Swiss Trip Itineraryand Charges
 

Hello,

I am willing to tour Switzerland, with my wife, in late May or early June 2017. My plan is to travel from Paris to Switzerland stay there for 2/3 nights and proceed to Venice.

In Switzerland, I am planning to stay in Interlaken and visit Mt Titlis and Mt Jungfrau in 2 respective days. Please suggest whether this is a good idea..

From Paris I will fly to Geneva (as it seems to me a cheap option) - - Please recommend on this...

1. From Geneva should I have buy a Swiss Rail pass for 3/4 days and travel all though in train?

2. Is Interlaken an economic place to stay, from where I can cover the sight-seeings easily?

3. Easiest means to cover Mt Titlis and Mt Jungfrau, from Interlaken... How and what should be the extra charges to travel and enter the facility provided I have Swiss Pass?

4. What else (activities/places) in Switzerland I can visit/explore in this tenure, in the time remaining?

5. Switzerland to Venice - Is it good to come back to Geneva and fly to Venice? or should i take train?.. which would be convenient?


Thanks in Advance..

Paris - Geneva:
journey time city center (Gare de Lyon) to city center (Place Cornavin):
3 hrs by train, train web fares start at 29 EUR
www.voyages-sncf.com
4 1/2 hrs by plane, fares for the flight only start at 33 EUR; add at least 10 EUR for local transport.

But you don't need to go to Geneva, if you want to visit only the 2 glacier areas of Titlis and Jungfraujoch.
You could take a direct train from Paris (dp 18.23) to Interlaken as well: web fares start at 38 EUR/pax.

You could then do the Jungfrau thing on day 2 and proceed to Lucerne in the evening (2 hrs journey).
Go to Titlis and back on day 3 and proceed then from Lucerne dp 16.18 to Milano Centrale 19.45/20.15 - Venice ar 22.40

Be aware that neither Jungfraujoch nor Titlis is worth the journey if the weather is bad.

Hi Neckervd,

Thanks a lot for you reply..

Train from Paris to Interlaken ranges from 38 EUR to 115 EUR. Also I am unable to find good deals for trains in late May. Please can you advice, when is the right time to book the Tickets.. and also the min fare trains will reach Interlaken at 23:47 Hrs, which would be very late at night. Do you recommend that?

Do I require any Swiss rail pass for this trip requirement ?

Also is there anything you would like to suggest me to explore in Swiss, nearby Interlaken / Lucerne, so that I would spare one more day?

Thanks again....

Do I require any Swiss rail pass for this trip requirement ?>

No- not enough travel.

For lots on Swiss trains and the Jungfrau area check www.seat61.com-sage advice on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

If doing Jungfrau don't do Titlis -a long day trip from Interlaken and spend more time in the Intelaken area.

"Also is there anything you would like to suggest me to explore in Swiss, nearby Interlaken / Lucerne, so that I would spare one more day?"

You asked just for the 2 snow mountains Titlis and Jungfraujoch, famous with tourists from overseas.
A visit of Switzerland is rather a bit different. May be you have a look at www. myswitzerland.com and define what you want to see.

Paris - Switzerland train tickets can be booked up to 4 months ahead.

The Swiss Transfer Ticket + 1/2 off Half-Fare Card may be your best bet- for details look again at sites I mention above.

The Swiss Transfer Ticket +1/2 off Half-Fare Pass gives a 100% covered ticket from any airport or border train station to any place in Switzerland and then a ticket from that one place to any border or airport in Switzerland. Can use on any train, bus, etc -and in between each first and last trip you get 50% off everything just like the Half-Fare Card.

50% off the Jungfraujoch train is worth over $100 alone.

Go from Geneva to Interlaken on any train anytime and then back also - or to other border point.

Thanks PalenQ and Neckervd,

Is Montreux a good pick to spare one day. It would not be another Glacier day out and I can see more greenery and riverside there...

