Zürich Travel Forum

Dear Virtual Tourists,

I'm planning a trip to Switzerland and I intend to use Zurich and Geneva as base camps from where I set off on day-trips to nearby cities/villages. What are some of the must-see villages surrounding Zurich? Is transportation well-connected? And how affordable will internal train fares be, from Zurich to a neaby village?

Thanks guys!

You just have to go to Interlaken. It is the best place i have seen so far. Its easily driveable, about 2 hrs. I'm not sure of trains , maybe someone else knows. Its an easy day trip, trouble is you will want to stay longer. Go up one of the mountains in the Jungfrau region. I did Schilthorn and it was braethtaking. In the other direction , go to Lake konstanz.

Thanks, Aldf. I was in Switzerland last year (Luzern) and I've 'scaled' Mount. Titlis. It was an extremely memorable experience. This time round, I'll be heading to Zurich and Geneva but I reckon taking day-trips on the local train is better than driving because I get to see the Swiss people? Anyway, isn't Interlaken too far from Zurich? Would Basel be a more convenient place to visit?

We're discussing the probably best public transportation system in the world. Your options are endless. Half of the country is within a range of max. 2 hours on the train.

Basel is very convenient, as are Bern, Luzern, Fribourg, Chur. Interlaken can be done if you want to do what everybody does. To actually see the mountains, though, stopping at Interlaken would be some kind of coitus interruptus - you should go further up, and that requires more travel time, perhaps too much for a day trip.

Alpine alternatives that are easier to reach:
- train via Arth-Goldau, then up the Rigi
- via Luzern to Engelberg
- Walensee - no one ever mentions this beautiful lake
- cablecar up the Pilatus from Luzern

Other day trip options:
- boat trip across Zürichsee to Rapperswil, see that cute little town and go back by train along the Northern bank of the lake
- a few historical towns to take into consideration: Schaffhausen, Zug, Solothurn, Stein am Rhein, Konstanz
- if you're into history and culture, I recommend St. Gallen with its beautiful baroque library that contains precious manuscripts from since the early middle ages
- if you're into art, especially classical modern, there is a remarkable private collection, Sammlung Oskar Reinhart, in Winterthur, now a museum.
- Einsiedeln monastery, a baroque jewel

Hi,

Have a look at this site http://www.viator.com/zurich-tours/d577-ttd?pref=02&aid=g2425&gclid=CJ7fiO-xqJMCFRMJewod-DH95w
I think it will be helpful to you.

Thanks,
David.

Schaffhausen and the Rheinfalls are a great day-trip. Train journey is about an hour from Zurich and costs CHF 18.20. Shaffhausen is a beautiful town and the Rheinfalls are stunning especially on a sunny day. I have just finished my page on Schaffhausen and Rheinfalls so feel free to have a look to see if it's the type of trip you would be interested in. It was one of the highlights of Switzerland for me.
Lucerne is also stunning and one of the mountain trips such as the Stanserhorn Excursion, Pilatus Excursion of Titlis Excursion are well worth doing. Check my Lucerne page for Lucerne ideas and my Stans page for the Stenserhorn Mountain.

Everywhere in Switzerland is well connected. It has the efficiency and frequency of a city subway!!! Best transport system I have ever used. You won't have any trouble getting where you want to get to. I gave up even planning my rail journey's. I just showed up at the station and there was always a train just about to leave for where I was headed!!!
Enjoy Switzerland, it's stunning.
Brian

One thing about the trains. Be very very very quiet. We got into trouble with a train guard because we were.......talking.He kicked us out of the carriage. They have carriages that are ...NO TALKING...carriages. There is even a sticker with a pair of lips and a red line drawn through them. We had no idea and just did the normal human thing and started talking. So.....shhhhhhhh

Hahhaa...Aldf, that's hilarious! Seems like Switzerland is a rather controlled society. I was in Luzern before but it didn't feel so stiff. Alright, I shall keep a lookout for those 'No Talking' signs on the train when I go to Zurich next time!

I'm serious. I think it was on the Geneva to Interlaken train. Can someone out there in switzerland take a pic and post it for all to see?. I suppose it might have been ok to smoke, poke someone in the ear, drink, eat, fidget cough, sneeze etc etc..............BUT DON'T TALK.Was one of the weirdest things i saw. And then he kicked us out of the next carriage too.....because we took the only seats that were empty....1st class. So off we were marched down to the end of the train into cattle class.

Thanks guys (and Adlf) for your kind contributions! Now, I'd like to know if there are any 'quaint' and nice villages near Zurich that are essentially tourist-free. It'll be good to see the Swiss going about their daily life without them specially gearing up for doe-eyed tourists.

You know, when I was in Luzern, there were so many souvenir shops (Casa Blanca was all over, and who could forget Bucherer) and restuarants charging exorbitant prices that it felt somewhat artificial!

Is it truly possible to venture into a village near Zurich and see Swiss shepards tending their cows (with that cute bell dangling from the neck)? I'm looking at November actually...will it be extraordinarily difficult, given the cold?

Thanks guys!

The town of Stans near Lucerne (half and hour train ride) has beautiful meadowlands sloping up towards the Stanserhorn Mountain and has plenty of 'bell ringing cows' ;) scattered through the meadows. I have a picture on the intro of my Stans page showing this beautiful area. It is 'typically' Swiss with rural Swiss houses, stunning meadowlands and a great backdrop of the Swiss Alps. Another advantage of Stans is that while you have the beautiful Swiss countryside around the base of the mountains you can also take a trip up to the summit of the Stanserhorn for great panoramic views mountain walks. The journey up is by old funicular through the meadowland and an aeriel cable car to the summit. Around the base of the mountains you will find lots of little Swiss villages. Stunning, stunning, stunning!
I mentioned Schaffhausen beofore on this thread and will mention it again as being a great day trip from Zurich. While tourists will head straight for the Rheinfalls nearby, they often skip this beautiful town and they miss out big time. The town centre is devoid of tourist and souvenir shops (which annoy me too!) but yet the town has a great busy atmosphere, but this is created mainly by the locals with only a scattering of tourists (mainly Germans from just across the border.)
Check my Stans and Schaffhauisen pages for more info on attractions and transport options.
All the best - Brian

BTW when you say near Zurich that basically covers everywhere in Switzerland because of the unbelievably efficient transport system. The only place in Switzerland which is a relatively long train journey is down towards Geneva beacause of its location at the bottom tip of the country. What type of time frame (journey-wise) are you thinking about.

Wow you guys are smashing! Wonderful!

Pure1942, I'll be spending about 12 days in Switzerland (using Zurich and Geneva as base camps from where I set off on day-trips). I'm already thinking of those cows with bells and looking at them chew grass at the mountainside. But...do they come out in November when it's so cold? :)

You'll have to ask them ;) I visited during the sunshine of May.