Hi again PalenQ - Your last two posts came through when I submitted the above. Thanks for confirming my feeling of going to Grindelwald! I think I will spend 3 nights in Lucerne and 2 in Grindelwald ... or the other way around. What do you think? The first night will be just off the plane, so not worth much.

This then means I am NOT going on the Glazier Express. OK then - decision made.

Grindelwald is not a car-free town like Wengen or Murren.

The main street in Grindelwald, Dorfstraße, has lots of traffic.

It doesn't really matter though since April is a bad time to visit anyway.


Good luck,

Thin

Grindelwald is largely car-free - cars have to be parked at the entrance to town - some vehicles like tour buses can go to hotels but 95% of Grindelwald - the 95% paarently Thin did not see are small lanes that cars even cannot easily drive down - only access roads for residents and hotels.

So no it is not car-free totally but basically it is - anyway much more of town with things towns offer than smaller Wengen, which is also neat in its own way.

Oh, here I have to disagree with you, Pal. The two times I spent my holiday in Grindelwald, the main street in town was always full of traffic. Constant lines of cars.

However, both times were in high season -- once ski season and once in August. In April, that won't be a problem.

But I really couldn't agree that Grindelwald is "basically" car free!

s

In April you are at the tail end of winter sports and early for hiking and summer activities Be aware that it can still be quite chilly and you will need to check the availability of lake steamers, cog railways and cable cars - they may be closed for refurbishment or they may be on limited between season schedules.

I guess things have changed since I last stayed in Grindelwald, admittedly years ago and though I have gone thru the town I believe you - I now base in Interlaken where there are lots of cars.

kovsie, we loved staying in Murren, but our visit was in the spring, so I think April will have much different weather for you! We also stayed in Wengen and Lucerne. Enjoy your trip!

Murren at higher altitude than Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald can be much colder in April - even one mid-September when I was there there was ice on the streets - but it could be nice and warm and weather at that time of year is very variable.

But I really couldn't agree that Grindelwald is "basically" car free!>

Most of Grindelwald except the main street apparently for bus tour access is car-free - I have stayed on the little lanes that are on the northside of town on a hill and there are no cars there at least when I was last there - I said no private vehicles, which must be parked at designated parking lots in town.

So yes not car-free on the main drag but pretty much elsewhere on the north, west and south sides. But I have not been to Grindelwald in a while - maybe they let cars in now - will have to researach that on my next trip. But I've driven there several times and had to park my car in a parking lot and walk to the hostel or Nature Friends house - I camped there once and could drive to the camp, on the edge of town.

If Lucerne is your base for day trips, you should indeed stay there. There are many good hotels that are not on the lake and public transportation is divine, however, being near the lake is fantastic for the views, especially at sunset.

Thanks kleeblatt - this is what I have decided to do. Thanks also to everybody else for your time ... and patience!

Any suggestions for the Lausanne part of our trip? We will stay in people's home for a week and do day trips from there.

Hi again,

How long will you be in Lausanne? I normally base myself in Montreux, but everything on my list can also be done easily from Lausanne. My suggestions:

Montreux old town -- walk away from the lake (uphill) from anywhere in town and explore the small, winding streets where few tourists go. There are some nice restaurants up there, untouristed. If you want, walk all the way up to Glion (about 45 minutes, some of it a steep uphill on stairs) and eat at Le Jaman in Glion. Take the funicular down to Montreux.

Montreux lakeside promenade -- it's quite long, but I like the parts that are away from the town. As you face the lake, turn to your left and walk about 45 minutes to Chillon. After visiting the castle, walk a further 45 minutes to the town of Villeneuve. Again, there are a few nice restaurants in Villeneuve, away from the lake, where few tourists go.

Vevey old town -- from the train station walk toward the lake. The old town runs between the station and the lake and stretches for a few miles from the Nestle office buildings to the town of La Tour-de-Peilz. The old town is full of winding streets crammed with boutiques and cafes and restaurants (one of my favorites is Le Mazot, but a very popular one is Hostellerie de Geneve on the main square). Make sure you also walk along the lakeside promenade to see the fork in the lake and Charlie Chaplin's statue.

