We will be on a Rick Steves Italy trip and then plan on sending the husband home and my son and I will have 7 days in mid-July to venture from Milan to Zurich-which is where we fly out of to return home. I have been reading the blogs and think that we would like to take the train and wind our way up to Zurich. It appears that we should take the Berner Oberland train-what else should we do that a teenage boy would like? He would probably like seeing the Matterhorn so he can check that "off his list". Any suggestions on where to stop, sleep, etc would be most helpful. We are completely open on ideas. I tried looking at the Swiss Railway map and became very confused-trying to figure out routes, fares, which tickets to buy, etc.
Posted by
Green Bay
20087 posts
Ok, how about this: Milan-Zermatt, Zermatt-Lauterbrunnen (or Muerren or Wengen), Lauterbrunnen-Luzern. You can get a train from Luzern direct to Zurich airport in 1 hour. Think about each getting a 1-month Half Fare Card at 120 chf each. You are liable to be taking some expensive mountain rail trips (Gornergrat, Jaungfraujoch, Schilthorn). Info at www.sbb.ch
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3391 posts
I don't know if this is your style or not, but how about hut-to-hut hiking in the alps? There are many mountain huts and refugios that can be reached by trails. It's a lot of fun to take a gondola up high in the mountains, hit the trail, check in to a hut, have dinner, sleep, pack up and then hike around, ending up at another hut the next night. You can choose huts that have easy, moderate, or strenuous hikes to reach them. Some are only a few hours apart and others are farther. Most of them have bedding, a cafe/restaurant, and it's a great way to meet people. Your son might love this! If you want to see mountains and beautiful views and really get out there, this might be fun for you to do together. Here's a website so that you can see what they're like. Swiss Mountain Huts We have done this several times in Italy and Switzerland and can't wait to go again!
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
977 posts
Well you could take the Bernina Express from Tirano in Italy to Chur in Switzerland. Then from there hook up with the Glacier Express to take you to Zermatt to the Matterhorn. And then take the train for there on to Zurich at the end. And of course while in Zermatt there is also the Gornergrat Bahn to be taken if one has not got feed up with trains.
Posted by
OP
10 posts
We would like to do a day hike in various locations-probably in Wengen/Murren/etc. Since we are limited on space in our bags, I am wondering if we have to take hiking boots or can we get by with hiking in running shoes?
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3391 posts
I think you're fine in a pair of sturdy running shoes that have good tread on the bottoms. When you're hiking around you'll see a variety of footwear on your fellow trekkers including running shoes, even on rougher trails. I wore mine last summer for most of the hikes I went on, including ones where there was some scrambling and steeper rock sections, with no problem at all. If you're just doing day hikes then you'll be fine with runners and avoid all the weight and bulk of hiking boots in your luggage.
Posted by
OP
10 posts
Another question-would it be possible to stay in Luzern for the night prior to our 11:30 flight out of Zurich, or is it too difficult/unreliable to expect to leave Luzern and arrive at the airport 2 hours prior to departure? Should we just stay in Zurich instead?
Posted by
Ballwin
833 posts
I think you're fine staying in Lucerne. Look at the schedule on sbb.ch rail website. You could leave as early as 4:55am and get to the airport at 6:13. Some of the trips have connections in Zurich HB, others go straight to the airport. I think you would be fine with either one (the train to the airport from Zurich HB runs so frequently that even if you missed the one you planned you could leave just 15 minutes later). If you want a direct trip to the airport, the best option (time-wise) for you is probably the 8:10 to 9:13 Lucerne --> Zurich Airport. If you want to allow yourself a little more time you could leave earlier, but that one should be fine.
Posted by
OP
10 posts
I think I might have a plan but I need to see if it is reasonable or…I should be "talked off the cliff" and not do so much.
Day 1-travel from Milan to Zermatt. (Glacier Express)
Day 2-travel to Murren/Wengen/Grimmelwald. I need to figure out where to stay-any ideas? Probably stay there 3-4 nights.
Day 5-to to Bern for a day
Day 6-7-Luzern and then Zurich airport-home.
My questions are-are we biting off too much?
4 nights too much in Murren/Wengen/Grimmelwald?
Good hikes to do there-hikes to avoid?
Ideas on where to stay in Luzern?
I will probably buy the half fare ticket-as is suggested.
I was hoping to avoid the Matterhorn but the 18 year old wants to see it…so we will put it on the list.
Thanks for any help/advice/re-routing
Posted by
OP
10 posts
One last thing-I am having a very difficult time deciding whether I should stay in Wengen, Murren or Grimmelwald. I think part of it may depend upon availability of lodging-but we are also thinking about doing some hikes each day. We don't need the exciting things to do as part of the non-hiking life-we are not shoppers/souvenir buyers so that doesn't play into our decision.
Posted by
troy, ny
656 posts
I would suggest paragliding in the B.O. You're son would probably love it. It is on my list for September. Check it out: http://airtime-paragliding.ch
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3391 posts
If the weather in Zermatt is bad then your visit there will be wasted. Maybe schedule more than one day there just in case? It really is worth waiting out the clouds - the views from the top of any of the lifts are unbeatable, especially Glacier Paradise. Cheesy name but one of the most breathtaking gondola rides I've been on anywhere in the world and you really do feel like you are on top of the world!