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Geneva-Interlaken area in mid March

Need input on our trip planned in Mid March 2026:

2 nights Evian-les-Bains**
→ Lausanne + Montreux/Gruyères day trips

2 nights Grindelwald** (may need one more night?)
→ Brienz day trip + One more day trip close by (Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Murren)

2 nights Geneva**
→ City + lake strolls

+1 bonus night (need your suggestion)
Montreux or Interlaken or Grindelwald

Please advise or suggest tours for 2 seniors.

Posted by
7721 posts

I would not stay in Evian for day trips on the Swiss side of the lake. The ferry across adds a lot of inconvenience. Best to stay somewhere between Lausanne and Montreux instead, in my opinion, and I would stay 3 nights (reducing Geneva to 1 night).
And I would also have 1 extra night in Grindelwald, but I wouldn't go to Brienz since the Rothorn railway is spring-fall only.

Posted by
1142 posts

While Geneva is a pleasant city, there is not all that much to see there, my opinion.
If you're flying out of Geneva, maybe arrive the day before, do your city/lake stroll,
fly out the next morning. But I'd consider flying out of Zurich and not backtracking.
Probably more flight options out of Zurich as well.

While the ferry boat ride across the lake is fine once, I agree that it takes up more
time than you want it to for 2 day trips.

In mid-March, it will still be winter in the mountains. You'll be competing with
skiers for space on gondolas. Dress appropriately.

If you are up for it, a day trip to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn is doable from
Montreux.

Posted by
7860 posts

I agree with the Geneva comment. Its pretty, but in comparison to all the other places I've been to in Switzerland, its at the bottom of the list. If you are visiting CERN, which is fabulous for science lovers, then Geneva is worth an overnight. We did like all the other BO cities over Grindelwald. We'd stayed in Lauterbrunnen. The valley is lovely, Also lovely is Wengen and Murren. Grindelwald was so crowded and touristy. We enjoyed Montreux. The castle and its setting are spectacular.

Posted by
35 posts

I made changes.
Time frame mid March for 2 seniors.
Train from Paris to Lausanne. 
Choosing these hotels as we are redeeming our HHonors points.
2 nights in Lausanne (day trips to Montreux, Gruyères). 
3 nights in Wengen (day trips to Grindlewald, Murren + Spiez, Thun). 
2 nights in Geneva (wind down). 
Train back to Paris. 
Please advise.

Posted by
7860 posts

Not to beat a dead horse, but, I'd add a night to Wengen and reduce Geneva by a night.

Posted by
35 posts

OMG, I already have 3 nights in Wengen, I need to do 4?
I was thinking of booking close to Lausanne like Cully 3 nights, instead of 2 and reduce one night in Geneva.
This is what I have
2 nights Lausanne
3 nights Wengen
2 nights Geneva

I was changing to
3 nights Cully
3 night Wengen
1 night Geneva.

Thanks

Posted by
1142 posts

Further beating the poor dead horse, if your gateway city is Paris (that was
not in the 1st post), I'd just change trains in Geneva and head back there.

Or, go to Lyon for the 2 nights instead of Geneva.

I assume you're spending a night in Paris prior to the return flight? Geneva
is too far away to risk going to CDG the day of your flight.

Posted by
35 posts

I love you are beating the dead horse, I totally appreciate it.

Ok, our full plan is like this
2 seniors, starting Feb end 2026 from USA -> Rome.
1 night Rome.
7 nights Pisa.
7 night Paris.
2 nights Lausanne (Montreux, Gruyères).
3 night Wengen (day trips to Grindlewald, Murren + Spiez, Thun).
2 nights Geneva (Lyon after spending 1 week in Paris?).
1 night Paris.
back to Paris -> USA.

Posted by
7860 posts

Three nights usually amounts to two days. So if you are in Wengen three nights and take two day trips, you will be spending little time in Wengen. Horse is really dead at this point. ;)

Posted by
35 posts

Thanks but the deal I got in Wengen cannot be changed, the hotel is great and not allowing me any changes. Now thinking will reduce one night in Geneva and add Thun on the way one night after 3 nights in Wengen.

Ok, our full plan is like this
2 seniors, starting Feb end 2026 from USA -> Rome.
1 night Rome.
7 nights Pisa.
7 night Paris.
2 nights Lausanne (Montreux, Gruyères).
3 night Wengen (day trips to Lauterbrunnen, Murren).
1 night Thun
1 night Geneva (maybe will cancel Geneva and add one more night in Thun)
1 night Paris (going to Paris from Geneva is quite convenient compared to Thun).
back to Paris -> USA.

Posted by
3573 posts

you do not need to go back to Geneva to go to Paris. You can go to Paris from Wengen via Basel for example. Add one night to Lausanne and use that for a day trip to Geneva, and ad another night to Wengen.

But your schedule is still not very logical. If you are planning to arrive in Rome, and leaving from Paris I would put Paris at the end, and do things in the order Rome - Switzerland - Paris.

Posted by
35 posts

I know, my hubby booked it; I wanted to leave back from Zurich.
Hmmm...

Posted by
275 posts

Have you already purchased your flights? Flying into Rome for just a one night layover doesn’t make sense and is wasting a night that could be spent in Switzerland. Can you fly into Zurich?
With just 3 days in Wengen, I’m not sure how practical it will be to try to fit Murren in. Just getting there and back will take a good part of the day. I’d just concentrate my time in Wengen, Grindelwald and Jungfrau. You could even swap the Rome/Geneva nights for 2 nights in Lucerne.
Are you dead set on Geneva? Everyone’s comments indicate that there is not much there. Add a day to Lausanne/Montreux. We did a quick boat trip to Evian Les Bains for lunch (since it was free with our pass) and spent the rest of the day at the Olympic Museum and exploring Lausanne (stayed in Montreux). Gruyère and Chateau de Chillon were great day trips to visit.
Beaune would make a good 2 night stay on your way back to Paris.
Maybe something like this:

Fly into Zurich - train to Lucerne - 2 nights

Wengen - 3 nights

Lausanne - 3 nights

Beaune or Lyon - 2 nights

Paris - rest of trip - fly home from Paris
Or go straight to Paris from Lausanne for a longer stay in Paris. Not sure how many total nights you have.

Posted by
7860 posts

Can't figure out why you would go from Pisa to Paris. Why not Pisa to Lausanne (or other Swiss city) and do all of Paris at the end?
Re., stay in Wengen. Doesn't make sense to hit Grindelwald from there with your very short stay. Consider doing Schilthorn, Murren, Lauterbrunnen.

Posted by
35 posts

My hubby booked air without much thinking, so I cannot change that; I cannot change Pisa and Paris too as those are our timeshares, but our other places in the later part of journey, are fully customizable, those I can still change.

Our current full plan is like this 2 seniors, starting Feb end 2026 from USA -> Rome. 

1 night in Rome. (We have been to Rome before for longer duration, so it is just a stop over)

7 nights Pisa. (Day trips to Florence, Cinque Terre, climb Pisa)
--looking for a couple more senior friendly day trips recommendations, thinking like Lucca, Chianti Region.

7 nights in Paris. (Day trip to Palace of Versailles )
-- need to choose from: Giverny or Chantilly, Fontainebleau, or Provins, last choice: Reims or Dijon/Beaune

2 nights Lausanne (Day trips to Montreux, Gruyères). 

3 night Wengen (Day trips to Lauterbrunnen, Murren). 

Day stop at Thun/Spiez/Bern/Basel (Only 1 from these 4, based on convenience and luggage storage)

3 nights in Strasburg. (Trying to avoid hotel hopping)

Back to Paris -> USA. back to Paris -> USA.