My husband and I are traveling to Switzerland at end of June 2022. We are in the late 50’s in good health, we enjoy city entertainment, good meals, and the beautiful outdoors. We fly to Zurich, will take the train to Lucerne; 2 nights at Hotel des Alpes. Train to Interlaken, train to Lauterbrunnen. Two nights at Hotel Silberhorn at Lauterbrunnen.Interlaken to Basel by Express Train. One night at Hotel Marthof at Basel. Board the Amawaterway cruise at Basel for a 7 nights cruise up the Rhyne. Cruise ends in Amsterdam. We are staying one extra night in Amsterdam at NH Collection Amsterdam Doelen. Does this itinerary seem reasonable? We are planning to purchase the 6 days Swiss train pass. Is there something we are missing or must do differently? We welcome any suggestions! Thanks
Posted by
11569 posts
I would add time to the BernerOberland/Lauterbrunnen portion, a few more days for the most dramatic area of Switzerland.
Add a night or two to Amsterdam. Have you been there before?
Posted by
Chicago
3125 posts
It seems like you might already have your flights and hotels booked? Are you able to add more nights to Switzerland? If it was me, I’d want at least 3 nights in Lucerne and 4 nights in Lauterbrunnen.
The Swiss Travel Pass is an excellent idea as it makes traveling in Switzerland so easy.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8967 posts
Thats a tough one. Two nights is really only one full day, and there's a lot to see in either Luzern or Lauterbrunnen. If it were me, I'd pick one or the other and stay there.
Posted by
Paris
7300 posts
At what time do you need to be at the port in Basel?
Swiss trains are very reliable, and unless you have to be there early, I would have few qualms sleeping in Luzern the night before the cruise, skipping Basel. Luzern to Basel is only 1 hour by train!
If this is a possibility, then I would head straight to Lauterbrunnen from Zürich, for 3 nights, then to Luzern for 2 nights.
Otherwise, heading to Basel from Lauterbrunnen is also a possibility if you do not want to change hotel bookings too much (so, keeping your 2 nights Luzern as planned, then 3 nights in Lauterbrunnen instead of 2). A 6.30 AM departure gets you at Basel SBB station at 9, with only one change of trains in Interlaken.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8967 posts
balso's plan is good too. Take the train to Basel from Luzern, taxi to the boat dock. Viking may offer a quick tour of Basel for this arriving the departure day.
PS, in Luzern, the hotel may provide you with a free pass for local transportation.