svrider

Wife and I will be traveling to Switzerland from 21-28 June as part of a 3-week trip. We would like to primarily visit Luzern, BO area and Zermatt over these 6 days. We will be skipping the Glacier Express, so no stay in St. Moritz. On 7th day, we will take the train to Munich, so staying in a bigger city on train route would be good (Bern?).

I've spent a few days reading threads here to build an itinerary. I put the possible side trips in brackets, but I need some suggestions for hotel/hostels in these areas. I am open to slight alterations to these itineraries if it helps us with getting accommodations too. AFAP, would like to avoid packing and moving every day!


21-Jun Zurich - flying in at 12.10 pm
22-Jun Lucerne
23-Jun Interlaken (Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Wengen)
24-Jun Interlaken (Jungfrau)
25-Jun Interlaken (Gornergrat)
26-Jun Zermatt
27-Jun Bern (Lausanne)
28-Jun Munich

I know this is very short notice, which is why I need some help from experienced forum members.

Thanks!

svrider

Forgot to ask about the train pass. What is the absolute minimum days we need a Swiss train pass? I read that unless you have several connections, it is okay to just buy tickets at the station?

deladeb

Zurich-ok city. Lucerne much better. Murren and wengen...awesome, even if it rains...because it will probably stop. Do NOT look at weather forcasts...wrong! Munich is fun see the Marienplatz and Hofbrauhaus...interesting characters and massive pretzels and mugs.

svrider

Thanks deladeb. I made slight changes, will be moving to Lucerne on day 1 and spend 2 days at Lauterbrunnen now. Any suggestions on the Swiss pass? At $70/day, which of the days will I really use it fully?

21-Jun Lucerne
22-Jun Lucerne
23-Jun Interlaken (Murren, Wengen)
24-Jun Lauterbrunnen(Jungfrau)
25-Jun Lauterbrunnen(Gornergrat)
26-Jun Zermatt
27-Jun Bern (Lausanne)
28-Jun Munich

Dukey1

IF you are thinking of Lausanne, how much do you want to spend and what level of accommodations?

mjnbrown

I think Lauterbrunnen will be a much better place to stay than Interlaken. The Lauterbrunnen valley is great and has lots of options for day trips. I wonder about going to Zermatt for one night. It's a pretty long trip for one night. Plus if the weather is overcast, you'll miss the view of the Matterhorn. If you stay a couple of nights, you'll have a better shot at good views. I like Zermatt, just concerned about just one night.
Martha

svrider

Dukey1 - I was thinking of Lausanne as a side trip from Bern

mjnbrown - I thought about 3 days at Lauterbrunnen, but the train route from Lucerne cross Interlaken and I wanted to explore the lakes there. So, would it make sense to come to Lauterbrunnen and then go back to Interlaken?

I would leave for Zermatt in the morning, spend all day and 26th night, and continue to Bern from there. So, it's more than 1 night.

swandav2000

Hi svrider,

Interlaken Ost and Lauterbrunne are only 20 minutes apart by train -- you'll lose more time if you switch bases because of the chores of packing up and checking out then checking in and unpacking again. You should pick one and stay there for three nights (I'd pick Lauterbrunnen over Interlaken any time).

Also think the detour to Zermatt for only one night (two days and one night is just one night). As mhnbrown notes, if the weather happens to be bad, you won't be able to see anything at all, and you need a longer stay to increase your chances of good weather.

Good luck as you plan!

s

swisshiker

Hello svrider

I agree with swandav's recommendation of staying 3 nights in Lauterbrunnen rather than tagging on Interlaken.

If you want to explore Interlaken and perhaps take a boat ride before heading to Lauterbrunnen, you could always take an early train from Luzern to Interlaken, store your bags at the station, and head to the boat docks, tour the town, etc. Then afterwards, catch a train to Lauterbrunnen for your 3 nights.

As for one night only in Zermatt, it's a risk, but I admit that when my parents accompanied me a few years back on a similar trip as yours, we did the same thing. Worked out fine for us, the weather cooperated, and they saw the Matterhorn. To this day, their photo with the Matterhorn in the background still stands proudly on the mantle. It was a heckuva expensive one night (hotel and trains), but definitely for them it was worthwhile.

Happy travels!

svrider

Thanks swandav2000 and swisshiker. I will try to change my reservation for 23rd to Lauterbrunnen too.

The cheapest train pass I can get is the Swiss saver pass for 4 consecutive days at $249 pp. Since the cable cars and scenic trains are not covered, will this pass really be useful for us?

swandav2000

Hi again,

I've always found the Half Fare Card (110 chf and gives you half off everything that moves) to be the most economical option for my own travels.

I used to do the math for all of my trips, and then a spread sheet to keep track of all the possible combinations and options. Whenever I did that, the HFC always came out as the most economical. These days, I skip the math and just get the card.

Have fun!

s

marg

We're holidaying in Switzerland now. We'd definitely recommend Lauterbrunnen as a base. The train to Wengen and onto Jungfrau leaves from Lauterbrunnen and the cable car to Murren and Schilthorn is at Lauterbrunnen station.
We bought Swiss Rail Flexipasses - as well as the days you nominate to use your pass, you can get discounts on transport (including cable cars)on other days and admission to museums.
While you are in Lucerne, take the time to do the round trip to Pilatus - well worth doing.

C_Franklin3161

Instead of Jungfrau, you might want to consider going up the other side of the valley to Shitlthorn (I haven't spelled that correctly)--above Murren. The train to Jungfrau goes through miles of underground tunnels and you miss lots of scenery. Shitlhorn is reached by cable cars and above-ground trains from Lauterbrunnen. It's much less crowded and the views are every bit as spectaculr.