swandav2000

Hi again,

Well...sorry to be persnickety, but you don't have 1 1/2 days in Montreux, according to the itinerary you posted -- looks like you have two half-days.

What are your interests? Hiking, walking, wine, castles, sailing?

Off the top of my head, I would say --

Upon arrival, walk along the lake to Chillon castle, tour the castle, then maybe continue on to Villeneuve (45 minutes from Montreux to Chillon and 45 minutes from Chillon to Villeneuve). Take the bus (201) back to town and walk up to the old town, maybe try to catch views over the lake at sunset. There are two nice restaurants in Glion (above Montreux's old town), and the one in the Hotel Victoria has amazing views over the lake.

On the next day, dedicate yourself to enjoying the vineyards of the Lavaux. Take the train or the boat to Lutry, enjoy the harbor area and the old town, tour a wine cave or two, and walk through the vineyards (walks of 2h up to 6h, according to your start and end points). End the day with a few hours in Vevey, getting lost in its old town and having a late lunch or early dinner in one of the restaurants or cafes there. Return to Montreux to catch the train to Grindelwald via the Golden Pass route (be sure to complete the journey in daylight, as it's beautiful).

Have fun!

s

neckervd

You waste your time by passing twice through Interlaken. You told us that you want to spend the last days of your holiday at Grindelwald.
So, don't go through this area at the beginning (June 11th), but go directly from Lucerne to Lake Geneva in the evening of June 10th. The journey from Lucerne to Vevey lasts 2 1/2 hrs, up to Montreux 2 3/4 hrs; 1 train change, at Palezieux (for Vevey) or at Lausanne (for Montreux).
You can then continue via Chamonix - Zermatt - old Loetschbrg line - Grindelwald....

dugi_otok

>> We usually don't want to do too much on the same day of arrival or next day after the night flight <<

With this requirement it makes sense to start your vacation with 3 nights in Lucerne.

Zermatt. I would reduce your stay from 3 nights to 2 nights. You can walk the village in 15min. How many views of the Matterhorn do you need? The Gornergrat-2 hours return, by mountain railway is enough. You can extend this excursion by cable way to Stockhorn-3/4 rtn. The Ascent to the Klein Matterhorn by cable way is not needed . Use the extra day for Montreux.

dugi_otok

Consider building on neckervd’s post #62
June 8 Lucerne
June 9 Lucerne
June 10 Montreux* ( pm train Lucerne to Montreux*)
June 11 Montreux*
June 12 Montreux*
June 13 Chamonix
June 14 Chamonix Martigny (stopover)
June 15 Zermatt
June 16 Zermatt
June 17 Grindelwald
June 18 Grindelwald
June 19 Grindelwald
June 20 Grindelwald
June 21 Grindelwald
June 22 Lucerne Briez (stopover ) if needed or spend your last night in Zurich
June 23 Fly Home from ZRH

* Could spend 3 nights in Vevey instead of Montreux

jane86

Hello Everyone, thank you for inputs swandav2000, neckervd, dugi_otok

I am a little confused about what to do right now, as I said above couple of days ago, I was not sure if this was a good plan. Looking at the last version of itinerary dugi_otok proposed, it's the similar content with change of the sequence, but what to do in those 4-5 days in Grindelwald? Can you give some details? My husband is the kind of person who wants to see many different things in short time, but he also likes nature and does a lot of exercise. I was a little obsessive with mountains in this plan. I am not sure if this Switzerland only itinerary will work out well in the end. I tried to add south Germany in the beginning, then tried to add some France... Could it possible to make 10-11 days of Swiss Alps, 4 days non-Swiss? Any advice?

Thank you all for your help!

dugi_otok

Do you have your airline tickets flying into Zurich June 8 and flying out of Zurich June 23?

swandav2000

Hi again, Well, Grindelwald is a big hiking destination, so that's what most folks do. If your husband is very active, he'd probably enjoy doing that. From Grindelwald you guys can hike the entire Jungfrau region.

