[chrisl26]

30 July 2022 at 9:27:18 #827919

Hello,

We are planning for a trip to Switzerland in September and will be there for about 6 nights.

The itinerary roughly goes like below:

Day 1: day activities in Zurich, overnight at Chur

Day 2: (GE) Chur to Zermatt (overnight)

Day 3: Zermatt (half day), overnight at Interlaken

Day 4-5: 2 full days in Interlaken/Grindelwald and nearby areas

Day 6: Lucerne (full day and overnight)

Now the question here is with day 2.. We read some reviews and it seems the Glacier Express route is not recommended in September. So i was wondering if I should still go with this itinerary or shift to more days around Interlaken/Lucerne?

Appreciate your advice.

Thanks,

Chris

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[Anna]

30 July 2022 at 13:26:06 #944939

Hi Chris,

Welcome to MySwissAlps.

Riding the Glacier Express is a great way to experience the Swiss Alps. The route is explained in detail here: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/gettingthere. In September you’ll see a lot of greens and glimpses of snow capped mountains along the way. Also, the Glacier Express is the only direct train from Chur to Zermatt and certainly worth taking if it’s the only panoramic trip that fits your itinerary. Alternatively, you can travel direct to Zermatt from Zurich and perhaps have more time to explore Zermatt before continuing to Interlaken.

Here are some useful links to help you plan your itinerary:

• Zermatt: http://www.myswissalps.com/zermatt/activities
• Interlaken: http://www.myswissalps.com/interlaken/activities
• Grindelwald: http://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwald/activities
• Lucerne: http://www.myswissalps.com/lucerne/activities

Regards,

Anna

[Danielsan]

30 July 2022 at 14:51:56 #944940

Hi Chris,

I’m not sure what reviews you read about the Glacier Express in Sept. There is really no difference between the summer and Sept. except that it is a bit less crowded, being just after the tourist season (which is why I chose to go then.) I was on it from Chur to Zermatt in Sept (2018) and it was very nice, very scenic. Only difference between the summer and winter is one is white, and one is green… That being said, it is a six hour ride to Zermatt (from Chur) which is basically the better part of a whole day. With only six days, I would personally forego the Glacier Exp. and go directly to Zermatt from Zurich, as Anna mentioned. This will give you more time to spend exploring in Zermatt rather than being on a train. You can get to Zermatt in just about three hours from Zurich. Or work your way down from Zurich/Lucerne/Interlaken/Zermatt. Your choice obviously, but again, you’re only there for the six days. (Once you see Zermatt, chances are you may not want to leave). Look through the links provided by Anna and go from there. Have fun. It’s hard not to do when there.

Regards,

Danielsan

[Removed user]

30 July 2022 at 21:45:21 #944941

Whatever ‘review’ you read about the Glacier Express being ‘not recommended’ in September was a very odd (if not downright bad!) review.

Essentially May – September you will see mainly green fields with snow on any very high mountains you might see (you won’t see many if any glaciers…)

At other times of year you may see snow at higher altitudes, and in mid winter on the higher sections there will snow all over by the railway

[chrisl26]

5 August 2022 at 0:58:47 #944942

Thanks all for the reply and suggestion.

We have decided to forgo the GE given the short amount of time we have in Switzerland this time.

Will definitely come back for the GE next time. 🙂

[Removed user]

5 August 2022 at 9:39:40 #944943

If you intend to ‘forgo’ the GEX, what is your new plan?

You must remember that there is no need ever to do the route of the Glacier Express throughout.

The Glacier Express is just a special train that travels over a combination of separate railway lines. The eastern half (Zermatt – Brig – Andermatt – Disentis) is on the MGB railway (traversed by hourly regional trains and other local trains). The ‘western’ half is on the Rhaetische Bahn railway (RhB), the GEX uses the Disentis – Chur and Chur – St Moritz lines, both of which have their own regular hourly regional trains. In particular the Chur – St Moritz railway is a spectacular UNECSO World Heritage railway in its own right, with hourly trains formed of coaches with big windows, some of which open especially for the use of photographers.

Many people prefer travelling over the same routes on normal regional and local trains as it has some advantages:

1) you can stop off at any intermediate station you like, for example to spend an hour or two at the spectacular Oberalp Pass and lake

2) it is a more genuine ‘local’ experience

3) there are a few ordinary trains on the route that actually convey completely open air panorama coaches, rather then the sealed window ‘greenhouse’ GEX coaches, where you miss the fresh mountain air for long periods.

4) local trains give you the opportunity to get more photos without the horrible reflection you get when taking photos through sealed windows in ‘panoramic’ coaches.

[Removed user]

5 August 2022 at 9:46:25 #944944

Further to my previous comments:

Don’t forget that one way of reaching Zermatt from Zurich is to go Zurich – Goeschenen – Andermatt – Brig – Zermatt. This takes approximately 6 hours , against the 3 h 15 by the fast inter city route. That way you pull in half of the GEX route just on a point to point journey