MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial 20 days in Switzerland- July 2018 itinerary help
-
Hello everyone
My husband and I are travelling from Tasmania, Australia in July 2018, travelling Switzerland by train
This is our itinerary, would someone be so kind to have a look at it.
1. arrive Zurich and stay overnight
2. Head to Meiringen and stay 2 nights
3. Murren 2 nights
4. Berne 2 nights
5. Pampigny 2 nights
6. Montreaux 1 night
7. Zermatt 2 nights – glacier express
8. St Moritz 2 nights – Bernina express
9. Lugano 2 nights
10. Lucerne 1 night
11. St Gallen 2 nights
-
Hi Kym,
We made a similar trip from Tassie in May/June this year. We preferred to not change towns so regularly so had 5 nights in Lugano, Luzern and Konstanz (where we have family).
You will enjoy Switzerland no matter your itinerary but you might think about giving yourself a bit more time in Luzern. Great town and lots to see/do.
My multi-part trip report starts at http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/the-reluctant-travellers-swiss-adventure if you feel like a little light reading with an Aussie flavour.
Thanks Rockoyster .We love Lucerne, have been there before!
Hi Kymoo7-
Since you have experience in Switzerland, yo have surely planned based on that knowledge.
You have not given us any perspective on why you wish to visit various places or what you would like to do.
If your objective is to touch a lot of different places for a day each, you will achieve it.
However, I tend to spend a few day each in fewer locations…based on what I like to see and do…hike, boat rides, eat, see mountains, train rides, etc.
If you have such objectives, let us know.
Otherwise, go for it!
By the way, I really enjoy Skt. Gallen. Eat at Weinstube zum Baümli.
http://www.weinstube-baeumli.ch/
Slowpoke
Thanks Slowpoke!We travelled to Lucerne on a train journey between Italy and Belgium and loved it. So very limited experience of Switzerland.
In
Mierigen – walk Aare Gorge and Reichenback fallsMuerren – The Murrenbach Falls, Schilthorn, Harder Klum
Berne – explore Berne
Pampigmy – explore Mollens, L’isle and Morges
Montreux – Chillion Castle
Zermatt – Matterhorn, Upper Gorner Gorge and catch Glacier Express
St Moritz –
bernina expressLugano – Bellizona, Lake, Mont Bre or San Salvatore
Lucern – rest
St
Gallan –What do you think?
Hi Kym,
Take the Gotthard Panorama Express from Lugano to Luzern if you have time. The boat ride from Flüelen to Luzern is great. See http://www.myswissalps.com/go tthardpanoramaexpress
Thanks Rock oyster, I just read your post. Your trip sounded fabulous. We too have used booking.com because of the convenience of free cancellation and breakfast included inprice . Will take on board your thoughtsre too many moves.Cheers
Kym
Hi Kym-
Breakfast is included in the price of almost all Swiss hotels. If you check the rates in the ad for a hotel, or int offer that they make when you ask about a reservation, it will usually be listed. “The rate includes…..free wi-fi… breakfast buffet….TV….” The exceptions are many of the very expensive hotels and the very cheapest. And, happily, some hotels do not have TV.
Quality and variety at breakfast varies considerably. Some inns are well known for generous breakfast buffet.
When I used to travel on business, I found it annoying that the rather expensive hotel (with 4 SHA stars) on the waterfront that our Geneva laboratory used for visitors charged extra for breakfast. If I am booking an inexpensive inn, I double check on that. I have not stayed at hostels. Normally I book at hotels or inns with at least 2 stars , and usually 3 in the SHA rating system, and I have not had to pay for breakfast for 15 years. Over 37 years of travel to Switzerland, about a half a dozen times, when I have had to leave very early in the morning, the cost of a breakfast has been deducted voluntarily from my room cost.
The SHA – Swiss Hotel Association – rates hotels based on amenities, not cleanliness, which is assumed in all classes. Also assumed in any class is that the equipment and facilities all work perfectly.They have list of items that their inspectors check out on surprise visits.
http://www.hotelleriesuisse.c h/files/pdf8/Kriterien katalog_Normen_2015_20 20_CH_en1.pdf
Slowpoke
Did you get a chance to look at our list of things we wish to do?