An alternative might be to go from Chamonix to Annecy and spend a few days there, then go on to Zermatt or Montreux.

Hope you find a good solution!

s

jane86

Thank you both,
Tickets are set

Hambagahle

Some comments on the posts above:

Here in Switzerland if you go to a "cave" to taste wines (winery) you are expected to buy wines - at least 6 or more bottles which for a tourist isn't that practical. However if you go to the Vinorama in Rivaz you can learn all about the terroir, the history of the Lavaux, the terraced walls etc AND taste wines for a small fee. It is a good solution for tourists. That said - the Lavaux wines are OK but nothing more. If you want to taste really excelent Swiss wine then on your way to Zermatt stop in Sierre and go to Vinum Montis. There you can taste wines from the central Valais where the very best Swiss wines are made (wines that regularly beat French wines in Pinot Noir competitions for example) AND you can taste some of the old cèpages - some say brought by the Romans - Cornalin Humagne etc.

For the walk to Chillon and on to Villeneueve: From the centre of Montreux to Chillon will take 40mns. From Chillon to the station in Villeneuve 25mns. And at the entrance to the castle when you buy your ticket also get an AudioGuide - 6frs extra. It is invaluable because the castle has a long, complicated and fascinating history and the guide explains it very very well. Also finding all the "nooks and crannies" of the castle is hard without it to tell you where to go and what to look for.

I would strongly suggest avoiding Vevey this summer. It is a mess already! And will be a mess until late in the autumn. The construction on the place du marché is well underway for the arena for the Fête des Vignerons (July 18-Aug 11). If you do want to go there to see "The Fork" or visit the Alimentarium etc it is worth getting a town map and walking along the rue de Lausanne until you are well past the place du Marché.

Lastly if you are in Grindelwald from mid April to October do spend a day at the Open Air Museum at Ballenberg. This is near Brienz. You take a post bus from Brienz station to the museum. It is a huge place - you do need 4-6 hours at least. www.ballenberg.ch If you have the Swiss Travel Pass it covers the admission fee. (Covers ch teau de Chillon too!)

jane86

Thank you for the info and advice @ Hambagahle. We will then spend 1 1/2 day in Montreux, so won't go Vevey, just want to take a look at famous Corniche Laavaux vineyard on the shore of lake Geneva by walking a little bit, and wines are not quite our thing, so will skip wine tasting etc. We will go to open air museum at Ballenberg on day 3 of our itinerary (please see below).

"You waste your time by passing twice through Interlaken. You told us that you want to spend the last days of your holiday at Grindelwald.
So, don't go through this area at the beginning (June 11th), but go directly from Lucerne to Lake Geneva in the evening of June 10th. The journey from Lucerne to Vevey lasts 2 1/2 hrs, up to Montreux 2 3/4 hrs; 1 train change, at Palezieux (for Vevey) or at Lausanne (for Montreux)."

‘An alternative might be to go from Chamonix to Annecy and spend a few days there, then go on to Zermatt or Montreux.”

“The Gornergrat-2 hours return, by mountain railway is enough. You can extend this excursion by cable way to Stockhorn-3/4 rtn. The Ascent to the Klein Matterhorn by cable way is not needed . Use the extra day for Montreux.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I put together a new version of itinerary for your comments:

8- ZRH to Lucerne, Lake Lucerne cruise, museum of Lucerne
9- Mt Rigi, with Lake cruise, medieval city
10- Lucerne to Brienz (stop over for Ballenberg) - Lake Breinz boat - interlaken - Zermatt (via Spiez, 2 hours, 15:08 to 17:51, 1 change)
11- Zermatt Cableway to Gornergrat and Stockhorn (brig for bad weather- Atetsch Glacier)
12- Zermatt to Chamonix (via Martigny, 1413 - 1812, 3 changes)
13- Chamonix Aiguille du Midi - Pointe Hellbronner
14- Chamonix to Annecy ( 2 1/2 hours, )
15- Anncey
16- Annecy to Montreux ( 2/ 1/2 hours, 3 changes) Geneva lake cruise
17- Montreux Chillon Castle, stroll or train to Lavaux vineyards
18- Montreus to Grindelwald (via Zweisimmen golden pass panoramic, 4 hours, 2 changes)
19- Grindlewald Schilthrorn cable way , Mannlichen to KI Scheidegg walk
20- Grindelwald First, Schynige Platte
21- Grindelwald
22- Grindelwarld to Lucerne, Lucerne - Schuepfheim (train) - Soerenbery (bus) - Brienzer Rothorn - Brienz -Aar Gorge - Bruenig - Lucerne, then Lucerne to Zurich HB
23- dp from ZRH

