We are investigating potential Switzerland and other country itinerary. Assuming a 21ish day trip, what are the group’s thoughts of a Switzerland-Austria travel plan? Landing in Geneva, traveling west to east to ending in Vienna. Generally, we are more interested in hikes, nature and local culture than big metropolitan museums. Also, we would prefer to use trains as much as possible or other public transportation.
Your opinions and suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Posted by
The Heartland USA
9283 posts
cmwood, my thoughts are that you start with a good guidebook or spend some time on this site looking at the "Explore Europe" tab and see the planning advice there. RS does a good job of advising first time visitors of what they can see, and would help refine your thoughts. And it also helps explain transportation. I did three weeks in Switzerland my first trip and could have done much more.
That being said, high points of Switzerland for me were Luzern, Lauterbrunnen Valley, Zermatt (Matterhorn - but skippable) the Engadine Valley (Pontresina & St Moritz) and Luzern (great place for outdoor stuff). I found Bern and Zurich skippable cities as well, and did not care for Geneva. I regret not spending more time in the French and Italian areas. I also would like to go to the Appenzell area. Austria to me is Salzburg and Innsbuck but I'm sure others have more interesting locations in the higher mountains. Vienna is a good endpoint.
Posted by
PA, USA
17 posts
What time of the year are you going? There is much to do in Switzerland. The Berner Oberland, Lucerne, Appenzell.. even Lake Geneva is lovely for boat rides. Our family also liked visiting Chamonix, France, a great mountain area near Mount Blanc. My friend travelled to Austria last year and loved it. She was in a group of 4 and they rented a car but I assume you could also take public transport there. Maybe ask in the Austria forum?
For a 21 day trip, you might find it most enjoyable to visit 6 places max and plan day trips out of each place instead of going to a new place every day or every other day.
Posted by
26 posts
I will tell you what the Austrians told me. "If you like the mountains in Austria. Wait until you get to Switzerland".
From Geneva An option is take the train or ferry to Montreux for 1/2 a day (look up Smoke on the Water origin). There is a castle in Montreux on the lake.
Go to Chamonix for a night /maybe two. It's good not fantastic. Go to Zermatt It's fantastic. Go to Gimmelwald = fantastic (See Rick Steves) Go to Grindelwald = fantastic. On the way to Gimmelwald from Zermatt an option is https://www.google.com/search?q=oeschinensee&oq=oeschinensee&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIKCAEQLhgHGAoYHjIICAIQABgHGB4yCAgDEAAYBxgeMggIBBAAGAcYHjIICAUQABgHGB4yCAgGEAAYBxgeMgYIBxBFGDzSAQkyNzM1MGowajSoAgCwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
From Grindelwald goto St.Moritz and Ponstrasina = fantastic. Take the Panorama wig hike out of Ponstrasina. It's easy and beautiful.
If you have to see Austria mountains. I like Saint Anton.
https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwqshOyzZg9OIoLlFIzCvJzwMARFkGnw&q=st+anton&oq=saint+anton&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgBEC4YChiABDIHCAAQLhiABDIJCAEQLhgKGIAEMgYIAhBFGDkyBwgDEC4YgAQyDAgEEAAYChixAxiABDIHCAUQABiABDIQCAYQLhivARjHARjUAhiABDIKCAcQLhjUAhiABDIHCAgQLhiABNIBCDkwNzRqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Note: you can't take a train to Gimmelwald. It's a bus, then a Gondola. Be very careful booking this part. I ended up on a train to Grindelwald. the first time.
I would go 4 days in Zermatt 1 day Osechinensee 3 days Gimmelwald 4 days Grindelwald 4 days StMoritz/Ponstarsina