Hi Everyone, I’m so grateful to have found this site, I've learned so much from you all, I wish I would have found it sooner.
It’s been a long process trying to navigate this trip and I would love your input with our itinerary, especially the last leg starting with July 14th.
We’re a family of four, two boys ages 20 and 18, coming to Switzerland for the first time this July 8-18th from the US. We’re flying in/out of Zurich, (I can’t change that).
We are very active, hiking, water activities, etc., and looking for adventures more so than museums. We will be traveling by train, thinking we’ll get the Swiss Travel Pass since we will be all over the region.
I realize this is a lot of information and questions, so I numbered them within our itinerary.
July 8th-July 10: Arrive Zurich 8:00 am- train to Lucerne, we have 2 nights in an Airbnb in Weggis,(can not cancel without a fee) walking distance to Mt. Rigi.
1 )Do you recommend Mt. Titlis and/or Stoos Ridge Hike for a day?
July 10-July 14th: Express train to Interlaken, 4 nights in Airbnb in Niederried Bei, -5 min walk to Brienzersee, (I can cancel this Airbnb).
2) I think I’ve read to sit on the right side of the train from Lucerne to Interlaken?
3) Do you all recommend the Brienz Rothorn Bahn? We thought we’d take it half way and hike half. We also plan on doing day trips to Lauterbrunnen, Murren and Kandersteg.
July 14: Plan to head to Zermatt this morning. Have one night booked here (can cancel).
I have read lots of suggestions to not bother if the weather is not good. Have one night booked here (can cancel). Plan on doing Klein Matterhorn this day.
July 15th:Full day in Zermatt, maybe Five Lakes Walk
**July 15-17th- We had planned to head to Montreux for the next two nights however, I just learned it is the Jazz Festival, which we don’t have any interest in and can only imagine the crowds. We’re hoping to do Chateau de Chillon and the Fort across from it but I’m so afraid it will just be too crowded.
4) Thought about Geneva instead but not sure how much interest we have in that area and if it will be crowded due to the Festival too? And/or a day trip to Annecy, is it worth it?
5) Should we stay longer in Zematt instead? Or head back to the Jungfraujoch region and stay in the mountains, since we’re staying near a lake in the beginning?
6) I would love to get a taste of southeastern Switzerland too but I don’t know where (Lugano?) And if it’d be possible from Zermatt, If we even go due to weather or if weather isn’t looking promising do we skip Zermatt and head southeast from Interlaken area instead?
7) Also, the Gelmerbahn looks so intriguing, is it worth the trip to get there and where could we squeeze it in?
July 18th: We fly out of Zurich at 1:00 pm, have hotel reservations in Thalwil for the 17th to be closer to the airport, but can cancel.
I realize we have some time if we need to travel from a little further away that morning.
Again, I know this is a lot of information and questions, if you have tips for any parts of it, I appreciate whatever you have to offer. I’m hoping to get this finalized soon so I can finally get some sleep;)
Thank you!