Any other pick you have for me if I want to spend a day away from Glaciers?

Also regarding the Swiss transfer ticket.....
my probable transfer might be

Paris-Geneva-Montreux-Interlaken-Lucerne(may not visit it not going to Titlis) - Milan..................

If not Montreux then....
Paris-Interlaken(train)-Lucerne-Milan..

Will it be available for both the route?
and half price for Jungfrau?

Thanks again.

Tickets/Railpasses: have a look at
http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/...-overview.html
Be careful with the Swiss Transfer ticket: between Lausanne and Interlaken, it would be valid via Berne only (not via Montreux - Golden Pass). Lucerne - Milan would be possible via Interlaken only (if you buy a Interlaken - Lucerne RT ticket).

Is Montreux a good pick to spare one day. It would not be another Glacier day out and I can see more greenery and riverside there...>

Not for rivers but for the neat lake and views of Mt Blanc in the distance-take lake boats - go to Castle Chillon a few miles from Montreux -very famous castle on the lake.

The Swiss Transfer Ticket covered rides in and out must each be done in one day- Geneva to one point - good only if staying put in one area most of the time.

Probably not for you it seems.

If you could re-do a day by day itinerary plan we could comment better on passes - if moving around a Swiss Pass could be great.

Be careful with the Swiss Transfer ticket: between Lausanne and Interlaken, it would be valid via Berne only (not via Montreux - Golden Pass)>

Yes on the STC you must take the fastest most direct route which would be the one neckervd says.

1. From Geneva should I have buy a Swiss Rail pass for 3/4 days and travel all though in train?>

A 4 consecutive-day pass may be your best option as you will be on trains a lot - also covers buses and gives 50% off most conveyances to mountain tops

<Paris-Geneva-Montreux-Interlaken-Lucerne(may not visit it not going to Titlis) - Milan..................>

STC- only if you are going from airport to Interlaken or Lucerne in one day - and then you must leave from the same place to Milan

I am traveling from India and entering Europe though Paris. Both Inbound and Outbound Flight to Europe is from Paris CDG

Below is the full Itinerary as I have structured… Yet to plan though. However, much depending upon your suggestion (thankfully)

30th May - Tue: Reaching Paris CDG @ 13:55 Hrs. Upon reaching Transfer to Switzerland.
(If I am taking flight I will prefer Geneva as flight charge is less. Overnight Stay @ Geneva / Montreux) *

31st May - Wed: Switzerland (Tour Montreux and transfer to Interlaken) *

1st Jun – Thr: Swiss (Sightseeing at Interlaken ) *

2nd Jun – Fri: Swiss Mt Jungfrau (This is a must see for me on any day of the tour)

3rd Jun – Sat: Swiss (Not sure where to go, would love to some natural diversity compared to previous days, but I am not interested in Museums and Skiing ) *

4th Jun – Sun: Start from Switzerland early in the morning to Venice. Overnight Stay @ Venice.
Will follow LUCERNE Train 153 to Milan Centrale – Venice OR
INTERLAKEN WEST Train 960 to Spiez – Milan Centrale – Venice

5th Jun – Mon: Venice city tour. Overnight Stay @ Venice

6th Jun – Tue: Start from Venice early to Florence and transfer to Rome. Overnight stay @ Rome.

7th Jun – Wed: Rome – Vatican

8th Jun – Thr: Rome – Museums and remaining

9th Jun – Fri: Early transfer to Paris (Easyjet 9:40-11:45). Evening @ Eiffel, Night bus trip

10th Jun – Sat: Disneyland

11th Jun – Sun: Louvre – River Cruise – Notredame

12th Jun – Mon: Fly back from Paris

I am not much confident about the part in Switzerland. I wont be visiting Swiss many times, so I want to cover as much beauty of Switzerland as possible. Also there is constraint in time and expense. So if you can suggest an economic tour plan for this part, it will be great…. (The start and end date of the complete tour is sort of fixed though.)