Hi Kym,
I too would try and stay in the towns a little longer. Switzerland isn’t too big and perhaps day trips to some areas would be ok?
For example, stay in Pampigny or Montreux or Lausanne and explore the area/other towns from one town before moving on to Zermatt?
St. Gallen is nice but not as popular with tourists (at least on their first visit here). Anything in particular there you want to see/do? Not that it isn’t worth a visit (and if there is something there you want then by all means go) but I might skip it and add those nights elsewhere.
You can use the Swiss railways timetable (after October 18, when next years schedule is released) to plan out all your trips.
For an overview of rail pass options for Switzerland click here.
Let us know if you have any questions on schedules or rail passes (there are alot!)
Hi Kym
<<“Did you get a chance to look at our list of things we wish to do?”>>
I did. I note the list of places you wish to explore or see, but don’t understand whether you have any special preferences for hiking, museums, concerts, special restaurants, etc.
I note the scenic trains. You might consider the mountain train up to Rochers de Naye from Montreux.
http://www.myswissalps.com/ro chersdenaye
There is nothing in your list that causes me to offer special comments, except about the region around Pampigny. (Note the spelling).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Pampigny
It is not a common tourist destination. Could you comment on why you chose that location?
This is the only special event currently listed by My Switzerland in Pampigny:
http://www.myswitzerland.com/ en-us/service-updates/events/event-509205854.html
I used to walk in the region around Morges, l’Isle, Apples, and Cossonay, when I was taking a short break from staying and working in Geneva. The train from Morges to Apples has a really nice view of Vufflens- le- Chateau on the shortly after you leave Morges, and a hiking trail goes close by the chateau. We did stay once in Apples in about 2005 at the Auberge de la Couronne. Good kitchen. No elevator.
The region offers pleasant walking, but offers nothing special or distinctive in my memories. There is an excellent restaurant in Cossonay , le Cerf, with 2 Michelin stars if you include that sort of thing in your special interests.
Harder Kulm is close to Interlaken, and is accessible before or after your visit to the Lauterbrunnen Valley and Mürren. Perhaps you would also like to see the other well known falls in the LBV?
http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/europe-murrenbach-falls.html
The correct spelling is Meiringen, not Mieringen. They are pronounced differently.
Slowpoke
Hi Lucas-
<<“St. Gallen is nice but not as popular with tourists (at least on their first visit here). Anything in particular there you want to see/do? Not that it isn’t worth a visit (and if there is something there you want then by all means go) but I might skip it and add those nights elsewhere.”>>
I and my family have enjoyed several visits to St. Gall, with the UNESCO World heritage Abbey and library the most famous feature. The Old Town is one of the nicer ones.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Abbey_of_Saint_Gall
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Abbey_library_of_Saint _Gall
The history goes back to the Irish missionary Gallus and the abbey was founded in 747.
Next time you are over in the Ostschweiz, visit the Weinstube zum Baümli that I linked above in this thread. Really old, really Swiss, really charming, good food.
Although the tourist density is high, Stein am Rhein is worth a look out that way, too.
Slowpoke
Oh yes, I agree it is a nice town. 🙂
Thank
you Lucas.My husband and I enjoy hiking, photo opportunities and meeting people. We like eating out and drinking.
We also enjoy countryside more than cities, hence why we chose Pampigny!
Hi Kym,
I got a chance to look over the places you wanted to see and came to the conclusion that you had your planning well in hand. You have obviously done your research. Enjoy the eating out and drinking. In Lugano be sure to try the Primitivo. 😉
Thanks Rock Oyster, will definitely be doing that!
Meiringen – Post Bus ride over four mountain passes. Starts and ends at the train station. All day ride starting at 9:30 am, ending after 6:00 pm. Spectacular scenery, free with Swiss travel pass. Actually operates like a private tour bus. It does not pick up local riders. Frequent stops for souvenirs, snacks, bathroom. Give the driver a tip at the end. His driving is amazing. I just did it a week ago. I was told it was packed in the summer and a free advance reservation was needed. I got a reservation but the bus was less than 1/3 full (October 1). The ride ends for the season right about now for winter.
