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RS still holding to this "How Much Time Do You Have" priority list?

Posted by (St. Albert, Canada) on

Hi there, quick bio situation:
late 50's, I'm good with activity, the wife doesn't care for super-hard hikes but is ok with some difficulty - September-October 2.5 - 3wk trip Austria/Switzerland with sides to Munich/Neuschwenstein and quick flight to Krakow to see Auschwitz. No rental cars, all trains and the one flight.

Just starting the planning so - Krakow/Auschwitz is a bucket list thing, not sure if we'll get back there, so I'm giving Krakow a day and another for the day trip to the camp. Munich was going to be three days - 2 for the Munich city and close by (we will be hitting Oktoberfest), and one day trip to Neu/Hohof castles. So, for Austria and Switzerland to have around a week each, I still have to prioritize my time there.

I knew I saw a RS article (or in his books) where he says "If you only have xx days, do this. If you have more, add this" etc. I found the one for SUI (our first stops).. https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/switzerland/itinerary
Since we fly into Zurich, I would need a bit of time there before moving on. The question: are his 7-day choices still the front runners, in the same order? If that is the consensus, that would be how I set things up before moving on to Austria.

Plus, the newest version of the SUI guidebook is the one with a cover of a river and what could be the Matterhorn in the background?

Thanks to all, I've used RS info all the back to my first trip to Europe in 2000.. :) (Hey Rick, where's my 25year fan badge?? LOL)

Posted by
13255 posts

Plus, the newest version of the SUI guidebook is the one with a cover of a river and what could be the Matterhorn in the background?

Are you asking if this is the latest edition or if the mountain on the cover is the Matterhorn?
Most definitely the Matterhorn ( https://www.turistickeprice.hr/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Zermatt-Svicarska-pogled-na-Matterhorn-Christel-from-Pixabay-2.webp )

https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/switzerland-guidebook
Publication date: July 2025 (12th edition)
Next edition arrives: Summer 2027

Posted by
77 posts

If this was the latest version, but I see now that it is, thanks! And a beautiful photo it is..

Posted by
4030 posts

For a week in Switzerland, I would split my time between Lucerne and Wengen or Murren. Maybe 3 nights Lucerne, 4 nights Wengen/Murren.

Posted by
36314 posts

I've been all over Switzerland but have never heard of a part or town called Sui.

Where did you have in mind going?

Posted by
4030 posts

Nigel I had to ask google about that one. SUI is an abbreviation used for Switzerland in sports. I would have never guessed that.

Posted by
1196 posts

SUI is the abbreviation for Suisse which is the French term for Swiss. You see it used a lot in Switzerland around the French speaking part.

This comes down to preference but I personally find the RS recommendations for itineraries very fast paced and not the best choice for most people, unless your goal is just to hit as many spots as possible without much time to actually enjoy them. You have to account for travel time every time you move (checking in and out of hotels + train time, etc) which means you lose most of a day every time you move. To say 7 days gives you enough time for the Berner Oberland, Luzern, Bern & Lake Geneva + entry and exit is a bit bonkers to me. It’s possible, but whether it’s enjoyable is questionable to me.

If you have 2.5-3 weeks and want to hit Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Poland, you’re going to be doing a ton of traveling. I’d recommend 2 spots in Switzerland. Maybe something like….
Maybe Zurich > Wengen 5 nights > Luzern 4 Nights > Innsbruck 2 Nights > Salzburg 4 Nights > Munich > Munich 3 nights > Krakow 3 nights > depart

From Luzern you can do a day trip to Bern if you really want to see it, but I’d skip Lake Geneva. From Salzburg you can do a day trip into the Salzkammergut, a day trip to see castles, etc so it’s worthy of some extra time.

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