Many Many thanks…

No to the STransfer ticket but probably a 3-day Swiss Flexipass + 1/2 off Half-Fare Card you can buy in conjunction with it - again sites I recommend above will have all the details about those passes. But you are traveling enough to make it a good deal -and just hop on virtually any train, boat, bus, tram, etc. flash the pass - no waiting in lines to buy tickets.

Train 153 doesn't run in early morning, but in late afternoon.
Train 960 goes from Interlaken to Speiz - Bern - Olten - Basel, with no conncetion from Spiez to Milan.

What do you really want?

Train 960 goes from Interlaken to Speiz - Bern - Olten - Basel, with no connection from Spiez to Milan>

well there will be a connection within an hour or so but maybe not a timed one

31st May - Wed: Switzerland (Tour Montreux and transfer to Interlaken) *-If taking the scenic Golden Pass train Montreux to Interlaken-Ost try to get VIP seats that put you in a compartment right next to the drive's cabin so you can simulate driving the train! Obviously very few on each train so book on the official site very early - may need a first-class pass or ticket or just pay an upgrade difference between the two fares.

Some VIP seats are at the very rear of the train however. Seat reservations are optional I think but should be done early to guarantee a window seat in the observation compartments.

Palen: "well there will be a connection within an hour or so but maybe not a timed one"

Of course, but it doesn't make any sense to leave Interlaken half an hour too early and wait there half an hour in order to see the next train from Interlaken entering Spiez railway station. After that, it will last another 15 minutes until the Berne - Milan train arrives.

Yes -but what if that connecting train from Interlaken is late - do they hold up the mainline trains- if so for how long? A half-hour in the station cafe perhaps could be nice. Or just to go outside and ogle the awesome Spiez Castlefar below the station.

Hi PalenQ and Neckervd... Thanks a lot...

I am still to pick my choice and 'm confused picking options..

I wish to travel from Paris to Switzerland.. 30th-May-Tuesday Morning. And leaving Swiss for Venice on 4th-June-Sunday Evening
Direct Train to Interlaken is in the evening. So Should I travel via Geneva ?

I am having 4 full days - 31, 1, 2, 3 and Two half days 30 & 4. Please suggest an itinerary

I am planning Half / One day at River / nearby excursion. Which one should I pick
(1) Lake Geneva-Montreux-Chillon Castle or
(2) Lake Thun (with St. Beatus Caves, Oberhofen castle) or (3) Lake Brienz or
(4) Lake Lucerne? -- found the advice from one of your posts

If I pick Montreux, will try to take the scenic Golden Pass train Montreux to Interlaken-Ost

One day at Junfraujoch

The other 2 days I am confused.. whether I would transfer to
(1) Lucerne and Take a trip from there..
(2) Pilatus ( as option for both Cog and Cableway is there) with a night stay up there ?
(3) Or any one from Lucerne -Brunnen / Melchsee-Frutt / Melchtal / Rigi / Stanserhorn
(4) Or San Salvadore
(5) Or St Moritz

Please help :)

I am planning Half / One day at River / nearby excursion. Which one should I pick
(1) Lake Geneva-Montreux-Chillon Castle or
(2) Lake Thun (with St. Beatus Caves, Oberhofen castle) or (3) Lake Brienz or
(4) Lake Lucerne? -- found the advice from one of your posts>

I think a trip on Lake Brienz is better than Lake Thun - so many neat places along the way but all are nice- try to do as many as you can.

If I had to chose one I'd go for Lake Lucerne - to Fluelen and train back from there - stopping say at Vitznau for trains to Mt Rigi and raved vistas all over the spiny Alps of central Switzerland.

Railpasses fully valid on boats- with a 2nd class pass if you want to sit on the open-air up front deck you need to pay a first-class upgrade- well worth it IMO.

