind any of the sights. When we were in Interlaken one June we had to wait 3 days until we got one that was clear at the top - even though the valleys were clear, there were clouds at the top.

neckervd

I agree with everything above. You have just not enough time to visit all the places you mention.

DAY 1:
I suppose your hotel at Paris is just in front of Gare de Lyon railway station. Otherwise you will have to get up at 5am in order to catch the first TGV to Zurich which arrives there at 11.26 (except Sunday).
Even if you start that early, you will not have enough time for somewhat decent visits of Zurich AND Lucerne. Go directly from Paris to Lucerne ar 12.05 (change at Basel). You will then have enough time for the visit of the Transport Museum after lunch and may be a walk through the historic city center and over the Chapel Bridge.

DAY 2:
Count about 2hrs from your Lucerne hotel up to Titlis. After the stress of day 1, you may not start before 9am. With good shoes you could walk around at Titlis, have lunch there and leave the mountain by 14.10 gondola, with arrival at Lucerne at 15.50. You may board there the 16.12 Lake Lucerne boat for a 2 1/2 hrs cruise up to Beckenried and back.
It wouldn't make any sense to continue to Interlaken in the evening as you couldn't enjoy this very scenic train ride because it will get dark after 6pm.

DAY 3:
Choose between Berne and Interlaken/Bernese Oberland: you can't do both

DAY 4:
May be it doesn't make much sense to do both, Titlis on day 2 and Jungfraujoch on day 4. In any case, the ride to these mountains makes sense if the weather is fine only.
Interlaken - Golden Pass - Montreux: the last train which enables you to enjoy the panorama up to Monrteux leaves Interlaken at 15.08.

DAY 5:
A decent visit of Gruyeres/Broc (chocolate factory, cheese diary, castle, museums, walled city) takes a whole day. As suggested above, it might be easier to leave the Interlaken - Montreux Golden Pass train at Montbovon (Day 4), proceed from there by small train and local bus to Gruyeres historical city center ar 18.06 and sleep there. You could then begin day 5 by the visit of the cheese diary and the castle and go on by train to the chocolate factory at Broc before continuing by train to Montbovon and Montreux.

DAY 6:
How will you go from Geneva to Venice in the evening? There is neither a evening flight nor a evenig train. The last train leaves Geneva at 13.42 and Montreux at 14.36, the last direct planes take off around 10am on weekdays and 3pm on Sundays

PalenQ

rearrrange days 5 and 6 because the train from Geneva passes thru Montreux - which is closer to Venice. Unless you have some magnet drawing you to Geneva I'd forget it and put in more time in say the Berner Oberland or add one to Lucerne and do the awesome boat trips around the lake - like to Fluelen at the fjord-like tip of one arm of the lake.

You seem to be traveling enough on trains to take a good look at a Swiss Pass which covers not only most trains (trains only going to mountain tops are usually discounted 50%) all regular trains are covered, including the famous Golden Pass scenic train from Interlaken to Montreux - and also valid on postal buse, city trams and buses and free entry to 470 or so Swiss museums and attractions (but only a discount on the Swiss Transport Museum now I think but still) and probably admission to the castles - for lots of great info on Swiss trains check these IMO superb sources: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

kja

I agree that you need to cut and rethink.

FWIW, I thought the Rough Guide to Switzerland particularly helpful -- it might help you focus your plans.

PalenQ

Yes you will see a lot of Switzerland from trains but not really get the feel of a place with such a rushed itinerary. Less can be more!

msteacher

Since you are traveling with a six-year old, be sure to include time for leisurely meals, some down time each day, and also leave yourself enough flexibility in your schedule to do what interests him/ her. Most kids need time to run around, especially after sitting still on a train for a few hours. Some sights and museums really seem to capture the interest of certain kids and they want to stay for hours, and others bore them and they can't wait to leave. You won't really know how your particular kid will respond until you get there, so you need to make sure your trip is not planned too tightly. Kids have a funny way of making your plans go right out the window.

PalenQ

Don't forget about the free Family Card that comes with Swiss Passes and I think you can ask for in Switzerland if you don't do a pass - kids under 16 traveling with a parent always go free on any kind of transportation in Switzerland - as long as accompanied by am adult.

