Quick 5-day Swiss rail itinerary – advice, please

  • mandg
    Participant
    2 posts
    8 November 2015 at 16:07:37 #808108

    I’m planning a quick trip to visit friends in Solothurn in May and would like to end with an overall rail journey. Please advise on this itinerary:

    Day 1: Zurich airport to Solothurn

    Day 2: Solothurn

    Day 3: Solothurn – Jungfraujoch, overnight in Interlaken

    Is this day feasible? Will we have to build time into the itinerary to store our luggage in Interlaken before proceeding up to Jungfraujoch? Are reservations necessary for the restaurant at Jungfraujoch?

    Day 4: Interlaken – Brig – Chur, via Glacier Express, overnight in Chur

    Day 5: Chur – Tirano – Milan, via Bernina Express

    According to online timetables, Days 3-5 are possible, but is it advisable? I’m particularly concerned about Day 3 and making all the connections. As hiking could be a bit iffy in May, we don’t want a lot of extra time in any one location.

    Thanks for your input!

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    Annika
    Moderator
    7104 posts
    9 November 2015 at 8:20:04 #846910

    Hi mandg, and thanks for joining MySwissAlps!

    All plans in your itinerary are doable. This also goes for day 3. The entire trip Solothurn-Jungfraujoch takes about 4 hours, and it’s indeed wise to take some time to store your luggage in lockers or in your hotel. You’ll still make it to the Jungfraujoch in time to enjoy a couple of hours up there in the afternon. Another option is to already travel from Solothurn to Interlaken in the afternoon or evening of day 2. That’s because the trip up to the Jungfraujoch is highly weather dependent. If weather forecasts are better for the morning than for the afternoon, it’s good to already be in Interlaken and to travel up there as early as possible. You don’t have to make reservations for the restaurants.

    Day 4 and 5 involve long train trips, but if you’re fine with the traveling times you’ve found in the timetable, that’s no problem of course. And you’ve certainly picked beautiful scenic routes. Mind to reserve seats for the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express.

    You still have time plenty of time to explore rail pass options. Please refer to myswissalps.com/train/ ticketspasses/practica l/chooserailpass for tips and tools. A 3 or 4 day Swiss Travel Pass Flex Combi may be worth looking into.

    mandg
    Participant
    2 posts
    13 November 2015 at 2:23:06 #846911

    Thank you, Annika. This is very helpful. I’m grateful to have discovered your site! Mary.

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