Stay in Zurich and do day trips to Swiss Alps?

  • Rgcrcl1234
    Participant
    18 posts
    20 June 2018 at 6:02:21 #816770

    We are travelling from Frankfurt to Switzerland on a Thursday morning and leaving from Zurich to the US on Sunday, leaving only 2 full days to take in the sights. We know we must stay in Zurich Saturday night so we will be ready for our flight home on Sunday. But we MUST see the Alps! We were told to stay in Zermatt, it seems after research that Jungfrau, Murren, and Interlochen may also be beautiful options and possibly easier to get to. The main question is, does it make more sense to have Zurich as the home base during the time in Switzerland and do day trips on Friday and Saturday to the alps, or to go directly to one of the cities in the alps from Frankfurt and travel back to Zurich to stay on Saturday night? And if we only have 2 days for sightseeing, what are the recommended cities to travel to (or stay in) for the best experience? Thanks in advance for your recommendations!

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    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    20 June 2018 at 8:29:46 #888885

    What time is your flight on Sunday? Lucerne is a much nicer base than Zurich and is only 1 hour from the airport.

    Or go direct to the Jungfrau region (eg Wengen) from Frankfurt and go to Zurich on Saturday.

    Rgcrcl1234
    Participant
    18 posts
    20 June 2018 at 12:36:39 #888886

    Thank you for your reply. Our flight is at 1 30pm on Sunday.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    20 June 2018 at 14:38:43 #888887

    Hi Rgcrcl1234 and welcome to MySwissAlps!

    With that short of time I wouldn’t go to Zermatt – unless you want to see the Matterhorn. Lucerne is a great option (many mountains nearby: https://www.myswissalp s.com/lucerne/activiti es) .

    As is one of the towns in the Jungfrau region: https://www.myswissalp s.com/jungfrauregion. To see what you can do in the Jungfrau region look here: https://www.myswissalp s.com/jungfrauregion/a ctivities

    You can use the Swiss railways timetable to plan out the trips to/from towns and mountains to see what will work for you. https://www.myswissalp s.com/timetable

    Rgcrcl1234
    Participant
    18 posts
    20 June 2018 at 15:51:25 #888888

    Great info, will research. Thanks much!

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    20 June 2018 at 18:36:45 #888889

    Hi Rgcrcl234

    Using the timetable noted by Lucas, you’ll see that you have options on where to stay Saturday night.

    Rockoyster’s suggesttion is a good one….Zürich Flughafen is 1 hr and 3 minutes ( direct, via Zürich) or 1 hr 7 minutes ( via Zürich/change at Zürich). And if by some chance you miss the connection at Zürich, there are lots of trains every hour from Zürich main station to the airport.

    Even if you stay in Wengen, you could catch the 0803 on Sunday morning and arrive at the sirport at 1116

    I assume that you are not traveling in November, when I’d be a lot less likely to go to the Jungfrau region.

    You could spend many days in Luzern, and both Titlis and Pilatus ( quite near to Luzern) offer high Alpine experiences.

    Slowpoke

    Rgcrcl1234
    Participant
    18 posts
    20 June 2018 at 19:37:42 #888890

    Thank you! No we are travelling in august.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    24 June 2018 at 19:15:03 #888891

    Hi rg

    My suggestion is you stay near interlaken.From Frankfurt to Interlaken is 5 hours drive, 6-7 hours train. Wengen or Wilderwil are neighbourhoods of interlaken and cheaper. It’s the foothold of Alps. Jungfrau, schilthorn, Brienz rothorn and many more alp mountains are easy reach. If you reach in afternoon also on Thursday you may do Harder Kulm in interlaken which is a small mountain in itself. Zurich will be 2 hours from the actual Alps and not good as baar. Try early morning train on Sunday to reach Zurich airport in just 2 hours for your flight. Or come to Zurich late Saturday itself.

    if you want to do small peaks like Pilatus, Rigi or Titlis(which is high and snow) then Lucern is good base and it has many other good options for 2 full days. It’s nearer to Zurich also.

    takecare

    Rgcrcl1234
    Participant
    18 posts
    24 June 2018 at 19:37:02 #888892

    Your reply is much appreciated and very good information. I’m thinking to go straight from Frankfurt to either the lucerne area or the interlochan area and coming back to zurich Saturday evening so that we can leisurely get to the airport on Sunday and have just a short amount of time in zurich as well. My son is hankering for Swiss chocolate, lol!

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    25 June 2018 at 4:58:42 #888893

    You will get Swiss chocolates in every city/ town. Try Laderach, I liked them very much. 🙂

    all the best.

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