PalenQ

If you want to go in style to the Chocolate Factory take the special superduper Chocolate Train - get wine and cheese en route and also stops at Gruyeres for a cheese factory visit and to look around that astoundingly old looking ramparted town and then roll to the Broc-Factory station for a Willie Wonkaesque tour of the chocolate plant.

Costs significantly more than the way by regular trains swandav outlined but used special Belle Epoque Pullman cars and has commentary I believe en route - one of the iconic Swiss specialty scenic trains.

swandav2000

Pal, the Chocolate Train does not run in March, when the OP is travelling. It only runs from May - October.

Also there is NO wine and cheese provided by the train, as I know I've told you before. You get coffee & croissant.

s

neckervd

....but one don't need the chocolate train for a visit of Gruyeres and Broc.

Tamia_Tiara

Thank you so much for all your replies, i understood that I am making too much rush. So based on all your replies I made the following changes. Special thanks to neckervd.

Day 1 - reach zurich at 12. train to lucernce. visit Dying

Lion and Chapel Bridge. [stay in lucernce]

Day 2 - Morning we will do a trip to mt.titlis. afternoon

comback to lucerne and do a boat trip. [stay in lucernce]

day 3 - Bern, trummelbach falls or lake thun [stay in lucernce]

Day 4 - morning train to interlaken keep luggage at the station and visit Jungfraujoch. come back to interlaken take
train at 15.08 to Montreux [stay in Montreux]

Day 5 - Gruyeres/Broc chocolate factory, Chateau de Chillon and [stay in Montreux]

Day 6 - Morning to geneva (just have a small glimpse near the station), later take train to venice,italy.

Few doubts.
-- Is there a night train to venice from montreux or geneva?
-- Whats the last train to venice from genenva?
-- trummelbach falls will be opened during march last week?
-- Golden train will be covered in our switz family pass?
-- Is it better to take 4 days pass on and activate it on day 2 or better buy 8 days pass?

neckervd

Day 1: no need to make the detour via Zurich. Change at Basel to a direct Lucerne bound train (with dining car).
In a full afternoon, you can do more han Lion Monument, Glacier Garden and Labyrinth. The Chapel bridge is close to the railway station and can be visited at any time.

Day 3: Trummelbach Falls are 2 hrs OW from Berne

"Is there a night train to venice from montreux or geneva?"
NO, ther isn't any; unless you make the huge detour via Dijon:
Montreux dp 17.53 - Dijon 20.22/22.41 - Venice ar 9.35

"Whats the last train to venice from genenva?"
Geneva dp 13.42 - Venice Mestre ar 20.28, change at Milan

"trummelbach falls will be opened during march last week?"
NO

"Golden train will be covered in our switz family pass?"
YES of course, Golden PASS trains are included!

"Is it better to take 4 days pass on and activate it on day 2 or better buy 8 days pass?"
Standard fare Basel - Lucerne: 33 CHF, kids 6-16 years 16.50
You may also check the Swiss Flexipass, or - if you really want to go to Jungfraujoch - the Bernese Oberland Pass.

swandav2000

Well, neckervd, that's what I posted above, at the first reply at the top.

Tamia_Tiara,

You don't have time to see Gruyeres & Broc and Chillon on the same day. Here's why:

Train Montreux-Gruyeres 1h14 (for instance leave at 08.44 and arrive at Gruyeres at 09.58). It will take a minimum of 3h to see the cheese demonstration, walk up to the village at the top of the hill, see the castle, and to have lunch. So let's say you manage to do it all in 3h and can begin walking down to the train station at around 12.30.

Train Gruyeres - Broc Fabrique 26m. Leave, for instance, at 12.58 and arrive at 13.24. The visit takes 60 to 90 minutes, and you may have to wait a few minutes to an hour for a tour to start. So let's say you can leave at around 16.00.

Train Broc-Fabrique about 1h30. Leave at 16.36 and arrive in Montreux at 18.13.

In March, Chillon closes at 18.00 -- last entry is at 17.00.

Even if you were able to leave Broc Fabrique at 15.36, you would arrive in Montreux at 17.13, already too late to enter Chillon.

I really think you need to either add more time to Montreux or skip it entirely on this visit, as others have suggested.

You can research these train trips -- as well as the train trip to Venice -- using the Swiss rail site at

www.rail.ch

s