First time to Switzerland, mum can't walk well

Hi Everyone,

I am planning to take my mum (who can't walk very well/ long distance) for our first Swiss trip. We have got 4-7 days (depends what you would suggest). We probably will be flying into Geneva and go from there. Would Interlaken and Lucerne be too rushed for such short trip? Will there be a lot of walking involved? Any other places you would suggest?

Thanks!

Unless you have already purchased your air tickets, I would suggest under the circumstances that you fly to Zurich. Geneva is very unfriendly to automobiles and you don't want to have one there. Access to the lake boat will involve some walking but the trip to Nyon is well worthwhile. Geneva's old town requires a great deal of walking from one point of interest to another.

Zurich is more picturesque than one might suppose, with the lake, river and old town on each side. Lucerne is definitely worthwhile. Interlaken is too commercial and not itself interesting. Instead, take the train to Lauterbrunnen (not Grindelwald, which is very touristy). There is an excellent hotel right next to the RR station and many other choices within a block or two, some looking at the stupendous waterfalls. Trains up toward the Jungfrau and cog rail or cable cars all leave from the RR station. Murren is picturesque and directly accessible by either cog or cable car. Walk a little of the paved pathway toward Gimmelwald (not to be confused with the large town around to the next valley Grindelwald).

Take the whole 7 days. Switzerland has far too much to offer to give it short shrift. Allow time wherever you stay, not just a bunch of one-night-stands. You will have a wonderful time!

Hi,

Can someone please give me some advise on this itinerary please? As above- I'm going with my mum who can't walk very well (with a bad knee). Can someone please along advise which Swiss Train pass should I be buying? Is there any additional cost to the below itinerary?

Day 1: fly from london to Zurich- Train from Zurich to Lucerne. Lake Lucerne and Mt Rigi ? (is that too much going on it one day?) (stay over night in Lucerne)

Day 2: Mt Titlis and local Lucerne

Day 3: Rhine Falls ( should i be departing from Lucerne or is it closer if I depart from Zurich?) and local sight seeing in Zurich. Later Zurich to Interlaken (train)

Day4: Jungfraujoch (Interlaken base)

Day 5: Murren, Schilthorn, James bound Mt. (interlaken base)

Day6: Lauterburren (interlaken base again? or...)

Day 7: Zurich london.

thanks :)

Hi superdrpanda,

Most of your itinerary looks fine to me. Some considerations: day 1 may a bit full after your inbound flight, but it depends on your time of arrival and ultimately it's up to you to decide whether or not you want make a trip right after arrival. You'd best check timetables for the boat and your trip up to Rigi to see whether you're fine with them.

The Rhine Falls can better be visited from Zurich. To reduce traveling times, it would be easier visiting them after arrival in Zurich on day 1 and then heading for Lucerne. That way you won't have to make an extra trip trip Lucerne-Zurich and back on day 3.

How much walking is involved mostly depends on the location of your hotels and the amount of urban transportation you wish to use during city visits. Lucerne, Zurich and Interlaken all have good urban connections, so if you want to avoid walking you can use buses and trams. In terms of convenience, an 8 day Swiss Travel Pass would be the best option as it allows unlimited traveling by train, bus, boat and local buses/trams. Most probably it won't be the cheapest option though, so I suggest you compare this with a Swiss Half Fare Card making calculations as explained here.

If you get to the first of the cable cars to Schilthorn before 9 a.m., the round trip ticket is 25% less than on later departures which is a sizeable reduction. Take the time at the top not only to enjoy the views from outside but to have a cup of your favorite hot beverage inside the restaurant and watch the world unfold at your feet.

hi Annika,

Thanks for your advice, I've now reorganised my itinerary. Now I'm not 100% sure if I should use interlaken as a base or Lauterburren? Would it be better if I go to Jungfraujoch from interlaken or Lauterburren? And let say, if we use interlaken as our base, would it be wise to travel to Lauterburren as a day trip rather than staying overnight in Lauterburren? And also Murren- is it better for us to go from interlaken or Lauterburren?

thanks!

Hi Superdrpanda-

Your plans will be highly dependent on what dates you are in Switzerland, due the effects of altitude and time of year on weather.

I may have missed it, but, when are you going?

Depending on when you are going, I think that staying in Lauterbrunnen ( please note spelling) or even Wengen makes better sense than Interlaken for days 4, 5, 6.

Here are couple of links that can help you understand that better:

map.search.ch/?x=-27304m&y=-27264m&z=16

and,

www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

Everyone has there own prefernces.

Since I live in the USA, and have seen Niagara Falls,Ii find the Rhine Falls a non-event. The a re not as high or as wide as the falls at Niagara. However, if you have not experienced massive waterfalls, the Rhine Falls are quite impressive and worth a visit.

www.myswissalps.com/rh inefalls

When we visited there a few years ago, perhaps due to lack of planning, we had a lot of walking.

Slowpoke

If you are truly interested in being in the higher Bernese Oberland, staying in Interlaken is going to involve a lot of time using public transportation to get up there. Lauterbrunnen (which you have misspelled several times) is a major rail hub with immediate access to other types of public transportation options in many directions.

You have not said what time of year you plan to do this....which is a factor. If you speak of July-August, Interlaken will be crowded with tourists and it really isn't picturesque.

Hi Slowpoke and Applecroft.

Apologies with the misspelt on multiple occasions. We have both been to Niagara Falls last summer :)

our travel dates will be 12 April to 19/20 April. Base on these dates- which town would you advise us to stay as our base? (Considering my mum can't walk that well- so less walking with the interchanges will be my main priority).

thanks.

This gives some idea of what to expect in April.

At high altitudes ther still will be lots of snow.

www.myswissalps.com/be sttimetovisit

The appeal of the Bernese Oberland is diminished in April for walkers, and many facilities (but not all) are closed. Still a trip on the cograil from Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald will still be nice. Easy access, minimal walking; perhaps some stairs at Interlaken Ost station.

Luzern should almost certainly be a base, but you have time for a couple of bases:

www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne

Public transport will have only short walking distances at connections as a general rule. The major cities have dense tram/bus networks. In most, "low floor" trams are replacing older models and allow access to the cars without stepping up.

However, also as a general rule, walking is considered a legitimate mode of public transportation. ;-)

Possibly, these links may be helpful:

www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/discounted-rail-passes-in-switzerland-for-disabled

www.myswitzerland.com/ en-us/search/index.cfm?phrase=handicapped

www.myswitzerland.com/ en-us/handicapped-passengers.html

A google search turned up a fair amount of information, such as:

www.disabledtravelersg uide.com/travel/travel _disabled_switzerland. htm

Station maps and information for major train stations are available on the SBB web site:

www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/am-bahnhof/railway-stations/trafimage-maps-station-plans.html

www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/am-bahnhof.html#?lang=en&baselayer=ch.s bb.netzkarte.relief&zo om=1&x=665550.00&y=183 192.00#%3Flang=en