Itinerary advice for 14-day June trip

Posted by Issaqtrav (Seattle area) on 01/02/26 09:11 PM

Hello

We are a couple in our early 60s from Seattle planning our 1st trip to Switzerland. We have been to all the nearby countries –France, Germany, Italy, Australia multiple times. We are comfortable with “moderate” hikes (up to 3 miles one way and less than 1000 ft elevation change). We were thinking of starting this 13-15 night trip around June 13th or so.

After scouring the earlier threads this is our first itinerary draft. We will both buy the Half fare card and are debating between the BO and Jungfrau passes.

Arrive mid-day in Zurich
2 nights in Lucerne (city sights, Mt Rigi and Stanserhorn) using Day Pass both days
Train to Interlaken using BO or Day Pass
3-4 nights in Wengen or Murren
3-4 nights in Grindelwald
Train from Interlaken to Montreux using BO or Day Pass
2 nights in Montreux
Train from Montreux to Zermatt using Point to Point or Day Pass
2 nights Zermatt
Train from Zermatt to Bern (via Brig and Kandersteg) using Day Pass
Leave bags at Bern Bahnhoff and explore city
Late evening train to Zurich airport; Sleep near Zurich airport
12 noon flight back to Seattle from ZRH

Please comment on the itinerary. We wanted to do Bernina Express but didn’t quite know how to fit it in. (We have been to the Italian side…Lake Come et al multiple times).

Does breaking up our 8-night BO stay make sense? If so, how would you group activities between Grindelwald and Murren/Wengen for efficiency.

I think BO pass suits us more than Jungfrau pass but I am not sure. We are leaning towards skipping Jungfrau and doing only Schlithorn.

Thanks in advance

Posted by wanderweg

Nashville, TN

01/03/26 06:53 AM

1157 posts

I’d suggest getting an apartment chalet for a week in Wengen instead of splitting. Wengen is centrally located to the areas you want to see and settling into one base and exploring is very nice. I much prefer Wengen (car free) over the hustle & bustle of Grindelwald. The hiking right from your door is better in Mürren, but in June the cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp + train to Mürren will be closed for replacement of the cable car, so you’ll have to take the bus + cable car combo to get up to Mürren. Not a huge deal, but makes it a less convenient base than Wengen for the whole week.

Your plan works (other than changing to all Wengen), but an alternative idea…
Arrive Zurich (or Geneva if you can) > train to Montreux 2 nights > Zermatt 2 Nights > Wengen 8 Nights > Bern or Luzern 2-3 nights>Zurich Airport from base in Bern or Luzern (direct train)
I’d suggest starting in Montreux to get over jet lag with a boat ride, easy lake promenade walk with tour of Chateau de Chillon and maybe a bit of time in the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces. Then to Zermatt for the Gornergrat & a bit of hiking. Then once you’re fully acclimated to the time & rested, you’ll have your main time in Wengen for the many activities there before ending with some exploration of Bern/Luzern. It’s also better to get to Wengen as late as you can, as some of the trails etc done open until later in June.

With this plan I’d get the Half Fare Card + 8 day reduced Berner Oberland Pass for your time in Wengen. You can use the HFC/saver day passes for your time in Montreux, Zermatt & Bern/Luzern.

For chalet apartments in Wengen, look at Interhome, e-Domizil, Wengen Apartments, Alpine Holiday Services, Chalet.MySwitzerland.com & Airbnb