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Swiss Alp Itinerary recommendations for fast trip- hiking family

Posted by (Austin Texas) on

Family of four with hiking teenagers looking for recommendations for a short trip through Swiss Alps. I already know this is not much time.
Option 1
Morning Flight from Paris to Bern
Train to Interlaken stay for 2 nights in Wengen and hike around Lauterbrunnen
Train to Chur for Bernina Express to Tirano
Train Tirano to Varenna

Option 2
Morning Flight from Paris to Bern
Train to Interlaken stay for 1 night in Wengen and hike around Lauterbrunnen
Train to Chur for Bernina Express to Tirano
Step off and stay along the route 1 night
I like the idea of the regional trains using the same route and don't necessarily need to spend the entire time on the scenic train
Train Tirano to Varenna
Con: short time in Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen with most of the time will be spent travelling by air/train (excluding the Bernina which is the point)
Possible Pro: Is there some amazing Alps Village we could step off and stay with great day hikes

Option 3
Not married to Lauterbrunnen
I am open to suggestions

Posted by
8972 posts

My suggestion would be to fly to Zurich, take the Bernina route south and stop in the Engadine - Samedan, St Moritz, Pontresina - and find your hiking there. Its not as great as the Lauterbrunnen area, but still pretty spectacular, and its an efficient route.

Posted by
7304 posts

From central Paris, taking the train to Zürich takes at most 30 min longer than flying (once taking airport hassles into account) and is far more comfortable. So if your starting point is central Paris, I would consider it!
Otherwise I second the recommendation to skip the Interlaken area this time around - the Engadin is lovely!

Posted by
17435 posts

With just 2 nights in Switzerland on your way to Varenna, you would make the best use of your time by going straight to a town on the Bernina Express route, such as Pontresina or nearby, and spending your time there. A 2-night stay in a hotel in the Engadine area will get you a free transport pass

Here is a good overview of hiking in the area (I don’t know why anyone would say it is not as scenic as the Wengen area):

https://www.pontresina.ch/en/activities/outdoor-mountainsports/hiking/

If lodging for 4 is too expensive in Pontresina itself, I can recommend the nearby village of Samedan, about 10 minutes away by train ( free ride with the guest pass). We enjoyed our stay in the apartment in this little “Garni” ( bed and breakfast hotel). The breakfast in the bakery downstairs should please your teens.

https://www.laagers.ch/hotel-garni/

Samedan is 3 to 3.5 hours from the Zurich airport, depending on the route taken. I suggest you take the longer route via Chur, which will take you on the Abula line and over the famed Wandwasser Viaduct.

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