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I have not driven in Switzerland since 2007 but even then driving was a drag - the autoroutes demand a 30 e or so Vignette to use and are boring - side roads we found loaded with trucks and traffic - especially in cities so were slow going. Yes this is one country you should consider going by train.
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Some suggestions I made a few years ago. They are still fully valid:
SWITZERLAND BY CAR It's perfectly possible to visit tons of gems in Switzerland by car, without boarding any train (between June and October, when all mountain roads are open). But if you want to visit Switzerland by car, don’t choose just the places that can NOT be reached by car (like Muerren, Gimmelwald, Wengen, Schynige Platte, Schilthorn, First, Kleine Scheidegg, Maennlichen, Rigi, Pilatus, Bettmeralp, Zermatt, Braunwald, etc). Otherwise you will have to pay for both: car rental, fuel AND mountain railways. There are tons of beautiful places in the Swiss Alps which can be reached by car. Some suggestions: Drive from Martigny to Col de la Gueulaz on Lake Emosson (2000m/6600ft). You are then just in front of the Northern side of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain chain of Western Europe. The glaciers of Trient, Tour, Argentiere as well as the peaks of Aiguille d'Argentiere (3900m/13000fr), Aiguille Verte (4120m/13500ft), Grandes Jorasse (4210m/13800ft), Mont Blanc (4810m/15800ft) ar jus a few miles away. Drive from Martigny to Grand St Bernard Pass (2470m/8100ft) and hike in 1 hr to La Chenalette (2800m/9200ft). From there, you have a stupendous view to the Southern side of Mont Blanc (A Neuve Glacier, Dolent Glacier, Pre de Bar Glacier, Triolet Glacier as well as a lot of 3800 to 4800m / 13000 to 15800ft high peaks). In the South, but farther away, you see the glaciers and peaks of the Gran Paradiso chain.A easy, but very scenic 6hrs circular hike goes from Col du Gd St-Bernard via Col des Chevaux - Lake Petit Le - Col de Bastillon to the 3 blue mountain lakes of Fenetre and then over the Col de Fenetre de Ferret back to Col du Gd St-Bernard. Drive from Sion to Col du Sanetsch (2250m/7400ft) and hike in about 2 hrs to Refuge/Restaurant La Quille du Diable on Tsanfleuron Glacier (2900m/9500ft). You are there on the top of a perpendicular cliff and can look down to Lake Derborence, just 1500m/5000ft below your feet. Stupendous view to Mont Blanc chain, Grand Combin, Mont Collon and tons of other peaks. Drive from Sierre to Grimentz and then up to the end of the road on Lake Moiry (2250m/7400ft) and hike then in aobut 1 hr to Moiry hut (Swiss Alpine club) and Moiry Glacier Drive from Brig to Ried-Moerel, go by gondola to Riederalp (5 CHF/one way), hike in 1/2 hr to Riederfurka (2070m/6800ft), visit the visitor's centre/museum of the Jungfrau-Aletsch Nature reserve, walk through the Aletsch Forest and have a look at the Aletsch Glacier (longest glacier of Europe) just below and in front of you Drive to Breuil-Cervinia (Italian neighbourhood, 2000m/6500ft) and go by cableway to Plateau Rosa (28 EUR/35 USD roundtrip). Plateau Rosa (3500m/11500ft) is close to Matterhorn Paradise/Kleinmatterhorn (1 mile away, same panorama). The roundtrip ticket from Taesch Parking to Matterhorn Paradise would cost about 107 CHF/112 USD Drive to Grimsel Pass (2200m/7200ft) and hike in about 1 1/2 hr to Sidelhorn (2800m/9200ft). Panoramic views to Unteraar Glacier, Oberaar Glacier, 6 mountain lakes around Grimsel Pass, Finsteraarhorn (4300m/14100ft) and dozens of other peaks. You may also hike from Grimsel Pass to Lake Oberaar (1 hr) and along this lake to Oberaar Glacier (another hr) Drive then from Grimsel Pass to Furka Belvedere and visit the Ice cave in the Rhone Glacier. Another road in the same area goes to Nufenenpass/Griessee. The hike from the end of the road to Lake Griessee - Gries Pass - Gries Glacier takes about 1 1/2 hrs Drive from Davos or St. Moritz to Stelvio Pass (2800m/9200ft). Hike to the glaciers (1 hr or so) or enjoy the view to them from Piz da las Trais Linguas (3 languages peak; 2850m/9400ft). etc. etc But if you prefer to ride with Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Golden Pass Panoramic, etc. and if you want to visit Gornergrat and Jungfraujoch, you better look after rail passes. You may have a look athttp://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.htmlhttp://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/SBB: Online timetable. |
"I might try convincing my boyfriend to ditch the rental after Lake Como to make it easier..."
