Travel To Switzerland

Graeme Lanham asked:

Is it possible to see the best of this beautiful country in the heart of Europe, in 4 days? If you’re adventurous and have a reasonable level of fitness, it can be done. Read on to discover how.

Your time in Europe is limited and there’s so much to see. However to miss this tiny country would be a great pity. The people are courteous and friendly, the lakes breathtaking and the mountain scenery the most spectacular in Europe.

The booking clerk at the Zurich Bahnhoff looked at me with surprise when I presented him with my 4 day Swiss Pass and told him of my travel plans.

“I hope you are fit “, he said. Fortunately Switzerland is compact and its travel system is smooth, punctual and efficient.

Zurich is an ideal starting point because of its transport access to the rest of Europe. Most international airlines fly to Zurich and travelers from London can go by Eurostar to Paris and then by express from Paris to Zurich. Lausanne, just east of the border with France, is a convenient finishing point with its TGV high speed rail connection with Paris. I chose a Swiss pass (which must be purchased before you leave) because it offers cheap unlimited travel on all trains, buses and ferries and discounts on most mountain railways and cable cars.

DAY ONE. ZURICH TO SPIETZ.

An early morning departure (7.30AM) from the Zurich Bahnhoff was followed by a short ride south through undulating countryside to Lucerne and the first change of trains. Because of the regularity of trains, it is worthwhile taking a 2 hour stop at this beautiful little city on Lake Lucerne. If you have time, four optional excursions spaced over 2 days are worthwhile.

A steamer trip to the eastern end of Lake Lucerne alighting at Fluelen is recommended. The mountain scenery on the south side of the lake is breathtaking. A quick train journey back to Lucerne completes this half-day excursion.

Two mountain trips are within easy reach of Lucerne. The closest is Mt Pilatus, and my suggestion is to take the cog railway up the south face and return on the cable car as you descend the north face. The views north to Lucerne are some of the finest in Europe. Further afield is Mt Titlis. This requires a bus journey to Engelburg, then a series of cable car rides to the summit with its permanent snow cover. Spectacular views of the main mountain peaks in Switzerland await you. The fourth major attraction in Lucerne is the transport museum: reputed to be the finest in Europe.

The next part of the journey is over the top of the Brunig pass. A cog railway is necessary because of the steep gradients ascending and descending these mountain passes. It is worth taking an hour’s stop at the pretty village of Brienz on the north shore of Lake Brienz, before continuing on to Interlaken and the next change of trains.

Interlaken is an ideal base to explore the magnificent mountain scenery of the Bernese Oberland including Jungfrau, one of the highest peaks in Switzerland. A rapid train journey to Thun is followed by a walk down to the harbour to join the ferry for a 1-hour voyage to Spietz, the overnight stop. I would strongly recommend this late afternoon ferry journey on one of the prettiest lakes in Europe.

DAY TWO. BRIENZ to LOCARNO.

This spectacular journey includes 2 of Europe’s major tunnels: Lotschberg and Simplon and travels south through high alpine scenery to Ticino, the southernmost and warmest canton in Switzerland. The descent to Brig with views of the Rhone Valley on the right is particularly spectacular. At Brig, following another train change, we travel through the Simplon tunnel into Italy.

Leaving the train at Domodossola, the journey continues on a quaint little privately owned railway to the overnight stop at Locarno. This journey on the Centovalli railway is strongly recommended because of the spectacular gorges and ravines en route. Sit on the right side of the train for the best views.

Locarno has a beautiful location at the top end of Lake Maggiore and a visit to the Madonna Del Sasso church, a short funicular journey from the heart of town, will reward you with magnificent views over the lake.

DAY THREE. LOCARNO to St MORITZ.

An early morning train journey to Lugano will be necessary for a connection to the Palm Express: a bus trip over the Majola pass to St Moritz. These Swiss postal buses negotiate terrain which is too steep for trains and the winding journey to the top of the pass is breathtaking. To my surprise, particularly as I was told that bookings were essential, I was the only passenger. The joys of off season traveling resulted in the driver stopping at my whims. He even asked where I wanted to stop for coffee!

St Moritz is the starting point for two of the most outstanding train journeys in Europe: the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express. Most overseas travelers board the Bernina Express and travel to Tirano in Italy but as my time was short and acting on advice from the station master at St Moritz, I left the train at Alp Grum (the top of the Bernina Pass), enjoyed a coffee and the spectacular Alpine views at the summit, before boarding another train an hour later for the return trip to St Moritz.

