[Removed user]

25 October 2019 at 1:35:39 #824300

It’s our first trip to a Switzerland arriving and departing from Zurich airport. We have 5 full days to explore but don’t want to carry all our luggage so prefer to have 1 or maybe 2 towns as home base to travel from. We love history, the Christmas markets and chocolate! We are in our 50’s, arriving December 9 and we plan to get a rail pass. We don’t plan to do any alpine activities this time. Can you help with a home base location(s) and some itinerary ideas? Would a long day trip to Jungfrau region be a must?

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[Anna]

25 October 2019 at 5:49:04 #924206

Hi Mare,

Welcome to MySwissAlps!

December is a lovely time to explore the Christmas markets in Switzerland. Please check out the link below for a list of markets you can visit. On the same page, you will also find a few itinerary suggestions that might interest you. If you wish, you can combine these trips with visits to chocolate and cheese factories, and certainly day excursion to the Jungfrau region.

• Christmas markets: http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/christmasmark ets
• Chocolate and cheese factory visits: http://www.myswissalps.com/activities/culinarytours
• Jungfrau region: http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion

We would be better informed to advise you about where to stay once you have a basic itinerary. As a guide, you may refer to our plan-your-trip link to help you organise your trip. I’m also attaching links to the various rail passes options available and the general accommodation page.

• Plan your itinerary: http://www.myswissalps.com/pl antrip/doityourself/co mposeitinerary
• Railpass options: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses
• Choose a railpass: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass
• Accommodation: http://www.myswissalps.com/ac commodation

Hope all these help.

Best regards,

Anna

[Slowpoke]

26 October 2019 at 0:41:40 #924207

Hi Mare-

<<“Would a long day trip to Jungfrau region be a must?”>>

Neigh…

Some of our more astute and knowledgeable members stated it well in other threads.

To paraphrase and condense-

“There is a body of opinion that the Jungfraujoch is an over-hyped, expensive tourist trap.”

I have visited Switzerland on the order of 90 times since 1980, and have never felt that the cost /benefit trade-off made sense for me. The way to ask the question is:

<<“Would a long day trip to Jungfrau region be a must, versus other superb scenic options nearer to Zürich?”>>

That is why I have never been up there. Too many other nice things. If you want a high Alpine experience, nearer Zürich, go to Titlis, or, for a single high mountain, Pilatus.

If you absolutely must go to the Bernese Oberland, check out Schilthorn as an option:

http://www.myswissalps.com/sc hilthorn

Here is a list of such places:

http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/naturalsites

Scroll down.

Disclaimer – All opinions are personal. 😉

More on Christmas markets:

http://www.brunnvalla.ch/chri stmasmarkets/switzerla nd.html

Slowpoke