Hi folks,
As we’ve been tightening our itinerary, it looks like we’d like to break up our trip from Venice to Paris with a stop in Switzerland (for a change of scenery).
It seems like there are a ton of small little towns in which we could stop for two-three nights.
The only “must” would be to take a boat ride on a lake with the alps in the background (I still have this memory embedded into my brain from high school).
Thoughts?
Interlaken…two lakes with boat rides and a short train ride to Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Wengen-get the four day Swiss Pass for easy transit and free boat rides…
What time of the year?
Interlaken isn't Swiss. It is very famous among people from Asia and Middle-East. It does not offer any mountain views. It is ok to stay there in spring or autumn and use it as a travel hub, but not during the summer. Too crowded, too many tourists.
@rolandp
June
Assuming you are traveling by train, Lucerne makes a lot more sense in terms of access. There are direct trains to Lucerne from Milan, or with one change you can ride trains over the Alps on the Gotthard Pass route, instead of going under the Alps in a tunnel.
Going to Interlaken would take extra time snd more train changes, whether you go via Lucerne or via Spiez. And going via Spiez there is no way to avoid long tunnels.
Or you could take the Gotthard Oanorama Express train and boat combination from Lugano (near Milan) to Lucerne.
Lucerne is a lovely town right on the lake, with a nice swimming beach if you like ( my husband swam there in late August), a scenic boat cruise, and mountaintop excursions involving a combo of boat, cogwheel train, and cable car.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/gotthard-panorama-express/
or with one change you can ride trains over the Alps on the Gotthard Pass route, instead of going under the Alps in a tunne
What would this entail from Venice?
I much preferred Lucerne to Interlaken on my recent trip. It’s larger for one thing but also beautiful, many painted Swiss style buildings, cobblestone squares with fountains, I loved walking around the old town area. On a lake with several mountain experiences available (Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis, Stanserhorn). While the lakes at Interlaken were beautiful, I felt the town itself was just meh, basically shops and restaurants and no charm. Ok for a quick stop but if I were planning to stay a few days I’d pick Lucerne.
From Venice, the standard route to either Luzern or Interlaken starts with a train to Milano Centrale.
How easy to pop off and spend a couple of hours seeing the Last Supper? :)
My son said he was okay missing it...but he asked when he realized where we'd be stopping. :)
Where are you coming from, and where are you going to? And when?
I dont think that visiting Milan just for the Last Supper is worth it. You have to have tickets for one thing, and you also are only allowed inside the controlled environment of the Last Supper for 15 minute, before the next group is ushered in.
As great as the Berner Overland is (that is, the valley above Interlaken, not Interlaken itself) I think Luzern is a better one shot location, as you can go out on the Lake, and up your choice of mountains, from there.
You would have to book tickets to see it first, and pick a time that fit with your train travel from Venice to Milano Centrale (2+hours). Then research luggage storage—-that isn’t easy as there is a lot of outdated information on the web. Apparently there is an on-site luggage deposit in the station, but off-site storage is cheaper. Also I have read of long lines to deposit and pick up luggage at the facility in the station, but that may be outdated. Here is the website for the on-site facility in case you are curious. Apparently the charge is €30 for 3 bags for 2-4 hours.
https://www.kibag.it/en/deposito-bagagli-milano/deposito-bagagli-milano-centrale/#pll_switcher
After stashing your luggage you need to make your way to the chapel by taxi or metro, in time for your timed entry. Then make your way back to the station in good time for your onward journey.
But you should ge more information, hopefully with first-hand experience, before deciding to do this. Just dealing with Milano Centrale—a large and noisy train station—-is enough for me.
Edit: I just re-read and see you might have 3 nights to spend between Venice and Paris. If the Last Supper is important, you could spend the first night in Milan and have the afternoon to spend there and see the Last Supper. I also recommend going up on the roof of the Duomo by stairs. It is amazing up there (we just did this at the end of August).
Book a hotel near the Milano Centrale station to save time getting back and forth from the station with your luggage. Hotel Berna comes highly recommended.
Then continue on to Luzern the next day and spend 2 nights there. That gives you time to explore the city and take a boat ride and mountain excursion if you like. Luzern to Paris is an easy trip with a single change at Basel if you choose the right train.
Where are you coming from, and where are you going to? And when?
Coming from Venice and headed to Paris in June.
Re: Last Supper
Sounds like it may be too much of a mess to try and squeeze in...and that's totally fine!
Book a hotel near the Milano Centrale station to save time getting back and forth from the station with your luggage. Hotel Berna comes highly recommended. Then continue on to Luzern the next day and spend 2 nights there. That gives you time to explore the city and take a boat ride and mountain excursion if you like. Luzern to Paris is an easy trip with a single change at Basel if you choose the right train.
We were thinking of taking the Gotthard Panoramic train and boat combo to Luzern, unless there's a night train.
But, since this leaves from Lugano, does that mess things up?
Here's the deal with the Last Supper: He'd like to see it, but I hate to majorly complicate things for 15 mins where he may not even get a good look at it. :)
Do Lucerne for sure. You will not be disappointed. We just did the Milan to Paris trip a week ago on the train. It was a long haul. Our train took us from Milan to Zurich with beautiful scenery, then had to change trains to get the Paris to Zurich leg. Stopping over in Lucerne would be easy, and worthwhile. Beautiful lake, mountains, and lots to see.
