Switzerland

Tabbytabbitha

I'm thinking of spending just over a week going round Switzerland by train on my own and am happily researching scenic journeys, but I'm looking for suggestions for non travelling days where I plan to spend two nights, exploring in the day in between.

I'm probably looking at two or three different cities (depending on final length of holiday) and haven't visited the country properly before, having only stopped on the way though or visiting from France.

Can anybody recommend me to anywhere, easy to get around and with plenty of cultural/sightyseeing opportunities.

Many thanks.

AubreyMac

I went to Zurich in June 2016. It is beautiful there but so expensive. I highly recommend Mount Rigi. The most stunning views I have ever seen.

shaun_from_Africa

If you don't want to go to a very big city then Lucerne would be one place to consider.
It's on lake Lucerne and like most of the country, it's a very scenic area with plenty of places to go walkies.

The old town is very picturesque and definitely worth a visit and if you feel up to it, you can hire cycles (both manual and electric) from the train station.


I spent 6 weeks there a few years ago on a training course in Zurich but every weekend I got on a train to somewhere different.
The whole country is extremely nice (but extremely expensive) and wherever you finally end up, I doubt if you will be in any way disappointed.

prenton01

If i was you i would get the train to Aosta from Geneva
plenty of places to stop on the way and Aosta is a fantastic place loads of culture and history

From Aosta i would recommend getting the bus to the St Bernard pass and stay in the Monks hostel for the night, it's an amazing place and the St Bernard dogs are based there which you can go walking with in the hills.
We done all this by car but i just googled it for you all can be done as i said above

ThinkingOutLoud_2

Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen - Bernese Oberland is beautiful and you have lost of choices from lake cruises to the Eiger to simple Alpine walks at whatever height suits.

Tabbytabbitha

Thank you for the replies so far. I'd certainly thought about Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland, mainly because I used to love a series of books set there when I was a child.

I have spent a day in Geneva (rather dull) and a night in Berne (saw the bears) but that's about it. I think I'll skip the bus to the St Bernard Pass (much as I love the dogs) because, for me, buses and heights don't mix. Obviously, I'll be tied a bit by where my scenic rail journeys start and end.

Does anybody know Lugano as I've heard it's lovely?

ThinkingOutLoud_2

Tabbytabbitha wrote: »

Thank you for the replies so far. I'd certainly thought about Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland, mainly because I used to love a series of books set there when I was a child.

Does anybody know Lugano as I've heard it's lovely?

Yes Lugano is lovely too. More like Italy...than the rest of Switzerland (of course).

My vote would be Interlaken gives you more - amazing coloured lakes and if you fancy heading up mountains on cog railways and cable cars. You do ideally need way more than 2 days though!

But, neither bad call.

happyandcontented

Lugano is lovely, we took the Bernina Express, which was a great experience. Lucerne is also really nice, we have also done the "Chocolate Train" from Montreux. It is generally a very expensive country though.

I loved the Chalet school books which were set in that region.

Tabbytabbitha

happyandcontented wrote: »

Lugano is lovely, we took the Bernina Express, which was a great experience. Lucerne is also really nice, we have also done the "Chocolate Train" from Montreux. It is generally a very expensive country though.

I loved the Chalet school books which were set in that region.

It was the Chalet School series I as talking about!:)

RADDERS

Have you looked at Michael Portillos series on bradshaws great train journey through Switzerland, we followed his route 3 years ago on the train from Cumbria.
Lucerne was one of my favourite places but I also enjoyed wengen and we went up the Jung Frau joch it was amazing. Not cheap but well worth every penny.
Hope that helps .

Voyager2002

I can confirm that virtually all the places mentioned above are lovely. Another one to add to your list is Belinzona: inside Switzerland but a typical Italian mountain town, with tons of atmosphere, city walls, and fantastic pizza.

The exception is Interlaken: while it provides a convenient base for exploring the wonderful Bernese Oberland, I found that the town itself had little to offer and would suggest basing yourself somewhere higher up the mountain.