Hello!
We will be staying in Lauterbrunnen for a few days after a 3 day visit to Lucerne. We have a few days (2) scheduled to stay in Zurich before our flight out after Lauterbrunnen, but I am wondering if there is somewhere else we should visit and spend less time in Zurich? Is there somewhere amazing we should stop for a night or two that is not too out of the way? We will be going in July. I'm a little overwhelmed with planning and appreciate any advice. Thank you!
If possible you should switch the order of your stay and do 4-5 days in Lauterbrunnen followed by 3-4 days in Luzern and then just take the direct train from Luzern to the Zurich airport (only 1 hour). If it’s impossible for you to adjust your lodging at this point, then add on days to Lauterbrunnen or stay somewhere like Thun, Spiez or Brienz on the lake to do lake activities or Bern if you like cities. Zurich is an international banking city and not worth multiple days of such a short trip.
Brienz would be nice. Look up Ballenberg Open Air Museum, see if it interests you. We just spent 5 hours there today. Or take the Rothorn Bahn train up the mountain. The boat between Brienz and Interlaken is nice, very relaxing.
Ballenberg and Brienz/Thun/Lucern boats are included w/ the Swiss Travel Pass.
I assume your hotels are booked already. I like to keep Lucerne at the end and take the train from Lucerne right to Zurich airport.
Bern is a fantastic town with a medieval city centre that has not been changed for 400 years. And it is right on the main train route from Lauterbrunnen to Zurich.
I agree with other posts about switching your accommodation.
If that isn't possible, just add the days to Lauterbrunnen. You will defintely want as much time in that region as possible. Maybe even move into the mountains to Murren or Wengen if you can't extend your current hotel.
Bern is great and close trip from Lauterbrunnen - extremely walkable city with train station right by the historical center. You probably can see Bern in one full day but Murten is a good day trip from there too. Then it will only be about 2 hour train ride from Bern to Zurich.
So many options it is hard choose. Try to get a boat ride in after you leave the Lauterbrunnen valley
Good idea, a boat ride. Either Lake Thun, Brienz, or Luzerne. I've had a nice meal on Lake Lucerne.
