Day trips between Lausanne and Zurich

Old Aug 5th, 2014, 10:03 AM
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cdc
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Day trips between Lausanne and Zurich

I will be in a town near Lausanne for a few days while my husband is on a work trip. I was planning on traveling during the week to Zurich to visit an old friend. My initial thought was to get a train pass and take the train to Zurich, getting on and off at interesting stops - spend the night and next morning with my friend in Zurich, and then take the train back - again, getting on and off along the way. It will be early September, so hopefully good weather. I will be traveling alone, so looking for activities and sights that will be fun for someone traveling solo. This is my first time in Switzerland, but will very likely be back again, so really looking at seeing a few places and breaking up the few hour train trip - I know I am not going to see everything or get an in depth view of the country. I enjoy walking around and seeing sights, more of an outdoor person than an indoor museum type - but if there is a must see museum would check it out. I was intrigued by some of the old towns with historic buildings and cute little streets. I would enjoy walking through a market or two, but not going there to shop. I am still looking into the train pass, but it seems like the four day consecutive pass will allow me to spend one day taking a day trip around Lake Geneva, the next two days doing my round trip to Zurich and the fourth day going to Geneva to the airport. I plan on using the first few days we are there to stay 'local' and walk around the area we are staying. Thanks in advance for any advice. cdc
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Old Aug 5th, 2014, 10:27 AM
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FIRST of all you need to reveal your exact location.
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Old Aug 5th, 2014, 11:13 AM
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The 4-consecutive-day pass could be a good deal if you travel that much but check regular fares at www.sbb.ch to see how they compare - passes are good not only on trains but lake boats (such as on Lake Geneva - even being valid over to Evian-les-Bains, a swank watering hold in France known of course for its famous mineral water. Passes are good on city buses and trams and in Lausanne on the funicular that links the tony Ouchy lakeside area of the city with its upper old town.

En route to Zurich or back you could stop off in Bern, a really neat city - check out the famous Bear Pit where the emblems of the city can be seen playfully cavorting around.

Or en route to Zurich or back from it you could easily take the iconic Golden Pass scenic train - which takes about an hour or so longer but is oh so so much more scenic - it has special observation/panoramic cars - Swiss Pass fully valid.

Or you could take from Montreux the sweet Chocolate Train which goes first to Gruyeres, a perfectly walled old town with castle and then to Broc and the Nestle Plant where the group does a Willie Wonkaesque factory tour - be careful not to swim in the huge vats!

There are many other possbilities around Lake Geneva - Lord Byron's Chateau Chillon for example - can take a boat there from Lausanne or go by train - Montreux and Vevey are nice cities to explore - or you can do an Alpine train to mountain tops surround the eastern end southeastern end of the lake, etc.

For lots of great info on Swiss trains, passes check these IMO superb sites: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.swisstravelsystem.com.

But once you know what you will be doing check regular fares to make sure the pass is a good deal - though the pass lets you hop on city buses, trams, etc so factor those potentials in too.

And check prices for Swiss Pass here in U.S. and there - they have often IME been cheaper here than there for some reason but not always so compare - if about the same you can always buy them at any Swiss station. Check for promos on either end.
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Old Aug 5th, 2014, 12:40 PM
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http://www.goldenpass.ch/?Language=EN

Golden Pass official site - check out the vaunted VIP seats!
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Old Aug 5th, 2014, 12:56 PM
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You know of course, that the trip Lausanne to Zurich only takes about 2 hours? Many trips require a change in Bern, highly underrated in my opinion. I stayed in the city for 8 nights last October, and found enticing new corners each evening.
That said, Fribourg is not too far off the first leg of your trip and Zofingen looks GREAT as well. I plan to visit Zofingen myself next month. Happy travelling.
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Old Aug 5th, 2014, 03:15 PM
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Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be a promo - $50 off- for the Swiss Pass on one of the sites, so I thought the four day pass would be a good deal, and would allow me the most freedom/ flexibility. I had not considered boat trips - but will def look at the trips on/ around Lake Geneva as well.
I understand that the trip to Zurich is pretty quick, but thought if I had that pass, I would be able to see a little more than the countryside from the train - the trains seem to run regularly to Zurich from Laussenne. Bern does look interesting - will add that to the list! And my sister (who was there when she was just out of college) suggested a stop around Interlaken, at one of the old towns around there. I can't tell if its a party / college town or not.
Thanks again!
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Old Aug 5th, 2014, 04:01 PM
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The Interlaken area would be my number one recommendation for any first-timer to Switzerland - it is only here and a few other more isolated places where you see the picture of an Alpine wonderland that is perhaps etched in your mind's eye fulfilled - glacier-girdled peaks rising above lush cow-dotted meadows - tiny toy-like trains and thrilling aerial gondolas going everywhere.

Grindelwald has an bit of nightlife for younger adults - many hiking groups come thru there and folks from you age from all over the world stay in its hostels and Nature Friends' House, etc.

