Switzerland trip advice

NotAGolf said:
I'm thinking of going to Switzerland. I've never been so have been trawling for ideas of things to do. I've earmarked a few things to do split across the following areas:

- Lake Geneva (Lausanne/Montreux)
- Zermatt/Matterhorn
- Interlaken (to explore Gindelwald/Jungfraujoch)
- Lucerne

We will be going for 5 nights in March. We're up for a bit of an adventure, but would like a day or two to chill, so don't want to be constantly hopping between hotels or on the road/train. So I think doing all these areas in 5 nights seems like it might be too much of a stretch. Any opinions on which area to ditch?
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Honestly I really wouldn't. March is typically quite cold still and whilst still scenic high up in other areas its likely to be quite grey. There is a reason we all go skiing or whatever because its not the most exciting that time of year.

Interlaken isn't worth seeing, but again I am jaded.

I "think" that there is a 5 day train ticket you can buy to save cost. We have "halbtax" here that makes it OK costwise (or we just have GA). You will not and it will be very expensive.

If you rent a car do so on Swiss side so you get the vignette on car or you'll be paying 40 CHF to put one on... don't speed it's really really expensive. Rules are strictly enforced and the police are not the nicest...

I'm not being negative on the place, but I'd really want something specific to do here for that time of year. Zurich is lovely in the summer as is also the south as everything in bloom etc.

The prices here are high but not for people that live here, so us paying 30 CHF for a nice cocktail is okay but comes as a shock to others. BUT there are cheaper places where locals can hang out ans get a beer for 7 CHF, stronger drinks under 15 CHF so quite reasonable even for auslander. Accommodation can be very expensive (lol at above suggestion for the dolder), and again in March it's going to be premium with no benefit. I have spare rooms in my property for friends and family to visit that makes the average cost a lot lower. Otherwise it's quite steep.

So yeah just not sure why you'd do it. Go to fruhlingfest in Munich or something in April instead or visit Prague. Maybe pop across border to have a look around zurich (only like 4 hours away so doable).

Ticino, lugano etc are the Italian regions where its a lot more reasonable which is worth exploring.

Oh and the people are not very friendly here. Just FYI...

Anyway good luck, I'm travelling so on a small mobile screen I'll write something more comprehensive later if needed and recommendations for Zürich. :)
 
Lopéz said:
The comments about taking plenty of money aren't in jest - Switzerland really is depressingly expensive as a visitor; when I worked there a few years ago, paying 9 CHF for a pint at the local got old pretty quickly.
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Guy I know went a couple of months back and spent somewhere in the region of £25 on a pret (or similar coffee chain) salad and coffee :eek:
 
Orangeade said:
Honestly I really wouldn't. March is typically quite cold still and whilst still scenic high up in other areas its likely to be quite grey. There is a reason we all go skiing or whatever because its not the most exciting that time of year.

Interlaken isn't worth seeing, but again I am jaded.

I "think" that there is a 5 day train ticket you can buy to save cost. We have "halbtax" here that makes it OK costwise (or we just have GA). You will not and it will be very expensive.

If you rent a car do so on Swiss side so you get the vignette on car or you'll be paying 40 CHF to put one on... don't speed it's really really expensive. Rules are strictly enforced and the police are not the nicest...

I'm not being negative on the place, but I'd really want something specific to do here for that time of year. Zurich is lovely in the summer as is also the south as everything in bloom etc.

The prices here are high but not for people that live here, so us paying 30 CHF for a nice cocktail is okay but comes as a shock to others. BUT there are cheaper places where locals can hang out ans get a beer for 7 CHF, stronger drinks under 15 CHF so quite reasonable even for auslander. Accommodation can be very expensive (lol at above suggestion for the dolder), and again in March it's going to be premium with no benefit. I have spare rooms in my property for friends and family to visit that makes the average cost a lot lower. Otherwise it's quite steep.

So yeah just not sure why you'd do it. Go to fruhlingfest in Munich or something in April instead or visit Prague. Maybe pop across border to have a look around zurich (only like 4 hours away so doable).

Ticino, lugano etc are the Italian regions where its a lot more reasonable which is worth exploring.

Oh and the people are not very friendly here. Just FYI...

Anyway good luck, I'm travelling so on a small mobile screen I'll write something more comprehensive later if needed and recommendations for Zürich. :)
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Interlaken is alright for a day, personally quite like Zermatt though it is touristy - but a lot of tourists don't wander far. Lugano is a good shout while a bit of a step a few nights in Zermatt followed by a few in Lugano would make for a decent if a little contrasty holiday.

