[Anonymous]

25 February 2020 at 22:11:33 #825351

Hello everyone. Me and my wife are planning a 5 days trip to Switzerland by making Interlaken our base. As this is our first trip to Switzerland just wanted some help for preparing itinerary. I have kept one day for day trip to Lucerne. One day for Schilthorn, Mürren & Gimmelwald. one day for Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald & Harder Kulm. one day for Gstaad & Saanen villages. One day as reserve to make up for any left overs due to bad weather. Please suggest that is it ok or do i need to make some alterations. Also, if someone can suggest some good budget B&Bs in Interlaken or nearby areas. Also can someone tell that will it be better to stay at Lauterbrunnen. Mostly we are interested in scenic sites and would like to cover maximum on this trip. We have no problems in starting our day early to cover most of the places.

💡 Save time and get daily forum questions & answers by email

[CabinJon]

Reply 1 of 8 • 26 February 2020 at 0:06:57 #930860

Sounds like a good basic plan. A toss up on staying in Lauterbrunnen vs. Interlaken. One gives you a 1/2 hour or so head start on mountaintop excursions, the other gives you a 1/2 hour head start on outlying day trips. Interlaken is a more active transport hub, which may make it a bit more convenient for last minute changes or impromptu trips, plus you can catch boats on either of the lakes from there.

Good idea to hold a day in reserve for adverse weather disruptions; be sure to not only check forecasts but mountaintop weather cams before leaving to go up.

Can’t help on the B&Bs, we stayed in hotels in Luzern & Zurich. Be sure to download the SBB mobile app/timetable for your phone or tablet. Traveler’s WiFi comes in handy too.

Have a great trip!

[User]

Reply 2 of 8 • 26 February 2020 at 1:01:57 #930861

Hi onosmair1038-

When are you traveling? Do you expect to walk or hike in those very nice choices?

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 3 of 8 • 26 February 2020 at 7:50:22 #930862

Hi Unomairs1038,

you can find accommodation in the Jungfrau region at http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauregion/hotels and http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauregion/rentals.

Great idea that you also think about the opportunity of bad weather. Weather (http://www.myswissalps.com/weather) in Switzerland can change in a minute – sometimes not even according to the forecasts. The forecasts (http://www.myswissalps.com/weather/forecast) are somewhat reliable for 2 to 3 days ahead of time. It’s also worth to check the webcams on the mountains on your travel day.

I like the app of MeteoSwiss, it has great animation for clouds too (also for rain and temperature). I always check it in the early morning, if I am planning to go on a mountain trip. It is good to know, that usually it is more clear in the morning than in the afternoon.

A few other pages you might find useful:

• Jungfraujoch: http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfraujoch/gettingthere
• Lake Lucerne area: http://www.myswissalps.com/lakelucerne/activities
• Schilthorn: http://www.myswissalps.com/schilthorn/gettingthere
• Schynige Platte: http://www.myswissalps.com/schynigeplattegettingthere
• Mürren: http://www.myswissalps.com/murren/activities
• Grindelwald: http://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwald/activities
• Wengen: http://www.myswissalps.com/wengen/activities
• Gstaad: http://www.myswissalps.com/gstaad/activities

Ildiko

[User]

Reply 4 of 8 • 26 February 2020 at 18:45:17 #930863

hey thanks for reply. That also brings me to the point that I do have flexibility to plan my travel. But your query first, we don’t intend to hike but shall use transport. Now coming on to which will be the best slot, I have planned from 23 to 28 April. But if required and suggested then I can shift it to 29 April to 04 May , if weather is expected to better in this slot.

[User]

Reply 5 of 8 • 26 February 2020 at 19:03:52 #930864

Hi Unomairs1038,

Regarding your timing:

• The cable car from Mürren to Schilthorn does not operate from 20 to 24 April. Services on the route Lauterbrunnen-Grütschalp-Mürren won’t run from 4 to 15 May. http://www.myswissalps.com/schilthorn/gettingthere
• The cable car from Kräbel to Rigi Scheidegg does not operate during April 14-24 2020, but trains will operate and also does the cable car from Weggis to Rigi Kaltbad. http://www.myswissalps.com/rigi/gettingthere
• On Lake Lucerne the winter schedule (means a reduced schedule) is until 17 April 2020. http://www.myswissalps.com/boatlakelucerne/gettingthere

From this distance and because of the global warming (http://www.myswissalps.com/aboutswitzerland/nature/environment/globalwarming) I think it is impossible to tell which time shift will be better. Maybe this helps a bit: http://www.myswissalps.com/besttimetovisit.

Ildiko

[User]

Reply 6 of 8 • 26 February 2020 at 19:49:12 #930865

thanks for the reply,

things are much clear now and thanks for the links too. Great help. Just wanted to confirm that as per my first post, whatever day wise i have planned, is it ok or do i need to change. Hope I am not stretching it too far. Also, I am not able to find budget rented property at or near Interlaken. So given my plan which place do you suggest I should look out for my accommodation keeping in mind that we are not renting a car and will be using Swiss pass to cover our travel . Thanks, You are a great help.

[User]

Reply 7 of 8 • 26 February 2020 at 20:01:06 #930866

Also if you can throw some light on confusion regarding going for a Swiss travel pass or rented car as per my plan as mentioned in my first post. Thanks

[User]

Reply 8 of 8 • 27 February 2020 at 21:00:47 #930867

Hi Unomairs1038,

at http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass you’ll find a calculation spreadsheet. You can use that to compare the costs of traveling by trains or car. I recommend the trains as the Swiss train system is amazing, effective, comfortable and also eco-friendly. You can read about this more at http://www.myswissalps.com/carversustrain. One more thing: if you are not used to driving on mountain routes, it can be tricky: http://www.myswissalps.com/car/drivinginthemountains.

Have you tried http://www.myswissalps.com/interlaken/hotels and http://www.myswissalps.com/interlaken/rentals?

You can find budget accommodations here: http://www.myswissalps.com/hotels/budget.

Check these too, they have quite good reviews:

• Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof
• Interlaken Youth Hostel
• Walters Hostel Interlaken
• Chalet Hostel @ Backpackers Villa Interlaken

Ildiko