Zurich 3-days: St.Gallen, Rhine Falls, Basel
Tanya from Australia is planning a 3-day trip to Zurich, including visits to Chur, St. Gallen, Lake Constance, and the Rhine Falls. She’s looking for advice on how many days she might need to see everything and wants to know about any promotions for the Swiss Travel Pass in April.
- 3 days in Zurich is sufficient to see Chur, St. Gallen, Lake Constance, and Rhine Falls while allowing for a relaxed pace.
- Combine Zurich and Baden in one day since they are only a short train ride apart.
- Regular trains run from Chur to Zurich, taking about 1 hour and 15 minutes, making this segment easy for travelers.
- Keep an eye on the forum or provided links for updates on Swiss Travel Pass promotions.
AI-generated summary-
Dear friends, I am Tanya, from Australia. We plan to spend 3 days in Zurich. We plan to travel from Chur to Zurich. Leave our luggages in the hotel. Then walk and look around in the old town. Next day take train to St gallon, plan to take baot around lake of Constance. If possible take boat along from konstanz into schaffhausen then hope can visit Rhinefall. Back to Zurich.
The next day go to Basel visit laufenburg, Baden etc..
My question is how many days we need to visit all of these places generally speaking, of course, Thank you.
By the way, please keep me inform about promotion STP in April. Thank you
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Hello Tanya shih,
Zurich is good base for your intended activities. I think 3 days is enough to cover all, at a good pace. Distance and travel times are fairly short so you could easily visit Lake Constance and the Rhein Falls in one day. For Basel, Laufenburg and Baden, would need a day. This would probably be a busier day. Depending how long you wanted to stay in each location, you may want to split this up. Basel and Laufenburg in one day. You could even combine Zurich and Baden in one day too, the fast train to Baden takes only 16 minutes from Zurich main station.
Do use this the timetable link so you can plan your options.
- https://www.myswissalps.com/timetable
- https://www.myswissalps.com/rhinefalls/gettingthere
- https://www.myswissalps.com/basel
- https://www.myswissalps.com/zurich
The Swiss Travel Pass promotion will be posted on the forum, also as a member of the forum, you will receive new topics by email.
I hope this helps, feel free to reach out with any further questions.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hello Yolanda,
I, too, am interested in visiting Laufenburg from Zurich. My original plan was to just visit Basel, but then I read Tanya’s post and Laufenburg looks so pretty. As well, you mentioned that a day trip from Zurich to both places were doable. If I intend to do the touristy sights in Basel, how much time should I allot to Basel? and then how much time would I need for Laufenburg? My other concern was the return train ride to Zurich from Laufenburg…I see there are are at least 2 connections. Is that correct.
Regards,
Louise
Laufenburg is a bit ‘remote’ railway-wise since the line Eastwards from Laufenburg to Koblenz was closed some years ago, hence Laufenburg is now on a stub branch served only from the West (Basel ) direction.
However Zurich to Laufenburg can be done with only 1 change: take a train from Zurich to Frick, and then bus 135 from Frick to Laufenburg:
http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/fileadmin/fap_pdf_fields/2023/50.135.pdf
As such a circular trip can be done Zurich – Basel – Laufenburg – Frick – Zurich or Zurich – Frick – Laufenburg – Basel – Zurich
Thanks for that piece of advice, 1960man!!
Regards,
Louise
Hi Yolanda,
Can you please suggest how can we visit Lake Constance and the Rhein Falls in one day starting from Zurich? At what time we should start, which public transport to take and where to visit first? (assuming we’re travelling with a 8 yr kid)
Thanks for your help
Alad, could you please post your own , not to mixed into others posts to prevent confusion. Thank you for your understanding
Hi Yolanda and 1960 man,
After reading all of links, i think it is better skip travel to Basel and stat 3 days in Zurich. The reason i made that plan is we plan to go from Chur after visiting swiss grand canyon and plan to visit st gallen. From map i thought there is a direct train from chur to Zurich.
Anyway, from links you sent to me, i make new plan below. Please give me your advise as we are the first time visit Switzerland.
1. Travel from Chur to luzern make luzern a base only day trip to zurich (visit rhine fall, Zurich lake, old town etc)
2. The next question is how do we go from chur to luzern. Should we go by glacier Express to Andermatt then to lucern. Or are there any other way.
3. We can take Voralpen Express to st gallen from lucern. from link stated Along Voralpen express can get from luzern to st gallen and visit some places for 6 hours. Can go to rigi too … etc
Do not know how to do a goo plan
Hi Tanya Shih,
There are regular and direct trains services between Chur and Zurich (takes about 1 hour and 15 mins). Travelling from Chur to Lucerne, normally the fastest way is via Zurich (add additional 45 mins journey time). Chur to Lucerne via the Glacier Express route will take longer and you would need to book your seats from Chur to Andermatt in advance.
Travelling to Lucerne from Chur via the Voralpen Express would be a very scenic option provided you are not in a hurry. The Coralpen express route is explained in detail here: http://www.myswissalps.com/voralpenexpress/gettingthere. First you need to travel from Chur to St Gallen and this takes roughly 2 hours. From St Gallen you can reach Lucerne with the Voralpen Express in 2hr 15 mins. Indeed you can stop in Arth-Goldau and plan a side to trip to Rigi if you have time.
If you have 1 whole day to travel and explore, I recommend the scenic option – travelling on the Voralpen Express.
Enjoy your trip!
regards,
Anna
Hi alad,
Please post your question in a new thread here: http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/miscellaneous
Thanks and regards,
Anna
Hi Tanya Shih,
Regarding the Swiss Travel Pass spring promotion: you can best keep an eye on http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/the-swiss-travel-pass-spring-2023-promotion. That’s where we’ll update the information.
Thank you for your advise, Anna,
In order to ask your advice, i should express myself clearily. Reading all information on the website,:
1. St Gallen can visit abbey lake constance and along the river to schaffhausen, the Rhine fall, visit zurich old town and city. My question is can we do this in one day or have to stay one night in zurich.
.2. Voralpen express is a wonderful ride.
How could we do all of these. We have time as we will travel around the country for 20 days.
Yes, you are right, from the map from chur to zurich then to luzern is the convenient way.
what is the best arrangement for us to visit all of above wonderful places from Chur after we travel from tirano to st Moritz i 1 night to chur 2 nights .
I hope that i have expressed myself clearly for you. Thank you.
Hi Tanya shih,
You probably need 1 day for sightseeing in St Gallen and Lake Constance. From St Gallen you can take a train to Schaffhausen then a connecting train to the Rhine Falls. On the way back, do a a side trip to Stein am Rhein.
Then the next day, take the Voralpen Express from St Gallen to Lucerne. You can make a side trip to Rigi along the way.
Would this option work for you?
regards,
Anna
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