Great for: Active families and couples, hiking, outdoor activities, wellness
Trip Duration: Any time in Switzerland is great but you could easily spend 2 weeks.
I arrived in Zurich this morning was met by my representative who got me to the train in the airport and rode with me to Zurich Main Station where I caught a train to Lucerne. I'm glad I had that assistance as would have taken some brain power to figure out the Zurich Main station, and I was tired after the long flight. The train from Zurich to Lucerne is just over an hour. Lucerne is a beautiful little town right on the lake. The train station is right in the old town. I walked to my hotel in about 5 minutes.I stayed at the Hotel Les Balances. A 4* hotel in a perfect location in the Old Town. It is a typical European hotel in a historic old building. Lots of quirks- TINY bathrooms and winding hallways. Staff was very friendly. Nice little breakfast buffet and a la carte menu as well. Mandarin Oriental is the best option in town.
The Mt. Pilatus route- Gondola to Cable Car to Cogwheel Train to Ferry back to Lucerne- is a must when in Lucerne. The weather can be drastically different at the top of the mountain, so dress accordingly and bring a raincoat. You can have lunch at the top. It is cafeteria style and nothing to get excited about, but if the weather is clear, it has an amazing view. Other activities in the area include Mt. Rigi, the "sister" mountain to Mt Pilatus, Zug- Quick local train for a charming old town and beautiful lake or Stans, where you can take an open-air gondola up to the top of the mountain from here.
Next, I departed Lucerne for Interlaken. The train track on this routing had been washed out by the mudslides, so I had to transfer via car. It was just over an hour drive and very scenic. You can take a longer way that drives around the lakes, but the area was still being cleaned up from the flooding and we took a shorter, but still very scenic route, past waterfalls, lakes and gorgeous mountains.
I checked into the Interlaken Hotel. Another solid 4* offering. The bathrooms are VERY tiny, but this is a good option for someone more on a budget. The Victoria- Jungfrau Hotel and Spa is a preferred partner (Virtuoso) and is also a Leading Hotel of the World. The Royal St Georges is a Sofitel property, where we also have amenities.
I dropped my bags at the hotel and boarded the first train from Interlaken to the Grindelwald Terminal at 11:30 a.m. The train station is right in town and was just a 5-minute walk from the hotel. On arrival at the Grindelwald Terminal, I went straight to the Eiger Express Cable Car to Eigergletscher. You then transfer to a Cogwheel train that takes you up to the Jungfraujoch. It takes about 30 minutes and travels the entire way through a tunnel blown through the rock in the mountain. Once at the top, there is about an hour and a half worth of things to do and see. There is a cafeteria and one sit down restaurant. I ate lunch in the restaurant, and it was decent food and would have had a great view on a clear day.
Once you are finished, you take the cogwheel train back down the way you came, or you can go to Kleine Scheidegg for different scenery. This train is about 30 minutes. You connect to a 20-minute train to Lauterbrunnen and then to a 20-minute train back to Interlaken.
You need three days at least in this area. Interlaken is located between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. There are a lot of options for getting out on the water in a boat. See the St. Beatus Caves, Aare Gorge, Giessbach Falls, and the many castles and charming towns that dot the lakes. The Harder Klum train can be boarded right in downtown Interlaken. A day trip into Grindelwald town (short 25 min train ride) is another option, where you can do the Glacier Canyon hike or the Canyon Swing. Canyoneering, hiking and paragliding.
On day 3, I departed Interlaken to Montreux on the Golden Pass Panoramic Train. I purchased the first class ticket, which gets you a larger seat and expanded service. Arrival into Montreux at 12:20 p.m., so it is a longer ride, but absolutely stunning. Waterfalls, rivers, snowcapped mountains and green forests the entire way. Well worth the time spent on the train.
Montreux looked gorgeous, and I wish I had scheduled a day there. The train transfer to Visp was easy and takes about an hour and ten minutes. This is not a scenic ride; very industrial and not much to look at. Once in Visp, it was another quick transfer to the train to Zermatt. Once again, stunning scenery the entire way. This leg is also about an hour and ten minutes and I arrived in Zermatt in the afternoon. The only cars allowed in Zermatt are electric cars. Most of the hotels have little golf cart shuttles that pick you up at the train station. There is no need to call; they arrive about every 10- 15 minutes.
I stayed at the Alpenhof Hotel. Located right on the river, my deluxe double room was spacious and had a nice balcony overlooking the river. The bathrooms are still minimalistic, but very nice. Decorated in a trendy, mountain style; the lobby, lobby bar and restaurant have a great design. There is a spa with an indoor pool and outdoor hot tub as well.
Another three days in this area is a must! Hiking, biking, and lots of people paragliding. It is an outdoor paradise!
I ended my trip on board the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Chur. I had first class seats and the cars were lovely. Nice, large seats had outlets and a good-sized table. The seats come as a bank of four facing each other or two facing each other. Wifi is spotty, but available.
The ride was over 5 hours, and I was a bit worried I would get bored, but the scenery was so lovely and I listened to my book on tape and loved every minute of it. The ride from Zermatt to Brig is not as stunning as the Brig to Chur leg. The most famous parts of the ride are actually on the Chur to St. Moritz leg and highly recommended if it can work in the itinerary. It was another 2 hours past Chur.
I arrived in Zurich late afternoon and checked into the St. Peter Hotel by the Sorell Hotel Group. 4+ star option in an excellent location, with a great, trendy and lively common area and the rooms were a really good size. I had a Business King room on the ground level that had a full walk out patio into an interior courtyard. Lots of great options for 5* properties in Zurich where Houlahan clients get added benefits and amenities.
I spent the late afternoon walking around the Old Town in Zurich. Had dinner and left the next morning.
