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Best use of 3 days in Switzerland for new visitors

We are using Zurich as our stopover point en route from the US to Johannesburg in August. At the beginning of our trip, we can either fly in to Milan or Zurich arriving at 8 or 9 AM day 1. We then will be flying out of Zurich at 10:30 PM on day 3. So we have 3 days and 2 nights to work with then.

On our way back, we arrive in Zurich at 6 AM and then can fly home the following morning either from Zurich, Geneva, Basel, or Milan, so one day/night then.

I am traveling with my older parents, so we won't be doing much in the way of hiking; however, they are in good shape without health issues, so their travel endurance will be decent. They have always wanted to do a scenic rail trip in the Alps, so I am trying to incorporate the Bernina Express and/or the Golden Pass. They are more interested in seeing beautiful mountains views than a city, so we plan on skipping time in any of the larger cities other than passing through on our way to/from the airport. Although I will be returning on future trips to do some hiking, this will likely be their only trip to Switzerland, so I want to make the most of our brief stay.

Suggestions on our best routing and use of time given the above options? Many thanks!

Posted by
8889 posts

we can either fly in to Milan or Zurich arriving at 8 or 9 AM day 1. We then will be flying out of Zurich at 10:30 PM on day 3. So we have 3 days and 2 nights to work with then.

Andrea, Easy. From Zürich airport hop a train to Luzern, 2 trains per hour, takes 70 minutes, and stay there for your 2 nights. Lovely town to explore, boat trips on the lake, trips up local mountains (Rigi, Pilatus or Titlis). For a train trip go to Interlaken and back via the Brünig pass route. This is the first half of what is advertised as the "Golden Pass" route.
Official tourist website here: http://www.luzern.com/en/index.cfm

Posted by
14 posts

Sounds like a good plan. I can't seem to figure out a good way to work in Bernina Express. If we flew into Milan and traveled to Luzern via the Bernina Express, it sounds like we wouldn't make it to Luzern until late that night. What if we flew into Milan and took the William Tell to Luzern and stayed there for the next two nights?

Then on the end of our trip when we return to Zurich, we freshen up at an airport lounge and then send our luggage on to Montreux or Lausanne via the luggage service and ride the Golden Pass toward Geneva for our 10:30 flight out the next morning?

Posted by
8889 posts

Andrea, I don't think the Bernina Express is possible. It is totally the other end of Switzerland.

You say you can fly home from Zurich, Geneva, Basel, or Milan, but have to arrive in Zürich.
You will likely already have dome 50% of the golden pass route, as a day trip Luzern to Interlaken.

Plan: From Zürich head south to Milan. DO NOT take a direct train, but change to one that goes over the old Gotthard route which was bypassed by a new faster tunnel last year. The old route will involve extra changes, but more scenery. I hope your luggage will not be a problem.
If you have enough time, go "over the top" of the pass on a bus. Details here, reservations needed: https://www.postauto.ch/en/excursion-tips/gotthard-pass-route

Overnight in Lugano, short hop from there to Milan airport.