I will be going by train from Zürich to Appenzell, Appenzell to Lucerne, Lauter Bruning to Montreux, Montreux to Gruyeres then back to Montreux, then to château de chillon, then I’m hoping to go to Zermatt and back to Lauterbrunnen. Also, does anyone know since I haven’t looked into actual time yet if I could do Montreux, Gruyere, château de Chillon, zermatt and back to Lauterbrunnen in a day or should I break up into two days? My homebase is Lauterbrunnen for 4 nights.
This requires 2 days. Lauterbrunnen to Zermatt and back is a solid day, especially if you want to do anything in Zermatt, like take the Gornergratbahn up onto the mountain.
Lauterbrunnen to Montreux and back is also a full day, especially if you want to do at least one direction on the Golden Pass route.
And do not go Lauterbrunnen to Montreux to Gruyeres to Montreux to Chillon to Montreux to Lauterbrunnen. Go Lauterbrunnen to Montbovon to Gruyeres to Montreux to Chillon to Latuerbrunnen the fast way via Bern.
You might want to look at a map. Were you thinking of spending any time in these places to see things or just riding a train all day? For reference it’s approximately 3 hours from Zermatt to Lauterbrunnen by train and another 3 hours from Montreux to Lauterbrunnen.
How many days will you be in Switzerland? Where are you going after you depart?
Sorry, I see you are going to Basel for a Rhine Cruise.
We will be there a week ending in Basel for a river cruise. Suggestion for map with train routes easy to read?
This is the official validity map. It is new, and requires you to zoom in to see all the towns.
https://trafimage-maps.sbb.ch/ch.sbb.geltungsbereiche?baselayers=ch.sbb.geltungsbereiche.mvp.data&lang=en&layers=ch.sbb.geltungsbereiche.mvp-sts&x=788150.28&y=5862355.44&z=11
Further on your Montreux day trip. Try this way.
Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken Ost to Montreux on the Golden Pass Express. Then Chillon and back by boat or train. Then to Montreux to Gruyeres. 5:30 pm depart Gruyeres to Bulle to Bern to Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen arriving at 8:30 pm.
For what you are doing, a 6 or 8-day Swiss Travel Pass should work well.
Love the maps and suggestions! Thank you