[Albi]

6 February 2020 at 4:16:55 #825125

Hi,

My husband and I will arrive Zurich around noon mid July from Colmar, France and depart from Geneva. We have about 15 nights but will spend 2 nights in Firenze, Italy. We are keen in landscape photography and read all the scenic train ride options, but we are not fan of long train ride and prefer not to stick to a fix time and deal with seat reservation unless it is an international connection. Our travel style, we typically are out as early as sunset rise to photograph, then do some sightseeing, hiking, take afternoon train as a break before reaching the next destination. Greatly appreciate for your inputs of what regular trains that we can take to be able to experience the scenic routes. Also, where to sit for the best view. Tentatively, below is our route but it is opened for suggestions to best use of our time.

3 1/2 days base in Zurich, we plan to do day trip to: 1) St Moritz with maybe a stop at Scuol, is it too ambitious? 2) Appenzell, 3) Rhine falls and Rhein am Stein

1 night stay in Lucerne (second visit) just to visit Rigi and Stansehorn and head south to Lugano the next day, so we are fine with change hotel instead of backtrack back to Zurich. Lucerne – Lugano-Firenze. The main reason for the visit to Italy is to photograph Tuscany Sunflower field, the timing is right and it will be our last visit to the area because we visited the region many times.

Firenze-Zermatt: overnight in Zermatt

Zermatt-Spiez for 3 nights. We use Spiez as a base to explore: day 1 -Thun, Bern, and photograph Kirche Ligerg. Day 2 & 3 – Lauterbrunner/Grindelwald

Spiez-Montreux for 2 nights.

Last 2 nights in Geneva.

Thanks in advance for your inputs!

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[Removed user]

6 February 2020 at 18:03:37 #929594

Hi Albi,

I have a feeling that you are a bit of crisscrossing Switzerland. I think I would go first to Lucerne, then to St. Moritz. St Moritz is close to the Italian border, are you sure you want to go back from there to Zurich? Why not continue your trip to Tirano (see the Bernina Express route, you could do it from Chur to Tirano by local trains train then continue your trip by the Bernina Express bus to Lugano: http://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress/gettingthere). Although it is a long trip but you could spend a night somewhere in between. If you do not like the idea of the Bernina Express bus you could go directly to Firenze and after Lugano (http://www.myswissalps.com/lugano). Zermatt could follow, from Firenze you could travel by the Centovalli Railway (http://www.myswissalps.com/centovalli/ and no seat reservation is required) to Brig (http://www.myswissalps.com/brig), from Brig to Zermatt (http://www.myswissalps.com/zermatt/activities) then Spiez. From Interlaken to Montreux via the Golden Pass (http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass), then at last to Geneva (http://www.myswissalps.com/geneva).

I think I didn’t miss any of your planned towns. Rhein Falls (http://www.myswissalps.com/rhinefalls) and Appenzell would be at the beginning from Zurich, before Lucerne. What do you think?

As you are going to travel a lot, make sure to check the rail passes: You’ll find a helpful chatbot and a useful guide with a calculation spreadsheet, which helps you to choose your rail pass in 5 steps at http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass. The downloadable spreadsheet also includes links to the “Where it’s valid” page for all available passes, be sure to study it carefully.

To check the travel times, you can find the timetable at http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable.

To get to know how to get to Rigi and to Stanserhorn read at http://www.myswissalps.com/rigi/gettingthere and http://www.myswissalps.com/stanserhorn/gettingthere.
As you are also visiting Italy this will help you with the passes and trains: http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/italy. Similar info regarding coming from France is at http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/france.

Ildiko

Also see: http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauregion/activities

[rockoyster]

6 February 2020 at 19:31:21 #929595

Hi Albi,

I think your program looks fine, if a little packed, but as you are not keen on long travel days you might want to look at http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/checking-train-timetables to help ensure you are comfortable with the trips you have planned.

[Removed user]

7 February 2020 at 0:13:13 #929596

“” but we are not fan of long train ride and prefer not to stick to a fix time and deal with seat reservation unless it is an international connection.””

That’s music to my ears – I rarely plan too specifically and find it is much more enjoyable way to see Switzerland. I have never reserved a seat on a Swiss train in 59 years of travel.

“”Greatly appreciate for your inputs of what regular trains that we can take to be able to experience the scenic routes.Also, where to sit for the best view.””

All railway in Switzerland are scenic in some way, and all routes have ‘regular’ trains which you can board without reserving in advance. The ‘where to sit’ question gets asked a lot on this form, but in truth it makes very little difference where you sit ad the railways twist and turn and mostly the scenery is nice on both sides of the train.

“”3 1/2 days base in Zurich, we plan to do day trip to: 1) St Moritz with maybe a stop at Scuol, is it too ambitious? 2) Appenzell, 3) Rhine falls and Rhein am Stein””

(1) – yes that is too ambitious, the whole trip would take 8 1/4 hours with very little time between trains

(2) and (3): Appenzell and Rhine Falls / Stein am Rhein; no problem all good trips from a Zurich base (note correct term Stein am Rhein – ie Stein on the Rhine)

“”1 night stay in Lucerne then Firenze””

Can’t see an issue with this bit

“”Firenze-Zermatt: overnight in Zermatt. Zermatt-Spiez for 3 nights. We use Spiez as a base to explore: day 1 -Thun, Bern, and photograph Kirche Ligerg. Day 2 & 3 – Lauterbrunner/Grindelwald””

Not sure it is worth going up to Zermatt for a 1 night stay – a short trip to Zermatt alsways carries a risk of poor weather spoiling the views . Why not centralise at Spiez, as you can reach Zermatt in only 90 minutes from Spiez, which would make all your days trips from Spiez similar, and with the benefit of a single accommodation location and more importantly being able to decide if the weather is right for each of your daily destinations.

“”Spiez-Montreux for 2 nights.

Last 2 nights in Geneva. “”

No problems with this bit

[rockoyster]

7 February 2020 at 1:03:04 #929597

ps Albi,

Look forward to your sharing some of your photos with us after your trip.

[Albi]

7 February 2020 at 3:13:20 #929598

Thank you all for inputs!

Rockyoster, for sure I will definitely share my photos after the trip. Thank you for all of your trip reports and great photos. I really enjoy reading those and learn a lot for my upcoming trip.

1960man, originally I planned 4 nights at Spiez and just do day trip to Zermatt. From my previous destinations, I really enjoyed a sunrise moment and that is my main reason that I don’t mind to change hotel just for one night stay. I usually returned to the same hotel, and was able to travel lite. And you are right, weather is an important factor for visiting Zermatt. I just have to play it by ear.

Ildiko – Yes, I already download the calculation worksheet and I am better off with 15 day Swiss Travel Pass. I also download SBB app to my phone. It is a great tool to check the timetable and price.