Would like to hear thoughts and commentaries about our current trip (my wife and I, both in our 50's). Arrive in Zurich Monday afternoon Sept. 6, depart Monday early afternoon Sept 27. Travel will be mostly by train with a half fare card.
Day 1 (first full day that is ) spend day in St Gallen with primary focus the Abbey library. Maybe toward end of day (see how tired we are), quick trip up to a Swiss Bodensee town like Arbon.
Day 2 one of the morning trains via Rapperswil to Luzern which I gather is the most scenic route to get there. Rest of the day spend in Luzern.
Day 3 If the weather is nice perhaps a trip up Mt Rigi, perhaps combined with wandering around Weggis and or Vitznau.
Day 4, a day trip to Bern (would do this on the day that looks cloudiest while staying in Luzern).
Day 5 last full day in Luzern, perhaps visit the Transportation museum, maybe combine it with one more lake ride, or a quick trip to Zug (I have vague memories of seeing Zug as a 15 year old and thought it looked like a nice place to visit and its just a quick trip from Luzern)
Day 6, onto Lauterbrunnen, or somewhere nearby. I'm thinking either 4 or five nights there, with things we'd enjoy doing being the Lauterbrunnen area waterfalls, some kind of easy hike in a higher elevation area, a trip up the Jungfraujoch, and a day devoted to perhaps both Brienzersee and Thunersee. I think for sure a walk from Isetwald to Giessbach falls looks wonderful. This time frame is still a little unclear in terms of total days, including Day 6 the arrival day, with us leaving either on day 10 or day 11. For now lets say we leave on day 11.
Day 11, onto Montreux/Lausanne. We'll take the scenic route via Zweisimmen, so not get to our destination very early, but a nice train ride, along the Golden Pass route is part of the attraction.
Day 11, thru day 13, visit Montreux, Vevey, Lausanne. Looking forward to walks along Lake Geneva, perhaps the Olympic museum.
Day 14, long train ride to Locarno. Will look for the route that stays in Switzerland and I believe incorporates part of the Glacier express route, via Brig, and Andermatt, though it looks like lots of changes. This, like our day 11 will be a train oriented kind of day. Day 14, thru day 17 will be Locarno, Lugano and maybe Bellinzona. In Locarno I'd like to walk up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso, and walk along the lake side gardens. For Lugano area I think the San Grato park above the lake might make for a good focus for the day
Day 18, back to Zurich, and as its a pretty quick trip from the Ticino region, still have some of the day to wander around Zurich. Day 18 thru 20, spend some time in Zurich, and do at least one day trip, for sure Schaffhausen, and maybe another easy one like Baden or Rapperswill. Get tested in Zurich and hopefully we are both negative so we can come home on time.
Some of the days might move around a bit, a day more here, a day less there, maybe even add a day to the trip as well, as I have free change with united.
Will probably look for lower medium type price range for accomodations, and meals will be simple. If there is a good sausage stand in site we'll be there, and lots of picnic type meals as well.
Also, would love to hear feedback about different lakeside walks in the areas we are going to. I like city/town side lake promenade walks, plus countryside lake walks, with ideally a forested feel.
I enjoy wandering through beautiful, elegant older neighborhoods, so any recommendations along those lines would be appreciated.
I like the feel of the trip and believe my wife will enjoy it as well, and like the balance. It probably is more weighted toward cities and towns than most Switzerland trips, but as we are just staying in one country, wanted to get a feel for some cities as well, and we are still seeing some beautiful places.