Wengen Travel Forum

Hi,

Thanks to VT and the wonderful people here, I have been able to arrive at my broad itenary. However, I still need help on what to see in the short time I have in Switzerland. This is the plan I have in mind and the questions -

1. I will be based in Wengen. Arrive in Wengen around 4:00 in the eve on 21st Jun. Any suggestions on what should I do this evening? I would love to see some country side, water and quiet place.

2. On 22nd, I am taking a trip to Jungfraujoch. From what I have read on VT, I can finish Jungfraujoch in half day. What is the best way of spending the other half of the day?

3. On 23rd, I have planned to visit Mt Titlis by taking the panorama train from Interlaken to Lucerne. I suppose, I will take this whole day for Mt. Titlis. Is that correct? I have to return to Geneva this evening because I have to catch the flight the following morning.

Since I have only two and a half days, I want to make the best of it. Pls help with suggestions.

A big thanks to the VT community.

Hi

I suppose you know Wengen is situated on a mountain plateau without cars, so the only way to move is on your feet.

1. coming 4.00 pm in Wengen you only can stroll through the viillage or do some mountain walking; perhaps there is a possibility to go down again to Lauterbrunnen and to go to the Schilthorn with a turning restaurant on the top 9famous through a James Bond movie; depends on the schedules of the trains and cable cars

2. Jungfraujoch in a half day, only if you do it on the 'japanese'way;
on the way back stop at the 'Kleine Scheidegg' station and enjoy the Swiss mountains. There are several tracks to go down to Wengen.

3. You need a whole day

Jaap

You'll wish you had more time. It is so beautiful in this part of Switzerland. On your trip to Jungfraujoch, leave as early as possible in the morning as it gets very busy after about 9am on the trains and you have to change trains twice. There is one that leaves around 6:30am which is a lot cheaper and you get there before the crowds.
The cafe service is fairly expensive, so soup is a good option and even that was 7 CHF. Tickets were about 150 CHF to purchase locally for the round trip, so don't know if you can get that cheaper before you go. We prebooked ours.
The Golden Pass train which goes from Interlaken Ost to Luzern has to be prebooked and the journey takes about 2 hours. Again will need to be away early so as to connect with departures for Mt Titlis.
Had a great meal ( if you like seafood )at the Hotel Chalet Du Lac ( not to be confused with the one at Interlaken ).

Thanks for the info. Is there a way I can make it to the Staubbach waterfall that eve? If thats manageable, how to get there?

Hi

I think so. You have to go down by train from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen. From the town you can see the falls and if you want to come closer you will have to walk.

Jaap

Buy a good map of the area with hiking paths (1:25000 - 1:50000, available in any bookshop in Switzerland), plan a couple of short or not so short hikes around Wengen and enjoy the countryside! Jungfraujoch is very interesting, but a trip to Titlis is completely unnecessary, since around you there are far more spectacular mountains than Titlis. Also, if you go hiking, you avoid the crowds. Otherwise you spend more time in the train than outside.

After coming down from Jungfraujoch to Kleine Scheidegg, take a train down to Grindelwald instead of that to Wengen and walk to the Grindelwalder Gletscher (Grindelwald Glacier), it has lost most of its mass but is still impressive. You can return faster via Zweilütschinen-Lauterbrunnen (2x change, but the trains run till late evening).

If you still want to spent those days in the train instead in the mountains, the so-called "Golden pass express" does not need to be prebooked. The Brünigpass line trains from Interlaken to Luzern are normal "express" narrow-gauge trains, running every hour, you only need to book a seat if you want to take 1st class panorama coach. 2nd class in Switzerland is usually just fine, though.

If you want to take in some "culture" along with the mountains, go to Bern. It's old town is Unesco World Heritage site and is really nice, also easy to reach (1 h from Interlaken)

Don't go to Mystery Park. Its an overprized tourist trap.

Enjoy your holidays!

1. See if you can go to Trummelbachfalls on the day you arrive.
If I remember correctly, you have to take a bus (about 5-10 minutes ride) from Lauterbrunnen.

If you really want to utilize your time, head for this falls straight away before going to your hotel, as I think this falls closes at 5 pm.

Another option is to take a ship ride on the lake ,from Interlaken. Upon return, you can proceed to Wengen and relax.

2. For Jungfraujoch,I suggest you take the early bird offer. This will ensure that you take, the latest, the 12 noon train back (due to the constraint with the early bird offer).The Only thing is you have to start really early (check with Interlaken tourism for exact timings/details).
For the second half, you could stay at Grindelwald and go to Bussalp, Grindelwald-first etc. Grindelwald is also on a route back from Jungfraujoch.
There are plenty of trekking routes/scenic points around Grindelwald.

Or if you can manage, you can visit the St. Beatus Caves which lie between Interlaken and Thun. I found these caves wondeful.


3. When you reach Luzern, you could take a quick walk around the town. You could see the magnificent old wooden bridge ("Kapellbrücke") , the Lion Monument and also visit the Transport Museum (Verkehrs- und Telekommunikations- Museum ).Then you can proceed to Mt. Titlis.
Check out the latest departure time for the cablecar from Engelberg to Titlis before you plan anything.

You really have to keep moving due to the short time you have.

I hope this helps.

thank you all so much for the suggestions. helps a lot. But I am thinking if Titlis is worth it afterall after the previous post. If there are better places around, is it still worth going to Titlis? If I am not going to Titlis, what better to do in that day?

Hi

Perhaps try a visit to the Schilthorn; see www.schilthorn.ch

Jaap