8 days Swiss countryside hikes and Bernina Express in June/September
Matthew, an adopted traveler discovering his Swiss roots, plans a trip to beautiful Switzerland with his wife next year. They aim to walk in stunning scenery and enjoy spectacular train journeys, considering an 8-day itinerary while seeking advice on their plans.
- Plan to leave Zurich early to maximize countryside experiences near Chur.
- Reservations are required for the Bernina Express and bus to ensure you secure your travel.
- Use the Swiss Travel Pass, as it covers many transport options and provides access to countless hiking trails in the Berner Oberland region.
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Hi, having discovered my birth parents were Swiss (I’m adopted) my wife and I are keen to see something of beautiful Switzerland. A DNA test reveals I’m only 7% English 93% European but I can’t get a EU passport!!
We are walkers and love the outdoors. I recently saw a TV programme featuring the Bernina Express and that sealed it and instead of just talking about visiting Switzerland we’re going to do it!
I stumbled across this website and have already had really helpful advice from Annika but I don’t want to over burden her with questions so thought I’d post this question.
We are proposing visiting Switzerland next year either June or September to avoid the biggest crowds. We want to walk in beautiful scenery and perhaps see something of the city (countryside more important to us) and take a spectacular train journey. Because of cost we think we will be limited to 8 days which ties in with the availability of a 8 day train pass. But the options are overwhelming! I’ve been trying to narrow down possible itineraries for a while now and have finally decided on one, I think, but just don’t know whether it is doable.
If anyone has any advice or comments this would be much appreciated. Also any suggestions for where (area rather than hotel) to stay when we’re in Interlaken/Benese Oberland this would be most helpful.
If I am missing somewhere that I really should consider please let me know, my itinerary is very flexible.
Our priority is walking and I wonder if I’m proposing too much train time but I really want to do the Bernina Express however maybe we should cut this bit out and instead, if possible, take the Glacier Express from Chur to Andermatt and then the Gotthard Panorama Express to Interlaken via Luzern? This would give us more walking time.Many thanks
Matthew
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Hello Matthew
Welcome to the MySwissAlps Forum.
Thank you for sharing your travel plans with us. They are certainly ‘doable’.
Here are some comments on your itinerary from a man who has been visiting Switzerland regularly since 1971!
Day Two. You are in effect saying ‘We want more country and less city’. I therefore suggest you leave Zurich early MORNING. Fast trains to Chur run every 30 minutes, and take 75 minutes. Park your luggage in a locker at the station, and head for one of the (many) villages which surround Chur.
I would suggest Arosa (train every hour); Lenzerheide (bus every 30 minutes) or Tschiertschen (bus every hour). The ride to Tschiertschen is hair-raising, but in just 26 minutes you reach a small village which is ’At the back of beyond’.
Day Three If asked ‘What is the most spectacular line in Switzerland?’ I always say ‘the Bernina Line’. So take the Bernina Express (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/bernina-express/) to Tirano, and then the Bernina Express bus on to Lugano (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lugano/). I would stress that reservations are required on both the train and the bus.
Day Four Do NOT bother with the expensive, First Class Only, and only once a day, Gotthard Panorama Express (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/gotthard-panorama-express/).
Instead take any train from Lugano to Bellinzona (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/bellinzona/). At Bellinzona change to the hourly TRENO GOTTARDO, which on the current timetable leaves at 59 minutes. past each hour.
The Treno Gottardo is the ‘lifeline’ service to the villages and small towns along the OLD Gotthard railway, a line which opened in 1882. This old line is scenically spectacular, and the civil engineering is amazing.
The journey to Lucerne (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lucerne/) takes two hours and 42 minutes. If you leave Bellinzona at 08 59, 10 59, 12 59 etc., a level (cross the platform) change of train is needed at ARTH-GOLDAU.
From Lucerne to Interlaken (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/interlaken/), take the hourly Luzern-Interlaken express.
Interlaken as a base.
Interlaken is at the centre of the Berner Oberland region. There are of course numerous attractive villages in the region, all of which can be easily reached by public transport included within your Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/). Hiking opportunities are endless.
If the weather is poor, take a trip to the Swiss ‘Federal City’ of Bern (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/bern/).
Very best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
Roger, many thanks for taking the time to reply to my question. I will certainly look at your suggestions, better to take the advice of a seasoned Swiss traveller than take my chances with internet research. Kind regards, Matthew
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