Hello!
I have been planning for days an extensive itinnerary just around the start of June for what'd be around 21-23 days which will cover mainly Switzerland. I really need opinions and critics to make the best of it.
I am travelling alone and focusing on lively cities and nature. Hence, i like the combination of people and nature. Lakes, swimming, mountains, rivers, forests, greenery, night life, snow. Because i like to be around people, i think i'll use local hostels and not AirBnB. Worth mentioning:
- I will use the Swiss Travel Pass or Eurrail Global Pass. Mainly because i believe that being able to take any train without having to buy a ticket is a time saver.
- I plan to arrive to Amsterdam and depart at Paris Airport.
One of the cheapest arrivals to this zone of Europe without VISA is Amsterdam or Paris. So as i am a solo traveller i think i will arrive Amsterdam in the afternoon for a cheaper flight, and stay one more day for the visit. Any suggestions for what to see in Amsterdam beside the obvious? I haven't planned anything in there as its not my main focus.
After two nights at Amsterdam:
Bruges at Belgium
3rd day. Morning train from Amsterdam to Bruges. Planning to visit De Halve Maan Brewery, Choco-story (probably the only choco museum i will visit this time in Europe), Grote Market, tasting Waffles, chocolates and fries.
4th day. Boat on Groenerei Promenade, Belfort tower, Sint Janshuismolen...
Switzerland
5th day. A very long and expensive train to Meiringen. After the train, i will just call it a day and sleep there. Btw, SBB throws an error when trying to book a Train from Bruges to Interlaken even days in advance, and i see no option to specify if i have an Eurrail or Swiss Travel Pass, any ideas?
6th day. Morning at Meiringen, i'll go to Ballenberg open air museum, Aare Gorge, Reichenbach falls, back to Meiringen and then to Giessbach falls and Brienz Lake.
7th day to 11th day. Base around Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen/Wenge. This is what i believe is the most important area of the trip.
- My plan around these days is to go to Jungfraujoch, do a lot of hiking, walking around the villages, swimming by the lakes or pools around Wengen/Murren/Grindelwald/Gimmelwald/Lauterbrunnen. Any suggestion is welcome.
- Also planning to go to Thun's lake area and visit St Beatus Caves, Harderbahn (if not that expensive) and Thun's area. Planning on swimming at the lake.
- I've read good things about Kleine Scheidegg.
12nd day. Base Lucerne for one night. Travelling from Interlaken to Lucerne via the Golden Pass Line. Expecting to take a boat to hike Mt. Rigi, which i've read has better views.
13rd day to 14th day. Base Lugano. Take the Gotthard Panorama Express from Lucerne all the way down to Lugano. It comes free with the Swiss Travel Pass so i think i am all in.
- I have some serious doubts about 2 days in Lugano/Lucarno/Ticino Area. I don't know if its a good choice for someone who's already gone to Amsterdam, Bruges and Berner Oberland area in the same trip. I feel like i will get bored, plase let me know if i am wrong!
- Planning to visit some of Valle Verzasca, Upper Engadine, San Salvatore mountain, Morcote.
15th day. Chur for one night. Bernina Express from Lugano to Chur. I've read that Bernina is one of the top panoramic trains in the world. It comes included with the STP also, so i am all in.
- I've heard that Lugano-Tirano is a bus trip, is it included at the booking?
16th day. Base Zermatt for 3 nights from Chur via the Glacier Express.
- Worth mentioning i don't ski.
- I've read amazing things about Zermatt so i decided to stay many days in here. Hope 3 days its enough.
17th day. Take the Gornergrat at morning, hike, and perhaps later going to Brigerbad Thermaquellen, i really like the idea of a thermal bath.
18th day. Do the 5 Lake Hike.
19th day - 20th day. Bern for two nights. Take the train all the way up to Bern, deviating a little from Montreux to Zweisimmen by the Golden Pass Line. I decided i would not stop at Montreux if i already went to Amsterdam and Bruges. I choose Bern as my last destination because as it looks very lively and beautiful there is no way i am going to be demotivated at the end of the trip.
- Will visit Einstein's House, Botanic Garden, Zytgloggeturm tower, Historical Museum, the Cathedral, Rose Garden, Bear Pit, and if time allows it, Gurten Mountain.
21st Day. I'll head to Paris CDG Airport to take my plane way back home.
As you may notice the last city is Bern even though i first arrived to Bernese Oberland. This is because the only other possible way to take the Glacier Express and Bernina Express was to start differently leaving Berner Oberland at the end before Bern, which is an idea I don't prefer because i like having the best first.
There are some general questions that i have:
- I am concerned about having to take my passport everywhere along with me for trains. Do i have to do that or is it enough to have an STP / Eurail Global Pass?
- To save pass days, can i use the train for short distances without using my STP / Eurraill Global Pass?
- There are only two places on which i am going to spend more than 2 days: Bernese Oberland area and Zermatt, so i would like to choose another Swiss city to stay 3 days, but i am not convinced by Lugano, Lucerne or Bern for a 3 day stay. What is your recommendation?
- I love swimming so i would like to know more lakes!
Thanks for the help and please, feel free to give any suggestion and critics!
Submitted February 18, 2020 at 11:37PM by Loven_krands https://ift.tt/2ueMFNy
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