I'm fortunate to be traveling to Switzerland for work (first time), and I'm planning on arriving in country one week before having to start work. Flying into Geneva on 10/13 arriving in the a.m., looking for advice/suggestions on where to stay to easily utilize the extensive rail system to my advantage. I'm not interested in hitting the entire country as I'd prefer to enjoy the sights in only a few areas and leave the rest for another trip. Right now I'm researching towns around Lake Geneva, taking the Golden Pass to Interlaken or Lucerne, then down to Zermatt and back to the Lake Geneva area (working from Morges starting 10/20). I'd like to be outside, hiking and/or taking in the views as much as possible. I'm getting lost in the details right now, so I'm looking forward to candid comments! Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1832 posts
Google Maps is really good with this purpose. The train times are accurate.
Posted by
Nashville, TN
1127 posts
That is not true - Google Maps is not always correct. Use sbb.ch/en for accurate train times.
Posted by
17 posts
Swiss people are super helpful. I flew into Zurich last march and was able to grab a train ticket same day to Zermatt. It was a little complicated, but they have an office that you can get the tickets from. From there, they explained the website to check connections.
I know you're used to booking everything in advance, but trains in Europe are designed to go all the time and have last-minute availability.
Posted by
Minneapolis
127 posts
Pick a few of the most impressive things you want to see and fill in your day with other things nearby.
I used Google Maps to get general logistics (trip time) of my planning but used the SBB app when it comes down to actually travel specifics. Like most apps, it is simple when you are familiar with it. Setting up the app and searching for tickets before your travels will be less stressful than learning on the fly.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you, all. After your comments and spending time on various apps, the train schedules are extensive and plenty. Relieved that its similar to NYC in that regard...it appears that train travel throughout the country will be convenient. Thank you for your comments!