Interlaken to Lake Como

Kate

I've ridden the trains both ways, and driven over the Susten Pass in late May.

The train trip over the Brunig Pass to Luzern is fabulously beautiful. It may not be the fastest, but boy-oh-boy up and down through the woods, on the rack, seriously lovely. Then the Luzern to Como bit again is one of the most fabulous routes, sweeping through the mountains and along the Vierwaldstattersee. Just keep looking out the window and you will see the same scenery several times as you cross and recross the same valley gaining altitude. It simply is not to be missed.

Maybe you've done that and would rather change at Spietz and then down through through the BLS route. It also is wonderful but for me is a distant second to the route via Luzern.

Only drove the Susten Pass once. When I went there were 20 foot high snow drifts on both sides, and as we reached the summit we found a heavy rain storm. It had been clear and sunny in Bellinzona. Views were nice but bleak, and I found it hard work and much further than I had expected. I drive to Europe several times a year in my British car and love it, but thought that route was not fun. When the snow is high like it was for me in late May, the road is wet and slippery, visibility over the snow is poor. No chains, don't think they were allowed that late.

If t'were me I'd take the train over the Brunig, relax, and enjoy it. That train also spends a few minutes changing ends at Meiringen, where the Reichenbach Falls are where the battle took place between Sherlock Holmes and Moriarity. A lovely walk up and down or funicular.

The train takes 5 hours 10 minutes to Como (via Luzern) or 5 hours 22 minutes to Varenna (via Brig) if you make the right connections. That doesn't sound too bad.

There are some formidable mountains in the way between Interlaken and Lago di Como. The route you are thinking of driving goes over the Susten Pass, which I believe is over 2000 meters high. There are Postbuses on this route, but they do not start running until 19 June this year. That may tell you something about the driving conditions in late May.

Thanks for your insight. Most likely I will be heading to Varenna or Menaggio, leaving Interlaken in the afternoon. The trains I could find leaving at those hours take over 7 hours to Varenna. Is there a route you could suggest that will take less time?

According to Google maps driving directions, driving will take 3 and a half hours. However, the problem is the road conditions. As you mentioned, the post busses don't run till June. Now that has got me worried.

There is a train leaving Interlaken Öst at 13:29 that will take you to Varenna in less than 5 hours (4:54 to be exact). But yes, after that, the connectinos are not as good and all the journeys seem to take 6 hours or more.

Could you posibly leave by that 13:29 train?

I can't find any official information on the opening date for Susten Pass, but this website (used by cyclists and motorcyclists who seem to love these alpine passes) says June:

http://www.alpineroads.com/passes.php

There's a link on that page to a webcam and more photos of the pass---it looks pretty high and bleak.

This website is awesome. Thanks for your help.

If the timing suits us, I would definately take the train. Its just a pity that the trains that leave in the afternoon (I prefer to leave aroun 15.00) arrive in varenna so late (22.40). The reason I can't leave earlier (probably because I'm packing too much in one day) is that I start from Luzern and will go to Jungfraujoch. The earliest train leaving from Luzern will get me at Jungfraujoch at 9.52. Then if I take the 12.30 return, I get to interlaken at 14.54 before I head down to Lake Como. Plus seems like I have to change trains a few times which may not be suitable for my 70 year old mother and the luggage we will be carrying.

However, I do not like the idea of driving on a wet slippery road especially coming from California. What if I drive another route via Luzern? Google maps shows that takes about 4 and a half hours. Would the road be better in that direction? I don't even know if it is convenient to park or return a car in Lake Como...haha.

Kate, are you sure you want to go up the Jungfraujoch from Luzern? Have you looked at the cost? I know you've looked at the travel time, but what do you know about the trip? I think this is the most over-hyped tourist thing in Switzerland. You will spend 45 minutes of the trip in a dark tunnel drilled through the Eiger. At the top, the views are nice . . . but you can get equally nice (albeit different) ones elsewhere.

I suppose I am a bit different in my views as I go ski mountaineering and can see great snowy mountain landscapes lots of places. But I've been up the JUngfraujoch twice now, and frankly it was only fun and worth the cost because of the friends and family members I was with.

Plus on any given day, especially starting from Luzern, you don't know what weather you will encounter. The whole thing could be socked in with fog that particular day, and you would see nothing.

As far as renting a car and driving goes, have you looked into the cost, especially for driving into Italy and dropping the car there?

Hmmm...Should I cut out Jungfraujoch then? We're doing it because out mother wants to see it but I agree with you about the weather. I read lots of blogs that warn us about how rapidly the weather changes up there. It could turn out to be a complete waste of a trip. I guess I could discuss this with her and see if she still really wants to go.

As for the car, I looked into the cost breifly and the rental is about 30% cheaper than buying the Swiss pass for 6 ppl and one blog said that Eurocar does not charge extra for dropping the car off in Italy. I have not factored in cost of gas and parking though. If they do, another option is to drop the car off in Lugano may be. If I skip Jungfraujoch then I would take the train and solve all problems.

"I have not factored in cost of gas and parking though."

Gas is going to be $6 to $7 per gallon.

"I don't even know if it is convenient to park or return a car in Lake Como."

You mentioned Varenna or Menaggio: parking can be a problem in both places, especially in Menaggio. You also mentioned Lugano: whatever you do, you'll want to avoid driving between Menaggio and Lugano.

Here's what Rick Steves says about cars in Lake Como: "With the parking problems, constant traffic jams, and expensive car ferries, Lake Como is no place to drive if you don't have to."

Ah, so you are starting the day in Luzern. That explains why you don't want to backtrack there on your way to Lake Como.

Is going up the Jungfraujoch a lifelong dream of your mom's, or just something she heard was fun and a nice view? If the latter, you may want to reconsider. The time and cost are significant--- 4 1/2 hours and 193.80 CHF RT from Interlaken if you don't have a pass. Add 2 hours and 30 CHF to travel from Luzern. That is over $200 for each of you, and 6.5 hours spent on the train (starting at Luzern and ending at Interlaken). Add 2 hours on top and I can see why you can't start for lake Como until late afternoon.

As an alternative, consider one of the excellent mountaintop experiences closer to Luzern (and much less expensive).

There is Mt. Pilatus, a rocky summit right above Luzern, with wonderful views over the lake. You can go up and down by cablecar from Kriens, a suburb of Luzern, or do the "Golden Round Trip" by boat on the lake and cogwheel train to the top, returning by the cablecar.

http://www.pilatus.ch/default-n7-sE.html

Tor a glacier and snowy peak, try Mt. Titlis, above Engelberg. This is a 1-hour train ride from Luzern. There is a grotto carved in the ice, and views galore. Description from a tourism site:

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/offer.cfm?category=Market_Specials&subcat=IN&id=91506

www.titlis.ch

Or you could go up Mt. Rigi, which is much less rugged and not covered with snow, but offers some nice walking, and is right on your way. You coul dactually go up and over Rigi on your way to lake como: lake boat to Weggis, cablecar up to rigi Kaltbad, cogwheel train to th etip at Rigi kulm, and cogwheel train down the other side to Arth-Goldau, where you meet your train heading to Lake Como. You could take a nice walk at Rigi Kaltbad or Rigi Kulm, either one with great views over the lake and surrounding mountains, but you'd have to figure out what to do with your luggage in the meantime.

Thank you so much for your recs. I will look into all those and see how it all works out.