The Bernina Express journey is on the highest non cog railway in Europe and the high alpine glaciers and snow-capped peaks viewed on both sides of the train completed a memorable day.

DAY FOUR. St MORITZ to LAUSANNE.

The final day of my Swiss pass took me on a 7 hour journey through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Europe. The Glacier Express journey from St Moritz to Zermatt is one of the most popular in Europe and is almost always fully booked. For the first time, I did not have to change trains, enabling me to sit back and enjoy the high alpine scenery of rural Switzerland with its meadows, tiny villages, the sound of cowbells, the distant sound of church bells and the brilliant clear bracing mountain air. Every bend and every tunnel exit presented different vistas, but probably the most spectacular was the descent from Oberalp Pass to Andermatt. The views were unforgettable. The Glacier Express arrived in Zermatt in the late afternoon and unfortunately the Matterhorn was covered in cloud. I reluctantly had to cancel a cog railway ascent to Gornergrat, a high plateau just below the summit of this spectacular mountain. It was here that I wished I had more time. The mountain walks around Zermatt are some of the finest in Europe. Another day perhaps!

So it was down the mountain to Visp to join a mainline express through the Rhone Valley for an overnight stop at Lausanne. Sadly most of this journey was at night. It did however give me peace of mind knowing that I would not miss my early morning TGV connection from Lausanne to Paris. Maybe next time, I’ll take the 8-day pass!

A Swiss Pass for 4 consecutive days first class costs US$278. Longer travel days are available. If you wish to combine travel in Switzerland with a number of other countries, a Eurail Pass gives you a number of flexible options.

Mary Ellen

Nancy Eben asked:

Heaven on the earth- that’s what Switzerland is called. The country has an astonishing profusion of natural magnificence and tourism temptation. It is blessed with diversified geographical pattern and a wonderful blend of dialects, cultures and life-style.

With 4000 m/13,000 ft peaks of the striking Alps and slighter apexes of the Pre-Alpine regions are supposed to be the primary attraction for tourists. It was early days of 19th century when Alps emerged as a great attraction for tourists. The country became the most sought-after tourism destination in last century. Its Alps are considered as one of the most adored natural wonders.

A planning for tourism in Switzerland is planning a vacation for lifetime. The most famed hangout places around Switzerland are respectively Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, Zermatt etc. These scenic lands call numerous expeditors every year. Nevertheless, there are many more places as well, which are equally striking but bit marooned. If you are looking forward to take pleasure from an isolated travel in Switzerland, checkout these lesser-known places; they will be complete fun for you.

Switzerland offers a cool and temperate climate, which is always humid. Though, high hilly areas of countries are frosty. In Switzerland, normally there are three climatic zones, which are respectively Alps, inner Alpine area and southern parts of the Alps.

Famous in entire world for its striking beauty, Swiss Alps are the most diversified ranges of mountains in entire Europe. These serene hilly ranges have got there name from Latin world ‘Alpes’, which stands for ‘white’.

A check on the most striking places of Switzerland-

Bern – this was ancient capital of the country. It is also famed by the name of ‘Berne’. It offers wonderful examples of fifteenth century art. Mountains around the city make it just striking.

Switzerland is enticing. Looking forward for an unhurried jaunt to the gorgeous Swiss Alps, ask your travel agent to provide a lucrative Switzerland Tourism Package to make your trip to Switzerland a cherished experience. If you are not in touch with any travel agent personally, Internet can be the best Switzerland Travel Guide for you, as it is stuffed with websites, which offer details of Switzerland Travel Guides as well as Switzerland tour packages.

Accommodation - Where to stay in the country of stunning mountain ranges? There are   numbers of hotels in Switzerland. These Switzerland hotels offer almost every facility you are looking for whether its integrated spa or scenic view of Alps from the window of your hotel room.

Caleb

kari a asked:


I’m thinking of planning a vacation to Europe over thanksgiving and was wondering if i can ski that time of year.

