Two Day Layover in Zurich
 

We are going from the US to safari and Kenya in July routing through Zurich on Swiss Air, using air miles. I find I can move our travel two days earlier (only) which would give us 2 nights and 2 full days Switzerland. Our 25 y/o daughter will be with us. Zurich really doesn't sound all that interesting to me. We are thinking of taking the train straight from the airport to Lucern or perhaps Interlaken. Are we crazy? Any specific suggestions on what to see?

We have to be back at the Zurich airport for a 10:00 am departure day 3.

I would definitely stay in Lucern. It's only an hour from the train station underneath the Zurich airpot - so no need to go into the city of Zurich at all.

Besides being a really charming town Lucern has lake steamers you can take to various cute small towns around the lake as well as ascend a couple of the smaller mountains (about 7K ft): Pilatus and Titlus. With the former you can take a cog railway one way and a cable car the other.

While any of your options will probably prove delightful, none are necessarily ideal -- so just a few heads up on things to consider:

Lucern is, IME, beautifully situated and it offers some wonderful things to see and do. Unfortunately, it has become increasing crowded in recent years, particularly in high season (including July) -- to the point that one can be quite uncomfortably smashed in a mass of tourists there. So if you go there -- and it can be an incredibly scenic! -- go prepared.

Interlaken can also be quite crowded in July. Truth in advertising, though -- I didn't stay in Interlaken -- I only passed through it on my way into the Bernese Oberland.

There are some smaller towns within easy reach of Lucern and along its lake that you might consider, or you could go on to Lauterbrunnen or Wengen in the Bernese Oberland. It really depends on what you want to do! And for that, I strongly recommend the <i>Michelin Green Guide</i>.

Enjoy!

I know that Zurich gets no respect here, but I actually enjoyed my stay - aside from the astronomical prices, which would be true wherever you went in Switzerland. (Also, the DCC scam).

See: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...ecting-zurich/

I also enjoyed Zurich and thought it vastly underrated, but agree that it doesn't have the amazing view of the Alps that Lucern or Interlaken have....

Hi LeslieC,

I agree that Luzern is your best choice -- it's close enough for your quick two days so you don't waste time in transport, and it offers the mountains and lakes scenery we so often associate with Switzerland.

Or, as kja suggests, you can opt for one of the smaller towns on Lake Lucerne -- Weggis, Vitznau, or Brunnen. You can spend the arrival day or departure day exploring Luzern itself (put luggage into lockers at the train station), and spend the rest of your time hopping among the towns along the lake by lake ferry, hiking, or ascending some nearby peaks (Titlis, Pilatus, Rigi). Oh, and Titlis is actually 3,238m high, or 10,000 ft.

I spent four nights in Weggis once and thought it was a lovely place!

http://www.wvrt.ch/en/weggis-vitznau-rigi/weggis
http://www.wvrt.ch/en/weggis-vitznau-rigi/vitznau1
http://www.brunnentourismus.ch/en/index.cfm

Have fun as you plan!

s

In summer, I would go from Zurich airport by train to any place around Lake Lucerne, like Lucerne, Brunnen or places that you can reach from there by boat. If you will not be too tired after a overnight flight, you may either visit Lucerne or take a train or gondola to a mountain like Rigi, Stanserhorn or so.
On day 2, you can go to the high mountains if the weather is fine or visit Lucerne or Berne (1 hr by train) if it rains.
Deposit you luggage at the hotel reception until evening, take then a late train to zurich airport and sleep close to the airport, may be at
http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-...rt/index.shtml
(1 tramway station from the airport terminals, trams every few minutes).

OK, here is an update:

1) We can have 3 nights, not just 2 (award seats opened up)
2) The only place in Switzerland my hubby and I have ever stayed overnight was Lucerne and though we enjoyed it, I want to see the Alps from my window.

How crazy would it be to train straight from Zurich airport upon arrival at 8:30 am (jetlagged after an overnight flight from Los Angeles) and heading to the Interlaken area: maybe staying two nights in one of the mountain towns like Gimmelwald and then late afternoon of day 3 training back to the airport and staying the last night the hotel recommended by neckervd above for our 10:00 am departure to Nairobi on day 4?.

That wouldn't be crazy at all. Trains from Zurich airport to Interlaken every 30 min, change at Berne. Journey time 2 1/2 hrs.

I agree that going to the Bernese Oberland is a reasonable option. Personally, I would look at Lauterbrunnen rather than Gimmelwald -- JMO.