Thanks PalenQ,

So do you recon.. On 30th I will start from Paris- take a 9:15 train to Geneva reaching there at 12... take a train to interlaken.. Overnight stay at interlaken. If Possible visit some nearby spots at interlaken..

31st - Junfraujoch and back Later transfer to Lucerne.

1st Lucerne to Fluelen By Boat ? how much time should it take?

"and train back from there - stopping say at Vitznau" I cant find a direct train from Fluelen to Vitznau
And can I cover Rigi on the same day? ... how should i plan my timeline?

Also I want to experience both COG railway and Cable Car, Boat(covered in Lucerne) and any other fascinating vehicles possible in the span..

I have also got 2nd & 3rd full and 4th-half

I came across Pilatus for which i can avail both COG and Cable car. Also there is an option to stay up the hill. We would have some luggage as well. So do you think about lodging at more than 2 hotels for 5 nights at Swiss.

rail-passes valid in boat rides in lake Brienz as well?

Can I do it in a day like this... ?

Boat ride from Lucerne to Vitznau, starting in the morning Train to Mt Rigi @ back by 2pm (say)
Boat ride from Vitznau to Fluelen
Train / Boat back to Lucerne .. whatever be the better option...

Yes but 2pm is rather rushed I think -if you leave early - not much at Rigi Kulm-summit station but the views and awesomeness.

But check schedules and see.

Ok great,.... Thanks PalenQ

So.. on 30th, I m reaching Geneva, by afternoon and then moving to Interlaken

on 31st, I will cover Junfrau and in the evening transfer to Lucerne

on 1st , I will cover Lake Lucerne boat ride and Mt Rigi..
How should I travel back from Fluelen to Lucerne? - Boat / Train, which one will be a better opt as I my onward journey is through Boat?

What would be your pick for 2nd & 3rd.. two full days.. I heard about Mountain/Glacier Railway and COG, as well as The Cable car which I want to cover as well...

Please suggest... and thanks again for your help..

"I am planning Half / One day at River / nearby excursion. Which one should I pick
(1) Lake Geneva-Montreux-Chillon Castle or
(2) Lake Thun (with St. Beatus Caves, Oberhofen castle) or (3) Lake Brienz or
(4) Lake Lucerne? -- found the advice from one of your posts

If I pick Montreux, will try to take the scenic Golden Pass train Montreux to Interlaken-Ost"

All 3 areas (Lake Geneva, Lake Thun/Lake Brienz, Lake Lucerne) have all you are looking for: boat rides, rope railways (funiculars), cog wheel railways, aerial cableways (gondolas) to view points, namely:

LAKE GENEVA AREA
Rope railways: Evian - Neuvecelle, Vevey - Mont Pelerin, Les Avants - Sonloup, Territet - Mont Fleuri, Territet - Glion;
Cog wheel railways: Vevey - Les Pleyades, Montreux - Rochers de Naye, Aigle - Leysin, Bex - Villars - Bretaye;
Gondolas: Veyrier - Saleve, Crozet - Col de Crozet, Leysin - La Berneuse, Villars - Roc d'Orsay, Barboleusaz - Les Chaux.

LAKE THUN / LAKE BRIENZ AREA
Rope railways: Muelenen - Niesen, Beatenbucht - Beatenberg, Interlaken - Heimwehfluh, Interlaken - Harder, Giessbach See - Giessbachfall, Meiringen - Reichenbachfall, Handegg - Gelmersee;
Cog wheel railways: Wilderswil - Schynige Platte, Brienz - Rothorn, Meiringen - Bruenig;
Gondolas: Erlenbach - Stockhorn, Beatenberg - Niederhorn, Meiringen - Alpentower, Wasserwendi - Kaeserstatt, Soerenberg - Brienzer Rothorn;

