Paris - Lausanne - Lauterbrunnen -Frankfurt/Mainz/Heidelberg?- Amsterdam Itinerary

I'd take a night away from Lausanne and add it to Lauterbrunnen. There is a dirct train from Interlaken Ost to Frankfurt at 10 am, and you connect by taking a train from Lauterbrunnen at 9:32.

From Frankfurt, I would connect to a high speed train to Cologne, which is a town i really like. There are direct trains to Amsterdam from there.

Thanks Sam!

Are you saying to skip Frankfurt and Heidelburg and just stop in Cologne for 2 nights on the way to Amsterdam?

That is what I am saying, but it is your trip and you can stop where you want. You can go to Heidelberg instead by getting off the train in Mannheim and changing to a local train to Heidelberg. I don't know anything too exciting in Frankfurt, but Ms Jo will dispute that I am sure. The point is, you have 2 days so where do you want to spend it?

Thanks! I wasn't understanding your 1st message and just wanted to confirm. I don't know this part of Germany at all and mostly want to find an interesting place to stop on the way back to Amsterdam.

I am guessing here... won't your planned river cruise take you to Cologne and to other Rhine River towns?

I don't know this part of Germany at all and mostly want to find an
interesting place to stop on the way back to Amsterdam.

Guessing here again... your cruise will NOT include the MOSEL RIVER VALLEY, a place that most forum members here seem to find very interesting. The Mosel is not just picturesque (as everyone will tell you) but also full of nice places to visit. This river is a Rhine tributary full of old-world wine towns, castles, and hiking/biking options; access to these places by train is easy from the Rhine River town of KOBLENZ (to the south of Cologne) where the two rivers meet.

Mosel River Map

Burg Eltz is a much-loved destination on this forum. This intact medieval castle is a short bus ride from the Mosel town of Hatzenport - or a nice one-hour walk from the town of Moselkern.

Mosel villages

Beilstein (not on the list above) is an easy 1-hr river cruise from Cochem.

Cochem

You could conveniently stay in either Cochem or Hatzenport for your visit.

I would leave Switzerland as early as possible on this travel day so that you get in a few hours' sightseeing time that afternoon/evening.

When you finally leave the Mosel for Amsterdam, you will travel through Cologne - so you can stop over there if you wish.

I like both Mainz and Heidelberg - Mainz more than Heidelberg - but for your short time I think the Mosel and Burg Eltz will be more impressive and memorable.

At this point, I am wondering what it is you want to see in Lausanne. If nothing special, go straight to Lauterbrunnen from Paris via Basel and Interlaken. Take 4 nights there, then head to Germany

Thanks for the tips Russ, we aren't taking a river cruise though, we are taking a cruise of Norway with our grandparents that leaves from Rotterdam

Sam, is there enough to do in Lauterbrunnen? We thought Lausanne would be interesting and we thought it could be nice to break up the train trip?

OK, no Rhine time with the grandparents...

I like Sam's suggestion of dropping Lausanne, which will make the other destinations more doable.

I would arrange something like the following in order to maximize your time in the other two places...

Day 1 Paris > LAUTERBRUNNEN: It's going to take about 6.5 hours from Paris. Try to find a departure around 7 am if you can so that you actually get some afternoon time in L'brunnen on that first day. I suggest keeping the 2-night booking.

Day 3 Lauterbrunnen > RHINE/MOSEL/BONN region: This will also take about 6.5 hours. But I suggest you spend the morning and early afternoon in/around Lauterbrunnen so that your time in the area will be closer to TWO FULL DAYS. You can very likely board a train (take along some picnic supplies!) from Lauterbrunnen at around 14:30/15:00 with arrival in KOBLENZ sometime around 21:00 in the pm. (I'm using Koblenz only as a reference point here... not sure exactly where you will choose to stay.) Suggest 4 nights here (which will give you 3 days on the ground for all there is to see/do.)

Day 7 RHINE/MOSEL/BONN region > AMSTERDAM: No matter where you stay, you can plan for a layover in COLOGNE of 5 hours or so, enough time to see some of the sights and have a meal before continuing on to Amsterdam for the night.

Thanks Russ!

Sam, is there enough to do in Lauterbrunnen?

Well, most people on this forum would say that if you wanted 2 days in Lauterbrunnen, do 3 instead, and if you wanted 3 days, you should do 4. It is simply the most beautiful spot on earth (or close to it). But you need to ride the trains and lifts up the mountain to get the full appreciation. The Berner Oberland Pass for 3 days will cost you 168 CHF pp, but then you can travel freely in the area, except 50% discount on the Schilthornbahn above Wengen or the Jungfraujoch above Eigergletcher (99 CHF r/t).

You could travel to Koblenz to get to the Mosel by changing to the EC train at Basel. This train by passes Frankfurt and goes along the Rhine River so you can see all the castles and the Lorelei from the train. Sit on the right hand side of the train.