First time to Europe (definitely a lot to learn!) and we need to get from Munich or Salzburg to Lucerne by train on a Saturday in May. I am wondering which is the most scenic route? We are happy to spend all day on trains, but would like the most scenic/enjoyable route possible. The two options I am considering are: (Germany route) Munich seems to go through Basel or Lindau to Zurich to Lucerne, or a more southern route . Salzburg to Innsbruk through Austria to Zurich and Lucerne. I am researching the types of trains, but do not know anything about the scenery. I have seen some video of the Austria / Swiss train through seat61 website on youtube, but not sure what scenery looks like through Germany. Thank you for any tips!
Posted by
Green Bay
21166 posts
From your other thread, seems like you will be in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Why not just take train from there to Innsbruck which is plenty scenic, then the Railjet to Zurich, then change to a train to Luzern. If you want, you could make an excursion of it and avoid Zurich by getting off at Sargans, then a train to Chur, then a train to Andermatt in the high Alps, then going down to Luzern via Goeschenen and Erstfeld. Takes longer and costs more, but no argument about the scenery.
I don't think there is anything too special about the scenery from Munich to Zurich. Views of the foothills of the Alps on the left hand side of the train.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thank you for your great tips! I will look into those Swiss train stops. We have a rental car while we are in Germany and we are planning to go to Salzburg for two days with the car, then back to return the rental in Germany before heading on to Lucerne to avoid extra charges. (The Lucerne place is a non refundable airbnb, but we have a few days in there that are not set as of yet.) So far, car websites say we can return the car in a smaller town like Rossenheim and go south on trains and avoid Munich. I will look into the Swiss rail further. Thank you again for your help!
Posted by
Green Bay
21166 posts
The detour via Andermatt adds 3 hours to the travel time, and more cost as basically you pay per km on Swiss rails. Another scenic route, also bypassing Zurich, but not costing much time and even reducing cost is the Voralpen Express. If you come through Innsbruck, again get off at Sargans and take a train to Uznach where you change to the VAE going direct to Luzern. If you come from Munich, get off at St Gallen and take the VAE from there.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/voralpen-express/
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thank you! This is great. I found a rental company that will let us return the car in Rosenheim, then a quick one hour train ride to Innsbruk, we will spend a night there and then the longer train the following day to Lucerne. I will look into the link you sent. Looks like a great site for Switzerland. Thanks!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33864 posts
Innsbruck (named for the bridge over the river Inn) is at river level in a wide valley. If you prefer to be at the top rather than the bottom, like me, you might consider instead of staying in Innsbruck trying Seefeld in Tirol. Seefeld is a large village/small town up at the top, just in from the cliff, and with yet more up possible on a funicular with real Austrian Alps feel. I like to stay at the hotel Eden there, which is just a couple of minutes from the small station.
From Seefeld the train goes down the (very steep) hill into Innsbruck, and the other way through Garmisch Partenkirchen to Munich (with a change these days at Mittenwald on the border - it used to go straight through and may one day again).