LAKE LUCERNE AREA
Rope railways: Lucerne - Guetsch, Kriens - Sonnenberg, Kehrsiten - Buergenstock (doesn't run actually), Stans - Stanserhron (1st leg), Schwyz - Stoos, Treib - Seelisberg;
Cog wheel railways: Alpnachstad - Pilatus, Vitznau - Rigi Kaltbad - Rigi Kulm, Arth-Goldau - Kraebel - Rigi Kulm;
Gondolas: Kriens - Pilatus, Stans - Stanserhorn (2nd leg), Dallenwil - Wirzweli, Dallenwil Wiesenberg, Kuessnacht - Seebodenalp, Weggis - Rigi Kaltbad, Gersau - Rigi Scheidegg, Kraebel - Rigi Scheidegg, Brunnen - Urmiberg, Rickenbach - Rotenflue, Morschach - Stoos, Stoos - Fronalspstock, Stoos - Klingenstock, Beckenried - Klewenalp, Emmetten - Stockhuette, Emmetten - Niederbauen, Fluelen - Eggberge, Seedorf - Gitschenberg, Buerglen - Kinzig, Buerglen Ruogig, Schattdorf - Haldi, Attinghausen - Bruesti.

Only you know wat you are interested in. So we cannot decide for you where to go.

If you want to travel from Paris to Lucerne, there is no need to make the detour via Geneva; the direct itinerary via Basel is about 1 1/2 hrs shorter.

What would be your pick for 2nd & 3rd.. two full days.>

Rather than dashing around from one place to the other spend another full day in the Interlaken area - and Lucerne too. The Jungfrau has much more than the Jungfraujoch trip -such as the trip via Lauterbrunnen and Murren to Schilthorn- and back via Gimmelwald - thrilling trains and cables-

and when doing the Jungfraujoch make a leisurely day of it - stop off en route or coming back in say Wengen- Grindelwald -Lauterbrunnen - each has its own charm.

Less indeed can be more!

If go by boat to Fluelen I'd take the train back to Lucerne via Arth-Goldau or else you pretty much duplicate your first boat ride and it takes a lot longer than the train.

Thank you Neckervd... Thanks a lot for the details... Yes its true I should pick what I want... Let me do that in a couple of days....

But I would still present the same before you and PalenQ, and ask for a confirmation, that this is one of the possible best....

Thanks, thanks, thanks a lot for your help...

keep in mind the weather factor - one reason for staying a few days in Interlaken -if one day is funky do a day trip on the lakes or to Bern, etc.

If doing Mt Titlis from Interlaken you can do it part way by boat -take a boat to Stans (I think) - a stop on the Lucerne to Engelberg (Titlis) railway. Not as awesome as the Fluelen fjord-like part of lake however.

and as you are fine with rushed schedules you can do Titlis as a break of journey when going between Lucerne and Interlaken_Ost-put bags in station locker at Stans (I may have that station wrong- but the first stop where you can change to train to Engelberg, where you take the famous rotating gondola up to Titlis itself.

Last moment suggestion.... Please can you review the plan below and suggest whether I should take a Swiss rail pass / Half fare card / any special passes for the following itinerary.


30th May – Paris to Interlaken: Will start in the morning and planning to take Train from Paris CDG – Geneva and from Geneva to Interlaken.

31st May – Tour Jungfraujoch and Murren-Schilthorn: Route I thought is as follows
Interlaken Ost - Zweilütschinen - Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen - Grütschalp - Murren - Schilthorn
Back by: Schilthorn – Murren – Grütschalp - Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen - Wengen - Kleine Scheidegg – Jungfraujoch
Back by: Jungfraujoch - Kleine Scheidegg - Grindelwald – Wilderswil - Interaken Ost

Your Opinion?

1st June – Morning: Boat-ride in Lake Thun / Lake Brienz
– Afternoon: Transfer to Lucerne
(Can I take a Goldenpass train? Is it worth?)

2nd June – Boatride to Flüelen and take a Train back to Lucerne.
- Hault at Vitznau to go to My Rigi. Vitznau – Rigi Klum – Wegis. And continue journey to Fluelen from Wegis.

