I am wondering about transportation once I take the train from Milan to Geneva in October. What can I expect to find in terms of public transportation to get back-and-forth to Lausanne and/or to the vineyards, to Montreux, and around the lake? We will not have a car nor do we wish to rent one. I found what appears to be a nice Vrbo in Bourg-en-Lavaux and one in Pully, but I can’t tell if we’ll be able to reach these places with public transportation. Thanks.
Posted by
4961 posts
There is train (world class!) and ferry. You would need to map your specific accommodation locations to see if you could walk to the train station. Last step would be to check out the bus service, as I am sure there is some. (Go to Google Maps and click "Nearby" then enter "bus station.")
I looked into walking the vineyards and also doing a tour, but unfortunately it rained the day I intended to do that.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Awesome! Thanks for the info. This is our first trip to Europe, so we are doing our best to navigate this and have fun doing it! We’re 67 and 71, and it’s finally happening!
Posted by
4961 posts
I was there last October and it was gorgeous--you'll love it!
Good luck with the transport research--don't hesitate to ask your potential hosts for advice on transport issues.
Posted by
Paris
7300 posts
Both Pully and Bourg en Lavaux have some rural areas, so make sure that the respective VRBOs are close to a train station. Buses close some useful gaps in the area, especially to get up the hill above Bourg en Lavaux. All in all, public transportation is great in that area (and in Switzerland in general).
Posted by
Green Bay
21141 posts
When you use the journey planner at www.sbb.ch/en, it will show you how to get anywhere in Switzerland by any means of public transport. You can even put in a street address as the destination and it will show you to the closest bus stop and even estimated walking time to the address.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks for all the helpful info. I'll research all of it.
Posted by
Wengen
2493 posts
If you are actually staying in Pully or Bourg en Lavaux do not travel all the way to Geneva. You will be backtracking. (look at a map) Train travel is different from air travel, you do not need to make a detour to a big city first.
So on www.sbb.ch just plan your trip from Milan to the actual street address of your accommodation. You will see where you need to change trains etc... Let the system work out the shortest route for you.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32350 posts
You might consider staying right in Lausanne and using that as your home base for exploring the area. There are some nice hotels there, including some that are close to the rail station.
You could also use the elegant old paddlewheelers to travel from Lausanne to Château de Chillon or Montreux. A good solution is to take the boat one way and rail the other. The boat docks are just below Lausanne in an area called Ouchy. The rail network in Switzerland is outstanding and completely electrified.
As this is your first trip, you might find it helpful to buy a copy of the most recent Rick Steves Switzerland guidebook. There's lots of good information there on not only sightseeing but also transportation, hotels and restaurants.