Train from Interlaken to Fussen

Just because the map says Switzerland, doesn't mean it is mountainous. I've been on the south bank of the Bodensee, around Romanshorn, and it was pretty flat. There were mountains in the distance. There is a small mountainous area around Appenzell. And if you go around the east side of the lake via Bregenz and Lindau you're pretty close to the mountains but still on a river (Rhein) valley.

Coming out of Interlaken, going to Zürich you will encounter mountains, but Zürich to Germany would be pretty ho-hum.

And, although the area around Lindau is pretty hilly and scenic (Oberstaufen is a cute little mountainside town), it's probably not what you anticipate. Your best shot at scenic would probably be to leave the main Lindau-Munich line at Immenstadt and take the spur from there up to Sonthofen. From Sonthofen, there is a bus that goes to Füssen via Hindelang, Oberjoch, and Pfronten. That's a scenic route. The climb up the switchbacks out of Hindelang is not for the faint of heart.

Thanks, Lee. Am not necessarily seeking out a scenic route, but was curious about the route that I mentioned (simply whether it would be scenic or not - which it sounds like it probably isn't).

I have the trip narrowed down to two 35 day itineraries - same cities but different routes.

one of my potential itineraries has me entering Switzerland from Florence and departing to Paris (both routes I've taken before, but in reverse).

The other itinerary has us entering from Paris (same route just mentioned with great views of the lakes) but departing to Fussen.

It's either one or the other for me, as these are the last two of my possible itineraries that I'm toying with still.

I've driven through that area. Scenic, yes, but not mountainous.

Since we'll get plenty of mountains the two days we'll be hiking in the Berner Oberland, I'm fine with "scenic."

I'm hoping it will be similar to the train ride from Venice to Salzburg that I did 5 years ago.

Most train travel between Interlaken and Zürich seems to go to Bern and then to the north of the Berner Oberland. However, there is a line, the Brünigbahn, part of the Golden Pass line, going directly northeast to Luzern. This is a narrow gauge cog (Zahnradbahn) rail line over some pretty spectacular mountainous area.

It probably takes longer (cogs are notoriously slow) but worth the time.

OK, that sounds very interesting, Lee. I will research that tip further!

Another option might be to go from Zürich to Romanshorn and take the ship across Bodensee to Friedrichshafen (Zeppelin Museum), then go along the lake to Lindau.

Well, I guess I must have looked into this once before, or perhaps it is just luck, but the route I'd planned already from Interlaken to Fussen takes me on the Golden Pass route to Luzern.

Yea!!