Shane

Spencer asked:


hey it doesnt matter if it not in Zurich

thanks

Corbin

Nicholas Rodriguez asked:

Flowers are more eloquent than words. They can express a lot of emotions more succinctly than is otherwise possible. A red rose and its association with love is quite legendary. Then there are the yellow roses that stand for friendship and camaraderie, and blue chrysanthemums t send flowers Bern Switzerland hat are synonymous with passion. And the best part is the delivery of these and other equally enchanting variety of flowers to a person’s doorstep. This service is now available in different parts of the world and Switzerland is no exception. Geneva, Zurich, and Bern are some of the areas where one can find the freshest flowers of different hues. Flower delivery Switzerland is a popular business option that many providers are exploring to their benefit.

As it is, the valleys and scenic beauty of Switzerland is quite legendary. People travel to view the picturesque landscape of the country and make the most of its pleasant weather. This special place has been made all the more special by the availability of special florists to take care of the needs of the people. These could be the visitors to the country wanting to express their feelings, Or, these could be the local residents of the country, wanting to surprise friends, family members, and acquaintances with the perfect gifts. Either way, the importance of flower delivery Switzerland cannot be over emphasized.

One can send flowers Bern Switzerland quite easily and without any hassles. From lilies, roses, and daffodils, to tropical flowers of different colors and varieties, the choices that are available would take one’s breath away. A person, browsing through the site of any such florist, would be tempted to make a purchase. The flowers that are on display would make it very difficult for the visitors to the site to go away without making a buy.

They would suddenly remember the birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions of even long forgotten friends. If there are no special occasions in the near future, they would go out of their way to create some. The fresh blossoms in a splash of colors would make all their endeavors quite worthwhile.

And it is not that they have to go out physically to buy the flowers of their choice. Residents of Switzerland, to take a case in point, can now send bouquets, dried flowers, or bridal flowers to their near and dear ones. With the coming up of several florists in Geneve, Zurich, and Switzerland, having an on-line presence, a few clicks are all that is required. An interested person would quite easily find a Geneve Switzerland florist, or a Zurich Switzerlandflorist, on the Internet. To know more on flower delivery Switzerland, you can visit www.switzerlandflowerdelivery.com

Tommy

Anup K Nath asked:

It’s truly a stunning and an astonishing fact that how a small country likes Switzerland possesses extraordinary varieties of attraction. The country is the land of natural treasure and hence it is the dream destination of every tourist. The country Switzerland is located in Central Europe. The total land area of the country is equal to 41,290 sq. km. The capital city of Switzerland is Bern. The total population of the country is 7,554,661. The largest city of Switzerland is Zurich. The prominent language of Switzerland is the German language.

The history of the place is truly interesting. In the ancient times in 1291 the country, Switzerland is called as Helvetia. It consisted of only three districts. Later in 1798, the French revolutionary troops occupied the country and they named it as the Helvetic Republic. Later in the year 1815, the country was guaranteed the neutrality and recognized as the independence of Switzerland by the Congress of Vienna. But again in the year 1847, in the revolutionary period the Catholic cantons were defeated and rejoined the federation.

The country Switzerland is one of the fabulous touring places on the earth. The alpine beauty of the high beautiful peaks and the breathtaking sceneries of the place will never fail to allure you. The panoramic view of the Mount Pilatus in Lucerene is simply gorgeous. There on you can enjoy an amazing journey to a height of about 7000 feet on a cable car. Switzerland is a land of mountains. Most of the mountains peaks remains covered with snow. One of the famous mountain peaks is Jungfraujoch which is popularly known as the “Rooftop of Europe”. This panoramic sight is situated in the Swiss Alps at a height of about 11,333 feet. It has been one of major tourist places in Switzerland, since time immemorial. Hold your nerves to explore these beautiful and magnificent glacier mountain peaks. Also never get baffled if you find a village on these mountain tops. Alps in Zermatt are one of the famous peaks of Switzerland and it is a popular destination for the mountaineers. The tourists also enjoy skiing adventure in the Matterhorn that is located in Zermatt.

While travel to Switzerland, one can never afford to overlook the natural treasures and adventurous thrills that one can experience in the Mount Matterhorn. The principal rivers of the country are the river Rhine, Ticino, and the river Inn. The other attraction of the place is the picturesque views of streams and lakes. These water bodies provide sensational pleasures to the travelers. The Lake Geneva, Lake Lugano, Lake Maggiore, Lake of Neuchatel and Lake of Lucerene are some of the other attractions of the country, Switzerland.

