Swiss Rail Trip in March
 

We are two grandmothers in our 60's who are spending over a week in Switzerland. We will enter through Geneva (from Lyon). We wish to visit:

Montreux
Adelboden and the Berner Oberland
Zermatt
Ride the Glacier Express or equivalent
Ride the Bernina Express or equivalent
Zurich
Luzern

What is the most logical way to do this?

My first idea is to stop at Montreux on our way to Adelboden (3 nights) then on to Zermatt (1 night), ride the Glacier Express to Chur (2 nights), ride the Bernina Express to Pontresina and back, Zurich (1 night) and Luzern 2 nights).

Is it feasible or logical to go from Luzern to Paris in one day?

Is there anything to make this an even better trip? Adelboden is a given since my friend has been a Girl Scout for over 50 years. We will use that as our base for the Berner Oberland. We do not ski.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Barbara

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Any advice?

Hi Barbara,

Your itinerary looks good, there's not much room for improvement. I would just add that the best part of the Bernina Express is from Pontresina to Poschiavo, over the Bernina Pass.

If this is your first trip, you're going to be wowed, and you'll be planning your return visit even before you leave!

The trip from Luzern to Paris takes anywhere from 6h06 to 8h21, depending on the time you leave. Look for a connection to the TGV, either in Lausanne, Geneva, or Bern. Train schedules at www.rail.ch. As an alternative, you may want to splurge on a night train sleeper room between Zurich & Paris.

Have fun!

s

S' is correct; you'll want to return again and again. My only suggestion is to consider spending the last three nights in Lucerne with an easy daytrip to Zurich from there. I'm always looking for ways to avoid moving from hotel to hotel. J.

There will still be lots of snow in the mountains in March. Make sure you bring appropriate clothing. If you are lucky and get great weather (last year was stupendous!), then bring sunglasses and suntan lotion for your face. If the weather is foggy or rainy, you might want to stay in towns or cities instead of taking a long train ride.

Enjoy Switzerland!

One more thought: If you could jog your itinerary somehow to go straight to Adelboden from Lyon (a bit complicated, but an adventure) and make Lausanne your last stop after Lucerne (visit Montreux from there), your trip to Paris could be less than 4 hours. J.

swandav: just the advice I was looking for. Will definitely go to Poschiavo.

jmw44: I like the suggestions of spending the last three nights in Lucerne and especially going to Adelboden straight fom Lyon. Adventures are good.

The night train is a definitely possibility.

Thanks so much.

Adelboden is not really a good base for exploring the Bernese Oberland. It is located at the end of a valley, with (frequent) bus connections to Frutigen, where you have to change for the trains to either Kandersteg (-Brig - Zermatt) or Spiez, where you have to change trains again to get to Interlaken - Jungfrau region (which I guess you want to see). Quite inconvenient and long ride.

On the other hand, I have spent a week hiking/exploring there in summer and found it to be a nice place - so my suggestion is not to make excursions, but to explore the area around Adelboden (Engstligen plateau/waterfall, Hahnenmoos pass) and do some gondola rides there plus hikes/walks in snow.

Another idea: why spending two nights in Chur? I did not like it in March, when the snow is usually gone and spring has not arrived yet. Ok, I admit you won't see much of the town since you are planning to take the Bernina Express that day ...

The Bernina Express ride is quite long from Chur via Pontresina to Poschiavo and back (and the same scenery in morning and afternoon). Swandav is absolutely right, most spectacular is the part between Pontresina and Poschiavo. Don't miss a stroll in Poschiavo's old town.

What about staying in Pontresina and allowing more time the day on the Bernina Express? Maybe another stop at Bernina-Diavolezza and taking the cable car up to the peak? The scenery from there is so awesome ...

Ingo