Lutry -- delightful wine-producing town on the lake. It has a sign-posted tour (in English too) of its medieval buildings, and it and it has some wine caves to taste wine.

Rivaz -- another delightful and very small wine town on the lake. It has the Lavaux Vinorama, a center where you can sample wines from all of the wineries in the region.

Lavaux -- the wine-producing area between Lausanne and Vevey on the hills above the lake. Wonderful walking (from Lutry to Chexbres or Rivaz, from Chexbres to Rivaz, etc.). Here is a link to some walks through the Lavaux:

http://www.montreux-vevey.com/en/Cul...rekking_Lavaux

Hope this helps!

s

THANKS Swandav - this really helps. We will be in Lausanne for a week, and I do look forward to exploring the lakeside towns that you recommend.

I will go to Murren before meeting up with my DD in Lausanne. I would love to share something of the Alps with her, but from Lausanne to (for example) Murren is almost 4 hours by train - too far for a day trip. From Lausanne to Zermatt is a bit better - perhaps 3 hours. But: I have read somewhere that Zermatt does not have much more than a nice view of the Matterhorn (which may or may not be covered by clouds). Is this true? Where else can we go for a day trip from Lausanne to experience the mountains of Switzerland - somewhere that is a bit nearer?

Hi again,

Right -- in Zermatt, you'll be looking up at the peaks rather than standing among them. I personally don't care for Zermatt; I find it overbuilt and overcrowded.

Here are some options to see some peaks from Lausanne.

Rochers-de-Naye above Montruex, 2042m, 1h20 from Lausanne

Mt Pelerin above Vevey, 1080m, less than 1h from Lausanne

Glacier 3000, nearby Gstaad, 2h20 from Lausanne

Berneuse, 2045m, above Leysin, 1h25 from Lausanne

If it were me, I would go to Glacier 3000 and fit in a visit to Gstaad (one of my favorite towns) during the day.

Sorry I didn't notice that you'd said you would be in a private home for a week in Lausanne --

Have fun!

s

Oh, I loved Lausanne! If you have ANY interest in art, do consider visiting the Collection de l'Art Brut.
http://www.artbrut.ch/en/21070/colle...-brut-lausanne
I was initially reluctant to go because I thought it might be exploitative, but several Fodorites encouraged me to do so, and I am VERY glad I went! I did NOT find it exploitative; instead, I thought it offered a profound and sensitive insight into non-main-stream art / artists.

FWIW, I thoroughly enjoyed a trip to Rochers-de-Naye. On the way back, I got off at Glion (based on a recommendation from swandav, if I recall correctly), and after a brief visit of that lovely town, went by funicular to Territet, and then walked the short (and beautiful) lakeside promenade to the impressive Chateau de Chillon. And from there, you can -- at least at some times of year / times of day, take a relaxing boat ride back to Lausanne -- but if not, there's always the train! :-)

I personally wasn't fond of Gstaad -- too high end for me....

And while in Lausanne, don't miss the glorious south portal of the cathedral!

This forum is just incredible. THANK YOU kja and swandav and everybody else. I am trying to plan this trip (that had been on my bucket list for years and years) interrupted by lots of work pressure, so your input is so great (and this is a very complicated sentence).

kja - I am glad that you loved Lausanne - I was afraid it is just a busy city. I will definitely remember the South Portal. And Art Brut sounds interesting!

swandav - you have now given me many good ideas, thanks again.

Well, I really do like Glion -- but as I said above, I generally walk there from Montreux. It's a nice workout!

s

More questions: I enjoy trains and buses and scenic routes. What would be a good way to travel from Lucerne to Murren? I will have luggage - probably a 50cm bag and a big handbag.
I see WeisserT above suggested Lucern to Bern to Thun. That sounds good - I am just a bit wary of travelling with luggage and making numerous connections.

Easy. Travel from Lucerne to Interlaken via Sarnen/Giswil/Lungern.