You can assure a comfortable stay in Switzerland. There are many 5 star, 4 star and 3 star hotels in Switzerland. The Switzerland airline is a big and reliable network, which ensures to make your Switzerland travelmore comfortable and luxurious one. You can experience the extreme pleasure of your Switzerland tour by taking the assistance of the travel agents in Switzerland.

Liam

Rob H asked:


So I’m going skiing in Switzerland on Sunday, staying in Pontresina near St Moritz. I’m a beginner skiier, having only been on dry for 10 hours, fake snow for 2 hours, and real snow for 1.5 days. I was wondering what lift pass would be ideal to get, bearing in mind I have a limited budget, and hence the £110 one for a big valley isn’t ideal for me.

Elizabeth

Bente Rayfield asked:

Switzerland is situated in the heart of Europe. If you are planning to spend vacation in Switzerland you need a vehicle to explore the place. Explore the Switzerland by hiring a car over there. Through a leisure car hire in Switzerland, you get the total independence to discover the Switzerland scenery at your own pace.

About Switzerland car rental services

To find the most cost effective car hiring booking in Switzerland always try to make the reservations earlier. Through online car hiring in Switzerland you have enter the preferred dates with destinations in the web to search out with the desired car name you want to travel in. Be in no doubt that the vehicle you are hiring should have sufficient space for everyone traveling with you as well as all of the baggage you plan on carrying.

By renting a car in Switzerland you get the complete freedom to stop anytime and anywhere! Additionally, you will get the complete storage space for the essential goods you need during your family vacation tour up in the hills, alongside a bank of river and many more awesome places.

Many times, when you are seeking for a car hire in Switzerland it can be difficult to get a means of transportation that is apposite for your dealing trip or holiday. So, pre-booking car rental system has be prepared to suggest you the excellent opportunities for vehicle hiring, which will depart you more time and funds to take pleasure in you journey to Switzerland.

Benefits of car hiring in Switzerland

CDW - Collision Damage Waiver

Car robbery Waiver

Local and Airport Taxes and charges

Infinite Mileage

24X7 Breakdown support

No hidden taxes

reserve in advance with a little deposit - pay later!

No termination charges

In Switzerland, car can be hired as a solitary means of transportation at several sites and can all be revisited one at a time. There are a lot of car rental firms which are well stand for and offer vehicles which are straightforward to land in all regions of Switzerland.

Age to hire a car

To book a car in Switzerland one must generally be 21 years old though depending on the car rental company this age can occasionally varies. It has been recognized for some local car rental firms in Switzerland to hire cars to clientele as young as 20, while others limit car leasing to people over the age of 25. Persons desiring to hire a vehicle in Switzerland are obligatory by law to hold an applicable international license which should have been issued at least one year previous to the car hire request in Switzerland.

Joseph

Rajni asked:

Zurich is one of the most esteemed tourist destinations on earth. It is the biggest and the most populous city of Switzerland. Zurich is also gifted with a large lake, two rivers and beautiful tree covered hills and also Zurich Hotels

Zurich has met the current downturn in the hospitality industry by adopting a policy of high value, offering five star service in a Luxury hotel and it can provides the cheap hotels, top hotels information in Zurich. The Globalhotelindex can adopt a range of services to attract and suit them and help you to find discounted hotel in Zurich. Famous Budget hotels in Zurich are Aparthotel, Swissotel Zurich, Widder Hotel & more.

Find the best deals on hotels in Zurich Switzerland. Compare facilities, check availability and read honest hotel reviews. We also list facilities and show complete details of all our hotels in Zurich.

Makayla

Crikey a Wild Ski Bum asked:


I’ve always wanted to ski in Europe, I live in Colorado, I’ve skied in British Columbia and New Zealand and states around Colorado, I actually managed to catch a powder day in NZ.

But I’ve heard that Switzerland is extremely icy, one man described it as icier than a racetrack that they’d purposely iced. And to be honest, as a telemarker, I’m just kind of a good-snow elitist.
What would a trip to Zermatt/Cervinia cost? I like to go cheap but my dad likes to stay at ritzy places so let’s say moderate costs, would it be like thousands?
oh also, can you just ski right over the border from Zermatt to Cervinia? Or is it another vacation altogether to ski on the Italian side?

Jenny