Help with 16 day Switzerland itinerary please
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Hello all,
I’m planning a 16 day Switzerland trip in late May 2022 – it’s my first trip to the country, and would greatly appreciate if I could get some advice on the itinerary please!
To provide some context, I’ll be travelling with my parents and aunts – I’m in my 30s and fairly fit, but they’re not, so any form of extreme sports, long hikes and ski-ing are pretty much out of the question. Not really into big cities and museums as well. We love natural scenery and scenic views, so our itinerary will consist of mainly visits to the mountains, lakes and valleys/waterfalls. We’ll be travelling entirely by train and public transportation, no driving.
Day 1 – 2: Zurich (2 nights)
Day 1: Exploring Zurich city
Day 2: Rhine Falls and Schaffhausen
Day 3 – 4: Zermatt (2 nights)
Day 3: Travel from Zurich to Zermatt. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Hängebrücke and Gorner Gorge
Day 4: Gornergrat and Lake Riffelsee
Day 5: Interlaken (1 night)
Day 5: Travel from Zermatt to Interlaken. Boat tour on Lake Brienz, Giessbach Waterfall, Iseltwald, Interlaken.
Day 6 – 8: Wegen (3 nights)
Day 6: Check out of Interlaken, head to Wegen. Visit First Station, Lake Bachalpsee, Gletcherschlucht, explore Grindelwald
Day 7:Lauterbrunnen, Murren and Mt Schilthorn
Day 8: Jungfraujoch
Day 9 – 10: Lucerne (2 nights)
Day 9: Travel from Wengen to Lucerne. Visit Mt Pilatus, Kapellbrücke.
Day 10: Mt TItlis, Lake Trubsee, Engelberg
Day 11: Empty day (Advice please!)
Day 12 – 14: Locarno (3 nights)
Day 12: Travel from Lucerne to Locarno. Visit Bellinzona
Day 13: Verzasca Valley, Sonogo Village, Froda Waterfall
Day 14: Ascona/Morcote
Day 15: Zurich (1 night)
Day 15: Spend some time exploring Locarno. Travel from Locarno to Zurich.
Day 16: Departing Switzerland
Some questions I’m hoping you guys can help me with:
1) Swiss Travel Pass – can I buy them at the airport itself? Would there be a chance it wouldn’t be available or is sold out?
2) I’ve read that May is off-season in Wegen and Zermatt. Would most of the restaurants and shops be closed, or close really early?
3) Since I’m not doing any hiking/skiing, would weather be an issue in May for Zermatt and the Bernese Oberland?
4) Would the mountain lakes (Riffelsee, Bachalpsee) be frozen in May? if yes, would they be still worth the visit?
5) I’ve got 1 empty day and am wondering if I should add that to Wengen or Locarno – any advice? Open to other areas as well.
Any other suggestions to improve the itinerary welcome as well, many thanks in advance!
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