Hello. I will be visiting Switzerland for 3 days this summer in August. I have never been there before and was hoping to get some suggestions on what to see. I love scenery, mountains, and a few touristy things are always nice as well. One stop I plan on making is Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. It is something I have always wanted to do. Other than that I am not sure. I know I don't have much time but what about places like Luzern, Interlaken, or Zurich. I will be passing through to get over to Salzburg, Austria. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

I though you didn't like the advice you got on this forum.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34416189

I thought you had something better to do than waste my time and not give any advice?

If you really only have 3 days and want to see Zermatt, than you should concentrate on Zermatt and spend at least 2 days/one night there. There is some great hiking (not difficult) on the mountain, and the town itself is very charming.

This does not give you a lot of time to see other places. You don't say where you are coming from, but if you are arriving into Geneva or Zurich by air, it will take 3.5 from Geneva and 5 hours by Zurich to reach Zermatt by train, about the same or a bit longer by car. You need to figure this into your short 3 days. If you are coming by land from other parts of Europe you also need more time to reach Zermatt. Go to SBB.ch for train schedules (click on "Swiss Federal Railways in the upper right corner to get the English version.)

You could spend 2 days in Zermatt and one day in Geneva or Zurich on your way in or out to Zermatt.

I love Zermatt and think it is a great place to see. Howver, IMO you would not have time to see Lucerne and Interlaken as well as Zermatt in 3 days. Although it would be physically possible, you would end up spending about one afternoon in each place -- really not enough to do any of the places any justice.

Pick one area and stick with it. You will see lots of beautiful countryside around Salzburg, so if you see Zermatt you might not feel you missed much by not seeing Lucerne or Interlaken.

The Zermatt thing is a curveball, but doable. Train to Interlaken but stay in Grindelwald for 2 nites. Train via Interlaken, Kandestag, Brig to Zermatt.
Skip Zermatt if the forecast is not good. Not seeing the big piece of granite defeats the purpose, and it is not easy to access the town.

Have you checked the train schedule from Zermatt to Salzburg? It is a nice one.

Thanks for the great info. I will be coming from Venice to Zermatt...which is a long journey. I believe 6-7 hours. I was thinking one stop before getting to Salzburg would break up the long train rides. It did look like a nice train ride all through the switzerland region.