Easier only if you can figure out where to return it and then the transport options you have to your next destination. I can't figure out what your current plan is or if you even have a firm itinerary. |
Originally Posted by Melnq8
(Post 16916242)
We've been visiting Switzerland pretty regularly for years, and have not once rented a car. There is just no need. The Swiss transport system is fantastic. You can get just about anywhere by train, bus, cable car, funicular and gondola.
Car = freedom doesn't really apply in Switzerland IMO. Keep in mind that two nights is only one full day. Three nights is only two full days. You really don't have a lot of time dedicated to Switzerland. Thanks for your input, but your logic is a little flawed. Two nights can easily be two full days or more depending on when you arrive and when you depart. E.g. if we arrive at Interlaken on Wednesday early afternoon, spend two nights, and leave for Lucerne (an hour drive) on Friday evening, that totals closer to 2.5 full days in the area. With a car, it gives us that flexibility to leave at our leisure; and at under $35 per day, I just don't see much savings to use the train system when I crunch the numbers (less than $50 difference) - not to mention I'm a bit of a gear head and found a manual turbo Audi that will be a joy to drive through the winding mountain roads. My girlfriend doesn't realize that the cost structure of the rental changes significantly if we were to drop it off at a location in Interlaken, so again, we will have a car for the duration of the trip. Thanks again to all for the help and advice! |
Thanks for your input, but your logic is a little flawed. Two nights can easily be two full days or more depending on when you arrive and when you depart. E.g. if we arrive at Interlaken on Wednesday early afternoon, spend two nights, and leave for Lucerne (an hour drive) on Friday evening, that totals closer to 2.5 full days in the area.
I consider a full day one that doesn't involve changing locations, checking into and out of hotels, being at the mercy of hotel check-in times, dealing with luggage, getting one's bearings, etc. These things can eat up time. I see your example as one full day and two partial. I personally find that type of travel disruptive, and always plan in terms of nights and full days. I'm not clear on what you have planned for your time in Interlaken - do you plan to visit the Jungfrau? If so, you'll need a full day for that - you can only get there by train, so I suggest you plan ahead somewhat. That leaves an afternoon and a partial day - what do you have planned? The more time you spend in Interlaken on Friday, the less time you'll have for Lucerne. Not that that's a bad thing, just something to consider. |
If you want to arrive at Interlaken in early afternoon (from Como/Chiasso), you cannot choose a scenic itineray (even less "winding mountain roads") through the Alps, but just backtrack (up to Lake Lucerne) along the boring motorway full of trucks that you took when you went down from Zurich to Chiasso - Pizzamiglio - Cernobbio - Moltrasio.
There is nothing wrong with that, the Alps are not a must, but I wonder why you go to Interlaken, a place which is nothing but the starting point for trips into the Alps. In fact you plan to drive - all on motorways - from Zurich airport via Lake Lucerne to Lake Como and then from Lake Como via Lake Lucerne to Interlaken and finally from Interlaken via Lake Lucerne to Zurich airport. |
And not to pile on about the driving, but driving estimates (esp. on Google Maps) can be overly optimistic. On google, you can search with a departure for a specific day of the week and time which can help a bit with accuracy, but I always add about 10 minutes to every hour of the estimate. In a short drive, you don't notice, but in a long drive from, say, the Zurich Airport to Moltrasio (if that's even still on the table) it could be a difference of 30 minutes or more.