A day trip to Grindelwald would show you the Switzerland that graces tour brochure and guidebook covers - the Jungfrau Massif of ice-bound peaks looming high above green meadows dotted with wooden farm buildings, etc.
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Old Aug 5th, 2014, 09:36 PM
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Hi cdc,

Yes, you really ought to check the fares for the trips you want to make before deciding which pass to get. For instance, the fare from Lausanne to Montreux is only about 12 or 13 chf. Wandering around Montreux to or from Chillon or to Vevey only costs about 3 chf per ride on the bus. Hardly worth a pass!

For your trip to Zürich, I like the idea of stopping in Fribourg, which many folks rave about. On the way either coming or going, you really should take the Golden Pass route, which runs from Luzern to Interlaken and then down to Montreux on Lake Geneva. The route from Interlaken to Montreux is spectacular as it runs from the high Alps through the rolling hills of the Prealps and then down to the brilliant blue waters of Lake Geneva. You could easily stop over in Gstaad for a gourmet lunch, or in Gruyeres for the cheese demonstration, or in Broc Fabrique for the chocolate factory.

Have fun as you plan!

s
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Old Aug 7th, 2014, 12:06 PM
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a 4-day Swiss Pass (consecutive days) costs $313 or about $78/day or about 345 SCH (Swiss francs) - hard to believe you could spend that much moolah in 4 days, especially if some days going around Lac Le Man - note cheap fares swandav mentions for that.

You may thing the pass lets you get on and off at will - it does but regular point to point tickets do that too - buy a ticket from Geneva or Vevey to Zurich and you can get on and off all day I believe on that one ticket - no endlessly standing in ticket lines, etc.

I think a Swiss Pass is not that viable for your plans.
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Old Aug 7th, 2014, 12:40 PM
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i agree with palenq... going to the interlaken area will be unforgettable and you certainly could stop along the way with frequent trains. lake geneva is lovely, but i would favor interlaken area if you only have a few days to explore.
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Old Aug 7th, 2014, 03:09 PM
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If you do not go to a place like the Jungfrau or Zermatt - also fairly close to Genevea you will not see the Switzerland of many folks' dreams - an Alpine Wonderland. No city or famous scenic train or perfectly walled town or chocolate factory tours, all nice as they are, will be mundane things compared to either of those two places - the Jungfrau IMO offering the most varied of wondrous Alpine experiences and scenes - walk to a glacier!
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Old Aug 11th, 2014, 10:31 AM
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Thanks for the tips on the Swiss Pass. I thought I would need to buy each leg separately if I wanted to get on and off. I need to hammer out more details, but sounds like I should go up to Zurich through Interlaken, stopping for the day around Jungrau or Zermatt. I can see Lucerne I think on this route as well. Then when I return home, stop in Bern. On a different day, I believe I can take a bus or train to Montreux and maybe a boat ride on Lake Geneva. I believe for some of the time we are there my husband will be in/ near Vevey, which I understand is on the lake. Thanks again. cdc
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Old Aug 11th, 2014, 12:36 PM
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Well you should ask at the station in Geneva when buying a ticket to Zurich about getting on and off - just to make sure - if you needed separate tickets - which I am 99.99% sure you do not - you could buy them all at once.

Do not forget to validate your own ticket by sticking it in some cancelling date/stamping machine on platforms or at the entrance to the platform - not doing so means you do not have a valid ticket as many trains are on the honor system with spot checks to catch miscreants.
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Old Aug 12th, 2014, 05:33 AM
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I need to hammer out more details, but sounds like I should go up to Zurich through Interlaken, stopping for the day around Jungrau or Zermatt. I can see Lucerne I think on this route as well. Then when I return home, stop in Bern>

If this is planned as one day trip it is simply impossible to do - now if you have three days or so it would still be very rushed.

Lucerne en route to Zurich may be possible for a few hours but to get to Zermatt or the Jungfrau takes a lot of time.
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Old Sep 1st, 2014, 09:08 AM
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Thanks again for all of the replies. I have not been able to do much yet, but did get the opportunity to walk around (mostly the promenade) of Vevey and Montreaux. Both cute waterfront towns with a great boardwalk / walking path along the water.
I also was able to do the boat ride around lake Geneva- to one of the castles and the over to one of the border towns near France. The views from the boat were great and the old paddle oat itself was a fun experience. The weather was perfect for a boat ride and walking around which def made the experience better. The Chillon castle was interesting and depending on your interest in architecture, local lore, etc.- it takes about an hour and half to walk through. The town of Le Bouveret would be great stop for a family, with a water park, miniature train and picnic area by the marina- but for someone traveling solo, only thing to do was to grab a coffee or drink by the port or marina. I then took the train to the French border of st Gingolph. It was also a cute town- with what I thought was a better selection of cafes and bars. On the French side was a great creepier where I sat on the water's edge with a wonderful view before getting back in the boat on the Swiss side of st Gingolph. My hotel provided a week long pass for the local bus/ train, which gives a half price discount on the boat rides and castle admission- a nice perk! I am still going to try to do the Golden Pass but it might be the route to Lucerne on my way to Zurich- a bit rushed but may be my only option. Thanks again!
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