Munich to Chur, Tirano, Andermatt, Lucerne via scenic routes
LaraH is planning a 10-day trip to eastern Switzerland, focusing on scenic train routes like the Bernina and Landwasser Viaducts, after arriving from Munich at the end of September. She seeks advice on her itinerary, including whether to book overnight stops and how to optimize her travel in this beautiful area.
- Consider breaking your journey with overnight stops in St Gallen and Pontresina, as this allows for more leisure time and less intense travel days.
- Use the Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel on trains, boats, and buses; it can save you money and simplify your trip planning.
- Opt for rural towns like Unterseen or Wilderswil near Interlaken instead of staying in busy tourist areas for a quieter experience.
- When planning your route, use the Swiss Federal Railways website for accurate travel times instead of Google Maps.
AI-generated summary-
Sorry this is so convoluted. We had a trip planned for Switzerland for 18 days however due to external time constraints we have had to revise to a shorter trip.
I am now trying to replan this (around 10 days) that will focus on the eastern section of the country. This is mainly due to our coming from Munich (off a river cruise early Sept 25), leaving the west area for another trip when we will be coming from Paris.
I have tried asking this in other places, however you folk here are much more affable and mostly more knowledgeable.
My husband has his heart set on travelling the route of the Bernina Express, esp the Brusio Spiral viaduct. We’d do this on a “regular” train however. Another “want” is to experience the Landwasser Viaduct”.
My thoughts are…
- Train from Munich via St Gallen to Chur. Would we need a stop overnight for this journey?
- Instead of the above, come from Munich via St Margrethen to Chur?
- Chur to Pontressia…possibly 2 nights.
- Pontressina day trip to Tirano Bernina route and return on Glacier Express route to Andermatt. Seems like a long trip so maybe overnight there???.
- Join the Gotthard Express route to Luzern to join Luzern Interlaken Express route to a town near Interlaken, such as Wilderswil, or Iseltwald…3 nights ???.
- OTHERWISE…Glacier Express to Gletsch and bus over the pass the chosen town near Interlaken.
- Interlaken to Luzern…3 nights
- Luzern to Zurich…overnight…fly back to OZ.
I’ve looked at maps, read threads, can’t find anyone who has done a similar journey…am I mad, is this an impossible itinerary in early September ’25. ???
Many thanks,
-
Hi LaraH,
I think your plan is doable. Here is my suggestion if you want to avoid long train journeys every day.
Day 1 – From Munich take a direct train to St Gallen (2.5 hours). Free time at leisure. Overnight in St Gallen
Day 2 – Rail transfer to Pontresina via Chur (3.5 h). From Chur to Pontresina you will travel along the Bernina railway line which will take you across the Landwasser viaduct. Overnight in Pontresina. You can find more information about the Bernina Express route here: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/bernina-express/#directions
Day 3 – Travel on the regular train via the Bernina railway route from Pontresina to Tirano (2 hours one way). This journey will take you across the Brusio spiral viaduct. Return and overnight in Pontresina.
Day 4 – Rail transfer to Chur (2 h). Free time at leisure. Overnight in Chur.
Day 5 – Rail transfer to Andermatt via the Glacier Express route (2.5 h). Continue with the train to Lucerne (2 – 3 h). Overnight in Lucerne. You can find more information about the Glacier Express route here: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/glacier-express/#directions
Day 6 – Rail transfer to Interlaken via the scenic Lucerne-Interlaken Express (1.5 h). Overnight in Interlaken.
Day 7/8 – Free time at leisure. Overnight in Interlaken.
Day 9 – Rail transfer to Zurich (2 h). Free time at leisure. Overnight in Zurich.
Day 10 – Rail transfer to Zurich Airport for your flight home.
I hope this gives you some ideas and options on how to plan your trip.
If you are considering using a Swiss Travel Pass, you can find useful info here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/
regards,
Anna
Hello, LaraH!
I’d like to address one small part of your itinerary. If you are like me and prefer quiet experiences to busy towns and cities I’d not stay in Interlaken proper for your 3 days there. It’s quite touristy and crowded. Alternatives would be: 1) Just across the canal by the Interlaken West train station is the lovely community of Unterseen. It’s so much more peaceful there, yet you still have access to conveniences like hotels, restaurants, a COOP, bakeries, and there’s always the large Migros with restaurant (across from the train station) and all the ‘excitement” (aka stores of Interlaken) just a flat 10 minute walk away. 2) I’ve just returned from a trip where I had a lovely 2 night stay in nearby Ringgenberg. There are two hotels a 5 minute walk away from the train station that are right on the lake. I stayed in the Hotel Brienzersee and LOVED it. 3) Wilderswil is also a lovely little town/larger village with 2 small groceries and a nice bakery (Roger’s) on the edge of town towards Lauterbrunnen. All of these locations have trains that run on the half hour so transportation is easy to go on whatever adventure you desire. To be truthful, I’ve been to Switzerland 11 times now in the past 12 years–people keep talking about Iseltwald and unless you’ve got an attachment to “Crash Landing on You” I don’t see the attraction. There are other small places with just as pretty a view without the now pervasive crowds. (Brienz is one of my favorite small towns ( https://www.myswissalps.com/town/brienz/)) There are other beautiful places along Lake Thun ( & Lake Brienz where you can enjoy gorgeous sunsets/sunrises but public transportation may be on the hour rather than the half hour.
