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We are planning a 4 day trip to Switzerland in 1st week of May 2018.
We’ll be landing in Basel on Friday evening and spending the night there. Next 4 days would be used to explore Swiss country. Which one would be better Basel-Bern-Interlaken-Lucerne-Zurich- Basel or the reverse.
We would spend just 2-3 hours to explore Bern and Zurich. From Zurich we plan to visit Rhine falls as well. From Interlaken , we want to cover Grindelwald and train to Zermat. Can we squeeze in Jungfrajoch. Thinking of Mt. Pilatus, Mt Rigi from Lucerne. We plan to buy the Swiss travel pass and thus use it for the best options. Any suggestion for the itinerary.
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Hi NejaS,
Looks OK. Jungfraujoch in the same day is probably possible if you have the stamina. Jungfraujoch is 25% discount from Grindelwald with Swiss Travel Pass.
You can work out timings using the Swiss Train Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) so you know how long it will take for any trip A to B.
I’m not sure it matter which way round you go Basel to Basel. Probably the way you have it above I guess. Maybe depends what time you need to be back in Basel.
You can use the search box top right on this page to find out details on all the attractions you have listed you are interested in.
Thanks Rockoyster.
Our flight back from Basel is around 9pm.
1) Is it a good idea to travel around Zurich on the last day and leave for Basel from Zurich in evening. Are there any issues like sudden strikes or works going on for the railways?
2) if we can either do Jungfraujoch or Titlis, which one is better to go for?
3) If we reach Interlaken around 2pm, what’s the better option- to go for train to zermat or Mountains. Will there be enough light and time for either.
4) Can we do a round trip from Interlaken to Zermat on glacier express. Or we go by 1 and then get down to take another one back. Also, do we need to do seat reservation for the round trip.
5) Is there another better secnic train option than Glacier express from either Interlaken or Lucerne.
Trying to work on a more elaborate Itinerary as confused between staying at Interlaken for 2 night and Lucerne for 1 or vice versa.
Hi NejaS,
1) There won’t be any strikes.
2) They are both very different and unique in their own way.
3) Which mountains do you mean? Jungfraujoch? If the weather is nice I would opt for Jungfraujoch as you don’t want to visit it when it’s cloudy. Sunset will be between 8.30 pm and 9 pm.
4) Scroll down on this page: http://www.myswissalps.com/gl acierexpress, and read how we recommend to do a part of the trip from Interlaken.
5) You can take the Golden Pass (http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass) from Interlaken via Zweisimmen to Montreux. And from Montreux you could go to Zermatt. This is a long trip too.
Just to add to what Chantal said.
3. Visit Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn if the weather is good. A round trip to Zermatt departing after 2:00pm would not be wise.
Thanks Chantal, Rockoyster.
I am a bit more clear about the plan now.
Day1: Reach Basel n evening, 1 night stay
Day2: move onto Interlaken (visit Bern in between). As suggested will go for Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn. Is it possible to do both on the same day as i will be reaching Interlaken around 2pm. Are the cables cars/trains working in between Interlaken and Jungfraujoch/ Schilthorn during 5th and 6th May. Read in one of the post that some cable cars are closed in early May.
Also, I would like to walk around Grindelwald and small towns on the way. Do the shops and market get closed early in these villages in first week of May? What is the closing time ?
Day3: I plan to go for Interlaken- Zermat (Explore Zermatt) – Montreux (Explore a bit) – Interlaken – Lucerne. Is this doable. How much time would this trip take. Which trains are available to follow this route?
Day4: Lucerne, Rigi and Titlis
Day5: Zurich, Rhein falls and back to Basel
Any additional suggestions are welcome.
Day 2:
It is doable to visit Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn on the same day, but then you need to be in Interlaken already and not coming from Basel via Bern. The cable car is operating. Also, if the weather is nice, visiting the Jungfraujoch is probably the first thing you would like to do. You never know if any clouds are coming in in the afternoon.
Most shops will close between 6 pm and 7 pm. I don’t know if there’s like a weekly market in these villages. If there is, they usually take place from early morning to 1 pm.
Day 3:
That will be a very, very long day. You can use the Swiss timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) to plan the trip. You could for example take the scenic Golden Pass route from Interlaken via Zweisimmen to Montreux. On the way back you can take a faster route. If you leave the via box empty the timetable will show you the fastest one. Still a long day though.
Your best option would be to stay in the same hotel in Basel for the whole of your stay.
You can reach almost every part of Switzerland (and back) in a day from Basel because Switzerland is a small country and Basel is a hub of fast inter city railway routes.
Also, please forget the Jungfraujoch. It is overpriced and overhyped.
If you want to see the Jungfrau, go to Mürren and get the view across to the Jüngfrau Mönch and Eiger. It is easier and more relaxing to get to Murren and can be done easily in 3 hours from Basel
You would have a much more relaxing day taking the trains from Basel and back again – no luggage lugging required!
You could have a decent length of time in Zermatt on a day trip from Basel.
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