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Switzerland Itinerary- September- Zurich to Geneva

Posted by (Istanbul) on

Hello ,

I need your advices about 5-6 days itinerary since I am having trouble with making. Thank you in advance for your supports .

I am planning to visit Switzerland in the middle of September for 6 days at most. (no car, I will use train) I will arrive in Zurich and plan to leave from Geneva.  How does Appenzell look like first 2 days?  Then I will stay in Sarnen(sachseln) area 2-3 days..  Can I visit form here Murren, Wengen or stay there? and french speaking part.. where should I select as bases ?  

Before 7 years ago I had first visited the country for 1 week beginning from Ticino (Lugano) ,stayed in Luzern , later in Grindelwald , with daily trips to Rigi , Lungern,Sachseln,Lauterbrunnen,Thun) .

Its now so hard to make a plan and decide where to stay. Mostly seems fully. (It seems prices also high compared to before) . Again, I want to see small ,cute villages in the Alps rather than cities . There are some villages remained in my mind like Sachseln ,Brienz ,Grindelwald... How can I include them to my trip? Where/How many places should I be based in ? Between Zurich - Geneva , are there any towns/villages to stay you will recommend ?

Before I had not been to FrenchSpeaking part so I would like to see Gruyeres this time. Which towns or picturesque villages should I add ? and must see cities here.
Open to your recommendations. I think its ard to make a plan for 6-7 days but at least I can eliminate some and focus one most beatiful places..

Apologize for this long text.. As I dont have much chance to go on a vacation , I am trying to do optimum plan:) Thank you for your supports in advance...

Posted by
20937 posts

My only thought is you say 5-6 days, and have already penciled in 2 in Appenzell, and 2-3 in Sachseln. That does not leave very much time to include French-speaking Switzerland. If you went to Montreux for 2 nights, you could visit Gruyeres from there.

Visiting Wengen and Muerren from Sachseln seems problematic as travel time will not leave a whole lot of time during the day to see much. Currently, you need to take a replacement bus between Meiringen and Interlaken because a recent flood damaged the rail line at Brienz. No telling when repairs will be complete, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Posted by
10 posts

Thank you Sam for your comments. Actually, Appenzell is not exact. As you said time is limited .Do you think its better skip it ? Also I choose Sachseln due to the normal prices and I saw there before. Luzern beatiful but pricy .

For Murren /Wengen it is not reasonable after what you said. Where else would you recommend it is not difficult to get to ?
Do you recommend to see Gruyeres /Montreux as well ?

Thanks again

Posted by
20937 posts

It was my thought to skip Appenzell, solely on the fact that it is in the opposite direction of your travel from Zurich to Geneva.
I did pass through Sachseln in January and it is indeed picture perfect rural Switzerland. You can get to the Wengen & Muerren from there, but it will take about 2 hours each way. The replacement bus is showing for September 13 when I looked. It really does not add much time, just a bit of inconvenience. Engelberg is worth a visit for seeing the high Alps, and you can get there in about 1 1/4 hours from Sachseln.

I am not too familiar with the French speaking part of Switzerland. I suggest Montreux because it is on the lake and a transit center for trips to Gruyeres. I don't now how it fits your budget, so you will have to search the area for lodging in your budget. Easy to get to Geneva airport from there in a bit more than an hour.

Posted by
10 posts

Hello Again,
I will arrive in Zurich this month. For 5-6 days ; I only booked a hotel 2 days (3-4.days of trip) near Goldswill-Ringgenberg (near Interlaken Area- planning to see Murren ) but for the first 2 days, I could not book yet , its is hard to find a place at reasonable prices. Should I spend 2 days near Luzern Area (I have been to 7 years ago) or I head to south - Locarno 1st day or another city near ?(I ve been to Lugano 1 day before)
I skipped Appenzell area. Or, go to directly Neuchatel and Montreux then to Interlaken area and last Luzern ? Montreux was the last stop of my joutney but should be 1st one?

I did not buy return ticket ,accordingly it will be Zurich or Geneva . Could you help me make my itinerary please ? Where should I consider 1.2. days? There are lots of places I am not aware of:) am open to your recommendations.

Thanks a lot ..

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