Swizz Itinerary HELP!
 

Hi Friends !

Can you please suggest me a four days switzerland itinerary ?

Main Spots want to cover:
Interlaken - Jungfraujoch, Lauterbrunnen
Zermatt, Gornergat & Matterhom , Zermatt Glacier Express
Brienz , Luzern (Lucerne) , Mt. Titlis
Bern, Zurich



Looking forward for quick and useful replies !

Thanks :)

Hi HKumar,

I don't think this is a very workable itinerary. Trying to get to five distinct places (all across the country) in only four days means that you'll spend more time in transporation and in hotels than you will in any of the destinations. I'm afraid that you'll be like that person who once said that there was no lake at Luzern!! In other words, you won't remember anything of Switzerland itself.

I strongly suggest you pare your wish list down to one or perhaps two places. You'll have the time to get into the mountains, and you'll remember more. Remember that when you travel fast, you see less.

You may want to take a look at the Swiss national tourist site at

www.myswitzerland.com

and especially at their itineraries.

s

for four days i would stick to the Jungfrau/Interlaken area as there is so much to do there and also it is the essence of the image of Switzerland etched in our eye's mind - or chose the Zermatt area, though IMO the Interlaken/Jungfrau (Berner Oberland) area has a wider variety of things whereas, if not a hiker, Zermatt is the Matterhorn, which may well be shrouded in clouds or fog anytime. From an Interlaken area base you can go to Lucerne, Mt Titlis and Bern as day trips - assume you are landing in Zurich. And four days is ideal for IMO the 4-consecutive-day Swiss Pass that will cover all your transportation from the airport to Wengen, Grindelwald or whatever BOB base you chose (Wengen seems to be a perpetual favorite for Fodorites) - the Swiss Pass is valid on nearly all postal buses, city trams and buses, lake boats (a boat ride on either of the lakes bookending Interlaken are IMO a fine fine thing to do - for lots of Swiss transportation, trains and passes i always advise searching: www.swisstravelsystem.com (links to sbb.ch or Swiss Federal Railways); www.ricksteves.com and http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html. And is the Swiss Pass is good for you buy it before leaving home as the exact same passes in Switzerland cost significantly more (as you can see by comparing prices in Swiss francs at www.swisstravelsystem.ch and the Rick Steves and Budget Europe sites i gave. But in 4 days i think you should only stay in the Jungfrau area. There are direct trains from Zurich Airport to Interlaken-Ost station from where the BOB (Berner Oberland Bahn) trains take you up to the Alpine fantasy land and Grindelwald, Wengen, Murren, Gimmelwald, Lauterbrunnen, etc.

In that short amount of time I would stick with one area and in your case, make it the Berner Oberland (Lauterbrunnen, etc)

Why?

Even though the Metterhorn is higher than many other peaks in Switzerland and the vista over the glacier and into Italy, etc., once you go up the Gornergrat railway is impressive..that is about it IMO. Zermatt is in many ways the "typical" ski village which you can walk the length of in an hour or so; the Berner Oberland will offer you MANY more vistas and a LOT more to see and do.

The Glacier Express..that takes 8 hours alone and while the scenery is impressive as are some of the engineering works you'll encounter along the way such as the Landvasser viaduct, the spiral tunnels, etc., I would leave it for another day and time.

I suggest you plant yourself in the BO and spend all your time there. LOADS to do, you'll be wishing you had a week instead of four days.

If you want to base somewhere in the BO and go to places like Lucerne, Bern and Brienz, etc. then i'd advise an Interlaken base since to get to any of these places from up in the hills like in Wengen or Grindelwald you must come down to Interlaken anyway.

But if you will spend most of your time in the hills at Wengen say then base there since if basing then in Interlaken you'd have to take trains up to the hills each day

and Bern, Lucerne (via the lovely Brunig Pass railway), Titlis and Brienz are easy day trips from Interlaken.

Hi again,

I hate to, but I do disagree with Palenque on the recommendation of Interlaken, particularly if you are going in the summertime. Interlaken is charmless at any time of the year, filled with tacky tourist shops, lots of hotels, and lots of restaurants (even a Hooters) -- but it is even worse in the height of the summer season, when you have to add in lines and lines and lines of tour busses and the hordes of day-trippers they unload. These folks clog up the sidewalks and block the entrance to all of the stores. Overall, it's just a horrible place.

In contrast, the car-free villages above are peaceful and serence and gorgeous; I'm speaking of Wengen and Mürren. Yes, you may have to spend 20 or 30 minutes in transit in each direction, but the hours you spend in the evenings and mornings on your hotel balcony looking over at the quiet peaks and looking down on the cozy village make it really well worthwhile.

