Planning a trip from Salzburg to Switzerland! Would love any help or opinions on the plan we have now, Thank you!!
Day 1: Salzburg
Day 2: Salzburg -> Zurich by train
Day 3: Zurich
Day 4: Early morning train to Bern, Bern
Day 5: Bern, maybe add a daytrip here? thinking maybe somewhere like Lauterbrunnen (generally someplace in Bernese Oberland)
Day 6: Train to Geneva
Day 7: Geneva
Day 8: Go home!
I took my daughters to Europe when they were 20. They loved Salzburg, liked Bern, liked Lauterbrunnen, LOVED Luzern. None of us cared for Geneva much, but if you have interest in the CERN museum or maybe the UN, then it might be worth going. Geneva was even more expensive than the other places we stayed in Switzerland.
Every place in Switzerland, is lovely. It is just some places are nicer than others. If it were me, I'd probably cut out Zurich and drop a day in Geneva.
Oh, and maybe you want to share the age of daughter. I just feel like a 30 year old might appreciate different places than a young adult, teen or child.
Just read Periscope's comment. I'd have to agree. Perhaps stay in Salzburg and Bern (with possible day trips to Luzern and Lauterbrunnen and assuming you are flying out of Geneva, one night in Geneva or Lausanne depending on flight time.
Is your Day 1 also your arrival day from the USA? Then I would say definitely not enough time in Salzburg as you will be jet lagged (and depending on flight arrival, very few hours in Salzburg) then and your Day 2 includes a 5+ hour train ride to Zurich which doesn't leave much time for seeing anything in Salzburg. Same comment for rest of the trip, but there are shorter travel days.
A bit more information about time of year would also be helpful to those in this forum that are experts on those areas. Summer versus winter trip is going to dramatically impact activity choices and daylight hours. Have you already purchased airline tickets? That info is helpful as well, otherwise you will likely get suggestions to alter your route - if you're locked in to a specific route.
Are you flying into Salzburg from the US?
With seven nights skip Zurich, Bern and Genva and focus on two nights in Salzburg and five nights in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. When visiting mountains, you need to allow at least one additional night in case the weather doesn’t cooperate. Plus, there’s a lot to see and do in the Berner Oberland.
Can you fly home from Munich instead of Geneva? The Bavarian Alps would be a better choice than Lauterbrunnen.
You are going to spend more time traveling than enJOYing each town. LESS is more when it come to Europe. It takes SO MUCH time to change towns.
Slow down. I'd skip Zurich and add Lucerne - it's one of our favorites in all of Europe.
Are you going to even be in Salzburg for 24 hours? You arrive on day one and leave on day 2? Salzburg needs a minimum of 2 FULL days. Even then, you won't have time for a Salt Mine or Eagles Nest.
Bern - we were just there in April - I'd skip it - add time in Salzburg and Lucerne. What about the Alps?
Or maybe just do 7 days in Lucerne and the Alps and save Austria for another trip?
Are flights already booked. You're flying into Salzburg and out of Geneva? Why Geneva?
I agree with Mary Pat.
And- so nice to be traveling with your daughter- age?
Any way you can add days or fly out of Zurich? Maximize your time in the Alps, no on is ever ready to leave.
Enjoy.
Bern is a charming city with plenty to do. There is a wonderful Einstein exhibit in the historic museum. You can visit Einstein's house and see the clock tower and all the fun fountains. The old town is quite different from other old towns and worth some time. There are interesting churches and there's the capital building. If you like art, particularly Kunst, there is a nice art museum. We did it on a day trip from Luzern but it can also be a day trip from Lauterbrunner/Berner Oberland.
My daughter is 20, she is studying abroad in Salzburg during July and will be showing me around for a day or two before we move to Switzerland (beginning of August)! No tickets home yet, just the ones to meet her in Salzburg. Any recommendations on where to go straight from Salzburg if we should cut out Zurich? If we put more focus on somewhere in Bernese Oberland where are the best places to stay in/use as a home base for day trips, can we fly home from somewhere around there?
Did you look on this website for Rick's recommended itinerary of Switzerland? It may be helpful.
Salzburg plus some Switzerland will be great fun!
Switzerland Itinerary
Alps, Berner Oberland, Switzerland
Spend most of your time in Switzerland getting high in the Alps.
By Rick Steves
So much to see, so little time. How to choose? To help you get started, I've listed my top picks for where to go in Switzerland, and my plan for your best two-week trip.
Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographic proximity into account, here are my recommended priorities:
3 days: Lauterbrunnen Valley (Berner Oberland)
5 days, add: Luzern and Central Switzerland
7 days, add: Bern and Lake Geneva area, connecting with Golden Pass scenic rail journey
10 days, add: Zermatt and Appenzell, linking them with the Glacier Express train
14 days, add: Lugano and Upper Engadine, connecting with Bernina Express and Gotthard Panorama Express train rides
16 days, add: Zürich and Murten
21 days, add: More day trips (French Swiss countryside), more hikes, and time to slow down
At least three nights in Salzburg, before heading to the Alps (Berner Oberland),
then Lucerne. You can easily get to the Zurich airport from Lucerne, 1+ hour.
You have so many cities, the mountains are more magical.
Add as many more days as possible, and come back here with the updated itinerary.
Safe travels!
