Suggestion for 8 days around Lucerne & Interlaken?

I will be traveling with my 24 yo daughter in June. We will be flying into Zurich and then departing from Geneva (traveling to Iceland) at the end of our trip I would only like to stay in only 2 locations with day trips from each if possible by train. I think I'm interested in Lucerne and Interlaken areas. Are these good locations? I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks for any help!

Hi Jfoley

Welcome to My Swiss Alps.

June is great, wild flowers in the meadows are blossoming, and those towns are good bases. However, it is critical to be clear about when in June. Luzern ( German spelling) is well into Spring or even, maybe, early Summer.

However, In the higher areas around the Jungfrau, many hotels, trails, and tourist services are sporadic until late June. Interlaken may be in Spring, but the good stuff in the higher areas...Wengen, Mürren, Kleine Scheidegg... may still be in late Winter.

It's all about altitude.

And, Interlaken is a good base for travel, but not much of a tourist destination in its own right.

When in June?

What would you like to do and see? Any hiking?

Slowpoke

Thank you for your reply. I will be arriving around the 22nd of June. I've been researching and I may fly into Geneva (flying from US). I'm not sure what to do. We love the outdoors and maybe a little hiking. Any suggestions on what to see and where to go?

Hi again-- studying the map of Switzerland I think maybe the southern portion of Switzerland may be best to travel to. I think flying into Geneva is better then Zurich.

Thoughts??

Hi JFoley -

<<"Thank you for your reply. I will be arriving around the 22nd of June.">>

That is a good time. By then, some of the best trails are open, and the "ski" lifts are running to transport you up to such hikes or look outpoints of view. The mountain road passes genrally open in early to mid-June, to give you a sense of how Winter has ended by then.

I'm still uncertain about the kind of hiking you prefer, but it seems that you might be interested in easy trails and good scenery.

I don't detect that you are a "heavy duty" hiker.

Correct?

Here are some useful links. Check out the trails in this link.

www.myswissalps.com/hi king

That is a good way to get started.

Switzerland has an extensive network of well marked trails, of three levels of difficulty.

www.alpenwild.com/stat icpage/trail-signs-in-the-swiss-alps/

There is a lot of good public transport to many of the trails.

This site may have more than you want, but once you find a trail in it, you get altitude profiles, detailed maps, and sights/accommodations along the route:

map.wanderland.ch/?lang=de&route=all&bgLa yer=pk&resolution=250& X=657500&Y=199000&laye rs=Wanderland It has a lot of detail once you learn to use it.

I am curious why you have picked southern Switzerland... what attracted you? What do you consider "southern'? Maybe a name or two to orient me?

However, any part of Switzerland can be rewarding; some are more accessible for the first time visitor.

For first time visitors we usually suggest the areas around the Jungfrau and around Lake Lucerne ( you'll see the German spelling for the city once you are there (Luzern) but if you are in the French speaking regions you'll see "Lucerne.")

That lake and its surroundings are varied and beautiful, and there are high mountains within easy reach. The Jungfrau region - part of the Bernese Oberland is magnificent and accessible.

Zürich is definitely the best airport for Luzern and is also good for the Jungfrau region.

The timetable will show you that there are two trains per hour from the Zürich airport to Luzern, taking about an hour. The ride is very nice, with pleasant views. One at xx47 requires no change of train and takes one hour and two minutes. . The other at xx18 has a change in Zürich, which you can use to take a brief walk if you wish. You can leave your luggage in lockers, and catch the next train or the next or the next...they run at least every half hour all day and into the evening.

www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

These links will get you started:

www.myswissalps.com/be rneseoberland

www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne

www.myswissalps.com/ce ntralswitzerland

Here are some hikes that I have enjoyed. They are doable without special boots or hiking staffs, but sturdy shoes with grippy soles help a lot, as does a hiking staff.

www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/the-swiss-path-and-southern-lake-lucerne

One that many tourists are unaware of, that is popular with the Swiss:

www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/bls-sudrampe-trail

I've attached some pictures from what is certainly one of the best easy hikes in Switzerland, near the Jungfrau. It is the hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. Also one picture from Wengen, taken on an unusually clear day.

This is a useful map -

map.search.ch/?poi=default

Check out "Traffic" under "Points of interest" in the menu.

Slowpoke