Drive or Train ?? - Lausanne-Interlaken-Zurich
May 25th, 2013, 05:32 PM
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Drive or Train ?? - Lausanne-Interlaken-Zurich
We will arrive by TGV to Lausanne, but will be staying 4 nights in Interlaken, and then flying out from Zurich. These 3 points are decided – we haven’t confirmed anything else yet. We are now trying to decide whether we should go for CAR or TRAIN during our Swiss stay of 4 days.
Basically we need to – 1. Go from TGV Lausanne to Interlaken (staying at Land hotel Golf)
2. Try and visit Jungfrau, Luzerne and Matterhorn (most likely 2 of these 3)
3. Try and visit Bern and nearby countryside
4. Leave via night flight from ZRH on the fifth evening of our Swiss stay, so need to get to Zurich airport from Interlaken.
So, experts, Drive or Take the Train – oh, by the way, we are 4 – couple, 12 year old child and father (75+). I know the trains in Switzerland are great, but as we are 4, would car make more sense? Is parking a nightmare in the places I have mentioned?
Basically we need to – 1. Go from TGV Lausanne to Interlaken (staying at Land hotel Golf)
2. Try and visit Jungfrau, Luzerne and Matterhorn (most likely 2 of these 3)
3. Try and visit Bern and nearby countryside
4. Leave via night flight from ZRH on the fifth evening of our Swiss stay, so need to get to Zurich airport from Interlaken.
So, experts, Drive or Take the Train – oh, by the way, we are 4 – couple, 12 year old child and father (75+). I know the trains in Switzerland are great, but as we are 4, would car make more sense? Is parking a nightmare in the places I have mentioned?
May 25th, 2013, 06:00 PM
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I think with four people, and luggage, you will need a larger than normal car, and parking may be a problem. The trains are excellent, and I think you can get to the Zurich airport on a train, which would save some time. Check the prices; I think that children are free on a train if accompanied by an adult, but that may only be with a pass. You can check train schedules on http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm
Bern is in a flat part of the country, so I would suggest looking elsewhere. The Matterhorn is a bit out of your way, so I would suggest seeing the Lauterbrunnen valley (and the Jungfrau) and Luzern, and skipping the Matterhorn. I've found the most scenic route from Lausanne to Interlaken to be through Montreux, Gstaad, and Spiez. This takes you over the mountains rather than around them.
If you have time in Luzern, a nice trip is a boat ride to Pilatus, a train to the top of the mountain, lunch there, and a cable car down to a local bus that will return you to downtown. This is seasonal, so check the dates.
Bern is in a flat part of the country, so I would suggest looking elsewhere. The Matterhorn is a bit out of your way, so I would suggest seeing the Lauterbrunnen valley (and the Jungfrau) and Luzern, and skipping the Matterhorn. I've found the most scenic route from Lausanne to Interlaken to be through Montreux, Gstaad, and Spiez. This takes you over the mountains rather than around them.
If you have time in Luzern, a nice trip is a boat ride to Pilatus, a train to the top of the mountain, lunch there, and a cable car down to a local bus that will return you to downtown. This is seasonal, so check the dates.
May 25th, 2013, 08:29 PM
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Thanks Clevelandbrown...I was indeed wondering about the feasibility of Matterhorn from where we are staying. Pilatus is a must do, and am told so is Jungfrau (nr Lauterbrunnen from what I can see).
The route you mention from Lausanne to IL, that is for the train?
The route you mention from Lausanne to IL, that is for the train?
May 25th, 2013, 09:14 PM
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Hi Shujbhar,
Yes, the train is the way to go.
Swiss cities (Luzern, Bern, Zürich before you fly out) are centuries old and not designed for modern traffic flow; you'll find yourself fighting trams, busses, pedestrians while following narrow, winding roads and trying to find expensive parking spots.
And having a car in the mountains won't work -- the nicest villages and all of the mountaintops don't even allow cars. Your rental car will probably be an expensive piece of sculpture (as someone on another forum once said) in a paid parking lot while you are there.
The route clevelandbrown suggests from Montreux to Interlaken is the Golden Pass, and yes it is one of the scenic trains in Switzerland -- one of the best two in my opinion. More information at
www.goldenpass.ch
and look for the Montreux-Zweisimmen bit.
I'd also like to suggest you spend some time in the lovely and overlooked towns of Thun and Spiez on Lake Thun, and that you take a ferry ride on Lake Thun.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Yes, the train is the way to go.
Swiss cities (Luzern, Bern, Zürich before you fly out) are centuries old and not designed for modern traffic flow; you'll find yourself fighting trams, busses, pedestrians while following narrow, winding roads and trying to find expensive parking spots.
And having a car in the mountains won't work -- the nicest villages and all of the mountaintops don't even allow cars. Your rental car will probably be an expensive piece of sculpture (as someone on another forum once said) in a paid parking lot while you are there.
The route clevelandbrown suggests from Montreux to Interlaken is the Golden Pass, and yes it is one of the scenic trains in Switzerland -- one of the best two in my opinion. More information at
www.goldenpass.ch
and look for the Montreux-Zweisimmen bit.
I'd also like to suggest you spend some time in the lovely and overlooked towns of Thun and Spiez on Lake Thun, and that you take a ferry ride on Lake Thun.
Have fun as you plan!
s
May 26th, 2013, 05:31 AM
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Hi Shujbhar,
The other best scenic train is the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Poschiavo -- but that's at the far southeastern part of the country, and it'll take you 8 hours just to get to St. Moritz.
s
The other best scenic train is the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Poschiavo -- but that's at the far southeastern part of the country, and it'll take you 8 hours just to get to St. Moritz.
s
May 26th, 2013, 07:41 AM
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Lauterbrunnen is the valley below the Jungfrau. The valley itself is very scenic, especially if, as is not uncommon, the weather at the top of the mountains is unclear.
I agree that Thun is a nice place to see; there is a nice boat ride from Interlaken to Thun.
I should point out that it may be advantageous to you to get a short term train pass of some variety. That would cover trains, post buses (a common way to get to some small towns), boats, and many cable cars, although I think there is only partial coverage of the ride to Jungfraujoch.
I agree that Thun is a nice place to see; there is a nice boat ride from Interlaken to Thun.
I should point out that it may be advantageous to you to get a short term train pass of some variety. That would cover trains, post buses (a common way to get to some small towns), boats, and many cable cars, although I think there is only partial coverage of the ride to Jungfraujoch.
May 26th, 2013, 08:02 AM
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Definitely the train. And definitely look into passes; although expensive they're worth it. (Switzerland is an expensive country.)
The boat trip on Lake Thun leaves from Interlaken West station. We also took a boat ride on Lake Brienz from Interlaken Ost; this is the station from which the trains leave to go up into the mountains. We got off the boat in Brienz and took a bus to the Ballenberg Open-Air Park, a mini-Switzerland with people enacting traditional crafts and trades. All this: boat ride, bus ride, park were covered by the Swiss Pass.
The boat trip on Lake Thun leaves from Interlaken West station. We also took a boat ride on Lake Brienz from Interlaken Ost; this is the station from which the trains leave to go up into the mountains. We got off the boat in Brienz and took a bus to the Ballenberg Open-Air Park, a mini-Switzerland with people enacting traditional crafts and trades. All this: boat ride, bus ride, park were covered by the Swiss Pass.
