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Winter Itinerary

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After a 1-week Christmas River Cruise I decided on a 1 week extension trip to Switzerland. Trip planning is very last minute -- so reservations on the Bernina Express and Glacier Express were a bit challenging. I am wondering if this is too much train travel -- and if I should skip Zermatt or maybe the Glacier Express. Also on the last day I leave Basel on a 7:07am train - arriving Zurich at - 9:04am. My flight home to IAD is at 1pm -- do you think arriving in Zurich at 9:04 is enough time? Would love to hear some feedback.

  • Dec 20 - Depart Koln at 8:55am - arrive Zurich at 14:26. Overnight in ZURICH

  • Dec 21 - train from Zurich to Chur 9:07 -- 10:22am. Overnight in Chur

  • Dec 22 roundtrip Bernina Express (1st class) train Overnight in Chur

    • Chur - Tirano 8:30 - 12:30
    • Tirano - Chur 14:24 - 18:22

  • Dec 23 - depart Chur on the Glacier Express to ZERMATT. Train - 12:14 - 18:07 Overnight in Zermatt

  • Dec 24 - Day trip to Gorgenaut - Overnight in Zermatt

  • Dec 25 - depart Zermatt at 9:13am and arrive in Basel at 13:33 Overnight in BASEL

  • Dec 26 - All day in Basel Overnight in BASEL

  • Dec 27 - Train to Zurich ( 7:07- 9:04 train). Then leave for the US on a 1pm flight from Zurich.

Posted by
5542 posts

Note that in December it will be getting dark around 4:30pm, so there won't be appreciating any scenery on trains then.

The regional trains run more often, on the same tracks as the panoramic Bernina Express. Fours hours from Chur to Tirano? We rode the Bernina Express regional trains coming out of Covid, so couldn't cross into Italy (quarantine regs.) We kgot on at Pontressina, then off at the last Swiss stop before Tirano, and then rode back . Seems like it was 2 hours each way.

Many places will be closed Dec 25 and 26.

Basel to Zurich airport should be a little over an hour, we did this a few years back. Is there track work? Did you check the SBB app for times? It was an easy commute.
I'm very confused over the times you have for your routes. Maybe someone else can help out here. Safe travels!

Posted by
64 posts

Well, only you can decide if your trip has too much train travel, but to me it looks like you are going hither and thither every day. I prefer to stay two to three nights in different places so I do not have to constantly haul my suit case everywhere, and allow myself time to get settled and see the sights in a more calm fashion.

Of course, maybe you will have a lot of energy after a week on the river cruise. Swiss trains are efficient, but nowhere near as luxurious as a river boat!

Do you mainly like mountains? I also like the lovely lake towns of Switzerland.

The main thing that I would ask you is have you made hotel reservations yet?
Some places like Zermatt are extremely busy during the holidays, and may require minimum stays. We will be in Zermatt for New Year's eve, and have to stay there for a week (but my husband is skiing, so he is happy). You may also discover that advance reservations are needed for dining, and many other establishments may be closed for the holidays.

At the end when you say train to Zurich, I think you mean to the Zurich airport (flughafen), correct? As long as all goes smoothly with your travel, a four hour advance time should be fine. Usually our Zurich return to USA flights leave much earlier, so we overnight at the airport just to ensure we are on time.

Have a great time!

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you for the replies! I have reservations made in all the towns. I do think that is too much train travel - that is why I posted. I thought of spending 1 week in Switzerland and got carried away with the Swiss alps and the train reviews. Also accomodations and train reservations were not so easy -- so this is how I arrived at this itinerary. I think I need a new itinerary!!!!

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