There are better sights to see in Switzerland but I don't know it well enough to recommend - only seen those bits in YT videos as our planned trip in 2020 got ruined by COVID.

EDIT: Not somewhere I've been myself and probably not a great destination in March but my sister went on from Zermatt to Veytaux and looks quite interesting.
 
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Rroff said:
Interlaken is alright for a day, personally quite like Zermatt though it is touristy - but a lot of tourists don't wander far. Lugano is a good shout while a bit of a step a few nights in Zermatt followed by a few in Lugano would make for a decent if a little contrasty holiday.

There are better sights to see in Switzerland but I don't know it well enough to recommend - only seen those bits in YT videos as our planned trip in 2020 got ruined by COVID.

EDIT: Not somewhere I've been myself and probably not a great destination in March but my sister went on from Zermatt to Veytaux and looks quite interesting.
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It's not bad but you're doing some driving to get there from Zurich (and traffic can be bad!) so it's really a bit....meh.

But the country is quite beautiful.
 
labbby said:
be warned they can be grumpy :cry:
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Haha, understatement. Even the waitress' can act like they're doing you a service. Especially annoying when they then look for a tip. Err nope..

But mostly it's with foreigners if you can speak even a bit of Swiss German they usually open up a bit. Assuming they like your dialect haha.
 
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Orangeade said:
It's not bad but you're doing some driving to get there from Zurich (and traffic can be bad!) so it's really a bit....meh.

But the country is quite beautiful.
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Personally I get bored quickly - though I could drive through that kind of scenery for hours and happy enough hiking for a day or two. Places like Lake Como are immense but after a 1-2 days I feel like I've seen it all.
 
Tuppy_Glossop said:
Migros canteen-style food (pay by weight!) used to be the best value, if a bit unglamorous.
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Yeah there is one near the Zurich HB, as you walk up to remini bar (lovely in summer). The best is to go for set menu, they always throw extra on. No beer makes it pretty dull though. Can always byob and keep it down low.
 
Anyway, I agree with everyone saying there isn't much to see beyond the natural beauty. Much like Vienna and spectacular architecture, the Old Towns and mountains can get a bit samey pretty quickly. Find a gig or a festival that appeals to you (Nyon music fest at the amphitheatre used to be amazing, or the Garlic fest in Bern (Chnoeblichuechli anyone?), or Fasnacht in Basel) and base your holiday around that.
 
Orangeade said:
Haha, understatement. Even the waitress' can act like they're doing you a service. Especially annoying when they then look for a tip. Err nope..

But mostly it's with foreigners if you can speak even a bit of Swiss German they usually open up a bit. Assuming they like your dialect haha.
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i can relate to this so much. Swiss French can be a nightmare. Luckily I spent so much time in a village on the Jura they started to accept me (a little bit).
 
Orangeade said:
Haha, understatement. Even the waitress' can act like they're doing you a service. Especially annoying when they then look for a tip. Err nope..

But mostly it's with foreigners if you can speak even a bit of Swiss German they usually open up a bit. Assuming they like your dialect haha.
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The grumpy waitress thing though is just tradition, it is similar in France and Austria. Some old cafes are especially keen to keep up old traditions. They don't really expect a tip, in fact tips can be a little insulating
 
I never had the problem with an grumpy waitress but I always smile when I order. In German or English :)
 
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Orangeade said:
Yeah was going to say! I like to go to Sprungli on a weekend and you can easily spend double on very little.


But on the converse side there are also cafes where you could get coffee and a croissant/cake for under 15 chf so it's still accessible to all!
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When I was assigned to work in Aarau in 2018, my per Diem rates were 54CHF.
I thought "Wow, pretty generous" until it came to actually buying anything, which is when my dreams of being financially comfortable on my Swiss assignment were dashed :p
 
D.P. said:
The grumpy waitress thing though is just tradition, it is similar in France and Austria. Some old cafes are especially keen to keep up old traditions. They don't really expect a tip, in fact tips can be a little insulating
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I presume insulting and autocorrect? I wish it was its crept a lot into zurich even in past couple years.
 
Lopéz said:
When I was assigned to work in Aarau in 2018, my per Diem rates were 54CHF.
I thought "Wow, pretty generous" until it came to actually buying anything, which is when my dreams of being financially comfortable on my Swiss assignment were dashed :p
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And in Aarau no less. Urgh. I mean I've met some nice people from that canton and actually that town but it's rather.... bunzli? :D
 
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