- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Switzerland Suggestions
Posted on 3/30/23 at 8:34 am
Posted on 3/30/23 at 8:34 am
I was reading the other post but didn’t want to hijack his questions. We are looking at a Switzerland trip. Neither of us have been to Europe before and never really had much desire to do so. The one place I’ve always been fascinated with though is Switzerland. My wife is on board now and wants to go. So looking for any recommendations on a 7-10 day trip there. I’d consider Italy for a couple days possibly but really not sure what the trip will look like and if we would have time for both. The goal would be to see most of Switzerland and enjoy everything it has to offer.
Some questions.
1. What’s the best city to fly into and cost for 1-2 days? Zurich or Geneva or maybe Basil?
2. How easy is driving in the country? Any restrictions?
3. Assuming most people speak English?
4. How is the food in each region? Wine country?
5. Best home base town for hotel in alps? Maybe split between 2?
Some questions.
1. What’s the best city to fly into and cost for 1-2 days? Zurich or Geneva or maybe Basil?
2. How easy is driving in the country? Any restrictions?
3. Assuming most people speak English?
4. How is the food in each region? Wine country?
5. Best home base town for hotel in alps? Maybe split between 2?
15
Posted on 3/30/23 at 8:39 am to Clark W Griswold
quote:
I’d consider Italy for a couple days possibly but really not sure what the trip will look like and if we would have time for both
I would advise against this. It is easy to get caught in the trap of "Let's see everything since we are already here"
Enjoy your week in Switzerland and plan another trip for Italy. If you try to do both you will run yourself ragged trying to check boxes rather than soak in the moments.
Posted on 3/30/23 at 10:04 am to slinger1317
I agree. I only say we may consider it if we end up going for longer. Italy doesn’t fascinate me as much as Switzerland.
Posted on 3/30/23 at 10:10 am to Clark W Griswold
Oh, it should but that's for another thread. Italy is amazing top to bottom.
Interlaken is a good Alps place to stay. It's drop dead gorgeous. The driving isn't terrible but depending on where you go you may encounter narrow mountain roads here and there and some serious switchbacks.
Lucerne was one of my favorite cities.
Interlaken is a good Alps place to stay. It's drop dead gorgeous. The driving isn't terrible but depending on where you go you may encounter narrow mountain roads here and there and some serious switchbacks.
Lucerne was one of my favorite cities.
Posted on 3/30/23 at 11:36 am to Clark W Griswold
Lauterbrunnen.... Trust me, don't skip it.
We actually stumbled on some ridiculously cheap flights to Luxembourg, stayed there for a day and then drove to and based out of Lucerne. Going up Mt. Pilatus was incredible. We really didn't want to leave.
No problems driving other than some super steep, winding mountain roads, but no big deal.
English was not an issue.
Interlaken seemed like a great spot, but we were there in shoulder season, so couldn't enjoy the summer activities.
We actually stumbled on some ridiculously cheap flights to Luxembourg, stayed there for a day and then drove to and based out of Lucerne. Going up Mt. Pilatus was incredible. We really didn't want to leave.
No problems driving other than some super steep, winding mountain roads, but no big deal.
English was not an issue.
Interlaken seemed like a great spot, but we were there in shoulder season, so couldn't enjoy the summer activities.
Posted on 3/30/23 at 1:17 pm to speckledawg
What’s shoulder season?
Posted on 3/30/23 at 1:19 pm to Clark W Griswold
The mud between snow and grass
Posted on 3/30/23 at 1:36 pm to RonFNSwanson
We did Lucerne-Interlaken-Lauterbruen-Zurich over 6 days and could've used 7+ just for that area alone
Posted on 3/30/23 at 3:27 pm to Clark W Griswold
Depends. Is your priority to see the alps or head to out to Bavaria?
If alps, Geneva is your best bet. There are great spots along Lake Leman. Recommend Montreaux (they have a month long Jazz Festival in June/July), Gruyeres, Vevay, and you aren't to far to cross into France to see Chamonix/Mont Blanc.
They are very multilingual. The southern part is more French speaking in addition to English. The northern (Zurich) is more German speaking.
No experience driving there, was on a tour bus. Food was great.
If alps, Geneva is your best bet. There are great spots along Lake Leman. Recommend Montreaux (they have a month long Jazz Festival in June/July), Gruyeres, Vevay, and you aren't to far to cross into France to see Chamonix/Mont Blanc.
They are very multilingual. The southern part is more French speaking in addition to English. The northern (Zurich) is more German speaking.
No experience driving there, was on a tour bus. Food was great.
Posted on 3/30/23 at 4:13 pm to AstroCajun
I’m fine with train but thought a car might make our schedule easier to plan and less stressful. Is there an international license requirement there?
Alps are the main destination really.
Alps are the main destination really.
Posted on 3/30/23 at 4:19 pm to Clark W Griswold
The train system in Switzerland (like Germany and Austria) runs like clockwork. We found it very easy to use and less stressful than driving over a mountain pass while sharing the road with cyclists.
Posted on 3/30/23 at 4:40 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
The train system in Switzerland (like Germany and Austria) runs like clockwork. We found it very easy to use and less stressful than driving over a mountain pass while sharing the road with cyclists.
