[Anonymous]

1 August 2017 at 23:35:32 #812818

Will be coming over from the USA on vacation in February 2018. Need advice on which airport is better to fly into. Zurich or Geneva ? Plan on staying in Zermatt for 7 days. Can someone advise which airport is best and which train route is the easiest/ scenic to arrive Zermatt. 2 Adults . Thanks, look forward to hearing from everyone.

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[User]

Reply 1 of 7 • 2 August 2017 at 4:00:49 #867745

Hi Emil, and welcome to MySwissAlps!

Most people seem to choose an airport based on airfare costs, so you could compare what airfares are available from your country to the various international airports in Switzerland.

You can use the Swiss Timetable to see how long it will take from each airport. It will give you the fastest routes by default.

http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

Travel times from Zürich or Basel airports via the fastest routes are around 3.25 hours. From Bern it is a bit over 2 hours, and from Geneva around 4 hours.

The standard route from Geneva will take you past the Lavaux terraced vineyards, and along Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), which is very scenic.

The standard routes from Zürich, Basel and Bern will take you through the Lötschberg-Basistunnel, missing the beautiful scenery between Spiez and Brig. If you would like to take the scenic route instead of going through the long tunnel, put “via Kandersteg” into the timetable search form. The scenic route will take about an hour longer, as the train has to negotiate the mountains rather than running beneath them.

Alpenrose

[User]

Reply 2 of 7 • 2 August 2017 at 6:14:49 #867746

Hi Emil,

Along with Alpenrose’s comments (I too would go with the cheaper option for your arrival airport as travel times are similar).If you need any information on the airports themselves click here.

You may also want to look at the Swiss Transfer Ticket for your train trips to and from Zermatt (from any airport). You can buy it online (link above) and have it emailed to you to print at home. This way you are ready to go when you arrive in Switzerland and can jump on the first train you want.

Lucas

[User]

Reply 3 of 7 • 2 August 2017 at 13:32:25 #867747

Alpenrose,

Thank you ! Trying to decide on flights. Leaving from Florida to Switzerland. We don’t want a long train ride but would enjoy a scenic one, even if only for 1-2 hours. Are the trains accessible right in the Zurich, Geneva and Basel airports or do you need to take a cab to train stations ?

[User]

Reply 4 of 7 • 2 August 2017 at 13:36:05 #867748

Lucas, thanks ! Can you buy these with open return dates or do the dates need to be exact ? We may decide to stay 1 or 2 days longer and stop off at another town …

Another question…if you can tell me….we don’t ski much so is there other things to do in Zermatt for a few days besides skiing ? We will take the lifts and enjoy the views but any other suggestions in the town. I

Thanks,

Emil

[User]

Reply 5 of 7 • 2 August 2017 at 13:44:05 #867749

Hi Emil,

The trains arrive right at the Zurich and Geneva airports so no transferring needed. In Basel a bus needs to be taken to get there from Basel’s main train station.

Normally, you will select the start date of the Swiss Transfer ticket – you then have 1 month to use the return transfer (August 10 – September 9 for example). In some cases you won’t specify the start date and in that case you validate it at the airport and then have the same 30 days to use the return. Read about how to use the pass on the link I sent you on the first post.

The town of Zermatt is quite small – two days is fine if you aren’t planning any outdoor activities, such as skiing, snowshoeing and some tubing on the mountains.

[User]

Reply 6 of 7 • 2 August 2017 at 21:18:10 #867750

Thank you Lucas ! great information……If I want to stay in one place for 4-5 days….which would you recommened ? I though Zermatt may be nice but maybe only for 2 days ? How about Davos or Basel ….not looking for a town to big…..shops, restaurants, shopping, bars and pubs…

Thanks,

Emil

[User]

Reply 7 of 7 • 3 August 2017 at 6:20:54 #867751

Hi Emil,

Well Zermatt could be great for 4 or 5 days – there are a lot of outdoor activities to keep you busy. Which is mostly why people go there in the summer. Zermatt does have a lot of shopping and restaurants certainly – it is a world-class resort town. Be careful though, it’s one of the most expensive towns in one of the most expensive countries in the world – 4 or 5 days there could be great or horrible. 😉 haha.

Davos is similar to Zermatt but even smaller. If you think Zermatt is too small or not quite what you are looking for and you want a maybe a bigger city but not too big I would look at Bern, Montreux or Luzern. Have a look at the links and search around the town listing here and see if any others interest you.

Lucas