Golden Pass worth it Zermatt to Geneva?
BB8C3PO is planning a trip from Zermatt to Geneva with stops in Montreux and Lausanne. They’re deciding whether to take a direct route to save time or the scenic Golden Pass route, pondering if skipping Zweisimmen would be a mistake. Their itinerary includes multiple scenic locations over nine days, starting in Zurich and covering well-known spots like Lucerne, Lauterbrunnen, and Jungfraujoch.
- Taking the direct route from Zermatt to Montreux allows for more time to explore Montreux and Lausanne.
- Consider passing through Kandersteg for a beautiful scenic train journey.
- The Golden Pass route offers great views, but skipping it is not a major loss as other scenic experiences are included in your itinerary.
- If planning to travel frequently by train, consider buying a Swiss Travel Pass for convenience and savings.
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Looking for input on what to do for the tail end of the trip from Zermatt to Geneva where we are visiting friends.
Getting from Zermatt to Montreux – A more direct route versus the scenic Golden Pass through Zweisimmen (extra 2 hours for a total travel time of 5 hours). The direct route would be allow for more time in Montreux for Chillon and more time in Lausanne. But would missing Zweisimmen to Montreux on the Golden Pass be a mistake?
I’ve included the rest of the itinerary for reference. Other ideas welcome. Thank you for looking.
Day1: Land in Zurich, train to Lucerne. Rigi if time.
Day2: Lucerne and Pilatus
Day3: Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen via Brunig Pass with side trip to Thun from Interlaken.
Day4: Lauterbrunnen -Jungfraujoch-
Day5: AM Schilthorn- Leave Lauterbrunnen to Zermatt via Spiez and Brig
Day 6: Zermatt- Gornergrat
Day 7: Leave Zermatt-Montreux, Lausanne.
Day 8: Geneva-Visiting friends.
Day 9: Depart Geneva.
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Hello BB8C3PO and Welcome to MySwissAlps
A big mistake? I wouldn’t think so but that is a personal choice depending on how much time you want to spend sitting on trains. It’s not as if you have not already covered plenty iconic Swiss scenery.
On your way to Zermatt consider going via Kandersteg for the best scenic route. You will then travel on the Regio-Express Lötschberger train over the traditional, more than 100 year old mountain route, giving you a wonderful view along the impressive peaks and down into the Rhone Valley.
Thank you, rockoyster!
I think the opportunity to see more of the culture in the city of Montreux and Lausanne will be a nice mix after quite a bit of train and alps the preceding days.
Thank you for the suggestion for going through Kansersteg. I did see that detailed by you and 1960man in a recent forum post.
Hi BB8C3PO!
Some good suggestions from Rockoyster. I agree that your itinerary includes quite some scenic trips already so may not be worth the extra time on the Golden pass route http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass
Some links to the destinations on your journey for more information:
- http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne
- http://www.myswissalps.com/ri gi
- http://www.myswissalps.com/pi latus
- http://www.myswissalps.com/la uterbrunnen
- http://www.myswissalps.com/th un
- http://www.myswissalps.com/in terlaken
- http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch
- http://www.myswissalps.com/sc hilthorn
- http://www.myswissalps.com/ze rmatt
- http://www.myswissalps.com/mo ntreux
- http://www.myswissalps.com/la usanne
- http://www.myswissalps.com/ge neva
Hope this helps and good luck with your planning!
Maria.
“But would missing Zweisimmen to Montreux on the Golden Pass be a mistake?”
Not in my view. As I regularly suggest n this forum, the Zweisimmen – Montreux line is very pleasant but not the ‘be all and end all’ of scenic rail travel. One of the key elements of the trip is the view from the train over the Lake on the hillside above Montreux, and you can get the same view by doing a local hop in the Montreux area (eg to Rochers de naye)
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