You gotta live a little man.
I LOVE driving in Europe. In the alps I'd absolutely recommend a car OP, there's a ton of things to do outside of the cities away from the train stations. Switzerland most places you can probably park at your hotel like the US also, so that's a cake walk. Alps are incredible. I would disagree with the above and say that a little taste of a nother country or 2 on a day trip would be perfectly fine. Don't go crazy, but you could do something like fly into Milan, work your way to Switzerland.
I also wouldn't overlook the french Alps or Austria or Germany for that matter.
Posted on 3/30/23 at 5:03 pm to Clark W Griswold
Went last year. Amazing trip!
Flew in and out of Zurich. Good city to spend a travel day in.
No real reason to drive. Public transit is incredible. Boats, buses and trains are timely and all synched up. You can buy travel passes based on where you are going and just use your phone to go between trains, buses and boats.
The train ride between Lucern and Interlaken is amazing!
Yeah. Zurich area speaks German. Geneva speaks French and South Switzerland speaks Italian. We speak none of those and had no issues.
Cheese and chocolate is great. Some food is really good. Some is ehh.
We flew into Zurich and stayed a night. We took a train the next day to Lucern and stayed for two nights then stayed in Interlaken for three nights (one night in Wengen and two nights in Bönigen on lake Brienz). Stayed in Zurich one night before flying out. All that was 8 days.
We booked a trip from Lucern to the city of Gruyere, Gruyere Castle and Cailler chocolate factory. It’s a whole day, but a great trip.
We went to the Top of Europe a Jungfrau. Long trip, but awesome views and amazing ice sculptures. And Interlaken is awesome with all the waterfalls and cliffs.
It’s an amazing place. Truly beautiful. Most places look like a fairy tail.
quote:
Some questions.
1. What’s the best city to fly into and cost for 1-2 days? Zurich or Geneva or maybe Basil?
Flew in and out of Zurich. Good city to spend a travel day in.
quote:
2. How easy is driving in the country? Any restrictions?
No real reason to drive. Public transit is incredible. Boats, buses and trains are timely and all synched up. You can buy travel passes based on where you are going and just use your phone to go between trains, buses and boats.
The train ride between Lucern and Interlaken is amazing!
quote:
3. Assuming most people speak English?
Yeah. Zurich area speaks German. Geneva speaks French and South Switzerland speaks Italian. We speak none of those and had no issues.
quote:
4. How is the food in each region? Wine country?
Cheese and chocolate is great. Some food is really good. Some is ehh.
quote:
5. Best home base town for hotel in alps? Maybe split between 2?
We flew into Zurich and stayed a night. We took a train the next day to Lucern and stayed for two nights then stayed in Interlaken for three nights (one night in Wengen and two nights in Bönigen on lake Brienz). Stayed in Zurich one night before flying out. All that was 8 days.
We booked a trip from Lucern to the city of Gruyere, Gruyere Castle and Cailler chocolate factory. It’s a whole day, but a great trip.
We went to the Top of Europe a Jungfrau. Long trip, but awesome views and amazing ice sculptures. And Interlaken is awesome with all the waterfalls and cliffs.
It’s an amazing place. Truly beautiful. Most places look like a fairy tail.
Posted on 3/30/23 at 5:45 pm to Clark W Griswold
quote:
What’s shoulder season?
Time between peak seasons and offseason. We were there in April. Plenty of snow, but not skiable and not warm enough for summer water activities either. We do that often. Less crowds, better prices and usually great weather for sight seeing.
Posted on 3/31/23 at 11:23 am to Suntiger
quote:
Cailler chocolate factory.
Absolutely. To the OP, do not miss this.
They have the absolute best chocolate anywhere.
Posted on 3/31/23 at 12:31 pm to speckledawg
quote:
Lauterbrunnen.... Trust me, don't skip it.
Went and it's amazing. I'd recommend staying above the valley in Wengen, though.
Pics from my trip:
Posted on 3/31/23 at 2:31 pm to BlackCoffeeKid
Those are what I called "Heidi vlleys" when I was there. Beautiful.
Posted on 3/31/23 at 7:09 pm to BlackCoffeeKid
What month was that in your pictures? I will definitely hit up Lauterbrunen, Zermatt, Grindewald, and Interlaken from what I’ve seen. Maybe a day in each at least. That’s the heart of the trip to me. The beginning and end is what I gotta figure out.
Posted on 3/31/23 at 7:15 pm to Clark W Griswold
How’s the beer there? I saw one of the towns has a whiskey that they say is barely exported so I hadn’t heard much about it.
Posted on 3/31/23 at 9:12 pm to Clark W Griswold
I’ve been to Zermatt 2x and highly recommend. One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Last time flew to Geneva. Trains took us about 4 hours from Geneva to Zermatt and you pass some incredible scenery along the way including Lake Geneva, Vineyards near Lausanne, and the Montreaux Castle. Last part of the journey is a spectacular train ride up the mountain valleys to Zermatt. Matterhorn is the most beautiful mountain I’ve ever seen.
Page 1 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News