Visiting Zermatt-Bern-Wengen-Zurich in November

Hi

It is our first time traveling to Swiss, and we do not know whether our itineraries - Zurich Airport to Zermatt (2Nights) then to Bern (2Nights) then to Wengen (4Nights) lastly we return to Zurich (2Nights) before we depart Swiss, are correct or not.

We had booked the hotels but online did mentioned that November is the worst month to visit Zermatt and Wengen,because most rides/lifts/trains/cable cars will be closed for maintenance!!!

1. We do not know what can we do over at Wengen and Zermatt if all the rides/cable cars/lifts/trains are closed!

2. We are interested to take the free boat rides at Zurich and visit free Museum with our Swiss Travel Pass! But we are having difficulties finding our way to the pier, via internet! Lastly, will we be getting free boat rides at other zones of Swiss with our Swiss Travel Pass? e.g. Bern and Interlaken???

Thanks in advance for the help!

Yours faithfully

Adrian

Hi Adrian,

Welcome to MySwissAlps!

1. They're certainly not all closed, but some will indeed not operate. You'll have to check the timetable. Instead of Wengen and Bern you can consider staying in Interlaken or Brienz for 6 nights. These towns are centrally located, and you can make a day trip to Bern from there. Normally Lucerne is more interesting for first timers than Zurich, which is not in the Alps. But you seem to have specific goals in Zurich, so it's all up to you of course. Just wanted to mention it.

2. Our page myswissalps.com/ boatlakezurich has a detailed map and all further details you need. Please see the Swiss Travel Pass map to find out what's included.

Hi Adrian-

What country are you from....I only ask because of concerns that the weather will be a problem for you if you come from a tropical country.

www.myswissalps.com/be sttimetovisit

www.myswissalps.com/ab outswitzerland

Arno has provided good guidance.

This map can help you find your way around Switzerland, including details in the towns and cities:

map.search.ch/?pos=683464,247408&z=64 &poi=haltestelle,velol and,zug

In the map, under "Points of Interest/Traffic" I have turned on an overlay with symbols for transport stops.

You can see the lake boat landings for Zürich at the southern end of the city at the edge of the lake.

If i were visiting Switzerland in November, I'd perhaps plan a bit differently for the beginning (late Autumn) or the end, as Winter comes in.

When are you travelling?

And, do you have specific interests other than the boat rides on the lake of Zürich? Which museum(s) interests you? The boat rides on Lake Lucerne are have much more interesting scenery and lake-side destinations, in my opinion.

Finally, I'll say it more strongly than Arno did. I'd cut way back on the Jungfrau region and focus on Lucerne. Perhaps it is not too late to adjust your hotel bookings? At a lower altitude such as Lucerne, you'll have warmer weather, and more touristic activities are available.

My favorite city in switzerland is Zürich, because I have spent many days or weeks learning the city. It does not really reward a quick and casual visit the way that Lucerne does.

Spelling-

The name of the country is Switzerland, not Swiss. In English, "Swiss" is an adjective.

And, on the signs, you will see "Luzern" which is the German spelling, unless you happen to be in the French speaking region near Geneva, in which case you will see "Lucerne."

Slowpoke

Hi Arno and Slowpoke

Arno- Thank you for providing us advance information, but i had booked hotels at Wengen and Bern instead of Interlaken or Brienz. We are very sorry about it. We will be traveling to Lucerne to view Mt.Titlis before we depart Switzerland. But would you know whether in November, are the cable cars still be available for us to go up Mt.Titlis? We are traveling to Switzerland from 31 October 2016 to 11 November 2016. Actually, we do not have any specific goals in Zurich, because the best way to travel is to get lost. HAHAHAHA...Hopefully, we can enjoy ourselves in Zurich despite the light drizzle in the day. We will look into the webpage provided. One last thing to ask will be, do we need to prepare winter wear for our Switzerland visit?

Slowpoke- Thank you for correcting our mistakes and your help on our inquires on our trip to Switzerland :) We are from Singapore, we are departing from Singapore on 30 October 2016 and will reached Zurich Airport on 31 October 2016. From there we will be going to Zermatt to enjoy the peaceful and quiet town plus Matterhorn! Then we will take the Glacier Express from Matterhorn (free with Swiss Travel Pass) to another areas (hopefully not too far as daylight is short). We will then proceed to Bern from Zermatt, after 2 Night in Zermatt, to catch the Parliament house light show! (don't really know how much is the ticket) after 2 nights in Bern, we will go to Wengen(Jungfrau!!!!) for 4 nights before we return to Zurich on 8 November 2016 to go to Mt.Titlis at Lucerne! We are departing Switzerland on 11 November.

