Swiss itinerary – is any “must-see” missing?
A traveler, Saroj123, is planning a trip to several cities in Switzerland, including Lucerne and Lauterbrunnen, but seeks advice on routes and must-see attractions. They want to optimize their itinerary to make the most of their visit, especially considering the country's many sightseeing options.
- Consider adding Zermatt and other attractions in the Jungfrau region to your itinerary for more iconic sights.
- The Swiss Travel Pass provides discounts on many trains and mountain rides; check if you need an additional pass for the Jungfraubahnen.
- Plan your trip as a circular route to minimize travel time and maximize enjoyment.
- Boat trips on lakes, especially from places like Lausanne or Lucerne, are highly recommended for a unique experience.
AI-generated summary-
Cities: Lucerne; Lauterbrunnen; Mürren; Saint-Ursanne; Gruyeres; Bern; Morcote; Milan; St. Moritz; Stein am Rhein, Appenzell; Anything I must add and is the routing fine-
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You need to be more specific about no of days of visit, sightseeing plan and areas of interest
Even though Switzerland is a small country there are a lots of sightseeing, mountain tops and attractions for visit
Hi Saroj123,
a little more details would be great as Shroffchetan mentioned. If you tell us more about your interest when are you coming (month), have you ever been to Switzerland before etc, that would help us to give you better advice. (More in detail: http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/rules).
Anyway, usually first-time travellers (I mean in Switzerland) also like to visit Zermatt (http://www.myswissalps.com/zermatt).
I am not sure that you’ve already planned it but in the Jungfrau region, there are even more places to visit, not just Lauterbrunnen and Mürren. Have a look at http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauregion.
Same for the Lake Lucerne area. There are several mountain tops, like Pilatus, Titlis, Stasenhorn and Rigi. You’ll find all these at http://www.myswissalps.com/lakelucerne.
Also, make sure to take a boat trip even from Lausanne (http://www.myswissalps.com/boatlakegeneva) or Lucerne (http://www.myswissalps.com/boatlakelucerne).
In Switzerland, the panoramic trains are also famous and breathtaking: http://www.myswissalps.com/activities/scenictrips/train.
If you would like more ideas, I recommend these pages:
I hope these will help you,
Take care,
Ildiko
Hi Saroj123,
Not sure what time of (or) year you’re planning. Or for how long, or as mentioned, your interests. Are you planning to drive, or use public transportation? We’re not trying to bombard you with questions but want to guide you in the right direction. Based on your cities mentioned, maybe start in Saint-Ursanne if you land in Basel. If you land in Zurich, perhaps save that for the end of your trip, and looking at a map, and seeing your cities, perhaps from Zurich go to Stein am Rhein on your way to Appenzell via the Schaffhausen Falls/St Gallen train line. Fom there to Chur. Take the Bernina Express from Chur to St Moritz, then to Tirano, and go to Milan from there. Then head to Morcote via Lugano. Then to Brig via Locarno/Domodossola and into Zermatt as Ildiko mentioned, as it is beautiful there and much to see and do. From there head to Lake Geneva, either staying in Montreux or Lausanne. Either one will put you near to Gruyeres. From there you can take the Golden Pass line (from Montreux) to Interlaken (Murren). You can take a day trip to Bern from there. And then head toward Lucerne. Or you can go to Saint-Ursanne from Bern and head back toward Interlaken or straight to Lucerne from there. This is just a suggestion that is pretty much a loop/circle instead of bouncing all around. Also based on the assumption that you will be traveling by train. Look at a map and it will make sense as far as the loop/circle goes. Again, just a suggestion based blindly on your initial post. Look through the links sent from Ildiko and get back to the forum for more advice. Hope we got you started and on your way.
