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4 nights in Switzerland itinerary help

We are spending 4 nights in Switzerland 3rd week in April. Will be coming from Bologna after spending 4 nights in Italy. Would love thoughts on the two options I have laid out (or different option welcome too)! Goal for Switzerland portion of trip is focused on outdoor activities, nature, some history, and preferably smaller towns. Thinking mountain views, smaller/leisure hikes as we are only traveling with carry on's so packing very light, local foods, alpine towns/huts.... Really don't have an interest to see Zurich(too big/industrial/modern) or stay in St. Moritz (too touristy/glam). Traveling with 18 (birthday while in Europe!) and 15 year old.

Bologna – Andermatt; Wednesday night in/near Andermatt
Andermatt – Chur; Thursday night and Friday night in Chur/Pontresina area
Chur to Zurich – Saturday night in Zurich; fly out Sunday am

Bologna – Andermatt; Wednesday night near Andermatt
Andermatt – Thursday night Chur/Pontresina area
Chur to Lucerne – Friday night & Saturday night in Lucerne; train to Zurich early am to fly out Sunday am

Posted by
35108 posts

what time is the flight (home?) on Sunday am?

I take that this is a continuation of your previous questions?

I think this is the first time that Andermatt has come up, nice TINY place way up high in April so there will probably be loads of snow depending on which direction you are looking (snow may be gone on south facing slopes, depending on the actual weather, and still in abundance on north facing, watch for avalanche warnings if the snow is loose), and how will you get from Andermatt to Chur? Presumably Glacier Express and a connection, or regional trains?

Then to Pontresina, presumably by continuation of Glacier Express or Bernina Express or regional trains? And back to Chur?

Posted by
17 posts

Flight home is 11am on Sunday so from what I can tell it's about a 50 minute train ride from Lucerne to Zurich airport. So plan is to leave pretty early Sunday morning to get to airport.

I was originally thinking of heading to Tirano from Milan and doing the Bernina express. But it seemed like it might be a pain with doing a train and then bus and seemed a touch longer travel time than going to Andermatt. But I could be wrong, that is what I'm hoping I'll hear more on from this forum.

Yes, we were going to do the Glacier express from Andermatt to Chur. Or regional trains if they do the same route. What I'm not sure on is do we stay in Chur for 2 nights and do a day trip on the Bernina to Pontresina and explore around there, or only one night in Chur. Either explore around Chur or still do the Bernina to Pontresina and then head to Lucerne right away?

Posted by
17 posts

So in getting more information from a Tripadvisor forum, it sounds like I'm better off doing the full Bernina express route and staying somewhere like Pontresina or Samedan for 2 nights. Then from there we'll head to Lucerne for 2 nights.