We are competing in the Ironman Switzerland this year, 2016, and after the race is over we are wondering what to do from July 25th to July 31st. We will start in Zurich as that is where the race is and be done with that on July 24 so we are looking to tour Switzerland for the remainder of the week before we leave to come home from Zurich on July 31st. The remainder of the time we are thinking Bern, Luzanne and Lucern and return to Zurich to fly home. This itinerary is based on Rick's show regarding Switzerland. Any thoughts on this? Substitute any one place for another? Hotels to stay at? We are booked at Zurich so no problem there. Any suggestions are most appreciated. Thank you.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
I would say split your time between Luzern and one of the resorts up the side valleys in the Berner Oberland past Interlaken (Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren etc.). There is plenty about all these places on this forum. You could do this as a triangular trip by train Zürich --> Luzern --> Berner Oberland --> Zürich airport or vice-versa.
If you prefer one place only make it the Berner Oberland.
All these places have plenty of excursions up mountains; in the case of Luzern by boat as well. Bern can be done as a day trip from the Berner Oberland, but you are likely to get so addicted to mountains you won't find time for that.
P.S. Luzanne and Lucern do not exist. Lausanne is a large city on lake Geneva. Luzern is a small city on Vierwaldstättersee, often called Lucerne and Lake Lucerne in English. There is also a Lugano and Locarno in Switzerland, to get confused about.
For train times and prices got to www.sbb.ch
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2758 posts
Listen to Chris.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32318 posts
I agree with Chris but would use a slightly different order - Zürich > Berner Oberland > Luzern > Zürich. Depending on what time your flight departs, it's an easy trip from Luzern direct to the Zürich airport. I wouldn't bother with Bern on this trip, although as mentioned you could easily do that as a day trip. I also wouldn't bother with Lausanne. Although it's a beautiful city, IMO your short time would better be spent elsewhere.
The Berner Oberland would be a fantastic place to unwind after the Ironman. You could do some hiking in spectacular scenery, see some of the local sights and take a some of the mountain lifts to places like the Schilthorn or the Jungfraujoch (expensive but very unique).
With travel anywhere in Switzerland, budget accordingly as it's expensive!
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
"This itinerary is based on Rick's show regarding Switzerland"
Careful. Rick's more recent Switzerland show is only about Swiss cities - which are not the glory of Switzerland. His older show is about the Berner Oberland - that, as everyone is saying, is where you want to focus your time.
Here's a link to the older show. Just like his book, it has too much focus on Gimmelwald, which most of us do not find nearly as intersting as Rick. However, it's a start: https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/best-of-the-alps
Posted by
Florida
1446 posts
Consider staying in Vevey on Lake Geneva between Montreux and Lausanne. The consensus it that it is a cuter and less crowded option than the other two towns. They're all great so you really can't go wrong.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8826 posts
You could just as easily make it open jaw - returning from Geneva, since you are heading in that direction if you go to Lausanne.