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Switzerland for a month

We are planning a 4-5 weeks trip to Switzerland Sep 2023 and do some relaxed travel. We are a couple in early 50s, active and healthy. This will be our first visit to the country. just started to follow this forum and read multiple posts and gain some knowledge.

we are interested in 4 or 5 bases with almost a week in every location. The goal is to cover most of the tourist attractions at a leisurely pace. any suggestions on what route should we follow and what locations would be good choices to set up the base?

Thanks

Posted by
2661 posts

Wow!! Lucky!!! 😊

To start, I’d suggest getting the Rick Steves and maybe one other guidebook (perhaps Rough Guides) to see what interests you.

If this was my trip, I’d definitely pick Wengen, Lucerne, and Montreux for 3 of the home bases. There are lots of other good options for the additional bases depending on what interests you. Again, taking a look at a couple of guidebooks should help.

I’ve been to Switzerland 3 times recently. You can click on my name to see my trip reports. Those might give you some ideas.

Happy planning!!

Posted by
4326 posts

Agree with Carrie--1) lucky! and 2) I would certainly include Lake Geneva, Lucerne, and Bernese Oberland in a trip of that length.
You really can't go wrong, so definitely read up to see what appeals to you first, then come back and share what sticks out along with some of your interests. Overall I would want a balance of nature and culture and to get a bit of each region (German, Italian, and French).

Posted by
8645 posts

Buy the RS Guidebook. Lots of intel to help you to decide where to stay.

Posted by
32704 posts

I'd include a week in the Aargau and absolutely at least a week in the Engadin.

Posted by
4385 posts

Rick lays out a big circle route, you should see if it works for you.

Also if you look at brochures from tour companies, you'll probably find they end up at the same places for about the same time so that's an indication of what people want.

Posted by
11300 posts

Nigel mentions the Engadine. Pontresina is a charming town in that area and you can go from there to the Berner Oberland on the Glacier Express, if you like.

Posted by
1624 posts

With that much time you ought to add Ticino and French speaking Switzerland to your list as well.

You could pick for example the following bases:

Vevey
Lugano
Luzern
Pontresina

For a 4 week trip certainly doable.

Posted by
747 posts

Since you have multiple bases, here's a couple "off the beaten path" suggestions:

  1. Neuchâtel -- beautiful town with good rail connections as well as access to the three lakes of Neuchâtel, Murren, and Biel. French-speaking and fantastic wine country.
  2. Chur -- Graubünden is the often-overlooked canton on the eastern side of the county, but it is spectacular and much quieter/less tourist-mobbed than other regions. Chur is a great hub for exploration and has a nice Old Town. Or, if you are willing to use some bus transit too, head into one of the mountain villages above Chur. We stayed at an Airbnb in Malix and it was stunning.
Posted by
374 posts

Bernese Oberland must do I stayed 4 nights and coulda easily stayed the whole week to explore the region. I stayed in Lauterbrunnen which is tiny, has grocery store, charming, not overly touristy like GRINDELwald or Interlaken.

Posted by
115 posts

Thank you everyone for all your suggestions. I have made notes and I am going to do further research on all these places and come back with more specific questions.

Thanks again

Posted by
27 posts

Here is my attempt at a 4 week itinerary (28 days) with my favorite places:
Fly into Geneva in early morning and if possible lunch and walk in Geneva before afternoon train to Chamonix
Chamonix (I know France but on border) 4 nights
Awesome train journey Chamonix down to Montreux 4 night
Train journey to Zermatt 5 nights
Most of day train/gondola journey to Murren 9 nights (Hotel Alpina with Balcony view room)
Train to Lucerne 6 nights
One hour direct train to Zurich airport to fly home.

**FYI-In Chamonix make sure to do gondola up to Aiguille du Midi and you can then take gondola over miles of ice fields and cross border to Italy and come back. Chamonix – Paraglide which is from the mountain across from Mt Blanc and will give you the most unbelievable views and experience in your lifetime.
In Murren do a one-day train journey into Bern for lunch and back for dinner in Interlaken and then back to Murren to sleep. Murren is the highlight of the trip to see as much of the Bernese Oberland region you can in only 8 nights. Get the special BO regional pass for those 9 days of travel and the Swiss half fare to cut that cost in half and use the half fare card for the entire month on all other segments. Spend a day in Interlaken and also a day doing something in and around the two lakes that separate Interlaken.
In Montreux you can take the famous Chocolate train or recreate easier and cheaper with a rental car and take it to Gruyere (best cheese production and city) and Cailler chocolate factory/Broc.

If you want 5 weeks then add St Moritz area and 2 nights in Zurich.