I'm thinking about spending 5 days in Switzerland next summer. We'll be heading to the Swiss Alps from Munich. We'd like to do some hiking (nothing crazy though - just easy to moderate hikes), go on some gondolas, and see these beautiful mountains, so I'm interested in an advice/suggestions on itinerary ideas.
Here are some of my questions...
1. Where is a central place to stay? Lauterbrunnen? Interlaken? Another location???
2. Are there trains to Lauterbrunnen from Munich? (or will this trip be a train/bus combo?) We aren't planning on renting a car (or is a car necessary for this area???)
3. Should we pick one place to stay for the 5 days or pick two different places?
4. I'm eager to hear any other recommendations for what to do in this area. I've never been to Switzerland before.
5. What airport should we use to leave this area? Bern? Zurich?
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
1) Not Interlaken, Yes Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Wengen, Grindelwald. This is the Jungfrau area of the Berner Oberland. Just one small part of Switzerland, but a very popular one as a first place to go.
2) All of these places are accessable by train. Mürren and Wengen are only accessable by train or on foot, no roads!
3) Yes, stay put and use trains/cable cars/buses to visit other places. See this "map" of the area: http://www.mappery.com/maps/Jungfrau-Grindelwald-region-summer-map.jpg
red = railways, black = cable cars
4) Just soak up the beautiful mountains.
5) Depends where you are going next. Bern airport has very few flights. Zürich or Geneva are the usual choices. But for some places, like Paris, train is better and faster.
Posted by
Annapolis, MD
28 posts
I cant quite speak to this yet as I have a similar trip booked but haven't gone on the route yet. But in Sept will be traveling from Murren to Munich. D/t the longer train route, we decided to stop through Colmar for 2 nights on the way. We have six nights and are splitting them w/3 in Vevey and 3 in Murren, traveling in the opposite direction from you.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11775 posts
What Chris F. said is perfect advice. Be sure to get the Rick Steves Switzerland guidebook as he will tell you much of what you need to know about hiking there, and there are several easy-to-moderate hikes.
I like to recommend the Berner Oberland Regional Pass which allows unlimited use of the trains and lifts (except for a small additional fee for the highest routes to the Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn). When we stay there 5 to 7 nights, the BO Reg Pass saves us a lot over walk-up individual fares, and there is a skip-the-line feature.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
How does the Regional Pass allow you to skip the line? What line are you skipping? I'm having a difficult time visualizing a line that you could potentially skip in the BO.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11775 posts
Tim, if there is a line for tickets -- and we have seen them -- pass holders go right to the turnstile.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
I wouldn't call it a "skip-the-line feature". The only "line" (queue) is tourists taking a long time at the ticket window, There is no queue if you use the ticket machines, or buy your ticket the day before.