Help -- Trains from Geneva to??? :)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 171
Help -- Trains from Geneva to??? :)
Hey Experts!!
I am attending a training in Geneva for a few days and wanted to take some time and visit some cities and towns to the east.... I dont have but maybe 3 or 4 days and I need to end in a city with a fairly big airport. I'm not really a nature person so I have no problem skipping Interlaken... but I would like to get a sense of the magnificent swiss landscape or visit a small charming town ... over all im an urban person and i like museums, cathedrals, and great food and shops.... I thought maybe to visit Lausanne ou Lucerne? Then off to Zurich? If time allows do you think it is worth going to Munich?? What are the best choices in Switzerland as far as cities? If I can see landscape from the train I might be willing to forego a small town visit ...
Waiting for some expert suggestions!!
I am attending a training in Geneva for a few days and wanted to take some time and visit some cities and towns to the east.... I dont have but maybe 3 or 4 days and I need to end in a city with a fairly big airport. I'm not really a nature person so I have no problem skipping Interlaken... but I would like to get a sense of the magnificent swiss landscape or visit a small charming town ... over all im an urban person and i like museums, cathedrals, and great food and shops.... I thought maybe to visit Lausanne ou Lucerne? Then off to Zurich? If time allows do you think it is worth going to Munich?? What are the best choices in Switzerland as far as cities? If I can see landscape from the train I might be willing to forego a small town visit ...
Waiting for some expert suggestions!!
#2
Suspended
Join Date: May 1998
Location: USA
Posts: 533
Lausanne is a big zero. Lucerne is pleasant. Personally, I would take a train to Zermatt (must connect in Brig or Visp)... on the return to Zurich you'll see great scenery from the train.
Geneva to Zermatt is probably 4 hours; Zermatt to Zurich is probably more like 6 hours in nice trains.
I think Munich is too far out of the way. You could also go to Milan, cause there are fast trains to/from both Geneva and Zurich...
Be prepared to be close to bankrupt after the trip.
Geneva to Zermatt is probably 4 hours; Zermatt to Zurich is probably more like 6 hours in nice trains.
I think Munich is too far out of the way. You could also go to Milan, cause there are fast trains to/from both Geneva and Zurich...
Be prepared to be close to bankrupt after the trip.
#4
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlántida, Canelones, Uruguay (MVD) and rarely GNV
Programs: AV LifeMiles, CM ConnectMiles, BA Exec Club. Former:ex-ASGold, ex-UA1K, ex-COPlat, ex-NWGold.
Posts: 2,673
Originally Posted by flyrights
Be prepared to be close to bankrupt after the trip.
Swiss Rail passes page at:
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reiselust/i...flexi-pass.htm
#7
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, FB Plat, Accor Gold, IHG Gold, Wyndham Rewards Gold, BW Gold
Posts: 1,096
Originally Posted by MarkXS
Not if you buy a Swiss Rail Flexi Pass with 4 days of travel. 292 CHF which is about $225 USD, for a 2nd-class pass. I got one of these when I jumped on the $215 SFO-ZRH deal last fall. 438 CHF for the first-class pass. Frankly the Swiss trains I took were nice enough that the extra for the 1st class pass wouldn't be worth it to me.
Swiss Rail passes page at:
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reiselust/i...flexi-pass.htm
Swiss Rail passes page at:
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reiselust/i...flexi-pass.htm
Now, it is impossible to take a train journey in Switzerland wihtout passing through stunning scenery. So, I wouldn't bother with Zermatt personally unless I actually wanted to go there. The journey isn't better, or worse, than others. The main lines are the quickest, but they're never extremely high speed. Geneva to Zurich takes about three hours and both routes (via Neuchatel or via Berne) are pretty. There's plenty to see in the big cities: Basle, Berne, Zurich.
Try and see one than one region. So go from Geneva to somwhere like Locarno (change at Domodossola) to see the Italian lakes part, then go north to Lucerne or Berne. If there's time, go to the Graubunden area (see trip below).
For me the most stunning rail journey is from Chur to St Moritz, or even further south to Tirano. Trains are hourly (as they are, when not half-hourly, on most routes). You could do it in a day - just - from Zurich, getting back there the same evening.
Go to the main station (Cornavin) when you get to Geneva and get maps and buy your four day pass. Decide where you want to go and enjoy the train as a means of getting there. Personally I think 1st Class is worth the extra. At least ALL your transport costs will be covered for the four days.
And you will get miles if you stay in chains like Best Western (not bad in Switzerland)!
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 55,189
Originally Posted by IceTrojan
I quite enjoyed Chateau de Chillon, Montreaux, and Vevey. Very quaint.