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Routing advice: Zurich-Dijon-Locarno-Zurich
We have a short trip booked for June 2020. Flying in and out of Zurich. We will bookend the trip with a night in Zurich for convenience and preference. I am allowing a full day of travelling for each leg to create routing for more scenic journeys, mostly avoiding fast trains/ tunnels. So, Zurich to Dijon Train questions: 1: On Monday 8 June we will need to train from Zurich to Dijon. There is a TGV Lyria direct at 9:34 am. Is this a reasonable site to book? I can reserve seats if recommended. https://en.oui.sncf/en/tgv-lyria/route/zurich/dijon 4 months in advance seems about 56 (I havent yet registered on the site or gone any further with a dummy booking) As compared to Swiss site CHF 105 (95) per person no reductions (havent yet done the maths to determine if I will buy a half fare card) 2: Then a week later Dijon to Locarno. Likely routing Dijon, Lausanne, Locarno. Dijon to Lausanne ticket same site 4 months in advance seems 49 each Is via Lucerne and Arth Goldau and Bellinzona.a good choice as a scenic route, not fastest route, to Locarno? https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5439ab8748.png 3: 8 nights Locarno, and then return to Zurich. Considering this option....thoughts? Full day for this. on 23 June train to Domodossola by Centovalli train, then Postbus over Simplon pass to Brig? 12:50 to 14:30 Then, for convenience, and not the slow route, the 14:48 intercity train 2 hour to Zurich, no changes. (One every hour in case of delays, or the 15:20 with change in Bern) . Thoughts or suggestions very welcome. |
"I am allowing a full day of travelling for each leg to create routing for more scenic journeys, mostly avoiding fast trains/ tunnels."
A scenic route from Zürich to Dijon avoiding fast trains would be: Zürich - Biel/Bienne - La Chaux-de-Fonds - Le Locle - Besancon - Dijon Le Locle - Besancon trains run only a few times per day! If you're travelling light you could break the trip for a cople of hours in Le Locle, take the narrow gauge train to Les Brenets and a boat to the Saut de Doubs(waterfalls on the Doubs river). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lac_des_Brenets https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saut_du_Doubs Navigation sur le lac des Brenets et le Doubs - NLB SA - Bassins du Doubs - Home |
Consider staying in Ascona rather than Locarno proper.
Sounds like another great trip! |
Thanks BDKR, that’s an interesting suggestion. We have only visited St Ursanne and Solothurn in the western region, and we ‘d like to explore it more one day. And Besançon is on our list as a daytrip from Dijon, as it happens. Kja, we did consider Ascona, but we chose to base in a travel hub, due to daytripping. We found a great apartment for 8 nights in Locarno, I was willing to forgo the charm for the convenience. But, definitely visiting Ascona. Thanks for chiming in! |
"Besançon is on our list as a daytrip from Dijon, as it happens."
Perfect! You could travel via this backdoor route to France and make Besancon your first night stop before moving on the Dijon(saves you the backtracking of the daytrip). |
For a more scenic ride (in addition to BDRK):
Take any train from Zurich to Neuchatel and put your luggage into the railway station lockers. Go down to the medieval city center (10 min on foot or by bus), visit the cathedral beside the castle and may be the Musee des Beaux Arts or the Latenium (Lake Dwellers Museum), go then by train to La Chaux de Fonds, visit the Swiss time mesuring and watchmakiing museum and board finally the French 17.01 train to Besancon ar 19.03. Or do the Lac des Brenets cruise suggested by BDRK and visit the underground mills of Le Locle. https://www.j3l.ch/en/ Dijon - Locarno: Dijon dp 11.34 through the Jura hills and the (short) Mont d'Or tunnel to Lausanne ar 11.37 and by connecting train through the Lavaux vineyards to Montreux ar 12.10. Luggage into the railway station lockers. Leave Montreux at 12.40 by Lake Geneva boat (restaurant on board) for a small Upper Lake Geneva cruise to Chillon castle - St-Gingplph - Vevey - Montreux. Montreux dp 15.11 via Brig - Domodossola - Centovalli Express - to Locarno ar 19.19. If you are a railway fan, you may also leave Montreux at 12.44 by Golden Pass Panoramic Express to Zweisimmen, then by connecting standard train to Spiez and by Loetschberger train (mountain views!) via Kandersteg - Brig to Domodossola ar 18.15 and finally by Centovalli Express to Locarno ar 20.42. There are tons of other possibilities. The intinerary from Lausanne via Lucerne to Locarno is less scenic that that via Montreux - Brig - Domodossola - Centovalli. The latter is evenl much more scenic if you stop over at either Sierre/Siders (luggage lockers) and go from there by rope railway in 12 min to Montana (mountain views!) and back or at Brig (lockers too) and go via Fiesch to Eggishorn (Aletsch Glacier) and back. Or ride by Postbus over the Simplon Pass from Brig to Domodossola. |
Fantastic suggestions, thank you. I hadn’t considered the Neuchatel option and as I’ve wanted to visit the area one day, I can get a ‘taster’ by overnighting in Neuchatel on arrival day (just need to get hubby to agree, he hates our long haul followed by a train ride, but as it’s short and direct, I know I’ll win). We did the Golden Pass this year, and have travelled via Kandersteg to Brig, so your thoughts on stopping en route are interesting. Will check how feasible it is for our journey to and from Locarno. Much obliged. Enjoy your weekend, thanks for your responses. |
Ok, just viewed the Crans Montana funicular option, looks great. Very convenient on that train route and with luggage lockers that looks a fantastic stop on the way. Showed hubby photos of Neuchatel and he’s sold !! :lol: |
LOCARNO - ZURICH
If you leave Locarno after June 19th, you can reach Zurich over 6 alpine passes (Lucomagno, Oberalp, San Gotttardo, Nufenen, Grimsel and Brunig: Locarno dp by train 8.32 - Biasca ar 9.22, dp by bus 9.32 - Olivone - Lucomagno Pass ar 10.43, dp by bus 10.52 - Disentis ar 11.24, dp by train 12.14 - Oberalp Pass - Andermatt ar 13.22, dp by bus 13.26 - San Gottardo Pass ar 13.49, dp 14.07 - Airolo ar 14.32, dp by bus 15.41 - Nufenen Pass - Oberwald - Grimsel Pass - Meiringen ar 18.35, dp by train 18.41 - Brunig Pass - Lucerne ar 19.55, dp by train 20.10 - Zurich ar 20.56. Short cuts: Locarno dp 14.01 - Airolo ar 15.40 Andermatt dp by train 14.37 - Oberwald ar 15.11, dp by bus 15.30 Grimsel Pass ar 16.00, dp 16.13 - Meiringen ar 17.14, dp by train 17.41 - Brunig Pass - Lucerne ar 18.55, dp by train 19.10 - Zurich ar 19.56. Airolo dp 10.30 - Nufenen Pass 11.13/11.38 - Oberwald 12.15/12.50 - Grimsel Pass 13.20/13.33 - Meiringen ar 14.34 Airolo dp 13.25 - Nufenen Pass 14.08/14.38 - Oberwald 15.15/15.30 - Grimsel Pass 16.00/16.13 - Meiringen ar 17.14 |
Neckervd, that is great. We wanted to add Postbus pass trips when we were in Switzerland in 2017, and Pal had a brilliant list going .... didn’t think of referring to that for this trip. I like the look of this 8:01 depart Locarno arr Airolo, via Bellinzona 9:39. dep Airolo 10:30 on postbus arr Gletsch 12:32 dep Gletsch 13:06 arr Meiringen 14:34 the timings allow for a stretch of legs / toilet stops in Nufenen pass (25 mins) and Oberwald (5 min) and Grimsel Pass (13 min)....is that correct? And is it wise, or possible, to reserve seats on the bus? Many thanks for all all those detailed options, really helpful. |
Your timetable is correct. It corresponds more or less to the last but one line of my post above (change from the Nufenen bus to the Grimsel bus at Gletsch instead of Oberwald).
