[Removed user]

9 May 2018 at 18:51:07 #815859

I have 7-8 days to travel with my boyfriend (we are in our 20s/30s) and I was wondering if you could help me/give me advice with my itinerary! This will be late August.

Starting in Zurich is the only fixed part of the trip because I already have my trip there booked. (It will be the end of a business trip!)

I would really like to see the beautiful natural sites of Switzerland but also want to hit Italy quickly at the end because I LOVE Italian food!

Is this too rushed? Any order of things that should be switched? The reason I go in kind of a circular route in the beginning was because to get from interlaken to lugano (or milan) by train, it seemed like the train had to go through lucerne first.

Any advice?

Trip Summary

zurich -> bern -> interlaken area/a village near there -> lucerne -> lugano -> milan

Detailed:

zurich (1 day)

-> zurich to bern – 56 min train

bern (1 night or just half day)

-> bern to interlaken – 50 min

interlaken (1-3 nights)

– visit or stay a village near interlaken (Murren, Lauterbrunnen, grindelwald OR Gimmelwald). go to mountain jungfraujoch. get to these villages via train or bus

-> interlaken to lucerne – 2 hrs

lucerne (1-2 nights)

-> lucerne to lugano (2.5 hrs)

lugano (swiss/italian city) – 1 night or just half day

-> lugano to milan (1.5 hrs)

milan

[rockoyster]

9 May 2018 at 23:42:39 #884746

Hello Nadine and Welcome to MySwissAlps,

For Lucerne to Lugano have a look at Gotthard Panorama Express (http://www.myswissalps.com/go tthardpanoramaexpress).

Once in Lugano you hardly need to go to Milan for great Italian food. 😎

[Removed user]

10 May 2018 at 0:18:23 #884747

There are not that many spectacular sites to see in Milan, so may not be worth the effort.

I can assure you that the Ticino canton feels quite a lot like Italy…food included.

[Removed user]

10 May 2018 at 1:47:45 #884748

Hi Nadine,

No need to go back to Lucerne to get to Milan – use the Swiss railways timetable to plan the trip(s). Are you flying home from Milan? Where are you going after? Ticino is very Italian (except the people are more reserved and the prices are higher) :). So almost an Italian experience.

If you go to Milan check out the Navigli canal area – my favourite.

[Removed user]

10 May 2018 at 17:59:27 #884749

Thanks everyone!

Based on the replies, I have edited my itinerary and you can see it here:

http://www.tripline.net/trip/ Switzerland_2018-62333260254710148345D1 374168760B

Wed, Aug 15, 2018
Zürich
Old Town
Lucerne
Zurich -> Lucerne (50 min train) $30

Things to do:
Mt Pilatus
the old town, the two wooden bridges and walking along the lake to the Transport Museum

Fri, Aug 17, 2018
Grindelwald
Lucerne -> Grindelwald (2.5 hr train – very scenic)
Other alternatives to staying in Grindelwald: Stay in Wengen, Murren, Lauterbrunnen, Gimmelwald, or Thun.

Things to do while there:
Maybe day trip to Bern if bad weather up in mountains (1.5 hr train)
Go to top of mount Jungfrau
Go to Schilthorn
Kleine Scheidegg, walk to Männlichen
Thun or Ballenberg (the open air museum) – good for rainy day
Go to Mürren and walk down to Lauterbrunnen
Brienzersee and Iseltwalt

Mon, Aug 20, 2018
Stresa
(maybe skip Stresa and go straight to Milan)
Grindelwald -> Stresa (4-5 hrs train)

Tue, Aug 21, 2018
Milan
Stresa -> Milan (1.5 hr train)
Go to Navigli Canal
Flight from Milan airport @ 11am 8/23.

If anyone has more advice on places or things to do in those places, please let me know on this thread or feel free to comment on the itinerary 🙂

[Removed user]

11 May 2018 at 3:12:01 #884750

Looks pretty good. I wouldn’t consider Gimmelwald as a place to stay as it isn’t more than 2 buildings or so. 🙂

[rockoyster]

11 May 2018 at 3:24:05 #884751

Just to add to what Lucas said about Gimmelwald you should have a look at this thread. Stay in Mürren or Wengen or Lauterbrunnen.

[Removed user]

11 May 2018 at 4:41:46 #884752

OK thanks I see what you’re saying about Gimmelwald – what about Grindelwald?

[rockoyster]

11 May 2018 at 4:44:18 #884753

Sure. Wengen has a nicer alpine village feel and fabulous views.

[Removed user]

11 May 2018 at 5:12:26 #884754

Lauterbrunnen.. Beautiful and great hike to the waterfall..

[Removed user]

11 May 2018 at 12:43:56 #884755

Grindelwald is good option – all the towns (Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Wengen) are quite suitable except Gimmelwald (although it is fine as long as your prepared).