-In one journey/ticket can I do this? Get down in between a journey and take later vessel, even from a different port?
-What is the best route to return, if a take a train back from Fluelen to Lucerne?

3rd June – Pilatus + Stanserhorn (If impossible, will skip one)
(Bus) Lucerne – Kriens; (Gondola) Kriens – Fräkmünteg; (Cable Car) Fräkmüntegg - Mt Pilatus
(Cogwheel) Mt Pilatus – Alpnachstad (Train) Alpnachstad – Hergiswil – Stans
Walk to valley Station, (Funicular) Stans – Kaiti (Cable Car) Kaiti - Stanserhorn peak
Return to Stans via same way and take train to Lucerne
- Please suggest here.

4th June – Transfer to Milan from Lucerne.


Thanks for your suggestion and help again...

Perhaps the Berner Oberland Pass- valid in both Interlaken and Lucerne areas would be nice -some kind of pass better than Half-Fare I'd think for so many rides.

check out that pass.

http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/...-oberland.html

Buy it locally at any station.

There is no train from CDG to Geneva. But there are 4 daily connections with a change at Lyon Part Dieu.

How long will you stay at Geneva and what do you plan to do there?

May 31st: the names of the railway stations you mentioned are correct. Standard fare for the whole thing: 325 CHF or USD/pax. Half fare with Swiss half Fare Card.

June 1st: there is only 1 train category between Brienz and Lucerne.

June 2nd: there is only 1 railway line between Fluelen and Lucerne.
You cannot do the Weggis - Vitznau leg twice with the same ticket.

June 3rd: you may also go by boat from Alpnachstad to Stansstad.

June 1st: there is only 1 train category between Brienz and Lucerne.>

right but there is the Golden Pass special trains too with observation cars - no reservations needed but could be full with tour groups -regular trains just hop on without worry about finding seats.

Standard fare for the whole thing: 325 CHF or USD/pax. Half fare with Swiss half Fare Card>

So Half-Fare card if not Berner Oberland Pass is better than regular tickets.

(2) Pilatus ( as option for both Cog and Cableway is there) with a night stay up there ?>

I guess Pilatus is now 100% covered by a Swiss Pass and Rigi has been for several years.

Value of a pass is that you may use it much more than you think -like if foul weather sets in whilst in Alps - day trip out - or on a nice day take a boat ride on Lake Geneva or Lake Lucerne or Lake Thun or Lake Brienz, etc- all fully covered.

I just saw this, so excuse me if my thought contradict some plan, but I have stayed in the BO part of Switzerland a few times and used the trains, cable cars, and my feet to get around. I don't know if the 31 May - tour both Jungfrau and Schilthorn from Interlaken in one day is possible or you may have to catch the first/last train, then each train/car just right, run through Murren, bring your food/drink to eat on the trains, plan even your WC break. No time to look at the views or take photos.

I am a fast traveler, but I just find that the slow trains and the multiple connections take me longer than I expect in the region. At a minimum, you will need to know the timetables exactly. And pray for a clear day to make going up both worthwhile!

Yes doing both in one day though pysically possible means great shortchanging both -the Schilthorn trip can involve places like Gimmelwald and Murren and other places.

Gimmelwald -a unique place - take cable there from Murren -then thrilling large gondola that seems to plunge to the Lauterbrunnen Valley floor at Stechelberg for postal buses back to Lauterbrunnen -easy to hit Trummelbach Falls just outside Lauterbrunnen- it is also a wonderful easy flat walk from Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen.

Gimmelwald:

https://www.google.com/search?q=gimm...w=1745&bih=864

Have lunch or a snack at the renown local hotel.

The Schilthorn excursion should involve much more than just Piz Gloria (the building at the Schilthorn) IMO- Murren too is worth looking around and there is a sweet cliffside (but totally safe and easy) walkway between Murren down to Gimmelwald.