Need help with this itinerary. Half of the days of the trip are travel days... are we trying to squeeze in too much? Tickets are purchased. Arrive Munich May 15. Munich activities Bike tour, concentration camp, musuem. Travel to Innsbrook, Austria area for biking and hiking. Train to Lucern for night. Zermott for 2 nights. Murren for hiking until leave from Zurich on 29th. Thank you.
Posted by
California
23 posts
How long will you be in Munich? We need to know when you will be going to Switzerland to provide any meaningful help. =)
Posted by
Nashville, TN
797 posts
With 2 weeks, I'd recommend removing Zermatt and slowing down a bit. Having 5 separate stops that take hours to get between is going to leave you with less time to actually enjoy where you're going. Maybe something like this:
Munich - 3 nights
Innsbruck - 3 nights
Luzern - 4 nights (day trips possible to Bern, Zurich, Lugano, etc.)
Murren - 4 nights (day trips possible to Lake Thun, Lake Brienz + hiking/biking in the Jungfrau region)
Posted by
San Diego, California
6163 posts
Reading over your previous posts, I see you have received a lot of input and you have revised plans a few times. Seems like you are having commitment issues, FOMO perhaps.
Now that you're getting close, it's time to make firm plans.
It's easier if you plan in terms of nights, not days.
Zermatt - note spelling- takes you out of the way for a location with very moody weather. You could spend all that travel time and not see the summit.
Maximize your time in the Berner Oberland, as no one is ever ready to leave, altho you are in shoulder season for the mountains. You are between ski season and summer season, and some lifts and trails won't be open yet, you can hike lower elevations, altho trails might be muddy.
For Switzerland, I'd suggest:
5 nights Berner Oberland ,
Last few nights in Lucern- it's an easy commute to the Zurich airport from Lucerne.
Folks say they want "authentic" experiences, then develop an itinerary that keeps them on trains far too much of the time. Don't make this mistake.
Wishing you a great adventure in these beautiful areas. Safe travels!
Posted by
OP
Vilonia
28 posts
Thank you all for the input. It has been one of our more challenging trips to plan overseas for some reason. FOMO may be a factor --or getting older-ha. We don't have anything booked besides the airline tickets so timeframe is open on when to get to Switzerland. Or to cut out Austria? Agree we don't want to spend all our time on the train. Hate to miss the Matterhorn.T
Thanks again.
Posted by
Irving
3374 posts
I agree with the others. Remove Zermatt and spend five nights in the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Posted by
OP
Vilonia
28 posts
Thank you.
Posted by
Minneapolis
109 posts
Have you considered small towns near these big cities? A home base for day trips to the attractions. Changing accommodations takes time that you could be using to experience more.
There is a lot to see around Munich with day trips to the castles and Salzburg where 4 days may be needed. Germany has a castle pass that gets you into museums too.
Maybe skip Innsbruck and stay the rest of the time in Switzerland. That would allow you to see the Matterhorn in Zermatt. I spent a week in BO and saw so many impressive views. I am going back. However, none had the impact as much as the Matterhorn.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11920 posts
Dave took my words. I would skip Innsbruck in favor of the locations in Switzerland. Spend 3 nights in Zermatt to increase your chances of a Matterhorn view. Note that May is early for some activities in the greater Berner Oberland but we found late May to be delightful with lush waterfalls and verdant wild flowers. You just cannot hike at some of the high elevations due to snow.