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Easy trips out of Switzerland - 3 to 5 days

We are probably going to be in Europe the first two weeks of May to visit our daughter, who lives in Luzern, Switzerland. I've been to visit her 3 times (last visit was this past December), and while there is so much of Switzerland I haven't seen yet, we thought the three of us might leave the country for 3- 7 days because:

  • my daughter could use a vacation
  • the last time we were there in early May, it snowed
  • my husband isn't crazy about Switzerland. Mostly he doesn't like how expensive it is

I'm looking for something that isn't too onerous to get to, will have some nice weather, and I was going to say "not so expensive," but then anything is less expensive than Switzerland, so I guess that's a given.

Today my daughter suggested Calabria, which seems really far, but maybe not with high speed trains? She also suggested Sardinia, but I hear it's very expensive and I'd rather avoid flights. Also Kefalonia, Greece is high on my list, but seems like too much travel. We like trains . . . planes, not so much.

So, leaving from central Switzerland . . . where to go for 3-7 days, with minimal travel hassle, and probably decent sunny weather. It doesn't need to be hot. Just pleasant.

Posted by
7312 posts

With "some nice weather" as a criteria, early May would be perfect for ~5 days in Provence. Avignon is about 6 hours from Luzern by train.
The Italian lakes are closer and could work as well, or the Ligurian coast (Génova, Portofino, Cinque Terre ...) if you want the sea!

Posted by
2809 posts

France! In addition to Provence, you could head to Paris, Alsace, or Burgundy.

Posted by
1959 posts

If your daughter is looking for warm and seaside, I'd fly. Crete for instance can be had from Zurich for +- $100 per person each way. Use skyscanner to search, use entire countries as search terms to start and entire months as time frames. You'll be able to see the variety of affordable beach destinations.

Otherwise Provence sounds great. Renting a car for a week in Lucerne is probably cheaper than the train, or at least similar and gives you a lot of freedom. I'd wager 300 euro-ish for a week.

Posted by
33997 posts

If renting a Swiss car going to France be sure to understand the Crit'Air scheme and therefore which areas of cities to avoid without the yellow circular sticker.

Likewise going into Germany without the green square Umweltplakette will restrict your driving into most cities and some other areas.

Posted by
3277 posts

Found this on Rick Steve’s website: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/cost-maps (click on the + sign on the line that says Train Cost and Time Estimates Across Europe) and you’ll see direct connections from Europe’s major cities. From Zurich you can take a direct train to: Munich (4h), Vienna (8h), Frankfurt (4h), Paris (4h), Geneva (3h) and Milan ((4h).
Munich makes a good base to explore the Bavaria Alps. You could take a day trip to Bratislava from Vienna. Frankfurt is accessible to the Rhine Valley. Geneva is a good jumping off point to the French Alps and Milan is accessible to Lake Como.

Posted by
1959 posts

That's a good idea Pat, any of those resort lakes up against the Italian Alps.

I wonder though, daughter lives in Lucerne, maybe would like more of a change from gorgeous sub-alpine lake ...

Posted by
33997 posts

From Zurich you can take a direct train to: Munich (4h), Vienna (8h), Frankfurt (4h), Paris (4h), Geneva (3h) and Milan ((4h).

Munich is now often 3:31. It doesn't arrive in the main bunch of tracks but those off to the side and a hundred-ish yards from the main body of the station in what is referred to as München Hbf Gl.27-36. Gl. is abbreviated Gleis which is German for platform or track.

Milano Centrale (Milan) is now as fast as 3:17 on most direct trains and even faster 3:12 with 2 changes in Arth-Goldau and Lugano.

Geneva is faster too - 2:43 on many services otherwise 2:46.

Posted by
8338 posts

You could go via train to Innsbruck and spend the night. Then take the 100 mile trip up to Salzburg by train.