We will have 19 days in Switzerland beginning 9/12/24 am arrival in Zurich.
We like villages , architecture,history, beautiful scenery, easy to moderate hiking ,food museums.
My spouse is a fine art photographer. I spent 4 days in Bo last September.
We will spend 2 nights :Bern
7 nights:BO
2-3 nights :Zermatt
2-3 nights :Ticino-Lucano vs Ascona - I’ve read Lugano is too crowded. We’ve been to Italy twice before -my spouse is interested in this area.
How difficult is it to get around without a car. Interested in Isole di Brissago, visiting stone villages, Madonna del Sasso and relaxing. Recommendations.
3 nights : Lucerne or Weggis - my spouse has spent 2 days in Lucerne previously.
We will stay in one & hope to day trip to the other.
1night : Zurich airport as we have a early flight 10/1/24
The only fixed part of our itinerary is Bern and Grindelwald as we are traveling with another couple and we have reservations for accommodations.
Any insights or recommendations would be appreciated.
I know many people don’t choose Grindelwald as their base n BO- I stayed outside the main drag last time found it easy to access other villages and the mountains from my terrace were lovely.
We’ve found a beautiful place a short walk from bus.
Thank you
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17429 posts
Where is Lucano? I cannot find any village by that name in Switzerland, or in Italy (though there is a Muro Lucano in Basilicata. The only Lucano” that comes up when I search is a restaurant in Gig Harbor, WA.
Madonna del Sasso is on Lago d’Orta. We will be there this summer, but going with a hiking group so I have not looked into transport because they will take care of that. Looks like there is a ferry to the base of the mountain from the town of Orta San Giulia, which is served by regional train.
Posted by
USA
311 posts
I thought Lugano was one of the most scenic towns we had visited near Lake Como. To me, there was something magical about it. We took the bus from one of the small towns along Lake Como to/from Lugano. There is a tourist "Choo-choo" that gave us an introduction to the town. I wouldn't hesitate to return.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17429 posts
OK, if the OP,does mean Locarno not Lucano, then that is adjacent to Ascona, on the other side of the peninsula. The train serves Locarno; for Ascona they could take a taxi from the train station, or the ferry from the ferry dock.
Isola di Brissago is a ferry ride from Locarno (or Ascona):
https://www.ascona-locarno.com/en/explore/brissago-and-ronco-sopra-ascona/brissago-
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17429 posts
I am guessing the “stone villages” would be the villages like Sonogno in the beautiful Valle Verzasca:
https://www.ascona-locarno.com/en/explore/valle-verzasca/sonogno
A Postbus runs frequently up the valley from Locarno as far as Sonogno, making for a nice daytrip.
I have long wanted to visit the Valle Verzasca and have finally managed to put Locarno on our itinerary for this September. I chose a hotel near the Locarno train station, right on the lake, for convenience.
I know nothing about Ascona other than seeing it on a map and reading about on travel blogs; it appears to be more of a charming village than larger Locarno, with some more upscale resort hotels. But perhaps not as convenient in terms of transport to other places, apart from the Isola di Brissago.
Luzern v Weggis—-we have stayed in Luzern a couple of times and I am not a fan. Maybe I just chose the wrong hotel and restaurants, but I did not find the town itself particularly charming or welcoming. And it was packed with tourists, even in September. So for our most recent visit with family we chose Weggis instead, and love our little family-run hotel:
https://www.gotthard-weggis.ch/en/
It sits just across a small quiet road from the lake, with lakeview balconies in all 3 rooms we had. Their garden restaurant sits right on the lake, and is a wonderful place to be in the evening. Guests have access to the very nice lakeside pool at the hotel next door. In rainy weather one can dine inside at one of their other dining rooms.
I have talked up Weggis so many times here I now wonder if that is the reason we are starting to see people chose this little town over Luzern for their visit. So I am curious—-what made you think of Weggis? It is a 40-minute ferry ride from Luzern, so something to consider when you want to go elsewhere.
Posted by
OP
Vashon Island, WA
128 posts
Yes intended Lacarno
Travel sites and DM have suggested Weggis.
If I want to day trip to Lucerne from Weggis s that realistic?
Thank you
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17429 posts
Yes, it is realistic; some of us did that one of our days there (the rest did a hike up Rigi on the Mark Twain Discovery trail.)
It is only 40 minutes each way by ferry (scenic and enjoyable); or you can take a bus from the town square to nearby Küssnacht am Rigi and a train from there.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3287 posts
Stephanie, it is very important to get the spelling right, especially in Italian- speaking area where one letter change can make a difference. So Ancona is a port city on the Adriatic coast, not in Ticino. Lucano is part of the name of several cities in southern Italy (Mura Lucano, Olivedo Lucano, etc. ) and it means a resident of the historic region known as Lucania. Or it the name of a liquor made there, Amaro Lucano.
And Locarno is spelled Locarno.
The spelling is especially important if you are looking for train tickets. I have seen people who want to take the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano. But if they write Torino or Tirana they will end up in the wrong place—- like Albania.
Posted by
OP
Vashon Island, WA
128 posts
Meant Locarno. My typing was off
Thank you for information and help.