Montreux - i've taken the lake steamers over to France and Evian-les-Bains, a swank lakeside thermal resort and home of course of Evian water. Also a casino. Boats are fully covered by a Swiss Pass even though they go to France.

So experience a taste of France on your Swiss journey

Gruyere is a neat excursion from the Montreux area - trains climb up thru the vineyards from Lausanne (or Vevey?) and then over to Gruyeres, where by the station there is a cheese factory to visit and sample the wares.

then it's a short walk up to one of europe's finest walled towns - very intact walls girdling a lovely old town with a castle of your dreams.

THE CHOCOLATE TRAIN i believe incorporates a visit to Gruyeres, and serves cheese en route i believe, and also to nearby Broc for a visit to the Nestle Chocolate factory - for a Willy Wonka experience and chocolate to sample as well.

Apart from the Chocolate Train there are regular trains running regularly to both places.

Swiss Chocolate Train: Swisstravelsystem, Swiss Travel System ...
Discover Switzerland by train, bus and boat. The highlight of any Swiss trip is a ... home of the famous Gruyčre cheese, and eventually continue to Broc, ...
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/Swis....html?&L=2

Bookmarking since we'll be in Wengen and Montreux this Sept!

Between Wengen (Interlaken) and Montreux be sure to take the longer in time i believe but infinitely more scenic 'Golden Pass' route rather than the mainline route via Bern and Lausanne

and even before you buy your Swiss Pass (definitely the ticket IMO if going to Wengen by rail from Zurich and from Montreux to an airport) you can go to www.swisstravelsystem.com and make a reservation for the vaunted VIP seats on these trains that are perched over and next to the train driver so you are like the driver. Limited numbers but apparently you can reserve one without having a pass yet on the link of this web site.

Hello again,

I am still doing my research to plan our trip. Here's a recap of what I have so far:

We will be arriving in Geneva on August 20th and departing from Zurich on the 28th. (I would love to stay longer but already know I am going to miss our 3 small children while gone.)

We plan to purchase the 8 day Swiss Saver Pass before we leave.

Montreux: Arrive Wednesday, Aug. 20 and will depart Sunday, Aug. 24. It is a company function for my husband's business and his company said we will be staying at either The Montreux Palace, the Royal Plaza, and the Swiss Majestic (we don't get to choose - they will be telling us soon what one). While in Montreux we will definitely visit the Chateau de Chillon, take the Swiss Chocolate Train, and many other of your recommendations.

Does anybody have a recommendation for a great Swiss restaurant for a group of 8-10 people in Montreux (not overly fancy)?

Sunday when we depart Montreux we plan to take the Golden pass Route up to Interlaken Ost and then on to Wengen (thanks for the details Bob).

We have 4 nights left of our trip before we fly out around noon on Thursday the 28th. I am not sure how I should break up the remaining time.

Wengen: I currently have 3 nights booked at the Hotel Alpenrose (however, I am wondering if we should only stay 2).

Lucerne: After leaving Wengen we were thinking of staying in Lucerne 1-2 nights before departing from Zurich on the 28th. Does anybody have any recommendations on how to split our time between Wengen and Lucerne. Where to stay in Lucerne (preferably near the train) or if there is a different location that you would recommend over Lucerne. If staying in Lucerne our plan was to take the morning train to Zurich for our flight.

Thanks for you help. Any suggestions you have, as always, are so helpful and incredibly appreciated!

Sincerely,
Tara

Lucerne is a perfect base for a few days and a boat ride on Lake Lucerne is fantastic IMO.

Fjord-like Lake Lucerne to me is Switzerland's most gorgeous lake. The lakes two large fingers extend from Lucerne southward and are girdled by Alps on all sides.

The classic boat trip goes to Fluelen, at the southern tip of the lake's eastern and longer finger. Hop off the boat here and return to Lucerne in a few minutes from the adjacent train station. (The boat ride is part of the William Tell Express - train and boat combo.)

