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A couple questions for an upcoming trip

Posted by on

We have a trip booked to visit Munich and Wengen in June (arrive in Munich June 9 at 1 PM and leave Zurich June 18 at 2 PM. The original plan was to stay in Munich from June 9-14 and then take the train on the 14th and go to Wengen and stay there the 14-18 then get up go to the airport from Wengen the morning of the 18th.

Looking at booking our stay now and a couple questions have arose because in Munich, it looks like the last night we had planned to stay is getting very busy due to the EuroCup starting the 14th. We can find a place from 9-14, but price might be higher, or less convenient location within Munich.

Our group is 7 people with 4 parents, an 18 year old, 11 year old and 5 year old. We do plan to see castles and Dachau (in separate groups since 2 of the kids can't go there) outside of Munich.

  1. If we only stayed in Munich from June 9-13, is there another German location near Munich that would be worth spending 1 or 2 nights that would have things to do, be able to get around without a car and then be able to get to Wengen easily still? Germany was the main reason for the trip, so we wanted to spend more time in Germany. I saw maybe Fusen as we wanted to see those castles, but not sure the convenience/places to stay in that area.

  2. If there is a good answer to #1 and it was worth spending 2 nights somewhere else, is 3 nights in Wengen enough then, assuming the day we get there would be later in the day due to travel?

  3. With a 2 PM flight from Zurich, are we safe to assume we can get from Wengen to Zurich easily with enough time? It looks like it is only a 2.5-3 hour train trip, so it seems like we should be safe leaving Wengen in the morning with enough time to get to the airport.

Posted by
6643 posts

**The original plan was to stay in Munich from June 9-14...Germany was the main reason for the trip, so we wanted to spend more time in Germany."

Suggest you break up your 6-7-hour train trip to Wengen by taking the train to Lindau for 2-3 nights. Lindau is on the train route to Zurich anyway, about 2 hours from Munich, on an island in Lake Constance.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g198644-Activities-oa0-Lindau_Swabia_Bavaria.html

Outings from there by public transport are possible to Friedrichshafen and Meersburg.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g198398-Activities-oa0-Friedrichshafen_Baden_Wurttemberg.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g198537-Activities-oa0-Meersburg_Bodensee_Baden_Wurttemberg.html

Posted by
21 posts

Thank you! I had not looked into Lindau, but looking at that map, I wondered if that lake area would be a good spot to stop and the benefit of having the train travel broken up would be nice.

Another question on Lindau, if we did that, would 4 nights in Munich, 2 in Lindau and 3 in Wengen be ok for a 9 night trip?

Posted by
8145 posts

I was looking on the map. Wengen is pretty far south--essentially in the middle of nowhere. It's not easy to get there from Munich or back to Zurich to fly out. It's even more difficult with so many in your party.

Isn't there a town that would suit your group's needs that's a little easier to get to and from?

For mountain scenery and ease of travel, my time in the Alps is spent in Tirol.

Posted by
808 posts

Remember, that 3 nights equals 2 full days, so your time in Wengen is not enough. If the weather is poor on one of those days, then you will be extremely limited in time to explore that area. Which mountain excursions are you planning for your time in Wengen? Look closely at a map and at the SBB app to determine travel times for those. As to your question about same day travel from Wengen to the catch a 2 p.m. flight from Zurich, here are my thoughts. Yes, it is doable if you leave Wengen extremely early and everything goes perfectly. If you are comfortable with the stress of a 3 hour train ride that morning, coupled with potential issues at an airport for an international flight, then go for it. Wouldn't be my choice of travel plans. For a little perspective, on our recent flight home from Berlin, we arrived at the airport 3.5 hours before departure. Between waiting in lines for check-in, security and passport control we made it to the gate as they were boarding. Departing from Zurich may be easier, but I believe that conventional wisdom would dictate staying closer to the airport.

Posted by
15 posts

I would disgree with the post that Wengen is out of the way. It really is not. It's well connected by train to Zurich the lenght of the ride is about 2 hour 45 minutes and from what I see online there 24 trains per day running the route but you should confirm the train schedules to make sure you get to the airport well in advance of your flight. Wengen is awesome and 3 nights is about right if you want to enjoy it and be relaxed. I recommend taking the train up to the Jungfraujoch, extremely expensive with the Swiss half fare pass it was approximately $300 for two but that is my conversion to Cdn dollars it will be about 30%less for US but that was at 1/2 price. Once up at Jungfraujoch take the hike along the glacier to the Monck Mountain Hut. Its a very wide marked path on the glacier that many people take. The gondola ride up Mannlichen and easy hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg was amazing with incredible views. Three nights in Wengen will also allow you to spend a day walking down in the valley in Lauterbrunnen. I loved Wengen I just did not love the cost. Same quality food and accommodations in Austria are 30% to 50% less. There are great Alpine experiences in Austria also but I do not think there is access to a glacier walk at the high altitude you get at Jungfrauhoch.

Posted by
21 posts

Thanks for the info! Thinking about it, not sure it makes a huge difference leaving Wengen the evening before and staying in Zurich the night before and just getting there at night (10 PM about). Would still have most of that day in Wengen still.

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