carmas

This is my first post on this format—so here goes.

I have just started thinking about a trip to Switzerland/Austria in late September or early October. I am thinking of flying in Munich then train to Innsbruck where I will spend a couple of days. I will be taking the train the whole time I am on vacation. I want to see the Matterhorn and will probably fly back home (USA) from Geneva. What are the must sees along the way between Innsbruck and Geneva? I do not expect you to “plan” my trip for me but your input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Melnq8

How much time do you have on the ground?

carmas

I have 2 weeks but can add on a couple of more days.

MichGuy

Innsbruck -- maybe Appenzell -- Zurich -- Lucerne -- Zermatt -- Montreux -- Geneva

Other routes are just as good if you decide to fly out of Zurich. How many days do you have? What do you like to do?

neckervd

Innsbruck - Geneva:
The most boring itinerary goes via Zurich and the Swiss midlands.
The most interesting one goes all through the Alps:
Innsbruck - train - Landeck - bus - Scuol (alpine thermal spa, castle, stupendous local architecture (Engadine houses) - Pontresina or St. Moritz (gondolas to glaciers) - Glacier Express - Zermatt (gondolas via Matternorn Paradise to Breuil/Cervinia Italy) - Brig (castle) - scenic Loetschberger train - Spiez (possible side trip to Interlaken/Jungfrau if you haven't seen enoug high mountains already) - Golden Pass Express - Montreux - train or boat - Geneva.

MichGuy

Let's say you have 14 nights in Europe between travel days. And we can assume you like mountains since you're going to the Alps. You can hike, or walk, or just look. (There's some fun stuff between Munich and Innsbruck but you haven't included this area in your post.) So take a look at this itinerary and see what you think:

1 night in Munich
2 nights in Innsbruck
2 nights in (pick one) Landeck / Scuol / Davos / St. Moritz
2 nights in Zermatt, travel there via the Glacier Express / can include Lugano
2 nights in Montreux, day trip to Lausanne
3 nights in the Lauterbrunnen valley, travel there via the Golden Pass Express
2 nights in Geneva

Another way to do this is to skip the Glacier Express (8 hours on the train) and take a northern route through Zurich - Lucerne.- Lauterbrunnen - Montreux - Zermatt. But this way you have to backtrack into Geneva. Unfortunately, Zermatt is a bit out of the way and it takes time to get to the Bernese Oberland from there. Here's a link that takes you to a site that describes the noteworthy train rides in Switzerland. Note the "Transalpin" from Innsbruck to Zurich. I've never been on it but it looks interesting. Why don't you digest some of this and post again.

https://happytowander.com/swiss-trai...s-bucket-list/

MichGuy

PS -- Do you have to fly out of Geneva or can you fly out of Zurich?

carmas

I can fly out of either one.

MichGuy

In that case I'd consider this itinerary:

1 night in Munich
2 nights in Innsbruck
2 nights in (pick one) Landeck / Scuol / Davos / St. Moritz
2 nights in Zermatt, travel there via the Glacier Express from St. Moritz
2 nights in Montreux, day trip to Lausanne or Geneva
3 nights in the Lauterbrunnen valley, travel there via the Golden Pass Express
2 nights in Zurich, travel with a stopover in Lucerne

Both Geneva and Zurich are nice but I prefer Zurich. If you fly out of Zurich you have less backtracking and the tickets may be cheaper.

There's a lot to see along this route and you can tweak it to suit your tastes. The biggest challenge will be avoiding a bunch of one night stops.

neckervd

"2 nights in (pick one) Landeck / Scuol / Davos / St. Moritz"
Landeck is boaring and Davos is not along the itinerary.
The villages around St. Moritz would be the best solution: Pontresina, Sils Maria, etc.
But stop over at Scuol (luggage lockers at the railway station).