Danielsan
Hello,
I am new to this platform and I see I can get good advise. I will be arriving in Genève on 7 September from Santa Barbara California. I bought a swiss rail pass for 8 flexible days. My itinerary is as follows: Geneve-2 days,Lausanne-2 days, Bern-2 days, Lauterbrunnen-4 days, Lucerne- 3 days, Zurich- 2 days. I have been to Zermatt and I loved the Glacier Express with Bernina Express tours. I know what to do in big cities but this time I would like to experience Bernese-Oberland. I wish I did this trip when I could hike and walk all day. But I am 70 years old, traveling solo and need to rest between long walks. I thought if climbing gets to be too much, I can take various Gondolas, Mountain Trains, Cable -Cars and they will be exciting and I can take the true feel of the Swiss Alps. I will take Jungfraujoch to Jungfrau, and return with the Gondola, that is 1 day. For remaining 3 days, I was thinking to take Brienzer Rothorn, to go to Shielthorn, Gimmelwald, Murren, take the Gondola from Grindelwald to Mannlichentto Wengen, to KleineSheidegg, Niederhorn/Beatenburg, Schnyg Platten, Harder Kulm. So much to see, it would take a month to do it all. I only have 4 days. So my questions are:
1. What rides do you recommend as the most scenic and also thrilling? Perhaps taking a different route for the return
2. How to go from Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald?
3. I have Swiss Rail Pass which will give reduced prices on the rides. Do I need to also buy Jungfraubahnen Pass?
4. Should I go to Jungfrau on my own or take a tour?
5. In Luzern, I will take a tour to Mount Pilatus or Rigi. Which one do you recommend?
I appreciate your replies and recommendations. Thank you very much for your help.
Yelda Recsei
Attachments:
Hi Yelda,
Welcome to MySwissAlps! We’re glad to help, but it’s much easier for us and other readers if you create your own thread. The current one is for the questions posted by Saroj123. You can go to http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/miscellaneous and click “Post a new thread”. It’s explained in the forum rules too: http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/rules.
See you in the new thread!
thanks!!
Thank you Arno, I just posted my own thread
Hi Yeldus,
I am Canadian, 61 years old, and in 2019 I spent 10 days hiking around the Mürren, Lauterbrunnen area. My heart touched heaven when I was there!!!! This area is a tiny paradise on this planet!!! While your are in Lauterbrunnen, I would strongly suggest the Northface Trail. From Lauterbrunnen you would take the cable car up to Grütschalp. I suggest you start the Northface Trail here, walking towards Mürren. The view is spectacular. Although you mention that you don’t want anything too strenuous, in my opinion this is quite easy and you can stop along the way anywhere, sitting on a big rock for example, just enjoying the view. Once in Mürren you can stroll around the cute little village, and then take a little train back to Grütschalp, and from there the cable car back down to Lauterbrunnen.
Another option from Mürren is that you walk down to Grimmelwald (not to be confused with Grindelwald). It is a small paved road, easy to walk, maybe an hour or so. From Grimmelwald you would then take the cable car down to Stechelberg (really impressive as you sweep down the steep mountain side!) . From Stechelberg you would take the bus to get back to Lauterbrunnen.
Wishing you an amazing trip!!!
Monica
Dear Monica,
I truly appreciate your inputs about the hikes in Mürren and Grimmelwald and your encouragements. Since these hikes are not strenuous I am encouraged to take them. Your descriptions convinced me they are not to be missed: I think I will try both options from Mürren: to Grütschalp and to Stechelberg. Cable car ride from Grimmelwald. down to Stechelberg is the type of thrill I was looking for at this trip. I am happy to have picked Lauterbrunnen as base. This will give me access to all these special little towns.
Are you familiar with Mannlichen-Kleine Scheidegg hike? Is it strenuous? After Mürren and Grimmelwald hikes is it worth doing it or not? Do you recommend it?
Thank you for your well wishes. All the best wishes to you too.
Yelda (from California)
Hi Yelda,
My kids and I recently hiked from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, and I can honestly say it’s a fairly easy and lovely trail. My kids are 10 and 12 years old.
Regards,
Anna
Dear Anna,
Thank you for your information. It looks like a beautiful hike. I will add it to my list.
Yelda
Hi Yelda,
Thanks for your message! I am glad that it could help you in your planning! We did not do the Männlich-Kleine Scheidegg hike, so I cannot comment on it.
I just want to clarify that the walk from Mürren to Grimmelwald is not really a ‘hike‘; one should consider it simply a walk, as you are on a paved road the whole time (a tiny bit steep at times, but nothing difficult). From Mürren you would be going downhill; if you start in Grimmelwald it is uphill. It is a very pictureque walk!!
Take care and enjoy the trip planning!
Monica
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