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Thank you everyone. We understand that one could easily spend a lengthy amount of time exploring Switzerland. What we are seeking are suggestions for a 5 day itinerary in the Interlaken and potentially Lucerne area. We have juggled traveling to multiple locations within a short time frame many times and we don’t mind it. My boyfriend more than I, whom has driven through parts of Europe before, including Switzerland. I hadn’t realized that it would cost extra to drop the rental off in Interlaken, oops! So as I mentioned in a previous post, we’ll just have to park the car for a bit if need be. Sorry if there was any confusion. We have taken note and are looking into all of your suggestions, all of which have been so helpful. To clarify, after our stay in Lake Como (already booked) we will be on the road on our way back to Switzerland early in the morning. About 3.5 hours driving until we reach the Interlaken area (not sure what city we’ll be staying in just yet!). We will have the majority of that day - even if it means exploring first while leaving luggage in the car, then checking into our hotel that evening - we don’t mind being on the go and sometimes we prefer it. We have 5 nights in Switzerland, and 5 days (4.75 days to be extremely specific) - this does not include the day we fly out of Zürich to go home. We do not have anything booked yet for these remaining 5 nights/days so we’re sifting through all of our options. We may stay 4 nights in the Interlaken area and then 1 night in Lucerne...or 3 and 2, etcetera. We are unsure what would work best to make the most of our trip so that’s where I’d really LOVE some guidance. We’d like to have these plans confirmed within the next week. I’d love to spend a day exploring Jungfrau, unless we discover (via suggestions) that there are other things to see/do in the area that are more worthwhile for a 5 day trip. We understand we won’t be able to do it all. Simply put, knowing all that you know, if you only had 5 days (6 including the departure day out of Zürich) in the Interlaken/Lucerne area (I am well aware they are about 90 minutes away from one another therefore we’ll have a minor drive at some point), how would you spend it? What would you do and see? Or rather what would you suggest doing and seeing based on our interests listed earlier. Thanks :-) |
Also, we are not opposed to taking a train while in Switzerland. We’ll just have the option of driving if we want to and when it’d actually be convenient. |
What would you do and see?
Well, if it were me and it was my first trip to the area I'd: Visit the Jungfrau or the Schilthorn https//www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/ https://schilthorn.ch/en/Welcome I'd stay in either Wengen or Murren (you might prefer Grindelwald though as you can drive there and there's more to do at night). Lauterbrunnen is another option, and you can park your car there. https://grindelwald.swiss/en/winter/...rrival-by-car/ https://www.myswissalps.com/forum/to...-lauterbrunnen Visit Trummelbach Falls: https://www.truemmelbachfaelle.ch/e/ Mannlichen and walk to Kleine Scheidegg: https://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/maennlichen-kleinescheidegg Other hikes: Hiking the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland https://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/maennlichen-kleinescheidegg https://www.maennlichen.ch/en/ Eat some local foods: For me that would mean Rosti, Raclette and because you're visiting in summer - ice cream and sorbet! And I think you mentioned wanting an activity - maybe this: https://www.paragliding-interlaken.ch/en |
going to Alps take trains as cars are not allowed in many areas - going to cities driving fine.
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Once again: the best things of Switzerland are BETWEEN the Swiss border at Cernobbio/Maslianico (Moltrasio) and Interlaken. But in order to see these gems (glaciers, mountain peaks, panoramic roads, cute mountain villages, etc.), you cannot drive along the motorway which just avoids all these places.
