We adjusted our itinerary around a bit and are now staying longer in Switzerland. Instead of 9 days, we have 13 days and I'd like some help laying some things out for our itinerary. We are coming from France, so will be arriving in Lausanne so our trip will start there. Our flight back to the US is from Zurich, so we must end the trip there. I looked at the recommended itinerary on the site, but it assumed it was starting in Zurich and doing things in reverse didn't really make sense, hence why I'm pleading for your help :) Looks like we want to see: Lausanne Bern (although can be a day trip from Lausanne) Berner Oberland Zermatt Luzern Zurich It seems nice to be able to take the "Golden Pass" between Lausanne and Berner Oberland, but not sure where to fit in Luzern and Zermatt into the scheme of things. Some options: Lausanne Golden pass to Berner Oberland Train to Zermatt Zermatt to Luzern
Luzern to Zurich Is there a better ordering?
Posted by
maitland, Fl., USA
64 posts
Trevin, We just spent 22 nights in Switzerland from late July to mid August. Our "base" was Lausanne and we did all of these things. Lausanne is so nice that I would recommend just skipping Bern. Chateau Chillon is a very nice museum/tour. For 13 days, I would have 3 in Lausanne then take the golden pass train from Montreaux to Interlaken Ost. It is worth it to get off the golden pass at Gstaad for a couple of hours, and then catching a later train on to Interlaken Ost. I would spend 4 nights in the Bernese Oberland, Murren is an especially nice village with views of the Eiger,Monch, Jungfrau. From Interlaken I would train to Zermatt via Kandersteg, home of the Oeschinsee, under the blumlisalp mountain. You could spend one night there, then onwards for two nights in Zermatt. Then from Zermatt train to Luzern for two nights. Rather than pay insane Zurich hotel prices, we spent our last nignt in Rapperswill, on Lake Zurich, and only 1 hour by train to the Zurich airport. Henry and Judy, Maitland FL US
Posted by
Columbia, SC
389 posts
I stayed one night at the Radisson Blu Hotel at the Zurich airport. A little pricey, but otherwise I would have had to get up extremely early and worry about public transportation to the airport.
Posted by
Newport Beach, CA, USA
769 posts
Just got back from a similar trip - one week after hiking around Mont Blanc - did a 1 week swiss tour from Lausanne to Zurich. I was going to add Bern but decided an extra day in the wine country around Lausanne. But I love Bern old town! (been there before many times - as well as Zermatt!). We took the golden pass from Lausanne area (Vevey/Montreaux) to Interlaken Ost enroute to Wengen. The Half Card swiss pass worked great and saved a lot. Esp up to the Jungfrau! We stayed at the Baeren in Wengen. Zermatt is doable from the Interlaken/Luzern or Bern area. Multiple options with trains. Check SBB.ch. Its quite a way in the other direction though. Luzern is great - esp. on the Saturday Farmers Market lining the River. If you have time go up PILATUS mountain too! We also did Luzern and then Zurich. about 1 hour away.
In Zurich we stayed at the Hirschen in the old town - great location and affordable. While modernized it was a quaint B&B hotel that has been a hotel since 1700s! Eat at the Zeughaus Keller across the river (old armory and classic zurich/swiss food!)
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, US
16 posts
Thanks so much for the tips everyone! Super helpful! What is the "Swiss half card"? We have a Eurail France-Switzerland Flexipass.