Weggis and Vitznau are great hopping off places and destinations in their own as from these towns an aerial cable way and a mountain-climbing train take you to the Rigi summit, one of the most celebrated view points in the Alps as it provides a nifty lateral sweeping view over the bulk of central Switzerland's ice-bound peaks.

Mark Twain describes his climb up Rigi in his book about his European travels.

For variety take the aerial cable way up and the train back down or vice versa - boats serve both Vitnzau and Weggis.

Boats are 100% covered by railpasses - just flash when conductor comes around - no reservations needed nor possible i believe.

The other classic Lake Lucerne jaunt involves a trek up Mt Pilatus, the mountain peak hovering over the western end of the lake and Lucerne itself.

Hop a boat from Lucerne's train station to Alpnachstad dock from where one of Switerland's most thrilling trains takes you up to the summit, from where you descend back down to Lucerne itself another way, via dramatic aerial cable way to Krens, from where buses scoot you the few miles back to Lucerne's station.

Thank you PalenQ for the information on Rigi and Mt Pilatus. How long (roughly) would each of these trips take on average?

When I was in Lucerne, my family and I took the trip to Mt. Pilatus. We left in the morning and were back to Lucerne for a late lunch. We even rode the tobaggans at Frakmuntegg!! Fun!!!

Tara - i'll estimate times

If you take the train to Alpnachstad rather the the boat then it's 15 mins from Lucerne or so - then an hour to the summit - hour there and hour back down to Krens, then 20 mins by bus back to Lucerne.

longer of course if you go to Alpnachstad by boat from Lucerne - about an hour longer.

For Rigi - boat to Vitznau about an hour from Lucerne - about an hour to summit - hour at summit - 30 mins train down to Goldau for train back to Lucerne in about 20 mins.

So can be a half-day thing it seems

And another great short excursion by scenic mountain train from Lucerne goes up to Engelberg and Mt Titlis, one of the Alps premier Alpine wonderlands - right up their in awesomeness as the Jungfrau panoramas IMO. Once at Engelberg you have the ubiquitous cable ways that take you up to the fantasy land of glaciers, etc.
Direct trains from Lucerne hourly - railpasses - Swiss and Eurail valid 100%

The William Tell Express also starts in Lucerne and goes by vintage paddle-wheel steamer (i think about the vintage) to Fluelen at the end of the lake where you transfer to train on the Simplon Line and go to Lugano- though Lugano may be a bit too far for a day trip you could just take the boat portion, which includes a full meal on board the boat - and i think gives running commentary on the lake trip.

Of course there are normal boats that do the same trip sans the included meal or commentary.

If interested om William Tell or Golden Pass trains etc then www.swisstravelsystem.com has a link to the official web sites.

bookmarking

If you like a nice walk and stunning scenery, give the Vineyard Trail a look. Take the train (Le Train de Vignes) from Vevey to Chexbres-Village, and then walk down to St. Saphorin. Peaceful, beautiful. Gorgeous!

Also, there's a smaller farmer's market in Vevey on Tuesday mornings. Starts around 7:30, I think.

Chateau de Chillon is a must.

Wengen - be still my heart! You'll love it!

Looks like your trip is days away - have a great time!

True, both Tues & Sat AM there's the farmers market in Vevey. And Fri AM in Montreux under the pergola.

I always wanted to do that vineyard walk - i guess there are several - one you take the train up thru the vineyards and walk down to the lake far below

You can also walk to Chat Chillon on lakeside walking paths - just a few miles from Montreux right?

Yes you can walk along the lakeside out to Chateau de Chillon from Montreux, takes awhile though.

Only about 45 minutes. And there are lots of benches and a few cafes enroute, where you can stop and read a few chapters or watch the parade of folks going by.

Another option is to rent a bike at the train station and cycle the path, or even go past Chillon to Villeneuve (my new favorite little town on the lake).

s