newbie to Switzerland. Help!
Jun 25th, 2006, 05:54 AM
#1
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newbie to Switzerland. Help!
hello to all. so far I have found the most useful info. on this site. thanks to all. I will be travelling to Switzerland with my 16 yr. old daughter. we are landing in Zurich morning of Wed. July 5 and have to be in Rome the evening of Sat. July 8. we want to see it all, mountains, culture, scenery. what would you recommend as the absolutes to cover for such a short period. my daughter likes cultural things, shopping, and scenery. I am intrigued by the Bernini Express. is it worth the time investment for a first visit? I figured we have to get to Italy anyway so it might be a great route to take. any advice is appreciated. also looking for reasonable accomodations along the way. many thanks to all you seasoned travellers and happy trails. lysie
Jun 25th, 2006, 07:28 AM
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Hi lysieh,
Most first-time visitors to Switzerland head to the mountain villages of the Berner Oberland (Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen), but with your three days and with your desire to do the Bernina Express, these are too far out of the way.
But don't despair, there are many mountainous regions in Switzerland, and as one poster here has said, they only lack the slick PR of the Berner OBerland but are equally beautiful.
An obvious route would be to go directly to St. Moritz from the Zurich airport and spend one or two nights there enjoying the shopping, the dining, and the culture. You can spend a day on walks in the mountains, on a bicycle trail around the lakes, or visiting nearby quaint villages. From St. Moritz, hop the Bernina Express to Tirano and continue on by train.
You can check train schedules at www.rail.ch, and you can check the area at www.engadin.ch (then click under "St. Moritz").
Here's a link to the Bernina Express:
http://www.rhb.ch/berninaexpress/berninaexpress.e.php
Good luck!
s
Most first-time visitors to Switzerland head to the mountain villages of the Berner Oberland (Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen), but with your three days and with your desire to do the Bernina Express, these are too far out of the way.
But don't despair, there are many mountainous regions in Switzerland, and as one poster here has said, they only lack the slick PR of the Berner OBerland but are equally beautiful.
An obvious route would be to go directly to St. Moritz from the Zurich airport and spend one or two nights there enjoying the shopping, the dining, and the culture. You can spend a day on walks in the mountains, on a bicycle trail around the lakes, or visiting nearby quaint villages. From St. Moritz, hop the Bernina Express to Tirano and continue on by train.
You can check train schedules at www.rail.ch, and you can check the area at www.engadin.ch (then click under "St. Moritz").
Here's a link to the Bernina Express:
http://www.rhb.ch/berninaexpress/berninaexpress.e.php
Good luck!
s
Jun 25th, 2006, 10:08 PM
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The smaller Engadine towns are lovely, eg Guarda and Scuol-Tarasp. For architecture they beat the Bernese Oberland ones handsdown IMHO, and the country is more natural and unspoilt.We've done most of the great train-rides in Switzerland, and the Berlina Express route is a standout.
Jun 25th, 2006, 10:39 PM
#4
That's quite an order you have there.
You want to see it all: You won't.
I've been here over 20 years and haven't seen it all.
From Zürich, go to Lucerne. Get a hotel. Take a ferry ride and enjoy.
Thurs: Go to Jungfraujoch
Friday: Go to Engelberg / Mt. Titlis
Saturday: Take the train to Rome or book a flight to Rome.
See Airberlin for cheaper flights (although you might not get one with such short notice)
See sbb.ch for train schedules.
You could also take an overnight train from Arth-Goldau (15 min. by train from Lucerne) to Rome. The train leaves around midnight and will get there between 10:00 - 11:00.
You want to see it all: You won't.
I've been here over 20 years and haven't seen it all.
From Zürich, go to Lucerne. Get a hotel. Take a ferry ride and enjoy.
Thurs: Go to Jungfraujoch
Friday: Go to Engelberg / Mt. Titlis
Saturday: Take the train to Rome or book a flight to Rome.
See Airberlin for cheaper flights (although you might not get one with such short notice)
See sbb.ch for train schedules.
You could also take an overnight train from Arth-Goldau (15 min. by train from Lucerne) to Rome. The train leaves around midnight and will get there between 10:00 - 11:00.
