We are planning a 3 week stay starting in Capri, Italy and ending in Murren, Switzerland. We are in Capri from July 8 - 15. We are then open from July 15 - 25. We would like to end in Switzerland. We would like ideas of places of interest along the way and what are the best places to visit in Switzerland. We selected Murren based on the many reviews of that area for beauty, relaxation and hiking, but we are open to other ideas.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
If you're looking for the best places in Switzerland then you've hit the nail on the head in Murren. The surrounding villages of Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Gimmelwald will give you plenty of breathtaking scenery to enjoy during your relaxations and your hiking. Since you're probably flying home from Zurich then be sure to devote a night or two to Lucerne as it's only about 50 minutes by train from Zurich. Lucerne is in the lake country and there are many beautiful lakeside villages like Weggis and Vitznau as well as mountain top experiences of Rigi and Pilatus.
Posted by
Rick Steves Europe
353 posts
Are you interested in traveling through Italy on your way to Switzerland and staying in a few places along the way, or just getting to Swtizerland? If you want to spend your 10 days in Switzerland, then I suggest taking the boat from Capri to Naples, spending a night, then flying on Easy Jet to Geneva the next day ($56 - see www.skyscanner.com for details).
From Geneva airport, you can take a train to Lausanne and spend 2 nights there. Then take a train to Montreux to catch the "Golden Pass" scenic train to Interlaken, spend 4 nights in Murren and continue the Golden Pass from Interlaken to Luzern, to spend your last few nights before flying home from Zurich.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
We leave Capri on the 15th and need to checkin at Murren on the 19th. We've been to Florence and Como. Where else would you suggest stopping on the way through Italy?
Posted by
Rick Steves Europe
353 posts
The trip from Naples to Murren will be quite long, 10+ hours. With 5 days, I'd probably just pick 2 stops to break the trip up. Rome and Cinque Terre would be 2 good options (2 nights in Rome, 3 in Cinque Terre). The trip from the Cinque Terre to Murren will be a long day (about 8.5 hours). The most direct option leaves Monterosso at about 06:55 and arrives in Lauterbrunnen at 15:25 with 3 train changes in Milan, Spiez and Interlaken. You could spend a night in Stresa, at Lake Maggiore, to break it up. You can use the German rail website - www.bahn.com, for looking at train schedules and routes anywhere in Europe.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Stresa looks gorgeous!! Any thoughts on where to stay (we like 5 star) and things to do?
We've been to Rome many times and Cinque Terre looks like it would be difficult to get to and will waste 2 days of travel. What do you think?
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
I very much thought Cinque Terre was boring. Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are much better IMO. If you want gorgeous lakes with crystal blue green water surrounded by rolling green pastures and chalets dotted across the way the head on to Murren. You'll pass through Brig and Spiez and by Lake Thun on the way before you get to Interlaken Ost to change trains. Interlaken sits between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun both just stunning.