The bus runs from June 20th until Oct 11th. Seat reservation is possible, but not compulsory https://www.postauto.ch/en/excursion...ten-pass-route https://www.postauto.ch/en/excursion...rka-pass-route |
Excellent, thanks for confirming. |
Neckervd, another question, can I use a Saver Day Pass on these journeys using mix of trains and Postbus? The website states "With the Saver Day Pass you can travel throughout Switzerland for a day on all routes in the GA area from as little as CHF 29 with a Half-Fare travelcard and from CHF 52 without a Half-Fare travelcard. Whether on SBB trains or trains of other rail companies, on boats, buses, trams or postbuses, the Saver Day Pass opens up a wide range of routes for you. Furthermore, the Saver Day Pass is available for both 1st and 2nd class. Buy your Saver Day Pass today via the smartphone app or online at SBB.ch" I know there will be 2 long travel days (Lausanne to Locarno and Locarno to Zurich) just feel like its a really good deal with the saver pass, if that is correct. (I do know to buy 2 months ahead). |
" can I use a Saver Day Pass on these journeys using mix of trains and Postbus? "
Yes, without any problem. If you come from Dijon, the Saver Day Pass is valid from Vallorbe via Lausanne - Montreux - Sierre - Brig - Domodossola to Locanro as well as on Lake Geneva boats or on the rope railway and bus lines between Sierre and Montana. But it's NOT valid on Lake Maggiore boats. Between Bellinzona - Airolo - Meiringen - Lucerne, it's valid on all trains and buses along all imaginable itineraries EXCEPT: touristic Furka steam train Realp - Gletsch - Oberwald. cableways Engstlenalp (Meiringen) - Jochpass - Truebsee/Titlis - Engelberg (linked to Lucerne by train) steam train and cableway Brienz - Brienzer Rothorn - Soerenberg (linked to Lucerne by bus and train) Lake Sarnen boats Giswil - Sarnen |
That is great news, thank you very much! |
Originally Posted by Adelaidean
(Post 17026597)
Ok, just viewed the Crans Montana funicular option, looks great. Very convenient on that train route and with luggage lockers that looks a fantastic stop on the way. Showed hubby photos of Neuchatel and hes sold !! :lol: To see the Aletsch the best viewpoint, I think, is from the Bettmerhorn. And that is slightly less train travel from Brig than getting to Fiesch. Get off at Betten. Then cable car, walk through the village of Bettmeralp which is quite pretty AND has the most stunning views to the south of the entire range of the Southern Valais alps (including the Matterhorn IF you can recognise it!) . Then cable car to Bettmerhorn. The viewing point from which you can see the whole stretch of the Aletsch, the Konkordiaplatz and on up to the Jungfrau etc is about 100m from the top of the cable car. |
Thanks for your contribution, Hambagahle, even if we don’t visit suggested places, I ‘file’ ideas for future reference. Much obliged. |
Neither Crans nor Montana are "nice villages". Nobody goes there for that, but for the phantastic views to tons of more than 4000 high peaks, fot he gondolas going up to the glacier area and for the excellent and well signmarked hiking trail network.
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Adelaidean:
A few things I can recommend from my Train and Post Bus holiday from last September ( under by name Huggy, October 27, 2019),: 1. I very much enjoyed my ride on the Furka Steam Railway Realp to Oberwald. If you can fit this in it is a great, slow, scenic ride. 2. Locarno is a great place to stay. I see you are using an apartment but the City Hotel is great, especially for a single traveller, has a good restaurant attached and has a central location. Even if you do not stay there, I recommend the restaurant. 3. The trip from Domodossola to Locarno on the Centrovalli Railway is a great ride. 4. The Post Auto Bus over the Simplon Pass was wonderful. I started in Brig, ended at Domodossola and then the Centrovalli ride. 5. While in Locarno, you might consider the bus ride up the Valle Verzasco to Sonogno. Many stops along the way. Suggest you might hike along the river for part of the journey. (Highly recommended.) Have a great holiday. Huggy |
Thanks. We are indeed taking the bus to Sonogno, there’s a waterfall nearby too. Trying to incorporate the Simplon pass bus on the 15 June there’s only a morning ride. Not sure if more times get added yet. |
There should be service in the afternoons too on the postbus Brig/Domo...why the timetable is not showing it I don't know. A lot of people live in Simplon Dorf or Gondo and work in Brig.
Furkadampfbahn - indeed an amazing thing! Can't say I have done it because I haven't but it is a ride I really want to do. Goes between Oberwald in the Valais and Realp in Uri. And is 100% steam railway. Very seasonal though. In June 2020 it will run on Fri, Sat and Sun from 13 June-6 July then daily. So I don't think this fits with your other travel plans? Centovalli -- far better to take the train than to drive! Driving that road is a nightmare but the scenery is beautiful. If you are on the train you can look at it 100% of the time. On the road you are too busy dodging Italian lorries to appreciate the views. |
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