Planning a trip to Switzerland

Posted by wendipoon on 01/11/19 05:21 PM

Hi. Can you assist in giving me some ideas or help improved on my plans.
I would be staying in Oberstaufen for a week and thereafter would like to go to Switzerland for 7 nights.

Plan A : get to the border of Germany and take a train into Switzerland (Interlaken). Our plan is to spend 4 nights in Interlaken; 2 nights in Lucern & 1 night in Zurich. Is it advisable to rent a car or we should just go around by trains. If we rent a car, can we get one at the German/Swiss border?

Plan B : We have a rented car in Germany, can we continue to use it and drive to Switzerland to visit the abovementioned places and return the car at Zurich airport. Is this advisable?

Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Wendy Poon

Posted by Pam

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA

01/11/19 05:43 PM

14731 posts

I can't advise on transportation but I'd not stay in Interlaken. I'd continue on up so you are IN the Alps. I personally love the Lauterbrunnen Valley area. I've stayed both on the Valley floor and up on the side of the mountain in Muerren. I'd recommend Muerren for the views and access to hiking. It is jaw-dropping. There are no cars, access is by cable car and train from Lauterbrunnen.

Posted by wendipoon OP

01/11/19 06:04 PM

3 posts

Thank you for your prompt response. We can consider your recommendation.
Regards
Wendy Poon

Posted by Chris F

Basel, Switzerland

01/11/19 06:09 PM

8889 posts

Oberstaufen is in southern Bavaria, in the Allgäu region near the Austrian and Swiss borders.

The problem with Plan B is that there is usually a big surcharge to rent a car in one country and return it in another. You would have to drive it back to Germany to avoid the surcharge.

Plan A: Why go to the German border BEFORE transferring to a train? Oberstaufen has a station, and it is even on the line from Munich to Switzerland.
If you go to the SBB (Swiss Railways) website: https://www.sbb.ch/en
Enter Oberstaufen to Interlaken Ost (or Mürren, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, see below) and a time and a date, it will show you the trains needed.

As for your stops, I too would suggest not Interlaken, but one of the locations further into the Jungfrau region: Mürren, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. All are accessible by train, Wengen and Mürren only by train (no roads there).
I would also say skip Zürich, unless you have a good reason to go there, and have an extra night in Luzern. Luzern to Zürich airport by train is only 70 minutes.

Posted by wendipoon OP

01/12/19 01:06 AM

3 posts

Hi, many thanks for your suggestions which will save us a lot of time & money. I would like to confirm that we could make Lauterbrunnen our base for 4 nights and visit other places like Bern, etc? Or we stay in Lauterbrunnen for 1 or 2 nights and move to Interlaken?

Regards
Wendy Poon

Posted by Tim

Knoxville, TN, USA

01/12/19 03:20 AM

7209 posts

There is absolutely ZERO reasons to stay in Interlaken. Just use Interlaken as a hub to change trains. From there go to Lauterbrunnen and make that your base if you plan on making lots of travels. Murren towers above Lauterbrunnen on one side and Wengen towers on the other side.

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

01/12/19 09:50 AM

33821 posts

I wouldn't say zero reasons for Interlaken. For many, including wanting to see the mountains up close, getting out of Interlaken is best, but for some others there are attractions. For those following Bollywood or more comfortable in an Indian hotel , with food and amenities built for an Indian audience, Interlaken is a good place to stay. There are also several backpackers hostels for that crowd. Also for folks who want to stay in Interlaken after they have para-glided down from the mountains, the landing field for many is next to the Schue bakery in Interlaken. Oh, and speaking of the Schue....

So, while I don't stay in Interlaken much anymore, there are real valid reasons for folks to do so.