Itinerary for late November -8 days in Switzerland

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    28 September 2017 at 20:56:47 #813385

    We are three adults and a three year old and are planning to visit Switzerland between November 16th to 23rd (8 nights in total). We can arrive in Zurich and leave through Geneva or arrive in Geneva and leave through Zurich. This is our first trip to Switzerland. Please recommend itineraries and helpful resources.

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    29 September 2017 at 5:11:45 #870325

    Hi zeeshan12, and welcome to MySwissAlps!

    We don’t make itineraries for people here, but there is a lot of information on the MySwissAlps website to help you plan your trip. Once you have a draft itinerary, feel free to ask for comments and suggestions on it.

    This is a good place to start:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/pl antrip/doityourself/co mposeitinerary

    The Swiss Timetable will be invaluable in finding out how to get from one place to another, and how long it will take. This will help you to decide what is feasible, e.g. how much you can do, or how far you can travel, on any one day:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

    Unfortunately your travel dates coincide with the maintenance break or winter closure period for a lot of mountain transport and some attractions, so your options for using mountain transport in the Jungfrau Region (for example) will be extremely limited.

    Taking into account your arrival and departure points, the best options at this time of year for experiences on mountain transport would include Luzern, Zermatt and Montreux.

    The train from Interlaken Ost to the Jungfraujoch will be operating via both Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen/Wengen, and you could visit the lovely Jungfrau Region villages of Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren and Lauterbrunnen (although nearly all the cable cars in those villages will not be operating).

    The Golden Pass scenic rail route would lend itself well to your plan to travel between Zürich and Geneva, and it runs all year. The Golden Pass route is: Luzern-Interlaken Ost-Zweisimmen-Montreux (or vice versa) with a change of train at Interlaken Ost and Zweisimmen. You would use regional trains to connect Zürich-Luzern and Montreux-Geneva.

    http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass

    The Glacier Express with its panoramic carriages will not be running when you are there, but you could travel the same route in regional trains with several changes of train. However, it does not fit well with your arrival and departure points, and the time you have available. Nor does the Bernina Express, although it will be running once a day between Chur and Tirano.

    Mountain transport & seasonal attractions 16-23 Nov 2017

    Luzern area – all these will be operating for at least some of the time you are in Switzerland

    • Pilatus: Cogwheel train Alpnachstad-Pilatus (until 19 Nov only). After that you can get to and from Pilatus in the gondola/cable car from Kriens.
    • Rigi: Trains to the Rigi from Vitznau and Arth-Goldau. The cable car between Weggis and Rigi Kaltbad operates from 18 Nov after a short closure for maintenance

    Interlaken/Jungfrau Region

    Operating

    • Interlaken-Harder Kulm funicular (until 26 Nov)
    • Cable car and train Lauterbrunnen-Grütschalp-Mürren
    • Cable car Stechelberg-Mürren (but not to the Schilthorn)
    • Boat on Lake Thun – one departure per day in each direction between Thun and Interlaken West

    Not operating

    • Grindelwald-First gondola (closed for maintenance 23 Oct-24 Nov 2017)
    • Grindelwald Grund-Männlichen gondola (closed for maintenance 23 Oct-15 Dec 2017. However, if there are good snow conditions, it might open on weekends from 18 Nov.)
    • Wengen-Männlichen cable car – same as for Grindelwald Grund-Männlichen gondola
    • Mürren-Allmendhubel funicular (closed for maintenance 16 Oct to 8 Dec 2017)
    • Trümmelbach Falls (closes for the winter in early Nov, but children under 4 years old are not permitted in any case)
    • Open-Air Museum Ballenberg (closes for the winter after 31 Oct 2017)

    Zermatt

    Both the Gornergrat railway and Klein Matterhorn/Glacier Paradise cableway will be operating.

    Montreux area

    The Chocolate Train will not be operating, but the following will be operating/open:

    • Vevey–Puidoux-Chexbres Train des Vignes (Wine train). The Lavaux terraced vineyards are beautiful in autumn, but late Nov might be a bit late to see them at their best.
    • Vevey –Chardonne–Mont-Pèlerin funicular
    • Vevey – Les Pléiades train
    • Territet–Collonge–Glion funicular
    • Les Avants–Sonloup funicular
    • Boats on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva): limited services
    • Chillon Castle

    Hope this helps you to focus your itinerary in such a way that you make the most of your time in Switzerland.

    Alpenrose

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