Happy planning and enjoy your trip. September is a wonderful time to visit. I’m now planning my next year’s trip!
LauraE
Many thanks to you Anna, and for your “town” suggestions Laurae…really appreciate your non judgmental guidance!
I have another option that may??? also be suitable.
Please feel free to input and revise for we have not been to Switzerland before and there are many experts on this forum to suggest alternatives perhaps.
We will come again and travel the western side as we have a trip to France planned for the following year. It seems to make more sense. We’d rather spend a bit more time in a few places than a new place every night. I’ll just give the travel plan so far, of course we’ll then fill in the days.
Train from Munich through St Gallen to Lucerne.
Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne to Interlaken(we won’t stay in Interlaken tho’, maybe Wilderswil/Unterseen/Riggenberg)
Interlaken
Interlaken
Interlaken
Interlaken through Lucerne to Andermatt. (Not sure on time here, maybe need an overnight stop there, or perhaps continue to Chur???)
Chur to Pontresina
Pontresina
Pontresina
Pontresina to Zurich…fly out.
Just not sure of distances, despite using google maps, and looking at SBB, for the novice I am, it appears there are sometimes hours variations in the duration of train trips. We’d prefer to take a bit longer in travel time over several transfers, where possible.
Looking forward to learning from your experience.
Hello LaraH
The plan set out in your reply three looks at first sight doable. It certainly makes a lot of sense to split your stay in Switzerland between three main locations, in the Lucerne area, the Interlaken area and the Pontresina/St Moritz area.
I have however two reservations about this ‘reply three’ plan, and they both concern the Pontresina section.
Firstly, I am scratching my head about your route from Interlaken to Pontresina. Going via Lucerne is a very slow ‘long way round’ journey which will involve retracing your steps. It will involve at least six changes of train! The most direct route from Interlaken and Pontresina is via Bern, Zurich, Chur and Samedan, but even that involves at least three changes of train.
If you want a slow scenic route with fewer changes, (at Spiez, Brig and Samedan) go as follows. Take any train from Interlaken to Spiez. An Inter-City train from Spiez to Brig, then (take a deep breath!) get the Glacier Express (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/glacier-express/ ) from Brig to Samedan. Finally local train to Pontresina.
Secondly, Pontresina is nearly four hours by train from Zurich Airport, and the journey will normally require changes at Samedan, Chur and Zurich Hauptbahnhof . By contrast, Lucerne is only 75 minutes by train to Zurich Airport. (There will be through trains in the 2025 timetable.).
Three other broader points. As you are doing a lot of travelling in Switzerland, you should almost certainly buy a Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/)
Secondly, the more I think about your various options, the more I tend to favour Anna’s plan in her reply one, or something like it! It certainly reduces the number of times you have to change trains!
Thirdly, when trying to work out how long a Swiss train journey will take, do not rely on Google Maps. Rely on Swiss Federal Railways superb website http://www.sbb.ch/en. Incidentally, this web-site covers all Swiss public transport, not just that provided by SBB.
Best wishes
Roger
Really appreciate the time you have taken to reply Roger…and your wise judgement.
I’ve “flung” that plan out now, so I’m onto another “proposed” itinerary. I’ll post it separately.
Awaiting your thoughts, if you have a chance.
Hi LaraH,
Thanks for sharing your new plan.
The route Munich – St Gallen – Lucerne – Interlaken – Andermatt is a sensible route.
However Andermatt – Chur – Pontresina – Zurich Airport, though possible, would include some switchbacks and spending a long time on the train. As Roger had mentioned, Pontresina is a good 4 hours away from Zurich Airport.
I would probably do it in reverse: St Gallen – Chur/Pontresina – Andermatt – Lucerne – Interlaken. From Interlaken, there is a direct train service to Zurich and takes just 2 hours. To be safe, I would spend the night in Zurich if I have an early flight out the next day.
You can use the Swiss timetable to plan your journeys and gauge the travelling distance/duration from one destination to another: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/
Regards,
Anna
- The thread ‘Munich to Chur, Tirano, Andermatt, Lucerne via scenic routes’ is closed to new replies.