In Zürich walk through the old town by the church with the huge clock and climb up the sidewalk to Lindenhof park for a view of the Limmat River area and the Grossmunster Church with its twin spires. There is also a wonderful view of the old city and all the city’s church towers from a plaza at the ETH, the Zurich Technical Institute above the city. Ride the Polybahn Funicular to get there. It’s close to the train station. Running parallel to the Limmat River is Neiderdorfstrasse, a walking street, with a zillion restaurants and upscale shops. If you like Rolex watches, walk down the Bahnhofstrasse.
Everyone has a different personality and adrenelin level . I was burn’t out at the end of my eight days (the length of my pass) and ready for a long break. Make sure you plan a day or two in the middle to just relax. I must admit I REALLY got my money’s worth from the SBB in those eight days but the focus of my trips (18 of them) have been railroad photography enjoying the sites along the way. Ironically, the highlight of my entire trip was a prearranged visit to “Depot G” in Zürich photographing locomotives. Most people would be more leisurely in their pace. Most days happened to be overcast for me and some mountain tops were not worth visiting. You will need to make alternate plans if this happens to you.
In the popular city Old Towns, be prepared swarms of Chinese tourists with selfie sticks. Luzern on Sunday was packed. Gornergrat was wonderful. Zermatt was like a souvenir section at Disneyland. I am not a gourmet person. There are a lot of four star restaurants around the country if you are into that but I was a Migros/Coop person. A zillion places in every town to enjoy a coffee at an outdoor cafe and watch the people and soak in the ambiance.
John
Hi Kym007 –
<<“My husband and I enjoy hiking, photo opportunities and meeting people. We like eating out and drinking.”>>
Here a few first thoughts.
Hiking -Plenty available at all difficulties. You probably have seen this:
http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king
Switzerland has an extensive network of well marked hiking trails, in German, called “die Wanderwege” and in French (someone please help me with my non-existent French) “randonee pedestrienne.”
Trail markings-
http://www.alpenwild.com/stat icpage/trail-signs-in-the-swiss-alps/
Switzerland Mobility- the site for all things mobile that are powered by yourself:
I have set it to “Wanderland” in the menu, and zoomed in on Pampigny with hiking routes turned on. It is a good source for information about named trails, such as the Via Alpina. I sometimes have trouble with the search function, but using place names usually gets me to what I want. It understands German better than English. Trail information , at least on named trails, can include altitude profiles.
From a search for Weg der Schweiz (the Swiss Path):
Click on a route segment (of a named trail – it does not work for ordinary hiking trails, only named routes) and wait for the slow computer to give you red dots marking the named trail, and a window with route names and segment numbers, and then click on one of the trail names/segment numbers in the window that pops up. That will get you to a page a page that allows you to choose “More information.” Click on that, and you get more details. You’ll get something like this:
http://www.schweizmobil.ch/en /hiking-in-switzerland/routes/eta ppe-01447.html
Click on “enlarged Map” for a good topo.
Also, click on ” Show height profile” and get this:
images2.schweizmobil.c h/files/wl_99.02.pdf
When I get frustrated making the Switzerland Mobility site do what I want, I use the most detailed and complete available map, provided by SwissTopo, the Federal Land Office.
If you go to their homepage, and look under products as well as the “online” tabs, you can learn about available paper topo maps, including those with the Wanderwege marked on them, and a smart phone app.
http://www.swisstopo.admin.ch /
If you go to the online maps section, you can get this kind of map, in this case set for Mürren with “Hiking Trails” turned on in the menus. Note the color coding, as described in the Wandern Alpin link above:
Blue trails are technical climbing. Red are “Mountain Trails” and need good boots or study shoes. Yellow are tame. Even tame trails can have major altitude changes..
What kind of hikers are you?
Slowpoke
Thank you for the attentive detail Slow poke.
We love to bushwalk and are quite experienced, although not at the altitudes that the Swiss hikers would be used to.
We will only be doing day walks and are happy to do 4 – 6 hours of walking a day.
Thanks John.The train trip sounds lovely, do you have any photos?
Hi Kym,
Did you mean bus trip? If so then http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/postbus-through-four-passes-of-the-central-alps
- The thread ‘20 days in Switzerland- July 2018 itinerary help’ is closed to new replies.
