charlottebrohi3590

HI. My husband and I are traveling to Switzerland in early September for two weeks. After reading and re-reading suggestions, I've come up with the following proposed itinerary.

Houston - Geneva - Zurich - Houston via BA September 5 - 19
*Travel Day on the 5th; arriving the 6th

Day 1 - Arrive the 6th of September in Geneva in early a.m. Train from airport to Lausanne (or should I stay at least half a day in Geneva?
Day 2 - Day Trip from Lausanne to Gruyere
Day 3 - Day Trip to Montreaux (Q: Or should I combine Gruyere and spend one last day in Lausanne?)
Day 4 - Lausanne to Lucern. 1/2 day in Lucerne town
Day 5 - Day trip from Lucern to Mt. Pilatus
Day 6 - 9 - Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen. Stay in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen? 4 nights
Day 10 - Lauterbrunnen to Chur.
Day 11 - Chur/Davos activities
Day 12 - Chur to Zurich
Day 13 - Day in Zurich
Day 14 - Fly home from Zurich

Q: Anyone have any suggestions. Have I thought this out thoroughly? Basically 2 nights in Lausanne; 2 nights in Lucern; 4 nights in Oberland (Lauterbrunnen); 2 nights in Chur; 2 nights Zurich.
Q: Should I spend more time in Geneva?
Q: Combine Gruyere and Montreaux together in one day?

Thanks to all. I have enjoyed researching on this site for years.

dreamon

This is purely subjective and I've only passed through Chur and never visited Davos but I think I'd possibly skip that bit (based on distance and time) and add some time to Lucerne and/or another destination closer to the other places you're visiting (there's heaps of options to choose from). Also, Lucerne and Zurich are close, so you could stay in Lucerne and visit Zurich for the day and head to the airport directly from Lucerne if you wished to reduce the number of hotel changes.

Melnq8

I too, would skip Chur. The best of the area is above Chur in the ski areas of Lenzerheide and Arosa.

Davos isn't that interesting to me either, but there are some nice hikes in the area if you're into hiking. I'd probably just visit Davos as a day trip from elsewhere though.

You seem to be spending more time in cities and large towns than in the mountains.

As for a base in the Berner Oberland, you'll get differing opinions - I like Murren and Wengen best, but Lauterbrunnen also makes a good base as it's a transport hub of sorts and easy to get elsewhere in the BO. Some people don't like it as much as Wengen or Murren because it's in a valley, surrounded by steep cliffs (and waterfalls!), while others love it for the same reason. From Wengen or Murren you're looking down into the valley and the Alps are right there. From Lauterbrunnen, you're looking up.

I'd avoid Lauberbrunnen in the winter as it can be dark and cold in the valley, but this won't be the case in September.

neckervd

In a more logical order, that might give:
Day 1: Montreux, Chillon castle, Lake Geneva boat
Day 2: Lausanne and Lavaux vineyards
Day 3: Golden Pass train to Montbovon, then local train to Gruyeres. Visit historic Gruyeres with castle and museums, the cheese diary and the nearby chocolate factory at Broc.Sleep at Gruyeres.
Day 4: Local train to Montbovon and Golden Pass train to Interlaken, then local train to Wengen.
Day 8: Wengen dp 7.43 - train - Meiringen ar 9.07, dp 9.25 - Swiss Post bus - Grimsel Pass - Nufenen Pass - Airolo ar 12.50. Have lunch. dp 14.20 - Swiss Post bus - Gotthard Pass - Andermatt ar 15.23, dp 15.54 - GLACIER EXPRESS - Chur ar 18.24
Day 9: Day trip to Davos or so
Day 10: Train to Pfaeffikon - VORALPEN EXPRESS - Lucerne.........

charlottebrohi3590

Thanks everyone. My new plan:

Arrive Zurich
Arrival Day - Zurich to Lucerne for two nights (day trip to Mt. Pilaus and walk around Lucerne)
Lucerne to Wengen or Murren for 4 or 5 nights (we love hiking and being outside)
Wengen/or Murren to Bern to the following (is Bern worth it? or should we go to Lausanne and do day trips to Gruyeres and Montreaux)

• Bern to Gruyeres
• Bern to Montreaux

Fly out of Geneva

I am sooo confused.

We have 12 days on the ground

neckervd

"Wengen to Bern, Bern to Gruyeres, then Bern to Montreaux"
What should that be? I don't underrstand.

charlottebrohi3590

sorry for the confusion. I was wondering if Bern was a good place to do day trips to Gruyere and Montreaux or should I stick with Lausanne?

neckervd

It's not impossible to do one day trip from Berne to Lausanne and another one from Berne to Gruyeres and to leave Berne immediately after that for Geneva, but it is a complete nonsense; even more if you reach Berne from Interlaken before!

BAHItaly

I too am planning a trip to Switzerland. Curious to know about your transportation. Trains or car or combo?

neckervd

BAHItaly, you can rach every place in Switzerland by public transport.
But what's your question?.

BAHItaly

Going from Murren to Provence area, Gordes, BNB,as you noted.

Looks like construction on portions of road.

Is it best to drive, car in Laterbrunnen I assume.
OR train to an area in France, collect a car there?