[Anonymous]

22 July 2018 at 11:32:36 #817398

Hello guys,

I have plans to extend my work trip with a short vacation and drive a rental car from La chaux de fonds to Grindelwald and then return it to Zurich Airport from 17- 20 th August. I have read some useful posts in the forum that encourages taking trains instead of driving but I am more inclined to drive for this trip given that the cost i worked out came about the same for me and my partner- and I also want to enjoy some scenic views along the drive. Would appreciate if you could assist with some of my questions as below.

1) For the route from LCF- Grindelwald, are there any car restricted routes that i need to be mindful of? A google map search found two options to drive 1 being via Biel and another via Neuchatel – any idea which route is an easier drive for someone whom is not used to driving in the right side and which route does not violate any car restricted areas/towns? Google maps is normally not accurate enough to mention/ filter these.

2) Once we reach grindelwald, we plan to drive from Grindelwald to Interlaken the following day for a day trip to catch the cable car to Harder Klum. Are there any car restricted routes along the way and any idea if what are the rates for parking in Interlaken for a day (say morning till evening)

3) On our return trip from Grindelwald – Zurich,on Monday 20th, a google map search I did found two routes options too, one being via Bern and another via highway Number 8 which passes by Mt. Pilatus( cant find a name of the location as there were too many popping up in google maps) . Any idea which is the better route for an easier drive and that does not go through a car restricted routes/ areas?

Many thanks,

Thevendra

💡 Save time and get daily forum questions & answers by e-mail

[User]

Reply 1 of 5 • 23 July 2018 at 6:38:05 #892070

Hi Thevendra and welcome to MySwissAlps!

I am not sure if Switzerland is a good place to start driving on the right side for the first time. So many curvy roads, roundabouts, one-way streets and pedestrian zones.

1. There are no car restricted routes for you on your way to Grindelwald no. You’ll be on the main highways.
2. No, you are fine here as well. You can park at Interlaken Ost station (10chf per day) and you’ll have a 5 minute walk to the Harder Kulm funicular.

I don’t know all roads you are traveling on, but the leg along Luzern and Pilatus has a lot of tunnels, so no views unless you leave the highway and know where to go. Car restricted towns that you may want to visit in the Jungfrau region are Wengen and Mürren.

[User]

Reply 2 of 5 • 23 July 2018 at 10:59:03 #892071

Hello Lucas,

Thank you for your reply! I should have mentioned that its not my actual first time driving in the right side as I have driven in the US and Germany before.I would also be driving in CH the few days during my business trip, before I plan to start renting a car on the 17th on my extended stay but even with that being said, i wouldn’t say the road and driving conditions are entirely the same and i can never be as expert as the Swiss in driving on the right side of your roads 🙂

I have not done any booking on the car rental yet so I am open to drop the idea of driving and take trains if its totally not recommended. The only issue with taking trains for me is that there are about 2or 3 transits along the way to our destination (from LCF- Grindelwald) and from Grindelwald to Zurich and my partner may not be able to cope well with it since she has lower back problems and cant carry her luggages in and out of trains. If i recall my experience from last year taking train from Zurich – LCF and vice versa, via Bern , it had required me to change trains and the offloading of luggages was not as easy. I would appreciate if you could help me out on the following questions before i consider further.

1) Assuming I am driving, You had mention of many one way streets and pedestrian zones-do you have any recommendation of any apps that i could download and use offline in my iPhone as a GPS other than google maps/ waze?

2) Also, do you know if are there any tolls in addition to the Vignett that is already included in my car rental that i need to pay for driving from LCF- Grindelwald and Grindelwald – Zurich Airport?

3) Would i be missing out on any scenic drive if i take a train instead? Both me and my partner love the swiss country side views and we are planning to pull over (whenever we legally can) during the drive to enjoy these scenic views.

4) Assuming if i stick to driving, for the return trip from Grindelwald to Zurich, is there any town which you would recommend me to take a quick detour to view the scenery along the way?

Thank you and your tips and thoughts are much appreciated.

Thevendra

[User]

Reply 3 of 5 • 23 July 2018 at 12:44:27 #892072

1. I didn’t mention any one-way streets or pedestrian zones. 🙂 Google Maps is what I always use.
2. No other tolls no
3. Scenic views can be had by car or train equally I think. But you can’t pull the train over. 🙂
4. Stop in Lucerne for a few hours if you can: https://www.myswissalp s.com/lucerne the town is very nice, as is the drive via Lungern

Let us know if you have any other concerns! and check out our Swiss driving tips here: https://www.myswissalp s.com/car

[User]

Reply 4 of 5 • 25 July 2018 at 9:59:04 #892073

Hello Lucas,

Thanks for your reply and for the brilliant suggestion to drop by Lucerne for few hours on our way to Zurich !

Do you have any suggestion of what we can do in Lucerne say for say 2-3 hours in late morning/early afternoon? I checked out the forum link you provided for lucerne but it seems like the duration of the list of things to are stated as 1day- which is something unfortunately we dont have.

Regards,

Thevendra

[User]

Reply 5 of 5 • 25 July 2018 at 13:54:23 #892074

Exploring the downtown area is quite nice.

Here is some ideas specifically on what to see downtown: http://www.luzern.com/ en/sightseeing-tours/sightseeing. The Lion monument, chapel bridge among others noted there. The lake front is also very nice to wander along.

A boat cruise is also a possibility. You can go out for an hour or so and return if you didn’t get a change at another lake on your trip. https://www.myswissalp s.com/boatlakelucerne