We will take your advise to travel to lucerne for the boat ride, but will it be free with our Swiss travel pass?? For Museum, we are not sure which to visit as there are too many of them in Switzerland! hahahahaha...We are not really an arts person, we hope you could recommend some of the must-see-museum in Zurich/Lucerne.

Many thanks to both of you for the help!

We will take all your comments and advises to revamp our homework done for our trip!

Yours faithfully

Adrian

Hi Adrian-

<<" Singapore on 30 October 2016 and will reached Zurich Airport on 31 October 2016.">>

Good to hear that you will be there at the beginning of the month. Likely nicer weather. Could be still quite pleasant at lower altitudes. Of course "pleasant" is all relative, compared to the much higher average temperatures in Singapore. ;-)

Take multiple layers of clothing/sweaters with a windbreaker or light jacket, not heavy coats.

weather.com/en-GB/weather/today/l/SZX X7250:1:SZ

us.worldweatheronline. com/wengen-weather-averages/ch.aspx

www.sunrise-and-sunset.com/en/sun/swit zerland/bern

I like Wengen, and so does Kim. Here is a little light reading all about Wengen and the surrounding area:

www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/tips-about-wengen-and-the-jungfrau-region-by-kim

A lot of what she discusses will not be open when you are there, but the guide may still be useful.

Unfortunately, the cableway from Wengen up to Männlichen will be running only until October 23rd, as will the alternate route from Grindelwald.

The cograil to Kleine Scheidegg and the Jungfraujoch runs all year.

The set of cableways to Schilthorn are closed for maintenance during part of November, starting on the 14th, but you could go up there while you are in Wengen. See screen grab, attached.

I have expanded one journey (by clicking on the plus sign to the left of the journey) so that you can see more details.

If i were doing it, I'd go to the Jungfrau region first, but any way will work and, as Arno noted, you absolutely must learn to use the timetable.

www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/swiss-train-timetable-confusing-me

<<"Then we will take the Glacier Express from Matterhorn (free with Swiss Travel Pass) to another areas (hopefully not too far as daylight is short). We will then proceed to Bern from Zermatt, after 2 Night in Zermatt,">>

Use the timetable and the map that I linked you to to help decide where you want to go and see if the local trains/buses/cableways are running. Trains will run.

Zermatt is rather isolated, and not a good base for other travel. But, you might enjoy a short visit to Brig or a ride up to Kandersteg via the scenic line up the side of the Rhone Valley.

<<"to catch the Parliament house light show! (don't really know how much is the ticket) ">>

Neither do I, but I'd be surprised if it is not free. At least one link on the internet says that it is free. The tourist office in Bern main station or Wengen can guide you on that. I've not seen it, but it looks spectacular. Only on certain days:

www.bern.com/en/stadt-bern/kultur-bern/top-events/rendez-vous-bundesplatz

www.myswitzerland.com/ en-us/bundeshaus-bern.html

<<"after 2 nights in Bern, we will go to Wengen(Jungfrau!!!!) for 4 nights before we return to Zurich on 8 November 2016 to go to Mt.Titlis at Lucerne! We are departing Switzerland on 11 November.">>

Here is a lot of information about Titlis. I think that the cableways to the top ( called Kleintitlis) may not be running while you are there, but you can certainly get partway up.

I'm not sure about which days the November maintenance period will occur.

www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis

Here is an interesting thread about a visit from Singapore by JaneQ, last December. it's a long thread; find the posts on Nov 3 at 7:29 PM ( and others) for some comments about Zürich:

www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/swiss-itinerary-for-december-2015

Her report of her trip, even though it was not at your time of year, may be useful, too:

www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/tips-and-recommendations-for-asian-travellers

She enjoyed Schilthorn.

Coverage of rail passes-

Arno gave you a link. This one may also be useful:

www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses

Lake boats on all lakes are covered.

This is a long thread about a hike near Luzern, but partway down it are some pictures of the lake:

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

I've attached a couple more. The ones taken from Hammetschwand are from the top of a mountain ridge very close to Luzern, as shown in one of the photos.

Slowpoke

Hi Adrian,

The Mount Titlis cable car does not operate from November 7 to 18. The Glacier Express does not operate from October 24 to December 10. There are local trains on the same route though. Please check the timetable I referred to before, that will prevent you from planning trips you can't make.

Hi Arno and Slowpoke

Thank you very much for shared information! I am currently fine tuning my timetable for my visit to Switzerland!

Could i check whether a reservation ticket for golden line pass is needed for us to take the scenic train from Interlaken OST to Lucerne?

Thank you very much!!

Yours faithfully

Adrian

Hi Adrian,

You don't need to reserve seats for Golden Pass trains: myswissalps.com/ goldenpass/ tickets.

Happy planning!