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Planning a March/April 2025 trip and need help

My friends and I are starting to plan an itinerary for a 15 day trip mid March through early April of 2025. We are all in our late 50's but are very adventurous. we have traveled alot and have been pretty good so far doing our own itineraries but Switzerland for some reason has been confused.

I'm looking for suggestions and how many cities to make our home bases. I will list so far what we have seen that we are interested in going so far. Would appreciate suggestions as well as how many nights in each place and order we should do cities.

So far, we know we are flying into Zurich around March 22 and flying back out of Zurich on April 5th, so approx 14 nights. Would like to see Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Geneva, Zermatt and def ride on the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express. we would like to go to "Top of Europe/Jungrau", see the Matterhorn, Mount Titlis, maybe even feed some cows. Overall, the usual first time tourist areas. Also, is Bern or Basel a recommendation on a first time trip.

Need guidance as far as if we can maybe only have 3-4 home bases and which day trips and excursions can be done from each location.

The train situation and different passes also has me confused as to which is the best deal and how many days should we purchase on the pass. From what I've read these passes also cover buses and lifts/gandolas.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank-you.

Posted by
11569 posts

Use Interlacken as the transit hub it is but don’t stay there. Stay in a charming mountain town like Grindelwald, Wengen or Murren.
With your early dates, you will encounter snow.

Posted by
3 posts

Interlaken is very beautiful but cold. Worth a visit, but not sure you want to use it as a base as it's also expensive to stay there. Yes, some of the train passes do include other things. I just went on their website to see what it included.

Posted by
3287 posts

That is still winter in the Alps, and the cows will most likely still be in the barns.

Posted by
182 posts

Know that most (not all) mountain gondolas/trains will not be in service until much later in spring/summer,
so if you are planning higher level hiking, that will be out.
Check specific mountain train site to learn the opening dates.

Posted by
3287 posts

Actually the mountain lifts will be running for skiers. The Jungfraujoch train runs daily year-round. So do the scenic trains Glacier Express and Bernina Express.

Posted by
3 posts

We have now changed our dates to April 17 through May 2 so we could take advantage of all the panoramic trains, and the first flyer glider ride, which was otherwise closed before these dates. Is interlaken or Lucerne a more practical home base? So far I believe we have picked Zurich, St.Moritz or surrounding area, Zermatt and Montreaux as locations we spend a few nights at. Just need guidance as to what area between Montreux and Zurich

Posted by
182 posts

I would look at the "suburb" of Interlaken, called Unterseen. That way, you will be based on a quieter neighborhood, but still have excellent transport options.
While Luzern is lovely, it is OVERRUN with tourists, which greatly detracts from its charm.