Anyway, just wanted to give the other point of view!

s

Yes i was recommending Interlaken mainly because of the utilitarian reason of being a better connected base if you were doing mainly day trips to Lucerne, Bern, etc. But swandav makes a compelling case for staying up in the mountains - these are surreal, to me, idyllic places and if you opt for the 4-day consecutive Swiss Pass the cost of getting to and from Interlaken will be 100% covered if talking of Wengen or Murren (or Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald - two other possible bases but ones which are not so isolated or quiet as Wengen or Murren.

And many folks castigate Interlaken like Swandav does: "Interlaken is charmless at any time of the year, filled with tacky tourist shops, lots of hotels, and lots of restaurants (even a Hooters)"

whilst this is certainly true of the main drag the Hauptstrasse it is not true of the preceints most tourists transiting Interlaken simply do not see. Matten for example, on the northern fringe of town - by the Tell Theatre - has a simply dreamy view of the Jungfraujoch peaks, which rise above a farmed meadow full of cows, etc. I have stayed often in Matten and at night it is as quiet as Wengen or Murren (unless you are around the infamous Balmer's Aubuerge). Fromplaces like Walter's (a guesthouse famous with budget travelers) you can have scintillating views of snow-capped peaks, etc.

and the area just north of the Hauptstrasse - Unterseen i believe it is called those i may be a bit off - has a fine fine old-time Swiss town square and a roaring river running thru it with Lucerne-like old wooden bridges, a sluice, etc. There is a trail that goes along this rushing river to Interlaken-Ost station and you see none of the hubbub on the Hauptstrasse.

I like Interlaken a lot because i can find really tranquil places and if i want some more energy yes then Hauptstrassehas it all - from a Golden Arches to a casino to yes, Hooters - it is a real town after all - there is even a huge hypermarche now right opposite Interlaken-Ost station for cheap picnic supplies, etc.

In Wengen or Murren you have no choices so it if quiet and remoteness you want those are the places - but do not throw Interlaken out with the bath water IMO as it has elements of Wengens as well as what people may want in a bigger city. And if day tripping out of the Jungfrau area then it does save a whole lot of time.

Interlaken to me is one of Europe's most underrated cities and if you judge it from Hauptstrasse i'm sure you will also call it charmeless.

Hi Palenque,

I've spent a number of hours wandering the backstreets of Interlaken on a few occasions, so maybe you will be reassured that my dismissal of the place wasn't careless and quick. I am a slow traveller and don't rush through a place.

But actually you hit it on the head: ". . . as well as what people may want in a bigger city." And ". . . most underrated cities . . ." Exactly. It is too much like a city.

When I'm in the Jungfrau region, I'm there for quiet and hiking and the majesty of the mountains.

When I want a city, I go to Luzern or Bern or Thun.

I just don't like Interlaken. If folks want a city in the Oberland area, Thun is a much (MUCH) better choice, with its castle and river and lake (sort of like an untouristed Luzern). It has the charm that Interlaken gave up decades ago.

Anyway.

s

Count me in with the 'Interlaken is charmless' crowd. The only thing I like about it is the big Coop near the train station. Fantastic assortment of cheese.

each to their own and for a first-time visiter to the Berner Oberland i would definitely recommend staying up in the likes of Wengen or, for great views of the Alps with a pulse as well, Grindelwald.

I however do not think of Interlaken as charmless - the Boningen area on Lake Brienz certainly is not and the Matten area certainly is not and the old town square on the north side of the river is not - and the Lucerne-style wooden bridge is not - Hauptstrasse could be considered tacky but i would not call the rest of the town that and i believe most people would say Interlaken is charmless because they never get off the Hauptstrasse.

Anyone i love staying in Interlaken and have done so many many times - to hear it described as charmless belies what i have found and proves that charm is in the eye of the beholder.

I think you're right there Palenque! I will be sure to add that "imho" when I say it is charmless.

s

Well swandav2000 at least in Wengen or Murren's case you need not add imho to saying those places ooze charm - mainly yes because of their isolated locations, right under the face of Eiger, i believe in Wengen's case, and right across from the Jungfrau Massif for Murren - define charm. Even though these type places are not everyone's cup of tea,including moi, for other reasons - like being totally dead at night for some this is the real many come here. so i agree Wengen and Murren ooze charm and no imho needed there.
And for anyone really wanting to come practically face to face with the Jungfrau's ice-girdled rugged peaks these are the places to go - the Alps, though in reality quite close to Interlaken and not in view of most of that town's hotels. So for intoxicating Alpine dreamlands seen from your hotel balcony Wengen and Murren and Gimmelwald are it - but if day tripping mainly to places like Lucerne, Bern, etc then Interlaken has its merits as well IMHO.

Hi again,

I still would not waste my time in Interlaken. For folks day-tripping out of the area, either Bern or Thun are better choices with more of Switzerland closer. One has a cathedral and arcaded medieval streets, one has a castle and a lake, both ooze charm, history, and interest. Again just MHO, but unfortunately there's nothing that could make me suggest Interlaken. I'm just a hard case, lol!

s