Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found Lucerne to be the ultimate tourist trap! It's pretty, but felt like a shopping mall.

OP, we stayed in Zurich and did a lot of day trips from there- Stein am Rhein/Schaffhausen, Lucerne, Montreux, Interlaken and surrounding area, Neuchatel, etc. The train station in Zurich is pretty amazing and easy to get to from most hotels in the city.

If I could do anything over again, I would have spent the night in the Interlaken area to do more outdoorsy things (hiking, etc.). The scenery is so spectacular.

Oh no - no Interlaken!!!!

Disagree snob, it can make a convenient base.

Day trips could include St Gallen, which has a very interesting old library.

I vote to get out of Zurich. Bernese Oberland is spectacular, but I have only been there when hiking was an option/summer.

How close will you be go Annecy (France?).

Anonymous wrote:I found Lucerne to be the ultimate tourist trap! It's pretty, but felt like a shopping mall.

OP, we stayed in Zurich and did a lot of day trips from there- Stein am Rhein/Schaffhausen, Lucerne, Montreux, Interlaken and surrounding area, Neuchatel, etc. The train station in Zurich is pretty amazing and easy to get to from most hotels in the city.

If I could do anything over again, I would have spent the night in the Interlaken area to do more outdoorsy things (hiking, etc.). The scenery is so spectacular.

Agree. I can't believe how many people recommend Lucerne. Pales in comparison to Bernese Oberland area for mountains. Also, a lake is not that interesting.

I go to Switzerland often. A different suggestion is visit the Lausanne area via train from Zurich. Steam boat ride from Lausanne to Chillon castle and Montreux (not toward Geneva if you want a view of the mountains), and take a tour of the castle. Dine at the Baux-Rivage Palace, lots of history at this hotel. Olympic museum if you enjoy sports. Lavaux vineyards if you enjoy wine.

Zurich is uninteresting, and can be a bit distant from the more engaging places to visit, and trains are definitely the way to go. On days when you have the time, try taking one or more of the specially-designated scenic trains which will take you through the best of Alpine scenery. You won't be sorry.

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/experience-tour/highlights-by-train-bus-and-boat/panoramic-routes/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any part of Switzerland that you enjoyed that isn’t touristy?

No part of Switzerland has not been entirely cased by Rick Steves and his ilk. You will not find a “hidden gem” in Switzerland.

Bull. We were just there and were basically the only Americans at every place we went to. We had zero crowds. We don’t do Interlaken or the touristy crap mentioned in Rick Steve’s guide.

Sounds like a great trip. Where did you go?

Anonymous wrote:I found Lucerne to be the ultimate tourist trap! It's pretty, but felt like a shopping mall.

OP, we stayed in Zurich and did a lot of day trips from there- Stein am Rhein/Schaffhausen, Lucerne, Montreux, Interlaken and surrounding area, Neuchatel, etc. The train station in Zurich is pretty amazing and easy to get to from most hotels in the city.

If I could do anything over again, I would have spent the night in the Interlaken area to do more outdoorsy things (hiking, etc.). The scenery is so spectacular.

Oh no - no Interlaken!!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any part of Switzerland that you enjoyed that isn’t touristy?

No part of Switzerland has not been entirely cased by Rick Steves and his ilk. You will not find a “hidden gem” in Switzerland.

Bull. We were just there and were basically the only Americans at every place we went to. We had zero crowds. We don’t do Interlaken or the touristy crap mentioned in Rick Steve’s guide.

Anonymous wrote:Is there any part of Switzerland that you enjoyed that isn’t touristy?

No part of Switzerland has not been entirely cased by Rick Steves and his ilk. You will not find a “hidden gem” in Switzerland.

Is there any part of Switzerland that you enjoyed that isn’t touristy?

I found Lucerne to be the ultimate tourist trap! It's pretty, but felt like a shopping mall.

OP, we stayed in Zurich and did a lot of day trips from there- Stein am Rhein/Schaffhausen, Lucerne, Montreux, Interlaken and surrounding area, Neuchatel, etc. The train station in Zurich is pretty amazing and easy to get to from most hotels in the city.

If I could do anything over again, I would have spent the night in the Interlaken area to do more outdoorsy things (hiking, etc.). The scenery is so spectacular.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to go somewhere else.

Take the train to Lauterbrunnen, then Wengen. From Wengen, you can do day trips (easy, short) via train or cable car to all kinds of places: Männlichen, Grütschalp to Mürren, Schilthorn, Jungfrau, etc....

Beware that some of the maps exclude the other maps (it's so confusing!) but if you know where you want to go you're good.

Have the best time!

This is the standard advice for touristy crap. I’d go to Lucerne or the suburbs of Lucerne instead.

No, the Bernese Oberland is more interesting than Lucerne, but October is an awkward time—a lot of things may be closed. So in fact Lucerne might be better, but only because it’s October.

Anonymous wrote:You want to go somewhere else.

Take the train to Lauterbrunnen, then Wengen. From Wengen, you can do day trips (easy, short) via train or cable car to all kinds of places: Männlichen, Grütschalp to Mürren, Schilthorn, Jungfrau, etc....

Beware that some of the maps exclude the other maps (it's so confusing!) but if you know where you want to go you're good.

Have the best time!

This is the standard advice for touristy crap. I’d go to Lucerne or the suburbs of Lucerne instead.

You want to go somewhere else.

Take the train to Lauterbrunnen, then Wengen. From Wengen, you can do day trips (easy, short) via train or cable car to all kinds of places: Männlichen, Grütschalp to Mürren, Schilthorn, Jungfrau, etc....

Beware that some of the maps exclude the other maps (it's so confusing!) but if you know where you want to go you're good.

Have the best time!

There's been a lot of Switzerland advice on here lately so I figured someone can help me puzzle this out. DH has to go to Zurich for two days in October for work, and I'm tagging along. We'd fly in and out of Zurich, Friday to the following Saturday. DH's work event is Tues & Wed. We know we don't need more than a day or two to do Zurich tourist stuff. But we can't decide if we want to stay based in Zurich and day trips (and which ones are worth it?), or if we want to go somewhere else completely from Wed night to Saturday (and where?). Either way, should we rent a car or rely on trains? Any tips appreciated!