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10 Days in Switzerland

Hey everyone, first time poster. Been spending a lot of time reading commentary on this forum so hopefully I've got a good start.

We will be flying into Zurich in August and staying for ~10 days. We are early 30s and love hiking and good food/drinks. A rough outline of our trip is as follows:

1) Arrive in Zurich at 9am (12hr trip so will be pretty exhausted). Likely will catch a train to Lucerne. Tour Lucerne very casually for the day. Lodging in Lucerne
2) Day trip to Pilatus or Rigi, weather permitting. Otherwise Bern. Lodging in Lucerne

3) If couldn't do Pilatus or Rigi, do that. Otherwise, train to Lauterbrunnen. Tour/hike the area. Lodging in Murren/Wengen
4) Bernese Oberland activities. Lodging in Murren/Wengen
5) Bernese Oberland activities. Lodging in Murren/Wengen
6) Bernese Oberland activities. Lodging in Murren/Wengen

Activity ideas include: Schilthorn, Jungfraujoch, Kleine Scheidegg hiking, Aare River Gorge, Harder Kulm, Boat tour on Lake Brienz or Thun, Bachalpsee Lake Hike via Grindelwald

7) Train to Zermatt. Activities there. Lodging in Zermatt
8) Zermatt activities. Lodging in Zermatt

Activity ideas include: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise & Gornergrat, 5 lakes hike, Kuonen suspension bridge hike, spend time in Nendaz (wine/cheese).

9) Train to Montreux. Activities such as Chateau de Chillon and boat trip. Lodging in Montreux
10) Montreux activities. Train to Zurich in the afternoon. Lodging in Zurich.
11) Fly home at 10am.

That's our trip! Looking for any ideas on how to adjust. Not sure if just one night and 1.5ish days in Montreux is enough or worth it. Would like to see Lake Geneva but not a deal breaker.

Would love to know if anyone has recommendations on lodging (can splurge a little but tend to prefer $150-300 rooms) as well as restaurants/pubs/wineries (willing to pay up for amazing views/ambiance). Also looking for other hikes/activity recommendations.

Thanks everyone! Look forward to any responses. We can't wait for this trip!

RG

Posted by
5642 posts

On our RS tour a few years back, we visited some of the places on your itinerary.

We loved Hotel Des Alpes in Luzern, right on the water with great views of the Chapel Bridge. Ask for a waterfront room with a balcony. The breakfast room/restaurant is on ground level, so you can choose to eat outside, along the water, enjoying the fresh, morning air. If it's clear, you'll see Mt. Pilatus from there. It was a lot of fun riding the cog wheel train up to Mt. Pilatus, and gondoling down.

Really enjoyed the Chateau de Chillon tour, and wine tasting in the village afterwards. We didn't stay in Montreax, so can't help with lodging there.

Altho not on your schedule, we found Mt. Titlus in Engleburg breath-taking, and there's numerous hiking options down, starting from various gondola stops on the mountain.

Loved Bern, loved Murren, LOVED Switzerland! Safe travels!

Posted by
5642 posts

PS
The joke in our tour group regarding trail signs and the amount of time a hike would take: the stated time was for a Swiss grandmother: double the time for the rest of us!

Posted by
6 posts

Appreciate the reply Pat. I will check out some of the places you listed.

You mentioned enjoying Mt. Titlus. I keep reading commentary with preferences of Rigi, Titlus, or Pilatus. Everyone has great things to say about each one, makes it difficult to pick just one!

Posted by
5642 posts

The weather may dictate which peaks you experience, so my advice is to plan for as many as reasonable, assuming that weather will eliminate at least one. The mountain climates are fickle and visibility can change very quickly within the course of a day, and a heavy rain storm occludes all views.
Many of the hotel lobbies have cc TV live streams from the peaks, helping you strategically plan.

Posted by
5642 posts

Another consideration:
Mt. Titlis is 10,000 ft.,
Mt Rigi 5,900 ft,
Mt Pilatus 7000 ft.,
We were rained out of the Jungfraujoch, 13,000 feet, so an excuse to return.
You will have a fabulous time, whatever options you choose!

Posted by
6 posts

Few questions as we've started to finalize things:

1) would it make sense to stay 3 nights in Wengen and 2 in Murren? Or should we just stay all 5 in one spot?

2) Trying to decide if we should swap out Montreux/Geneva area with Lugano. Any thoughts on this or perhaps other locations that would be better?

3) Hang gliding in Interlaken.. Can't miss experience or too scary? It looks pretty amazing.

4) I've read a lot about the half fare pass and travel pass.. based on the itinerary, any suggestions on what would be more cost effective?

Thanks!