[Anonymous]

5 August 2019 at 6:55:37 #823252

Hi everyone,

I am planning to visit Switzerland for the 1st time with my family (2 adults and my 5 yo girl) during the winter season.

The trip is planned for 14 days and we’d be flying in to Zurich and will be using our swiss rail pass moving straight to Luzern as our base to visit

Day 1 – Chapel Bridge / The Lion Monument / Glacier Garden

Day 2 – Mt Titlis

In our itinerary we are including

making days trips to:

1 – Lauterbrunnen & Mürren

2 – Schilthorn

3 – Train to Jungfraujoch

contemplating between Interlaken or Grindelwald as our base

Zermatt – making day trips to Gornergrat / Matterhorn

we also considering to visit lugano / milan

Im unsure if it’s a very rushing trip in 14 days. Would appreciate if anyone could advice as in which place i should start off 1st after Lucern and which place should i skip?

Thank you in advance! =)

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[Annika]

Reply 1 of 12 • 5 August 2019 at 8:20:05 #919405

Hi Nyetwai, welcome to MySwissAlps!

For a 2 weeks’ stay, I think limiting yourself to 3 base towns would be a good choice. Based on your plans and interests, I’d advise:

• Lucerne: http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne
• a town in the Jungfrau region. You can compare them by exploring each town page: scroll down at http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion;
• Zermatt: http://www.myswissalps.com/ze rmatt.

I’d personally skip Lugano and Milan for a winter stay, but that’s totally up to you of course.

The links above list recommendations for activities and hotels. The timetable will help you to plan each trip: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable. A 15 day Swiss Travel Pass seems to be the right fit for your plans indeed: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass.

I hope this gets you started!

[User]

Reply 2 of 12 • 6 August 2019 at 0:14:52 #919406

Hi Nyetwai-

As the Forum Rules request, could you please let us know when you are traveling during the “Winter Season” ?

http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/rules

Some transport services vary their schedules, as do tourist destinations, during the “Winter Season.”

Thus, we can provide better advice if we know when you are traveling.

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 3 of 12 • 6 August 2019 at 0:32:32 #919407

Hello! Thank you Annika will take your suggestion into consideration.

Hi slowpoke! We intend to travel from 1 feb to 14 feb 2020.

Thank you!

[User]

Reply 4 of 12 • 6 August 2019 at 0:48:37 #919408

<<“We intend to travel from 1 feb to 14 feb 2020. “>>

That is serious Winter. Are you planning to ski? Ski lifts will surely be running.

Do you have any specific interests, other than skiing? Even at lower altitudes, that is not generally a good time for hiking…

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 5 of 12 • 6 August 2019 at 1:25:33 #919409

Hi Slowpoke!

<<“That is serious Winter.”>>

Bad idea to travel during that period??

we don’t intend to ski / skiing, more of viewing the majestic mountains and scenic train experience.

Thank you

Waimynick

[User]

Reply 6 of 12 • 6 August 2019 at 8:06:17 #919410

Hello WaiMyNick,

Each season has its beauty I would say, so don’t worry about the winter season, it is definitely scenic in its own way, snow! See:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/be sttimetovisit
– http://www.myswissalps.com/we ather

As for any trips you have planned – to check if there is an issue with anything being closed, you can either check in the “Dates of operation” on the “routes” page of each destination (see example Titlis below) or you use the timetable, which will only provide a connection, if the transportation is running on the selected date:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis/gettingthere
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

Enjoy planning your trip, we’re here for any input needed.

Best,
Steph

[User]

Reply 7 of 12 • 6 August 2019 at 8:56:56 #919411

<<“more of viewing the majestic mountains and scenic train experience. “>>

That should be good. Because it is ski season, a lot of mountain transport will be running. For example, even if you do not go up to hike, the cableway from Wengen up to Männlichen will be running, and the views up there are really nice. Naturally, there is a pleasant restaurant, too.

http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/cable-car-to-mannlichen

You don’t mention hiking?

Hiking the marked trail network ( die Wanderwege) in the countryside in the lower altitudes might find most trails unmanageable. Still, villages are OK, if that sort of thing interests you..

However, you certainly could visit some of the attractive cities, such as Luzern:

http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne

Actually, in fact, at that time of year there are some scenic trails a high altitude which are groomed for Winter hiking. They are mentioned in this thread, which also notes the difficulties with “Winter” trails later in the year “between seasons.”

http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/hike-from-kleine-scheidegg-to-mannlich-in-april

Lake boat cruises can be quite scenic and offer a nice way to see the the Alps and lake shore villages. On some lakes, the service is discontinued during parts of Winter. But, in my opinion one of the most attractive lakes, Lake Lucerne, does have some service during the Winter. AsS teph noted, the timetable(s) can guide you. In fact, the “advanced” version mentioned on that page that she linked for the timetable, can be set to show only ships, or other selected modes of transportation.

http://www.myswissalps.com/bo atlakelucerne

Here is the full schedule for that lake in all seasons:

http://www.lakelucerne.ch/en/ timetable-fares/timetable/

It seems that there are no boats listed after December 14th. But, the new timetables for the next year starting on December 15th, 2019, become available later this Fall, so there may be service in February.

And, I’d expect the frequent boat connecting Luzern with the funicular to Bürgenstock would run all year round. So, I think the answer for your dates is not yet available.

May I ask what country you are from? Or, more specifically, have you experienced Winter? Some forum members are from tropical countries…..

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 8 of 12 • 6 August 2019 at 9:18:14 #919412

Wow! Thank you for the handful tips Slowpoke much appreciated. I’m from a tropical country Singapore. =)

[User]

Reply 9 of 12 • 6 August 2019 at 9:23:40 #919413

Hi Steph thank you for giving me all the useful information very much appreciated! I am definitely going to have a great itinerary planning with all the useful inputs. =)

[User]

Reply 10 of 12 • 6 August 2019 at 9:25:29 #919414

This will be our 2nd winter experience
=)

[User]

Reply 11 of 12 • 6 August 2019 at 13:10:02 #919415

<<“This will be our 2nd winter experience “>>

When I have spent time in Singapore, after a while, I wished for Winter weather. ;-).

I guess you have had some experience with warm clothing, etc.

Slowpoke

[cam223]

Reply 12 of 12 • 7 August 2019 at 14:05:16 #919416

You can take quick trips on the train to the Gornergrat and the “bubbles” up to the K lein Matterhorm. The bubbles are cable cars which can be a bit colder than the train but you will probably be prepared for winter weather. there’s a live camera in the Gornergrat train station so you can see what the view is at the top. Lots of fun even for non-skiers. We wanted to toboggan at the Klein Matterhorn but it was too early and that wasn’t open. You can see each day what lifts are operating and make plans accordingly. Have fun!