Thanks all!

PalenQ

Again s Swiss Travel Card will be very useful for parts of our trip.

jane86

PalenQ

Seems 15-day flexipass would be best of passes even though you will not be using a few of the days. Can use anytime over 1-month period.

BETS: Switzerland - current prices though prices can change at anytime due to currency fluctuations. For a good resource to talk to Byron by phone at the site - have bought passes many times from him and he will answer expertly and questions with no hard sell or sell at all.

dugi_otok

Itinerary looking good . I think you should stay in Wengen instead of Grindelwald. I will give you some detail on excusions for dates June 19, 20,21, and 22. I am not sure what you are doing on June 22.

Hambagahle

I don't think the itinerary makes sense. You are backtracking through the Oberland... Why not go from Zürich to Annecy. Then Chamonix, Montreux, Zermatt, Oberland and end in Luzern? That would be more "rational". Also IF possible fly into GVA and not ZRH. OR fly out of GVA and then go Luzern/Oberland/Zermatt/Montreux/Chamonix/Annecy GVA.

jane86

jane86

" Why not go from Zürich to Annecy. Then Chamonix, Montreux, Zermatt, Oberland and end in Luzern? That would be more "rational". "

Ok, will look at the train schedule for above route to see if it works better

PalenQ

Or, if Annecy is last could fly out of Lyon too.

jane86

I tried to compare the two routes in terms of pure travel time between the one proposed in post #70 based on suggestions from you (here route 1), and the one suggested by Hambagahle (post# 75- route 2)

Route 1

ZRH – Lucerne (1 hour) – Zermatt (stop over Brienz) (2.5 hours) – Chamonix (4 hours) – Annecy (2.5 hours) – Montreux (2.5 hours )- Grindelwald *( 4 hours)- Lucerne (2.5 hours ) – ZRH (1) rough total 20

Route 2

ZRH – Annecy (5.5 hours) – Chamonix (2.5 hours) –Montreux (2.5 hours) – Zermatt (3 hours) –Grindelwald *(3 hours ) –Lucerne (2.5 hours) – ZRH (1 hours) rough total 20 *Grindelwald or Wengen undecided

The pure travel time (not including the ride for tours) are same, between the two routes, I guess Route 2 is more like a circular route, and gives a break between Chamonix and Zermatt, that’s good, also on the last leg, don’t need to change from Grindelwald to Lucerne on the second last night and makes last day of Lucerne tour a little easier. But this route does not give golden pass panoramic ride; and we need to go Grindelwald a few days earlier.

Am right or wrong? Please advise. Which is more feasible?

Sorry for my indecisiveness on our itinerary. I have received so many good suggestions and ideas since started, each idea gives some new thoughts, as I am learning. I am very grateful to each of you in helping us create an itinerary.

Hambagahle

Frankly the most scenic part of the entire Goldenpass line is the part Luzern/Interlaken ost. And on route 2 above you will do that when you travel from Grindelwald to Luzern. The sector Montreux/Spiez is pretty. But then so are lots of other train rides here! Goes through rolling countryside with low mountains in the background. The sector Interlaken Ost to Luzern is dramatic. Runs along the shores of lake Brienz (sit on the right hand side for best views), then up from Meiringen over the Brünig pass and along the lake of Sarnen. It is just lovely. the train reverses in Meiringen so even after you find yourself on the left hand side you are still on the best side for the views!