Travel In Switzerland

[Captain Halliday]

Looking at Switzerland and I dont think Mr Denali and I could handle driving, me being an incredibly anxious driver does not help. Thinking of doing it all by rail and urber when in towns when needed

Stupid idea?

Not silly at all.

We did about 10 days in Switzerland by train two years ago. You can see details of our experience in this trip report from post 115.

 

[VPS]

Not silly at all.

We did about 10 days in Switzerland by train two years ago. You can see details of our experience in this trip report from post 115.

And I used quite a lot of info from that report

 

[dajop]

The SBB app is invaluable to assist in planning all forms of transport including trains, trams, buses, mountain railways, boats, cable cars etc.

A Swiss Pass is definitely worthwhile, even though it is not cheap. Alternatively you can get a half fare pass for month and get saver day passes and tickets as you need.

Not sure how long you’re planning - the other thing worth considering is just base yourself in a central place (such as Zurich or Bern) for most of the time there - take day trips or even an overnight as required. With a pass and a base you can be flexible and go where the weather is best on a given day. (In summer the weather can be less problematic but even the you never know). Nothing worse than having booked that once in a lifetime trip to Matterhorn, Jungfraujoch or somewhere else and spending the time in clouds looking at clouds !

I know people rave over the Glacier and Bernina express journeys. I’ve never done either, but have completed both on local trains which were amazing as well. The pros of the two “Express” trains are the panorama windows and commentary. Though after weighing up the pros and cons we went for local trains (much quieter) and allowed for some interesting enroute stops and detours - more like a hop on hop off train along the same route!

But don’t bother with car, trains run on time or very close to on time 98% of the time and are a really relaxing way to move around unless you want to visit some very specific places that are difficult to reach by PT .

 

[randompunter]

The SBB app is invaluable to assist in planning all forms of transport including trains, trams, buses, mountain railways, boats, cable cars etc.

A Swiss Pass is definitely worthwhile, even though it is not cheap. Alternatively you can get a half fare pass for month and get saver day passes and tickets as you need.

Not sure how long you’re planning - the other thing worth considering is just base yourself in a central place (such as Zurich or Bern) for most of the time there - take day trips or even an overnight as required. With a pass and a base you can be flexible and go where the weather is best on a given day. (In summer the weather can be less problematic but even the you never know). Nothing worse than having booked that once in a lifetime trip to Matterhorn, Jungfraujoch or somewhere else and spending the time in clouds looking at clouds !

I know people rave over the Glacier and Bernina express journeys. I’ve never done either, but have completed both on local trains which were amazing as well. The pros of the two “Express” trains are the panorama windows and commentary. Though after weighing up the pros and cons we went for local trains (much quieter) and allowed for some interesting enroute stops and detours - more like a hop on hop off train along the same route!

But don’t bother with car, trains run on time or very close to on time 98% of the time and are a really relaxing way to move around unless you want to visit some very specific places that are difficult to reach by PT .

We also did the poor man's Bernina and Glacier via local trains and it was fantastic. BYO wine and snacks. The local trains mostly linked up with their timetabling and some had windows you could open which was great for photography. One highlight was staying a couple of nights in Filisur at the Hotel Grishuna with its amazing views of the Abula railway spiralling up a mountain and also a short walk to the Landwasser viaduct.

 

[Cossie]

Lot's of useful info here, Welcome to Holidays to Switzerland

I know her through rally tours here and NZ.

 

[VPS]

The food on the Bernina and Glacier was obscenely expensive. I found supermarkets and bakeries in stations had good fresh food

 

[AuSammy]

This is a bit corny and they fluked a quiet day but gives an idea of the Bernina.

We are travelling on the Gotthard from Lucerne to Lugano, overnight stay and then picking up bus to Tirano the next day to join the Bernina (Tirano to Chur).

 

[ausfox]

There are a few reasonably priced hotels in Zermatt and St Moritz but you have to look seriously. The supermarkets are expensive but the restaurants of any form require a more than healthy credit card.
The Bernini and Glacier expresses are a great experience in winter. We loved that part of CH.

 

[VPS]

@Denali
SBS have Michael Portillo in Switzerland at the moment on the Great Continental Railways on Tuesday from 7-8pm

SBS also have on Saturday Swiss Alpine Rail Journeys starting with the Glacier Express 7-8pm

 

[dajop]

We also did the poor man's Bernina and Glacier via local trains and it was fantastic. BYO wine and snacks. The local trains mostly linked up with their timetabling and some had windows you could open which was great for photography.

We had a windowless carriage in the local train on the Bernina route (between Tirano and St Moritz). But it was also ceilingless. So an open air carriage in the middle of summer, one of my most memorable travel experiences.

I’d be inclined to recommend the tourist train on the Bernina route and break up the Glacier route into smaller hops on local trains. We visited a few towns on the way and the highlight was Eggishorn overlooking the Aletsch Glacier , the biggest glacier in the Alps, accessed from Fiesch which isn’t a stop on the Glacier Express but is on the local service.

 

[MARTINE]

You used to / do live in / close to Montreux and Vevey?

I was in Lausanne for 15 months. It's definitely a lot easier to explore CH when you're being paid in CHF! Those CHF 49 day tickets from the commune office or post office were also great.

Hey @anat0l - no I did not live there but my family live in Europe and we have been many times and love it. A simple boat trip on the lake is not too expensive and lovely, bus from Montreux to Vevey is gorgeous as is the latter (where Charlie Chaplin lived)- big statue on the lakeside, winding cobble streets and nice shops.

In Montreux we live walking up the hill (from new casino) to old town and having lunch at this reasonably priced cafe with views down to the lake

Accueil - Tea Room de la Baye

Venez savourer nos délicieuses boissons et pâtisseries dans une ambiance conviviale et chaleureuse. Que vous soyez un amateur de café ou de thé, nous avons quelque chose de spécial pour vous.

tearoomdelabaye.ch

Highly recommed Gruyere by train - beautiful cobblestone streets/castle and the HR Giger museum and cafe. He was born in Chur and is famous for developing the creatures for the Alien films - freaky. Even if not into Alien go to the cafe to see the skeletal furniture (and good toasties).

Enjoy everyone visiting this gorgeous part of the world