We are planning a trip to Switzerland and London in early November. We plan on visiting the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva then staying a few days in Lucerne. Not sure if we should fly into Zurich or Geneva. Any thoughts or suggestions on other places to go visit between there? We will be taking trains to our destinations. We plan on being in Switzerland for 4-6 days. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Green Bay
21137 posts
CERN is near Geneva, but that doesn't mean you should fly into GVA. You did not say if you are going to London first or afterward. There are not many non-stops to GVA from North America, Washington, New York and possibly Toronto. Most non-stops are to Zurich. Luzern is close to Zurich. From/to London either airport should have plenty of flights.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Sam,
we are going to Switzerland first then flying home from London.
Posted by
Ballwin
833 posts
If the price difference is minimal (and if a non-stop is available and that matters to you), fly into Geneva so that you'll be there to start. If there is a big price difference, you could consider flying into Zurich and transferring to Geneva. Take the train between Geneva and Lucerne, then maybe spend a night or two in Zurich before you leave. I also enjoyed the city of Basel. I've found cheap flights between Zurich and London before, so that probably won't be too expensive. While you're in Lucerne, visit the top of the three mountains. If you choose Mt Rigi then take a ferry across the lake to Weggis or VItznau and head up the mountain from there - it's a really lovely trip.
Posted by
Green Bay
21137 posts
Unless you are coming from Washington DC area, looks like into ZRH, then train to Luzern, train to Geneva for CERN visit. Flight from Geneva to Heathrow, then fly home from Heathrow. If coming from DC reverse the Swiss part. CERN is in Meyrin, which is basically a couple of miles west of Geneva airport. Use multicity function on ITA Matrix to search for flights. I just checked from NYC and United had nonstop on all 3 legs for $1200. GVA-LHR operated by Swiss.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
We visited CERN this past summer and took the tour...make sure to book well in advance as they fill up. There were lots of people just showing up without reservations the day we took the tour and they were turning them away. There are limited days/times they give tours and not many spaces. CERN is very close to the airport...you fly almost directly over it when you land and can see the Globe from the left-hand side of the plane. Geneva is a really beautiful city with a nice old town center...if you fly directly here you could spend one night, take the tour the next day and then head up to Lucerne.