MySwissAlps.com includes 15-day September trip in Geneva, Zermatt, Berner Oberland, and Lucerne
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Hello
It’s my 1st visit to Swiss (wit my sis)Our plan
Geneva 2 nights, Zermatt 2, Murren 2, Lauterbrunnen 2, Interlaken 3, Lucerne 2, Geneva 1
Could you pls guide us if these base cities are alright and in this order? Or what changes need to be done ?Places we would like to visit:
Geneva,
lakes Thun, Brienz, Schynige Platte, Brienzer Rothorn, Harder kulm, Lauterbrunnen Valley
Murren, Gimmelwald, Schilthorn, hiking, Wengen, Männlichen, winteregg, Grindelwald
Mt Rigi, Lucerne, lake cruise
Zermatt and Glacier Express.Thanks for your precious help…
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Hello Edgar
Welcome to MySwissAlps
Thank you for sharing your travel plans with us.
Get out a good map of Switzerland.
Could you pls guide us if these base cities are alright and in this order? Or what changes need to be done ?
Assuming that you are flying in and out of Geneva, and ignoring your reference to the Glacier Express, the sequence of resorts does make sense. HOWEVER.
Just Pick One Resort in the Berner Oberland
You are planning to say in Műrren, Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken. You want to visit lakes Thun, Brienz, Schynige Platte, Brienzer Rothorn, Harder kulm, Lauterbrunnen ValleyMurren, Gimmelwald, Schilthorn, hiking, Wengen, Männlichen, winteregg, Grindelwald
As you will see from the map, all these places are close together. So just stay in one town/village for a week, and consider investing in a Berner Oberland Pass.
https://www.myswissalps.com/region/bernese-oberland/
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/Certainly Consider Investing in a Swiss Travel Pass
Stilll ignoring your reference to the Glacier Express, your plans do involve quite a lot of travel within western and central Switzerland. You should therefore consider investing in Swiss Travel Passes.
The Swiss Travel Pass gives you the freedom of the world’s best public transport system. Buses, trams/streetcars, boats and trains. The only lines/routes excluded are those which simply go up mountains.
However, by way of exception to what I have just said, in the Lucerne area the STP is valid on some mountain lines, notably those up Rigi and Stanserhorn.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/
Zermatt and Glacier Express.
Now you and your sister need to have the Swiss Map right in front of you.
You will see that Zermatt is in the very south of Switzerland; almost directly due south from the Berner Oberland area around Interlaken.
The Glacier Express is a luxury train which runs from Zermatt to St Moritz via Visp, Brig, Oberwald, Andermatt, Disentis, Chur and Filisur. This is a long slow journey which takes nearly eight hours.
In addition to the normal fare you will have to pay a hefty. reservation fee.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/glacier-express/
St Moritz is way down in the south-east corner of Switzerland. It does not fit into the rest of your itinerary. Going only Zermatt to Andermatt is not value for money. The best scenery is East of Andermatt. The iconic curved Landwasser viaduct you see in countless adverts is about one hour before you reach St Moritz.
Best wishes for your detailed planning
Roger
Hello Edgar,
Wish you the Best for your trip.
Your selection of places to visit are great.
The only comment I would have is that you are spending stays in multiple locations in this itinerary.
Not sounding to be Negative . Every move from one place of stay to another takes away valuable time in relocation, getting familiar with the new place etc.
First and foremost get a 15 day Swiss travel pass and it will pay for itself.
We did a 15 day trip in Switzerland in Aug/Sep of 2024, and my goal was to stay in a central location and do day trips to points of interest.
Our interests were primarily enjoying the scenic mountain, ferry rides, hiking, visiting and admiring beautiful villages.
That being said, here below is what we did at a high level.
We split our stay between Stans-4 days (20 mins from Lucerne) and Thun – 11 days (close to Thun Hbf). We stayed in Air BnB as close or within 10-15 mins of walk to train station. Being in a BnB saves time and of course money fixing your own coffee, b/fast and head out without wasting time.
Stans allowed us to visit Stanserhorn, Klenwenalp, & Mt. Rigi (free with Swiss travel pass), Titlis and Pilatus (personally I wouldnt waste my time in Pilatus when you are visiting multiple mountains).
Stans gave the opportunity to spend time in Lucerne, take free ferry rides, and explore the city after mountain visits.
We chose Thun to do day trips, and places visited are below.
Day trip to Zermatt (From Thun- 2 hours by train) – take the Gornergrat cog rail train to Matterhorn, followed by time spent in Zermatt village.
Next day. Long Day trip on Glacier Express . From Thun to Zermatt, Catch Glacier Express, terminated trip at Chur, and returned to Thun around 10 pm.
We didnt do the full 8 hour G/Express as it got boring after a while and terminated at Chur. G Exp is free with STP but you have to pay $50+ for seat reservation, and some of the views at least up to Chur was nothing better than most inter city travel views on train. If you ask me, I would say that Thun to Zermatt route was very scenic. Thus I felt G/Exp was a wasted time. I would rather do the shorter Bernina Express which i understand has more to offer.
Day trip to Zurich, walked the city, took free ferry ride on the lake. Didnt get to do Rhine Falls -reserved for the next visit.
Day trip to Geneva did free ferry rides on the lake and walked the city, the floral clock, the park and walks almost to the French border.
Did a trip to Murren and from there, did a scenic hike / walk (good paved road and moderate incline) a 90 min walk to Gimmelwald. This is a MUST DO and the mountain and valley views were captivating.
Ferry ride on Lake Thun to Interlaken. spent the rest of the day exploring Interlaken.
Ferry ride on Lake Brienz (Interlaken to Brienz), stopped at Iseltwald village, back to Interlaken and home base Thun.
Day trip- Visit to Lauterbrunnen Did the climb to the back of Staubach falls (you are not really behind the falls). visit Trummelbach falls a MUST DO. This is a waterfall inside the mountain not visible from outside.
Day trip to Interlaken and from there to Aare Schultz a beautiful Gorge a must Do.
Day trip to hike the Eiger mountain. Did the Alpiglen to Eigergletscher trail. A good 3 hours it took with my moderate physical capability and was very enjoyable. from there to Grindelwald.
Day trip to Grindelwald and skywalk.
There is much more to see and having visited once have a better feel and will cover more in the year 2027 or sooner.
Hope this was useful.
Have a great time and a safe trip.
Ram
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