Therefore, your question about what you can do around Interlaken looks rather ridiculous IMO. From Interlaken, most people go into the high mountains. But as there are no roads in this area, they pay a fortune for mountain trains. But in other areas of Switzerland, mainly between Moltrasio, Valais and Interlaken, you could DRIVE through similar landscapes without paying for any train. But these itineraries are longer, certainly longer than 3 hrs, may be 2 days, if you really want to enjoy them. Load down some pictures from Aletschgletscher, Orselina-Cardada, Griespass, Grimselpass, Bellinzona Castelli, Stockalper Brig, Bettmeralp and you see what I mean. |
I'vedriven over some of those passes and taken postal buses over most of them - a thrill to drive but IMe you also can get caught behind slow caravans, etc. But a real thrill to drive.
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You might consider a more scenic drive on Moltrasio to Interlaken area day.
I have done the three Mountain Pass drive round trip from Grindelwald in one day. You might consider an all day drive over two of the three mountain passes. Moltrasio-Andermatt-Furka Pass-Gletsch-Grimsel Pass-Meiringen-Grindelwald(or Wengen) or Susten Pass I am sure others may suggest a route via Brig or other Grimsel Pass Furka Pass, Switzerland |
4 Swiss Passes - HD Drone Video Gotthard, susten, Furka, Grimsel
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Originally Posted by samanthaannr
(Post 16917025)
Thank you everyone. We understand that one could easily spend a lengthy amount of time exploring Switzerland. What we are seeking are suggestions for a 5 day itinerary in the Interlaken and potentially Lucerne area. We have juggled traveling to multiple locations within a short time frame many times and we don’t mind it. My boyfriend more than I, whom has driven through parts of Europe before, including Switzerland. I hadn’t realized that it would cost extra to drop the rental off in Interlaken, oops! So as I mentioned in a previous post, we’ll just have to park the car for a bit if need be. Sorry if there was any confusion. We have taken note and are looking into all of your suggestions, all of which have been so helpful. To clarify, after our stay in Lake Como (already booked) we will be on the road on our way back to Switzerland early in the morning. About 3.5 hours driving until we reach the Interlaken area (not sure what city we’ll be staying in just yet!). We will have the majority of that day - even if it means exploring first while leaving luggage in the car, then checking into our hotel that evening - we don’t mind being on the go and sometimes we prefer it. We have 5 nights in Switzerland, and 5 days (4.75 days to be extremely specific) - this does not include the day we fly out of Zürich to go home. We do not have anything booked yet for these remaining 5 nights/days so we’re sifting through all of our options. We may stay 4 nights in the Interlaken area and then 1 night in Lucerne...or 3 and 2, etcetera. We are unsure what would work best to make the most of our trip so that’s where I’d really LOVE some guidance. We’d like to have these plans confirmed within the next week. I’d love to spend a day exploring Jungfrau, unless we discover (via suggestions) that there are other things to see/do in the area that are more worthwhile for a 5 day trip. We understand we won’t be able to do it all. Simply put, knowing all that you know, if you only had 5 days (6 including the departure day out of Zürich) in the Interlaken/Lucerne area (I am well aware they are about 90 minutes away from one another therefore we’ll have a minor drive at some point), how would you spend it? What would you do and see? Or rather what would you suggest doing and seeing based on our interests listed earlier. Thanks :-) Grindelwald (3,390 ft) is a charming village of 3,826 people situated in a lush basin surrounded by snowcapped peaks of the towering north face of the Eiger, the Schrteckhorn, and the Wetterhorn. Grindelwald is the only major resort in the Jungfrau region that can be reached by automobile. Because of that accessibility, many people with cars choose to stay there. There are parking lots. Some hotels even offer free parking. When you stay in Grindelwald