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august itinerary help!

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Planning a trip in August with my husband. 10-12 day itinerary. We are laid back and would like to go to enjoy the landscape and scenery, possibly some moderate hiking, and exploring villages. We aren't big historians or museum people.

we want to stay in grindewald area/lauterbrunnen (see waterfalls, first cliff walk, lake brienz, Jungfraujoch), zermatt (matterhorn, 5 lakes hike?, explore the towns) montreux (lake promenade, go to the vineyards, gruyere, maybe glacier 3000), and lugano (gandria, Parco chiani Monte bre)

is this doable at a relaxed pace? How many days do you think we need in each area? I've read from other comments that matterhorn can be done as a day trip from Montreux so maybe we don't need to stay in Zermatt? I also wasn't sure about what makes the most sense in terms of which order to go to each area and the logistics of traveling to each as well as which airports to use. We are coming from the US (NY) and likely will not be able to visit again unfortunately.

Posted by
20803 posts

If you flew into Geneva you'd be just over 1 1/2 hours from Montreux. If you ended in Lugano, you are 1 1/2 hours from Milan Malpensa airport by direct train.

Visiting Zermatt from Montreux is a bit problematic. It is 2 1/2 hours each way. Seeing the Matterhorn (my assumption for the reason for a day trip), could be a disappointment if it is clouded in when you go. Even checking the weather beforehand is no guarantee as mountain weather is so changeable.

With 12 days (11 nights) Montreux, Berner Oberland, and Lugano would be a relaxed pace, Maybe add in a stop in Luzern between Berner Oberland and Lugano.

Posted by
5349 posts

I'd suggest you download the SBB app for train travel times.
Are you working from any suggested itineraries in guide books? RS includes them in his book and here. Go to the "Watch, Read, Listen" section here, under Switzerland , review the articles, and then check out the suggested itineraries.
Lugano is on the far southeast section of the country.
Would you consider Lucerne instead of Lugano? I find Lucerne charming with access to Rigi, Pilatus, and Stanserhorn.
Always Maximize your time in the Alps, and I don't think you'd need Zermatt. Minimum three nights in a city and in the Alps four- five nights. No one is ever quite ready to leave. Enjoy!

Posted by
4713 posts

With that time frame, I would pick one mountain destination and one lake destination, possibly book-ended with a stay in Lucerne depending on your flight details. Even with 12 days, four stops would be too much.
Many do much longer day trips than I would ever conceive of doing, but best to look at the train schedules yourself to get a sense of travel times.
Look at flights first--Geneva and Zurich.

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