drchris

We are a couple ages 60 and 63 who are traveling to Switzerland in mid-late September. We plan to buy a Swiss Pass (Saver Pass) and are interested in the scenery, walking through the towns we visit, and boat rides on the lakes. Please comment on whether the following itinerary looks OK. I have included travel times for each segment.

Also, are there usually plenty of lockers for stowing backpacks/luggage at the train stations while we sightsee if we are not spending the night in a hotel at that stop?

In the Berner Oberland, do you prefer visiting Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn?

Hotel and restaurant recommendations are also welcome!

Thanks for you suggestions!

Day 1 - Saturday
Arrive Zurich 8:05 am

Zurich - Lugano (William Tell Express)
3 3/4 – 4 1/4/hrs

Day 2 - Sunday

Lugano – Tirano – St. Moritz (Bernina Express)
6 ¼ – 9 hrs

or Lugano – Tirano – Chur
8 – 11 hrs

Day 3 - Monday

St Moritz – Zermatt (Glacier Express)
7 ½ - 8 ¼ hrs

Or Chur – Zermatt
5 ½ - 6 ¼ hrs

Day 4 - Tuesday

Zermatt – Gornergrat

Leave late afternoon

Zermatt – Lausanne
3 hrs

Day 5 - Wednesday

Lausanne, Montreux, Vevey, Chateau Chillon

Day 6 - Thursday

Lausanne – Interlaken (Golden Pass)
3 ½ - 4 hrs

Day 7 - Friday

Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn
Lauterbrunnen Valley (Murren, Wengen, Gimmelwald)

Day 8 - Saturday

Interlaken – Luzern (Golden Pass)
2 hrs

Or Interlaken – Bern – Luzern
2 – 2 ½ hrs

Day 9 - Sunday

Lucern – Zurich
1 – 1 ½ hrs

Day 10 - Monday

Depart Zurich 11:55 am

Ingo

You're trying to cram *way* too much into these 10 days. Better pick three bases and try seeing more in depth there. You're going to lose too much time with packing, unpacking, check in/out, transfer time to the train stations etc. The scenery will mostly rush by the train window.

dreamon

This itinerary would give me indigestion - way too much. Much too much time spent looking out the window of the train rather than being on the other side of the glass.

scatcat

Too much train.

swandav2000

I agree. Your memories will only be that strip of land beside the train tracks. The best of Switzerland are the mountaintops, the mountaintop restaurants, the Alpine trails, the quiet, etc. You need to give yourself time to explore and poke around the countryside.

As usual, Ingo is right. Three bases in 10 days is good, the bare minimum.

Good luck!

s

greg

If you are both train nuts, the itinerary has merits. If you are looking for scenery, while the route stated do "contain" pretty views, they also contain hours of boring rides. I think the railroad company has succeeded in building hypes. You can be strategic in selecting only the segments of interest - you do not have to ride these scenic trains from the beginning to the end.

Another note is that these mountains can get shrouded in clouds easily. In order to actually see the high mountains, you would have to stay still for several days in one place to increase the odd.

In case of a foul weather, Berner Oberland has more places to go than Zermatt.

ktspiv4

We enjoyed a short visit in Zurich, I enjoyed it more than others in our group. Our main destination was Lauterrunnen. Stayed at Hotel Silberhorn, wonderful little hotel. Lauterbrunnen was a gem & wished we could have spent a week there. Small, quiet & breathtaking. Hotel staff will happily help you with weather for the ride up to "The Top of Europe" Jungfrau. Listen to them, it's an expensive trip to see nothing otherwise.
Switzerland is incredible, but Lauterbrunnen is a very special place & deserves more consideration on your itenerary.
Enjoy!