you can hop in your car at will.But for a four night stay you may have no need for your car. Grindelwald gets many day trippers, many from Interlaken, in addition to those who stay there. Wengen and Mürren, the other major resorts are car free, except for service vehicles,and are reachable by mountain train/cableways.Many visitors like to stay in either Wengen or Mürren for that reason. Those with cars usually park in the Lauterbrunnen Valley below for the duration of their stay.However the parking lots do allow for in and out parking over your 4 night stay. Mürren is a little too isolated for the first time visitor. For me Wengen is a toss up with Grindelwald. Perhaps leave the selection based on selection of available accomodations. Both Grindelwald and Wengen are in easy reach of Kleine Scheidegg, the departure point for the final ascent to the Jungfraujoch (top of Europe). From Grindelwald (38 min WAB mountain train ride). From Wengen (25 min WAB mountain train ride). One of the most scenic mountain walks (2hrs) in the Jungfrau region is Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. There is also a cableway to Männlichen from Grindelwald (closed for 2019).From Wengen you can reach Männlichen by cableway LWM. The WAB train also can take you from Grindelwald to/from Wengen via Kleine Scheidegg. The major attraction Schilthorn, of James Bond fame, can be reached by the most famous LSMS four stage cableway (32 min). It takes you from Stechelberg in the Lauterbrunnen Valley-Gimmelwald-Mürren-Birg(Thrill Walk)-Schilthorn. Stechelberg can be reached from Grindelwald via BOB mountain train to Lauterbrunnen(36 min)/ then bus(15 min) or you can drive your car. Stechelberg can be reached from Wengen via WAB mountain train to Lauterbrunnen(17 min)/then bus(15 min). Another way to reach Mürren is via Cableway/Mountain Train BLM from Lauterbrunnen. Then you could take the LSMS from Mürren to Shilthorn. Interlaken is the start of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz steamer rides and other activities. To get to Interlaken from Grindelwald either take the BOB train(34 min) or drive your car. To get to Interlaken from Wengen either take the WAB/BOB train(50 min) or drive your car from Lauterbrunnen. A major activity in Grindelwald is the gondola cableway GGF from Grindelwald to First (translation mountain ridge). Wengen to Grindelwald by BOB train(1hr5min) The 6- person gondola travels 3-1/2 miles in about 20 min. During that time you ascend 3,826 feet. At the top activities include a cliff walk. There is also a round trip walk to Bachalpsee that is popular. You can return to Grindelwald via a series of Action rides- First Flyer(gigantic zip line), Mountain cart, and then a Trotttibike Scooter. Grindelwald-First - Top of Adventure First Mountain in Grindelwald - Most Amazing View of the Alps in Switzerland Another excursion is Schynige Platte which can be reached from Wengen and Grindelwald via BOB train and Schynige Platte Bahn (SPB). Schynige Platte is one of the best vistas, accessible by mountain train, for viewing the mountains, lakes, forests and flowers. One activity that you might want to get is that of funicular ride. You need to expand your area beyond the Jungfrau area for that. There are 4 in the nearby area. Niesen Bahn (NB) near Spiez, Harder Bahn(HB) Interlaken, Giessbachsee (Bahn GbB) on Lake Brienz, and the Thunersee Beatenberg Bahn (TBB) on the north side of the Thunersee. |
In addition to Dugi Otik ( You might consider a more scenic drive on Moltrasio to Interlaken area day):
A really scenic road itinerary could look like this: Moltrasio - Chiasso - Capolago (cog wheel railway to Monte Generoso) - Brusino (cableway to Serpiano) - Ponte Tresa Lavena - Luino - Laveno - car ferry - Intral - Pallanza (boat trip to Isola Madre - Isola Bella) - Pieve Vergonte - Macugnaga (cableway to Monte Moro Pass 9300ft, view over Glaciers of Monte Rosa) - Domodossola - Simplon Pass (view up to Aletsch Glacier) - Brig (Stockalper castle) - Moerel (cableway to Riederalp - Moosfluh/Aletsch Glacier) - Fiesch (cableway to Eggishorn/Aletsch Glacier 9600ft) - Fuergangen (rope bridgte over Rhone river, cableway to Bellwald - Furggulti 8500 ft, panoramic glacier views) - Niederwald - Blitzingen - Biel - Ritzingen - Reckingen (all old scenic untouristy mountain villages) - Grimsel Pass (see above) - Handegg (steepest rope railway of the Alps to Lake Gelmersee) - Aar Gorge - Meiringen (cablewas to viewpoint Alpen Tower 7400ft, rope railway to Reichenbach Falls) - Ballenberg Ecomuseum - Brienz (cog wheel railway to Brienzer Rothorn) - Interlaken (rope railways to Harder and heimwehfluh, cog wheel railway to Schynige Platte). |
