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Europe 2 weeks Itinerary- thoughts ?

This is based on juicy airfare in hand, so cannot change to Open jaw. We are traveling by train only for the most part, avoiding one night stands. I'm not totally sold on Beaune as the stop between Gimmelwald and Paris, as the train routing is somewhat tortuous from Switzerland. All of the other cities offer good connections and plenty of possibilities for day trips out of the base city.

Day 1 Arrive FRA, Train to Bacharach, Stay Bacharach

Day 2 Stay Bacharach, Day Trips

Day 3 Train to Freiburg, Stay Freiburg

Day 4 Stay Freiburg, Day Trips

Day 5 Train to Interlaken, Gimmelwald, Stay Gimmelwald

Day 6 Stay Gimmelwald, Day Trips

Day 7 Stay Gimmelwald, Day Trips

Day 8 Train to Beaune, Stay Beaune

Day 9 Stay Beaune, Day Trips

Day 10 Train to Paris, Stay Paris

Day 11 Stay Paris, Day Trips

Day 12 Stay Paris, Day Trips

Day 13 Stay Paris, Day Trips

Day 14 Train to Mainz, Stay Mainz

Day 15 Train to FRA Airport

Posted by
12040 posts

Unless your main activity in Switzerland is hiking the slopes of the Schilthorn, Gimmelwald isn't an ideal base because of the significant cost of back and forth cable-car rides. Otherwise, your trip looks fairly reasonable.

Posted by
100 posts

We plan to do some cable car rides, yes, but primarily do a little bit of hiking and biking but mostly vegging in Gimmelwald. A mid vacation vacation, so to speak.

Posted by
591 posts

I'd suggest limiting Gimmelwald to 2 nights and Night # 7 in Interlaken where you'll be able to take advantage of an earlier and better train schedule on Day 8. Beaune is an excellent choice of a place to stop en route to Paris. Check the Interlaken - Beaune morning schedules (via Bern & Dijon) and they aren't that bad.

Posted by
4132 posts

Colmar, in Alsace, makes a dandy stop if Beaune is too much of a stretch. I don't mean that the two places are similar, just both very charming and worthwhile. Colmar is more enroute.

Gimmelwald is truly marvelous.

Posted by
1717 posts

Hello Bill. I agree with Tim. Using public transportation for traveling from Gimmelwald to Beaune in one day would be complicated. But I think you will want to be at the Berner Oberland two whole days. So, at the end of your second day in the Berner Oberland, you could go to Interlaken for the night. And the next day travel in trains from Interlaken to Beaune. I, also, plan to go from Interlaken to Beaune. I think you will have an enjoyable trip in Europe.