My family of three are travelling to Milan and a few other places in Italy. One day after I arrive in Milan I am planning to rent a car and drive to Interlaken and Lucerne and back to Milan in early April. First of all, is it a good idea to drive at all or take train like others have said in many threads. If I drive, I think I can see lots of scenary and stop at many places for pictures and little bit freedom on time. I have kept one day for this trip. Looking forward to hear your comments and advice. Best Regards,
EnJ
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
I'm not sure what the Swiss require to drive on their roads but I can tell you there are many places nearby Interlaken where you take the best pictures but your car won't be nearby. You're OK in Interlaken. However, if you should drive into the Lauterbrunnen Valley, you can park your car in Lauterbrunnen or farther down the road at a nice lot at Stechelberg. After that, no tourist cars are permitted higher up in the alps villages. This includes Gimmelwald, Murren and Wengen. You can't drive to the Jungfraujoch or Schiltorn either. Train or cable way only.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
You seem to be under the misunderstanding that once you're on a train you can't get off until your final destination. Both place you've mentioned in Switzerland are well served by an abundance of trains. You'll have a difficult time in Lucerne finding affordable parking and you'll also have to purchase a vignette for your rental car in Switzerland. It's so easy to take the train in Switzerland.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9420 posts
"I have kept one day for this trip." Are you saying you plan to do this in one day? That's not enough time imo.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32772 posts
The Swiss Vignette for the car window is CHF40. No vignette = large fine.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, GA, United States
2 posts
I appreciate all your replies. In this, trip my main focus is on Italy. Two years ago I drove via Zurich and spent most of the time in Zurich and used A3 and A13/E43 and went back to Germany did not get a chance to visit Interlaken area. All I want to do in Interlaken is sightseeing. I am just using Interlaken because of name familiarity. I am fine with anything in and around that area. I don't want to spend more than a day and cut short my Italy trip. I have eight days to spend excluding travel time in this trip. It appears that I should take a train as early as possible in the morning to Interlaken and come back to Milan in the night. I was definitely under the impression that I need to stay in the train until the final destination. How would that work if I get off the train while going to Interlaken. Is it simply taking the next train? Again, thank you all for your help. I am looking forward for this trip. Best Regards,
EnJ
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
First of all, I don't think that the Italian ticket agents can see beyond Interlaken Ost into the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It's easy to buy a ticket in Italy from Milan Centrale to Interlaken Ost. There will be one train change at Spiez and then a 20-minute ride into Interlaken. Note that there are two train stations in Interlaken. If you want to travel into the Lauterbrunned Valley (Murren, Wengen, Gimmelwald, mountain tops), you will want the Interlaken Ost train station. It's a small station. The local train into Lauterbrunned departs every 30 minutes. Just buy your tickets in the train station.