Originally Posted by samanthaannr
(Post 16917025)
Thank you everyone. We understand that one could easily spend a lengthy amount of time exploring Switzerland. What we are seeking are suggestions for a 5 day itinerary in the Interlaken and potentially Lucerne area. We have juggled traveling to multiple locations within a short time frame many times and we don’t mind it. My boyfriend more than I, whom has driven through parts of Europe before, including Switzerland. I hadn’t realized that it would cost extra to drop the rental off in Interlaken, oops! So as I mentioned in a previous post, we’ll just have to park the car for a bit if need be. Sorry if there was any confusion. We have taken note and are looking into all of your suggestions, all of which have been so helpful. To clarify, after our stay in Lake Como (already booked) we will be on the road on our way back to Switzerland early in the morning. About 3.5 hours driving until we reach the Interlaken area (not sure what city we’ll be staying in just yet!). We will have the majority of that day - even if it means exploring first while leaving luggage in the car, then checking into our hotel that evening - we don’t mind being on the go and sometimes we prefer it. We have 5 nights in Switzerland, and 5 days (4.75 days to be extremely specific) - this does not include the day we fly out of Zürich to go home. We do not have anything booked yet for these remaining 5 nights/days so we’re sifting through all of our options. We may stay 4 nights in the Interlaken area and then 1 night in Lucerne...or 3 and 2, etcetera. We are unsure what would work best to make the most of our trip so that’s where I’d really LOVE some guidance. We’d like to have these plans confirmed within the next week. I’d love to spend a day exploring Jungfrau, unless we discover (via suggestions) that there are other things to see/do in the area that are more worthwhile for a 5 day trip. We understand we won’t be able to do it all. Simply put, knowing all that you know, if you only had 5 days (6 including the departure day out of Zürich) in the Interlaken/Lucerne area (I am well aware they are about 90 minutes away from one another therefore we’ll have a minor drive at some point), how would you spend it? What would you do and see? Or rather what would you suggest doing and seeing based on our interests listed earlier. Thanks :-) Jungfraunoch (top-of-Europe) (JB, Eigergletscher/Kleine Scheidegg-Jungfraunoch) Schilthorn (BLM/LSMS via Mürren or LSMS via Stechelberg) Grindelwald First (GGF, Grindelwald-Grindelwald First) Schynige Platte (SBP, Wilderswil-Schynige Platte) Harder Kulm (HB, Interlaken-Harder Kulm) Männlichen (LWM, Wengen-Männlichen) In route to the above destinations you will have multiple rides on BOB and WAB mountain trains. (BOB Interlaken Ost-Lauterbrunnen and Grinddelwald)(WAB Lauterbrunnen-Wengen-Kleine Scheidegg-Grindelwald) The most econominal way to do this for you is with a 3 Day Jungfrau Travel Pass with options. CHF 180 Basic 3 Day Jungfrau Travel Pass CHF 69 JB Special Price Kleine Scheidegg/Eigergletscher-Jungfraunoch (Regular Price CHF 152 round trip) CHF 61.95* 25% reduction from Regular Price CHF 82.60 via Mürren CHF 310.95 TOTAL PER PERSON CHF 78.75* 25% reduction from Regular Price CHF 105 via Stechelberg Notes Any Adventure type transport are extra cost If you want to start activities on arrival day you could purchase a 4 DAY Jungfrau Pass for CHF 205 The Jungfrau Travel Pass does not cover any Lake Thun or Lake Brienz activities, boats,etc. See links below for more details https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfrau-travel-pass/ https://www.holidaystoeurope.com.au/...e-jungfraujoch https://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrautravelpass/validity |
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