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Need Itinerary Help

Hello,

We will be departing Innsbruck on about September 22 by train for 9 days in Switzerland and will be flying home from Zurich. Rick Steves Switzerland guide book sight seeing priorities suggests three days in Berner Overland, two days in Luzern and Central Switzerland and then two days in Bern and Lake Geneva. We would like to end our tour of Switzerland with two days in Zurich. Traveling by train, what sequence would be most efficient to tie these all together? What would be the best train pass to use?

Thank you in advance. We have been Rick Steves travelers for nearly 15 years.

Michael Roberts
Carol Johnston
Vancouver, WA

Posted by
21140 posts

I think I'd head to Lake Geneva first thing and work my way back. Where on Lake Geneva (Lake Leman to be perfectly correct)? Probably Laussanne or Montreux or there about is best. Then Bern, Berner Oberland, Luzern, and finally Zurich. What are you planning in Zurich? To paraphrase an old joke, first prize is a day in Zurich, second prize is two days in Zurich.

Posted by
7175 posts

Day 1 Innsbruck => via change in Zurich => Lausanne
Day 2 Lake Geneva (for Geneva/Montreux)
Day 3 Lausanne => via Bern (perhaps spending a few hours) => Interlaken (Berner Oberland)
Day 4,5 Mountain excursions
Day 6 Interlaken => Luzern
Day 7 Mountain excursion
Day 8 Luzern => Zurich
Day 9 Zurich sights
Day 10 Fly home from Zurich

An 8 day Swiss Pass would expire on your arrival day into Zurich - 2nd class would be fine for me.
Consecutive days would let you use it to access discounts on mountain railway excursions from Interlaken and Luzern on days 4,5,7, as well as lake excursions on day 2.

Posted by
86 posts

I, personally, didn't think Luzern was worth more than a day. It was a pretty town, but once you walked around it there really wasn't much to see. I use your two days somewhere else. I love Rick Steves guidebooks and always buy one for any trip. We did a slightly different itinerary which included a ride on the Glacier Express and a trip to Zermatt.

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you so much for your valuable and insightful suggestions!

Michael Roberts
Carol Johnston
Vancouver, WA